Chapter 86
Last night’s New Year vigil had dragged on past midnight. The two of them returned to the freestanding villa in the manor and stayed up in a dazed, lingering haze until nearly dawn before finally going to sleep.
When Wen Yan opened her eyes again, spring sunlight was already slipping through the crack in the curtains, bright and blinding.
She had woken early, but she couldn’t bear to move.
So she lay on her side, her fingertips tracing Jin Zijin’s brows and eyes.
From the brow bone to the outer corners of her eyes, then down the bridge of her nose, and finally to her lips, pressed lightly together.
The warm light fell across Jin Zijin’s face, softening the cool pallor of her skin into something unexpectedly tender.
The woman’s long lashes rested low like a butterfly with folded wings; her breathing was light and even, still carrying the languor of last night’s afterglow.
Wen Yan’s fingertip had just touched the corner of her mouth when the person in her arms stirred slightly.
Jin Zijin’s lashes fluttered; she slowly opened her eyes.
Sleep still clouded her gaze, dazed and soft, like a beautiful leopard just waking up.
Wen Yan lowered her head and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Her voice was husky but gentle. “Awake? Happy New Year, wife.”
Jin Zijin blinked. Her gaze gradually sharpened; when she clearly saw the person in front of her, the corners of her mouth lifted.
She nestled a little deeper into Wen Yan’s arms, wrapped an arm around her waist, and buried her face in the crook of Wen Yan’s neck. Her voice was soft and muffled with the morning stuffiness. “Happy New Year, wife.”
“Lounge around for another five minutes, then we have to get up.” Wen Yan rubbed her hair; her fingertips slid gently down her back, but she held her even tighter. “We’re going out at noon to pay New Year’s visits to Grandma Ye.”
“Mm.” Jin Zijin agreed, but burrowed even farther into her arms.
Her face was pressed against the side of Wen Yan’s neck; warm skin, a faint citrus scent, and… a little red mark.
Wen Yan’s fingertips brushed lightly over the kiss mark; she lowered her eyes. “Here… there are quite a few marks. You’ll probably have to wear a high-neck base layer today.”
Jin Zijin reached back and caught Wen Yan’s mischievous hand, then nuzzled deeper into her arms. Her tone carried a shameless kind of righteous confidence. “I’m not wearing one.”
“I’d be thrilled if the whole world knew what you did to me.”
So confident.
Wen Yan couldn’t help laughing. She leaned over and kissed her eyes. “Fine.”
“Then let the whole world know.”
Even so, after staying wrapped up in each other for a while, they finally got dressed and went downstairs.
Jin Zijin had even deliberately changed into a high-neck top to cover most of the marks.
——————
When they went to the old residence to pay New Year’s respects, everyone in the family was already there.
Grandma and her parents were sitting on the sofa chatting; the coffee table was piled high with candy and melon seeds, the whole room thick with New Year cheer.
Little Honey had been brought over early that morning and was now curled up by Grandma’s leg, eyes half-closed in a doze. Its tail flicked now and then, looking thoroughly content.
The two of them stepped forward and properly paid their respects to the elders, receiving thick red envelopes in return.
Grandma held Wen Yan’s hand and stuffed candies into it, all while showering her with blessings. “Our Yan Yan worked hard all year. In the new year, you have to eat more sweets and be happy every single day.”
Wen Yan answered obediently. Her hands were full of candy, and her heart felt so sweet it almost overflowed.
Looking at the two of them, Jin Linglong’s gaze swept over Jin Zijin once before he asked very directly, “Zijin, why are you wearing a high collar today? Are you allergic or something?”
As soon as he said that, all the elders’ eyes turned to Jin Zijin.
Zhang Lijun glanced at her daughter, then couldn’t help rolling her eyes at her husband.
Jin Linglong was left bewildered by that look.
Jin Zijin, however, didn’t even blink. She answered calmly, “Yeah. I got caught in the wind yesterday, and today I’ve started breaking out in a rash.”
“But I already took allergy medicine, so it’s fine.”
Jin Linglong nodded and reminded her that spring was warming up and the weather was changing, with more pollen in the air, so she should be careful and not have another reaction.
Wen Yan listened for a bit, then suddenly asked, “Is Zijin allergic to pollen?”
Jin Linglong quickly said, “Not exactly pollen. It’s just that when this child gets to spring and the weather keeps swinging between cold and warm, she doesn’t do well with warm wind.”
“A breeze and she breaks out in a rash; it’s miserable.”
This was Wen Yan’s first time hearing about it. She listened seriously for a moment, then nodded. “Oh, I’ll remember that.”
Her wife was delicate and couldn’t tolerate warm wind.
Just then, Zhang Qingchi’s clear voice came from the doorway, carrying unmistakable New Year cheer: “Auntie Grandma, Uncle, Auntie, Sister Zijin, little brother-in-law… Happy New Year! We’re here to pay you New Year’s respects!”
The rest of the group arrived with their voices.
Zhang Qingchi led Song Yao by the hand, with her own parents and several Zhang family elders behind them, all carrying New Year gifts and wearing festive smiles.
Jin Zijin and Wen Yan immediately stood up to greet them, exchanging New Year blessings with one another.
Jin Linglong and Zhang Lijun also hurried to seat the Zhang elders, and the living room instantly grew lively.
“Wow, the house is decorated so festively this year!”
Zhang Qingchi’s eyes sparkled as she looked around. Her gaze landed on Little Honey, and she immediately crouched down to tease the cat. “Oh my god, Little Honey is even wearing a New Year outfit. It’s too cute!”
Little Honey was teased into meowing, rolling onto its back and letting her pet it.
Song Yao stood off to the side with a faint, gentle smile and nodded slightly toward Jin Zijin and Wen Yan. “Sister Zijin, Sister Wen Yan, Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year, Ms. Song.” Wen Yan smiled back.
Jin Zijin also nodded. Her gaze lingered on her for a moment, then moved away naturally.
She led the group toward the dining table. “Aunt, Uncle, the kitchen just prepared breakfast; it’s all New Year food. Come and eat something?”
Zhang Lijun also quickly called out, “Right, right, little sister, you have to eat a bowl of tangyuan on the first day of the new year; it means reunion. Come sit, come sit.”
Soon, the servants brought out steaming bowls of fermented rice wine tangyuan.
Sweet fragrance mixed with the clean scent of rice wine, along with the aroma of boiled eggs, filling the entire dining room.
The tangyuan in the bowls were round and plump, floating in the steaming rice wine, with two soft-boiled eggs nestled inside; the warm New Year atmosphere hit all at once.
Everyone sat around the table.
The Zhang elders and Jin Linglong’s family chatted about New Year anecdotes, the mood lively and warm.
Zhang Qingchi ate while looking around, her eyes darting everywhere as if searching for something fun.
Wen Yan, as usual, first scooped a tangyuan for Jin Zijin. She blew on it to cool it before putting it into her bowl.
But Jin Zijin wasn’t nearly as restrained. She scooped up a spoonful and held it right to Wen Yan’s lips. “Open up.”
Wen Yan obediently opened her mouth and ate it, the tips of her ears turning slightly hot. She then picked up a piece of brown sugar rice cake and fed it to Jin Zijin. “You eat too.”
Jin Zijin bit off a piece and smiled with curved eyes. “It’s sweet. You should eat one too.”
Their casual intimacy, performed in front of everyone else, carried a different meaning for the people across from them.
As they moved, Jin Zijin’s hair loosened, and her collar slipped down a little. The faint red kiss mark on the side of her neck was exposed so blatantly.
Zhang Qingchi’s eyes lit up instantly.
Her spoon paused; she quickly bumped Song Yao with her elbow, then under the table lightly nudged Song Yao’s shoe with the tip of her foot, making exaggerated eyebrows-and-eyes gestures like she’d discovered some huge secret.
Song Yao looked up.
Her gaze first landed on that faint red mark, then moved upward, clearly seeing the tenderness and indulgence in Jin Zijin’s eyes when she looked at Wen Yan.
Even though she had run into this many times before, Song Yao still felt discouraged by the favoritism in Jin Zijin’s eyes, so full it seemed ready to spill over.
It was the look she had secretly longed for for so many years, yet had never once received.
Song Yao lowered her eyes. Her long lashes hid the emotions churning beneath them, leaving only a trace of almost imperceptible loneliness.
She stirred the tangyuan in her bowl quietly and said nothing.
Zhang Qingchi glanced at her, saw the dimness in her eyes, and tactfully kept quiet.
She only lowered her head and focused on eating, though she still couldn’t help sneaking another look at Jin Zijin’s neck.
“Qingchi, eat your food properly. What are you looking around for?” her mother, Zhang Rongxiu, said with a smile.
Zhang Qingchi immediately straightened up and answered solemnly, “I know, Mom. I was just looking at Auntie’s bowls because they’re pretty.”
Jin Zijin looked at her, raised a brow, but didn’t expose her little schemes.
She just added another spoonful of rice wine to Wen Yan’s bowl, her voice very soft. “Eat slowly; don’t burn yourself.”
Breakfast passed in a warm bustle.
After sitting for a while, the Zhang elders started setting up the mahjong tables and taking their seats.
Zhang Qingchi, however, didn’t stay to play mahjong with the adults. She tugged Song Yao over to Jin Zijin’s side and swayed there, eyes bright. “Sister Zijin, do you have plans this afternoon?”
Jin Zijin wiped the sugar water from the corner of Wen Yan’s lips and looked back at her. “We’re going to Grandma Ye’s house to pay New Year’s respects later. Why?”
“Grandma Ye’s house?” Zhang Qingchi’s eyes brightened even more. She immediately pulled Song Yao closer. “Yao Yao and I don’t have anything else to do today. Can we come with you?”
“I haven’t seen Grandma Ye in a long time; I’d like to wish her a happy new year and chat with her.”
Jin Zijin didn’t answer right away. Instead, she turned to look at Wen Yan, asking with her eyes.
Wen Yan smiled and nodded. “Of course. The more people, the livelier it is; Grandma Ye loves a full house.”
“That’s great! Thank you, little brother-in-law!” Zhang Qingchi cheered and followed her out in high spirits.
——————
Half an hour later, the four of them got into the Jin family’s extended Lincoln. The car drove smoothly out of the manor and toward the military compound where the Ye family lived.
The heater inside was on full blast.
Wen Yan leaned by the window, looking at the scenery; Jin Zijin sat close to her, holding her hand the entire time, her fingertips lightly stroking Wen Yan’s palm. Occasionally she leaned in and whispered a few things in her ear, making Wen Yan’s smile grow brighter and brighter.
Zhang Qingchi sat opposite them, staring at Jin Zijin’s neck for a long time.
At last, she couldn’t hold back.
“Sister Zijin.” She pointed at Jin Zijin’s neck with open amusement. “Your neck there…”
“Tsk, tsk. It’s only the first day of the new year and already this intense. Our little brother-in-law is way too good at this.”
Jin Zijin froze.
She reflexively lifted a hand to touch the side of her neck, only then realizing that when she’d been talking to Wen Yan with her head lowered, her collar had slipped open again.
Her ears went bright red in an instant. She coughed lightly and hurriedly swept her hair forward to cover her neck completely.
“You’re a child; mind your own business.” She glared at Zhang Qingchi, embarrassed and annoyed. “If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll leave you by the side of the road.”
“I’m not a child; I’m already an adult!” Zhang Qingchi clicked her tongue twice, then turned to Wen Yan and gave her a thumbs-up, wagging her brows. “Little brother-in-law, impressive! Being able to keep our Sister Zijin wrapped around your finger like that; I’m impressed!”
Wen Yan’s cheeks instantly warmed too.
She coughed softly, then reached out and squeezed Jin Zijin’s palm, her voice gentle and a little embarrassed. “Stop teasing us.”
“I’m not teasing. I’m telling the truth!” Zhang Qingchi laughed so hard she nearly doubled over.
Song Yao, watching the three of them interact, quietly clenched the hand at her side, the loneliness in her eyes deepening again.
She forced out a faint smile and said softly, “Sister Zijin and Sister Wen Yan really have such a good relationship. It’s so enviable.”
Wen Yan looked up at her when she heard that.
She tightened her grip on Jin Zijin’s hand and spoke very softly, but sincerely. “You’ll meet someone too.”
Song Yao tugged at the corner of her mouth and said nothing more.
She turned to look out at the scenery racing backward outside the window, hiding her emotions in the glass’s reflection.
——————
The car drove steadily into the compound and stopped in front of a two-story building with a small courtyard.
As soon as they pushed open the door, they saw Ye Jianlan and Chi Chunxin waiting at the entrance. Both of them were wearing red New Year sweaters, looking especially festive.
“Happy New Year! We finally got you!” Chi Chunxin greeted them with a smile, giving each of them New Year blessings in turn.
When her gaze landed on Wen Yan, she even winked. “Dr. Wen, new year, new energy; you’re getting more and more impressive. I heard even the national team sent you a banner.”
Wen Yan smiled and returned the greeting, but before she could speak, her gaze passed over the two of them and landed on the figure standing under the corridor.
Her steps paused slightly.
“Senior?” Surprise flashed in her eyes. Then she hurried forward, smiling as she called out, “What are you doing here too?”
The person standing under the corridor was Jiang Linyue, smiling as she looked at her.
Today, she wore a navy coat over a light gray high-neck sweater. She was elegant and poised, with a faint smile in her eyes.
When she saw Wen Yan, that smile deepened a little. She took a few steps forward and came toward her.
“Happy New Year, Wen Yan.” Her voice was clear and gentle. “I came over today to pay New Year’s respects to Grandma Ye. Jianlan and Chunxin were here too, so I stayed a little longer.”
“Happy New Year, Senior.” Wen Yan smiled and stepped up to her, lightly touching hands with her. “I was even thinking of visiting in a few days to bring you a New Year gift. I didn’t expect to run into you here.”
“You were thoughtful.” Jiang Linyue smiled and patted her back. Her gaze fell on Jin Zijin beside her, and she gave a slight nod, her tone polite and warm. “President Jin, Happy New Year.”
Jin Zijin held Wen Yan’s hand and smiled back. “Senior, Happy New Year. Long time no see.”
“All right, all right, enough with the pleasantries.” Chi Chunxin had already dragged Zhang Qingchi over. She winked at the two of them. “Come on in. Grandma Ye is waiting for you inside; she’s been talking about you all morning.”
“Okay.”
After exchanging New Year greetings, the group went into the courtyard together, lively and bustling.
——————
Inside, Grandma Ye was sitting on the living room sofa in a dark red tang suit, her hair neatly combed, looking vigorous and full of spirit.
When she saw everyone come in, her eyes crinkled into a smile and she quickly waved them over.
One by one, everyone stepped forward to pay their respects and offer auspicious New Year blessings.
Zhang Qingchi was the first to rush up, loop her arm through the old lady’s, and sway it, her sweet talk practically dripping with honey. “Happy New Year, Grandma! May you have boundless blessings and a life as long as the Southern Mountains in the new year, and may you be happy every day.”
Grandma Ye was so amused by her that she burst out laughing, patting her hand. “You really do have the sweetest mouth!”
Jin Zijin stepped forward and bowed properly. “Grandma Ye, Happy New Year! I wish you good health and a younger and younger heart!”
“Good, good, all of you are good children.” Grandma Ye smiled and handed out red envelopes one by one.
With Wen Yan having had so much going on at the end of last year, she specially asked more questions.
Was she working hard lately? Were there many surgeries? Was she eating properly? Was her mood still good?
Wen Yan answered each one patiently, her eyes full of warmth.
A group of people sat in the living room chatting, drinking tea, and talking about New Year stories.
Chi Chunxin and Zhang Qingchi huddled together, chattering nonstop about holiday anecdotes and making Grandma Ye laugh until she could hardly stop.
Everyone gathered together; the atmosphere was lively, the whole room filled with warmth.
Song Yao sat in a corner, quietly listening to everyone talk and occasionally sipping tea. Her gaze swept over everyone in the living room before finally settling on Jiang Linyue.
She was turned slightly sideways, listening attentively to Wen Yan, her brows and eyes focused, occasionally nodding or curving her lips into a small smile.
If Jin Zijin felt like ice, then Jiang Linyue was water.
Gentle and warm; she gave off a particularly comfortable feeling.
Song Yao watched for a while, then withdrew her gaze and lowered her head to drink her tea.
After chatting for nearly an hour, Chi Chunxin couldn’t sit still anymore.
She stood up and stretched, smiling as she suggested, “The weather’s so nice today, and the sun’s warm. Let’s not just sit indoors!”
“Why don’t we play badminton? Get some exercise and work off the food. Whoever loses tonight treats everyone to dinner.”
“Great, great!” Zhang Qingchi was the first to raise both hands in agreement and jumped up at once. “I agree! Whoever loses pays; no backing out!”
The suggestion was immediately met with enthusiastic support.
A whole crowd moved out into the courtyard.
The court had already been tidied thoroughly; the badminton net was set up neatly, and by the stone table sat brand-new rackets and a tube of shuttlecocks.
Warm sunlight poured down, and the wind carried the faint fragrance of wintersweet from the courtyard, making everything feel pleasantly comfortable.
“The rules are simple: teams of two, best of three. Whoever loses treats everyone tonight!” Chi Chunxin held up her racket and shouted excitedly, “Everyone choose your partners freely! No stealing!”
Wen Yan looked at Grandma Ye beside her, smiling so kindly, and immediately said with a grin, “Then I’ll team up with Grandma. Grandma was the badminton champion at the military district sports meet when she was young. The two of us together will definitely win.”
“Hey, that won’t do!” Chi Chunxin immediately jumped out and ran to Grandma Ye’s side, hooking her arm and shaking it with an aggrieved look. “Wen Yan, that’s cheating!”
“If you’re on the same team as Grandma, do we even have a chance? No way, no way, I want to be on Grandma’s team!”
She leaned close to Grandma Ye’s ear and blinked, her voice sweet enough to stick. “Grandma, let me be on your team.”
“You want to win so badly! With a master like you, we’ll be unbeatable!”
Grandma Ye was amused into hearty laughter and patted her hand repeatedly. “Good, good, you’re with me then. Our grandparents-and-grandchild team will definitely win!”
“Fine, fine; you got lucky.” Wen Yan smiled and shook her head, then turned to Jin Zijin and naturally took her hand. “Then Zijin and I will be a team. We won’t lose either.”
Jin Zijin tightened her grip on her hand and lowered her head to laugh softly by her ear. “Don’t worry; I definitely won’t drag down our Dr. Wen.”
Zhang Qingchi immediately ran over to Ye Jianlan with her racket raised, laughing as she called out, “Sister Jianlan, we’re a team! Strong together, we’re definitely going to win. Make them treat us tonight!”
Ye Jianlan smiled and nodded, taking the racket from her. “Sure. I’m with you.”
As she spoke, Ye Jianlan’s gaze unconsciously drifted toward Jiang Linyue beside her.
Jiang Linyue had already looked away slightly; her gaze had landed on Song Yao standing in the corner.
She walked over and spoke gently, “Xiao Yao, want to team up?”
Song Yao froze when she heard that nickname.
During the shoot before, for various reasons, she had tried to get in touch with Jiang Linyue.
The two of them got along pretty well in private, but work had gotten busy, and they hadn’t had a chance to interact lately.
Now that they had suddenly met again, it felt a little unfamiliar instead.
After a moment, Song Yao nodded and gave a faint smile. “Okay. Sorry to trouble you again, Senior.”
“But I’m not very good at badminton; I might drag you down.”
“It’s fine. We’re just playing for fun; no pressure.” Jiang Linyue’s voice was very gentle. Her gaze settled on Song Yao’s ankle.
Their conversations had stopped two weeks ago and never continued.
Even New Year’s greetings had been tacitly left unexchanged.
After cutting off contact, Jiang Linyue had checked Song Yao’s WeChat Moments once and seen that the girl seemed to have twisted her ankle while making a cameo in a wuxia drama.
Jiang Linyue paused, then added softly, “If you get tired, say so. We can rest anytime.”
Song Yao’s heart stirred slightly. She nodded and said nothing more.
And so, the pairings were fully decided:
Grandma Ye and Chi Chunxin;
Wen Yan and Jin Zijin;
Ye Jianlan and Zhang Qingchi;
Jiang Linyue and Song Yao.
——————
The match officially began.
The first game was Grandma Ye and Chi Chunxin versus Wen Yan and Jin Zijin.
Everyone tacitly understood that today’s real purpose was to make Grandma Ye happy.
Chi Chunxin kept shouting that she wanted to win, but her racket gave away points left and right.
Either she deliberately sent the ball off target or pretended she couldn’t reach it, all while making excuses nonstop. “Aiya, the wind’s too strong; that point doesn’t count.”
“The sun was in my eyes! Otherwise I definitely would’ve caught it!”
Grandma Ye was laughing so hard she could barely straighten up. She swung her racket and sent the ball back, looking proud. “Watch me; Grandma’s got your back.”
Wen Yan and Jin Zijin also cooperated by throwing the game.
Even when they could have easily returned a shot, they deliberately reacted half a beat late and then said to each other with exaggerated frustration, “My bad, my bad, I missed it.” They acted so seriously it was almost convincing.
When Jin Zijin missed a return, she even leaned close to Wen Yan’s ear and said in a breathy voice, “I’ll make it up to you tonight.”
It made Wen Yan’s cheeks burn so much she almost missed the next shot.
Just like that, Chi Chunxin and Grandma Ye took the win.
The second group was Ye Jianlan and Zhang Qingchi versus Jiang Linyue and Song Yao.
Zhang Qingchi was a total riot.
She tried to look cool while playing, only to fall flat on her backside and make everyone burst out laughing.
Ye Jianlan helplessly pulled her up and patted the dust off her clothes. “You really need to exercise more.”
When Jiang Linyue played, she kept looking after Song Yao.
She sent every easy ball neatly to Song Yao’s side and occasionally reminded her in a low voice, “Watch your footing,” or “Slow down; no rush.”
But in the third and deciding round, Song Yao stumbled while trying to return a shot.
Jiang Linyue, sharp-eyed, noticed her unusual movement first. After smashing a beautiful shot, she immediately ran back to Song Yao’s side and asked quietly, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, thank you, Senior.” Song Yao shook her head, gritting her teeth and enduring the sharp pain in her ankle.
It was the first day of the new year; everyone was having such a good time. She didn’t want to ruin the mood because of herself.
So she forced herself to keep playing. “There are only a few more shots left before we win, Senior. Let’s keep going.”
She slowed her pace, pretending nothing was wrong.
Jiang Linyue’s brow tightened slightly, but she didn’t call her out.
She only said to her, “We’ll just do our best, okay?”
Even so, Jiang Linyue still gave it her all through the whole match.
Seeing Jiang Linyue fully committed, Ye Jianlan had no intention of holding back either. In the final game, the two of them fought it out with everything they had.
The court was full of killing intent; it was practically terrifying.
The two sides played fiercely enough to leave Chi Chunxin, watching from the sidelines, buzzing with excitement as she screamed wildly, “Damn it, Old Ye…!”
“You’re killing it so hard! Do you even know how to be gentle with women!”
“Ah, you heartless woman, sigh… sigh…”
“Old Ye! Ease up on that winner’s mentality!”
“Senior… Senior! Kill her!”
“Yes! Hammer it down hard! Nice, that’s a good shot!”
“Beautiful!”
Under Chi Chunxin’s nonstop cheering, Jiang Linyue and Song Yao still narrowly lost.
And so, the final battle fell to Ye Jianlan and Chi Chunxin’s teams.
Ye Jianlan went completely wild.
Even when facing her own grandmother, she was absolutely merciless, playing with fierce, murderous energy.
Chi Chunxin was no pushover either. She and Grandma Ye were a powerhouse combination, and against Ye Jianlan’s attack, they sent everything right back.
After three games, they crushed Ye Jianlan completely and won in perfect fashion.
The old lady’s face was flushed red with laughter as she held her racket and looked proudly at everyone. “So? My skills haven’t gone rusty yet, have they?”
Everyone immediately gathered around her, praising her nonstop.
“Of course not! Grandma, you’re way too amazing!”
“We’re not even close to your level!”
“Old ginger is spicier!”
Chi Chunxin in particular clung to her arm and showered her with praise until Grandma Ye couldn’t stop laughing.
Sunlight spilled across the courtyard; laughter carried far and wide, full of New Year bustle and joy.
After a satisfying game, a new guest arrived, so Grandma Ye temporarily left to receive them.
Jiang Linyue went to the restroom, and the rest of them sat together on the stone benches in the courtyard drinking afternoon tea and gossiping enthusiastically about the industry.
Song Yao sat in the corner and quietly pulled her pant leg up a little.
Her ankle had swollen slightly; it looked more obvious than before. She gently rubbed it, her brows knitting faintly.
“Twisted it?”
A gentle voice sounded overhead.
Song Yao jerked her head up and saw Jiang Linyue standing in front of her, a bottle of ice-cold mineral water in hand, looking down at her ankle.
“N-no, it’s fine.” Song Yao quickly let her pant leg fall back down and gave a shy smile. “I just twisted it a little by accident; it’s not serious.”
Jiang Linyue said nothing.
She crouched down, handed the bottle of mineral water to Song Yao, and gestured for her to extend her foot.
“Put some ice on it first, or it’ll swell worse later.” Her voice was very gentle, carrying steady concern. “You can’t force yourself when you twist an ankle; the more you push, the worse it gets.”
Looking at her serious expression, Song Yao didn’t refuse again.
She obediently extended her foot. Jiang Linyue wrapped the icy bottle in a towel and gently applied it to her ankle, her movements light and practiced.
The coolness seeped through the towel, carrying a faint warmth with it.
She knew she had been avoiding any further closeness with Jiang Linyue, but the other woman didn’t seem to mind. That made Song Yao feel a little moved. “Thank you, Senior.”
“You’re welcome.” Jiang Linyue looked up at her, eyes warm with a smile. “I’m older than you, so taking care of you is only natural.”
She paused, then added, “After this, go to the hospital and get an X-ray to see whether there’s any bone injury. That way you can feel more at ease.”
Song Yao nodded. Something shifted faintly inside her, and she said nothing more.
By evening, Grandma Ye had kept everyone for dinner.
The table was full of steaming home-style dishes, along with New Year cured meats, braised dishes, and rice wine sent over from Shaoxing.
Everyone sat together, clinking glasses and exchanging New Year blessings, the atmosphere noisy and warm.
At the table, Chi Chunxin and Zhang Qingchi kept trying to outdrink each other, but Ye Jianlan and Jin Zijin stopped them, smiling as they said, “It’s the first day of the new year; don’t drink too much and make fools of yourselves.”
Grandma Ye kept serving everyone food, looking at the roomful of young people with such delight that she couldn’t stop smiling.
It wasn’t until it was completely dark that everyone finally got up to say goodbye.
As they left the Ye family compound, Zhang Qingchi and Song Yao were preparing to follow Jin Zijin’s car back, but Jiang Linyue’s car had already pulled up.
She lowered the window and looked at Song Yao and Zhang Qingchi, speaking gently, “I’ll give you both a ride home; we’re on the way.”
Zhang Qingchi froze, then immediately looked toward Song Yao.
Seeing Song Yao lightly nod, she happily agreed and opened the car door to hop into the back seat. “Sure! Then we’ll trouble Sister Jiang!”
“Senior, you’re really wonderful; beautiful and kind!”
Song Yao also got into the back seat and thanked Jiang Linyue.
The car pulled away smoothly from the compound.
Chi Chunxin clicked her tongue at the sight. “Tsk, our Senior really is…”
As she spoke, she turned and looked at Ye Jianlan, who remained expressionless, and nudged her with her hand. “So considerate.”
“Really considerate, wouldn’t you say, Old Ye?”
Ye Jianlan glanced at her and said calmly, “She just likes taking care of younger people. What’s so surprising about that?”
“Besides, everyone goes through a period of confusion and trial and error.”
Ye Jianlan snorted, then looked at Wen Yan and Jin Zijin. “You two take her back; I won’t be seeing them off.”
“Bye-bye~”
“Bye-bye~”
After the farewells, Wen Yan turned her head and watched Ye Jianlan’s figure disappear into the courtyard, swallowed by the night. After a pause, she asked, “Sister Jianlan… is she angry?”
Jin Zijin and Chi Chunxin both turned to stare at her in surprise.
Wen Yan looked completely baffled and raised a hand to touch her own face. “Is there something on my face?”
Chi Chunxin gave her a thumbs-up. “You’re really good at reading the room, Dr. Wen.”
“No wonder they say doctors also need humanitarian care; you really are something.”
Wen Yan’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked to Jin Zijin for confirmation. “So she really is angry?”
Jin Zijin nodded and gave a definite answer. “Yes.”
“Very angry.”
“Extremely angry.”
“Angry enough to go crazy.”
Chi Chunxin stroked her chin and looked at Ye Jianlan’s retreating back in thought. “Good heavens.”
“What exactly did your senior do to her that she could make Old Ye this murderous? She’s really a genius.”
“I’ve never in my life pushed Old Ye this far. She’s honestly miraculous.”
Chi Chunxin clenched her fist and punched the air. “Mm! I’ve decided, I’m going to learn from Senior properly!”
“I’m going to strive to make Old Ye curse me out next year!”
Wen Yan: …
She didn’t understand the friendship among these three, but she did feel that Ye Jianlan had it rough.
——————
Jiang Linyue drove the two youngsters to the hospital.
On the way, Zhang Qingchi sat in the back seat and only then realized Song Yao had twisted her ankle because she was rubbing it.
Zhang Qingchi looked self-reproachful. “Yao Yao, you twisted your ankle and didn’t tell me? It’s all my fault; I was too busy playing and didn’t notice at all.”
“It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt much.” Song Yao smiled and patted her hand reassuringly. “I didn’t want to spoil everyone’s fun.”
“It’s swollen and you still say it doesn’t hurt!” Zhang Qingchi frowned and immediately looked up toward the front seat. “Sister Jiang, with Yao Yao in this state, should we hurry to the hospital and get an X-ray?”
“Mm, it’s best to get one now and rule out the risk of a hairline fracture.” Jiang Linyue’s voice was steady; through the rearview mirror, she glanced at Song Yao. “The earlier it’s dealt with, the better. Don’t leave any aftereffects.”
She paused, then added, “I already spoke to my former classmates there. We can go straight over now and get checked very quickly.”
Song Yao froze.
She looked up into the rearview mirror and met Jiang Linyue’s gentle gaze. A hard-to-describe warmth surged through her heart.
A little surprised, a little moved.
“You… you already arranged everything?” Her voice was soft. “That’s too much trouble for you, Senior.”
“It’s no trouble.” Jiang Linyue smiled and turned the steering wheel, changing direction. “Just a small thing.”
The car soon arrived at the hospital.
Because Jiang Linyue had contacted a colleague in the ER in advance, everything went smoothly. She brought over a wheelchair, let Song Yao sit down, and pushed her to the imaging room for the exam, her movements practiced and gentle.
While they waited for the results, Zhang Qingchi sat in the waiting area, her eyes darting around.
She looked toward the billing window, then at the two people sitting side by side, and suddenly stood up. She patted Song Yao’s shoulder. “I’m going to the restroom and pay the examination fee; you two wait here.”
Before either of them could speak, she was gone in a flash.
Just before leaving, she even winked at Song Yao and whispered, “Talk to Sister Jiang properly; I get it!”
Song Yao watched her run off, both exasperated and amused, but she didn’t call her back.
The ER waiting area was quiet.
Only the nurses’ station could be heard faintly in the distance; the smell of disinfectant was light, making the place feel especially lonely and cold.
Song Yao sat in the wheelchair, looking at the empty corridor, her fingertips lightly rubbing the armrest, when suddenly she drifted into a daze.
The scene before her was too familiar.
It was like a key had suddenly unlocked a memory sealed for years.
Back in high school, she had also been like this; after falling while skiing, she’d sat on an ER bed. It had been the same disinfectant smell, the same quiet corridor.
Back then, Jin Zijin had brought Zhang Qingchi and come to the hospital every day after school.
They brought her homework, explained problems to her, and stayed with her through rehabilitation training, gentle and patient.
At that time, she thought, how could there be such a good person?
She kept wanting to get closer to her. The closer she got, the more she felt like Icarus chasing the sun, someone who would be melted by that dazzling light in the very process of pursuit.
How could wax wings fly in front of the sun?
Her love was so timid, so lonely, so silent.
So in the end, she fell.
She really envied Wen Yan, and she also hated her own inferiority.
She should have let it go.
But why, upon seeing the kiss mark on Jin Zijin’s neck, upon seeing her and Wen Yan’s fingers tightly interlaced, upon seeing their unguarded intimacy, did those obsessions and that unwillingness surge even more violently instead?
Why does loving someone and not getting them hurt this much?
She was still lost in thought when Jiang Linyue’s voice sounded beside her, pulling her back. “What are you thinking about? Does your foot hurt a lot?”
She came back to herself and looked up at the woman standing before her.
Jiang Linyue was simply dressed; her brows and eyes were clear and gentle, her bearing steady and capable.
Right now, she was bending slightly and lowering her eyes, naturally checking the swelling around Song Yao’s ankle.
For one instant, Song Yao seemed to see again the older sister who had accompanied her through those difficult years.
She froze.
Then an absurd thought surfaced in her mind. Without any hesitation, and with a little courage born of desperation, she asked directly, “Senior, do you have a girlfriend right now?”
Jiang Linyue was still bent over checking the swelling in her ankle when she heard this; her movements stopped abruptly.
She slowly raised her head and met Song Yao’s bright eyes, which were carrying a trace of nervousness; for a moment, she was stunned.