After seeing off Han Susu’s parents, Qin Lie drove Yang Guan and Chen Xi to the Japanese restaurant where he had been confusedly arranged for a blind date by his family last time.

The second floor of this restaurant was filled with individual private rooms, quite peaceful, and a good place for chatting and light drinking.

Chen Xi opened the menu and first ordered a sashimi platter, but the server said they didn’t have it.

Chen Xi then ordered red wine foie gras, but the server said they didn’t have that either.

After careful inquiry, they learned that due to insufficient customer flow, the restaurant no longer stocked the higher-priced ingredients from the first two pages of the menu.

Chen Xi flipped to the back and ordered some small dishes and sushi.

After the server left, Chen Xi smiled at Qin Lie and explained, “Not many people here eat Japanese food. Northwesterners still have stomachs made for barbecue.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, both fell silent for a moment.

Qin Lie: “I’m also a Northwesterner.”

Although they hadn’t mentioned it again since being together, the question of belonging remained a sensitive line between them.

Chen Xi still subconsciously regarded Qin Lie as a passerby.

Yang Guan sensed the atmosphere between the two had become slightly subtle.

He felt that avoidance wasn’t the best way to solve problems.

“Qin Lie, what are your plans for the future?”

Yang Guan decided to break the silence.

Qin Lie poured Yang Guan a cup of sake, saying frankly, “No particular plans.”

From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Chen Xi with one hand supporting her cheek, looking out at the night scene through the window.

She seemed uninterested in what he and Yang Guan were discussing.

After a moment of silence, Qin Lie added, “Things are pretty good as they are now. I have enough money to spend, and life is comfortable.”

Chen Xi looked out the window, a slight ripple crossing her serene expression.

If these words had come from Qin Zhan’s mouth, she would have believed them one hundred percent.

But Qin Lie—from the first moment Chen Xi saw him, she felt he was a soaring eagle.

Perhaps when tired, he also needed a place to land, but staying too long would turn it into a cage.

Yang Guan understood Qin Lie even better than Chen Xi did. He lowered his head in silent contemplation, then after a while, slowly said, “Ideals aren’t necessarily unchangeable things.”

He smiled, turning the small sake cup in his hand.

“Like me, my former ideal was to build airplanes, now it’s to study medicine. I have no regrets in my heart.”

Qin Lie silently clinked glasses with Yang Guan, and both lifted their sake and drained it in one gulp.

Yang Guan continued, “Do you know what my grandfather did when he was young?”

Chen Xi turned her head and, together with Qin Lie, looked curiously at Yang Guan.

Yang Guan: “When my grandfather was young, he traveled around performing acrobatics.”

Chen Xi looked incredulous.

“Really? Dr. Yang, performing acrobatics?”

Yang Guan nodded, smiling. “Hard to believe, right? My grandfather traveled north and south from childhood. When he was eighteen, he came to Dunhuang with an acrobatic troupe.”

“Once during a performance, he injured his leg and was treated by a bone-setting doctor. That doctor’s daughter was my grandmother.”

Qin Lie listened with a smile, while Chen Xi looked moved. “What fate.”

Yang Guan: “It was fate, but also choice. My grandfather’s ambition was to establish the Yang Family Troupe, with him becoming the grand master when he got old.”

“After meeting my grandmother, my grandfather couldn’t leave anymore. He married my grandmother, became my great-grandfather’s apprentice, and changed careers to medicine.”

“Although he didn’t become a grand master, he became one of the most renowned traditional Chinese doctors around here.”

He looked up toward Qin Lie and Chen Xi, saying slowly, “So I believe life can have the best of both worlds. Life, in the end, depends on human effort.”

Yang Guan gently set down his sake cup.

“Both of you listen to this—don’t be stubborn, get along well.”

Chen Xi looked at Yang Guan and softly hummed in agreement.

Qin Lie silently refilled Yang Guan’s sake cup and clinked glasses with him.

Yang Guan suddenly smiled and said, “Qin Lie, believe it or not, after you returned to Dunhuang, I felt you two would end up together.”

Chen Xi was amused by his words.

“Yang Guan, when he returned to Dunhuang, I didn’t even know him yet.”

Yang Guan: “I know, it was just a sixth sense. I couldn’t explain it at the time, but after you two got together, I felt like I had sensed it all along.”

What he didn’t say was that every time Qin Lie came to him for a smoke, he felt that in the next second, Chen Xi might appear at the door in a whirlwind.

Qin Lie would see her, and she would see Qin Lie.

The kind of love at first sight that lasts forever.

Chen Xi didn’t believe it, laughing as she said, “You’re just being mysterious.”

Qin Lie’s heart stirred slightly. Strangely, he believed Yang Guan’s words.

He had felt this way, too, very mystical.

It flashed through his mind, impossible to describe in words.

He, too, had moments when he suddenly felt like he had known Chen Xi for many years.

As if their connection had begun long, long ago.

Chen Xi smiled as she looked out at the night view. The Dang River scenic belt outlined a magnificent band of light in the distance.

Walking along the riverbank, one could reach the place where they first met.

It had been a long time since she’d been to Shazhou Night Market. Chen Xi suddenly wanted to go for a stroll.

After dinner, Chen Xi drove Yang Guan back to the clinic, then bought a large bag of mangoes at a supermarket by the alley entrance.

Qin Lie was slightly tipsy, leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed, resting.

The car restarted and turned onto the main street.

The warm light from street lamps shone through the car windows into the interior. Even with his eyes closed, Qin Lie could feel the alternating brightness and dimness of the lights.

Chen Xi hummed along with the car stereo, slightly off-key.

Wrapped in lazy warmth, Qin Lie was so comfortable he nearly fell asleep.

After a while, Chen Xi stopped the car and said, “We’re here.”

Qin Lie opened his eyes and saw a parking lot outside the window.

He asked somewhat bewildered, “Where are we?”

Chen Xi smiled. “Get out.”

Both got out of the car, and Chen Xi took the mangoes from inside.

Qin Lie took the mangoes from Chen Xi’s hand and asked casually, “What are these for?”

Chen Xi: “We’re dropping by to see Uncle Ma. He looked after my grandmother when she had her stall.”

Qin Lie glanced at the mangoes in his hand. “He likes eating these?”

Chen Xi shook her head. “Uncle Ma’s little granddaughter loves mangoes the most. That child… has cerebral palsy, so he hasn’t dared rest for a single day these years, working hard to save more money for the child.”

Qin Lie nodded, walked silently for two steps, then took Chen Xi’s hand.

The two strolled out of the parking lot. Qin Lie looked up and saw the tall sign of Shazhou Night Market.

He smiled and said, “It’s been a while since we’ve been here, hasn’t it?”

Chen Xi nodded. “I’ll treat you to barbecue skewers.”

Qin Lie looked at her with a smile. “You’re still not full?”

They walked in through the night market’s main entrance. Qin Lie suddenly remembered something and chuckled softly.

Chen Xi turned to look at him. “What are you laughing about?”

Qin Lie: “What were you wearing that day…”

It seemed to be a light-colored hanfu dress with red and blue ribbons.

Racing toward him through the rolling yellow sand, it stunned him completely.

Chen Xi naturally knew which day he meant.

She also laughed, explaining, “That afternoon, my colleague and I went to Singing Sand Mountain to shoot a promotional video. Right after we finished filming, a sandstorm started. I didn’t have time to change clothes before coming to find my grandmother.”

Summer night markets were the liveliest, with tourists from all over gathering here to experience the rich atmosphere of life in this desert town.

Chen Xi had wanted to buy some sand onion beef pancakes to take back, but seeing the dragon-like queue of people waiting, she decisively gave up.

She pulled Qin Lie deeper into the main street, and soon they reached Ma Lao Liu’s braised pancake shop.

It was the busiest time, and Ma Lao Liu was so busy his feet barely touched the ground.

Chen Xi placed the mangoes on the counter. Seeing Ma Lao Liu was too busy, she decided not to greet him.

But Ma Lao Liu turned and saw her, quickly running to the door with a smile to greet her.

“Chen Xi’s here! What would you like to eat? Uncle will make it for you.”

Chen Xi smiled and said, “I’ve already eaten, just came to walk around.”

Ma Lao Liu smiled and asked, “How’s your grandmother doing?”

Chen Xi nodded. “She’s doing great, cycling around the streets with Grandpa Guan every day.”

Ma Lao Liu: “I’ve seen them twice. Old Guan is doing well, too, right?”

Chen Xi’s throat suddenly tightened with bitterness, but she still smiled and said, “He’s doing well.”

Ma Lao Liu suddenly remembered something and said to Chen Xi, “Wait here.”

He turned and ran back to the kitchen, then came out again shortly.

He was carrying a bag of packaged milk cheese. “Help me take this to Old Guan. I made it myself—it’s soft and fragrant. Remember to keep it refrigerated.”

Chen Xi nodded and took the milk cheese.

A customer wanted to add dishes, and Ma Lao Liu hurried over to respond.

Chen Xi and Qin Lie returned to the street, passing a small barbecue shop.

Rich aromas wafted toward them, and Chen Xi pulled Qin Lie to sit at an outdoor table.

They ordered some skewers. Chen Xi still had to drive later, so she ordered apricot skin water for herself, while Qin Lie asked for two bottles of ice beer.

Chen Xi looked toward a fried cake stall not far away.

She smiled and said, “There are several shops on this street. Yang Shan, Han Susu, and I used to come here often. After Yang Shan got pregnant, she stopped wanting to come.”

Soon, the barbecue skewers arrived.

Chen Xi said thank you, and when she looked up, she froze completely.

“Han Chao, why are you here?”

Han Chao also looked stunned, standing there for a long while, not knowing what to say.

Chen Xi looked toward Qin Lie. “Yang Shan’s husband, Han Chao. We had dinner together once, remember?”

Qin Lie nodded and greeted Han Chao.

Only then did Han Chao snap out of his daze.

He smiled and nodded at Qin Lie, placing the skewers on the stainless steel tray on the table.

“Eat while they’re hot.”

As he spoke, he sat down next to Chen Xi, grabbed the towel hanging around his neck, and wiped the sweat from his face.

Chen Xi had wanted to ask Han Chao what was going on, but after a moment of silence, she felt there wasn’t much to ask.

Both Han Chao and Yang Shan had fixed salaries, and their days weren’t comfortable.

She poured a glass of ice beer and placed it in front of Han Chao.

She asked, “Are you driving later?”

Han Chao shook his head and drank the entire glass of beer in one gulp, immediately feeling cooler.

He set down the glass, and before Chen Xi could ask anything, he smiled and explained himself.

“Work has been light lately, and my buddy’s shop is shorthanded, so I come help out after work.”

His tone was relaxed, making part-time work sound like play.

As if he was just dropping by after work for skewers and beer, rather than standing in front of a smoky barbecue grill, sweating profusely and working until late at night.

Chen Xi looked at Han Chao’s sweaty face, smiled faintly, and said nothing.

Han Chao habitually took out his phone to check the time. At this hour, Yang Shan should be soaking her feet, and Ruirui should be washing up for bed.

By the time he got home, Ruirui would already be asleep.

He wanted to be by his wife and child’s side right now.

But he couldn’t go back yet. Earning a hundred yuan each night at the night market.

In a month, he could earn an extra three thousand yuan, almost half his monthly salary.

This money might only buy one piece of clothing for some people.

But for him and Yang Shan, this money meant clothes and toys for the child, the meat, eggs, milk and fruit that couldn’t be missing from home each day, the little gifts for the elderly, the child’s interest classes, and formula for the second baby.

Speaking of clothes, since having Ruirui, he hadn’t seen Yang Shan buy herself any expensive clothes.

It wasn’t that she no longer cared about beauty—she had chewed up her grievances and swallowed them.

“You two eat. Let’s get together again sometime.”

Han Chao said as he stood up to go back to work.

After walking two steps, he suddenly stopped and turned back to look at Chen Xi.

“Um, don’t tell Yang Shan about me helping out here. She doesn’t know yet.”

Chen Xi’s heart suddenly filled with complex emotions—sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy. The older you get, the more flavorful they become.

“She knows.”

Chen Xi suddenly spoke.

Han Chao’s expression froze, and he asked somewhat bewildered, “What?”

Chen Xi: “She knows you’re here.”

Chen Xi had only figured it out in that instant—why Yang Shan had been refusing to come to Shazhou Night Market lately.

Chen Xi: “Yang Shan knows everything, so she hasn’t been coming here recently.”

“You probably don’t know that her favorite fried cakes are here, and you don’t know that the place where she, Han Susu, and I used to eat beef noodles is right up ahead.”

She looked at Han Chao’s surprised face and said softly, “So Yang Shan knows.”

She knew Han Chao didn’t want her to feel bad, so she pretended not to know anything.

Han Chao stared at Chen Xi in a daze. Suddenly, his phone rang—it was Yang Shan calling.

He quickly answered, his voice cheerful: “Hello, honey, what are you doing?”

The ending theme of “Boonie Bears” came through the phone, followed by Yang Shan’s shouting.

“Ruirui, we agreed on two episodes, now turn off the TV immediately.”

Han Chao listened with a smile as Yang Shan dealt with Ruirui, then suddenly made a sound of surprise, as if just remembering she was on the phone with Han Chao.

“Hey, Old Han, aren’t you done with work yet?”

Han Chao: “Mm, work has been really busy lately. Go to sleep first, don’t wait for me.”

Yang Shan: “There’s mung bean soup in the kitchen pot. If you’re thirsty when you get back, drink some. Don’t push yourself too hard, come home and sleep early.”

Han Chao was about to speak when he heard Yang Shan suddenly raise her voice.

“Han Yi Rui, you’re rebelling! Turn off the TV. I’m counting to three, and if you don’t turn it off…”

Han Chao looked at his phone screen, and after a long while, smiled and hung up.

He remembered when they first got married, Yang Shan spent money freely on Taobao, and Han Chao liked putting money into games.

They didn’t interfere with each other. In Yang Shan’s words, the happiness marriage brought to life should be one plus one greater than two.

If marriage required sacrificing yourself, then why marry at all?

Time flew, and they reached the age of having elderly parents above and young children below. Neither could bear to sacrifice the other, so they could only sacrifice themselves.

But why did they still feel so happy?