#26: The Lemon Tree Bears Fruit, Under the Tree Are You and Me

1

“Dà Lín, our baby lemon tree needs soil!” I messaged Lin Zhiyi while sending a photo of the lemon tree, indicating that it was time to add soil to the pot.

Since this lemon tree settled into my office, the responsibility of taking care of it fell on my shoulders. I was in charge of watering and catching bugs, paying attention to its growth.

However, digging soil was a task I had to entrust to Lin Zhiyi.

Last night, Lin Zhiyi went out to dig some soil. When he returned, he said with frustration, “So late at night, I was forcibly kissed!”

“Ah?” I was greatly startled and walked over.

“Look, there are bumps.” He pointed to the corner of his lips, “They really went for it!”

“...So you were forcibly kissed by Sister Mosquito!” My heart, which had been hanging, finally relaxed.

“Exactly! Probably seeing me go out so late, she thought it was finally time for a feast. All my exposed skin wasn’t spared.”

I helped Lin Zhiyi check his injuries and found that his arms, face, and waist (where mosquitoes got the chance to bite him while he was bending over to dig) all showed signs of work-related injuries, totaling sixteen bites.

“Haha, sixteen red packets mean you’re going to make a fortune in the future!” I joked as I applied medicine to him.

“Sixteen bites, I’ll let the lemon tree bear sixteen fruits to repay me,” he said.

“You might as well have my mom give birth to a little brother or sister to thank you,” Xinbao suddenly said while doing homework.

“...” There’s a feeling of the mantis catching the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

While I was writing my new book at the desk, I heard a conversation between Lin Zhiyi and Xinbao from the living room—Lin Zhiyi said, “The last time I dug soil for the lemon tree, there are still mosquito bite marks on my arm.”

Xinbao asked, “What about the ones on your lips?”

Lin Zhiyi said, “The ones on my lips are gone.”

Xinbao asked, “Where did the ones on your lips go?”

Lin Zhiyi said, “Your mom ate them.”

Me: “...”

I wonder what the psychological shadow area of Xinbao is at this moment.

After a while, Lin Zhiyi came over, rolled up his sleeves to show me his arms, and said, “Look!

These are the mosquito’s kiss marks! They’re still there after two days.”

“Shall I apply some medicine for you later?” I said.

“No need, the red marks on my lips disappeared, meaning your kiss marks can cover the mosquito’s kiss marks. Just kiss me a few more times, and it’ll be fine...”

“...”

Is this blatant public kissing?

2

The lemon tree bore new fruit, and the green fruit grew larger every day.

A golden lemon hung on the branch for many days. I picked it and brought it close to my nose, expecting the fresh scent of lemon, but instead smelled the aroma of dried lemon.

In the past, I would pick them shortly after they ripened, but this time I forgot to pick it, letting it hang on the branch until it became overripe.

Mentioning this to Lin Zhiyi, I sighed deeply, “I didn’t expect the lemon fruit to age on the tree too. It seems better to pick it when it’s just ripe.”

“So...you were just ripe when I picked you,” he said.

I couldn’t help but smile.

No matter what we talk about, you always manage to flirt!

Small everyday joys are hidden in casual conversations.

3

Spring blossoms and autumn harvests. With autumn arriving, it was once again the season for the lemon tree to bear fruit.

Although this year’s harvest wasn’t as good as last year’s, with only four lemons hanging on the branches—three big ones and one small one—they still emitted a fresh fragrance.

Xinbao specially came to my office to visit the lemon tree, calling it an elegant “Lemon Cat Dates the Lemon Tree.”

“The lemon tree will grow taller, right?” Xinbao said.

“Yes! Xinbao, you must eat well and grow up properly, otherwise you won’t be able to outgrow the lemon tree!”

I look forward to the day when the lemon tree grows tall and lush, and also look forward to seeing the Lemon Cat standing gracefully.