Chapter 51: Happy New Year, May All Your Wishes Come True. Part 4

“Slap—”

Ni Xiaoying decisively slapped Sheng Xingran across the face, cutting off the second half of her words.

Ni Xiaoying’s entire face flushed red as she squeezed out word by word: “Because of one Miao Zhu, you’ve lost your mind! Not only spineless, but stupid too! Miao Zhu, Miao Zhu—she’d rather be A-Heng’s shameful plaything than your upright wife. If you have any backbone left, cut ties with her right now! Come home with me!”

Ni Xiaoying grabbed her again. She thought Sheng Xingran would stubbornly resist, but this time she easily pulled her into the elevator.

Ni Xiaoying hurriedly pressed the close button.

As the elevator doors began to move, Sheng Xingran clutched her slapped cheek and locked eyes with Miao Zhu outside the doors.

She had asked Miao Zhu those questions, and she didn’t need Miao Zhu to answer to know.

She empathized deeply with Miao Zhu’s situation.

—But even if she shook her off, would Mu Shanyi really let Miao Zhu have her way?

The elevator finally took Ni Xiaoying and Sheng Xingran away. Miao Ling let out a sigh of relief. She rallied her spirits again and solicitously comforted her. “A-Heng, sorry you had to see that farce. Longlong and Xingran are still young and got carried away with their emotions, spouting nonsense—especially Longlong, spoiled rotten by me. Your Auntie Ni too, at her age and still speaking so harshly, no sense of proportion. Don’t take it to heart.”

Mu Shanyi’s rigid figure moved slightly. She wasn’t sure if her current expression was appropriate. “Miao Auntie, I want to talk to Miao Zhu alone.”

“Talk! You must talk!” Miao Ling said as she pushed Miao Zhu toward Mu Shanyi. “Longlong, have a good talk with A-Heng. Mom will just…”

“Mom, wait for me downstairs.” Miao Zhu didn’t let her finish saying she would head home first.

Miao Zhu wasn’t staying overnight here? Miao Ling immediately checked Mu Shanyi’s expression. Mu Shanyi’s lips curved into an arc—she seemed to smile.

“…Alright, Mom will go downstairs first.” It just so happened that Miao Ling had countless questions to ask Miao Zhu and countless instructions to give, all urgent. Before leaving, she lowered her voice by Miao Zhu’s ear. “Be good, don’t say anything rash. Remember to ask her about the industrial park project.”

After Miao Ling left, Mu Shanyi stepped back into the room.

“Wait a moment.” Her tone was restrained; she didn’t say what she was doing and left Miao Zhu standing in the living room first.

The commotion faded away, and quiet returned here.

Miao Zhu stood alone for a while, then picked up the half glass of milk from the cabinet and drank it down sip by sip. After finishing, she went to the kitchen, washed the glass clean, dried it carefully, and put it back on the rack.

The cold milk slid down her throat into her stomach, like glazing the stomach walls, weighing it down and making it sink continuously.

She had greeted them properly on the way in, but now leaving without a chance to say goodbye to Ye Yi, Grace, and Princess—she would regret that, wouldn’t she?

Did she have regrets with Mu Shanyi?

Miao Zhu couldn’t say.

Mu Shanyi returned to the living room.

Miao Zhu stood under the glass curtain wall, arms hugged around herself, looking toward the Glazed Cloud Tower. She had put on a thin sweater, her back showing a slender waist. Her down jacket was draped over the sofa back a few steps away.

She was leaving.

Mu Shanyi recalled the word Sheng Xingran had said.

Malicious.

Hearing footsteps, Miao Zhu came back to herself. Her and Mu Shanyi’s figures reflected on the glass. Mu Shanyi had changed out of her loungewear into her usual shirt and slacks; her half-wet long hair was blow-dried.

She stared at Mu Shanyi’s figure, watching her approach.

“Is this it, then?” When Mu Shanyi stopped beside her, Miao Zhu heard her voice.

Such a simple sentence hurt Miao Zhu’s heart more than a million rebukes.

Mu Shanyi must have seen everything clearly. Miao Zhu thought she had prepared herself, but in this instant when Mu Shanyi declared the end, the pain still struck her all at once. “…I’m sorry.”

“Why keep apologizing? You said it to Xingran, now to me.” Mu Shanyi was very calm, even with a hint of laughter in her voice. “You don’t need to apologize to me. We each got what we wanted; you’ve already paid.”

“Mm.” Miao Zhu’s throat bobbed; something was stuck there, so she could only make a short sound. “Sister A-Heng, don’t be mad.”

Mu Shanyi said, “I’m not mad. I’ve had a very happy half year.”

For the first time, Miao Zhu felt fortunate for Mu Shanyi’s indifference—because she didn’t care, she wouldn’t hurt Mu Shanyi.

“Five seconds left.”

“…Hm?”

“Watch the fireworks.”

As Mu Shanyi spoke, a massive burst of flames rose from the dark lake surface with a “bang,” blooming in the night sky.

The entire body of water in front of Tower Shadow Sunny River was dyed brilliant colors by the fireworks, the rippling waves dreamlike and illusory.

The half year with Mu Shanyi had been like a dream too.

How could there be no regrets?

“Happy New Year.” Mu Shanyi came behind Miao Zhu and put a necklace around her neck. She rubbed her cheek against Miao Zhu’s last time and softly said by her ear, “A farewell gift, baby. May all your wishes come true.”

Miao Zhu touched the coin-sized round pendant. Her hand trembled uncontrollably again. She lowered her head to look and, before her vision blurred, saw a snowflake specimen sealed inside the pendant.