Shen Yan and Jiang Jing’s work dragged on, so they ultimately couldn’t make it back.
Shen Jia Yan and Grandma finished dinner and sat in the living room by the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the small yard where flowers bloomed.
“Grandma, your braised pork ribs are still so delicious.” Shen Jia Yan sat beside Grandma, gently rocking her rocking chair.
Grandma touched her hand and said slowly, “If you love it, come back often. Grandma will make it for you.” She then picked up an old enamel cup from beside her and handed it to Shen Jia Yan. “Here.”
Shen Jia Yan took the familiar cup and looked down. Sure enough.
It was filled to the brim with melon seed kernels.
“Grandma.” She frowned at her, her tone carrying a hint of reproach, yet unable to hide her heartache. “You shelled melon seeds for me again. Aren’t your hands tired?”
When she was little and staying at Grandma’s house, she would miss her mom every evening. But she had always been quite sensible from a young age. Even if she cried from missing her mom, she wouldn’t throw a tantrum like other kids. She would just sit alone by the window, gazing at the dark street in the distance, tears streaming silently down her face.
Yet Grandma always pinpointed her mood precisely. She would walk over quietly, sit down without a word, and hand over the enamel cup. Inside were the melon seed kernels she had shelled one by one during the day—pale and fragrant from the sun.
“Be good, Yan Yan,” Grandma would pull her into her arms, her voice gentle yet firm. “Mom will be here in a few days.”
That voice was like the warmest lamp in the night, gently illuminating and dispelling a bit of the darkness in her heart.
Shen Jia Yan looked at the enamel cup in her hand and muttered, “I’m so grown up now, and you’re still spoiling me like this.”
Grandma just smiled at her, her eyes crinkling with indulgence. “In Grandma’s eyes, you’ll always be that little girl.”
Shen Jia Yan looked up at Grandma’s face, etched with the traces of time, and suddenly felt a warmth and sourness in her heart.
She turned to gaze out the window, reining in her emotions, and changed the subject. “Grandma, the tulips in our yard are blooming so beautifully.”
Grandma followed her gaze to the small yard outside, a gentle smile curving her lips. “Yes, they’re better than any year before.”
Shen Jia Yan continued, “Grandma, next time, can I bring a friend to see our flowers?”
Grandma turned to look at her, eyes twinkling with amusement. “Of course, you’re welcome anytime. Our flowers are blooming so well—they need people to see them to liven things up.”
She paused, then teased, “Is it a boy or a girl? How do you two get along?”
Shen Jia Yan froze slightly, her ear tips quietly turning red. She said softly, “A girl… just… a really good friend.”
Grandma didn’t press further. She could tell this was someone very important to her granddaughter.
She patted the back of Shen Jia Yan’s hand gently, her tone warm and kind. “You can bring her anytime. Our house isn’t big, but the yard is tidy, and the braised pork ribs are delicious. She won’t laugh at us.”
Listening to Grandma’s words, Shen Jia Yan felt a wave of tenderness in her heart.
She knew Grandma was traditional but never demanding of her. From childhood to now, her love had always been inclusive and gentle, like the sunlight in the yard—not scorching, but warm enough.
The grandmother and granddaughter chatted until the car arranged by Shen Yan arrived to pick up Shen Jia Yan.
“Grandma, go back inside. It’s cold out here.” Shen Jia Yan lowered the car window and poked her head out to say.
“Alright, I’ll head in once you’re gone.” She then instructed the driver, “Xiao Li, drive slowly and be safe.”
“Yes, don’t worry.” The driver nodded.
The car started moving. “Grandma, I’ll come see you again next time.” Shen Jia Yan waved at her.
“Okay.”
As the car pulled away slowly, Shen Jia Yan watched Grandma’s figure shrink in the rearview mirror, still standing at the door, seeing her off.
She looked down at her hand, where the warmth from Grandma’s gentle pat lingered in her palm.
As a child, she had always thought growing up was something very distant, that time would forever pause in Grandma’s yard.
Now, she had truly grown up.
She had someone she liked, feelings she wanted to protect, and scenery she wanted to share with that person—the landscapes that had witnessed her growth.
“Grandma…” she murmured in her heart.
She knew Grandma wouldn’t pry too much or urge her to marry or ask when she’d find a boyfriend. She would just stand at the door with a smile, waiting for her return, hand her a cup of shelled melon seeds, and say, “Grandma wants to meet the person you like.”
It was the simplest acceptance, the deepest love.
The car drove steadily back to the city, the sky gradually tinged with sunset hues.
Shen Jia Yan leaned against the window, gazing into the distance, and silently made a wish in her heart. “When Wan Ning and I finally reach that day, I will hold her hand and come back here, back to your side.”
A while later, the car pulled up smoothly downstairs at home.
After entering, Shen Jia Yan saw that neither Shen Yan nor Jiang Jing had returned, so she called Jiang Jing.
Jiang Jing told her their work wasn’t done yet and for her to rest first without waiting up.
After hanging up, Shen Jia Yan packed the things she needed to take back to school tomorrow, then took a shower.
Once done, she checked the time and figured Wen Wan Ning had probably finished her shower too.
She sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard, and dialed Wen Wan Ning’s number.
After two rings, a lazy, soft voice came from the other end. “Hello.”
Hearing that voice, Shen Jia Yan’s lips curved up unconsciously, her tone softening. “Are you busy?”
Rustling sounds came through the receiver, like Wen Wan Ning turning over in bed. “Mm~~~ Not busy. Just finished tidying up and lying in bed.”
Perfect timing.
Shen Jia Yan slid down a bit, her voice gentle with a touch of caution. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
Wen Wan Ning chuckled twice, teasing, “You walking over to pick me up?”
“Of course by car.” Shen Jia Yan replied matter-of-factly.
“Oh?” Wen Wan Ning raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with more amusement. “When did classmate Shen learn to drive? I didn’t even know.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She coughed lightly, explaining shyly, “Someone from home will drive.”
She was actually already taking driving lessons, with only the final test left.
Wen Wan Ning toned down her laughter, her voice gentling. “Not teasing you anymore. You don’t need to pick me up. My dad will drop me at the station tomorrow, and we’ll meet there.”
“Oh, alright then.” Shen Jia Yan agreed, a faint, barely detectable disappointment in her tone.
She had actually wanted to see her earlier.
Even if just a few minutes sooner, even if just a few more words in the car.
But she didn’t say it out loud, just softly acknowledged it, tucking the small regret away.
Wen Wan Ning seemed to catch the shift in her tone, paused, and lowered her voice soothingly. “Yan Yan.”
“Hm?” Shen Jia Yan responded softly, her ear twitching as if lightly touched.
“We’ll see each other at noon tomorrow.”
Every time Wen Wan Ning called her “Yan Yan,” Shen Jia Yan’s heart melted. It was a name only family used for her.
She hummed contentedly.
“The tulips at Grandma’s are really beautiful,” Wen Wan Ning continued.
“Yeah.” Shen Jia Yan thought for a moment, finally organizing the words she’d been mulling over, and said earnestly, “I told Grandma. Next time, I’ll bring you home to see the flowers.”
Wen Wan Ning paused briefly, then her lips slowly curved into a gentle smile.
She didn’t reply right away, just hummed softly, as if accepting a very important, precious invitation.
She asked warmly, “Grandma must love you a lot, right?”
Hearing this, Shen Jia Yan’s heart trembled slightly.
She hadn’t expected Wen Wan Ning to ask that, yet her tone seemed to see right through the softest part of her heart.
Leaning against the bed, her gaze tender and nostalgic, she spoke slowly, as if afraid to disturb the memories. “Yeah, she loves me a lot.”
“When I was little, my parents were busy with work. I spent almost my entire childhood at Grandma’s. She took care of me while tending flowers, cooking, and doing laundry. It was hard work.”
Wen Wan Ning listened without interrupting, quietly attentive and gentle.
Shen Jia Yan paused, a smile tugging at her lips unconsciously. “When I missed Mom, she would quietly shell a whole cup of melon seeds and sit beside me, saying in the gentlest tone, ‘Mom will be here in a few days. For now, you’ve got Grandma.'”
Wen Wan Ning’s heart softened. “Grandma is really wonderful.”
She suddenly understood why Shen Jia Yan was so gentle, kind, patient, and knew how to love someone.
She had grown up in such a tender embrace.
“Yeah, Grandma is the most important family to me. Once I start working and make lots of money, I’ll take her traveling, buy her treats…”
Wen Wan Ning listened to her childlike aspirations, her own heart softening.
She said softly, “You really love her.”
Shen Jia Yan nodded, her voice firm. “Yes, she’s the gentlest person in my life. She taught me how to love and how to be loved.” She paused, her tone dropping but sincere. “So, I want to give all the gentleness and love I’ve learned to the person I like.”
Wen Wan Ning’s heart skipped a beat.
She hummed softly, as if welcoming a heart drawing quietly closer.
She felt like she wasn’t just hearing a story about Grandma, but Shen Jia Yan offering up her softest, most precious parts.
Her childhood, growth, gentleness, strength—and the love she would guard for life.
They chatted a bit more about other things.
Shen Jia Yan noticed Wen Wan Ning’s voice growing drowsy and softened her own, whispering, “Are you sleepy?”
“Mm…” Wen Wan Ning murmured faintly, thick with fatigue.
Shen Jia Yan’s lips curved unknowingly, a soft satisfaction swelling in her heart. “Then let me tell you a bedtime story to help you sleep.”
“Okay.”
Shen Jia Yan’s heart fluttered with secret joy, her pulse quickening.
Finally, she could lull Wen Wan Ning to sleep her way.
She adjusted her earbuds, opened the Baidu app on her phone, and found the saved item: “Bedtime Stories for Your Girlfriend.”
Her finger hovered over the screen for a few seconds.
Then, she smiled gently.
This was something she’d thought about for a long time.
For now, she could only fantasize unilaterally in moments like this.
She was her girlfriend.
After the story ended, Wen Wan Ning’s breathing grew long and soft. Shen Jia Yan lowered her voice further. “Don’t forget to take out your earbuds. I’m hanging up.”
A very faint “mm” came from the other end.
A fulfilling happiness filled her entirely.
“Goodnight.” My girl.
