Past or future, some things will just repeat themselves

Of all the wedding guests, a woman stands out especially when she tells the story of the couple as if it were her favorite fairy tale. The sparkle in her gaze said it all.

—… they were quite young the first time they fell in love, —sighs—. They were… eight years old? Maybe seven? I don't remember clearly, but what I will never forget is that it took a long time for that pair of fools to realize it! Just fifteen years old!

—Woooah! Uncle Song and uncle Xiao were really clueless! —exclaims his son without stopping to smile at the new information.

—Ah? —Her niece comes to where she and the group of children are gathered and joins the conversation quickly—. Aunt Ying, didn't you tell me that my parents fell in love at first sight at twenty-one years and that they started dating soon after?

—It was like that too.

—Too? How is that possible, mom? —Her daughter asks, gently pulling the skirt of her dress to get her attention.

She responds without missing a beat—: It's possible because what I'm telling you now is about the first time they fell in love, while what little XingSun says is about the second time it happened.

—Gugu2, it doesn't make sense. How are they going to fall in love with the same person twice? They say they didn't like anyone else, so there was no… uh interruption in their love? So there's no way they are going to start again something that didn't even finish.

—Hahaha! That is true, but understand that what I am telling you is also true. Also, they actually fell in love three times, not just twice.

«At least in this life...», she thinks fondly.

—Three?!

—Sip.

Despite her answer said with complete confidence, the looks of the youngest reveal their doubt.

—Tsk, children! Trust this aunt who grew up with them! I know them like the back of my hand and even more; and if I say they fell in love three times, it's because it was like that, okay?

—But, mom, when did everything you say happen?

—Hmm… —Raising a hand to her chin, she pretends to try to remember—. The first time was when your uncles were kids; the second time was when Wan-ge returned to the village after finishing his studies; and the last... —Before continuing, she turns to address her niece—, was the time you saw personally half a year ago, A-Xing.

—Eh? Me? —She points to herself.

—Yes, you. After all, you were with your dad at the orphanage when Wan-ge came looking for him, right?

—Uh… yeah, but… —She thinks about it a bit while more; until suddenly her face lights up at a memory—. AH! Auntie is saying they fell in love there for the third time?! I did not realize?!

—Yes~ —A cute smile spreads across her face when she sees the emotion of the girl. She knows that her niece loves to listen to the romantic moments her parents had in their love stage or before, which she gladly tells whether they ask her or not.

—Mom, I still don't understand. How is it possible that they have liked each other so many times?

—It is possible, believe me! You see, it's all thanks to the fact that people are not the same growing up. Both inside and out, we all change as time goes by. We mature, we adopt another way of thinking, certain traits of our personality are accentuated or we discover something about ourselves; we get taller, we gain weight, we lose weight… Many things can cause a change in us. So you are not the same as when you were a child or a teenager. 

—What Gugu says is true! I know this because my jiejie as a kid was very, very sweet and kind, —says the youngest niece, pointing to her frowning sister sitting a few steps from her—. But now that she's grown up, she's always upset and rarely nice to me.

The aforementioned only rolled her eyes when she heard her little sister speak like that; she huffs before continuing to see memes on her own cellphone. 

—Hahaha! It's like that, A-Lu. Good example.

The little plump girl puffs up her chest proud of herself.

—So… What aunt means is…Did Uncle Yewan fall in love with Uncle as a child, then as a teen, and finally Uncle Qingchen now? And vice versa?

—Exactly! Their uncles fell in love with each other even with all the changes they both went through.

—Ahh~! So cute! —Exclaims her niece, increasingly happy for her parents. Her eyes closed to think better of them, one hand to her heart and the other supporting her weight on the shoulder of her cousin—. A-Yi, don't you also think my parents are adorable? Ahh~

Suddenly blushing, he replied with a smile—: I think the same, Xingxing. Their story is the most adorab-

—The second most adorable! Our parents' is the first, of course! —Interrupts his younger sister giving him a blow on his side.

—Of course~

The adult of the group laughs a little embarrassed. After all, the story she is referring to... is her own story with her husband.

—Auntie, you didn't go through with their first crush. I'm curious, will you continue, please?

—Okay ~ Where did I stay?

—That they took time to recognize their feelings, ah~

  —It's not true! Gugu, you still haven't told us how they met.

—Ah, right, lol

—Hahaha, I already remembered. —She laughs charmingly covering her mouth with one hand. Her affection for children and how much she enjoys interacting with them is remarkable—. So, I will start by telling you about when I came to Huanglu to visit my grandmother:  my mother missed her, so she brought my father and me to this town to spend summer vacations… And then winter vacations, and then we moved permanently because I begged for a whole year to make it… Ah, good times.

She holds her cheek dreamily as sighs. They are memories of a happy childhood, so she is happy to remember them.

A huff pulls her out of her bubble.

—Ugh, aunt. This is a remote town surrounded by mountains, with too much vegetation and rivers everywhere. The internet is not good, there is nothing to do and the closest Starbucks is in B city, three hours from here! Why did you want to stay? You lived in Beijing! If I lived in the capital as you did, I would never think of leaving there.

Ah, it is just her grumpy favorite teenage niece.

—But I like Huanglu better. I like its mountains and rivers, and also the thousand and one ways to entertain yourself outside the home. Because there is a lot to do here, believe it or not! With your uncles, we would go hiking, fishing, camping, harvesting lotuses, and- even building our own boat at your age! There wasn't a day that we didn't do something different! Instead, in the capital, I… Ugh. The capital bored me too much! And about the internet: back then it wasn't as interesting as it is now. 

—But, aunt. Either wa-

—Gugu, — interrupts one of the girls in the group—, don't pay any attention to her, continue with the story.

They all agreed and haphazardly exclaimed "yes."

—Oh, okay~ 

She pulls up a chair next to her and takes a seat as feeling feet ache from standing in heels for so long. 

—Well, on my first day here I met your uncle Yewan. He was my neighbor and he would go to Grandma's house from time to time to help her and talk with her. We became friends the next day. He was very calm and I was very shy, so he did not pressure me to speak or play, and gave me enough confidence to approach first. He didn't have friends because there weren't any other kids our age on the block and I didn't have any. After all, I was new. Thus, we became close by having only each other.

—Pff, so it looks like this is the love story between the two of you! You were together first, right?

—Xiao Ming! Do not say that!

The other children reprimand the mischievous boy, while the adult who was supposed to do it would not stop laughing.

—Hahaha! Oh, no! HAHAHA! It was not like that, it was not like that. Sorry, but hearing that is strange because Yewan is my brother, my Goddess! Hahaha!

The beautiful Yue Liying could not stop laughing at the occurrence of her little nephew. Especially because he hit the nail on the head somehow and that was too awkward and at the same time laughable... 

Ah! But she can explain it!

Says "somehow" since the child is not completely right. It was not in this life, okay? But it was in another from two centuries ago. It was in that one, where Song Yewan and she were together and even got married. They were also both friends of Xiao Qingchen and they were very close since they were young.

«And even since then, Wan-ge loved him».

Fu… Too many things happened at that time; things that are depressing to remember. The greatest of all: having been an obstacle in the relationship of her best friends. Being the wound of her own unrequited love the only thing that has healed over the years... 

—Eh? Jiujiu is jiujiu1! There is no way my Jiujiu was with my mom!

—Exact. —She laughs—. He is my brother, bro-ther~

—Because father and mother told us we were, sis-ter~, —said a pleasantly deep voice suddenly. Hearing it, everyone immediately turned to it, thus meeting the owner of such—. It was about that time we fought, do you remember, sister?

—Of course, bro. Hahaha! We didn't realize we weren't until a couple of years ago when we remember that moment. Pff.

—Uncle, uncle! Gugu is telling us about the first time you fell in love with uncle Qingchen!

—When I came to town, do you remember? —She replies, hiding a second meaning from the children.

—Ah…

—Auntie, get on with the story!

—Sure, where did I stay? Hm… Ah! Okay, when we become best friends. Every day we went out to play in the northern mountain with my father who would take us there; we would climb, have lunch, and, when Dad fell asleep on the grass, we would escape to a nearby waterfall to play with the water for a while. We did that for almost half a month, until...

Her mischievous gaze went to the groom in the black suit at her side, prompting him to continue what she left unfinished.

He cleared his throat somewhat embarrassed by what he was going to say.

—Until I wanted to go to the west mountain...

—Because...! —She prompts to continue—. Oh, children. Their uncles were destined to meet~ Haha, Wan-ge, tell them.

—Ahem, ahem. —His cheeks turn a soft red. For a while, he seems like he doesn't dare to do it—. It was because I... I felt that I should go there... I needed to go...

Little excited screams did not wait and rose.

—So we told dad and we went! —Yue Liying happily picks up the narration as she pinches the milky cheek of Xiao Xingsun who is now hugging her father around the waist—. When we arrived, we repeated everything: we climbed, we had lunch and, when Dad fell asleep, we escaped in search of a nearby waterfall. We found one after a long time, but- oh, surprise~! Someone also did it at the same time.

—Uncle Qingchen!

—Yes, it was him. A-Qing was on a path parallel to us and he saw us first. Ah~ I still remember his pretty voice when he walked up to Yewan, took his hands, and said: "Oh, you too? Let's play together then!", —she tries to imitate the sweetness of the Xiao boy's voice fills her memory—. Oh, by the Goddess, I cannot. Qingchen was always naturally cute! He is too much fluff for my heart, it was good that he didn't grab my hands. I don't want to imagine how Wan-ge was inside at that moment- if I just listening to him felt too tender to bear it!

She had been only one step behind, letting her older brother lead the way, so there was no chance for her A-Qing to take her hands as well. 

—Well, they're getting married in an hour, right? I think we already know how it impacted him, ah.

The cheeks and ears of Song Yewan were as red as clouds during sunset; the poor man could not see anyone in the eye because of how ashamed he felt. 

But even so, at no time did he hide his smile.

—Right, right~ You must have seen your uncle, hahaha. —Yue Liying elbows the aforementioned—. He was delighted! His eyes were brighter than ever! His cheeks were roses like flowers for the cute boy in front of him! And your uncle Qingchen was not far behind, no, no. He, seeing YeWan better and more closely, suddenly became shy, and very reddened, he looked away from my brother's. For my part, I did not understand what was happening there and only accepted the invitation of the new child for both of us. In the end, the three of us played, we liked each other and we became friends.

Suddenly, the beautiful lady felt a couple of taps on her shoulder. She turned to the call and saw her Wan-ge indicate that he had something to say in her ear. She agreed and listened carefully.

—Meimei, —he whispers—, I was going to see A-Chen when I saw you with the children. I'll go now. We'll come with you later, okay? Don't say anything embarrassing, please.

—Tsk, well, well. I will not tell anything like that; don't worry, when have I done it? —She receives a skeptical gaze—. Although if you steal A-Qing too much time, I won't promise you anything. 

—Meimei… —He complains.

—What? I respect your time alone, but I want to see A-Qing in his suit before your wedding begins. Ge must not be selfish!

Song Yewan just nods and leaves. Yue Liying laughs at the resignation of his best friend.

—Well, children. Carrying on~ —She claps once to get their attention again—. Qingchen was here on vacation with his family too; they were staying in a house near where we met. His mother was an old friend of the father of Yewan, so they let us visit the Xiaos whenever we wanted and...

A thousand anecdotes came out of her mouth. The listeners were caught and very attentive; they eagerly awaited "that" special moment in history. They realized it was soon to be told when they heard about the day their uncles acknowledged their real feelings for each other.

—There were only a few days left for Wan-ge to go to the capital to study; however, those two were still not speaking to each other because of the fight they had. One was sad to die but determined to study what he wanted, and the other upset in his sorrow, because he was the last to hear the news.

Song Yewan had planned to leave without telling his friend, because it hurt just to imagine the parting between them; then he would immediately return to him at the end of his career. He really did not want there to be a goodbye between them. However, upon finding out, Xiao Qingchen interpreted it differently and decided not to see the other until he left the town... because, otherwise, he could not help ask his A-Zhen to stay with him and he knew which that would only make everything more unbearable. He did not want to remain the stone in the path of his friend to his dream. 

Yue Liying listened daily to the thoughts of her best friends when she went to visit them to try to persuade them to see each other before the trip of Song Yewan.

—The last day, I got tired, and went to each one's house to scold them for a long time and reveal that, believe it or not, they felt that way because they liked the other. I lived a lifetime with them! I was sure that those blushes and that infuriating closeness of "we're just friends even though we seem like something else" meant something. So I told them what I thought. I presented my evidence and left them for an afternoon and evening to think about it.

She huffs when feels again the impatience which she felt during those years.

—And? What happened after? —Her son asks anxiously; his body leaning forward in anticipation of what will happen.

—Your uncles are fools, what do you think happened?

She cannot hold back her laugh for another second. The minors see her laugh out loud and start talking to each other trying to guess what happened.

—Ah! Sorry, sorry! But I can not! HAHAHA! —Inhale a couple of times trying to calm down; when she succeeds, the story continues—. Yewan's bus left at eight o'clock. Your uncles had discovered something new about themselves and had accepted it. They did not wait any longer to go and declare! They didn't even think about whether they would be reciprocated or not, or what their relationship would be like after confession; they just wanted to let the other know their feelings. Also, they would soon be able to speak to each other only by letters and they did not want their separation to be remembered for a silly fight they had. So... what did they do? Punctually at six in the morning, they went to look for the other one.

—At the same time?!

—Yes.

—Oh! And they met on the way! Right?

—Nop.

—No?!

They all gasped at the surprising answer. The young gods laughed on their backs from their clouds and the older ones just shook their heads as they smiled at the strange luck of that couple.

They just thought: «Oh, Universe. Why? Why did that day happen so similar to the one in his first life?»

A thousand years ago. Twenty-five lives ago.

The day they found out that their best friend liked them was very similar to this one just told.

Both of them, promising disciples of the most famous immortals, skilled cultivators of fair heart, perfectly versed in the six arts… they were just a couple of naive fools in the ​​love's area.

After clearing up the matters of their own heart, they were eager to show it to the person they liked. They wanted him to know what they were feeling! They wanted to know his response, to witness his reaction! So, not being able to bear this desire any longer, the next morning, they prepared everything to leave the mountain again. They eagerly awaited the "Now you can go" of their corresponding shifu, and when it was given, they promptly departed for the mortal world again.

Determined to find the other in their home.

They took about a week, getting lost on the way a couple of times because the place was very hidden and quite protected by matrices. I must clarify that, even so, it was a record time that they achieved.

However, there was a problem... 

—Eh? He's not here?

—Ah? Did he go looking for me days ago?

Both of them—: ... 

Oh, by the gods! It was so funny when, upon arriving their destination, they found out that precisely the one they wanted to see had also come up with the same idea! Is incredible! How come they did not cross the road?

This pair of fools... The heavens cry with laughter!