Chapter 29

They went home for the New Year as always.

Zhou Ruyun sat at the head of the table and handed out thick red envelopes to the two children.

Pei Songxi received a big red envelope too, and didn’t know whether to laugh or protest that she was grown — but she accepted it all the same.

The New Year’s Eve dinner was exceptionally lavish, delicacies everywhere, the whole family reunited.

Pei Zhiyuan was the host of the school’s Broadcasting Station and had long since mastered the art of working a crowd. He told a few jokes that had the whole family roaring with laughter, and Yu Mian clapped extra hard to feed the boy’s little pride.

Auntie Zhang fried rice cakes and urged the two children to eat more. “So you rise higher year after year!”

Yu Mian’s interest was piqued, and she devoured piece after piece until Pei Songxi stopped her. “Slow down. Too much rice cake is hard to digest.”

“I want to grow up fast!”

Yu Mian turned her head and smiled at her, whispering to her on the sly — just like when she was small and Pei Songxi would slip food into her bowl without anyone noticing. These were the little secrets that belonged to the two of them.

After dinner the family gathered in the living room to chat, preparing to stay up for the New Year.

Zhou Ruyun was old, but on this point she was firm — she would keep the vigil too. Pei Songxi, not quite at ease, fetched the medicine box and a blanket. “Grandmother, let me keep it for you.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. It only comes once a year,” Zhou Ruyun waved a hand. “When you’re old, every day you live is one fewer — every day past is a day gained. It doesn’t matter. Living to this age, sometimes I look at you and find it strange. Wasn’t my Yueyue just a little thing this tall? How did she grow this tall in the blink of an eye?”

Ding Mei teased with a smile, “Grandmother, stop calling Songxi a little girl. She’s about to be engaged and married — she’s an adult now!”

Pei Linmao frowned. “Nothing’s settled. Don’t keep bringing it up.”

Ding Mei jabbed him with her elbow. “Old Pei, you meddle too much. We’re all family here — what’s the harm? I never breathe a word of it outside.”

Pei Linmao sucked in a breath from the jab, and even his usual gloomy face showed a smile. “Little Mei, that temper of yours — hitting at the drop of a hat — you should work on it too.”

Pei Tiancheng toyed with his Zisha Teapot. “Enough. Talking about it at home is fine. Linmao, no need to be so tense.”

He was about to say more when the butler came in, nodded to him, and murmured something in his ear. The smile faded from Pei Tiancheng’s face; he cleared his throat. “Third Son is here.”

Pei Linmao’s face darkened. “What’s he coming for, of all days?”

Ding Mei tugged at her husband’s sleeve, afraid his expression would be too ugly and embarrass her father-in-law. “It’s New Year — family should be together. Linmo should come see Grandmother anyway.”

As they spoke, Pei Linmo had already walked in.

Years ago, Pei Tiancheng had kept a mistress outside… who later bore him a son. Then the woman died, and the son was never brought back — supposedly money was sent on schedule to pay for his schooling. Pei Tiancheng was the patriarch of the family, and no one dared ask about such things; all anyone knew was that the youngest son had stayed abroad and never come home.

Pei Linmo had returned to the country before the New Year, but had chosen not to join the Pei Family’s company. He was a freelance painter — painting and holding exhibitions when he had money, doing graphic design when he didn’t, barely supporting himself, and never asking Pei Tiancheng for a single cent since.

He wore a knee-length navy trench coat open, hair swept back, an air of careless nonchalance about him. He gave them all a nod without a shred of politeness, greeting only Zhou Ruyun. “Grandmother!”

Zhou Ruyun had always been kind to him. She beckoned. “You disobedient child. So you do know the way home.”

Pei Linmao gave a low snort of laughter beside them. His hostility toward this younger brother ran deep — to put it bluntly, a bastard child, dissolute and unrestrained. He’d spent the Pei Family’s money studying art abroad for five years… and now he put on this act of scorning their filthy money.

The atmosphere turned awkward for a moment.

Pei Linmo ignored him. After speaking with the old lady, he turned to Pei Songxi. “Long time no see, Sister.”

Pei Songxi’s attitude toward him was cold. She nodded. “Mm.”

Pei Linmo paid her coldness no mind. “Where’s Yu Mian? Last time she emailed me asking about painting — I never got back to her.”

“Upstairs. Watching TV with Zhiyuan.”

“Then I’ll go up and have a look.”

Once Pei Linmo left, the living room’s atmosphere returned to normal.

Ding Mei asked, curious, “What does Linmo want with Mianmian? Teaching her to paint?”

Pei Songxi answered with what patience she could muster. “Probably some pointers on details.”

Ding Mei was surprised and said in a low voice, “Being taught by Linmo… are you comfortable with that… Not that I’m one to talk, but that boy is rather rebellious, not quite…”

Pei Tiancheng coughed dryly. “Enough. Linmo coming home is a good thing. Don’t say pointless things.”

Pei Songxi had no interest in these topics. She idly watched the Spring Festival Gala, occasionally leaning down to exchange a few words with the old lady whenever a funny sketch came on, whiling away the long night.

When the hour hand pointed to eleven, she stood. “I’ll go check on Mianmian.”

Upstairs, a burst of laughter was erupting from Pei Zhiyuan’s room.

Pei Linmo was telling the children stories at his own expense. “You don’t know this, but I used to think that in summer you should put the fan in the doorway, blowing outward — said it would create airflow. Ended up waking my roommate half to death with heat every day. He asked me what the hell I was trying to blow out the door with the fan!”

Yu Mian and Pei Zhiyuan collapsed in a heap of laughter. “Are you a complete idiot, Little Uncle!”

Pei Songxi’s lips curved slightly as she knocked on the door. “Mianmian?”

Pei Linmo was in the middle of recounting his glorious deeds when she suddenly walked in. He rose, straightened his clothes, and resumed that same carefree, swaggering air — as if the person reviewing his own embarrassing history hadn’t been him.

Yu Mian sat on the carpet, looking up at her. “Auntie Pei? Are you joining the chat too?”

Pei Songxi blinked. “Me?”

Pei Zhiyuan’s eyes lit up. “Aunt! Come sit! Little Uncle is hilarious. Let’s all chat together, okay?”

Pei Songxi shook her head. “No. I just came to check on you.”

Yu Mian and Pei Zhiyuan exchanged a look, sprang up together, and ran over, each seizing one of her arms. “Sit for a bit! Sit! Little Uncle is a grown-up too! If he’ll chat with us, you should too!”

Pei Songxi nearly stumbled from being tugged by the two little rascals, and couldn’t help laughing. She gave in. “Fine. Just… sit on the floor?”

“Yes, yes! Auntie Pei, sit here — Brother Zhiyuan and I will make room.”

The three of them had been sitting in a small circle; now Yu Mian and Pei Zhiyuan scooted back, widening it a little. Pei Songxi sat down between them, folding her legs beneath her, somewhat unaccustomed.

Even the carefree, unrestrained young artist Mr. Pei Linmo couldn’t keep up the act. He flashed a mouthful of gleaming white teeth and dropped onto the floor, looking smug and flamboyant. “Well, well, Pei Songxi. So you do have days when you sit on the floor.”

This sister of his — from the moment he’d met her as a boy, she had been calm, composed, imperturbable. He’d never understood how anyone could be so rigid and restrained!

Pei Songxi tossed him a flat knife of a look.

Yu Mian and Pei Zhiyuan immediately set upon him, swatting at him in mock fury. “Little Uncle! She’s your sister. No calling her by name.”

Keep running your mouth, and what if we drive her off!

Pei Linmo laughed even harder.

Pei Songxi wasn’t truly angry. It was only the first time she felt that this mild, low bustle wasn’t so tiresome after all.

The young man told them about his travels. “Back then I lost my wallet and my phone got stolen — I had a few yuan left. So I found some little bar, and I told the bartender, I’m going to sell drinks for you with my world-unparalleled beauty! And then… guess what happened. I lost. They made me learn belly dancing like an Indian dancer! And so I…”

Pei Songxi rubbed her temples, resigned. This man’s thought process was as bizarre as ever — arrogant and unrestrained… and yet, somehow, awfully hard to dislike.

Yu Mian and Pei Zhiyuan’s eyes went round with astonishment. They were both serious, well-behaved children who had never known the world worked like this — thrilled and scandalized at once. “And then? And then!”

Pei Linmo shot Pei Songxi a triumphant glance, his eyes screaming see how much the kids love me, then smiled at the children. “And then… first tell me — right now, do you like me more, or her? Am I the best person in the whole world? Answer and make me happy, and I’ll keep going.”

He pointed laughingly at Pei Songxi.

Pei Zhiyuan looked at him with pure pity. “Little Uncle, you’re so dumb.”

Yu Mian puffed out her little cheeks with utmost seriousness. “I regret to inform you that your question is meaningless.”

Pei Linmo: “…”

These little brats! It’s New Year — can’t a man get a few nice words, a little comfort!

Pei Songxi pressed her lips together, suppressing a smile, and — rare for her — volunteered a remark. “Humiliation of your own making.”

Pei Linmo: “…You’re bullying me too?”

Pei Songxi nodded, a teasing smile surfacing on her ever-cool face. “Mm. You got it right.”

How was it she was only now discovering that this younger brother she so rarely saw… was such a live wire?

Pei Linmo collapsed where he sat.

Heavens, his heart was so tired.

Yu Mian laughed and laughed, snuggling up to Pei Songxi. “Auntie Pei, stay here and chat with us, okay? Don’t go.”

“You two keep chatting,” Pei Songxi said, standing. “I’ll step out for a moment.”

Yu Mian was a little disappointed, but Pei Songxi was back before long, red envelopes in hand, and she cheered with delight. “And here I thought there’d be no red envelopes this year!”

This was actually a yearly tradition. Pei Songxi loved giving children red envelopes, and the amounts were generous. Yu Mian and Pei Zhiyuan each got one, and the moment they received them they huddled together to count exactly how many bills were inside.

Pei Linmo watched longingly, his tone a touch sour. “This much for the kids?”

Pei Songxi nodded. “It’s called the joy of getting something for nothing. Only when people are small can they feel that kind of joy. While they’re at exactly the right age, of course they should have as much of it as possible.”

Especially… Mianmian. Mianmian was an earnest, hardworking child who treasured everything she had and rarely asked for the things she wanted. She hoped Mianmian could be a little happier.

Pei Linmo considered this. “Makes sense. What about me, then?”

“Hm?”

He held out his hand without the slightest ceremony. “Sister. My dearest sister. Where’s my red envelope? Won’t you let your adorable, childish little brother enjoy the joy of getting something for nothing?”

Pei Songxi: “…”

This dissolute, aloof, coldly proud young-artist image really did collapse at a word.

Still, she went back to her room and fetched him a red envelope. “Overgrown child.”

Pei Linmo was genuinely surprised to discover this cold-hearted sister had a sharp tongue too. He was a natural at getting comfortable; once he dropped the act, all shame went out the window. “Thank you for Sister’s love. Received and treasured.”

Pei Songxi looked at him coolly. “…I regret it. Give it back.”

“No take-backs!”

Pei Linmo tucked the red envelope into the inner pocket of his coat and stowed it away. Thinking about it… he hadn’t received a red envelope in years — not since his mother passed. The joy of getting something for nothing really was wonderful.

The moment the living room clock struck, brilliant fireworks burst open in the distant sky.

Pei Songxi ruffled Yu Mian’s hair. “All right, Mianmian. It’s late. Time to go rest.”

Yu Mian was in the middle of a checkers game with Pei Zhiyuan and reluctant to leave. “A little longer, just a little!”

“Then I’ll go down and say a few words to Grandmother. When I come back, you go to bed.”

Yu Mian nodded. “Okay! No problem.”

But by the time Pei Songxi came back up, she hadn’t even finished one game. Checking the time, she decided to stop. “Brother Zhiyuan, Little Uncle, we’ll play again tomorrow! Happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year!”

Cool, brilliant fireworks streaked across the sky, lighting the tail of the old year, as time stepped into the new.

After Pei Songxi said goodnight to Yu Mian and moved to close the door, Yu Mian stood rooted in her room, refusing to leave. “Auntie Pei, I want to sleep with you.”

“Mianmian,” Pei Songxi laughed, “you’re grown now. You can’t sleep with Auntie Pei anymore.”

“Why not?”

“Everyone’s the same. From age ten, children have to learn to sleep on their own — it makes them more independent. You’re in middle school now, Mianmian.”

“But… ai.”

Yu Mian lowered her head and whispered a goodnight.

Pei Songxi watched her retreating figure, smiled, and closed the door.

But before long, the door was knocked again.

She slipped on her slippers and opened it to find the little girl standing in the doorway hugging her pillow. She raised an eyebrow slightly. “Mianmian?”

Yu Mian looked up at her, as if steeling herself. “At home I can sleep by myself… but here, I… I’m a little scared.”

She would remember what it was like sleeping alone in a room as a small child. Sometimes the window wasn’t latched properly, and the curtains would sway gently in the wind — back then she always felt a monster was hiding in the room, watching her secretly from the dark.

Pei Songxi froze.

She remembered how Mianmian, small, would come knocking at her door, looking at her timidly, standing in the room without daring to say a word, so careful not to disturb her.

And so she softened, the way she had countless times before, and opened the door wide. “Just this once, okay?”

“Mm! I snuck here to find you — this way nobody knows!”

Pei Songxi laughed. “It’s not… about sneaking. Mianmian, you’re grown. From now on you can’t sleep with Auntie Pei anymore.”

Yu Mian beamed and nodded hard. “Okay! I know!”