Wen Yang was stunned.
The colorful fireworks exploded in the sky, slowly descending like falling stars, reflecting in her eyes like a painting. She softly asked, “Fu Xingzhou, how did you do this?”
But he was clearly in Nancheng.
It was the first time she had called his name, her voice soft and gentle. Fu Xingzhou was momentarily caught off guard before he chuckled and replied, “I arranged for fireworks at several locations, waiting for you to post on your Moments.”
Wen Yang paused, then opened her social media.
Earlier, she had posted a nine-grid collage: Zhu Yun cooking, Wen Li making tea, their family’s New Year’s Eve dinner, a photo of the three of them together, and the newly hung lanterns at home.
There was also a location tag.
Wen Yang blinked and asked, “What if I hadn’t shared my location?”
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Ww Dkdtgbsw alrzkle, “Mbld R oswzed’v byhl clld yczl vs pbso xu elhsvksd.”
Eld Zydt’p zkrp nwahle kdvs y pxkzl. Nssjkdt yv vbl calyvbvyjkdt qkalosajp, pbl qlzv y ayal pldpl sq rlynl.
Wasx esodpvykap, Hbw Zwd’p hsknl nyzzle swv, “Eld Zydt, eke usw pll vbl qkalosajp?”
Eld Zydt tsv wr qasx bla alnzkdla, ayd vs vbl aykzkdt, yde zlydle shla. “R’x oyvnbkdt, Ysx. Ps usw zkjl vblx?”
Hbw Zwd yde Eld Nk pvsse kd vbl yzzlu, zssjkdt wr. “Mblu’al ycpszwvlzu clywvkqwz.”
Eld Zydt’p lulp pryajzle yp pbl takddle. “Mbyv’p tsse vs blya.”
Mbld pbl ayd cynj vs bla alnzkdla.
Ww Dkdtgbsw iwklvzu zkpvldle vs vbl nsdhlapyvksd clvolld Eld Zydt yde bla ryaldvp, y qykdv pxkzl rzyukdt sd bkp zkrp.
Wen Yang curled up on the recliner and asked, “Are there fireworks in Nancheng?”
Fu Xingzhou glanced out the window. “Maybe in the central district, but only drone light shows are allowed.”
The old residence was quiet. The only lights were the floating lanterns arranged by the butler. Everyone here preferred a peaceful atmosphere.
Wen Yang suddenly realized, “Oh, right, fireworks aren’t allowed in Nancheng. So you can’t see them?”
Fu Xingzhou replied, “As long as you can.”
Wen Yang laughed. “I’ll share them with you, then.”
Fu Xingzhou raised an eyebrow. “Alright.”
So Wen Yang went downstairs, grabbed another phone she had bought for taking photos, and focused on the sky, capturing the fireworks. She sent the images to Fu Xingzhou one by one.
Fu Xingzhou looked at each picture she sent.
Every shot was perfectly composed. He smiled and replied: “They look amazing.”
Wen Yang sent him a (happy) emoji.
At the Cheng family home.
After the New Year’s Eve dinner, Cheng Yanyu and Cheng Shan cleaned up the dishes and brought them to the kitchen. Cheng Shan glanced outside at his wife.
After finishing her meal, Zheng Guili had taken a chair outside and sat there alone.
Last year, around this time, she and her daughter-in-law had happily decorated the courtyard together, set up two lounge chairs, and chatted while snacking, stealing glimpses of the fireworks set off by others. Later, Wen Yang had gone to the convenience store to buy some sparklers, and the two of them had a great time lighting them.
But this year, Zheng Guili sat alone in the courtyard.
Cheng Shan sighed softly and glanced at Cheng Yanyu.
Cheng Yanyu remained silent.
Cheng Shan said, “A broken marriage doesn’t just affect the two of you. It affects both families.”
Cheng Yanyu still didn’t respond. He finished washing the dishes, dried them, and placed them in the rack. After wiping his hands, he left the kitchen. A short while later, he returned from the bathroom, carrying a foot-soaking bucket.
He walked out to where Zheng Guili was sitting. The bucket was filled with mugwort leaves and rose petals—her favorites.
Placing the bucket down, he crouched beside her and gently pulled at her pant leg. “Mom, soak your feet.”
Zheng Guili shot him a cold look and pulled her foot back.
Cheng Yanyu lowered his head and carefully guided her feet toward the bucket. “The water temperature is just right. I tested it.”
Seeing his quiet, respectful demeanor, Zheng Guili stared at him for a while.
After a long standoff between mother and son, she finally relented and placed her feet in the bucket.
Cheng Yanyu let out a silent sigh of relief. He took a towel and draped it over her knees, then looked up and asked, “Mom, what would you like to drink? I’ll get it for you.”
Zheng Guili didn’t respond.
At that moment, the sky suddenly erupted with beautiful fireworks. Though some distance away, they seemed to come from another village, in the same direction as Wen Yang’s.
Zheng Guili was drawn to the sight, tilting her head up to watch.
The fireworks were dazzling beyond compare, extravagant as if meant to impress someone special.
Cheng Yanyu turned his head and looked as well.
One burst after another, the fireworks painted the entire sky in radiant colors.
Cheng Shan, also captivated, stepped out with a cup of hot tea and handed it to Zheng Guili. She accepted it, holding it in her hands for warmth. Seeing her take the tea, Cheng Yanyu let out a small breath of relief and adjusted the towel on her legs.
Behind him, the sky continued to bloom with brilliant explosions of light.
Nancheng
On New Year’s Eve, the city streets remained bustling with traffic, neon lights flashing. A nanny van slowly drove into Rong Island and stopped in front of a villa.
Li Man stepped out, dressed in a beige long dress and a black coat. She turned back to tug on a leash, and a German Shepherd jumped down from the car, held firmly in her grip. Wearing sunglasses, she walked into the house.
She climbed the steps and pushed the door open. Inside, the lights were bright. Wen Yuexian was holding a small dog, gently coaxing it. When she looked up, mother and daughter met each other’s gaze. Wen Yuexian then lowered her head and continued comforting the dog, casually remarking, “So, someone still remembers to come home.”
Li Man took off her sunglasses and placed them on the coffee table. “Where’s the Auntie?”
“I told her to go home,” Wen Yuexian replied indifferently.
“Then who’s cooking dinner?”
“You, now that you’re back.” Wen Yuexian lifted her eyes, a hint of provocation in her gaze.
Li Man let out a cold laugh. “What can I even cook? What do I know how to cook? Stop being so passive-aggressive.”
“Passive-aggressive? At least you still remember to come home and acknowledge me as your mother.” Wen Yuexian narrowed her eyes and put the dog down. “You divorced without saying a word—impressive.”
“It wasn’t my choice.”
“Oh? Not your choice? Then what did you do? Don’t you feel ashamed?” Wen Yuexian gritted her teeth. “The Fu family is generous for not making a fuss. If they had, do you think you’d still be standing here arguing with me?”
Li Man took a slow breath.
She looked at Wen Yuexian and said, “Is it wrong to want love?”
“Love?” Wen Yuexian scoffed. “How much is that worth? Love is nothing but an illusion. Can love buy you handbags, houses, or a life of luxury? Are you out of your mind, Li Man?”
She stood up and walked up to Li Man.
After a few seconds of silence, Li Man met her mother’s eyes. “Fu Xingzhou doesn’t know how to love.”
Wen Yuexian let out a mocking laugh. “So what? He gave you money, power—isn’t that enough? What’s the use of that worthless thing called love? It has a shelf life of three months at best. What are you chasing after?”
She pointed a finger at Li Man and sneered, “Mark my words—you’ll regret this sooner or later.”
Li Man didn’t respond.
She looked at her mother, dressed in luxury brands, her nails meticulously polished—each manicure costing tens of thousands. Her own nails weren’t any different.
Reaching for the teapot, she hesitated before asking, “Are we having New Year’s Eve dinner or not?”
“What dinner? Order takeout.”
Wen Yuexian scoffed, turning away to pick up her dog again.
Li Man took a sip of the now-cold tea, then finally picked up her phone to order food.
The fireworks continued until just before Wen Yang was about to sleep.
She had been on the phone with Fu Xingzhou for nearly two hours. By the time they hung up, her phone was burning hot.
Slipping into her bunny-ear plush slippers, she stepped off the balcony. When she walked inside, she realized the house was warm—but she hadn’t felt cold outside at all.
She ran downstairs. Her parents were in the small living room on the second floor, drinking tea. Seeing her come down, they asked, “Finally coming downstairs? Are you cold? Do you want some late-night snacks?”
Earlier, Zhu Yun had sent up a pot of hot tea and some pastries for Wen Yang, but she had been too focused on taking pictures and talking on the phone. Zhu Yun and Wen Li had decided not to disturb her.
Wen Yang set down the tray—everything had been finished. Picking up a freshly brewed cup of tea from Wen Li, she downed it in one gulp and smiled. “No late-night snacks for me, I already ate too many pastries. I’m stuffed.”
Zhu Yun and Wen Li noticed her face was rosy and full of energy. Seeing this, they both felt relieved. Zhu Yun reached out and held her hand—it was warm. “Alright, if you’re not hungry, then don’t eat.”
Wen Yang nodded.
She glanced at the TV and saw her parents watching the Spring Festival Gala. Snuggling up next to Zhu Yun, she asked, “I’ll watch for a bit too. Is there a lottery draw tonight?”
Zhu Yun replied, “Your dad and I haven’t been paying attention to that.”
“Oh, okay.”
Wen Yang realized that only Zheng Guili would care about things like that. She snuggled up beside Zhu Yun, who gently smoothed her hair. She glanced at Wen Yang’s phone but didn’t ask whom she had been chatting with.
Maybe it was Yu Qing.
Maybe a client or a colleague. Or maybe even a suitor.
But it didn’t matter. Wen Yang was taking steps toward a new life. Starting wasn’t hard; it was the ending that hurt a little. But that was okay, too. As long as she could start.
Yu Qing had seen the fireworks as well.
She sent Wen Yang a long string of messages, all saying “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!”
Yu Qing: Did you see that? Those ridiculously extravagant fireworks. Which rich person around here do you think set them off?
Wen Yang: You saw them too?
Yu Qing: Of course! They were a bit far away, but we could still see them. My mom even wanted to take me there on her motorbike. I didn’t go, though. A bunch of kids from our neighborhood already sped off on their bikes. The road to your village is completely jammed—tons of people are gathered by the lake to watch. Luckily, they put up railings; otherwise, I bet there’d be accidents.
Wen Yang: It’s not that serious, is it?
Yu Qing: Hahaha, I’m just exaggerating. You must have had a better view from there, right?
Wen Yang: Yeah, very clear.
Yu Qing: Tsk, tsk.
Wen Yang had wanted to tell her it was Fu Xingzhou who set them off.
But the moment had passed, and she couldn’t bring it up again. Still, she was happy that Yu Qing had seen them too.
She asked, “Were they beautiful?”
Yu Qing: “Duh. I brought out a chair and watched them with my mom. We ate sunflower seeds while watching—so relaxing.”
Yu Qing: “You know, Wen Yang? This is the first New Year I’ve ever felt at ease.”
Wen Yang: (hug)
Yu Qing: (hug)
Yu Qing: “Because of you. And also, thanks to tonight’s fireworks.”
Wen Yang smiled softly. “Mm.”
After New Year’s Eve, the days seemed to pass quickly.
Wen Yang didn’t have many relatives—just a few in the village—so visiting family was easy and could be done in a day. On the second day of the new year, she went to visit relatives on Zhu Yun’s side in Zhoushi. Once they finished, they headed straight back to the central district of Nan’an.
Wen Yang had nothing much to do, so she set up her computer and started working.
She had to wait for Yu Qing. Yu Qing had accompanied her mother to visit her grandmother, which required traveling across cities. Since the elderly only got to see them once a year, they planned to stay longer.
The Sixth Day of the New Year
Wen Yang and Yu Qing packed their luggage, getting ready to return to Nancheng. Their train was in the afternoon, so Wen Yang still had some time to spend with her parents. Zhu Yun dragged her out to buy some things to take back to Nancheng.
Wen Yang didn’t let her buy too much. Each time Zhu Yun picked something, Wen Yang pulled her away to another stall, and then another. Finally, Zhu Yun huffed in frustration, “If I had known, I wouldn’t have called you out. You should’ve just stayed at home.”
Wen Yang smiled and held onto her arm. “Mom, we don’t cook as much now. When we’re busy, we just grab fast food. There are a few good places near our apartment, and one of them is even run by someone from Nan’an. There’s no need to buy so much food—it’ll just go bad in the fridge.”
Zhu Yun looked at the meager amount they had bought and said, “Then at least get something else. You like pastries, don’t you? Want to buy some?”
Hearing that, Wen Yang nodded. “Yes! That’d be perfect—I’m too lazy to make breakfast sometimes, and pastries will do just fine.”
Zhu Yun led her toward the pastry shop, saying, “Breakfast should still be nutritious. Get some oatmeal too. If you’re really in a rush, just soak some. And don’t drink too much coffee.”
“I know, I know.”
As they passed a tea shop, Wen Yang glanced inside. Nan’an’s Pu’er tea was famous. She took a quick look, then walked in and bought two catties.
Zhu Yun glanced at her and asked, “You’re going to drink this?”
Watching the tea being packed up, Wen Yang smiled. “It’s a gift.”
Zhu Yun asked softly, “For a client?”
Wen Yang hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Mm.”
Zhu Yun didn’t ask further.
After finishing their shopping, they headed home.
At noon, Wen Li cooked a few of his best dishes, especially for Wen Yang. In truth, he only knew how to make a couple of dishes, but they always tasted the same—unchanging and familiar.
Zhu Yun reminded Wen Yang to take care of herself in Nancheng—don’t eat this, don’t eat that, don’t stay up too late, and so on. Wen Yang agreed to everything. Wen Li didn’t say much; he simply kept placing food on her plate and told her, “If you run out of money, just let me know.”
Wen Yang grinned and nodded. “Of course, I’ll let you know.”
Zhu Yun shot her a look but also laughed.
4:30 PM
As always, Wen Li and Zhu Yun drove them to the high-speed rail station. Aunt Miao Yun stood at the doorway, watching their car leave.
Yu Qing turned back to see her mother’s figure growing smaller and smaller. Her eyes turned slightly red, and she quickly faced forward again.
Wen Yang gave her a side hug.
Zhu Yun glanced at the two of them and said, “Yu Qing, come visit when I have time.”
Yu Qing wiped the corners of her eyes and smiled. “Thank you, Auntie.”
“No need to be so polite. As long as you both live well and work hard in Nancheng, that’s all we parents could hope for. Your mom would feel the same way.”
“Mm.”
Yu Qing nodded.
Arriving in Nan’an
It was exactly 7:20 PM when they arrived. The night had already fallen. Wen Yang and Yu Qing pulled their suitcases toward the exit, where a black sedan was parked across the street.
Fu Xingzhou stood next to the car, calling Wen Yang.
As soon as Wen Yang’s phone rang and she saw the caller ID, she was just about to pick up when she spotted the tall man in a black coat standing across the street.
She blinked and smiled.
Yu Qing followed her gaze and immediately noticed Fu Xingzhou. He stood out too much—even from across the street, he was impossible to miss. She let out a small “Oh-ho,” just as Fu Xingzhou crossed the pedestrian walkway toward them.
With all the cars around, especially near the exit, it was quite crowded.
Yu Qing greeted him, “Hello, Mr. Fu.”
Fu Xingzhou nodded slightly at her, then turned to Wen Yang, his voice clear and cool. “There’s no parking here. I had to stop across the street.”
Wen Yang hummed in acknowledgment.
She wore a light brown sweater with a skirt, her fluffy scarf still the same one from before. Her hair was tied up in a bun, with a few stray strands framing her face. Her eyes curved as she smiled, sparkling like stars.
She looked stunning.
Fu Xingzhou took one glance at her, then reached out and said, “Give me your suitcase.”
“Oh,” Wen Yang responded, instinctively handing it over. He took it with ease and started leading them toward the car.
Yu Qing watched his tall, lean figure ahead and had a thought—was she being a third wheel here?
But since she hadn’t refused the ride earlier, running off now would mean booking a separate car.
Seeing Yu Qing lost in thought, Wen Yang tugged on her sleeve. Yu Qing snapped back to reality and gave a small smile.
The next second, she suddenly pulled her suitcase aside and said, “Oh! I see Xu Xu over there.”
“Yu Qing!” Wen Yang was slightly stunned. Before she could grab her, Yu Qing had already run off. Sure enough, a Range Rover was parked there, and Xu Xu was standing beside the car, talking on the phone. When she turned her head and saw Yu Qing running towards her, she was startled. “What are you doing?”
Wen Yang watched as Yu Qing stood in front of Xu Xu, talking about something.
Fu Xingzhou also saw this scene.
He could guess why Wen Yang’s best friend had suddenly run off.
Retracting his gaze, he looked at Wen Yang and said softly, “Let’s go.”
Wen Yang lifted her eyes and met his gaze. She, too, had an idea of why Yu Qing had run off. Her ears grew warm as she followed him. After placing her suitcase in the car, Fu Xingzhou opened the passenger door, and Wen Yang bent down to get in.
Fu Xingzhou took the driver’s seat and asked, “Have you eaten?”
Wen Yang nodded. “Yes, what about you?”
Holding the steering wheel, Fu Xingzhou had taken off his coat and was only wearing a shirt and trousers, his sleeves rolled up to reveal half of his forearms. He replied, “I’ve eaten too. If you’re hungry, I can accompany you to eat something.”
Wen Yang shook her head. “I’m not hungry. We stuffed ourselves on the train.”
“What did you eat?”
Fu Xingzhou glanced at her.
Leaning back against the seat, Wen Yang met his gaze, her cheeks slightly warm. “Duck feet, chicken feet, chips, and instant noodles….”
Fu Xingzhou raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with amusement. He let out a soft “hmm.”
The car drove toward the Yage residential complex. Just as they were about to turn in, Xu Xu’s Range Rover also pulled in ahead of them, pausing briefly as Yu Qing got out and took her suitcase.
Xu Xu drove away.
The black sedan slowly pulled into the spot where the Range Rover had just been. Wen Yang got out of the car and called out, “Yu Qing.”
Yu Qing was swiping her access card. Seeing Wen Yang arrive, she waved with a grin. “Bye-bye.”
Wen Yang sighed helplessly, watching Yu Qing enter the complex.
But she felt reassured—Xu Xu had at least sent Yu Qing back.
Fu Xingzhou retrieved Wen Yang’s suitcase from the trunk and placed it beside her. It wasn’t a small suitcase—it was silver—but in his hands, it seemed much smaller.
Wen Yang picked up the Pu’er tea and handed it to him.
Fu Xingzhou glanced at the gift box in her hand. “For me?”
Wen Yang looked up and nodded. “Mm.”
Fu Xingzhou didn’t take it immediately. Instead, he asked softly, “Is this a return gift, or did you simply want to give it to me?”
Wen Yang was momentarily stunned. She gripped the handle of the bag, taking a few seconds to understand his meaning. A return gift was out of politeness, but giving it just because she wanted to—that came from the heart.
A gentle breeze blew, bringing a hint of coolness.
Wen Yang looked into his eyes.
Her heart pounded. After a long moment, she whispered, “I simply wanted to give it to you.”
The smile in Fu Xingzhou’s eyes deepened. He reached out and accepted the gift box. “Then I’ll gladly accept it.”
Sansukini: When Cheng Yanyu’s dad told him that divorce affects both families, I guess that’s a cultural thing. Well basically, he hurt both his wife and his mom when he cheated. But at this point, it’s his mom that was truly affected.
As for Li Man telling her mom his ex-husband doesn’t know how to love, maybe she never tried to show him she likes him (maybe for pride or vanity?). Coz it seems to me that Fu Xingzhou only viewed the marriage as a business and to prevent his family from harassing him to get married.
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You can also check out my other translations Here
Wanting love isn’t bad or wrong thing. But going after a man that’s already married is 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Honestly, she was just going for a fling. So many men out there to hook up with, but maybe she was really attracted to Yanyu, and she has no moral compass.
I am a bit confuse about Xu xu… this character is a woman or a man? what is the dinamic between our FL and this character ?
He’s a man. He was Cheng Yanyu’s close friend. He had a crush on Wen Yang before. He’s not interested in Wen Yang anymore. he’s interested in Yu Qing. If you noticed, he’s very supportive of Yu Qing.
I think that humility is the key in a relationship;
You need to be honest, not in a harsh way of course, even if it’s hurt your pride.
Their starting point was wrong, a marriage can’t be happy if you view it as a mere formality or transaction.
Marriage means commitment and adjustment. But even if you don’t feel love, cheating is not the solution. I remember a sentence that said that having sex with someone other than your spouse might bring you instant pleasure and forever harm. It’s so true. sigh