Chapter 26

Sang Ning’s adaptability was strong, just like her friendship with Shen Tingwan. She gave a standard reply: “It’s only right to care for each other.”

A polite and proper response.

Shen Tingwan rubbed her forehead, wondering where her mind had wandered. Apart from that time when she was drunk, Sang Ning had always been impeccably proper with her. She probably acted clingy like that with everyone when intoxicated.

It was all because of that dream.

Shen Tingwan chuckled. “Mm, let’s leave it at that for now. I’m going to take a shower.”

Her voice after drinking was always softer and more alluring than usual. Sang Ning calmly replied with a “good,” then lowered her head and pursed her lips, warning herself not to think improper thoughts.

Shen Tingwan set down her phone and headed to the bathroom. This call hadn’t been entirely out of the blue; she actually rather enjoyed her junior schoolmate’s meticulous concern, much like that call when she was sick last time.

The next day at noon, Shen Tingwan rarely ate in the cafeteria again. Before digging in, she snapped a photo of her meal.

Director Tan, who was eating with her, noticed and expressed surprise. “Teacher Shen, you have this habit too? Who are you sending it to? Got something going on?”

Shen Tingwan smiled faintly. “No situation.”

She took the photo but, after thinking it over, didn’t send it.

Sang Ning was also having lunch. With the weather cooling down, she and Yu Shuang sometimes ate at outside restaurants. The perk of working solo was the freedom with her time; she didn’t have to rush.

During lunch, Sang Ning checked her phone several times. No messages.

This continued for several days.

The day before the National Day holiday, Sang Ning and Yu Shuang ate lunch outside again—ramen.

Yu Shuang poured a circle of vinegar into her ramen and, seeing Sang Ning eat silently, asked, “Why haven’t you been updating your mom lately?”

Sang Ning: “…………”

After lunch, back at the studio, Yu Shuang was full of energy. She had a trip planned with friends over the holiday and was just waiting to finish work and be free.

Sang Ning hadn’t accepted Yu Shuang’s travel invitation. She could imagine the crowds at major attractions. She had already bought her ticket home. Mid-Autumn Festival was around these days too, so she planned to celebrate it first before heading back to Birch City.

On the first day of the holiday, Sang Ning carefully checked that the room was disconnected from water and power. Then she dragged her pre-packed suitcase and took a cab to the high-speed rail station.

She had been busy with work all year and hadn’t gone back for months. Sang Mingjuan never nagged her about it, always respecting her daughter’s own ideas and mood.

After waiting another half hour, Sang Ning boarded with the flow of people.

Sang Ning liked to quietly watch the scenery during train rides, occasionally scrolling her phone. She opened Shen Tingwan’s Moments and was surprised to find that Shen Tingwan had actually posted an update—extremely rare. Twenty minutes ago, geolocated at the airport, showing a ticket to Paris.

Shen Tingwan was sitting in the waiting lounge and saw that Sang Ning had posted a photo in Moments: the high-speed rail window framing a flowing expanse of green scenery like a viewfinder.

“So boring,” Wei Xue stood up and scooted over to Shen Tingwan. “What are you looking at?”

Shen Tingwan turned off her phone screen.

Wei Xue tsked. “What shady thing are you looking at?”

Shen Tingwan checked the time; boarding was about to start. This trip was half work, half vacation. With the long holiday, she could play for a few days after finishing up. Wei Xue had no plans, so she tagged along.

…

Sang Ning arrived in Muyang around one o’clock. Just as she exited the station, she spotted a woman in a baseball cap walking toward her. She smiled and called out, “Little Aunt.”

Sang Mingjing smoothly took her suitcase and teased upon seeing her, “Is the big photographer hungry? Let’s go home and eat.”

Sang Ning asked, “Have you eaten?”

Sang Mingjing looked exasperated. “With your mom’s temperament, do you think she’d eat without you?”

Sang Ning smiled and followed Sang Mingjing to the car. She glanced at it. “Is this the new car?”

“Yeah, that old second-hand one was long overdue for replacement.” Sang Mingjing buckled her seatbelt. “Hungry? There are cookies in the car; help yourself.”

Sang Ning said, “Not hungry. I had breakfast.”

“Alright.” Sang Mingjing had a straightforward, carefree personality. At thirty-eight this year, she was still single and unmarried—a pretty cool woman who looked much younger than her peers.

When with Sang Ning, Sang Mingjing didn’t act like an elder; she was more like a big sister.

The county town was small; it took less than twenty minutes from the station to home. Sang Mingjing parked in front of a small noodle shop.

The noodle shop was jointly run by Sang Mingjuan and Sang Mingjing. It had been around for years, built a good reputation, and business was steady. The storefront had originally been rented, but a couple of years ago, they’d bought it outright when they had spare cash.

Sang Mingjuan saw the car and came out. “Back.”

“Mm.” Sang Ning saw no customers inside. “Not open today?”

“Closed for a few days.” Sang Mingjuan was terse, her tone always flat. “Wash up and eat.”

Sang Ning looked at the untouched dishes on the table and smiled helplessly. “I told you not to wait, but you did anyway.”

Sang Mingjuan: “We ate breakfast late.”

Sang Mingjing laughed on the side, seeing through it but not saying.

Sang Ning always felt relaxed coming home. Though Sang Mingjuan and Sang Mingjing had contrasting personalities, both were understanding.

No great wealth, but a simple, happy life.

Back in Muyang, Sang Ning led a leisurely life: sleeping in, helping with small chores at home, wandering around taking photos of the county’s unique scenery when idle.

Compared to Shen Tingwan, her days were peacefully boring.

On the fourth day of the holiday—Mid-Autumn Festival—Sang Ning saw Shen Tingwan post another rare Moments in the afternoon: a Paris street at sunrise.

She seemed to be in a great mood; she usually posted only twice a year.

Through Wei Xue’s Moments, Sang Ning learned Shen Tingwan’s days had been colorful: attending banquets, watching fashion week, bar-hopping with friends—lively and bustling.

Sang Ning tapped into Wei Xue’s Moments again. Wei Xue had posted quite a few photos of Shen Tingwan these days; she couldn’t help secretly saving them.

One candid bar shot was a side profile: Shen Tingwan holding a wine glass, slightly tipsy, chatting with someone, her smile brilliantly radiant.

Sang Ning stared at the photo in a daze. The illusion of closeness shattered again. She knew these photos captured Shen Tingwan’s real everyday life. With so many people around her, forgetting Sang Ning was normal; remembering was the surprise.

Apart from that midnight slip-up, Sang Ning had never liked Shen Tingwan’s Moments—a habit she’d developed to avoid leaving traces.

That evening, Sang Mingjuan made extra dishes. It was Mid-Autumn after all, and with Little Aunt there, the three of them celebrated together.

After dinner, Big Aunt Sang Mingli dropped by. “Wow, living the good life? Brought you some mooncakes—custard yolk filling. Try them.”

Sang Mingjuan was still annoyed about the previous blind date setup, but with Sang Mingli grinning like that, she couldn’t give her the cold shoulder.

Sang Mingli pulled up a chair, sat down, and chatted idly.

She glanced at Sang Ning and, munching a mooncake, praised, “Our Ningning is getting prettier and prettier.”

Sang Ning guessed what Sang Mingli was leading to.

“It was Big Aunt’s fault before; I should’ve asked your opinion first.” Sang Mingli smiled. “If there’s a good one next time, Big Aunt will introduce him.”

Sang Ning: “…”

“Give it a rest.” Sang Mingjing snorted. “With the guys you pick, outsiders might think you have a grudge against your own niece.”

“How do you talk like that?” Sang Mingli shot back sarcastically, then turned to Sang Ning. “Ningning, don’t you dare learn from your little aunt. So old and unmarried—what does that look like?”

Sang Ning said, “Little Aunt’s fine like this.”

Sang Mingli was speechless. “You all are really something.”

Sang Mingjing wasn’t as tolerant as Sang Mingjuan and directly challenged Sang Mingli. “What’s wrong with me? I’m doing great right now.”

Sang Mingli: “With a temper like that, no wonder no one’s interested.”

Sang Mingjing: “Good thing no one’s interested. Better than putting up with it at home every day.”

…

The evening ended unpleasantly again. Sang Ning listened calmly to the argument, then went outside for some air. The moon was full; she snapped a photo. Her mind drifted to the day she’d spent Shen Tingwan’s birthday with her…

She stared at the moon for a long time. Her feelings for Shen Tingwan seemed to have changed. It was still fondness, but before, without seeing or contacting her, she’d never missed her like this.

Shen Tingwan stayed in Europe for six days and returned on the seventh. She checked her phone; after she stopped initiating messages, Sang Ning hadn’t reached out. It had been over half a month in total. She found it amusing—why had she ever suspected Sang Ning had feelings for her?

After five days off, Sang Ning headed back to Birch City, rested one more day, and gave her apartment a thorough deep clean.

After the holiday, a new typhoon made landfall, plunging Birch City into stormy weather.

That day, a thunderstorm was forecast for evening. Sang Ning and Yu Shuang wrapped up early and went home, avoiding the rain. But shortly after arriving, the power cut out unexpectedly.

Sang Ning had been prepping dinner in the kitchen when it went pitch black. The electricity bill auto-paid, so it had to be external—likely the weather.

She stood in the dark, letting her eyes adjust, then turned on her phone’s flashlight for light.

She checked the residents’ group; even property management didn’t know the cause and couldn’t say when power would return. That’s when Yu Shuang messaged her.

[Yu Shuang] Power out at your place?

[Sang Ning] Yeah.

[Yu Shuang] Looks like the whole area’s out. No idea when it’ll come back.

With the bad weather, troubleshooting was tough; no telling when it’d resume. Sang Ning scrolled Moments; plenty were complaining about the outage.

Sang Ning endured the dark for half an hour with no sign of power. Ever since losing her hearing, she’d become afraid of the dark. Without sound and sight, it was a nightmare.

[Yu Shuang] Probably not coming back tonight.

[Yu Shuang] Friend’s coming to pick me up to stay with her.

[Yu Shuang] What about you?

[Sang Ning] I’ll go to a hotel.

[Yu Shuang] Rain’s heavy outside.

[Yu Shuang] Want my friend to pick you up? We can squeeze on the floor.

Sang Ning told Yu Shuang no need; she didn’t want the hassle. Worst case, tough it out in the dark overnight.

Just after replying to Yu Shuang, Sang Ning saw a message from Shen Tingwan—nearly thought she’d misread it.

[Shen Tingwan] Power out there?

Sang Ning replied: Yes.

She waited for a response, but Shen Tingwan called directly. She picked up. “Senior.”

“Got a place to go tonight?”

Sang Ning hadn’t heard her voice in ages. “Planning to get a hotel.”

Rain poured outside.

Shen Tingwan said again, “You can stay at my place. I’ll come pick you up.”

Sang Ning’s heart pounded. She instinctively replied, “No need. You just got back; rest up.”

Silence on the other end.

Sang Ning realized she’d given something away…

Shen Tingwan asked, “You knew I went abroad?”

Sang Ning buried her head and answered honestly: “Mm.”

Shen Tingwan asked softly, “Saw my Moments?”

It felt like getting caught red-handed. Sang Ning replied again, “Mm.”

After a pause, Shen Tingwan chuckled lightly. “You never messaged; I thought you’d forgotten me.”