Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

Dai You walked ahead with a sullen face, while Xia Lanyue followed quietly behind.

Just now, after Xia Lanyue explained that she hadn't regained her memory, Dai You's mood changed from disappointment to anger, and then he refused to speak.

However, Xia Lanyue confirmed one thing: Dai Jingyuan was indeed her brother. Xia Yao hadn't lied, so it seemed they really knew each other.

Upon arriving at the Xia family home, Dai You kept a straight face and remained silent from dinner to rest.

Everyone seemed to sense that something was wrong with Dai You, and they all tacitly chose to remain silent. Even A-Cheng, who was usually very talkative, was unusually quiet today.

That night, Xia Lanyue lay in bed, thinking about his words, "Why do you remember so many people, but not me?"

Actually, it's not that I don't remember some things about him, like him teaching him to ride a horse.

"Did I forget to tell him?" Xia Lanyue suddenly sat up and muttered to herself, "No, I have to tell him."

Xia Lanyue ran to the door of the west room and gently knocked, but there was no response. She then softly called Dai You's name, but still there was no reply.

Xia Lanyue sat on the steps outside the door, muttering to herself, "How long are we going to stay angry?! I dreamt about it, I didn't remember it myself!"

Xia Lanyue was also helpless, wondering why there weren't more fragments of memory. At this moment, a thought suddenly popped into her mind, and she stood up and ran towards the house next door.

Pushing open the door, Xia Lanyue, by the moonlight, saw many things displayed inside. She couldn't quite make out what they were, but she was certain it was a room specifically for storing odds and ends. She remembered that Acheng had taken the wine from here yesterday.

Xia Lanyue wanted to find the jar of wine that hadn't been finished yesterday.

She looked at the cabinet full of large and small jars, searching for a long time but still couldn't tell them apart. Finally, she gave up, picked up a small jar, confirmed it was wine, and carried it out of the house.

She had originally planned to greet Xia Yao before getting the wine, but it was already late, and she felt it wouldn't be appropriate to disturb him, so she abandoned the idea and decided to talk to him tomorrow.

Back in her room, Xia Lanyue removed the seal from the wine jar, took out a bowl, poured a full bowl, and then slowly drank it down.

This wine was even stronger than the last one, and it burned her throat slightly, causing Xia Lanyue to cough a few times.

She did this because she wanted to recall more of her past with Dai You and to learn more about "her" past.

Feeling no effect after finishing the wine, Xia Lanyue poured herself another full bowl of wine. She didn't want to get drunk; just a slightly tipsy state would be fine.

After drinking the wine in her bowl, Xia Lanyue lay back on the bed, waiting to fall asleep.

Just then, a voice came from outside the door, "Ah Yue, are you asleep?"

Xia Yao's sudden voice startled Xia Lanyue.

"Not yet, what's wrong?" Xia Lanyue said.

"I'm a little hungry. Do you still have any of your salted rice popcorn?" Xia Yao asked.

Xia Lanyue couldn't help but wonder. That afternoon, in front of Xia Yao, she had given all the salted rice to A Xiang and A He. Why was she asking her for more now? "There's none left. We'll eat it tomorrow."

"No, I'm too hungry to sleep. Could you please cook me some porridge?"

Xia Lanyue opened the door and looked at Xia Yao, who seemed unusually quiet outside, and asked, "You... want some porridge?"

"Have you been drinking?" Xia Yao didn't answer her question, but instead sniffed and asked her.

Xia Lanyue took a half step back and said guiltily, "Yes... ah, I drank a little."

"The wine in my storeroom?"

Xia Lanyue nodded guiltily.

"Oh dear, you're drinking my wine without even inviting me! That won't do! I want some too. Bring it out, let's drink together."

Xia Lanyue stared at Xia Yao, who was behaving strangely, and stood frozen in place. Only after Xia Yao's persistent urging did she turn around to get the wine.

"Go wait for me in the kitchen, I'm just getting something, I'll be right back," Xia Yao said, and went back inside.

Xia Lanyue carried the wine jar to the kitchen, lit the oil lamp, and then took two bowls from the cabinet, placed them on the table, and filled them with wine.

Xia Yao walked in happily, holding a paper package. He opened it and showed it to Xia Lanyue; it was a bag of peanuts. Then Xia Yao placed the peanuts in the middle of the table, winked at her, and said, "I didn't even take them out yesterday when we were drinking. Let's eat them together today." Then he sat down at the table.

Xia Lanyue originally just wanted to have a casual drink, but now that he's made it so, she feels like she won't be able to finish it anytime soon.

"Should we try one out first?" Xia Yao asked.

Xia Lanyue was a heavy drinker, and upon hearing this, she didn't waste any words and immediately picked up her bowl. After clinking glasses, Xia Lanyue finished the wine in her bowl in one gulp.

"Hey, slow down, this is easy to get drunk on," Xia Yao advised.

"Being drunk is just right, you'll sleep soundly."

"Ah Yue, are you having trouble sleeping? Or is something on your mind? Tell me about it, and I'll see if I can help you." Xia Yao poured half a bowl of wine for Xia Lanyue.

"Who pours out only half a bowl? Are you reluctant to part with this wine?" Xia Lanyue was displeased.

Xia Yao took a deep breath, swallowed back what he wanted to say, and poured Xia Lanyue a full glass of water again.

Xia Lanyue nodded in satisfaction, reached for a peanut, peeled it, and put it in her mouth.

"Ah Yue hasn't answered me yet, is something on your mind?" Xia Yao asked again.

"No, we caught the thief today, so even if I had something on my mind, it's just because I'm so happy," Xia Lanyue said. She then realized the effects of the alcohol were kicking in; her tongue felt a little numb. Looking down at the wine in her bowl, she figured that finishing this glass would be enough.

“I’m very happy today too. You remembered me again. This memory doesn’t belong to me alone anymore. Here,” Xia Yao said, raising his bowl.

Upon hearing Xia Yao's words, Xia Lanyue paused for a moment. She did not raise her bowl, but lowered her head as if lost in thought.

"Ah Yue, do you want more?" Xia Yao tilted his head to look at her.

Xia Lanyue looked up at Xia Yao, ignoring his words, and asked, "Then, what does it feel like for someone who possesses this memory alone?"

Xia Yao thought for a moment, "Hmm...it would be lonely."

Upon hearing this, Xia Lanyue lowered her head again. After a long while, she raised her head. She didn't speak, but simply picked up the bowl beside her and drank the wine in one gulp.

Xia Yao frowned when he saw her like this. "A-Yue, you're acting strangely today."

"What's strange about it?" After saying that, he poured himself a bowl, looked at the wine that Xia Yao hadn't finished, and shook his head. "If you don't drink it, don't ask me to drink next time."

After hearing this, Xia Yao smiled helplessly, tilted his head back, and drank the entire bowl of wine in one gulp. Then he wiped the wine that had spilled from the corner of his mouth and said, "Did you and Dai You have a fight?"

Xia Lanyue nodded.

"If it's because of what happened this morning, I'm fine. Don't let our argument ruin your relationship."

Xia Lanyue smiled and said, "He's petty." Then she took another sip of wine.

"Oh? How do you say that?"

"Hmm... how should I put it? It's just that I don't remember things, it's not my fault, you're being stingy," Xia Lanyue said, holding the bowl and taking another big gulp.

Xia Yao looked at her and said, "That's right, it's not A-Yue's fault that she has amnesia."

Xia Lanyue held the bowl up to Xia Yao, who raised his bowl and touched it. Xia Lanyue then raised her hand and drank all the wine down.

"Alright, you can't drink anymore," Xia Yao said.

"Hmm, this wine is good, let's drink it again next time," Xia Lanyue said, standing up while holding onto the table.

Xia Yao walked over and helped Xia Lanyue, who was unsteady on her feet. "A-Yue, have you heard that the thief has been caught?"

"Yes, I heard. My name will be cleared soon, and I'll get my silver notes back too. We're leaving now..."

After hearing her words, Xia Yao stopped in his tracks. Xia Lanyue, who had been leaning on him, lost her balance and fell to the ground.

"What are you doing?" Xia Lanyue complained.

"Are you leaving?" Xia Yao helped Xia Lanyue up from the ground.

"Yeah, come visit me sometime! I'll treat you all. My house is huge, I have a big villa, a nanny, a troublesome younger sister, and an abusive stepmother... Hehehe..." Xia Lanyue said with a silly grin.

After she finished saying those silly things, Xia Yao stood there for a long time, seemingly lost in thought, before finally taking her back to her house.