“You sent them back alone anyway, otherwise you could have let Yuqiao accompany—”
“Mom.”
Bai Kou went into the inner room to put on her jacket. After understanding Bai Xiaochu’s intention, the action of fastening the buttons paused as she lowered her head. She raised her eyes to look at Bai Xiaochu.
This glance was actually very calm, without any unhappy emotions, just a hint of helplessness.
Bai Xiaochu quickly swallowed the words “you go” back into her stomach.
“Alright, alright.” She smiled and said, “No forcing it. Be extra careful about your safety if you’re going alone.”
Bai Kou nodded with a smile. “Mm, don’t worry. I’ll head right back after dropping them off at home and closing the car door.”
In the car, Yang Wanxi and Yang Yingyun both sat in the back seat.
Bai Kou heard Yang Yingyun ask, “Did Li Mengjun call you just now?”
She quickly lifted her gaze and glanced at the rearview mirror. Yang Wanxi’s face was hidden in the streetlights’ shadows, flickering on and off.
“Mm.”
“Sigh.” Yang Yingyun rarely sighed. “That person of hers is really something.”
Then the car fell into some silence.
Bai Kou heard the window on Auntie Yang’s side seem to lower. She wanted to ask if the heater was too hot, but with another glance from the corner of her eye—
Yang Wanxi sat in the middle of the back seat, her eyes slightly downcast.
Every family has its own problems.
Bai Kou withdrew her gaze, looked ahead, pursed her lips, and recalled the things her mom had chatted with her about.
One year, right around after Yang Wanxi filmed her second or third drama, that TV series had a small burst of popularity.
Li Mengjun suddenly came to Heyan. At the time, Yang Yingyun and Yang Wanxi happened to be home. Li Mengjun’s first words were to Yang Wanxi: what’s the matter with you, hurry up and cancel the contract.
“She’s just so self-centered!”
Yang Yingyun had said to Bai Xiaochu back then, “When she was little, she only knew to give the child money, completely ignoring what kind of values the child would form. Did she ever come looking for Xiaoxi before? Which time wasn’t it her suddenly remembering and making Xiaoxi travel a thousand miles to see her? She’s grown up and been acting for so long, and only now does she realize the child is acting. Now she dares to say I don’t know how to educate a child?”
The unpleasant atmosphere in the car continued all the way to the entrance of the family courtyard.
“Bai Kou, thanks for your hard work today. Come over to play at home another day.” Yang Yingyun smiled as she said this and opened the door.
Bai Kou turned sideways to look at the back seat. “Sure, Auntie, I’ll come in a couple days!”
“Then I’m off too—”
“Hey.”
Bai Kou leaned in a bit, reached out to grab Yang Wanxi’s arm, and then shouted toward the back door, “Auntie Yang!”
Yang Yingyun poked half her body back in. “Mm?”
“I have something to trouble Yang Wanxi with. You go up first.”
Yang Yingyun left.
Bai Kou also got out of the front seat. “Come inside a bit.” Saying this, she climbed into the back seat.
Yang Wanxi was very puzzled. “What’s up?”
“Nothing.” Bai Kou smiled. “Seeing how tired you’ve been all year, I just wanted to let you rest a bit.”
After saying that, she sat up straight, leaned back against the seat, and quietly gazed at the car lights flashing by outside the front window now and then.
Yang Wanxi was stunned for a long time, then turned her face to the side and said softly, “So thoughtful, thanks.”
“No problem.” Bai Kou closed her eyes.
The two then sat quietly, one on the left and one on the right, in this pitch-black late night.
“When I was little, I always disliked nights, feeling like I hadn’t played enough and had to go to sleep.” After a while, Bai Kou spoke softly with her eyes closed. “But now I really like nights.”
“I like this kind of night where the whole world is forced to hit pause.”
“When no one’s home, I lie on the sofa or go to the balcony, listening to the chirping of insects and birds. Every time I think, nights are really great. Whether it’s the people around me or far away…”
Bai Kou said softly, “The people I love, the people I hate, everyone can stop in such a night and enjoy a moment of peace.”
Yang Wanxi on the side suddenly let out a very soft laugh. Bai Kou opened her eyes in confusion and tilted her face slightly to the right.
“I’m the opposite of you. When I was little, I liked nights because everyone was resting, and I could come play with you all. Now my feeling toward nights is just so-so.” Yang Wanxi said, “Sometimes I have to film, sometimes rush to the airport. Even when there’s finally no schedule, I still get insomnia.”
Bai Kou immediately sat up a bit. “You get insomnia now?”
“Mm.” Yang Wanxi nodded. “But it’s not because of anything specific. It’s just irregular sleep patterns, like jet lag every day. It’s normal not to fall asleep.”
If others said this, Bai Kou might doubt it a little, but for Yang Wanxi, she knew she was someone who loved acting and focused deeply on it.
She had seen Yang Wanxi’s scripts, even more exaggerated than before, with her own annotations down to the punctuation marks. Probably because of that, though Yang Wanxi hadn’t entered the ranks of top-tier actors yet, she still had nonstop gigs all year.
Bai Kou often scrolled through Moments when she got up in the middle of the night for water and always saw Yang Wanxi posting stars in the sky, cicadas between leaves, a lone flower, a solitary blade of grass.
She didn’t reply often but would give Yang Wanxi a like to show encouragement.
Tonight, perhaps unusually chatting a bit more with Yang Wanxi, Bai Kou called out when she got out of the car.
“Yang Wanxi.”
The other got out first, holding the car door and bending down to look at her. “What now? Can’t bear to part? Want me to sit a bit longer?”
“Don’t take Auntie Yang’s matters too much to heart.” Bai Kou said this first, but soon realized it sounded like speaking from a high horse and wanted to correct herself. “Uh, I mean—”
“Got it.” Yang Wanxi smiled. “I understand what you mean.”
“Ah, oh.” Bai Kou smiled too. “Alright, anyway, we’re all grown up now, with our own lives. Think positively, be happier yourself.”
Yang Wanxi nodded. “I’m off, bye.”
“Bang,” the door closed.
Bai Kou synchronously opened the left back door and had just stepped on the ground when she heard Yang Wanxi call her again. “Bai Kou.”
A calm voice.
Bai Kou quickly went around to the back of the car. Coincidentally, Yang Wanxi also came around to the back as if by telepathy.
Yang Wanxi had her hands in her pockets and slowly walked closer to her. “And you?”
“Huh?” Out of nowhere, Bai Kou didn’t understand.
“Sister Yuqiao’s matter, have you let it go.” Yang Wanxi said, “After so many years, have you grown up, have you been happy.”
“Pfft.” Bai Kou laughed out. “Of course. Her finding her own mom, I’m actually happy for her too. I used to always worry she was unhappy, but now no need.”
Yang Wanxi looked into Bai Kou’s eyes for a long time without responding. Her hands came out of her pockets, seeming like she wanted to lift them but then let them drop by her sides.
Bai Kou wasn’t like when she was little anymore; she saw that Yang Wanxi wanted to hug her but was hesitating over something.
So she laughed, and while laughing, lifted both arms. “If you want to hug, just hug. Geez.”
She took the initiative to hug Yang Wanxi’s body. They were almost the same height now.
Bai Kou maturely patted Yang Wanxi’s back. “Though I admit, our relationship hasn’t been as close these past few years.” She leaned close to Yang Wanxi’s ear. “But to me, you’re still a very, very important friend.”
“For the new year, I sincerely hope you stay healthy and safe. Take every chance to eat more. You had gastritis before, so take good care of yourself, protect your stomach…”
Yang Wanxi’s mind went blank, just listening to Bai Kou’s nagging instructions.
Until Bai Kou let go of her, said bye, and turned to drive.
She quietly watched as Bai Kou reversed the car half a meter, lowered the window, and they looked at each other across the distance.
Bai Kou had one hand on the steering wheel, the other lifted slightly, her eyes curving as she waved at her.
“Yang Wanxi, I’m off. Happy New Year.”
Bai Kou got home around two in the morning, yawned, and slid the electronic lock open. Bai Yuqiao opened the door for her from inside first.
Bai Kou was stunned for a moment, entered, and politely said, “Thanks. You’re still up so late.”
Because Gao Wenlan was there, they had originally planned for Gao Wenlan to stay in Bai Yuqiao’s room, Bai Yuqiao in Bai Kou’s room, and Bai Kou, being the youngest, to make do on the sofa for the night.
After her polite words, Bai Yuqiao smiled faintly and turned toward the sofa.
Bai Kou changed her shoes and only then noticed that while she was out, the blanket on the sofa had become Bai Yuqiao’s.
She took quick steps over, grabbed Bai Yuqiao’s hand to stop her from lying down. “Why sleep here? Go to my room.”
Bai Yuqiao didn’t struggle free when pulled, shook her head faintly.
“Bai Yuqiao.” Bai Kou persisted, her hand trying to pull the person up with force. “Hurry up. I’m very sleepy, don’t want to argue over these pointless things.”
Bai Yuqiao frowned, countered with force, and easily pulled the sleepy Bai Kou right in front of her.
“Pulling me won’t help. It’s a fixed thing every year. Can you not change it last minute.” Bai Kou’s eyes were only a few centimeters from Bai Yuqiao’s, but she didn’t flinch and stared straight back. “If you don’t go, then I’ll sit here with you. Neither of us sleeps.”
Bai Yuqiao actually didn’t care about sleeping or not; she wasn’t sleepy. She was used to staying up late in the lab, inverting day and night.
In previous years, she wouldn’t have cared so much about where Bai Kou slept, sofa or whatever.
But not tonight. Her waist already wasn’t comfortable.
Sometimes she could yield, sometimes not.
Seeing no reaction from Bai Yuqiao, as if she hadn’t heard, Bai Kou frowned and wanted to speak again, but saw Bai Yuqiao suddenly lift her hand and then press it very accurately on the most painful spot at the back of her waist.
“Hiss.”
It swelled, ached, already hurt badly, and now pressed like this, Bai Kou drew in a sharp breath through her throat.
Bai Yuqiao withdrew the motion but kept her left hand tightly controlling Bai Kou. With her right hand, she picked up her phone, unlocked it, adjusted coldly with a stern expression, and quickly typed a line.
【Either you go in and sleep now, or I go with you.】
…Psycho.
Even with her good temper, Bai Kou couldn’t help cursing in her heart. Immediately after, Bai Yuqiao deleted the line she just typed and quickly typed another.
【One minute. If you don’t decide, I decide for you.】
One minute?
Bai Kou immediately glanced at the 02:08 in the upper right of the phone screen.
“…” She forcibly held her lips tight, refusing to make a sound.
Bai Yuqiao was very considerate, exited the notes app, and enlarged the clock—
The red second hand ticked past 6…7…8… only 15 seconds left.
Bai Yuqiao pulled her to stand up.
Bai Kou had no choice, and she knew Bai Yuqiao was doing it for her good. She took a deep breath, turned her face away. “…Got it. Let go of me.”
After Bai Kou was driven into the room, Bai Yuqiao sat on the sofa quietly waiting a bit longer until she heard the door lock from inside. Only then did she relax, stand up, and turn off the floor lamp nearby.
The living room was shrouded in hazy moonlight.
She lay on the sofa and sighed blankly.
Click.
The door lock sounded softly.
Bai Kou came out hugging a thick blanket. Under Bai Yuqiao’s slightly surprised gaze, she first placed it near the feet, then slowly unfolded it and pulled it up.
The moonlight lit half of Bai Kou’s face; she looked very gentle.
Finally, Bai Kou tucked the blanket corner near Bai Yuqiao’s neck like caring for a child.
With this motion, she leaned down a bit, her hair brushing over Bai Yuqiao’s face, but her eyes didn’t look at Bai Yuqiao.
“Thanks. Sorry, some words I said today were too harsh. I, sigh—”
Bai Kou sighed, then softly said what felt like a tongue twister. “I didn’t not want to spend the New Year together with you all.”
After saying that, regardless of whether Bai Yuqiao understood, she straightened up directly and hurried back to the room.
