Mistakenly Yours

“Why is she here?” Tang Jia's eyebrow twitched. She never expected the haughty Li Miao to be lurking in a simple place like the Ming Yue Teahouse.

 

Xu Yue ignored Tang Jia, her focus locked on the sizzling wok. Tofu crackled in the hot oil, the aroma sharp and savory. Li Miao's gaze clung to Xu Yue, her earlier timidity replaced by a gleam of hungry admiration.

 

“Wow, Xu Yue, I knew from before, but you really are skilled at this!” 

 

As Xu Yue plated the stir-fry, the gleaming kitchen faded…

 

Dust motes danced in the sunlight, slanting through the teahouse door – the same door that loomed large over a cowering Li Miao.

 

Tears trembled on Li Miao’s lashes, and Xu Yue paused, her own hand mirroring the hesitant hover over the worn wood. 

 

It was Xu Yue’s voice, then, that cracked with worry. “Are you sure you want to come in? The kitchen's exposed to the dining area.”

 

“Y-yeah! We have to get the planning done!” Li Miao's knees shook, but a stubborn tilt set her chin.

 

Xu Yue opened the door. Liu Fang’s warm voice washed over them. “Yue Yue, welcome back!”

 

“I’m back, Auntie." Xu Yue answered, her tone muted.

 

A regular spotted Li Miao and grinned. “Oh, this is a new face.”

 

“Little Xu, where’s little Tang?” another chimed in.

 

“I don’t know. She’ll be here later.” Tang Jia spent her newfound free time hanging out at the restaurant after her volleyball practice.

 

Liu Fang's gentle face appeared, etched with smiles and the lines of long hours. “Hello, are you Yue Yue’s friend?”

 

“Hello, my name is Li Miao. T-thank you for having me.” Li Miao bowed, forcing her trembling voice into politeness.

 

“My, aren’t you a polite one!" Liu Fang winked. "Feel free to sit anywhere, and don’t let these old fogeys bother you.”

 

“Patootie, who’s an old fogey? I’m still in my golden era!” A man slapped his beer belly, laughter rippling through the room.

 

Xu Yue winced at Li Miao's flinching figure. A protective instinct surged, and she covered Li Miao's eyes. "Don't look," she murmured, her voice a soothing command.

 

The tremors slowly ceased, but Li Miao's blush burned bright. “T-thank you…” she whispered.

 

The whole restaurant took in their quiet exchange.

 

“Little Xu, is this your new wife?” 

 

“They grow up so fast… I remember when she was just a little child, only coming up to my knees…” A man dabbed a fake tear.

 

“Old Liu, I didn’t think your restaurant served dog food¹Chinese slang for public displays of affection by couples, often used in a humorous way by single people., too!” 

 

She uncovered Li Miao. A wave of heat stained Li Miao's cheeks from embarrassment and a spark of defiant anger. "It's not like that! We're just friends!" Li Miao's voice cracked, but her chin held high.

 

The little cat is so weak to teasing. 

 

The crowd nodded sagely, the glint in their eyes a mix of amusement and understanding. 

 

Xu Yue's glare flashed, not with annoyance but with fierce protectiveness. It sliced through the air, and the teasing laughter stilled like a sudden winter wind.

 

Everyone: Little Xu, when did you become so scary?!

 

Xu Yue turned back to Li Miao, her expression softening. “Will you be alright next to the kitchen?”

 

Li Miao, finally catching her breath, noticed the lingering stares. Yet, a surprising calm washed over her.

 

Huh… I’m not scared anymore… Why is that? 

 

She confidently looked at Xu Yue, “I think I’ll be okay.” 

 

Xu Yue's hand brushed a stray strand of hair from Li Miao's eyes, a touch soft as a promise. As Xu Yue slipped into her apron, the bustle of the kitchen swallowed her. 

 

Li Miao's eyes traced her every move, taking in the curve of her back and the graceful dip of her wrist as she flipped a wok. Her lips tugged upwards, and a carefree sway settled into her legs.

 

---

 

 

That carefree feeling was a distant memory. Li Miao thrashed beneath a heavy quilt, her body tangled in its warmth. Each restless shift offered no relief; her mind burned with images of crackling flames, a phantom heat against the winter's chill.

 

In that dream world, she was younger, her scream swallowed by the icy howl of the wind whipping through burning ruins. Her house, once a sanctuary from the cold, buckled and split.

 

Sirens wailed, not the familiar keen of an ambulance, but the groaning bellow of fire engines battling the consuming blaze.

 

"Mom! Dad! Don't go!" Her breath fogged the air. Each panicked sob crystallized before her face. A hand reached out, fingers stiffening, grasping at the empty cold as if the flames themselves had frozen solid.

 

With a jolt, she awoke. 

 

Beneath the blanket's suffocating weight, her skin prickled with sweat despite the frosted windowpane nearby. 

 

The quilt twisted tighter, and she let the tears come, their warmth the only respite in the bone-deep chill that echoed the bleak landscape of her dream.

 

---

 

 

Xu Yue scanned the classroom and immediately spotted Li Miao. Dark circles marred her usually bright eyes, the edges faintly red. Beside her, Ying Lian hovered with a small arsenal of eye creams. Her brow creased in concern.

 

Who angered the little cat? Xu Yue felt a flicker of worry mixed with curiosity.

 

Sensing Xu Yue's gaze, Li Miao waved, a wobbly smile fighting the weariness on her face.

 

Xu Yue walked over, nodding toward Ying Lian. "What happened?"

 

Ying Lian shrugged, her voice hushed. "She came in like this. Maybe a bad dream? I ran out for cream..."

 

Li Miao puffed out her cheek, muttering under her breath, "I don't need those! Nothing's wrong…”

 

With a gentleness that made Li Miao seem even smaller, Xu Yue took a tube from Ying Lian. Unscrewing the lid, she dipped a fingertip in the cool cream and smoothed it under Li Miao's eyes. The touch was light, as though handling a frightened animal.

 

"Be good," she murmured, the hint of laughter in her voice at odds with her stern expression.

 

“Wuwuwu…” Li Miao let out a squeak, half embarrassed, half displeased.

 

Xu Yue paused, her hand still cradling Li Miao's face.  "Did something happen?"

 

Li Miao looked away, avoiding the question. “Nothing. I just wanted to sweat from my eyes a little.” 

 

Choosing not to push, Xu Yue squeezed Li Miao's cheek playfully. "Come on then. We need to submit the plan to the committee head. Did you forget?"

 

Li Miao blinked in confusion.

 

The plan? Didn’t we only discuss it yesterday? How is it done already?

 

To her surprise, Xu Yue produced a hefty stack of papers, sticky notes bristling from the margins.

 

The committee head's lips quirked as he eyed the two girls. "The teachers did just announce this yesterday. Remarkable turnaround time." He skimmed the documents before nodding. "Everything seems in order. Your class is approved."

 

"Thank you," Xu Yue replied, gently tugging a bewildered Li Miao out of the office.

 

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