Chapter 31

The sky gradually darkened.

The woman glanced at the clock on the wall, then stood up and said her goodbyes.

Zhao Dan did not try to keep her. She only nodded and looked toward the girl, who was still playing with Jiang Xiao.

“Lai, see Shuyang out for me.”

“No need.”

Cheng Shuyang pressed down on Jiang Lai’s arm as she started to rise. “I already called a car. It’s late outside, so don’t make Lai go out.”

“It’s fine, I’ll see you to the neighborhood gate.”

As she spoke, she walked to the shoe cabinet and changed into her shoes.

“It really isn’t necessary…”

“Shuyang, listen to your teacher. Let Lai see you downstairs, and I’ll feel better.”

At that point, if the woman still refused, it would seem rather rude; helplessly, she could only agree.

“Then I’ll have to trouble Lai.”

“No trouble at all.”

The girl reached out and took the suitcase from her hand, speaking softly, “Give it to me. I’ll carry it for you.”

“Teacher, please stay. I’ll come see you again next time.”

Zhao Dan nodded, then quietly instructed Jiang Lai, “Make sure Xiaoya gets in the car before you come back.”

“I know. You go back inside.”

The summer night breeze still carried a hint of chill.

The woman subconsciously drew in her shoulders.

“Cold?”

“A little, but it’s fine.”

She smiled at the girl. “What about you? Aren’t you cold?”

Jiang Lai shook her head, weighing how to begin, but the words seemed to catch in her throat one by one; she didn’t know where to start.

“If you have something to say, just say it. Between us, do we really need to think so hard before speaking?”

The woman glanced at her from the side, her eyes glittering with amusement.

“Why don’t you stay at my place for one night before you leave…”

Her voice was muffled; anyone could tell she was unhappy.

“You don’t want to see me?”

Cheng Shuyang laughed helplessly, then gently tapped the tip of her nose. “So that’s what you’re being awkward about?”

Jiang Lai said nothing, but her hand on the suitcase tightened and tightened, tacitly admitting that the woman had guessed right.

“You misunderstood. I have work tomorrow; I’m flying abroad to attend an opening ceremony. I’m not trying to avoid you.”

The girl looked up. “Really?”

“Of course it’s true. If you don’t believe me, look.”

The woman switched her screen to the chat with Xiaoman and held it out in front of her. “I’m really not lying to you.”

“I thought staying at my place had made you uncomfortable…”

The woman rubbed the top of her head. “How could that be? Lai, being by your side makes me truly very happy. I’m not lying to you.”

For some reason, courage surged through her all at once. She suddenly stopped walking, took a deep breath, and her voice trembled more than usual. “Aunt Cheng, actually, I have something I want to say to you.”

“Mm, what is it?”

Cheng Shuyang lifted a hand and smoothed the collar the wind had mussed, her movements as gentle as if she were handling a work of art.

The tenderness in the woman’s eyes nearly overflowed; it burned softly against Jiang Lai’s heart, making it go weak. The words she had prepared suddenly would not come.

Did she really want to say it? Did she really want to lay her feelings bare before the woman and drag her down into the abyss with her?

But Aunt Cheng was so gentle. If she said it, would it frighten her? Was she really prepared? Once some things were spoken aloud, there might be no way to take them back. Was she truly ready to face disgust in the woman’s eyes…

No, absolutely not!

Even if the woman never knew how she felt, that would be better than being hated by her…

Seeing that the girl had been silent for a long time, the woman could not help waving a hand in front of her. “Lai?”

She jolted back to her senses. The thought in her heart was cut off by that single “Lai,” and like someone caught red-handed after making a mistake, it all scattered away at once.

“Nothing… I just suddenly forgot what I wanted to say to you.”

Lowering her head, she stared at the hem of her clothes, her fingers unconsciously twisting the fabric. It felt as if a huge stone was pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

This was fine. What if… what if once she said it, even this last bit of closeness was gone?

The woman studied her expression. A trace of confusion flashed through her eyes, but she didn’t ask further. “It’s fine. If anything comes up, remember to tell me.”

“Mm, I will.”

“Good girl. I’ve always known you’re very reassuring.”

A low-key nanny van stopped behind the two of them.

The luggage was loaded into the trunk by the driver, and the woman got into the car as well, lifting a hand in farewell. “Go home quickly. It’s cold outside.”

“I’ll watch you leave; I’ll go back in a moment.”

“Then… Lai, bye-bye.”

“Aunt Cheng, goodbye.”

The car had driven off for quite a while before Jiang Lai was still standing there in a daze. Only when her phone dinged several times did she come back to herself and take it out to check.

It was a message from Director Zhang in the variety show group.

“The first episode is scheduled to air on Friday night. Please everyone remember to watch it.”

A whole row of replies underneath said received; Jiang Lai replied with one too.

“It really is a little cold…”

She sighed and turned to leave.

Zhao Dan was sitting quietly on the sofa reading. When she saw her return, she closed the book. “Xiaoya left?”

“Mm. Where’s Xiaoxiao?”

“Your father took her downstairs to the garden for a walk.”

Jiang Lai nodded, changed into her slippers, and said, “Then I’ll go rest in my room first.”

“Lai, wait a moment.”

Zhao Dan stood up and caught her wrist. “Chat with Mom for a bit, okay?”

“About what?”

“Anything is fine; your love life, your career.”

“Mom, I don’t want to date right now. I just want to work properly and earn money.”

“Liar.”

Zhao Dan looked at her with a half-smile. “I’m your mother; how could I not know what you’re thinking? Is it that you don’t want to, or that you don’t dare?”

“What’s the difference?” She smiled, trying to steer the topic away.

“Of course there’s a difference. Not wanting it means you dislike this kind of feeling on a physical level; not daring means you’re timid, afraid of gaining and losing.”

There was inquiry in Zhao Dan’s eyes, and also pity.

The girl leaned back and sank into the soft sofa.

Looking at her mother, her voice trembled, but it carried an almost stubborn insistence. “I’m not worried. Rather than gamble on all those uncertain factors, I’d rather hold on to what’s stable.”

The woman did not answer, only patted her daughter’s shoulder. “No matter how good other people’s advice is, it can’t compare to what you yourself want. Follow your own heart.”

“Mm, I understand.”

Lowering her head, her voice hoarse, she said, “Then I’ll go back to my room and rest first. You should rest early too.”

Zhao Dan nodded and opened the book again.

Friday night, the few of them gathered together to watch the program.

Jiang Lai was lying on the sofa with no sense of image at all; Zhao Dan was a little helpless, but let her do as she liked.

“Has the location for the next episode been decided?”

While the commercials played, the woman turned to ask the girl.

Jiang Lai was silent for a moment. “It seems they said somewhere in Jiangnan.”

“Jiangnan?”

Zhao Dan’s expression showed surprise.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“It’s Xiaoya. Years ago, when she was filming, she injured her knee. Whenever she goes somewhere damp and muggy, her knee gets uncomfortable.”

“Aunt Cheng should know that herself.”

Even so, she still couldn’t help worrying.

“Mom, the one I bought you last time…”

Before she could finish, Zhao Dan cut her off with a teasing expression. “It’s not used up yet. The rest is in the cabinet; I’ll get it for you later.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll buy you more next time.”

Her ears went red, and she looked a little unnatural.

The start of the program just happened to rescue her.

“Old Jiang, come out quickly; your daughter’s show has started.”

The woman called twice toward the study before the man slowly walked out.

The program was good, and the barrage comments were updating at just the right time.

The few of them watched intently. Jiang Lai picked up the water on the table and took a sip; her phone rang and dinged nonstop. She bent down, picked it up, and glanced at it.

In the variety show group, Gu Xizhou and the others were chatting enthusiastically, and they even tagged Jiang Lai.

She was a little speechless and replied with a helpless emoji.

The next second, Xia Wanwan’s call came in.

“Mom, I’m going to answer Wanwan’s call.”

After explaining the situation to Zhao Dan, Jiang Lai returned to her room.

“Hello, Wanwan, what’s wrong?”

Xia Wanwan’s excited voice came from the other end. “Lai! You’re trending!”

The girl laughed softly. “Come on, I already know that.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean your chemistry with my mom is insane! The internet is shipping you two like crazy!”

“Wanwan, stop fooling around.”

“No, I’m not fooling around, I’m serious! You’ll know when you watch the show.”

She gave a wicked little laugh. “Jiang Lai, didn’t expect it; you’re pretty amazing.”

“Xia—Wan—Wan.”

“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. I’m just reminding you, that’s all.”

After the call ended, she steadied herself for a moment before slowly walking back out of the room.

Zhao Dan saw her and said nothing, only patting the seat beside her. “Come quickly; the show has been on for a while.”

She rubbed the bridge of her nose and asked tentatively, “Mom, was there a segment just now?”

“Mm? You mean the part where you gave Xiaoya flowers?”

“That was shown too?”

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“No…”

She pressed her lips together, feeling a little annoyed. If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have given Aunt Cheng flowers. After all these years since her debut, Cheng Shuyang had never even had a scandal; it was all her fault.

She had caused trouble for Aunt Cheng, hadn’t she…

“Isn’t it just giving a bouquet of flowers? What’s the problem?”

Jiang’s father put down the newspaper, looking puzzled.

“No problem, no problem.”

Zhao Dan smiled and patted him. “Keep reading your paper; anyway, you never pay attention to entertainment news.”

After saying that, she gave Jiang Lai a reassuring look.

————————————

“Who were you calling just now?”

Cheng Shuyang was carrying a plate of fruit, curiously asking her daughter.

Xia Wanwan shook her head and pointed excitedly at the flowers in the corner of the living room. “Mom, so these flowers were the ones Lai gave you?”

“Mm.”

The woman’s expression was serious as she explained in detail, “It was already very late then. Lai felt sorry for that little girl and bought them all. What, am I not allowed to accept them?”

“Mom, that’s not what I mean. I mean, I thought you wouldn’t bring the flowers home. After all… when Dad used to give you flowers, you always said you didn’t like them.”

The hand peeling the fruit paused for a moment, then returned to normal. “That’s because your father always gave me whatever he liked; he never asked whether I liked it.”

“So, is that why you got divorced?”

“Mm. Your father is a very good person; it’s just a pity we weren’t suited to each other.”

The woman handed the sliced apple to her daughter.

“Then… what about Lai? Do you really like the flowers Lai gave you?”

Just when Xia Wanwan thought the woman wouldn’t answer, she unexpectedly saw her mother nod.

“Mm, I really like them.”

Author’s note:

To all the babies reading this, Happy New Year!