It was already dusk when Huang Xi Tang woke up.

The car was parked under a huge French plane tree. The winter leaves had fallen, and the sparse canopy covered half the road. Beside it was a small brick-red Western-style building. The entire street was spacious and quiet.

The seat had been reclined, and she was half-lying in the car with Zhao Ping Jin’s coat covering her. Her nose was congested, but her mind was much clearer. Looking up, she immediately saw the person outside the car.

Zhao Ping Jin was standing by the roadside making a phone call, his other hand tucked in his trouser pocket.

Xi Tang looked over in a daze. Since that time in Beijing when he sent her back to Shanghai, it seemed like in the blink of an eye, another year had passed without seeing him.

How had Zhao Ping Jin aged a bit in just these one or two years? He was still handsome, but his complexion was pale, and his eyes had darkened considerably, becoming more difficult to read.

A storage compartment beside the gearshift was half-open, with his wallet and cigarette case placed inside, along with a white medicine bottle.

Xi Tang picked up the bottle and looked at it, her eyes darkening slightly.

A whole bottle of medication for relieving spasms and stomach pain—he had nearly finished it.

Zhao Ping Jin turned around and saw that she was awake. He returned and opened the car door: “Take you home?”

Xi Tang nodded.

Zhao Ping Jin started the car and turned on the navigation. The two of them traveled through Shanghai’s bustling streets again. Zhao Ping Jin rested his hand on the steering wheel and said, “Your father’s side—” Xi Tang interrupted him: “I don’t have a father.”

Zhao Ping Jin gave her a measured look.

Xi Tang stopped speaking.

Zhao Ping Jin continued: “Jing Bo Shi has already retired. His former wife divorced him ten years ago. His current wife was originally their housekeeper. You have a half-brother with the same father but different mother, who is a translator for the Navy, stationed at Dalian Port maritime area. The old man and old woman are still alive.”

Xi Tang pressed her lips together without speaking.

“Whether to acknowledge them or not is up to you.”

“I don’t acknowledge them.”

“All right.”

The car returned to Xi Tang’s home in Yangpu District. Zhao Ping Jin also got out: “Let me walk you to the entrance.”

The two walked toward the building’s elevator entrance. After a few steps, they saw someone waiting at a distance who immediately waved upon seeing her approach.

Zhao Ping Jin asked: “Waiting for you?”

Xi Tang nodded. It was Dr. Xie, whom Ni Kai Lun had arranged to accompany her to see the psychologist he recommended.

Zhao Ping Jin hesitated, suddenly gripping his car key tightly, feeling the cold metal against his palm, but his voice softened: “All right then, you go ahead.”

Xi Tang reached the entrance and looked back to see the black car accelerating on the driveway, turning a corner, and quickly disappearing.

The next day, Ni Kai Lun personally drove and escorted her to the gym. After dropping her off, Ni Kai Lun returned to the company and entered her office. Her assistant brought in various scripts from film and television companies and commercial endorsement contracts offered to Huang Xi Tang, piling up like a small mountain. Ni Kai Lun sat in her chair and let out a big sigh of relief.

In February, Xi Tang accepted a well-written spy drama set during the War of Resistance and rejoined a production crew for filming.

Half of this drama was filmed in Chedun, Songjiang. Xiao Di Zhu was still worried about her being lonely and brought his wife and son to visit a few times. Each time he came, he brought half a restaurant with him, so Xi Tang had good relationships with people in the crew. Occasionally when she had a day off and returned home, she often stayed at Xiao Di Zhu’s place.

That day, while eating at Xiao Di Zhu’s Xianju Building, a waiter opened the door midway through the meal and called for the boss.

Everyone at the table turned around to see Li Shu An standing at the door, holding a small backpack in one hand and a little girl in the other.

Xiao Di Zhu immediately stood up, smiling and greeting him with several rapid phrases.

Li Shu An seemed to understand completely and smiled, saying: “Ah, good, you’re just eating.”

Xiao Di Zhu’s wife said: “Director Li, come in and join us.”

“No need, I have an appointment with friends,” Li Shu An said, walking in and shaking his head. Then he lifted the little girl beside him: “Xin Xin, how does a polite child behave?”

The little girl called out in a crisp voice: “Hello, uncles and aunties!”

Xiao Di Zhu’s son saw her and tried to climb down from his child’s chair, happily shouting: “Sister Xin Xin!”

Li Shu An released his daughter’s hand, and the little girl ran over to kiss Xiao Di Zhu’s son. Suddenly, she looked up and saw Xi Tang nearby.

The little girl looked at her face, somewhat confused: “Are you Sister Su Hao Jing?”

Su Hao Jing was her character’s name in the urban romance drama she filmed with Yang Yi Lin.

Xiao Di Zhu’s wife burst out laughing.

Li Shu An walked over, looking a bit embarrassed: “Well, here’s a little fan. It’s my fault. I don’t spend much time with her, and the nanny watches TV, so she watches along.”

Xi Tang had to stand up, perfunctorily kissing the child’s face with a very warm smile: “Hello there.”

Li Shu An said to Xiao Di Zhu’s wife: “I have friends waiting, so I won’t disturb your family gathering.”

The adult and child said goodbye and left. Xi Tang sat down, took a few bites, and glanced at Xiao Di Zhu’s wife: “Since when did your husband become so familiar with him?”

Xiao Di Zhu’s wife said: “He’s come to eat here a few times. Such a high-ranking official, yet he has no airs about him.”

This man had been an official for many years. He was thorough and diplomatic in his dealings with people. Xi Tang had seen many such men at various receptions—intimidating with their official authority yet pretending to be approachable, making it extremely easy to win people over. Since coming with her father at that time, whenever he came to Shanghai, he would often pass by Huang Xi Tang’s home, saying he was bringing things from Beijing. Sometimes his secretary would deliver them. Xi Tang was rarely home, so the housekeeper would go downstairs to receive the items—a large basket of crisp jujubes from Changxindian, and several boxes of snacks supposedly made by her grandparents. The housekeeper accepted them, and Xi Tang instructed her to package a large number of bird’s nests, cordyceps, and other such items to send back to them.

Xi Tang never met him.

Ni Kai Lun said that after her mother passed away, he had come several times but remained downstairs.

At that time, Ni Kai Lun wouldn’t let her see anyone.

Throughout Xi Tang’s formative years, her mother had always been unwilling to discuss her biological father, perhaps fearing she would harbor resentment. She preferred that her daughter grow up with a completely absent father figure, believing that as a single mother, she could take good care of her child. Her mother didn’t want her to feel like a child abandoned by her father. Now that the father figure had appeared, these old matters gradually surfaced, but they were no longer worth mentioning. It was much as Xi Tang had always imagined—her mother met her father while studying at Shanghai Normal College, a story of a married teacher and a young female student, common throughout history. Her mother was gone now, and her father was a stranger to her.

The next day, Xi Tang was resting at home when the phone rang.

She went downstairs, and Li Shu An handed her a paper bag.

Xi Tang opened it and looked inside. There was a transparent container filled with brightly colored strawberries.

Li Shu An said: “Today while inspecting the suburbs, I saw locals selling these by the roadside. Freshly picked, very fresh.”

Xi Tang said coldly: “My housekeeper isn’t home.”

Li Shu An said: “Am I disturbing you?”

Xi Tang replied bluntly: “Yes.”

Li Shu An smiled a tolerant smile that took no offense.

Xi Tang became even more irritated: “Why are you so enthusiastic about meddling in other people’s affairs?”

Li Shu An stood before her, his demeanor and tone very steady: “Although my sister divorced your father, I’ve always had a good relationship with your dad. My aunt and your grandmother are close friends. Your father really wants to come, but he’s afraid you’d be unhappy, so I often come to check on you. By the way, your grandparents have seen your photos and like you.”

Huang Xi Tang said coldly: “Mr. Li, you’re not suitable to come either. Didn’t you just want to meet? We’ve met. Please don’t come anymore.”

Li Shu An said: “Xi Tang, my visits have nothing to do with your father. I want to see you for my reasons.”

Huang Xi Tang was stunned for a moment.

Li Shu An’s expression was sincere but also composed: “Xin Xin’s mother passed away more than three years, almost four years ago. She died from illness. She was a teacher in special education and a wonderful woman. She left me an adorable daughter. I usually live in Beijing, but I travel frequently for work. My daughter lives with her grandparents, my uncle, and my aunt’s family. My parents are in Sichuan.”

Xi Tang just heard him say: “Would you mind that I’m somewhat older than you and have a daughter?”