Chapter 35

The snow fell thicker and thicker; the streetlights haloed through the swirling flakes, and the whole city seemed to settle into a soft, languid rhythm.

Wen Yan and Jin Zijin left Hengxing Tower and walked less than ten minutes before turning into a relatively open space in an alley behind the busy commercial district.

A spacious transparent tent had been set up there. Inside, the lights blazed; the warm glow seeped through the canvas and rising steam, making the snowy night look like a piece of amber that glowed and gave off heat.

A thin layer of snow had already gathered on the tent, making the warmth inside feel even more like spring.

Jin Zijin clearly knew the place well. She lifted the heavy windproof curtain, and a rich, comforting aroma of food rushed out at once, instantly driving away the bitter cold outside.

Sure enough, the tent was empty. The tables and chairs were neat and tidy; only the charcoal stove in the center and the cooking station beside it were sending up clouds of heat.

A middle-aged woman in a dark apron, her smile brisk and lively, was busy at the counter.

When she heard them, she looked up and her eyes lit up. “Oh, Boss Jin! A rare visitor! What brings you here today?”

Her gaze landed on Wen Yan beside Jin Zijin, and her smile deepened with knowing curiosity.

Jin Zijin naturally took Wen Yan’s hand and stepped forward half a pace. “Aunt Bao, this is my wife, Wen Yan. She’s a doctor in the orthopedics department at Peking University Affiliated Hospital.”

Aunt Bao immediately wiped her hands on her apron and greeted her warmly. “Oh, Dr. Wen, hello, hello.”

Her eyes swept over Wen Yan’s face and figure, quick and friendly, before she praised her sincerely. “Boss Jin is really lucky! Dr. Wen has such presence, such a solid build; anyone can see she’s steady and dependable. You two are a perfect match.”

Wen Yan was a little embarrassed by the straightforward praise. She nodded slightly and said politely, “Hello, Aunt Bao. Sorry to trouble you.”

“You’re not troubling me at all. I’m happy just seeing you come.” Aunt Bao beamed so broadly it showed all her teeth. “Same as usual? Braised beef short ribs, charcoal grill set, and a few side dishes to go with the drinks?”

“Mm, thank you, Aunt Bao.”

Jin Zijin nodded and led Wen Yan to a table set a little farther inside, one with the best view.

The table faced the transparent tent wall, giving them an unobstructed view of the curtain of snow falling outside.

Aunt Bao answered cheerfully and turned back to work.

Jin Zijin, meanwhile, took two small cups from a nearby cabinet and rinsed them with hot water.

Aunt Bao promptly brought over a newly opened bottle of Moutai, set it on the table, and then left again.

Jin Zijin picked up the liquor and poured two cups.

The liquid was crystal clear, glowing softly under the warm light.

“Aunt Bao’s family has been making this for generations. She’s especially good at braised hotpot dishes and Northeastern barbecue.”

Jin Zijin pushed one cup toward Wen Yan and lifted the other herself, looking toward the cooking station with the air of someone sharing a treasured find. “If she weren’t attached to this place and so fond of her free-and-easy life, I’d have long since found a way to ‘invite’ her back to be our private chef.”

Wen Yan looked at the clear liquor in her cup, catching a rich, lingering fragrance at the tip of her nose. She smiled. “If it’s enough to make President Jin think about it this much, then I’ll have to savor it properly tonight.”

“I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”

Jin Zijin lightly clinked her cup against Wen Yan’s, producing a crisp note.

Wen Yan copied her and carefully took a small sip.

It wasn’t spicy at all on the tongue. Instead, a clear, mellow sweetness slid over her taste buds, and warmth spread down her throat. The aftertaste lingered in her teeth and cheeks; it really didn’t have the sharp, pungent “booze smell” of ordinary white liquor.

Her eyes widened slightly, a little surprised. “So Moutai tastes like this.”

“First time drinking it?” Jin Zijin raised a brow, amusement spreading in her eyes. “Then I’m truly honored to be your first.”

The two of them smiled at each other and took another small sip.

Outside the tent, the snow fell harder, the soft susurration endless, as if building a natural barrier of silence around this little warm space.

The faint bustle of the distant commercial district, the occasional crackle of the charcoal fire nearby, and Aunt Bao’s brisk movements as she cooked only made the little world inside the tent feel even more peaceful.

Wen Yan looked through the canvas at the hazy world outside, lit by the snow’s reflected glow, and felt the warmth gradually rising in her stomach. Only then did she truly understand the pleasure Jin Zijin had spoken of.

“To be sitting in a little tent like this on a snowy night, eating something hot,” she said softly, her tone carrying the delight of a new discovery, “it really does seem... pretty interesting.”

“Right?” Jin Zijin rested her chin on her hand, her gaze softening with memory. “When I was little, I used to go ice fishing in the suburbs with my grandmother in winter.”

“The weather was freezing, and the lake was a sheet of white just for the two of us. At night, when it got cold, Grandma would roast sweet potatoes for me on a little stove we brought with us and set up on the ice.”

She paused, her voice even lighter. “Back then, it felt like the world was enormous and cold, but as long as I was beside Grandma, wrapped up in a little sleeping bag and eating sweet, fragrant roasted sweet potatoes, that was the safest and warmest place in the whole world.”

Wen Yan listened quietly, and the image naturally took shape in her mind.

The vast, icy lake; an old woman and a child; a little fire struggling against endless cold and silence.

It was a kind of romance that was both lonely and complete.

Her thoughts stirred, and she blurted out, “Listening to you, I kind of want to try it too.”

“How about this: once the weather gets colder, we’ll find a place where we can ice fish too? Ideally somewhere with a hot spring nearby; after fishing, we can soak and warm ourselves up.”

Jin Zijin’s eyes lit up. She leaned forward. “How did you know I’ve already reserved a courtyard at the hot spring resort in the north suburbs that has its own ice-fishing spot? Dr. Wen, you really are the worm in my belly.”

Wen Yan laughed at her exaggerated reaction, and the atmosphere grew even more relaxed and pleasant.

After a few rounds of drinks, most of the dishes had also been served.

The braised beef short ribs were spicy and full of flavor; the charcoal-grilled skewers were crisp on the outside and tender inside. Aunt Bao even brought them a plate of the tangy pickles she’d made herself.

Jin Zijin asked about Wen Yan’s class earlier that day, and Wen Yan took the opportunity to mention the kitten she had picked up.

“Really? Let me see.” Jin Zijin immediately became interested and leaned closer to Wen Yan.

Wen Yan opened the photos and videos sent from the pet hospital.

In the little observation cage, the orange-and-white kitten had already been cleaned up. It was a fluffy little ball, timidly licking nutrient paste, its round amber eyes wet and glistening as it looked toward the camera.

“Aw,” Jin Zijin said, the corners of her lips lifting. “It’s quite pretty once it’s washed. That little face...”

“Like you.” Wen Yan said it all of a sudden, her tone natural.

“Hm?” Jin Zijin froze for a moment, turned to look at her, and pointed at herself. “Like me?”

“Yeah.” Wen Yan nodded, glancing back and forth between Jin Zijin and the phone screen very seriously. “Big round eyes, bright and shiny. And it looks small.”

Jin Zijin laughed. “How am I small? My height is pretty standard for a woman, okay!”

“But compared to me,” Wen Yan gestured at the height difference between them, her expression innocent and faintly teasing, “you’re just very small.”

Looking at Wen Yan’s clear eyes, bright with faint amusement, the bit of unwillingness Jin Zijin had felt about being called “small” was instantly replaced by a different, softer, surging emotion.

She suddenly leaned in and quickly pecked Wen Yan on the lips.

Peck.

Wen Yan had not expected her to do that in public at all, and she froze completely.

Then her ears turned visibly red. She subconsciously darted a glance at Aunt Bao, who was busy by the charcoal stove, and lowered her voice. “You... why did you suddenly...”

Jin Zijin, however, smiled like a cat that had just stolen fish, sat back down, swirled her wine cup, and muttered in a low voice as if declaring ownership, “My... wife.”

Wen Yan’s face was still hot. There was nothing she could do about her, so she could only lower her head and take a sip of wine to cover it up.

At that moment, the tent curtain was lifted again, bringing in a gust of cold wind and snow.

A few lively college girls in down jackets poked their heads in and asked in bright voices, “Boss, do you still have seats?”

Aunt Bao instinctively looked over at Jin Zijin’s side, just about to say, as usual, that the place was reserved.

But Jin Zijin spoke first, her voice calm. “Aunt Bao, we’re almost done here. Let the girls come in; it’s cold outside.”

Aunt Bao immediately broke into a smile. “Sure thing. Girls, come on in and sit over here.”

The girls thanked her and came in, taking seats at a table near the entrance.

Their eyes inevitably swept over Wen Yan and Jin Zijin, flashing with unhidden amazement and curiosity.

They huddled together and whispered, and faintly, words like “so pretty” and “they look so good together” could be heard.

Jin Zijin clearly heard it; the smile on her lips deepened, and her mood grew even better.

With more people in the tent, the charcoal fire burned hotter; the aroma of food mingled with the light laughter of the young girls, adding even more lively, everyday warmth than before.

Another two or three tables of customers gradually came in, and the small space slowly filled up. Voices rustled about, and heat shimmered in the air.

And yet, this kind of liveliness did not dilute the strange peace and satisfaction Wen Yan felt in her heart.

On the contrary, she felt as if an invisible barrier had formed between her and Jin Zijin.

The voices, lights, and scents around them all became a flowing backdrop; seated within it, sharing the same warmth and the same rhythm, they felt more like an inseparable whole than when they had been alone before.

Just as the noise and warmth were beginning to build, a disharmonious stir rose from the table near the tent entrance.

A well-dressed man wearing glasses had walked over to the girls’ table with a glass in hand.

He wore what he no doubt considered a proper smile as he said something to the most beautiful girl there, while several of his companions stood beside him.

The girl looked embarrassed and repeatedly waved her hands, shaking her head.

After being rejected, the man with glasses became a little unable to keep up appearances.

His companions started jeering from their table. “Brother Lin, that’s not working? College girls really do have high standards.”

“Exactly. Even a Porsche isn’t enough? They’re top students; they’re different from us rough types!”

“Brother Lin, you still need to work on your charm!”

The man called Brother Lin’s face grew uglier and uglier amid his companions’ laughter. The pretense of civility on his face peeled away little by little, revealing the anger and embarrassment underneath.

Wen Yan and Jin Zijin also noticed the commotion. Jin Zijin frowned and quietly took out her phone to notify her bodyguards.

The man over there lowered his voice, and his tone turned threatening. “Beautiful, don’t be so ungrateful. Just add WeChat, be friends; what’s the big deal?”

The girl being accosted turned pale and clutched her phone tightly.

A companion beside her, wearing a black down jacket, bravely stood up and blocked her in front. “Sorry, my friend doesn’t want to add you. Please leave.”

Brother Lin looked as though he’d been slapped in public. His viciousness surged up instantly, and alcohol and pride made him lose all reason.

“Fuck, who the hell do you think you are?”

He cursed, then suddenly swung his arm up and slapped toward the black-clad girl’s face.

At that very moment, the situation changed abruptly.

At the critical instant, there was a sharp whoosh through the air.

A small ceramic wine cup flew in a clean arc and struck the numb point on the man’s raised wrist with pinpoint accuracy.

Smash!

The wine cup hit the ground and shattered into pieces.

“Ah!” Brother Lin cried out in pain; his arm went numb and sore, and the slap naturally never landed.

He snapped his head around and glared in the direction the cup had come from, shouting, “Who? Who the fuck is sticking their nose in my business?”

Wen Yan had already stood up and unobtrusively pulled Jin Zijin half a step behind her.

There was no extra expression on her face; she could even be called calm.

Wen Yan looked steadily at the furious man and said clearly and firmly, “Sir, this is a public place. You should watch your behavior. If someone doesn’t want to, then let it go. If you keep making a scene, no one will come out of this looking good.”

Her words were logical, her attitude cool and composed; amid the chaos, they were like a line of ice cutting cleanly through and drawing the boundary.

Half a step behind Wen Yan, Jin Zijin slightly lifted her head and looked at Wen Yan’s taut jawline and straight back.

At this moment, Wen Yan had shed her usual gentleness and restraint, radiating a quiet pressure all over.

The woman’s profile, lit by the warm glow of the tent, had an almost coldly handsome sharpness.

Brother Lin was even more enraged by Wen Yan’s calm attitude, and with his companions still watching, the muscles on his face twisted.

Just as he was about to lash out recklessly, the tent curtain was yanked open again.

A biting wind poured in, followed by eight women in black coats, tall and powerfully built, their faces expressionless.

They moved quickly and silently, entering the tent in an instant like eight moving walls. With a disciplined, icy air about them, they stood directly in front of Wen Yan, blocking the view from the men’s table.

The tall women’s eyes were sharp as lightning as they locked onto the troublemakers.

The air inside the tent froze in an instant; all the noise cut off abruptly.

When Brother Lin and his companions saw these obvious outsiders who were clearly not ordinary people, the anger and swagger on their faces instantly solidified, then drained away into a sheet of frightened paleness.

Their instincts, honed from years of mixing in the streets, told them one thing: these people were not someone they could afford to provoke.

Only then did Jin Zijin slowly step out from behind Wen Yan and stand shoulder to shoulder with her.

She didn’t even spare Brother Lin another glance; she only slightly turned her head and gave a quiet order to the woman at the front, whose bearing was as hard and cold as iron. “Jin Heng, clear the room.”

“Escort these gentlemen outside. Don’t disturb Aunt Bao’s business, and don’t scare the other customers.”

The woman called Jin Heng swept a sharp gaze over Brother Lin and the others, then bowed her head slightly. “Yes, Miss.”

She didn’t even bother with extra words or threats. With just a simple gesture, the others moved like iron tongs to silently and efficiently escort away the men whose legs had already gone weak.

The whole process was swift and caused almost no further disturbance; only when they were escorted out did Brother Lin not even dare raise his head.

The tent curtain fell back into place, shutting out the wind and snow outside, and with them, the ugly farce.

Aunt Bao hurried over to smooth things over, comforting the startled female students and the other customers.

Jin Zijin nodded lightly to Aunt Bao, indicating that it was nothing, then sat back down beside Wen Yan as if everything just now had been a trivial little interruption.

She reached out and gently covered the back of Wen Yan’s hand resting on the table, rubbing it softly. “Your aim was really good, Dr. Wen. You’ve trained?”

Wen Yan looked up and met the woman’s eyes, which were full of admiration and dependence, thick and impossible to untangle.

Wen Yan chuckled and shook her head. “Just luck.”

Only, her luck had always been good; she had never missed her mark.

————————

That is, she never misses.

[cry-laugh] Wherever President Jin goes, she’s always followed by a group of bodyguards.

All of them are women who came down from special forces.