Carrying the bags, Jiang Ruoning said, “This year’s been hectic, but Zhengzheng has a long vacation this year—a whole month for New Year.”
Jiang Qin was surprised. “That long?”
Qin Zheng used to get only about ten days.
Jiang Ruoning explained, “Godmother’s turning a full sixty this year.”
Jiang Qin blanked for a few seconds, as if just remembering. “Already fifty.”
Jiang Ruoning said, “Mm. They’re planning a banquet at a hotel in Linping. Mom, you…”
“Banquet at a hotel is convenient,” Jiang Qin said. “Next time she comes to Shangjing, I’ll treat her to a private dinner.”
Seeing her mom unmoved, Jiang Ruoning pressed directly, “Mom, have you ever thought about going back to Linping?”
“Why would I?” Jiang Qin turned her head, staring intently. Jiang Ruoning felt as if even the marrow in her bones was seen through. Her body stiffened, her smile nearly cracking. Car headlights swept over them just then, snapping her out of the suffocating gaze. She saw Yun An get out of the passenger seat and jog over, taking the bags from her mom’s hands. “Auntie.”
Perhaps because they’d just been discussing an unhappy topic, Jiang Qin’s expression wasn’t great. She forced a smile.
Yun An glanced at Jiang Ruoning.
Jiang Ruoning followed her, loading things into the trunk. Jiang Qin had already gotten in first. She heard Yun An ask, “What’s up with your mom?”
“Bad mood,” she warned. “Don’t get too carried away chatting with Zhengzheng later.”
Knowing Jiang Qin was okay with them joining for dinner, Jiang Ruoning had suggested they act extra lovey-dovey in front of her—maybe she’d get used to it after seeing it.
Qin Zheng had grumbled but agreed to try.
Not tonight, though.
Jiang Qin sat in the back. Jiang Ruoning and Yun An got in after. Yun An patted Qin Zheng’s arm. Qin Zheng turned. Yun An gave her a look and said, “Drive slow.”
Qin Zheng laughed. “I’m the steadiest driver.”
She engaged Jiang Qin. “Right, Auntie?”
Jiang Qin nodded. “I trust Zhengzheng’s driving. Not like Ruoning—always rushing.”
Jiang Ruoning grumbled, “You haven’t seen her hurrying to work.”
Jiang Qin said, “Even in a hurry, she drives steadier than you.”
Jiang Ruoning pouted, knowing her mom was saying it on purpose. She stayed quiet. Qin Zheng asked, “You bought a ton today.”
Jiang Qin agreed: “I also bought a silk scarf for your mom. Bring it to her next time you go home.”
Qin Zheng seized the opportunity: “What a coincidence. My mom called me last week and said she bought a tea set for you too, but she’s been busy lately and hasn’t mailed it yet.”
“She…” Jiang Qin trailed off.
Jiang Qin fell silent.
In the past, she and Qin Guilan had the best relationship. Everyone at their workplace knew it—they even said they must have been sisters in a previous life. Jiang Qin treated Qin Guilan like a real sister. Knowing how well they treated Ruoning, she doubled her affection toward Qin Zheng.
But now, there was some distance between them. When something happened, she couldn’t turn to Qin Guilan first anymore.
Even small things like exchanging gifts had to be learned through the kids.
For no reason, Jiang Qin thought back to their senior year of high school. On a weekend morning, she and Qin Guilan had just gotten off work and spotted Jiang Ruoning and Qin Zheng walking out arm in arm from afar. When she asked where they were going, they said, “It’s a secret.”
She had wanted to ask more, but Qin Guilan pulled her hand: “Let them go. The kids are grown up now—we have to let them spread their wings. Besides, if they can have secrets, so can we. Once they head off to college, we’ll have more free time. Let’s go play everywhere we’ve always wanted to—make up for lost time.”
Back then, she and Qin Guilan had made travel plans, but Jiang Qin always picked places close to Linping. Qin Guilan teased her: “You, huh? Looks like you’ll never be able to leave Linping in this lifetime.”
And yet, she had left.
And once she did, it was for several years.
Jiang Qin gazed out the car window. Qin Zheng said, “Auntie, my mom mentioned wanting to treat you to dinner on your birthday.”
“Sure.” Jiang Qin asked her, “When is your mom coming next?”
Since Qin Zheng and Yun An had settled in Shangjing, Qin Guilan visited every few days. With the New Year still two or three months away, she was definitely coming. Qin Zheng and Yun An exchanged a glance, and Yun An shook her head. Qin Zheng said, “Soon, probably sometime this week.”
Jiang Qin smiled: “Perfect. Have her stay at our place for a couple of days this time.”
Qin Zheng nodded: “Sure, I’ll tell her.”
Jiang Qin said no more.
Qin Zheng let out a breath.
It seemed Jiang Qin still had no intention of returning to Linping.
When they got out of the car, Qin Zheng parked and helped carry the bags to the elevator. Jiang Qin said, “Come up for some water?”
Qin Zheng smiled: “No need, Auntie. It’s getting late—you two should rest early.”
“Sorry for taking up your time,” Jiang Qin said. “Really, my apologies.”
Qin Zheng shook her head: “Not at all.” She brought it up herself: “If we’re talking about wasting time, Ruoning’s the real champion. The other day, no matter how much I rushed her, she wouldn’t leave.”
Her tone was affectionate, her eyes full of laughter. Jiang Ruoning let out a “hey” and patted her shoulder. The issue that had troubled Jiang Qin the whole ride was effortlessly brushed aside by Qin Zheng, and her expression relaxed a bit. She said, “That’s just how she is—clueless.”
Jiang Ruoning grabbed her hand and wheedled: “Mom~”
Jiang Qin always fell for that. After waving goodbye to Qin Zheng and Yun An, she said to Jiang Ruoning, “I told you not to bother Zhengzheng, and now you’ve been called out.”
“No way,” Jiang Ruoning said. “She wishes I could hang out with her every day.”
Jiang Qin poked her forehead: “Hang out, hang out—that’s all you think about all day. Don’t you know to ask out Lawyer Zou…”
Jiang Ruoning surrendered: “We’re home, Mom.”
Once they got home, Jiang Ruoning went to take a shower first. Jiang Qin unpacked the newly bought gifts outside and noticed there were extra silk scarves. She had picked three, Jiang Ruoning chose one—that should make four—but there were five in the bag. She opened the bottommost box. The scarf was light gray with embroidered rose patterns. As she traced the embroidery, a card fluttered out lightly. On it was Jiang Ruoning’s handwriting: [Mom, thanks for all your hard work! (^_^)]
Jiang Qin smiled helplessly through her tears.
Jiang Ruoning emerged from the bathroom and saw Jiang Qin sitting on the sofa with the gift box and card in front of her, staring at her. Fresh from the shower, Jiang Ruoning’s face was flushed. She said, “Why’d you open it? I wanted to surprise you.”
“What surprise? It doesn’t grow on trees,” Jiang Qin grumbled, but she draped the scarf around her neck: “Nice? Does it look good?”
Jiang Ruoning exclaimed dramatically: “It’s gorgeous, Mom!”
Jiang Qin gave her a stern look for the overacting.
Jiang Ruoning stepped forward and hugged her. Jiang Qin said, “Ruoning, Mom is really happy right now.”
She patted Jiang Ruoning’s arm: “It’s fine like this. If you don’t want to date, then don’t. Mom will keep you company.”
Jiang Ruoning was speechless: “Mom…”
Jiang Qin packed away the gifts: “I’m going to shower.”
Jiang Ruoning watched her enter the bathroom and close the door. As the sound of running water filled the air, her own jumbled thoughts swirled chaotically.
Her phone buzzed again—it was a message from Shi Sui: [Still shopping?]
It had been sent an hour ago.
The latest one: [Home yet?]
Jiang Ruoning glanced toward the bathroom, gripped her phone tightly, and didn’t reply.
Shi Sui barely slept that night. Before bed, she sent Jiang Ruoning several messages with no response. She guessed what was up but was still worried. In the middle of the night, she disturbed Yun An, who said they had dropped Jiang Qin and Jiang Ruoning off at their door, so there was no need to worry.
She wasn’t worried anymore—just more upset.
Shi Sui tossed and turned in bed until she took her medicine and finally felt a bit sleepy.
In her haze, Jiang Ruoning’s face grew clearer, drawing closer. She reached out a hand. Seeing no reaction, she said, “Get up.”
Shi Sui staggered to her feet and heard Jiang Ruoning complain: “You promised to go shopping with me this weekend, but here you are sleeping the day away?”
Her head throbbed as she pressed it, her voice muffled: “Sorry, I forgot.”
Jiang Ruoning pouted: “Are you still going?”
She said, “Wait while I change.”
Jiang Ruoning said, “I like you in that beige one.”
She went into the room to change and came out to find no sign of Jiang Ruoning. She searched everywhere: “Ruoning?”
No response. Puzzled, she stepped outside and called, “Ruoning!”
Still nothing.
She pulled out her phone to call Jiang Ruoning when a piercing scream shattered the air right beside her. She turned slowly and saw a woman pointing upward. Looking up, the scene before her shifted instantly, blurring into a familiar nightmare. Two figures tumbled from a window. Her hand trembled, and her phone clattered to the ground.
“No!” Shi Sui jolted awake on the sofa, her heart racing, covered in cold sweat that left her sticky all over. She moved her stiff body and crawled to the bathroom for a shower. When she came out, it was three-thirty.
Jiang Ruoning still hadn’t replied.
She turned off her phone and lay in bed staring out the window. The streets below blazed with lights—Shangjing was far more vibrant than Linping. At this hour in Linping, it would be pitch black, but here, “starlight” flickered. Shi Sui hugged the blanket into a comfortable position. In the quiet room, occasional muffled coughs echoed.
She didn’t know how long it took for them to stop.
She was woken by her ringing phone—urgent and blaring, as if right in her ear. Shi Sui fumbled for it and sat up. Glancing at the time and caller ID, she answered without hesitation. Jiang Nuan’s voice was as straightforward as ever: “Are you coming to the company today?”
Shi Sui frowned and got out of bed: “Have they arrived for the shoot?”
Jiang Nuan hesitated: “They have.”
Shi Sui asked, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Nuan said, “A little hiccup.”
Shi Sui gripped the phone: “What?”
Jiang Nuan lowered her voice: “The stylist for Jiang Ruoning hasn’t shown up yet, and…”
Shi Sui pressed her aching head, her voice hoarse: “And?”
Jiang Nuan glanced toward the office and whispered into the phone: “And your mom is here.”
Shi Sui froze for two seconds, then told Jiang Nuan: “Get another stylist for Jiang Ruoning first. I’m on my way.” She stood to hang up, then added, “Try not to let them run into each other.”
Not let them run into each other?
Jiang Nuan stared at Lin Wei’s closed office door and gritted her teeth.
