After everyone dispersed, Sun Jingfei went to her son’s room. Ke Yu was buried in practice problems. Sun Jingfei asked: “First-year high school students are already doing practice drills?”

“Yeah.” Ke Yu said without looking up: “These are test papers Little Aunt compiled based on my situation, plus some high-frequency test questions and problems to improve critical thinking.”

Sun Jingfei looked at the stack of printed papers beside him and asked: “Can you understand them all?”

“If I don’t understand, I’ll ask Little Aunt. She said I can ask her anytime.”

“Good.” Sun Jingfei nodded. “Try to ask during the day, don’t ask at night.” “Okay.” Ke Yu continued with his practice problems.

Sun Jingfei leaned to one side watching for a while. Ke Yu looked up: “Mom, is something wrong?”

“No.” Sun Jingfei went out. “Pay attention to rest, don’t stay up too late.”

“Oh, Mom.” Ke Yu called out to stop her.

“What is it?” Sun Jingfei turned back.

“Winter break has already started—when are we going back to Grandpa and Grandma’s house?”

“When do you want to go?”

“Of course the sooner the better.” Ke Yu said: “I miss Grandma and Dad.”

“Okay, I’ll make arrangements.”

Sun Jingfei came out. In the living room, Second Brother’s two sons were wrapped in a blanket watching a horror movie. When they inadvertently caught sight of her standing behind the sofa at some unknown point, they were nearly scared to death.

She went out to the clinic to stand by the roadside and smoke. After finishing square dancing, Mother Sun was walking back with companions. She hid the cigarette in her hand—Mother Sun cared about face in front of others.

After finishing her cigarette, she went upstairs. Passing through the clinic, the assistant called out to her: “Sister Jingfei.”

“What is it?”

“Well…” The assistant glanced at Sun Youping. “From now on, please try to go upstairs through the residential complex entrance.”

“Okay.” Sun Jingfei said and went upstairs.

Upstairs, Mother Sun glared at her and deliberately fanned away the nonexistent cigarette smell in the room, asking: “How many days are you resting this time?”

“Until after New Year probably.” Sun Jingfei said.

“That’s really good. Don’t just focus on making money—also care about Ke Yu. Why don’t you take him out during winter break? Learn from your second sister-in-law’s family and take the child abroad.”

“I’ll ask him tomorrow.” Sun Jingfei thought the idea was good.

“Actually, forget about going abroad—if there’s an epidemic outbreak and you can’t get back, that would be trouble.” Mother Sun fetched a bucket of hot water, threw in a medicinal packet to soak her feet. “Yesterday I saw him video-calling his grandfather—he was so happy. His grandfather asked how he did on exams, and he said very well.” After speaking, she turned and pointed to a corner. “His grandfather had someone bring iron yam last month. We’ve been eating it for a whole month straight—steamed, stewed with meat, cooked in congee, boiled in porridge too…”

“A few days ago your aunt called me, saying her grandson has nothing to do and wants to come here to find work. Between the lines, she meant she wanted him to stay at your place. I said you’d rented out your apartment and signed a contract with tenants—can’t just evict them randomly.”

“My place isn’t suitable. The rent is cheap, but it’s too remote.”

“From what I gathered from your aunt, she had no intention of paying rent at all.” Mother Sun’s mouth twisted. “As soon as I heard, something was off. I was afraid she’d end up relying on you to help find work too. I know that grandson of hers—lazy and good-for-nothing.”

“None of your several apartments were bought well—no school district, no good location. The one you helped Fourth Brother pick was the best—his marital home is in such a great location. The other day I said all three of you are better off than him, and he got upset and was irritated with me for quite a while.”

“You deliberately say what he doesn’t want to hear.”

“I’m motivating him to strive for improvement!”

“He’s much more comfortable than the three of us.” Sun Jingfei pulled open her clothes and leaned on the balcony railing. “It’s not whoever has the most money who’s the happiest.”

“Don’t smoke—it makes the school uniform reek.” Mother Sun hurriedly dried her feet. “Before, I used to go out and brag about you all. Now I don’t dare. Last time I mentioned Fourth Brother’s wife teaches at a key high school, and the next day relatives came knocking, wanting to pull strings to get into Zhou Yu’s school.”

“Did they get in?”

“Get in my ass! Zhou Yu said his son’s grades weren’t good enough. Missing five or eight points would be fine, but he was short by over a hundred points.” Mother Sun carried the foot-washing water to pour it out. “In the end, the matter wasn’t handled and we offended people.”

“Wow, short by over a hundred points, and he still dared to show up.” Sun Jingfei clicked her lighter repeatedly.

“Exactly.” Mother Sun instructed her: “Little New Year is coming up soon. Tomorrow morning early, we’ll go buy New Year goods. Zhou Yu gave me several shopping vouchers.”

“Ai-ya! This life hasn’t been lived in vain—the children are all pretty much the same. The three daughters-in-law are nothing to complain about either.” Mother Sun appeared smug. “Look at that family across the street—two of four sons are divorced. Just thinking about it is distressing. At least you siblings are all harmonious and happy!”

Sun Jingcheng was on the balcony on the phone about work matters, speaking fluent English throughout.

He had become famous because of the rescue incident. At first it was fine—internet users were just joking around. Later, various posts gradually appeared, like “classmates of the rescuer” revealing information, exposing what school he attended, what industry he worked in, and his personal photos.

Someone claiming to be Zhou Yu’s student said this “rescuer” was their teacher’s husband. Some conspiracy theorists said the whole thing was orchestrated by a team. But the vast majority were rational voices. From beginning to end, Sun Jingcheng never went online to clarify. It wasn’t until two days later that the trending topics were pushed down by wave after wave of new ones.

After finishing the call, with nothing to do, he went down to the clinic, stood shivering by the roadside for a while, then went back upstairs. He repeated this two or three times. Sun Youping wasn’t annoyed, but Mother Sun was annoyed first, saying he couldn’t sit peacefully for a moment and had to go provoke Sun Youping.

Sun Jingcheng wasn’t provoking anyone—he was just agitated, with an indescribable restlessness and bewilderment. It wasn’t entirely influenced by external factors like marriage and career. These past two days, he had deeply realized he was old—already thirty-eight years old, more than halfway through life. Previously, he had no concept of age—twenty-eight and thirty-eight made no difference. But these past two days of trending topics made him recognize there was a chasm-like difference.

Some frequently appearing vocabulary he couldn’t understand—things like “sea king,” “sea queen,” “YYDS,” “absolutely amazing,” “meal person”… Ke Yu had to translate them all for him, saying they were internet-specific terms. He discussed it with his group of brothers. Everyone said not understanding was normal—after all, the Yangtze River’s back waves push the front waves, new people replace old in worldly affairs. Their group, approaching forty, were already the old people who knew their destiny. Then they said this psychological state of his was normal too—in professional terms it was called “midlife crisis,” and common folks called it “middle-aged sentimentality.”

Perhaps this year was inauspicious for him—he was unsuccessful in all aspects, not to mention marriage and career. Plus Mother Sun constantly nagging in his ear, saying he was doing the worst among his peers and siblings, the values and beliefs he had always upheld began crumbling bit by bit. And watching all this, he was powerless.

Before, he only persisted in what he believed in—what others said couldn’t interfere with him at all. But now, successive setbacks in marriage and career had plunged him into confusion, making him question whether the values he upheld were correct.

And just yesterday, his friends instigated him to have his fortune told. The fortune teller stroked his beard and said he was a late bloomer. When he got back, he looked up how “late” a late bloomer blooms. Seeing the results comforted him greatly—historically, plenty of people only became famous in their fifties and sixties.

Mother Sun found him annoying and said: “In broad daylight, not going to work—what are you wandering around for?”

Sun Jingcheng was driving past the clinic and came up looking for Sun Jingfei. She wasn’t there—apparently went to look at apartments nearby, planning to live alone with Ke Yu next year. She found the clinic noisy and felt it affected Ke Yu’s studying.

“Didn’t buy two years ago, now prices are so high…” Mother Sun complained. “Yesterday I heard her on the phone with a real estate agent—seems like she’s listing two apartments in the new district.”

“Two years ago there were no plans for Ke Yu to study here.” Sun Jingcheng said.

“She’s just careless—never seen her care about the child’s studies. That day I said what if Ke Yu can’t get into college? She said then he’ll just go to work. Look how lightly she says it!” Mother Sun said while folding clothes. “Your eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law have been planning since elementary school. She only cared in high school—the day lily is already cold…”

Sun Jingcheng didn’t want to hear her nagging. He put on his coat and went downstairs. Preparing to get in the car by the roadside, he ran into Sun Jingfei returning. The siblings strolled aimlessly along the street. Sun Jingfei asked him: “What are you anxious about? Life is so comfortable.”

“Midlife crisis, I guess.” Sun Jingcheng said melancholically.

Sun Jingfei laughed: “You’re really something.” She lit a cigarette and took a drag. “Let’s coordinate—line up for divorce, don’t all cluster together.”

“When are you doing it?”

“Let Ke Yu have a good New Year first.”

“That’s good. Wait until he starts school, then you handle it.” Sun Jingcheng agreed.

“When are you two planning?”

“Probably around that time too.” Sun Jingcheng said lightly.

“Let’s stagger it. I’ll go first, you wait two months. Otherwise, if we do it together, Mom and Dad won’t be able to accept it.” Sun Jingfei said: “Mine is a matter of principle—more urgent than yours.”

“Actually, I think doing it together would be better—quick battle, quick resolution.” Sun Jingcheng analyzed. “If we do it twice, just as they get over your situation, they’ll have to accept mine again. The front line would be dragged out too long.”

“Makes sense. This way they only need to be heartbroken once.” Sun Jingfei sniffled her frozen red nose.

Sun Jingcheng took off his down jacket to give her, exchanging it for her cocoon-shaped coat. After changing, Sun Jingfei said: “I’m not in a good position to comment on your and Zhou Yu’s situation—my own marriage is a complete mess. But my attitude is to encourage reconciliation, not divorce. Your situation is different from mine.”

“I think much more highly of Zhou Yu than I show. In her bones she has the virtue of traditional women, and also the shrewdness and cleverness of modern people. In earlier years I didn’t think much of her and her mother, especially her mother Feng Yiqun. I always felt she was too perfect, but with an indescribable strangeness…”

“I’m never afraid of domineering women—the kind who shout ‘I’m so-and-so’ or ‘I know so-and-so.’ I disdain making enemies of such women.” Sun Jingfei said: “But in the workplace, I’m most wary of women like Feng Yiqun…”

“You’ve been in the workplace too long—you can’t switch your mindset.” Sun Jingcheng said: “I think her mother is quite good. I’ve seen how she takes care of Grandmother. Some habits can’t be faked—they’re formed bit by bit… We’re talking about Zhou Yu—how did we get onto her mother?”

“With your interruption, I forgot what I was going to say.”

“You were praising her, saying you think much more highly of her than you show.” Sun Jingcheng reminded.

“Nothing much to praise really.” Sun Jingfei thought for a moment. “I’m prejudiced against people who approach perfection—I feel they’re not genuine.”

“You think people being a bit fake is more genuine?” Sun Jingcheng asked back.

“Yes! This statement seems absurd, but it’s actually true.” Then she changed topics: “But your Zhou Yu is too fake—when it’s excessive, fakeness becomes hypocrisy and falseness…”

“Then our divorce should suit you perfectly—why are you giving advice?” Sun Jingcheng’s face darkened a bit.

“Who gave advice? You two are, in Mom’s words: the right pot for the right lid.”

This completely offended Sun Jingcheng. He turned around and walked back. Such nice weather, coming here to find grief.

“Little brother… little brother…” Sun Jingfei chased after him, clinging to one of his arms. “Sister apologizes to you. Sister has a loose tongue. For the sake of us squeezing through the same womb, forgive sister this once.”

“I won’t forgive you. Give me back the down jacket.” Sun Jingcheng was about to freeze to death wrapped in her cashmere coat.

Sun Jingfei dropped the light-hearted smile and spoke seriously: “I’ve decided on an apartment.”

“So fast?”

“I’ve been looking for over half a month, just haven’t mentioned it.” Sun Jingfei said: “Later I’ll ask Second Brother to help with money for the down payment. When the apartments in the new district sell, I’ll pay him back.”

“If you need money, I have some too.”

“I’ll ask Second Brother first.”

On the way back, the siblings hummed a tune that only they understood.

When they were little, the two conspired to steal money from the clinic drawer—one kept watch, one stole. Originally Sun Jingcheng did the stealing, but Sun Jingfei thought he only stole small change of a few cents at a time, so later she just did it herself. When Sun Jingcheng kept watch, as soon as he saw someone coming, he would hum the piano piece “Für Elise.”

Later, Sun Youping discovered money was missing and scolded Eldest Brother and Second Brother plenty. Those two crouched under the phoenix tree without any guilt, one drinking soda, one playing marbles.

When they were little, the family was divided into two factions—Eldest Brother and Second Brother in one faction, Third Sister and Fourth Brother in another. Their parents told Eldest Brother and Second Brother to take their younger siblings to play. Eldest Brother and Second Brother had their own circle of friends and didn’t want to bring them along, finding them too young. But they didn’t dare disobey their parents’ orders either. On the surface, they took the two out to play, but when they reached the intersection and met up with friends, after a quick huddle and discussion, suddenly they’d take off running, leaving the two little ones far behind.

Even now when Sun Jingfei brought it up, she still held a grudge—the scars on her knees were all left from chasing after Eldest Brother and Second Brother back then.