That evening, during a video chat with Zhou Xuyan, Shi Sui learned that Beijing was already covered in heavy snow.

Behind Zhou Xuyan was a luxurious background as she lazily held a glass of red wine, sipping slowly. Her eyes showed some fatigue, and her expression was listless.

“I hate New Year.” She pointed to the corner of her lips and complained, “My face is about to freeze from all the fake smiling.”

Knowing her family relationships were complicated, Shi Sui could only say: “That’s rough.”

Zhou Xuyan sighed: “Yan Tingli has escaped—he doesn’t have to continue being fake like me. Where is he?”

Shi Sui glanced at the large mass breathing evenly on the sofa: “Still sleeping.”

“Tsk.” Zhou Xuyan made an envious sound.

She suddenly asked: “I heard he’s taking you to the Yan family after New Year?”

Shi Sui was surprised: “You already know?”

“How many people in his family are jealously watching him? They’ve already investigated everything.” Zhou Xuyan laughed lazily, “Besides, little psycho Yan doesn’t hide it at all.”

The whole family had an inherited love of surveillance, Shi Sui thought to herself.

“So what do they think of me?”

“Whatever they think behind your back,” Zhou Xuyan waved dismissively with disdain, “when they meet you face to face, they’ll still circle like dogs.”

Well, it seemed they indeed had opinions about her. Shi Sui found it both amusing and exasperating. She changed the topic: “By the way, don’t you love eating bamboo shoots? This time when I come, I’ll bring you some dried vegetables and zongzi that my mom made.”

“Great!” Zhou Xuyan’s expression instantly changed as she said happily, “Finally, I can see you!”

Meanwhile, the matter of the two families having dinner was also rapidly put on the agenda through Yan Tingli’s casual suggestion on the third day of New Year.

Even Shi Yue and his wife hadn’t reacted when on the second day they heard Yan Tingli say with a light smile: “My parents were very happy to hear the news. They’ll rush to Hangzhou tomorrow. Same old place—Yi Lanshan.”

His expression was so natural that it made Shi Sui amazed—truly a born actor.

Seeing Yan Zecheng again this time, even Shi Sui was surprised by how much he had changed.

The man had lost far too much weight compared to before, and his face was showing age.

Although Yan Tingli’s appearance was more like Song Jie’s, his eyes were completely cut from the same mold as Yan Zecheng’s.

Both had thin eyelids with slightly upturned eye corners.

At first glance, they appeared gentle and modest, but upon closer examination, one could glimpse the coldness and heartlessness within.

Before Shi Sui knew the truth, she thought Yan Zecheng was an elegant and upright family patriarch.

Even initially, because he was most familiar with her father, Shi Sui also considered him the closest person in the entire Yan family.

Now, after watching for a while, Shi Sui could only silently lower her eyes and bite the bullet to get through this dinner.

Fortunately, the entire Yan family’s acting skills were quite moving. Not knowing what kind of bait Yan Tingli had offered, Yan Zecheng and Song Jie were even more enthusiastic than before, making her parents feel flattered.

After dinner ended, Shi Yue enthusiastically invited them to sit at home.

But Yan Zecheng expressed that his schedule was tight with matters still pending in Beijing, so he regretfully left, saying they should gather again properly next time.

The entire process was like actors finishing a play—once done, they left the stage.

Shi Sui watched them appear and leave, unable to glimpse any sincerity in all the false sentiment.

But she could no longer summon extra emotions, only feeling hollow inside.

What kind of family could live their days like this? Everything had to be tied together by interests.

Shi Sui thought of Yan Tingli’s repeated statements about feeling “very full in his chest.”

Indeed, in such a family where emotions were drained dry, one could only feel emptiness.

This dinner had proceeded smoothly and harmoniously.

Yet Shi Sui felt her parents couldn’t summon much enthusiasm either.

After Yan Tingli left, Shi Yue sat at home holding his tea cup and suddenly sighed: “How come I feel like Zecheng and I aren’t as close as I thought?”

Shi Sui was trimming plants by the door when she heard this and turned to look.

Li Yin brought over freshly baked pastries: “What do you mean?”

“Today, when I asked if he remembered the barbecue we ate together while skipping class in college, his expression looked like he couldn’t remember.” Shi Yue sighed, “Time flies. Now we call each other in-laws, but we can’t recapture that feeling from back then.”

Li Yin had already perceived something, but couldn’t get confirmation. She said in a low voice: “You promised me back then, saying Chairman Yan was your iron-clad brother from the upper and lower bunks in college, that he was especially good, which is why I felt comfortable letting Sui Sui live there. Now you’re saying you’re not that close?”

Shi Yue scratched his head: “We were quite close before.”

He had always been straightforward. Because he was loyal, he had many friends and would help wholeheartedly when they encountered difficulties.

“I think you’re just being sentimental.” Li Yin snorted.

Shi Yue awkwardly sipped his tea: “But didn’t he readily agree? He even let Sui Sui live in the main house, eating and living with Xiao Li. Can you say there’s no feeling?”

The situation had been urgent then—he’d had to mortgage his Beijing house to fill the debt hole.

Shi Sui was also approaching the college entrance exam, so they really couldn’t have her change places with them.

The school’s boarding conditions were poor, and Shi Yue really couldn’t bear to let his daughter suffer, so he shamelessly approached his old friend.

Yan Zecheng responded that he happened to have vacant property near the school where Shi Sui could live, and he’d arrange for an auntie to take care of her.

Shi Yue readily agreed, never thinking that a few days later, Yan Zecheng changed his mind, saying Mrs. Yan—that is, Song Jie—wanted Sui Sui to live at the Yan house where they could take better care of her.

This friendship was quite significant.

Shi Yue was grateful and had tried his best to repay and show gratitude all these years.

Hearing these details from him, Li Yin put down the plate: “Why have you never told me about these things?”

Shi Yue: “…Huh?”

Li Yin frowned: “Since his first reaction was to have Sui Sui live outside, why did he change his mind later?”

“Mrs. Yan said she wanted Sui Sui to live there.”

Li Yin muttered, “Anyway, I think it’s weird.”

Women always had some kind of mysterious sixth sense. She felt something was wrong, but couldn’t put her finger on it—just felt stuffy in her chest.

Hearing her parents’ conversation, Shi Sui learned there had been such a matter between them.

She couldn’t help finding it both amusing and exasperating.

If just one link had been different, she and Yan Tingli could have had nothing to do with each other.

Yan Tingli set the time for going to Beijing on the fifth day of the New Year.

Two days before departure, Li Yin prepared specialties for her to bring to Zhou Xuyan.

“But for you going to Xiao Li’s house, Mom doesn’t know what to prepare for you.” Li Yin smiled bitterly.

There had always been talk of matching social status.

Although she liked Yan Tingli, once marriage was involved, there were many more rules.

She wasn’t familiar with the entire Yan family clan at all, and Yan Tingli hadn’t mentioned much about relationships on that side either. She couldn’t find out anything and could only search for gossip news online to understand.

This inevitably made the mother somewhat uneasy, fearing Shi Sui would be wronged when she went there, while she could do nothing about it.

Shi Sui understood her mother’s hidden worries and comforted her jokingly.

“Don’t worry, A Li likes staying at our house.”

“On the surface, I’m marrying him, but it’s more like he’s marrying into our family.”

Put this way, it didn’t seem wrong either.

Li Yin felt somewhat more at ease.

On the afternoon of the fifth day, the plane landed in Beijing.

As soon as they got off, the bitter winter wind hit their faces, with fine snowflakes floating in the air. After more than three years away, Shi Sui breathed Beijing air again.

Until the car that came to pick them up stopped downstairs from the former apartment building.

Shi Sui stared blankly for a long time.

This was a place she hadn’t visited since the Qingming Festival years ago.

Yan Tingli pulled her hand into the apartment entrance.

When the door opened, the mechanical, rigid voice of the original version of Little Snail sounded.

Little Snail: “Welcome home.”

Everything here was still the same as before—not even any decorations had changed.

Shi Sui looked around and even saw the ugly pair of “golden boy and jade girl” on the display shelf.

Dusty memories emerged, making her say somewhat stuffily: “You just had to bring me to live here?”

Yan Tingli lowered his head from behind to kiss her neck: “Had to.”

Shi Sui thought of the countless times in college when she’d enter the door only to be pressed against it for kisses. The same scene might again trigger his perverted desires, so she tried to avoid the distance.

“You don’t like it here?” he asked.

With too many shadows here, who could still like it?

Shi Sui pouted.

“But I like it.”

“Of course you like it,” Shi Sui said mercilessly, “because you always forced me here, then satisfied your animal desires.”

Yan Tingli said in her ear with dissatisfaction, “Which time didn’t you enjoy it?”

“……”

Shi Sui became annoyed: “But I didn’t want to do it anymore, yet you still wanted to do it and do it and do it—that’s wrong.”

Yan Tingli was silent for a while, then suddenly said: “Only here was your time completely mine.”

Shi Sui’s elbow that was about to push him away paused: “…That’s still not a reason for you to bully me.”

It was in this place that Yan Tingli gradually tore off his outer skin and became increasingly perverted.

His controlling nature wasn’t sudden—otherwise, she could have stopped the loss in time.

He was very clever.

Initially, only occasionally exposed, quickly covering it up again with his appearance.

Then, he tightened the threads of the web in his hands. By the time Shi Sui realized, she had long become something in his palm.

Some bad memories were stirred up, making Shi Sui sit sullenly on the sofa.

Yan Tingli half-crouched in front of her, leaning close with his eyes staring straight at her.

Not knowing what kind of trouble he was brewing again, Shi Sui pinched his face with both hands and pulled outward.

She said irritably, “Don’t have another episode.”

Being treated this way by her, Yan Tingli didn’t get angry.

Continuing the previous topic: “You had no room for me in your eyes then.”

No matter how physically close he got to her.

She grew increasingly distant, impossible to grasp.

Yan Tingli continued looking at her, as if comparing.

He suddenly smiled: “Now you do.”

Same place, different Sui Sui.

His expression was very pure—it seemed visiting this old place was just to have the current her look at him here again, covering over memories.

Childish.

Coming here just for this little thing.

Shi Sui’s gloomy mood dissipated considerably. She cupped his face and mimicked his tone: “You were a beast then.”

“Now you’re finally human.”

“……”

The next second, Shi Sui was pounced on and pressed onto the sofa.

“I can be a beast anytime.” He expressionlessly tugged at her clothes.

“……”

She had thought that coming to Beijing this time, Yan Tingli would first take her to show her face to the family.

Who knew the next morning?

He took her to the car without saying the destination, just quietly driving.

Seeing the high-rises around them becoming increasingly sparse, with fewer and fewer people.

Shi Sui’s trust couldn’t help but waver for a second, suspecting what crazy thing he wanted to do.

Until the car stopped at the northern suburb cemetery.

She finally understood, and her expression became silent.

The trunk, surprisingly, already had flowers Yan Tingli had prepared.

He silently handed her a bouquet.

Shi Sui looked down—it was a mixed bouquet of daisies and lilies, very pure and clear, the kind of gift that should be given to little angels.

It had rained lightly that morning, leaving humid water mist in the air.

From the cemetery entrance, there was a long path.

Yan Tingli’s voice was also so low it wasn’t quite clear: “Actually, they all think I don’t like Xiao Jin.”

Shi Sui turned to look at him: “I know you like—”

Yan Tingli curved his lips at her: “I don’t like him.”

Don’t like his chattiness, don’t like his kindness, don’t like all the love he easily obtained.

This person was still being stubborn even here—being contrary was his lifelong fate.

Shi Sui sighed inwardly and looked at him helplessly.

“But,” Yan Tingli paused, his voice even lighter, “I always think of him.”

His eyes became vacant as he spoke unconsciously.

“Wonder what he’d look like if he’d grown up.”

“He should be in college now.”

“Probably studying the same major as me.”

“Which school would he attend?”

“Though not as smart as me, he could get into A University with his eyes closed.”

“……”

How did he manage to put him down while talking?

Shi Sui shook her head with an almost imperceptible smile.

At this moment, Yan Tingli suddenly stopped.

Shi Sui followed his gaze to see tombstone number 089 and the photo on it.

This was Shi Sui’s first time seeing Yan Congjin.

An extraordinarily beautiful little boy whose face was simply the embodiment of an angel.

But as she stared at it for a while, her expression became somewhat dazed.

To be honest, Yan Congjin looked nothing like Yan Zecheng, Song Jie, or even Yan Tingli.

Shi Sui looked for a long time.

Only then did she bend down to place the flowers by the tombstone: “Xiao Jin is very handsome.”

Yan Tingli: “Don’t you also think he doesn’t look like them?”

Shi Sui didn’t know what to say.

Yan Tingli crouched down and grinned at the face on the tombstone: “When I was little, I even suspected he’d been switched at the hospital.”

How could bad bamboo like Yan Zecheng and Song Jie possibly produce good bamboo shoots like Yan Congjin?

Was it appropriate to say such things? Shi Sui tugged his sleeve speechlessly.

“It’s fine,” Yan Tingli chuckled, “he had a good temper, little fool that he was—he wouldn’t get angry with anyone.”

“Xiao Jin,” after saying this, he pulled Shi Sui to crouch down together, using the tone of talking to a little brother, “this is your sister-in-law, Shi Sui. We’re getting married soon.”

Shi Sui smiled warmly at the photo: “Hello, Xiao Jin, I’m Shi Sui.”

A breeze blew, making the flower petals flutter.

Not knowing what information Yan Tingli received, he raised his lips and continued: “My wife—how could she not be beautiful?”

“And she has a good temper, virtuous. At home, she listens to everything I say—if I say one, she doesn’t dare say two.”

“Most importantly, she loves me very, very much.”

Shi Sui stared wide-eyed at him, boasting shamelessly without blushing or skipping a beat.

Her lips couldn’t help twitching.

“We also have a calico cat, Ping An.”

“Very well-behaved and clingy.”

After a long pause, Yan Tingli said, “I’m very happy now.”

“It should also be thanks to your blessing.”

Yan Tingli’s voice was like willow catkins floating in the wind.

Getting lighter and gradually more hoarse.

Another breeze blew.

But it wasn’t like the harsh winter wind—it gently brushed across their faces.

Shi Sui gripped his cold fingers tightly and said warmly, “Xiao Jin heard everything.”

After returning from the northern suburb cemetery.

Yan Tingli seemed to finally remember that the Yan family had such a large group of people.

But he took her through this process extremely quickly.

From noon to dinner, in one afternoon, Shi Sui followed him in a whirlwind tour, meeting at least a hundred people.

But it was emotionless, only caring about the procedure.

Even including Yan Tingli’s grandparents—Shi Sui didn’t even remember their faces clearly, but she received a trunk full of meeting gifts.

This kind of perfunctory treatment made even Shi Sui feel like they were robbing people.

But with Yan Tingli acting this way, not a single person jumped out to say a word of “no.”

Including elders of higher seniority, they all greeted them with brilliant smiles.

This let Shi Sui experience what it meant to have confidence.

So when a person was strong enough, all rules would be rewritten, and everyone around would become good people.

Before leaving Beijing, Shi Sui finally had time to meet Zhou Xuyan.

Zhou Xuyan had already heard about Yan Tingli taking her around the Yan family in a whirlwind tour collecting gifts.

“Isn’t that amazing!” Zhou Xuyan slammed the table, “This is like ‘Domineering Little Psycho Falls in Love with Me’!”

Shi Sui nearly choked on her drink.

“Are you two getting married this year?”

Shi Sui smiled: “Most likely.”

Of course, if he had never proposed, that would be another story.

Zhou Xuyan propped her chin and blinked at her, suddenly sighing: “Actually, if you hadn’t left back then, nothing would have happened.”

Shi Sui looked at her disdainfully: “…You switched sides so quickly? Did he buy you off?”

“Of course not.” Zhou Xuyan looked back innocently with an expression of “How could you question my stance?” “I’m speaking from the heart. Recently, all the girls around me have been obsessing over Yan Tingli taking you to meet family.”

“Obsessing?”

“Yeah,” Zhou Xuyan raised her eyebrows, “I know quite a few second-generation kids who fall in love freely, but in the end, they can’t resist family arrangements.”

“What’s the reason? No ability. They’re reluctant to give up the privileged conditions their families provide, yet want to rebel and love freely—where are all these good things?”

“But with little psycho’s determination, he could crash through walls to make a path. If you’d stayed with him, he probably wouldn’t have let you be wronged.”

Shi Sui smiled: “Where are all these what-ifs?”

In her view, everything now was both coincidental and destined.

It was best to focus on the present.

After returning to Hangzhou, that very evening Shi Sui told Li Yin about the issues she was concerned about.

Li Yin had read too many novels and watched too many TV dramas, always worrying that Shi Sui would encounter that kind of harassment.

Shi Sui spread her hands: “The process was very quick, I wasn’t wronged. I didn’t even recognize all his family members, got a pile of meeting gifts, and came back.”

“…Huh?”

Shi Sui nodded: “Yeah.”

Li Yin examined her for a long time before finally breathing a sigh of relief: “That’s good then.” As she walked away, she muttered: “It’s not like what they show on TV.”

Of course, it wasn’t the same.

Who would dare provoke Yan Tingli?

Shi Sui thought this while hugging a pillow, suddenly bursting into giggles.

After the seventh day of the New Year, when the holiday ended, companies gradually resumed work.

Gao Linhan entered the company with a half-dead expression.

His colleagues were the same—the entire technical department’s resentment could feed an evil sword immortal.

Only Yan Tingli, refreshed and walking with a spring in his step, stood out.

During work, his brain was dull and his attention unfocused, and Yan Tingli caught him several times.

He only gave disdainful looks but didn’t launch mental attacks.

Oh, did he successfully get married? Gao Linhan wondered while yawning.

Until near quitting time, as he was slacking off, counting down the computer time, preparing to escape when the time came.

Footsteps sounded behind him, and Yan Tingli’s cold voice came: “Not off work yet.”

Gao Linhan: “……”

He immediately smiled: “Happy New Year, Brother Yan. Wishing you and sister-in-law a hundred years of happiness.”

Yan Tingli stood straight: “There’s something.”

“Please go ahead.”

“In a couple of days, I’m treating you to dinner.”

“…Huh?” Gao Linhan pointed to himself, “Me?”

“Of course, not just you.”

“Call Xue Jing, Su Han.” Yan Tingli frowned and thought, “And our mutual friends, too.”

Mutual friends… was it?

Were they… friends with him?

Besides them, who else were… mutual friends?

Gao Linhan’s expression changed unpredictably.

Yan Tingli glanced at him and suddenly articulated.

“Fang Huaijing.”

“Zhuo Haoyu.”

What kind of friends were these! Gao Linhan was about to explode on the spot.

“If you’re proposing,” he hedged, “calling them isn’t quite appropriate.”

Yan Tingli said lightly: “I’m asking you to notify everyone. Whether they come is their business.”

Gao Linhan had an epiphany: “…Got it.”

“Also.” Before leaving, Yan Tingli stopped again, “I’m proposing. As a mutual friend, what should you do?”

Gao Linhan was confused: “…What should I do?”

Yan Tingli narrowed his eyes.

Gao Linhan immediately had a flash of inspiration: “Assist! Provide good assistance! With me here, I’ll make Brother Yan’s proposal perfectly successful.”

His shoulder was patted.

Yan Tingli strode away with long legs, very pleased: “I’ll give you a raise this year.”

“Ping An.”

“Ping An.”

Yan Tingli patted the spot beside him, calling several times in a row.

“Come here.”

The cat sprawled on the sofa and barely glanced over.

Its tail tip flicked impatiently.

It continued turning its head to lick its paws.

“……”

Yan Tingli stared at it.

He patiently called twice more.

This time, the cat only moved its right ear, too lazy to even turn its head.

A minute later.

Yan Tingli got up with a cold face, took cat food from the refrigerator, and placed it by his legs.

He sat back in the same spot.

Coaxing patiently: “Ping An, come here.”

This time, the lazy thing on the sofa finally moved, jumping over with a swoosh.

It went straight for the food bowl to chow down.

But Yan Tingli picked up the bowl: “The day after tomorrow, Daddy is proposing. I’ll put the ring box on your back. When I call you, you come over and give it to Mommy, understand?”

“Meow~”

“Good boy.” Yan Tingli put down the bowl and patted its head.

After Ping An ate and drank its fill, it lazily sprawled back on the sofa.

Yan Tingli continued experimenting.

“Ping An, come here.”

Caw caw caw.

Like a row of crows flying through the air.

The cat on the sofa thoroughly demonstrated the meaning of “forgetting one’s benefactor.”

Yan Tingli took a deep breath.

His expression finally cracked.