Chapter 56

When Chen Nian got back to Anliang, Fang Zhi and her dad still hadn’t returned.

She trailed behind her mom like a shadow, her phone glued to her hand the whole time. Liu Chunhua found it irritating and shooed her away. “Go on, keep holding onto it. Just bring it over if something comes up!”

“Hee hee hee, thanks, Mom!” Chen Nian bounced off with a grin.

If only they had a car. Or if the bus station weren’t quite so far away—Fang Zhi had been adamant about not letting her come pick them up.

Otherwise, she could have headed out right then, full of anticipation on the road, which felt worlds apart from just sitting at home waiting.

【Where are you? Where are you?】

Chen Nian texted Fang Zhi.

Fang Zhi: 【On the bus.】

Chen Nian: 【Still on the bus? Still on the bus?】

Fang Zhi: 【…It’s only been ten minutes since you last asked.】

Chen Nian: 【Ten minutes already and the bus still isn’t done!!!】

Fang Zhi: 【I’m almost out of phone credit.】

Chen Nian: “…”

Chen Nian: 【I’ll top you up!】

Fang Zhi: 【No need.】

Chen Nian: 【Why not!】

Fang Zhi: 【Keep spending like that, and when are you going to buy me a piano?】

Chen Nian: “…”

Chen Nian quietly set her phone down, lamenting how primitive communication still was.

Put this ten years in the future, and they would have been video calling the whole way—able to see faces, read expressions, hear tones. It would feel just like the person was right there beside you.

But there was a certain charm to text messages too. Chen Nian picked up her phone again and opened Fang Zhi’s texts one by one, reading them over.

She grinned like an absolute fool.

Grinning at Fang Zhi’s messages. Grinning at her own.

How had she turned so childish? And worse, she thought her childishness was somehow impressive.

In the past, she’d fretted that her old soul couldn’t keep pace with Fang Zhi’s growth. Now? She wasn’t worried in the slightest. She even felt like some kind of supernatural being, able to slice off pieces of herself from different timelines and use whichever one fit.

Twenty minutes later, her phone chimed.

That text alert went straight to her heart.

She bolted upright, opened the message, and there was Fang Zhi’s good news: 【Off the bus.】

“Awoo!!!!”

Clutching her phone, Chen Nian dashed into the living room. “Mom! Mom! They’re off the bus!”

Liu Chunhua whipped off her apron. “Perfect. Time to start dinner.”

“Mom, I’ll go down and…”

“Even the bus is still half an hour out, and it’s freezing. You trying to turn into an icicle?”

Chen Nian dashed back to her room and grabbed her big puffy coat. “Not cold! Not cold at all!”

And honestly, it wasn’t.

She bundled up tight, hat and scarf in place, wrapped from head to toe.

A blast of cold wind hit her face as she stepped out of the building, but it only made her feel alive.

She ran all the way to the bus stop. With New Year’s approaching, the shops lining the street were decked out in bright red decorations—cheerful and festive.

Chen Nian eyed the bus rumbling around the distant corner, then glanced at the bookstores, fruit stands, and little supermarkets. Novelty won out in the end, and she ducked into the shops.

Fang Zhi wouldn’t let her top up the phone credit? Fine. She’d buy other things instead.

A fresh magazine from the bookstore. Fang Zhi’s favorite fruits from the stand. All sorts of snacks from the mini-mart. And there, amid the soon-to-be-obsolete knickknacks, was a Little Horse keychain.

Chen Nian eyed the Little Horse—hoof raised, head held high, mane flowing dramatically. It looked just like Fang Zhi.

Delighted, she snapped it up and tucked it into her coat’s inner pocket, plotting a sneaky surprise for later.

With her haul complete, it was nearly time.

She hurried back to the bus stop and plopped down on the bench, swinging her legs as she waited.

The cold had everyone rushing, whether they were heading out or coming home.

Chen Nian alone stared in one direction, perfectly at ease, savoring Anliang’s hazy winter sky.

Before long, snow began to drift down from the clouds.

First one flake, then two, landing on her head. Finally, a big one clung to her eyelashes.

“Wow.” Chen Nian tilted her face up and caught the largest one in view, admiring its delicate shape.

She really wanted to show it to Fang Zhi.

The bus rumbled to a stop in front of her.

The doors hissed open, and the first one off was a little fairy in a white puffer jacket.

“Awoo!” Chen Nian cupped her hands around the snowflake, forgot all about the bags on the bench, and charged toward Fang Zhi with a yell.

Fang Zhi spread her arms, frowning slightly. “Careful.”

Chen Nian barreled right up to her, ignoring the open arms entirely as she thrust her hand high. “Look, Zhizhi—snow!”

When Fang Zhi lowered her eyes, only a faint trace of the snowflake remained. It soon melted completely in Chen Nian’s palm.

“Yes, snow,” Fang Zhi murmured in response.

“Hahaha, the first snowflake I’ve caught this year.” Chen Nian lowered her hand, grinning like a fool. “You saw it.”

“I saw it,” Fang Zhi said.

Chen Nian tugged her along. “I bought a ton of stuff you like.”

Fang Zhi eyed that bundled-up head of hers. “Don’t forget about Uncle.”

“Ah.” Chen Nian turned back and shouted to her dad, “Dad! Come help me carry this stuff!”

Chen Junjie, already laden with bags big and small: “…”

The three of them hauled their purchases into the courtyard. Chen Nian felt an unusual surge of excitement.

For some reason, today kept bringing back memories of the days right after she’d first brought Fang Zhi home. Just seeing Fang Zhi filled her with endless joy, delight, hope, and dreams—wave after wave rising from the depths of her heart.

She wanted to give her the very best of everything, but nothing compared to Fang Zhi herself.

Hand in hand, they stepped inside. Chen Nian’s chatter hadn’t stopped for a moment the whole way.

While Fang Zhi changed her shoes, Chen Nian prattled on about the milk tea shop. Liu Chunhua called them to wash up for dinner, and Chen Nian trailed right after Fang Zhi into the bathroom.

She didn’t leave her side even once until they sat down at the table.

“You should be the spokesperson for our shop!” Chen Nian bubbled over with excitement. “Miss Zhizhi, your look perfectly matches the brand image of Zhizhi Niannian Milk Tea Shop—sweet and fresh, lively and cute. We hereby specially invite you… Hey, Mom, how much are you gonna pay Zhizhi as an endorsement fee?”

“Food can’t even shut that mouth of yours.” Liu Chunhua picked up a rib with her chopsticks and placed it in Fang Zhi’s bowl. “Miss Zhizhi, is one rib enough for you?”

Fang Zhi flashed a big grin. “More than enough! I’ll sign a lifetime contract with Auntie!”

“Tsk.” Chen Nian smacked her lips a few times. “What a sweet talker—sweeter than the honey water Ms. Liu Chunhua brews.”

Liu Chunhua fixed her with a stare, letting several seconds of silence stretch out before landing the killing blow. “Three days apart, and you’ve gone crazy missing Zhizhi?”

Chen Nian: “…”

Chen Junjie shoveled rice into his mouth with glee. “I’d say you’ve gone downright crazy missing her.”

Chen Nian’s face flushed bright red as she protested loudly. “Mom, Dad, how can you say that? It’s not just me missing Zhizhi—she misses me too!!!”

Liu Chunhua: “Oh.”

Chen Junjie: “Zhizhi’s been too busy to think about you.”

Chen Nian whined, “Zhizhi, Zhizhi, say something…”

Fang Zhi kept her eyes on her bowl, faint dimples appearing on her cheeks. “I have been really busy…”

Chen Nian spun around to snatch the phone she’d just slipped back into her mom’s pocket.

That was where the ironclad proof was.

Fang Zhi caught on to her plan. As Chen Nian lifted one leg to step away, she reached out and tugged her arm.

“You said—what did you name our milk tea again?”

Our milk tea. Ours!

Chen Nian plopped right back down. “Hey, let me tell you, this is hilarious. You’ve gotta read it in a super Taiwanese accent…”

A brief parting could truly make their feelings cycle and build, eventually bursting forth.

Over the next few days, Chen Nian wanted to stick to Fang Zhi every waking moment. She especially longed to hear Fang Zhi say, after class, upon seeing her: “You know, I missed you so much during lecture.”

But of course, that was just wishful thinking.

Fang Zhi wouldn’t utter anything so sappy unless it was a crucial moment.

It didn’t matter, though. Fang Zhi was prone to shyness and wouldn’t say it outright, but her eyes and the curve of her lips told Chen Nian volumes.

Those subtle signs were what Chen Nian had earned by pouring her all into it—shattering her heart into the tiniest, softest fibers just to sense them.

It was like that New Year’s when she was seven and had brought Fang Zhi home. Even at twelve, Chen Nian still took her shopping for her favorite things, strolled the busiest streets, and gripped her hand tightly amid the crowds.

They laughed together, played together, then returned to the warmth of home to await the coming of the new year.

Unlike in years past, they didn’t head to Dad’s hometown or Mom’s this time. The four of them celebrated Little New Year as a family.

Mom had prepared plenty anyway. The New Year’s Eve dinner overflowed the table, heedless of whether four stomachs could manage it all.

Dad raised his wine glass, brimming with grand ambitions. After every sip, he’d make a wish: open a shop for his wife one moment, take the whole family on a trip the next, send Zhizhi to the best art academy after that, and when the little money-making genius Chen Nian struck it rich, buy him a villa.

Chen Nian griped, “How come it gets flipped around when it comes to me? I want a gift from Dad too.”

“Dad…” Chen Junjie’s cheeks were flushed red, his eyes glazed over. “What did Dad give you? Dad wanted to buy you a camera, but you didn’t want it—you got one yourself.”

Chen Nian beamed smugly. “Sigh, it’s a real hassle when your daughter’s just too outstanding.”

“Yeah,” Chen Junjie agreed. “I don’t know what good karma I earned in my last life to deserve such a wonderful wife and daughters this time around.”

Liu Chunhua couldn’t take it anymore and snatched away the wine bottle. “Niannian, have some orange juice instead. It’ll hit you just like it does your dad.”

Chen Nian and Fang Zhi clinked glasses. “When you drink with a true friend, a thousand cups are never enough.”

Mom and Dad were both devoted family people. No matter how hectic their workdays got, they always carved out time to be with Chen Nian and Fang Zhi whenever it mattered.

Gathering as a family of four for meals was something they did several times a day, so the New Year’s Eve dinner didn’t feel all that special. It just came with more lively chatter, lasted a bit longer, and buzzed with extra warmth.

After dinner, they settled in to watch TV, catching a stretch packed with comedy skits. The whole family sprawled across the sofa, doubled over in laughter every which way. Fang Zhi ended up laughing right into Chen Nian, who shifted over to let her get more comfortable.

“Hug me,” Fang Zhi said.

Chen Nian blinked in surprise. Glancing down, she saw no odd expression on Fang Zhi’s face—her eyes stayed glued to the TV, absorbed in the skit.

Chen Nian sized up their positions and got it: Fang Zhi still wasn’t settled right.

Both girls were slender, not yet fully grown out. Chen Nian’s shoulders were narrow and delicate, so Fang Zhi kept sliding off.

Chen Nian reached out and draped her arm around Fang Zhi’s shoulder.

As the skit wound down, Fang Zhi scooted back, settling her full back against Chen Nian’s arm.

Chen Nian drew in a deep breath, then let her own body go slack, sinking deeper into the sofa.

As the night wore on, Fang Zhi grew limper and limper until she was fully stretched out across Chen Nian’s lap. Only her eyelashes fluttered; the rest of her refused to budge.

The countdown blared, and Liu Chunhua turned to them. “Want to head downstairs and light some fireworks?”

Chen Nian nodded toward the limp Fang Zhi, who shook her head. “Nah, too sleepy.”

Liu Chunhua shot Chen Junjie a meaningful glance. He pulled out the red envelopes. “All right then. Grab your red envelopes and head to bed.”

The two hauled themselves up, sticking to the yearly ritual: snagging the envelopes, reciting their good-luck blessings, then bowing gratefully to Mom and Dad.

“That’s enough, that’s enough.” Liu Chunhua shooed them off with a grin. “Off to sleep with you— you look dead on your feet.”

“Mm.” Fang Zhi nodded.

They shuffled toward the bedrooms. When they reached Fang Zhi’s door, though, she didn’t go in.

She trailed right after Chen Nian, looking ready to keep marching, until Chen Nian threw up an arm to stop her.

“You’re totally out of it,” Chen Nian said. “Where do you think you’re going? This is your room.”

“No.” Fang Zhi replied.

Chen Nian: “Huh?”

Fang Zhi: “No. I’m sleeping with you.”

Firecrackers were popping noisily outside the window. Doubting her ears, Chen Nian leaned in close. “Huh?”

This time, Fang Zhi didn’t reply right away. She stared at Chen Nian, blinked once, and only after several long seconds said, “Didn’t we always sleep together for New Year’s before?”