“Wow, just like before.”
“…”
“I like Li Yunli!” Facing the biting cold wind, Ji Zhenshi shrank her neck, but her voice rang out clear and strong.
Li Yunli couldn’t help laughing. She really wished she could shout it to the whole world.
Every time they did something they used to do together in the past, Ji Zhenshi couldn’t resist confessing her feelings once more, as if trying to make up for all the regrets from her days of secret infatuation.
Let her have at it. She needed to resolve those lingering youthful heartaches on her own.
After all, Ji Zhenshi’s crush had spanned from innocent, fumbling youth to the independent adult she was now. It was bound to have left plenty of regrets behind.
The chance to make up for them was another quiet joy in life.
As they drove along, Ji Zhenshi suddenly came to a stop and refused to budge.
Li Yunli leaned over in surprise and followed her gaze. There was a street vendor selling balloons.
Ji Zhenshi’s eyes fixed on them with longing as a silly smile spread across her face.
She probably realized it was childish to want a balloon at her age, so she couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud. She just stared in silence.
Sister A-Yun would understand.
“I’ll buy one for you, Good Child,” Li Yunli said. She never found it childish. She simply wanted to give Ji Zhenshi everything her heart desired. Without a second thought, she agreed to the unspoken request.
She hopped off the scooter and walked over to the vendor. Under Ji Zhenshi’s expectant gaze, Li Yunli bought a cute little white dog balloon.
But she would buy her child a balloon without a care for judgmental stares.
The moment she walked back holding it, pure delight lit up Ji Zhenshi’s eyes—undeniable and radiant. She propped her feet on either side of the scooter, her toes lifting in excitement as she waited obediently for Li Yunli to return.
Ignoring everyone around them, Li Yunli tied the balloon to Ji Zhenshi’s wrist. She turned and waved to Auntie with a warm smile.
Ji Zhenshi gazed at the little white dog balloon, her face beaming with joy. In her childhood, only Grandma had ever indulged her childlike whims like this. Now, Li Yunli would be the one to cherish and protect them.
Ji Zhenshi noticed Li Yunli exchanging glances with Auntie and remembered how she’d just communicated with her using a notebook. “What was that about? I saw you talking with Auntie earlier.”
Li Yunli pulled her gaze away, her smile deepening. “Auntie asked how old my child was and what kind of balloon she’d like. I told her the kid just turned twenty-two and acts a bit like a cute little puppy most days, so she recommended this one. Does Xiao Zhen like it?”
A twenty-two-year-old kid who was like a little puppy.
Ji Zhenshi felt too embarrassed to even glance at Auntie anymore. She twisted the throttle and sped off.
“Is Xiao Zhen feeling shy?” Li Yunli teased, poking right where it hurt.
“I’m not!” Ji Zhenshi protested, even as she gunned the engine to the max, racing away from the scene. Just moments ago, it hadn’t felt embarrassing at all.
The little puppy balloon trailed behind them in the wind as Ji Zhenshi drove like the wind.
Li Yunli chuckled softly behind her. “Xiao Zhen’s such a noob, but she sure loves to play.”
…
On New Year’s Eve, Ji Zhenshi and Li Yunli were still in the city where they’d gone skiing, but unlike at home, they didn’t rise early to bustle about.
Instead, they slept entwined in each other’s arms until noon before finally getting up at a leisurely pace.
“Good Child, time to wake up, okay?” Li Yunli gently lifted the blanket to uncover Ji Zhenshi’s head. She cupped her chin tenderly, coaxing her awake little by little.
Ji Zhenshi stretched lazily and flopped onto Li Yunli’s thigh with a hum. “Sister A-Yun, good morniiing.”
Li Yunli smiled indulgently and covered her eyes, helping her adjust to the room’s light. “But it’s noon already.”
She leaned down for a soft kiss, her eyes brimming with love that nearly overflowed. “Happy New Year, Xiao Zhen.”
She placed a delicate colored rope and two coins in Ji Zhenshi’s palm. “May all go smoothly without mishaps, eternal peace and joy come your way, and all your wishes come true. Love you, Good Child.”
The colored rope was an anklet Li Yunli had woven by hand. Wearing it around the ankle symbolized smooth travels and safety through the year ahead, no matter how far one went. The two coins represented the two of them, forever together by each other’s side.
Ji Zhenshi blinked her sleepy eyes. “Happy New Year, Sister A-Yun. You got up so early? Weren’t we supposed to sleep until we woke naturally? Hey, what’s this?”
Li Yunli had already slipped her hand under the blanket and caught hold of her ankle. She fastened the rope gently around the snowy white skin of Ji Zhenshi’s ankle—not too thick, just a perfect loop.
Xiao Zhen, carry my blessings with you to farther places and greater sights.
“It’s my New Year’s wish for you. Take it off if it’s uncomfortable, but keep it close, okay?” Li Yunli pulled her up into a sitting position and smoothed her messy hair.
Ji Zhenshi slept like a wild thing; her blonde hair always frizzed up adorably by morning.
“Okay, it won’t be uncomfortable at all. I love it—I’ll wear it all the time, just like that lucky bag you gave me before. Thanks, Sister A-Yun.” Ji Zhenshi wiggled her foot. The soft material felt perfect against her skin.
She was utterly smitten, unable to tear her eyes away.
“Did you make it yourself?” Ji Zhenshi asked.
“Yeah. As long as Xiao Zhen likes it. Come on, get up. Let’s go grab some food outside.” Li Yunli handed her some clothes and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
“No way, I haven’t even thanked Sister A-Yun properly yet.” Ji Zhenshi suddenly reached out, grabbed her by the waist, and yanked her back onto the bed.
“Xiao Zhen… Xiao Zhen…” Li Yunli couldn’t even sign a full sentence before Ji Zhenshi stuffed her under the covers.
That ankle encircled by the colored rope made a striking, artistic sight against the crisp white sheets. Ji Zhenshi pinned Li Yunli to the bed and played around for a good while before finally letting her go. The two of them got dressed and headed out.
The streets buzzed with New Year’s energy. Hand in hand, they strolled together.
They video-called Grandma. Ji Zhenshi was clever about it—she first called the neighbor’s kid, promised her some milk tea, and only then did they sneakily connect with Grandma.
“Happy New Year, Grandma.” Ji Zhenshi and Li Yunli held hands, beaming cheerfully at the camera.
This was Ji Zhenshi’s first New Year away from home, and her only real worry was Grandma.
Once she’d lost faith in her family, there was truly nothing she wouldn’t do.
She’d said she wasn’t coming home for New Year, and she meant it—no compromises, no more control from Yang Ying.
Zhang Fenglan gazed at their radiant, joyful faces with a warm smile. The worry she’d been carrying eased instantly. Her first words weren’t a scolding for not coming home but reaching into her pocket for two red envelopes, handing them over the screen. “Xiao Zhen, Yunli—Happy New Year. This is Grandma’s blessing for you both. A fresh start this new year. May your careers soar without a hitch. Stay safe out there, have fun, okay, my two little ones?”
No matter how old they got, they were still just kids in Grandma’s eyes. She gave this same heartfelt New Year’s blessing every year.
It wasn’t about the money inside—it was the genuine care that touched them.
Li Yunli’s eyes turned red. She signed solemnly. “Thank you, Grandma. Happy New Year to you too. Wishing you health and joy in the year ahead. Xiao Zhen will bring the red envelopes back for us. Happy New Year, Grandma.”
Seeing tears well up, Ji Zhenshi quietly wrapped an arm around Li Yunli’s waist. They leaned their heads together as Ji Zhenshi continued affectionately. “Yeah, Happy New Year, Grandma. Don’t worry—we’ll stay safe. Look, there are fireworks outside. We’re having a blast. We’ll come visit as soon as we’re back, okay?”
With that, Ji Zhenshi gently wiped the glistening tears from the corner of Li Yunli’s eye. She joked lightly, “Can’t cry on New Year’s, you know. Grandma might think I bullied you.”
Li Yunli really was quick to get emotional.
Someone starved of love could fill the emptiness inside with just the smallest bit of sweetness.
“Sorry.” Her nose pink and sniffly, Li Yunli lowered her eyes and dabbed at her tears.
With the person she loved right there by her side, it was so easy to move her to tears.
Even she felt she’d grown more sentimental lately.
Ji Zhenshi’s eyes sparkled with mischief. She slyly shifted the phone camera just a bit and planted a sudden, light kiss on Li Yunli’s forehead.
Before Li Yunli could react, Ji Zhenshi nipped at her lips for a stolen peck. “Don’t cry, sis. Save it for the bed, okay?”
Li Yunli startled and instinctively glanced at the screen. Seeing it had been shifted away, she breathed a silent sigh of relief.
She shot Ji Zhenshi a glare and mouthed, “Bad Xiao Zhen.”
They were still on video with Grandma!
This wasn’t the first time Ji Zhenshi had tried getting affectionate in front of Grandma, but it was the first time she’d succeeded.
Even across the screen, Li Yunli flushed at the sheer boldness.
When the camera shifted back, there was Ji Zhenshi’s even more brazen grin and Li Yunli’s unnaturally flushed cheeks. Zhang Fenglan saw it all clear as day, her eyes sharp and knowing.
The neighbor kid—a teen of sixteen or seventeen—waited nearby for her turn with the phone. Unlike Grandma’s hearing, the girl caught that faint kissing sound amid the rustling noises, clear as could be.
Without much thought, she blurted out, “Xiao Zhen-jie, are you dating? The trip with Yunli-jie was just a cover, huh?”
It was their go-to excuse. Who’d have thought Ji Zhenshi, at twenty-two, was still pulling it?
Zhang Fenglan narrowed her eyes, piecing it together. “Your Xiao Zhen-jie is in love.”
But Li Yunli was no cover.
She might be old, but she wasn’t addled.
She’d sensed something off in the air the last time they visited. Now, her instincts had proven right.
Good, good—her granddaughter hadn’t disappointed.
“What? Grandma, what did you just say?” Ji Zhenshi had been pouting after Li Yunli pulled away, missing the exchange entirely. She shot a resentful glance at Li Yunli standing behind her and asked again.
Zhang Fenglan waved it off. “Nothing. You two have fun. Stay safe. I’m hanging up now—not disturbing you anymore.”
Not disturbing you anymore…
Li Yunli frowned faintly. Something felt off. Had Grandma figured it out?
The memory of that embarrassing moment made her take a deep breath. She glared at Ji Zhenshi. “I don’t want to look at you right now.”
She didn’t mind a little boldness when they were alone, but on video with Grandma? Ji Zhenshi had no shame.
Li Yunli resolved to keep her distance for a full minute. Otherwise, this girl would just push further. “Xiao Zhen, have you forgotten what you promised me?”
Their displays of intimacy made passersby uncomfortable.
But Ji Zhenshi was the type who couldn’t stand even a minute apart. After hanging up, she chased after Li Yunli, clinging close. “Sister A-Yun, I just can’t help myself—I want to kiss you. You’re too kissable. I can’t hold back.”
Li Yunli looked at her helplessly. “No.”
Too kissable? What on earth was going on in that head of hers all day?
Li Yunli pushed the clingy Ji Zhenshi away, lowered her head to fiddle with her phone, and ignored her, determined to let her stew for a few minutes.
Ji Zhenshi looked utterly dejected, on the verge of tears, her brows drooping pitifully.
Pulling the pitiful act again.
“Why not? You’re my girlfriend—who else am I supposed to kiss? Why ignore me? Don’t you love me anymore? Really? You don’t want me?”
“…” Li Yunli quietly tried to toughen her resolve, training herself to resist Ji Zhenshi’s pitiful ploys.
She couldn’t spoil her without limits. There had to be principles.
“I promise Grandma didn’t hear a thing. I swear—her hearing isn’t great. Top-notch secrecy.”
“And even if she did, so what? We don’t need to hide. We’re not doing anything shameful. Straight love gets to be love, so why not us? Same-sex love shouldn’t face discrimination. Grandma would understand. She likes you so much—she’d be thrilled.”
“Don’t worry, Sister A-Yun. I guarantee she didn’t notice.”
Ji Zhenshi grew so confident she even patted her chest in assurance, completely unaware she’d just contradicted herself.
Li Yunli paused on her phone just in time to hear that firm guarantee. She looked up with a faint smile. “Really?”
“Re… really.” Ji Zhenshi couldn’t help shrinking back under that gaze, her confidence crumbling.
Why did it feel like Li Yunli was grinding her teeth?
Had she said something wrong?
The next second, Li Yunli pulled out her phone to show a text from Grandma.
[Yunli, have fun with Xiao Zhen. I know you’re away for New Year, but don’t forget to rest—don’t stay out too late. Grandma knows you’re a caring one, so please look after Xiao Zhen. That girl’s young and a bit unsteady, but be patient and forgiving. She still needs time to grow. Grandma can assure you—she’s a good kid at heart. Stay safe out there. Happy New Year.]
The words brimmed with a desire for Li Yunli to take good care of Ji Zhenshi. It didn’t spell anything out directly, but the tone was unmistakably one of entrustment.
Handing Ji Zhenshi over to her.
“You think Grandma really doesn’t know? You were so obvious, and you just guaranteed it. Statements like that drop your trust level with me a lot, Xiao Zhen.” Li Yunli’s ears tinted pink with embarrassment. Just thinking about that kiss in front of Grandma mortified her—even if it hadn’t been seen.
Ji Zhenshi had pounded her chest in promise mere minutes ago, and now reality had slapped her right in the face.
Did Xiao Zhen’s cheeks still sting?
Ji Zhenshi stared seriously for two seconds, her face heating up as she dodged Li Yunli’s eyes.
Under that persistent gaze, she stiffened and said, “Ah… Grandma just entrusted me to you, Sister A-Yun.”
Missing the point entirely.
“That’s not the point!” Li Yunli glared, a mix of shyness and annoyance in her eyes. She wanted to scold her, but in the end, she spoke earnestly. “Xiao Zhen, you need to tone it down in front of Grandma and Xiao Ning and the others. If we’re too openly affectionate, it’ll make them uncomfortable. I’m not saying we can’t be intimate, but we shouldn’t make others feel awkward by acting like no one’s around.”
Usually, Li Yunli would soften things with an endearment like “Good Child,” worried about upsetting her. But this time, to show she was serious, she stayed stern without any coaxing.
“Okay.” Ji Zhenshi sat primly on the chair with her legs together, obediently taking the lecture.
Her lashes lowered, all her usual edge tucked away. She looked perfectly pliant.
In truth, though, she was quietly savoring the memory of that kiss.
Admit it… it had been pretty thrilling.
Kisses felt different in different situations.
“Um, and also…” Li Yunli started to add more, but the once-obedient Ji Zhenshi suddenly grabbed her signing hand, shot to her feet, and pointed excitedly across the street.
“Sister A-Yun, quick—look! Fireworks on the beach over there. Looks so lively. Let’s go check it out?”
Anything was better than sitting there getting lectured.
