If you’ve ever experienced love as blazing and magnificent as the sun, who would still care about flickering fireworks?
For the past few years, Mom and I have spent Chinese New Year at my uncle’s house, and this year was no exception. As soon as my last day of work ended, instead of returning to Wuxi, I headed straight to Nanjing.
For some reason, Jiang Rui was unusually enthusiastic this year, even taking over Old Zhang’s usual task of picking me up from the train station himself.
As soon as I exited the station, I saw him standing in the crowd, waving enthusiastically with a face beaming like a flower. He rushed straight toward me and grabbed my small suitcase.
“Wait!” I grabbed the suitcase back, eyeing him suspiciously up and down. “Jiang Rui, what’s with all this enthusiasm? You haven’t done something to wrong me, have you?”
He scoffed, “Can’t I just be excited to see you?”
…He did something wrong.
The whole way, Jiang Rui acted oddly nervous, like a cat who’d stolen from the neighbors. Even after we got to the parking lot and drove for quite a while, he maintained that same demeanor.
I said irritably, “Jiang Rui, can you please act normal?”
Jiang Rui winked mischievously, “I’ve discovered a huge secret that concerns someone’s entire life. Want to hear it?”
I glanced at him as he gave me another conspiratorial wink. I responded indifferently, “Sure.”
I was just humoring him, but he seemed pleased with himself.
“Then beg me for it.”
I immediately gave him a hard knock on the head. “Is that enough begging for you?”
“Fine, forget it then.” Jiang Rui rubbed his head, “Don’t regret it later, Nie Xiguang. Every day you don’t know is one less day of happiness.”
“Heh,” I responded with just two syllables, showing complete disinterest in his secret.
Perhaps because it was the New Year holiday, traffic was particularly heavy. By the time we reached Xinjiekou, the car had completely stopped moving. I propped my chin up, watching the bustling crowded streets through the window when suddenly inspiration struck.
“Jiang Rui, let’s find a place to park. I need to buy something.”
Jiang Rui was startled: “Sis, now?”
“Yes! You said Mom and Aunt went flower shopping, right? Nobody’s home anyway, come shopping with me, over there!”
I pointed toward Nanjing’s largest shopping mall.
Jiang Rui was dragged into the mall with obvious reluctance.
“Don’t you usually avoid these luxury stores? We don’t need to come to a place like this for New Year shopping.” He surveyed the mall, “Unless you’ve started earning money and want to buy me a gift?”
I coldly informed him, “You’re thinking too much.”
“Oh, I get it, you’re trying your luck, hoping to run into a certain handsome guy?” His expression turned sleazy again, “If I remember correctly, that handsome guy’s house isn’t far from here. He might be out shopping during the New Year.”
For a moment, I knew he was referring to Zhuang Xu, and my heart seemed to twinge slightly. Then I said through gritted teeth, “I asked you here to help me pick out a gift.”
“A gift for my boyfriend,” I emphasized.
Jiang Rui’s head-shaking suddenly stopped, and he repeated blankly, “Boyfriend?”
“You… you have a boyfriend?”
I nodded proudly, but seeing his shocked expression made me a bit annoyed, “Your sister here is beautiful and talented… well, at least a little bit. Is it so strange that I have a boyfriend?”
“Who is it?” he pressed, then suddenly showed a look of realization, “Could it be Zhuang…”
I cut him off quickly, “His name is Lin Yusen.”
He froze again, the happy expression not yet fading from his face. I didn’t understand why he would guess Zhuang Xu and look so pleased about it. Suppressing a slight unease in my heart, I patiently explained to him.
“You know, the one I mentioned before, my immediate superior at work.”
He maintained that dazed expression.
“When did this happen?”
“It hasn’t been long,” I suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. It did seem strange to jump into a relationship so quickly.
“Not long?”
“Not even a month yet.” Something occurred to me, “Oh right, don’t tell Mom.”
“Why?” Jiang Rui blurted out, “You’re not serious about him?”
“Of course I am, you idiot. It’s because…” I stopped, leaving the sentence unfinished. Explaining things with Lin Yusen would inevitably lead to discussing that annoying mother-daughter pair, and then Dad. Why bring up these troublesome matters during the New Year and make Mom think about them?
It’s better not to say anything for now.
I didn’t bother explaining to Jiang Rui, “Just don’t say anything for now.”
This was my first time buying something for a man who wasn’t a relative. After browsing several stores without finding anything suitable, I happened to look up and saw the brand of watch that Lin Yusen often wore.
I dragged Jiang Rui inside. After scanning the counter for a few moments, my eyes lit up, “Jiang Rui, isn’t this watch nice?”
He looked at the watch, then at me, and remained silent for a moment.
“Give me your opinion.”
Jiang Rui reluctantly said, “Isn’t a watch too ordinary? It seems unoriginal.”
I said worriedly, “I know a watch is ordinary, but he looks so handsome when he raises his wrist to check the time.”
Various images of Mr. Lin checking his watch involuntarily floated through my mind, and I got lost in thought for a moment. When I noticed Jiang Rui’s strange look, I realized I had been standing there with my chin propped up, staring at the watches in the display case for quite a while.
…How embarrassing.
I quickly snapped out of it, pretending nothing had happened as I withdrew my hands and asked the sales assistant to take out that watch.
On the way home, Jiang Rui was unusually quiet, staring straight ahead with an absent look, lost in thought about something.
I waved my hand in front of his eyes, “Jiang Rui, Jiang Rui?”
Jiang Rui turned to me and said, “I just realized that sometimes, one person’s casual action might change someone else’s entire life.”
“…Oh, what a profound discovery.”
He looked at me somewhat dazedly, then fell silent again, even letting out a sigh.
With my brother suddenly turning into a melancholic youth and another long red light ahead, I was bored and decided to complain to Lin Yusen. However, when I opened my phone, I forgot about complaining and instead started bragging.
“I bought you a gift today!”
He quickly replied: “You went shopping for me as soon as you got off the train?”
“Yes!”
He didn’t reply further, but my phone rang a second later. Seeing his name on the caller ID, I was somewhat speechless. As soon as I answered, he asked directly, “What gift?”
“Weren’t you supposed to catch a flight? You canceled plans to send me to Nanjing, but now you have time to call?”
“Is Miss Nie criticizing her boyfriend’s logic? What’s the conflict between catching a flight and making a phone call? Besides, who was it that said long flights were tiring and told me not to exhaust myself going back and forth?”
I had only recently learned that Lin Yusen’s father had passed away long ago, and his mother lived in Switzerland. He spent every Spring Festival flying to Switzerland to be with her.
He had an early flight tomorrow morning, and today he had wanted to drive me to Nanjing first before returning to Shanghai. Of course, I refused – not only was the traffic terrible, but even without traffic, it would take six or seven hours round trip.
Although my heart and actions were so understanding and considerate, I couldn’t help but argue a bit: “Oh~~~ I was just saying that, but deep down I was hoping you’d send me.”
He laughed on the other end, “I sincerely apologize, I didn’t realize Miss Nie was saying one thing but meaning another. I’m inexperienced, I won’t make such a mistake next time.”
…Ah, I can never win an argument with him.
He must have been feeling quite pleased with himself on the other end, as he continued to press me, “What gift did you buy me?”
I thought to myself, you’re being too eager. Shouldn’t you, with your usual composed demeanor, wait until I present the gift, and casually accept it with a thank you – wouldn’t that be more stylish?
Despite these internal grumblings, I honestly told him.
“It’s a watch.” I felt the gift was unoriginal, so my voice became a bit weak.
However, he seemed quite interested and started asking for details: “What color and material?”
“It’s black, metal, with a leather strap, the same brand as the one you’re wearing. But it’s better-looking than yours, probably a new model.”
He suddenly laughed, “Miss Nie is so generous, I’m feeling quite pressured.”
My conversation with Lin Yusen was interrupted by a long string of honking from behind. Only then did I realize the red light had turned green, but Jiang Rui hadn’t moved the car.
He stepped on the gas before I could remind him. Looking at my phone, I saw that I had accidentally hung up, so I switched to messaging Lin Yusen – “Today I told Jiang Rui, my brother, about us, and he’s been acting strange ever since. Could my brother have a sister complex?”
Lin Yusen replied with just a question mark.
Hmph, I was only joking, what kind of response was that? However, a few minutes later, his reply came – “Bring your brother to see me in a few days.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re quite the big shot, wanting me to bring my brother to see you. If you want to see him, come yourself.”
After passing Xinjiekou, the traffic wasn’t as bad, and we quickly arrived at my uncle’s house.
My mom and the others hadn’t returned yet. Standing in the living room, Jiang Rui suddenly said, “Sis, why don’t you go chat with Aunt Zhang in the kitchen?”
I was startled, “Huh?”
“She misses you.”
“Oh.” I looked at him strangely; this suggestion seemed too abrupt. I suddenly remembered the big secret he mentioned earlier.
“What was that big secret you were talking about?”
“Nothing.” Jiang Rui said after a long while, “I’m going upstairs to clear my head.”
Then he left.
Clear… what are you clearing…
I went to the kitchen, feeling puzzled.
Aunt Zhang was making fish balls in the kitchen. As soon as I saw them, my mouth started watering. Seeing my gleaming eyes, Aunt Zhang smiled and said, “This year I made fish balls from three fish, all big grass carp over ten jin each. Later when you go back to Wuxi, take a few bags with you, I’ve prepared them already.”
“Great, I love eating our homemade fish balls the most, Auntie. Let me help you make them.”
Making fish balls requires physical strength, but fortunately, after being pushed around by Lin Yusen for a while, my strength had increased, and making fish balls was completely manageable.
While vigorously making fish balls, Auntie asked about my work, and I couldn’t help complaining to her: “My superior is so annoying, always finding fault with me, making me work overtime and such.”
Auntie was very indignant: “That’s not right, working overtime every day is too hard. We don’t need to put up with this, report him. Besides, doesn’t Mr. Nie have shares in that company?”
I sighed magnanimously and said: “Never mind, considering how handsome he is, I’ll forgive him.”
Aunt Zhang strongly disagreed with my approach of forgiving people based on looks, repeatedly emphasizing that such a terrible superior shouldn’t be tolerated. Having dug my own grave, I had no choice but to promise that I would report my superior-slash-boyfriend after the New Year.
Only then was Aunt Zhang satisfied. She let go of that topic and after chatting about other things for a while, she suddenly seemed to remember something and asked me: “Did you and Jiang Rui have fun studying abroad?”
Studying abroad? I was stunned for a moment, “It was just a study tour.”
“Oh oh, study tour, study tour, I’m old and can’t keep these things straight.”
“It was quite fun,” I answered her while stirring the fish meat. Suddenly I stopped, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease pass through my heart. However, before I could trace where this unease came from, I heard noisy voices coming from outside.
Mom and the others had returned.