[04]

This year’s winter was far warmer than previous years.

Chen Qingwu and Meng Fuyuan returned to Nancheng after a long absence because Chen Suiliang said that with the New Year approaching, he wanted to invite Meng Fuyuan for a family dinner.

Chen Qingwu’s first reaction was naturally hesitation. Having lived with Chen Suiliang for many years, she herself mostly didn’t take his occasional belittling to heart, but she feared Meng Fuyuan would be unhappy because of it.

Meng Fuyuan said he would be even less so.

This meal still had to be eaten, because considering that when they held their wedding in the future, having both parents present would be more ceremonial.

Even if only for this bit of ceremonial completeness, he would strive for anything.

Of course, if they didn’t hold a wedding, that would be another matter.

Chen Qingwu said with a laugh: “You’ve already started thinking about the wedding?”

Meng Fuyuan: “More than that. I’ve already thought of names for our children.”

“What are they?”

“Not telling you.”

On the last day of the year, Chen Qingwu and Meng Fuyuan drove back to Nancheng.

When they entered, Chen Suiliang was personally arranging dishes, and Moutai liquor was placed on the table.

This man cared about face in every aspect. Chen Qingwu and Meng Fuyuan had already obtained their marriage certificate—it was a done deal. For his son-in-law’s first visit for dinner, regardless of whether he was truly happy about it in his heart, he would definitely put on a good show.

Liao Shuman came out of the kitchen, greeted the two of them, and told them to sit at the table—they were ready to eat.

Meng Fuyuan followed Chen Qingwu to the bathroom to wash his hands.

It wasn’t his first time at the Chen home, but today his mood was especially different.

Even if today were a Hongmen Feast, he would gladly accept it.

The two returned to the dining room and sat down. Before picking up their chopsticks, Chen Suiliang first offered a wine glass, saying to drink one cup first to celebrate the New Year.

Seeing Chen Suiliang’s very mild attitude, Chen Qingwu said nothing.

After drinking, everyone picked up their chopsticks.

The conversation started with pleasantries. Chen Suiliang asked Meng Fuyuan with a smile if his company’s products were ready to go into production.

“We’ll officially start production after the New Year.”

“I heard Nancheng Second Hospital ordered several units from you?”

Meng Fuyuan smiled: “Yes.”

Chen Qingwu didn’t know where Chen Suiliang had gotten this information, but she roughly understood why he was so pleasant today.

Indeed, no matter what setting, Meng Fuyuan was worthy material for bragging.

From the moment they entered, Chen Qingwu had been on high alert, but she hadn’t expected tonight not to be a Hongmen Feast.

Someone like Chen Suiliang was most practical of all. Nearly a year had passed, and the relationship with the Meng family had already broken down anyway, so why continue to make things difficult for such an excellent son-in-law?

Chen Qingwu was just about to speak when Meng Fuyuan seemed to sense her thoughts, glanced at her, and shook his head almost imperceptibly, indicating it was fine.

In the latter half, Chen Qingwu ate with mixed feelings.

Until Liao Shuman spoke up, asking when they were planning to hold the wedding.

Meng Fuyuan said: “It depends on Qingwu’s thoughts.”

Chen Qingwu said: “Let’s wait until the house is renovated.”

The house had just completed transfer of ownership half a month ago—a three-story detached villa, secondhand and unfurnished. The previous owner had bought it as an investment.

Recently, the two had been looking for a suitable designer. Once the design plan was finalized and construction completed, it would take at least half a year.

Chen Suiliang: “Doesn’t our Nancheng have a very famous designer?”

Chen Qingwu knew who Chen Suiliang was referring to. Two years ago, Nancheng built a new tea culture museum. Since she worked with ceramics, which had inseparable ties to tea culture, she had visited soon after the museum’s unveiling. The architect who designed the tea culture museum had also designed another famous Nancheng building, Yijie Bookhouse, and had won many major international awards.

Chen Qingwu said: “He does public architecture and doesn’t take private residential commissions.”

Chen Suiliang: “How do you know he won’t take it if you don’t ask?”

Chen Qingwu casually appeased him: “Okay, okay, I’ll ask when I get back.”

Chen Suiliang looked at Meng Fuyuan and said with a smile: “This child Qingwu has been rigid and inflexible since childhood.”

Meng Fuyuan smiled: “I most love Qingwu’s quality of following rules.”

Chen Suiliang laughed heartily: “Looks like we can’t criticize her anymore in the future.”

“Qingwu is so excellent in every aspect, there’s really nothing worth criticizing.”

Such exaggerated flattery was too much even for Chen Qingwu to bear. Under the table, she stretched out her foot and lightly kicked his shoe.

This family dinner that left Chen Qingwu with complicated feelings finally ended.

Chen Qingwu didn’t want to stay at home. She hadn’t stayed even once at the large flat they’d bought earlier, so tonight would be a good opportunity to stay there.

Chen Qingwu went upstairs, planning to go to her bedroom to see if there were any clothes she could take.

Meng Fuyuan followed.

In his memory, he had only entered Chen Qingwu’s bedroom once, and that was long ago, one evening when he came to deliver something and happened to encounter a broken light in her bedroom.

At that time, he had set up a chair to remove the lampshade and check. After confirming that the fluorescent tube had reached the end of its service life, he rode out to a nearby hardware store to buy a replacement of the right model and installed it.

When the light turned on, Chen Qingwu raised her hands and clapped, looking at him with an admiring expression, as if he were Prometheus stealing fire.

Chen Qingwu’s room was mainly in beige tones, not the stereotypical soft pink.

Meng Fuyuan sat on the edge of the bed, looking around.

A strange psychology—she was already his wife, yet entering her room, he felt intrusive.

Chen Qingwu opened the closet, picking and choosing. In the end, finding nothing worth taking to Dongcheng, she only took a set of bedding and a set of loungewear.

Meng Fuyuan’s gaze went over. Seeing she was about to close the cabinet door, he said wait a moment.

Chen Qingwu paused her movement. “What is it?”

Meng Fuyuan walked up to her, reached out his arm, and took out a qipao from the closet.

Crimson with subtle patterns, dark blue piping restraining that brightness, like pomegranate flowers blooming in shadow.

It was the one Chen Qingwu had worn at her grandmother’s birthday banquet last time.

Chen Qingwu looked at him and smiled. “You like this one?”

Meng Fuyuan looked at her and said honestly: “I want to see you wear it.”

Chen Qingwu then found a garment bag with a hook and carefully placed the qipao inside.

After packing everything, the two went downstairs.

Chen Suiliang and Liao Shuman saw them out.

Chen Suiliang made a few customary polite remarks, telling Meng Fuyuan to visit often when he had time.

Meng Fuyuan politely agreed.

In the evening, Meng Fuyuan had drunk alcohol, so Chen Qingwu drove.

On the road, Chen Qingwu said: “I’m sorry, you probably didn’t enjoy that meal very much.”

“Compared to the grievances you’ve endured for me, this is nothing, Qingwu.” Meng Fuyuan said, “After all, they’re from a previous generation. Their thinking and concepts will always have the limitations of their era. Uncle Chen isn’t a difficult person to deal with.”

“He can be a good boss, good uncle, good son, good father-in-law… just not a good husband or good father.” Chen Qingwu only had the calm that comes after seeing through things. “You don’t need to be too attentive to him. From now on, as long as we maintain appearances, it’s fine. We live in Dongcheng most of the time, so we won’t have many chances to come back.”

Meng Fuyuan smiled: “Okay, I’ll listen to my wife in everything.”

He leaned slightly against the seat. Perhaps due to the alcohol, his whole person seemed more relaxed than usual.

“…” Chen Qingwu lightly tapped the brake. “Can’t you give me advance warning before you speak?”

The window was open a crack, letting in the cold wind from outside.

Meng Fuyuan realized the car wasn’t heading toward the apartment and asked Chen Qingwu where she was planning to go.

“Across the river.”

Nancheng’s annual New Year’s Eve custom: fireworks in the Jiangbei District, and a light show at Nancheng Tower. From the Jiangbei riverbank, one could take in both the brilliantly lit building and the fireworks in one view.

They had left late. At this moment, the riverbank must already be crowded with people, and it would be difficult to find parking.

Therefore, after crossing the bridge, Chen Qingwu drove up the mountain without hesitation.

Halfway up the mountain, she stopped at an open area.

Meng Fuyuan immediately remembered—they had come to this place that year with both families. It was an excellent viewing spot.

At this moment, quite a few people had already gathered at the viewing platform.

After getting out of the car, Chen Qingwu put on her bag, took Meng Fuyuan’s hand, and squeezed out two spots at the edge of the viewing platform.

Over the years, the rules for the fireworks show and light show had changed repeatedly. This year’s rule was to start at eight in the evening, one wave every hour, each wave lasting five minutes. The one at midnight would last fifteen minutes.

Their timing was just right. After waiting a brief moment, they could catch the ten o’clock show.

The two chatted idly for a moment when they suddenly heard people around them scream. Looking up, they saw Nancheng Tower on the opposite bank had lit up with brilliant character arrays, flashing “HAPPY NEW YEAR.”

After another moment, they suddenly heard a whooshing sound. A line of light shot upward and exploded with a “bang.” The sky instantly brightened like daylight.

Amid the screams and cheers, Chen Qingwu quickly opened her bag.

“Meng Fuyuan, look at the camera.”

When Meng Fuyuan turned around, he saw Chen Qingwu holding up an instant camera.

He froze.

“Quick, quick, smile!”

The instant the sky lit up again, Chen Qingwu pressed the shutter button.

The camera ejected the photo paper. Chen Qingwu put down the camera and covered it with both hands to help it develop faster, muttering, “I don’t know how it turned out…”

After a moment, the image appeared.

An absolutely perfect instant—fireworks ascending into the sky, the two of them close together, smiling brilliantly.

Chen Qingwu examined the photo closely and said with a laugh: “You look so good. You’d probably be very photogenic on film…”

Before she finished speaking, Meng Fuyuan suddenly pulled her into his embrace.

He lowered his head, his chin resting on her shoulder, his slightly heavy voice carrying a subtle moisture. “Qingwu, thank you…”

Chen Qingwu held the photo, somewhat at a loss. “…Should we take another one? This one is for you, but I also want to keep one.”

Before this wave ended, Meng Fuyuan finally reluctantly let her go.

Two instant photos, one for each person.

Meng Fuyuan stored his in his wallet, often seeing it when taking out cards to pay.

After coming down the mountain, the two went to Chen Qingwu’s residence.

The spacious space was regularly cleaned and very tidy.

There was only large furniture, making it seem somewhat empty.

Chen Qingwu took out the bedding she’d brought from home and, after changing it, went to shower first.

Meng Fuyuan checked the doors and windows in the living room and other areas, and after Chen Qingwu finished, he entered the bathroom.

When he came out, his steps paused.

Chen Qingwu was sitting at the vanity table, wearing that qipao.

She knew he had come out but didn’t turn around. She only looked at him through the mirror, slowly twisting open the square tube of lipstick in her hand.

Taking a bit of the lipstick cream on her fingertip, she leaned slightly forward, facing the mirror, and gently applied it to her lips.

Her movements were not at all flirtatious but rather had a kind of carefulness, as if worried about smudging the lipstick.

The highly saturated red, applied just a little, against her white porcelain-like complexion, was enough to captivate the soul.

Meng Fuyuan walked toward her.

Reaching her, he grabbed her arm, lifted her up, and made her sit on the vanity table.

The kiss pressed down, the lipstick instantly smudged, also staining his lips, like evidence of some shared sin.

Chen Qingwu panted slightly, raised her finger, and smeared the lipstick from his lips across his face.

Meng Fuyuan’s gaze darkened. He immediately pressed down her arm, lowered his head, and kissed starting from her ankle, slowly moving upward along the qipao’s slit path.

Chen Qingwu braced her hands behind her, her back against the cool mirror.

The qipao, until the very end, was never completely removed. Meng Fuyuan sat in the chair while she sat on his lap, held by him pressing her forehead, forced to lift her head and look into the mirror.

Watching how that pomegranate flower was peeled open, revealing its jade-like core.

Was it the alcohol? Today’s Meng Fuyuan was a bit more wild, never allowing her to close her eyes, making her look into his eyes and be scorched by the dark flames, and also making her witness how she herself collapsed and fell apart bit by bit.

Begging for mercy was ineffective because he knew better than anyone her limits—she could endure, and could also be seduced into greater depravity, thus candidly saying everything he wanted to hear.

Only then did she earn forgiveness.

Chen Qingwu trembled, like a pomegranate flower drenched by rain.

Her eyelashes had also clumped together from tears, her nose tip flushed red, as if she had just suffered through a high fever.

Meng Fuyuan kissed her tears, said baby is so good, then carried her to wash up.

Big brother: My wife really spoils me.