Chapter 28: A Patch of Snow Part 2

Miao Zhu fell silent.

Silence meant admission.

“…I gave you this pretty face for nothing. If you’re neglecting Xingran, don’t blame others for taking advantage of the gap!” Miao Ling was so angry her lungs felt ready to burst; she immediately pinned the blame on Miao Zhu. “Running off solves everything? Do you have time to feel wronged? You’re handing the opportunity to that vixen on a platter!”

Miao Ling’s well-maintained beautiful features twisted. She clenched her fist, unable to fathom how her daughter could be so stupid. In extreme annoyance, that fist rained down repeatedly on Miao Zhu’s shoulder. “A winning hand, and you’ve played it to shreds!”

“Here’s what you do: Call Xingran right now. Don’t grovel too much—act aggrieved where it counts. Once she coaxes you, make your demand—have her marry you. At the very least, get her to agree to an engagement first!” Miao Ling paced neurotically, her mind racing. “Yes! While she still feels guilty, take the initiative. I don’t believe she’ll refuse!”

Terminally ill.

Those words flashed through Miao Zhu’s mind.

She felt like she was watching an absurd comedy starring Miao Ling.

The air itself seemed to freeze solid, and Miao Zhu’s senses went numb. She felt no pain in her shoulders, her emotions dulled. She had no urge to resist, nor did she feel any disappointment or hurt.

Back in her room, Miao Zhu flopped onto the soft bed face-up, staring at the ceiling, ears filled with the faint continuous hum of electricity.

After a few minutes, she rolled over, pulled open the bedside drawer, and took out the vitamins inside. Her hand trembled slightly as she swallowed a few pills, then turned on her phone, which had been off for days.

Sheng Xingran’s message sat at the top, asking Miao Zhu to contact her.

Miao Zhu called her. It rang once before being picked up.

“Was it that hard to tell me you were coming back?” Sheng Xingran cut straight to it. “I looked like an idiot searching everywhere for you!”

“Mm, sorry. I know I was wrong.”

Miao Zhu’s flat apology was like a bucket of cold water, snuffing out Sheng Xingran’s urge to vent. “…Did Aunt Miao yell at you?”

She didn’t need to ask to know it was true. Sheng Xingran couldn’t hold back a curse, then hurriedly explained, “I wasn’t trying to tattle to Aunt Miao. I was worried about you, Longlong. I really was. I wanted you in Paris with me, but I stepped back when you wanted to hang out with Emma, didn’t I? I didn’t bother you two, right? But then you went unreachable, and I didn’t have Emma’s number, so I came back to find you. Flora’s housekeeper said you never brought Emma to stay and that you’d moved out four days ago—you have no idea how I fell apart in that moment, Longlong. You never tell me anything. Think about how I feel too.”

“Did you think about how I felt when something happened between you and Flora that night?”

“…”

The line went quiet, as if the signal had cut out.

Miao Zhu had no patience to wait. She said, “Xingran, maybe we should just call it quits.”

“Why? On what grounds! Don’t talk nonsense!” Sheng Xingran grew agitated again. “I was drunk! I was wasted! Be reasonable, Longlong! And that afternoon, you rejected me—you know how hurt I was? I’d booked a restaurant, went back to pick you up…”

“You think it’s all my fault?”

“I didn’t say it was your fault, but don’t you think you’ve been cold to me? You always say ‘take it slow.’ How slow? We’ve known each other sixteen years—not sixteen days. Isn’t that slow enough? Can’t I even kiss you?”

In stark contrast to Sheng Xingran’s agitation, Miao Zhu’s expression was vacant as she said, “Xingran, this doesn’t make me feel safe.”

“You don’t feel safe— No, Longlong, that kiss with Flora didn’t mean anything. I wasn’t sober, I had no idea what I was…”

“Let’s get engaged.” Miao Zhu softly interrupted her. “Can we get engaged first?”

“…” Sheng Xingran wondered if her ears were broken. How else could Miao Zhu’s attitude flip 180 degrees?

“You’re serious? Engaged? You want to get engaged to me?”

“You don’t want to?”

“I do! Of course I do!” Sheng Xingran was dizzy with shock. “Half a month left here. Wait for me to come back.”

The call ended, and the phone screen went dark. Miao Zhu closed her eyes briefly, then lit it up again. She scrolled up through the message list, piled high with texts from these days.

Today’s included not just Sheng Xingran but also Jiang Jingjing. Miao Zhu skimmed it—Jiang Jingjing, currently on a duo trip with Xie Dasu, was venting to her about how he still had his ex’s mom’s contact saved.

Her fingertip slid up, skipping two days to the bottom, where Mu Shanyi and Emma appeared.

[Mu Shanyi: Awake yet?]

[Emma: God, struck by this face again]

[Emma: [Picture]]

Miao Zhu tapped into the chat with Emma. There was Mu Shanyi from five years ago.

Black wool overcoat, black turtleneck base layer, her dark brown hair lifted by a few strands in the cold wind.

Miao Zhu zoomed in on the photo, freezing on Mu Shanyi’s face.

In the instant Emma snapped the shot, Mu Shanyi had tilted her head slightly, eyelids raised just a bit. She was listening, her expression focused and earnest.

The sky was overcast, everything around gray and dull. Mu Shanyi was like the first snow, exuding a clear, captivating chill.

Miao Zhu felt as if she could really smell the snowflakes from that year. She took a deep breath, and the stagnant air around her seemed to flow again, revived by the arrival of this old snow.

Miao Zhu saved the photo and opened her chat with Mu Shanyi, setting it as the background.

[Mia: Home safe]

It looked a bit stiff, so Miao Zhu added an emoji.

[Mia: Cute kitten spinning.jpg]