Chapter 54

“What does ‘Jianwei’ mean?” Fang Zhi stared at those two words for a long time before finally asking.

“Ah, this…” Chen Nian floundered a bit. “It’s like seeing the vast world from the tiniest vantage point, you know? Perfect for photography. From that little frame in the viewfinder, you can capture the whole big world.”

“Mm.” Fang Zhi acknowledged her with a hum.

“Ha, that’s not the point.” Chen Nian patted the magazine. “This one’s got some real weight to it. If the editor remembers my name, it’ll be a lot easier to get published next time.”

“You’re amazing,” Fang Zhi said.

Chen Nian chuckled and changed the subject. “So, what’s my reward?”

Fang Zhi turned sideways and blinked at her. “Do a set of practice questions… with me?”

Chen Nian groaned. “Aww—”

Before the end-of-term exams were over, Chen Nian received two more payments for her submissions.

Winter vacation arrived. The family had done well financially that year, and Liu Chunhua was planning a nice trip for everyone before the New Year. But Fang Zhi’s vocal coach had introduced her to a new teacher. This one was a big name with a packed schedule, so they couldn’t arrange lessons as flexibly as before.

The plan had to be shelved for now.

Fang Zhi had one lesson in the morning, two in the afternoon, and piano practice at night. Her days were completely full.

She’d already had little time to hang out with Chen Nian, and now she was adamant about not letting Chen Nian drive her to lessons anymore.

So one of them was swamped, while the other was bored out of her mind.

Chen Nian spent her days either at her mom’s shop or over at Zhu Dong’s place, pitching in here and offering ideas there, doing her best to look busy.

In the midst of this routine, she naturally took more and more photos. She’d long since outgrown the phase where she needed to trek to famous mountains or scenic rivers for good shots. It was everyday life—the minute details, the raw authenticity—that now fueled her creativity the most.

One day, she noticed the magazine had launched a new column: ten or so pages dedicated to telling a story, like a miniature photo exhibition. Chen Nian went ahead and polished up all the photos she’d taken lately, sent them in with a simple piece of urban prose, and didn’t think much of it.

With no real expectations, the good news felt like a stroke of pure luck when it arrived.

Not only did her submission get accepted on the first try, but the magazine also sent her an invitation.

Inviting Teacher Jianwei to their anniversary photography exhibition.

Chen Nian clutched the remittance slip and the invitation letter. “Ah, this…”

Liu Chunhua leaned over for a peek. “Published again?”

Chen Nian shook her head. “More than that…”

“Did they overpay you?”

“This time they did, but it’s not just that…”

Liu Chunhua shook out the clothes in her hands, draped them over the balcony railing, wiped her hands dry, and came over to scrutinize what Chen Nian was holding.

“Inviting Teacher Jianwei to the event on February 5th in North City…”

Chen Nian squirmed with embarrassment. “Mom, Mom, stop reading it out loud.”

Liu Chunhua finished the invitation and grinned from ear to ear. “Teacher Jianwei, you’ve got it! I never imagined Liu Chunhua could give birth to such an artistic kid…”

“Your clothing designs are art too,” Chen Nian said.

“I’m just a tailor.” Liu Chunhua snatched the invitation and turned it over in her hands. “Sigh, this looks pretty official. Teacher Jianwei, looks like we’re heading to the capital this time. Do they cover travel expenses?”

“They do,” Chen Nian said, pointing to the fine print. “But only for one person.”

“Then you can’t go alone,” Liu Chunhua replied. “You’re still a minor.”

Chen Nian pouted. “I wasn’t planning to go anyway. If they knew I was underage, they wouldn’t have invited me.”

“Eh, well…” Liu Chunhua lapsed into thought.

Chen Nian took back the invitation. “Fine, whatever. That kind of exhibition wouldn’t be any fun anyway…”

They didn’t discuss it further after that. Chen Nian shoved the invitation into her bookshelf and went back to her aimless but happy routine.

That evening, after Fang Zhi finished piano practice and came home, she chatted with Liu Chunhua in the kitchen for a bit before emerging to drag Chen Nian into her room.

“Hey? What’s up?” Chen Nian stared at her, bewildered.

Fang Zhi held up both hands. “Look at my fingers.”

Chen Nian looked. Fang Zhi’s fingers were slender and long, with delicate joints, perfectly proportioned like segments of fresh green onion—exquisitely beautiful.

“They’re gorgeous,” Chen Nian said, admiring them wholeheartedly.

“Did I ask if they were gorgeous?!” Fang Zhi scowled, looking fierce.

“Ah…” Chen Nian peered closer and noticed her fingertips were bright red and swollen.

“Ah, sorry.” Chen Nian apologized at once. She took Fang Zhi’s hand and held it up to her eyes for a better look. “They’re swollen. I thought it was just from the cold. What piece did you practice today? Teacher Zheng is way too demanding…”

“I…” Fang Zhi started to say, but then Chen Nian’s fingertip brushed gently over the spot.

Her fingertips, tormented by the piano all night long, had grown unusually sensitive. They itched faintly and ached a little, and even the slightest touch sparked sensations far more intense than before.

Fang Zhi pulled her fingers back and clasped both hands behind her. Only then did she speak. “Yeah, I have to work extra hard. I started piano so late that I need to put in more time than everyone else and endure even greater hardships!”

Chen Nian felt genuinely sorry for her. “If it’s too much of a burden, just cut back on the lessons. We don’t really need to…”

“Who says we don’t!” Fang Zhi cut her off. She tilted her chin up, her face set in a grave expression, her tone utterly solemn. “If I want to stand on stage and achieve real success, I have to charge forward fearlessly and give it everything I’ve got!!!”

Chen Nian blinked. “Ah… okay.”

Fang Zhi pressed on. “I know I have talent. All my teachers say so, which is exactly why I can’t waste it!”

Chen Nian nodded. “Ah, right!”

Fang Zhi continued. “And no matter how grueling it gets, I’m willing. No matter how exhausted I am, I’m happy. Because I’m chasing my dreams.”

Chen Nian clapped in hearty approval. “Well said!”

Fang Zhi locked eyes with her, staring straight into Chen Nian’s gaze and holding her there. “And what about you?”

Chen Nian hesitated. “Me?”

Fang Zhi leaned in closer. “Shouldn’t you go all out for your own dreams? Shouldn’t you stop wasting your talent? Shouldn’t you seize every opportunity and never do anything you’ll regret—anything that wastes your youth?”

Chen Nian burst into laughter, her eyes curving into warm crescents. “Zhizhi, are you reciting the school pledge or something?”

Fang Zhi’s lips pressed into a tight line, anger brewing.

Chen Nian hurriedly grabbed her arm and tugged her closer. “Okay, okay, I get it. You want me to enter that photography exhibition, right?”

Fang Zhi stayed silent.

Chen Nian sighed. “Ugh, my mom… If she wanted me to go, she could’ve just told me herself instead of putting ideas in your head. It’s not like I’m refusing. It really doesn’t matter to me…”

Fang Zhi shook her head firmly. “It can’t be ‘doesn’t matter.’”

Chen Nian went on. “It really doesn’t. You don’t get it—this isn’t some pure art exhibition. The exhibitors are all tied to magazines. It’s basically just a networking event for people in the industry…”

Fang Zhi repeated herself. “It can’t be ‘doesn’t matter.’”

Chen Nian fell silent and met her gaze.

Fang Zhi’s voice was steady. “What I have, you should have too.”

Chen Nian paused. “…”

Fang Zhi added, “Otherwise, when I’m up on stage, what will you be doing?”

Chen Nian’s eyes flickered with surprise. She could scarcely believe a teenager would think that far ahead.

Yet she had to admit, it was just like Fang Zhi to consider such things.

Chen Nian watched Fang Zhi closely, and Fang Zhi watched her right back, tracking her every move. Chen Nian wanted to give her the very best of everything, and Fang Zhi felt the same way about her.

Fang Zhi had seen it all: Chen Nian’s boredom, her loneliness, her talent, her accomplishments.

But Fang Zhi wasn’t one to chatter. She only opened up like this in moments that truly mattered—like a timid rabbit exposing its soft underbelly, letting Chen Nian touch the most vulnerable part of her.

That raw honesty always carried a shy tremor that tugged at the heartstrings.

“Mm, I understand,” Chen Nian said softly.

Fang Zhi turned her head away, refusing to meet her eyes. “Good. As long as you know.”

Chen Nian’s hands lingered on her arms. She gave them a firm squeeze to convey her resolve. “I’ll work hard, I promise. I’ll stand right by your side.”

Fang Zhi bristled with irritation. “That’s got nothing to do with me!”

“It has everything to do with you.” Chen Nian wrapped her arms around Fang Zhi and pulled her into a tight embrace. “You have no idea how much.”

The two of them chattered and play-fought in the room for a while before emerging. Chen Nian then announced that she would head to North City for the exhibition.

Everyone burst into warm applause.

“But I don’t want to go as Jianwei,” Chen Nian added. “I’m too young. If the editors found out my age right now, they’d stop accepting my submissions.”

Chen Junjie nodded. “That’s a real possibility.”

Chen Nian smiled. “I’ll just go as myself—an ordinary little reader. A chance to see the world.”

Liu Chunhua nodded. “That works.”

She turned to Fang Zhi. “What do you think, Zhizhi?”

Fang Zhi gave a nod. “Sure.”

She didn’t want Chen Nian schmoozing or making connections. She just wanted her to dive into the things she loved.

“Then I’ll put together an itinerary,” Chen Nian said. “A three-day tour of North City.”

“Great!” Chen Junjie had full confidence in his brilliant daughter.

The plan came together quickly, and Chen Junjie even rearranged his schedule to match.

But when the time finally arrived, Teacher Zheng had to take Fang Zhi to an exchange meeting. Teacher Zheng was the most important mentor there, and Fang Zhi was her star pupil, slated to perform at the event.

The date was February 5th—what an incredible coincidence.

The family of four sat together with glum expressions, neither Chen Nian nor Fang Zhi willing to hold the other back.

In the end, with no better option, they split the difference: Chen Junjie took Fang Zhi to the exchange meeting in Tan City, while Liu Chunhua escorted Chen Nian to the photography exhibition in North City.

It was the first time Chen Nian and Fang Zhi had ever been parted by such a great distance, for so long.

After the plane touched down, Liu Chunhua dragged her daughter out to eat and drink their hearts’ content, hoping to buoy her mood.

On the surface, Chen Nian was all giggles and smiles, but they never quite reached her eyes—Liu Chunhua could see right through it.

After polishing off another round of North City’s signature street snacks, Chen Nian clutched her beverage cup and stared blankly into the distance.

Liu Chunhua asked her, “What’re you thinking about?”

Chen Nian rattled off some nonsense on the spot. “Opening a milk tea shop.”

Liu Chunhua blinked in surprise. “Huh?”

Chen Nian went on. “I’d name it Zhizhi Niannian. Rich tea fragrance, thick creamy foam, all sorts of fruits with just a splash of booze. Seasonal limited editions for spring, summer, fall, and winter, made only with the freshest ingredients of the moment. And of course, the classics that are always on the menu, with some super special names…”

Chen Nian suddenly cracked up laughing. “Like Zhizhi Niannian So Good It Makes You Go ‘Meow-Puff’ Oolong Tea.”