Chapter 15: Number One in the World [15]

The third day of the first lunar month was typically the day when people started visiting relatives and friends at the beginning of the new year. All sorts of folks carried gift boxes and drove around, eating at one family’s place today and another’s tomorrow. Every household looked lively.

The Shu Family was relatively quieter compared to the others, but Shu’s Mother still prepared some gifts and had Shu Heng make a trip to her grandmother’s house to maintain the most basic contact with her maternal family.

As for Shu Father, the two sides had cut off contact after their conflict erupted. It had been over ten years since they last spoke.

“My relationship with Grandma and the others is just so-so. Just drop off the gifts, say hi, and that’s it,” Shu Heng said from the passenger seat, unable to stop herself from recalling past experiences.

“Last year, I stayed for maybe half an hour. Once I heard them planning to head to a restaurant, I came right back.”

“They didn’t invite you along?” Li Jianwei raised an eyebrow, unable to understand their behavior.

Setting aside everything else, Shu Heng was a top-three county student who got into Hua University with her gaokao scores. She looked full of promise no matter how you sliced it. Why would they exclude such an obedient, promising younger generation member?

Anyone with half a brain would seize the chance to invest in a talented relative from tough circumstances—to be the good Samaritan who lent a hand in hard times.

“They did invite me, but I don’t like hanging out with them. I prefer going home to eat with Mom,” Shu Heng chose her words carefully. “They didn’t say anything too over the line, but I just feel uncomfortable around them.”

Shu Heng’s voice grew quieter. “Am I being too willful? If I tried to fit in…”

“No, there’s no need to force yourself to get along with people you don’t like,” Li Jianwei replied without hesitation. “If they were worth associating with, you wouldn’t feel this way.”

Shu Heng drew her own conclusion. “So, my subconscious picked up that they don’t like me, and that’s why I resist being around them?”

“At the very least, they didn’t give off any friendly vibes,” Li Jianwei said. “I’ll go with you in a bit. After we say hi, we can wander around nearby and catch a movie. Sound good?”

“Sure!” Shu Heng agreed crisply, no longer dwelling on it.

Dealing with unfriendly relatives, or going to a movie with the sister she had a crush on—which needed choosing?

–

Shu Heng’s grandparents were both seriously sexist, favoring boys over girls. Even though their granddaughter was accomplished and aced her studies, they still thought she couldn’t compare to their grandson apprenticing as a mechanic at a 4S shop.

Perhaps because Shu Heng had brought Li Jianwei along this time, the family’s attitude was warmer than last year. They even proactively invited the two to sit and have tea.

“Little Shu graduated from university this year, right?” Her uncle fiddled with his phone while prying into Shu Heng’s situation. “Where are you working now? Any plans to develop back home?”

“I’m interning at a company in Sea City for now. No other plans,” Shu Heng replied, holding a glass cup while half-heartedly responding and pondering the best time to slip away.

“You young ladies spending the New Year together—neither of you has a boyfriend, huh?” Her uncle said, his eyes drifting uncontrollably toward Li Jianwei. “Xiao Feng will be back soon with his friend. Why don’t you youngsters head out together? You might hit it off.”

Hearing this, Shu Heng instantly understood why she was getting this cup of hot tea—they were treating her and her sister as resources to push onto others.

Shu Heng didn’t respond and instead turned to Li Jianwei, linking arms with her. “Sis, aren’t our movie tickets about to start soon?”

“Yeah, half an hour left. Driving over now would be perfect,” Li Jianwei played along, smoothly rising from her chair.

Shu Heng stood too, flashing a polite smile. “Uncle, we won’t disturb you anymore. Goodbye.”

“Hey, wait! Xiao Feng’s coming back any second. Why not meet him and go to the movie together?” Her uncle chased after them, trying to hold them back.

His son was about to arrive with his friend—how could Shu Heng leave so quickly? How was he supposed to make the introduction?

Li Jianwei and Shu Heng walked out arm-in-arm through the gate and spotted an electric scooter pulling straight into the courtyard. Two men got off one after the other.

The younger one from the passenger side spotted Shu Heng and Li Jianwei and waved first. “Cousin, did you come out specially to pick me up?”

“Hi, you must be Shu Heng’s colleague. I’m her cousin,” the cousin said with what he thought was a handsome smile. “Let me introduce you. This is my master, Zheng Quan. He’s only five years older than me and already an engineer.”

Zheng Quan was stunned by the looks of both women, but his attention was more drawn to the car parked out front. He pulled his apprentice aside and whispered, “Xiao Feng, whose car is that one parked outside your place?”

“Uh, no idea. Probably some relative here for New Year’s,” the cousin scratched his head.

“What a coincidence—you guys showed up just in time. Your cousin and her friend are off to a movie. Go with them,” her uncle called over. “Xiao Feng, drive them there.”

“Sure, Master and I were thinking of catching a movie anyway,” the cousin said with a grin. “Come on, ladies, hop in. I’ll take you.”

Li Jianwei’s brows furrowed slightly. She’d never met people so presumptuous.

In their eyes, she and Shu Heng weren’t independent people but objects they could manipulate at will.

Whatever they arranged, she and Shu Heng just had to follow. It was all so matter-of-fact.

Li Jianwei gave no response, even withdrawing her appraising gaze. She simply took Shu Heng’s hand and strode past the three men, opening the passenger door.

Ignoring the voices calling from behind, Li Jianwei leaned in to buckle Shu Heng’s seatbelt, then got in, started the car, and drove off without a second thought.

“Hey, Shu Heng, what are you doing? Didn’t you hear your uncle? So rude! What’s with your friend’s attitude? Don’t come back!” Her uncle yelled after them from the gate, his tone annoyed.

“Sorry about that, you saw the joke. My cousin’s a bit off—probably went dumb from all that studying,” the cousin said awkwardly. “Ignore them, come on in. My mom’s cooking is killer.”

Zheng Quan gave his apprentice a strange look, one mixed with scrutiny and pity. “Take my advice: don’t offend that cousin of yours. Keeping on her good side is the smart move.”

“Huh?” The cousin looked baffled. “Master, what are you talking about? She’s just a poor orphan with debts at home. What’s the point in cozying up to her?”

“Your cousin might be ordinary, but the one she came with? You can’t afford to mess with her,” Zheng Quan said seriously.

He didn’t know who Li Jianwei was, but he recognized the car she drove.

It was the kind that made a 4S shop extend hours late at night, calling back an off-duty mechanic like him for all-night work.

Owner or not, the fact they could drive it said enough about their status.

Thinking how they’d almost been tricked into a blind date with him, Zheng Quan shot his apprentice a glare. “Stop looking dumb and figure out how to apologize!”

He’d dealt with plenty of bosses, most of them superstitious. Pissing someone off during New Year’s could spell doom if they held a grudge!

–

“Sis, sorry. I had no idea Uncle would pull that…” Shu Heng said from the passenger seat, her tone laced with obvious dejection.

Ever since her sister came back with her, nothing had gone smoothly.

A minor accident before New Year’s, and now dragging her sister into family drama after. Her sister must regret coming back with her.

“Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault. Don’t take responsibility for others’ mistakes,” Li Jianwei said. Seeing the look on Shu Heng’s face, she pulled over to the side of the road.

“Shu Heng, look at me.” Li Jianwei unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to face her.

“Sis?” Shu Heng’s expression held a hint of confusion, but she did as told.

“Tell me what you’re thinking right now,” Li Jianwei said.

“I-I don’t know. I feel like I’ve caused you so much trouble…” Shu Heng clutched her seatbelt tightly and bit her lip. “Maybe… maybe it would’ve been better if you hadn’t come back with me.”

“You think I’d be better off staying in Sea City?” Li Jianwei countered.

Shu Heng fell silent, but her eyes seemed to agree.

A flash of helplessness crossed Li Jianwei’s eyes. “Not at all. If I hadn’t come back with you, I’d be spending New Year’s alone in the villa. No one to make me New Year’s Eve dinner, no red envelopes from elders.”

“I might’ve gotten dragged to some so-called dinner party, plied with drinks, stumbling home drunk alone, and waking up the next day with a splitting headache.”

A touch of sadness emerged in Li Jianwei’s beautiful peach-blossom eyes, her tone turning low. “Compared to some harmless little troubles, I hate being home alone, cold and empty, surrounded only by icy business transactions. You get it?”

“Truth is, I’m really happy you called me and invited me home for New Year’s with you,” Li Jianwei said gently, reaching out to cup Shu Heng’s cheek with her palm.

“For five years, you were the first person to stay by my side at midnight and wish me a happy new year.”

In Shu Heng’s eyes, Li Jianwei could do no wrong—like a deity who changed her fate.

That’s why Shu Heng hesitated so much when confessing her feelings, mustering courage only to back down.

Her sister was already so good to her—how could she be greedy for more?

But now, seeing Li Jianwei voluntarily show vulnerability gave Shu Heng a different feeling. The deity in her eyes was human too, with her own fragilities and times when she needed someone.

“Sis…” Shu Heng placed her hand over Li Jianwei’s, her heart pounding like a drum, her desire to confess surging to the peak.

Li Jianwei said nothing, just gazed at Shu Heng with gentle, focused eyes—like silent encouragement.

“If you’re willing, Sis, I-I can spend every New Year’s with you,” Shu Heng swallowed nervously. “I-I…”

A spark of anticipation lit Li Jianwei’s eyes. Was Little Cabbage finally about to confess?

“I’ll do anything for you, Sis, as long as I can!” Shu Heng’s gaze grew firm. “If you’re home alone, just message me. I’ll take care of you—no more waking up with headaches.”

Clearly, at the last step, Shu Heng instinctively pulled back a bit.

Still, getting that promise was progress. Li Jianwei’s deliberate vulnerability hadn’t been wasted.

“Alright, I accept your promise,” Li Jianwei said, brushing Shu Heng’s cheek with her thumb until she felt the feverish warmth, then slowly withdrawing her hand.

With that settled, time for the movie!