Chapter 83

Wang Fu’s invitation had come out of nowhere. Given Jin Zijin’s situation, Wen Yan still sent her a message: “There’s a department year-end dinner tonight. Do you want to come?”

Less than ten seconds after she sent it, Jin Zijin called.

Wen Yan walked to the window at the end of the corridor, answered, and lifted the phone to her ear. Before she could speak, she heard the woman’s amused voice on the other end. “What is it? Dr. Wen is bringing this family member out in public now?”

“Master asked about you,” Wen Yan said, leaning against the wall and looking out at the sunset slowly sinking in the distance. The corners of her mouth lifted despite herself. “So, are you coming or not?”

“I’ll pass.” Jin Zijin sounded amused; there was also the faint clatter of typing in the background, so she was probably still working at the company. “Your department’s year-end dinner is an internal thing. If I showed up as an outsider, everyone would be stiff. Nobody would really relax and have fun.”

“You should go and unwind properly with everyone. You’ve had to put up with so many grievances before; you deserve to have some fun.”

She paused, and her voice softened a little more. “Text me when it’s over. I’ll pick you up and take you home a little later, okay?”

She knew the invitation was abrupt, and that Jin Zijin would probably not come. But hearing how thoughtful she was, Wen Yan still felt her heart soften.

“Okay.” Wen Yan answered, the smile in her voice unmistakable. “Then I’ll call you when it’s over.”

“Mhm. Drink less. You still have to go pay New Year’s visits to Director Wang tomorrow; don’t forget.” Jin Zijin reminded her several times before hanging up.

Wen Yan held the phone and leaned against the wall, watching the evening sun turn the sky orange-red. The smile at the corner of her lips stayed there for a long time.

It had only been two or three months, yet it already felt much longer.

She was growing more and more used to Jin Zijin’s presence; used to her slipping into her life, taking part in her days, tying herself to Wen Yan’s future.

If love was like this, then she really was unbelievably lucky.

——————

At six in the evening, the department dinner began on time.

Warm yellow light filled the private room of the homestyle restaurant; the air was thick with clinking glasses and the sound of wine being poured, all lively warmth.

Dean Wang Fu sat at the seat of honor, looking at the room full of disciples and subordinates with a relaxed smile. Her usually stern face was all festive cheer.

By the time Wen Yan arrived, everyone was already there. Xiao Qiu was the first to rush over and drag her to the seat beside Wang Fu. “Teacher Wen, you’re finally here! Dean Wang asked about you several times!”

Everyone at the table looked at her with smiles; the earlier caution and wariness were gone, leaving only goodwill and admiration.

Director Li, whom she knew well, waved her over with a smile and told her to sit quickly. “Wen Yan, today you’re the main character. You have to sit next to the seat of honor!”

Wen Yan greeted everyone with a smile and sat down beside Wang Fu.

Wang Fu patted her shoulder, pride evident in her voice. “This year, you’ve worked hard. You’ve also suffered.”

“Master, it wasn’t hard, and I wasn’t wronged.” Wen Yan shook her head and lifted the juice in front of her, saying earnestly, “Without your trust and teaching, there wouldn’t be the me of today. I’d like to toast you.”

“Good, good.” Wang Fu smiled and lifted her own juice to clink with hers before tipping her head back for a sip.

The atmosphere at the table grew even livelier.

After several rounds of drinking, a few doctors who had previously kept their distance from Wen Yan during the scandal came over with cups of water in their hands, guilt written all over their faces. “Dr. Wen, what happened before was our fault. We followed the rumors and avoided you at every turn. We’re here to apologize.”

“We’ll drink this cup and apologize to you.”

Wen Yan picked up the juice in front of her and stood with a smile. “It’s all in the past; it’s nothing. We’re all coworkers, so there’s no need to take it to heart.”

They hadn’t expected her to be so magnanimous. They froze for a moment, then felt even more ashamed and drank two cups of Sprite in a row before returning to their seats.

Xiao Qiu bounced up to Wen Yan with her cup held high, eyes bright and full of admiration. “Teacher Wen, let me toast you.”

“You’re the kind of person I want to become in the future. I’ll definitely study hard under you and never let down your teaching!”

Wen Yan was amused by her solemn expression and clinked cups with her. “Alright. I’ll wait to see you become an orthopedist who can stand on her own.”

Laughter and chatter rose and fell in the private room. Everyone talked about the interesting things they’d encountered over the year, complained about troublesome patients, and discussed their hopes for the new year; it was lively with the human warmth of ordinary life.

Sitting there, looking at the scene before her, Wen Yan felt a flicker of dazedness.

She had been in this department for nearly five years. At previous year-end dinners, she had always been the quiet one in the corner, never talking, never joining in the fun, leaving early after eating, like an outsider.

She had been used to being invisible in a crowd since she was little; she didn’t want attention, didn’t like excitement, and only wanted to stay quietly by herself.

But at this moment, when everyone’s eyes were on her, full of admiration, goodwill, and affection, she didn’t feel repelled.

Was it because she had become more confident?

Confident and strong enough to no longer fear anyone’s scrutiny.

Or was it because behind her, there was now someone who would always stand by her side?

By the time the dinner ended, it was almost nine at night.

Everyone said their goodbyes at the restaurant entrance. Before Wang Fu left, she patted Wen Yan’s shoulder and said with a smile, “A few days from now is Little New Year. If nothing comes up, bring Zijin home for a simple meal.”

“Your senior aunt has been talking about it for ages. She said she wants to make you the sour cabbage and beef dumplings you like.”

Wen Yan froze for a moment, then hurriedly nodded. “Okay, Master. We’ll definitely come.”

Wang Fu smiled and waved before leaving with her family.

Wen Yan stood outside the restaurant. The night wind carried a touch of chill and brushed her face, but it didn’t feel cold.

She took out her phone, about to call Jin Zijin, when she saw the familiar Audi parked beneath a streetlamp not far away.

The car door opened, and Jin Zijin got out.

She was wearing a beige cashmere coat; her long hair lifted slightly in the wind. The moment she saw Wen Yan, her eyes lit up and she walked over quickly.

“You’re done?” Jin Zijin reached her in a few steps, naturally adjusting Wen Yan’s scarf and burying half her face in the soft cashmere. Her fingertips brushed Wen Yan’s cool cheek. “Why is your face so cold? Did you drink?”

“I didn’t. I only had some juice.” Wen Yan took the opportunity to wrap her arms around her waist and bury her face in the crook of her neck. She inhaled deeply the familiar citrus scent on her body, her voice muffled. “You waited a long time?”

“Not long. I only got here ten minutes ago.” Jin Zijin hugged her back and gently patted her on the back. “Did you have fun?”

“Yes.” Wen Yan nodded, then lifted her head, eyes shining. “Master said that in a few days, for Little New Year, we should go to his house for dinner. Senior Aunt is going to make dumplings for us.”

“Good.” Jin Zijin smiled and pinched her cheek. “That works out perfectly. I don’t have much to do tomorrow, so I can go visit the two elders.”

The two of them held hands and got into the car. Warm air rushed over them, dispersing the chill of the night.

Jin Zijin told the driver to start the car and head home. Wen Yan leaned back in her seat and watched the lights streak by outside, the smile at the corners of her mouth never fading.

When the car drove into the underground garage of their complex and came to a smooth stop, Jin Zijin turned her head and saw Wen Yan looking at her without blinking, eyes bright.

“What are you looking at?” Jin Zijin smiled and leaned over, pinching her cheek.

“You.” Wen Yan met her gaze openly, reached out to hook her arms around Jin Zijin’s neck, and took the initiative to kiss her lips.

The juice tasted sweet, and the more they tasted it, the sweeter it became.

Jin Zijin froze for a moment, then took control, pressing a hand to the back of Wen Yan’s neck and deepening the kiss.

In the cramped car, their breathing intertwined as the temperature rose bit by bit.

Only when they were both breathless did Jin Zijin let her go. She rested her forehead against Wen Yan’s, her breathing still uneven, and asked hoarsely, “Why are you suddenly so proactive?”

“Nothing.” Wen Yan’s cheeks were red; her fingertips gently rubbed the back of Jin Zijin’s neck, her voice soft. “I just suddenly felt that having you here is really nice.”

Jin Zijin smiled. Lowering her head, she took Wen Yan’s lips in a soft kiss and murmured tenderly, “Being able to keep you company is the best thing for me.”

——————

Within a few days, everything finally settled down.

Zhang Sheng and Song Yu had their medical licenses revoked and, on suspicion of non-public bribery and provoking trouble, were handed over to the judiciary. Their reputations were ruined beyond repair.

The hospital issued an official notice, clarifying all the rumors about Wen Yan, and also published a long article on the front page of the official website, commending her superb medical skill and physician’s compassion in Lin Weiwei’s surgery.

The official thank-you from the national figure skating team made her a somewhat well-known young orthopedics expert in the field; even patients from out of town came specifically to seek her out for surgery.

All the malice that had once tried to drag her into the mud ultimately became the stepping-stone that carried her upward.

In such a situation, Little New Year arrived, and the New Year atmosphere in Jing City grew even stronger.

Early in the morning, the room was filled with the sound of electronic firecrackers. Sunlight slipped through the gap in the curtains and warmed the floor.

When Wen Yan woke, the spot beside her was already cold.

She rubbed her eyes, sat up, and put on a robe before getting out of bed. As she opened her bedroom door and headed downstairs, she heard sizzling from the kitchen, along with Little Honey’s meowing.

By the staircase, she saw Jin Zijin wearing a beige apron, frying eggs. The pan hissed as the aroma filled the air.

Jin Zijin didn’t know many dishes; frying eggs was one of the few she could do.

These days, they hadn’t let the housekeeper come over, so Wen Yan had been eating eggs every day.

Thankfully, her constitution was good; otherwise she would have been overheated from it all.

Still, it was rare for her wife to cook, and every bit of it was sincere. Wen Yan didn’t dare complain too much, so she let it be.

Little Honey squatted by the counter, looking up and meowing, wanting a bite. Jin Zijin lightly tapped its head. “You greedy little cat. This is for your mama. You can’t eat it.”

Wen Yan leaned against the railing and looked at the scene before her, her heart full.

So this was a wife, a child, and a warm stove at home?

If she could live like this for the rest of her life, that would truly be a fairy’s life.

Jin Zijin turned her head and saw Wen Yan leaning at the stairway entrance. She smiled and waved her over. “You’re awake? Go wash up. Breakfast will be ready soon; I fried you the old-style eggs you like.”

Wen Yan walked over, wrapped her arms around her waist from behind, and pressed her face against her back. Her voice still carried the soft drowsiness of just waking. “Why is my wife so capable?”

She had heard Jin Zijin call her wife so many times that she’d picked it up too, and now the word came out extremely smoothly.

“Calling me capable makes it sound like I’ve lost value. Next time, praise me as capable instead.” Jin Zijin smiled and patted her hand. “Go wash up. Or the eggs’ll get cold.”

After breakfast, the two of them lounged on the sofa and played with the cat for a good while, getting clingy and affectionate.

At three in the afternoon, after changing clothes, they finally took their gifts and headed out, arriving on time at the residential compound where Wang Fu lived.

It was an old professor’s building at Peking University; the courtyard was full of pines, cypresses, and wintersweet. When the wind blew, a faint fragrance drifted through the air, carrying a scholarly quiet.

Their senior aunt was already waiting at the door. When she saw them coming, she immediately greeted them with a smile. “Yan Yan, Zijin, you’re finally here! Come upstairs quickly; your teacher is waiting for you upstairs!”

“Senior Aunt, Happy Little New Year.” Wen Yan smiled and handed over the gift. “Just a small token of appreciation. Wishing you and Master health and all the best in the new year.”

“You just got here; why bring gifts too?” Senior Aunt chided, though she was smiling so hard she could hardly close her mouth. She took the gift and led Wen Yan upstairs by the hand. “Come upstairs quickly. The house is lively today. My daughter has come back too; you two probably haven’t met her much, have you?”

Wen Yan froze, then realized she was talking about Wang Fu’s daughter, Wang Yan.

She had indeed seen her a few times, but only briefly.

Wang Yan was ten years older than her, an engineer at one of the country’s top aircraft carrier design institutes. She spent most of her time at a research institute out of town and rarely returned to Jing City.

In Wen Yan’s memory, Wang Yan had been an extremely determined single woman, and at over thirty, she had never dated anyone.

Back when Senior Aunt had been pressuring her to marry, Wang Yan had directly taken an out-of-town project and stayed away for five years; she barely even came back for the New Year.

She hadn’t expected her to come back for Little New Year this time.

The two of them followed Senior Aunt upstairs. The moment they opened the door, the rich scent of dumplings and dishes greeted them.

Wang Fu was sitting on the living room sofa reading papers on a tablet. Seeing them come in, she immediately put down the iPad and waved with a smile. “Yan Yan, Zijin, you’re here? Come, sit.”

“Master, Happy Little New Year.” Wen Yan and Jin Zijin greeted in unison and handed over the stone knife gift box they’d prepared for Wang Fu. “Master, we got you a little present. See if you like it.”

Wang Fu took the box, and the moment she opened it, her eyes lit up.

She picked up the stone knife and looked it over and over, her fingertips brushing the engraving on the handle as she smiled from ear to ear. “Good! A good piece! Yan Yan, your craftsmanship keeps getting better! Master loves it!”

Senior Aunt smiled from the side. “Your master was just talking about it the other day, saying Yan Yan’s stone knives are good. I didn’t expect you to bring one over for him. You really are thoughtful.”

Just as they were talking, footsteps came from the kitchen door.

Wen Yan looked up and saw a tall woman in a black turtleneck sweater walking out. She resembled Wang Fu by about seventy percent and had a calm, capable temperament; it was Wang Yan.

Behind her followed a young woman in a beige knitted dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, gentle eyebrows and eyes, her lower abdomen slightly rounded. She looked to be five or six months pregnant and was holding a plate of washed fruit.

Wen Yan and Jin Zijin both froze.

Wang Yan saw them and walked over with a smile, extending her hand first. “Wen Yan, long time no see. I’m Wang Yan. You must be President Jin, right? I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Sis Wang Yan, long time no see.” Wen Yan quickly shook her hand, then nodded and smiled at the woman behind her.

“This is my wife, Su Qinghe.” Wang Yan naturally put an arm around the woman beside her, every movement full of protectiveness, the tenderness in her eyes impossible to hide. “Qinghe, this is Wen Yan; my dad’s most prized disciple. Just call her Sister Wen Yan.”

“And this is President Jin, Zijin.”

Su Qinghe smiled gently; her voice was soft, like the flow of Jiangnan water. “Sister Wen Yan, Sister Zijin, hello. Please sit; I washed some fruit for you.”

She set the fruit plate on the coffee table, carefully protecting her belly the whole time.

Wang Yan kept a hand on her arm from start to finish, afraid she might bump into something. The nervousness on her face stood in stark contrast to her calm and capable air.

The group settled onto the sofa. Senior Aunt busied herself pouring tea. Wang Fu was still admiring the stone knife in her hands, unable to stop saying what a good thing it was.

Watching how carefully Wang Yan protected Su Qinghe, Wen Yan was full of surprise.

The Wang Yan in her memory had been fiercely independent, contemptuous of marriage and family.

Back when Senior Aunt had been urging her to marry, she’d stood in front of the whole family and said, “I’ll never get married in this life, and I certainly won’t have children,” angering Senior Aunt so much that she didn’t speak to her for half a month.

She hadn’t expected that in just a few years, not only had she married, but her partner was pregnant and she was about to become a mother.

Jin Zijin was even more surprised. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at Su Qinghe’s belly and stayed stunned for a long time.

Wang Yan looked at their shocked expressions and couldn’t help laughing. She took the initiative to say, “You’re not surprised that two women can still have children, are you?”

Wen Yan smiled a little awkwardly. “Not that… it’s just that you’re married, and that part… mm, it’s a bit surprising.”

After all, Wen Yan had come for two years of New Year’s dinners, and every time her senior sister and Senior Aunt had been arguing nonstop.

“Then was then; now is now.” Wang Yan smiled, reaching for Su Qinghe’s hand and gently rubbing the back of it, her eyes full of tenderness. “After I met Qinghe, things I used to think were boring somehow all became interesting.”

Su Qinghe leaned against her shoulder and smiled softly, her cheeks faintly red.

Wang Yan waved them over. “Come, come, sit down and have some fruit first.”

Wen Yan and Jin Zijin sat down. Jin Zijin very naturally started chatting with them.

As same-sex partners, the things they cared about were almost the same.

For example, how many months along the baby was; whether pregnancy was hard; and why they didn’t use an artificial womb.

Su Qinghe was a singer and two years younger than Wen Yan.

They got together last year, registered their marriage very quickly, and then started thinking about having a child.

The reason was simple: Su Qinghe was afraid Wang Yan wouldn’t be serious and would run away.

As for why she was personally giving birth herself…

Su Qinghe gently stroked her lower abdomen, her movements very light, her gaze soft. “I just think there’s a huge difference between a child that’s biologically mine and one I personally gave birth to.”

“It’s like the difference between a father and a mother. I’m afraid that if the child is born through an artificial womb and it’s too easy, then if she turns out not good in one way or another, the sunk cost is too low and I won’t love her.”

Su Qinghe looked up at Jin Zijin, her eyes open and honest. “I carry this selfish gene, so I’m treating it as a kind of self-imposed restraint.”

Everyone has different ideas. Su Qinghe was young, but her thoughts were frank and clear-eyed.

Jin Zijin immediately looked at her with new respect and admiration.

She began to understand why Wang Yan, who looked so independent and composed, had fallen for her so completely.

Jin Zijin cupped her hands in congratulations, her tone full of envy. “That’s amazing. Congratulations on the baby girl.”

She truly was envious.

She had grown up in a loving family; her parents loved each other and the household was harmonious. She had always believed that building a family with the person you loved and having a cute baby was the happiest thing in the world.

It was just that before, when she and Wen Yan were together, Wen Yan’s wounds from her original family hadn’t healed yet, so she had never brought it up, afraid of touching Wen Yan’s sadness.

But at this moment, seeing Wang Yan and Su Qinghe, she still couldn’t hide the envy in her heart.

“Congratulations to you too.” Wang Yan smiled and waved it off, then looked at Jin Zijin. “My dad always mentions you to me. He said Yan Yan found a particularly good partner who takes very good care of her. Now that I’ve seen you, the rumors are indeed well deserved.”

Wang Fu beamed, all joy at becoming a grandfather. He said to Jin Zijin and Wen Yan, “Once the baby’s born, I’ll officially retire and stay home to take care of my grandchild and enjoy a peaceful life.”

“I’ve spent my whole life practicing medicine and saving people; after being busy for so many years, it’s time to rest.”

“Congratulations, Master; you’re going to be a grandfather!” Wen Yan and Jin Zijin congratulated him in unison. Looking at Wang Fu’s smiling face, with every wrinkle relaxed, they were happy for him too.

Wen Yan turned her head and saw Jin Zijin still looking at Su Qinghe’s belly, her eyes full of undisguised envy and softness, even the corners of her mouth carrying a faint smile.

Seeing her like that, Wen Yan suddenly felt as if something had pricked her heart; it was sore and soft at once.

Her family of origin was not good.

Her parents favored sons over daughters; one was a performative type, the other a crazed type; both were equally tormenting.

Because of that, she had always felt that children were an investment product for parents, a tool to extract and exploit.

So Wen Yan had never thought she’d get married, much less have a child.

How could someone who’d never had a happy childhood give a child a happy life?

Only a child like Jin Zijin, who grew up in love, would look forward to a new life so joyfully.

Only then would she feel that having a child with the person she loved was an incomparably happy thing.

If…

If…

If she still couldn’t accept that they might have a child, if their lives were heading in different directions, then would they split up in the future?

They would, wouldn’t they.

The thought rose up, and endless panic followed, making Wen Yan unable to sit still for no reason.

She began to feel afraid; her hand on her knee curled up, and her stomach churned, even giving her a faint urge to vomit.

——————

Soon it was dinnertime. Senior Aunt brought out the boiled dumplings and set them on the table; the spread was full of dishes, all of them Wen Yan’s favorites.

Wang Fu brought out the treasured red wine and poured a glass for Jin Zijin and Wang Yan. Su Qinghe was pregnant, and Wen Yan still had to work the next day, so everyone else drank juice.

The atmosphere at the table was especially warm. Wang Fu and Wang Yan chatted about family matters, Senior Aunt kept putting food in Wen Yan and Jin Zijin’s bowls, and Su Qinghe occasionally chimed in with a smile. The room was full of laughter.

Wen Yan sat among them, looking at the lively table, but her mind was elsewhere and she didn’t have much appetite.

During the meal, Wang Fu raised his glass and looked at Wen Yan, his tone full of emotion. “Yan Yan, this cup is from Master to you.”

“This year, you suffered grievances and bore pressure, but you didn’t disgrace your master, and you didn’t disgrace Peking University Orthopedics. Master thanks you.”

“Master, please don’t say that.” Wen Yan quickly stood with her juice in hand, her eyes slightly hot. “Without your cultivation and trust, there would be no me today.”

“You stood by me when I was at my hardest and believed in me. I’ll remember that kindness for the rest of my life. Taking care of you is what I should do.”

“Good, good.” Wang Fu nodded with a smile and drank the wine in her cup, pride filling her eyes.

Senior Aunt also smiled and said, “Yan Yan, your master always tells me that the disciple he’s most proud of in his whole life is you.”

“Back when he pretended to be sick and stayed in the hospital, you ran around taking care of him every day; you were even more attentive than a biological daughter. We’ve kept it all in mind.”

“From now on, this place is your second home. You can come back for a meal any time, understand?”

Wen Yan’s throat tightened slightly. She nodded hard, her voice a little hoarse. “Thank you, Senior Aunt.”

Under the table, Jin Zijin quietly took her hand, gently rubbing the back of it with her fingertips to comfort her wordlessly.

Wen Yan turned her head and looked at her. Jin Zijin gave her a tender smile, her eyes full of concern and support.

——————

The meal lasted nearly two hours, full of warmth and noise.

After dinner, they sat for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, Wen Yan and Jin Zijin got up to take their leave.

Wang Yan and Su Qinghe saw them downstairs. Wang Fu and Senior Aunt stood at the doorway, repeatedly reminding them to be careful on the way and to come over for New Year’s dinner.

By the time they left the family compound, night had fully fallen.

On Little New Year’s night, firecrackers sounded everywhere. Far off in the night sky, fireworks burst from time to time, their brilliant light illuminating half the sky.

The wintersweet grove at the entrance of the family compound was in full bloom. With a breeze, pale yellow petals drifted down lightly; the cool, subtle fragrance mingled with the faint smell of firecrackers in the air, full of New Year atmosphere.

Wen Yan’s emotions were still drifting, and she couldn’t quite come back to herself.

Jin Zijin noticed her absent-mindedness. Holding her hand, she asked softly, “You ate so much just now. Let’s walk along the riverside; it’ll help us digest.”

“Okay.” Wen Yan smiled and nodded, letting her lead her toward Binjiang Road.

At night, Binjiang Road was very quiet. Only the occasional strolling couple passed by, and a few young people on bicycles streaked past quickly.

The wintersweet grove beside the walkway stretched on and on, its faint fragrance drifting through the air. Across the river, the city lights glittered brilliantly; the New Year countdown screen on the skyscrapers flickered on and off, reflected in the river and broken into shimmering fragments by the ripples.

Hand in hand, they walked slowly over the fallen wintersweet petals. Little by little, Wen Yan’s mood settled down.

After walking for a while, Wen Yan drew in a deep breath of the plum-scented night breeze and looked at the boats passing on the river. Then she suddenly said softly, “It’s already spring.”

“This year’s a leap month, so there’s one more month.”

Jin Zijin tightened her grip on Wen Yan’s hand, tucking both of Wen Yan’s hands into the pockets of her coat to warm them. Her fingertips gently rubbed Wen Yan’s chilled fingers. “It may be spring officially, but there are still several days until New Year’s Eve.”

“This damn weather is still cold. Don’t get chilled.”

“True.” Wen Yan nodded, looking at the distant lights, and gave a soft sigh. “It’s just that this year went by so fast.”

So fast it felt like she had still been spending an entire night in the operating room for a difficult pelvic surgery at the start of the year, and then in the blink of an eye, it was already the end of the year.

But when she thought it through carefully, a lot had happened this year.

She had met the person she liked, substituted into a marriage, gotten married, and confessed her feelings to the person she liked…

She had reached the peak and fallen into the valley; she had experienced overwhelming malice and also received unconditional love.

After all the twists and turns, there was someone by her side she wanted to spend her life with.

Fate was truly mysterious.

“Back in previous years, how did you spend this time?” Jin Zijin turned to look at her. The warm streetlight fell on her face, making the tenderness in her eyes especially clear.

“Why else?” Wen Yan smiled, her tone very calm. “Most of the time I was on department duty, covering shifts for coworkers whose families were out of town. On New Year’s Eve I’d be in the duty room, eating a bowl of instant dumplings with the Spring Festival Gala on. That counted as celebrating.”

“Sometimes I wasn’t on duty; then I’d go to my grandfather’s house for a meal, but I never stayed more than half an hour before leaving.”

She paused, slowing her steps a little as she looked down at the stone path under her feet. “In my parents’ eyes, there was only my cousin and my older brother.”

“The New Year’s Eve table always had the dishes my brother liked. They talked about my brother’s work, and I sat there like an unnecessary outsider, so I rarely went back for New Year’s.”

Jin Zijin stopped walking and turned to hold her.

She pulled Wen Yan fully into her arms, holding her tightly, resting her chin on Wen Yan’s shoulder and gently patting her back like she was soothing a wronged child.

She didn’t say anything; she just used the embrace to tell her that she was here, and she would stay with her.

Wen Yan buried herself in her embrace, the tip of her nose slightly sour.

Back then, whenever these things were mentioned, she would pretend to be calm and could even joke about them.

But now, she was able to speak of her grievances and unwillingness.

Because she knew that now that Jin Zijin was here, she could see every wound on her body, every bit of grievance.

So she could rip open those fleshly granulations that had masqueraded as healed wounds, let the festering rot and pus inside flow out, and truly heal the wounds that had never been seen.

If Jin Zijin wasn’t by her side…

What would she do then?

“Things are different this year.” Jin Zijin lowered her head and kissed her neck, her voice so tender it seemed ready to melt into water. “This year, you have me.”

“On New Year’s Eve we’ll go back to the old house. My parents, grandparents, and my great-aunt’s family will all be there. It’ll be lively. We’ll make you the dumplings you like, keep New Year’s vigil until midnight, and give you the biggest red envelope.”

“On the first day of the new year, we’ll go pay New Year’s visits to Grandma Ye’s house. There’ll be a whole room full of people; it’ll be very lively.”

Wen Yan held her waist and nodded obediently. “Mm.”

Then she tightened her embrace. Jin Zijin smiled, a little nervous, and pinched her hand. “But I’m a little worried you might think there are too many people and it’ll be too noisy.”

She looked up at Wen Yan and tucked the hair at her temple behind her ear. “If you don’t like it, then we won’t go.”

“We can find a warm place and go out to play instead; Southeast Asia, the Southern Hemisphere—anywhere you like is fine.”

“No, it’s not like that.” Wen Yan lifted her head and looked down at her, her eyes brightening. The corners of her mouth curved, her eyes full of anticipation. “It sounds like it’d be fun.”

“I’ve never spent New Year’s with this many people before, all lively and bustling.”

Since she was little, she had envied classmates whose families would gather together for the New Year, making dumplings, setting off fireworks, keeping vigil, the whole house full of laughter.

Seeing the anticipation in her eyes, Jin Zijin’s hanging heart finally settled. She hooked a finger under Wen Yan’s nose. “Silly. From now on, every New Year, I’ll spend it with you. Lively and bustling; I’ll never let you eat instant dumplings alone again.”

Wen Yan smiled and bent down to leave a kiss on her lips.

They continued walking hand in hand. There were few people on the path, only the occasional burst of fireworks in the distance, exploding in the night sky and slowly fading away.

The warm breeze wrapped loosely around the two of them, the dark fragrance of wintersweet lingering at the tip of the nose. Even time seemed to slow down, slow enough for them to see the love in each other’s eyes clearly, slow enough for them to plan, little by little, each future New Year that belonged to them.

As they walked, Wen Yan suddenly stopped and looked at Jin Zijin, asking seriously, “Zijin, you really want a child, don’t you?”

Jin Zijin answered frankly, “Mm. I do.”

“Especially today, seeing Sis Wang Yan and Qinghe like that, I want one even more.”

She emphasized the last two words especially heavily, and Wen Yan heard the firmness in her tone.

After thinking for a moment, she couldn’t help but ask, “Although… although I did say before that I’d consider having a child…”

“If… I mean if… after thinking it through carefully, I still don’t want a child…”

Wen Yan stopped walking, took Jin Zijin’s hands in both of hers, and looked down into her eyes. Gathering her courage, she asked, “Would you choose to divorce me?”

Jin Zijin froze at once.

She looked up at Wen Yan’s serious expression and was dazed for a moment. “What do you mean by that?”

“You mean, if I absolutely want a child, you’d divorce me?”

Jin Zijin took a step forward, gripping Wen Yan’s hand, her brows tightly furrowed. “Or do you think I’d give you up because I want a child?”

Wen Yan couldn’t answer. Looking at Jin Zijin, who was suddenly pressing in on her, all the words stuck in her throat.

Jin Zijin’s gaze turned cold. She tightened her grip on Wen Yan’s hand, giving the order as if issuing a command. “Wen Yan, speak.”