After passing through the security checkpoint with Yu Qing, Yu Qing pulled her suitcase along and leaned close to Wen Yang, saying, “Fu Xingzhou really does things flawlessly. How impressive.”
Wen Yang held the ticket in her hand, looking at the platform, and pulled Yu Qing to line up. There were quite a lot of people heading home at this time, and every gate was packed. Yu Qing adjusted the bag that had slipped off her suitcase and sighed, “So many people. I didn’t feel it during the security check just now.”
Wen Yang glanced at the LED screen above and said, “It seems like a lot of companies gave an early holiday this year.”
“Looks like it. I saw Liu Yu already drove home.”
Yu Qing scrolled through her phone, swiping past Liu Yu’s post, but the update still stuck in her mind.
In the past few years, Liu Yu’s life had drastically changed after starting her studio — from struggling to rent a place to taking out loans to buy a house and car, and now dressing head-to-toe in designer brands. Her social media was filled with poetic captions, far-off travel destinations, and a carefree lifestyle.
Everyone was amazed.
Only Yu Qing knew what Liu Yu was really like underneath it all.
She had stepped on Yu Qing’s hard work to climb up, taking all the credit for herself.
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Gqvla pnaszzkdt vbaswtb Ysxldvp (sd ElUbyv) qsa y obkzl, Zw Ckdt tsv csale. Rv oyp yzz fwpv qwlzkdt ydmklvu yduoyu. Fbl rwv bla rbsdl yoyu yde zlydle nzspla vs Eld Zydt. Mbl vos qszzsole vbl zkdl nzsplzu yde pssd csyaele vbl vaykd.
Fkdnl vblu cswtbv vbl vknjlvp y ckv zyvl, vblu nswze sdzu tlv qkapv-nzypp plyvp. Mblu olal xsal lmrldpkhl, cwv yv zlypv iwklvla.
Ekvb vbl blzr sq vbl pvyqq, vblu pvsale vblka pwkvnyplp yde vbld pyv esod.
Mbl qsse Ww Dkdtgbsw bye ralryale qsa vblx oyp rzynle sd vbl qszeyczl vyczl. Zw Ckdt srldle vbl rynjytl yde typrle, “Eso, vblpl yal yzz vbl tsse pvwqq!”
Eld Zydt rlljle shla.
Rdpkel oyp oyax ckae’p dlpv rsaaketl.
Zw Ckdt vwadle vs Eld Zydt yde okdjle, “Kwpv obyv ol dlle vs oyax wr. Rv’p qallgkdt swvpkel.”
Eld Zydt pxkzle yde dseele.
Zw Ckdt pvsse wr yde alynble shla vs nblnj vbl vos tkqv csmlp Ww Dkdtgbsw bye tkhld vblx lyazkla. “Ebyv es usw vbkdj kp kd vblpl tkqv csmlp?”
They hadn’t really looked closely before.
Now, it seemed like there was tea inside?
Wasn’t a pound of this worth tens of thousands?
Just as Yu Qing was about to take a closer look, someone came by and shoved their suitcase onto the shelf, blocking her view. She had no choice but to sit down again, figuring whatever it was, it wouldn’t be anything cheap.
Wen Yang felt a bit warm now. She loosened her scarf as the high-speed train started moving, revealing a view of fields and the sky. She picked up her phone and snapped a few pictures.
She opened Fu Xingzhou’s chat and sent him a photo.
Wen Yang: Our train just started moving.
In less than a minute, Fu Xingzhou replied.
Fu Xingzhou: Stay safe.
Wen Yang: Mm. Are you done with work?
Fu Xingzhou replied: Mm.
In reality, he wasn’t done at all. The conference room was full, and as his team gave their reports, Fu Xingzhou lowered his gaze, using a small moment to reply to her.
Seeing that he “wasn’t busy,” Wen Yang typed:
You even asked Secretary Jiang to come. If you’re busy, you could’ve just kept him by your side. Yu Qing and I can manage on our own.
Fu Xingzhou: He has some matters to handle in Nancheng.
Wen Yang: Oh, I see.
She didn’t feel so guilty anymore.
Wen Yang then added: You even prepared gifts for us.
Fu Xingzhou replied: It’s nothing valuable. Just some tea and supplements.
Wen Yang sent an emoji.
(Alright then.)
Seeing this, Fu Xingzhou’s eyes softened with a smile:
The photos look great. Did you take them with your phone?
Wen Yang: Yeah, just a quick snap.
Fu Xingzhou: Still looks really nice.
Encouraged, Wen Yang sent him three more photos she’d just taken.
Fu Xingzhou took the time to look through each one.
His replies weren’t instant — he responded every now and then, like someone squeezing in a text between a packed schedule — but Wen Yang, distracted by the scenery and chatting, didn’t really notice.
She spent her time alternating between taking photos, replying to him, and munching on snacks with Yu Qing.
Yu Qing had brought a huge bag of snacks for the trip, her mouth turning red from gnawing on spicy duck feet.
Two and a half hours later, they arrived at Rongcheng South Station.
It was exactly 10:30 in the morning.
The sun hung high in the sky, but the weather was cold. The wind blew past, making their noses feel instantly frozen. Wen Yang and Yu Qing pulled their suitcases and walked out. They hadn’t even ordered a ride yet when they spotted Zhu Yun and Wen Li standing ahead. The couple stood by Wen Li’s five-year-old Crown parked behind them.
Excited, Wen Yang tugged her suitcase along and ran towards her parents.
“Dad, Mom!”
Zhu Yun was just about to call Wen Yang on her phone when she turned around and saw her daughter. Smiling, she put the phone down. Wen Yang rushed forward, and Zhu Yun caught her in a warm embrace.
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?” Zhu Yun asked.
Wen Yang glanced at her screen. “I was looking for a ride with Yu Qing.”
Yu Qing came over, smiling brightly. “Hello, Uncle and Auntie!”
Zhu Yun smiled at Yu Qing. “Yu Qing, let’s go. Good thing your dad and I came early — otherwise, we might’ve missed you.”
She gave Wen Yang a playful glance.
Wen Yang’s eyes curved into a grin.
“We wouldn’t have missed each other — this is the only exit here.”
“Let’s get in the car.”
Wen Li took their suitcases and placed them in the trunk.
Wen Yang and Yu Qing got into the back seat.
Zhu Yun sat in the passenger seat, and after securing the luggage, Wen Li started the car. The interior was warm, and Wen Yang and Yu Qing rubbed their hands together to chase away the chill.
Wen Yang asked, “Mom, did you plan the timing perfectly?”
Zhu Yun turned her head. “Of course. It’s hard to get a ride lately, and prices are high. We didn’t want you two getting ripped off.”
Wen Yang laughed. “Even if we did, it wouldn’t be by much. But I’m really happy you came to pick me up.”
Zhu Yun gave her a sideways look.
Wen Yang’s eyes crinkled into a smile again.
As Zhu Yun watched her daughter’s bright expression, she noticed a change. Compared to their last meeting, Wen Yang smiled more now — her eyes sparkled with a lively charm. It was enough. Slowly, she was stepping out of that painful chapter.
She was gradually becoming the Wen Yang whose eyes were filled with light again.
Nan’an Road was wide but busy, prone to traffic jams. Thankfully, Wen Li chose smaller side streets. Yu Qing’s home was farther out, practically in Nan’an’s suburbs, where rice fields were abundant.
When they drove near Yu Qing’s house, they saw her mother waiting at the entrance. A fat goose flapped its wings and waddled around her feet.
Wen Yang froze. Back in high school, she’d once had her skirt bitten by Yu Qing’s goose — it left a bit of a scar in her memory. So now, after stepping out of the car, she didn’t dare go near it.
Yu Qing chuckled. “Still scared?”
Wen Yang gave her a gentle shove.
Yu Qing burst out laughing, grabbed her suitcase, and thanked Zhu Yun and Wen Li. Then, turning to Wen Yang, she said, “Bye-bye, happy New Year!”
Wen Yang smiled. “Happy New Year!”
Yu Qing hoisted her suitcase and walked toward her mother.
After her father passed away, Yu Qing’s mother had supported her through school by raising geese, eventually helping Yu Qing make it into a big city. Zhu Yun often said, “Miao Yun is a great mother.”
Yu Qing’s mother’s name was Miao Yun — like Zhu Yun, they both shared the “Yun” character in their names.
After waving goodbye to Yu Qing’s mom, the three of them got back into the car. Wen Li carefully backed the car out of the narrow road and then merged onto the main road, driving towards the center of Nan’an.
Before long, they arrived at the family’s apartment complex. Though the building wasn’t particularly new and the apartment had some age to it, the location was convenient — surrounded by schools and close to both Wen Li and Zhu Yun’s workplaces. They’d bought it back then for Wen Yang’s schooling and for the ease of commuting.
Their old family home was only visited during important events like ancestor worship during the New Year.
Wen Yang pulled her suitcase into her room. After a bit of tidying up, she noticed the thermal container she’d washed on the train still didn’t feel clean enough, so she took it to the kitchen for another rinse.
Zhu Yun, slicing fruit behind her, walked past and said, “Come out and have some fruit.”
“Okay,” Wen Yang replied.
She tipped the container upside down to drain it, then went to the living room and sat on the couch, grabbing a big slice of cantaloupe.
Zhu Yun was sorting through the things Wen Yang had brought home. She glanced over. “Sweet?”
Wen Yang nodded. “Super sweet.”
“Your dad bought these from Uncle Zhen in town when he went to clean up the old house. The Hami melons he grows are really good now.”
Wen Yang felt like her mouth was coated with honey. “It’s so sweet, like drinking sugar water.”
Zhu Yun smiled.
She picked up two rather expensive gift boxes. One contained sea cucumbers — plump and full. Zhu Yun thought to herself that Wen Yang really knew how to pick good gifts.
There was also a box of tea, from Lao Tong Xing — not cheap at all. She glanced at it twice, assuming Wen Yang had bought it for her dad.
She set the sea cucumbers aside.
Wen Yang, still eating her melon, noticed and asked, “Mom, why did you take that one out separately?”
Zhu Yun replied, “To offer during the prayers.”
Wen Yang nodded. “Oh, that works.”
Pointing to the tea box, she added, “This tea is pretty expensive — don’t just give it away randomly.”
Zhu Yun shot her a look. “I’m not blind, you know.”
Wen Yang blinked and grinned.
She took another bite of melon and said lightly, “A really good client gave it to me — said it was a reward for designing a beautiful house for him.”
Zhu Yun was surprised. “That’s pretty generous.”
Wen Yang nodded.
Zhu Yun lifted the tea box again. “Then we should definitely keep it safe.”
Just then, Wen Li came back from grocery shopping. When he opened the door, a neighbor returning home happened to glance in and saw Wen Yang.
“Wen Yang, you’re back?”
Wen Yang turned and saw it was the auntie from across the hall — an old neighbor from their former house. Like many others, they had moved here for their children’s education, so everyone knew each other well.
She smiled. “Yes, I’m back.”
“That’s good — your mom really missed you.”
Wen Yang chuckled. “I missed her too.”
“You should come back more often. Nan Cheng isn’t far — don’t let your mom worry. We’re still young — there’s always time to move forward.” The auntie’s words carried a subtle meaning, clearly trying to comfort Wen Yang.
Wen Yang caught on but kept smiling. “Got it. Thanks, Aunt Min.”
“Alright, you rest — I’m off to make dinner,” Aunt Min said.
Wen Yang nodded.
Zhu Yun closed the door and looked at Wen Yang. “Whenever you come back, there will always be comments. If you don’t want to deal with them, you don’t have to.”
Wen Yang replied, “Mom, I’m really fine.”
It seemed like everyone who knew her was aware of what had happened between her and Cheng Yanyu. In small towns, no secret could be kept for long — gossip spread with wings. Especially since their wedding had been a public affair, with a banquet and the matchmaker a key guest. Naturally, even more people knew about it now.
Aunt Min was just one of them.
Zhu Yun reached out and gently ruffled Wen Yang’s hair.
Wen Yang smiled and blinked. “I’m really okay.”
Zhu Yun gave a soft “mm.”
The car stopped by the fields.
Not far away, a two-story house stood tall, surrounded by a large garden. Some flowers swayed gently in the wind, though there were fewer than before — even the vines seemed sparser.
Cheng Yanyu pulled his suitcase and pushed open the bamboo gate, stepping inside. As he climbed the steps, the door creaked open.
Zheng Guili was sitting on the couch, holding the remote, watching TV. She saw him enter but didn’t greet him — as if he wasn’t there — her gaze remained fixed on the screen.
Cheng Yanyu paused for a moment. “Mom.”
Zheng Guili didn’t respond.
After standing there for a few seconds, Cheng Yanyu still carried his suitcase in and placed the gift boxes on the table. Zheng Guili acted as though she hadn’t seen anything.
Cheng Shan, holding a book, came down the stairs and saw him.
Cheng Yanyu looked up. “Dad.”
There were more gray hairs at Cheng Shan’s temples. He gave a brief nod — less cold than his wife — and simply said, “You’re back?”
“Yeah, I just got here,” Cheng Yanyu answered quickly.
Cheng Shan nodded again but said nothing more. He sat down on the sofa and glanced at his wife. “Make something to eat?”
Zheng Guili let out a cold laugh.
“Let him make it himself — does he not have hands or feet?”
Cheng Shan sighed helplessly and exchanged a look with Cheng Yanyu.
Cheng Yanyu spoke softly, “I’m not hungry — I ate at the rest stop. I’ll head upstairs to unpack.”
Cheng Shan nodded.
Cheng Yanyu glanced at his mother again, then lowered his head and carried his suitcase upstairs.
When he entered the master bedroom, he noticed right away that the room had been tidied — but there was a stark emptiness. All of Wen Yang’s belongings were gone.
He halted in place.
He opened the window for some air. As he turned, his gaze landed on a tissue box on the cabinet — and there, clipped to it, was a pearl hairpin.
It was Wen Yang’s.
Cheng Yanyu stared at the hairpin for a long time.
He had bought it for her once — personally placing it in her hair.
After a few minutes, he collected himself, pulling his suitcase toward the wardrobe. When he opened it, the sight hit him again — half the wardrobe was empty. All of Wen Yang’s clothes had been taken away.
She used to occupy most of the space.
He hesitated for a moment.
Then, closing the wardrobe door, he stepped out of the room and went downstairs. Looking at his parents, he asked, “Mom, where are Wen Yang’s things?”
Zheng Guili, still cold-faced, ignored him.
Cheng Shan glanced at his wife, then at his son. “We packed them up. We were going to send them to her parents, but they didn’t want them.”
Sansukini: Regret is a bitter pill to swallow.
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Really ! Bitter ! What a sad story. At least he regrets it