HomeSniper ButterflyChapter 81: The Eighty-First Wing Beat (End)

Chapter 81: The Eighty-First Wing Beat (End)

The next day, Li Wu dressed in fresh clothes and brought out the New Year’s gifts he had long prepared in the guest room, handing them to Cen Jin for inspection.

There were teas, wines, pearls, and some craft DIY items. Cen Jin picked them up with delighted surprise and asked, “How did you know my mom likes these things?”

Li Wu raised his eyebrows slightly: “When I stayed at your house during the summer break of senior year, Auntie often did embroidery like this.”

“You’re so attentive,” Cen Jin couldn’t help but praise him. “She’ll be happy when she sees these.”

“I hope so.” Li Wu wasn’t entirely confident.

Cen Jin pinched his nose: “You need to have confidence in yourself.”

After ten o’clock, they arrived at the villa.

Cen Jin’s parents happened to be decorating in the courtyard, one up and one down, hanging red lanterns on the tree branches from a short ladder.

The couple was discussing where to hang them for the best appearance, not yet noticing that the young couple had silently arrived at the door.

Seeing the situation, Li Wu quickly put down what he was carrying and strode forward to help.

Mother Cen only then noticed his approach and was startled, patting her husband: “Qiao Yuan, come down and let Li Wu hang them.”

Upon seeing Li Wu, Father Cen’s face lit up with joy, and he quickly turned to look for his daughter: “You’re back!”

“Yes…” Cen Jin’s voice was soft: “Happy New Year, Dad and Mom.”

Father Cen stepped down from the crossbar: “Happy New Year to you too, Jin Jin and Xiao Wu!”

Li Wu was slightly nervous, his face flushing, but he still pronounced clearly as he offered his holiday wishes: “Happy New Year, Uncle and Auntie.”

Father Cen raised his arm in gesture, his words carrying deeper meaning: “Xiao Wu has grown even taller, not far from being a real man now.”

Cen Jin’s lips curved as she exchanged a knowing look with her father.

Mother Cen ignored the father-daughter pair’s subtle exchange and handed the remaining lanterns to Li Wu: “You hang these up as you see fit.”

Li Wu was overwhelmed by the honor and quickly accepted: “Alright.”

The young man was tall and long-limbed, only needing to climb two steps of the ladder to easily reach every branch.

He worked extremely efficiently, quickly bringing life back to the bare, monotonous tree, making it look as if it were laden with bright, full red persimmons.

Mother Cen praised him while taking a dig at her husband: “Young people work so efficiently, unlike you, all thumbs.”

“How old am I, and how old is Xiao Wu?” Father Cen grumbled softly. “How can we compare?”

Li Wu’s ears turned red as he straightened the tassel beneath the last small lantern before going to get the New Year’s gifts.

“You bought so many things!” Father Cen smiled and followed him, patting Li Wu’s arm and making small talk as in previous years, asking when his vacation started.

Li Wu replied: “Mid-January.”

Cen Jin went to pester her mother. At first, Mother Cen was unwilling, but she persisted shamelessly until her mother half-heartedly allowed her daughter to link arms with her.

The two men walked ahead, maintaining a steady conversation.

Cen Jin asked her mother softly: “So, what do you think? The boyfriend I brought home this year is handsome, right?”

Mother Cen exhaled through her nose, saying nothing.

“Isn’t he handsome?” She shook her mother’s arm, eager for an answer.

“Can good looks put food on the table?”

Cen Jin’s eyes widened as if finding common ground: “They really can! Just looking at his face makes me eat an extra bowl of rice. You should try it too, look at him more.”

Mother Cen couldn’t hold back her laugh, then swatted her fair hand: “Let go!”

Cen Jin obediently released her grip, her tone turning serious: “Mom, thank you.”

Mother Cen paused, falling silent, only letting out a resigned sigh.

As lunch was drawing to a close, Li Wu breathed a sigh of relief, his heart that had been hovering anxiously for a month finally landing safely.

Cen Jin’s parents’ attitude toward him was no different from previous years; they hadn’t grown cold or distant because of his changed status.

His heart was filled with a warm, golden gratitude.

After the meal, the young man helped Mother Cen clear the bowls and chopsticks, taking them to the kitchen to wash.

Mother Cen kept saying it wasn’t necessary, but he insisted on squeezing in to do it.

Finally, Mother Cen had no choice but to stand by the sink and watch as he efficiently rinsed the bowls, placed them one by one in the dishwasher, and wiped every corner of the kitchen until it sparkled like new, without a trace of oil or dirt.

To be honest, apart from being too young and somewhat limited in financial conditions, there wasn’t much fault to find with Li Wu.

The boy was tall and handsome, and although still a student, he was clearly a promising and reliable prospect, especially his attitude, which was much better than when Wu Fu first came to their home years ago.

Her former son-in-law never showed this kind of sincerity and earnestness, sitting across from Father Cen at the tea table after meals like some state leader in diplomatic talks.

Ah.

If only he were five years older, her heart wouldn’t be so conflicted, alternating between satisfaction and worry, between feeling blocked and relieved.

After Li Wu finished wringing out the cloth and handed it over, Mother Cen initiated conversation: “Li Wu, are you getting along well with your Jin Jin jie?”

Li Wu was slightly startled: “Very well.”

Mother Cen said: “Do you know why she divorced back then?”

Li Wu thought for a moment: “Not very clearly.”

“My daughter isn’t very easy to get along with, is she?” Mother Cen probed.

Li Wu shook his head: “Not at all. I think I’m the one who’s not easy to get along with.”

Mother Cen laughed: “How are you not easy to get along with? I see you’re like a soft persimmon in front of Jin Jin, completely at her mercy.”

Li Wu neither confirmed nor denied.

“But I’m worried,” Mother Cen hung up the cleaning cloth to dry, sighing almost inaudibly. “Her previous husband was also exceptionally good to her at first, but less than two years into the marriage, he said there were no feelings left when there were no feelings left.”

Li Wu’s expression was earnest as if taking an oath: “I absolutely won’t be like that.”

Mother Cen glanced at him, analyzing his expression and tone: “Jin Jin’s personality is a mix of her father’s and mine – soft-hearted but sharp-tongued. I’ve always had a difficult temperament and am not good at expressing myself, caring too much about my face, and speaking my mind directly. She’s exactly like me in some ways, so she especially needs someone who can handle her temper and truly embrace and care for her. It’s not that Auntie doesn’t have confidence in you, I just worry it’ll be like before – all for nothing. Feelings are so hard to predict, and you’re so much younger than her… You’re still young, you can still withstand changes, but Jin Jin can’t take it anymore.”

Li Wu was neither humble nor arrogant, his tone serious: “Auntie, actually I’m also someone who speaks his mind directly.”

Mother Cen was surprised: “I couldn’t tell.”

Li Wu said: “That’s how it is with Cen Jin. Our current way of getting along is to speak honestly, communicate together, solve problems together, and avoid any mutual suspicion or resentment.”

Mother Cen blinked: “She’s willing to talk to you?”

Li Wu: “Yes.”

Mother Cen nodded: “That’s good then.”

Mother Cen asked again: “Where is your household registration now, still in Yunfeng Village?”

Li Wu made an affirmative sound: “I can transfer it here directly after graduating in two years.”

Mother Cen nodded, smiling with a sigh: “It’s strange. Back then, when Jin Jin sponsored you, it was because her father and I saw her marriage wasn’t going well, so we found a feng shui master. Following the master’s advice, we sponsored a student in the southern mountains, and that’s how we happened upon you. Who could have guessed this would be the solution? I don’t know if it’s fate or medicine.”

After her speech, Li Wu seemed to have an epiphany. He stood still for a while before removing his apron, wiping his hands, and returning to the living room.

Cen Jin was slouched on the sofa, absently playing with her phone. Her gaze had been secretly darting toward the kitchen for a long time. Seeing Li Wu return, she eagerly asked: “What did my mom say to you?”

Li Wu told her honestly: “She told me to treat you well.”

“What else?”

“Nothing else.”

Cen Jin fixed her gaze on Li Wu: “What did you say?”

Li Wu’s lips curved: “My answer was already written in the letter.”

Cen Jin snorted lightly: “I want to hear you say it.”

Li Wu looked at her quietly: “I will stay by your side forever.”

Cen Jin shuddered, rubbing her arms vigorously: “Ugh~ can’t take it.”

Li Wu: “…” Not saying it made her unhappy, but speaking truthfully was too mushy – being a boyfriend was so difficult.

After Cen Jin had finished laughing and teasing, she threw him a packet of shrimp crackers: “Here you go, little brother, a reward for your sweet words.”

Li Wu caught it with one hand, opened the bag, and ate one like a hamster, then asked her: “Why aren’t you asking about your New Year’s gift?”

Cen Jin sat up straight: “Oh right, I almost forgot.”

She stretched out her arms, curling her fingers inward a few times like a little girl asking for candy: “Hand it over quickly.”

Li Wu acted mysterious, rummaging in his pants pocket for a while before finally taking out something that looked like a small booklet and placing it in her palm: “Here.”

Cen Jin tilted her head, took it, and looked – it was actually a bankbook. She looked back at him in disbelief.

Li Wu’s dimples appeared as he smiled without speaking.

Cen Jin flipped through several pages, seeing clear accounts with only deposits and no withdrawals, unable to contain the curve of her lips: “You’re serious about this?”

Li Wu said quietly: “I keep my word.”

“So old-fashioned–” Cen Jin complained verbally while holding onto his bankbook lovingly: “There are still people using bankbooks nowadays, and it’s a twenty-year-old boy at that.”

“Didn’t you say my mental age was already over fifty?”

“Which proves everything I say is true,” Cen Jin turned to the last page, her fingertip counting the numbers, then sighed softly: “There is this much? You weren’t exaggerating in the letter.”

Li Wu just smiled: “Of course not.”

Cen Jin studied it back and forth for quite a while before smilingly returning it: “You don’t need to give this to me. Keep it, I appreciate the thought.”

“Even if I keep it, it’s still yours.”

“I know, but I still want you to keep it,” Cen Jin’s eyes were gentle: “Be good to yourself, buy more things you like. Having enough material security brings an added sense of security. I don’t want my beloved little one living frugally.”

“Having you by my side gives me plenty of security,” Li Wu glanced at the now-empty kitchen, growing bolder as he moved to sit beside Cen Jin: “Just like this.”

Their hands naturally found each other, fingers intertwined. Cen Jin sighed: “But now I’m the one feeling insecure.”

Li Wu was confused, his eyes becoming puzzled: “Why?”

“You’re so capable, of saving this much money when you’ve barely started university. At this rate, you’ll probably leave me far behind in a few years.”

Li Wu said: “Isn’t that good? Then you can rely on me.”

Cen Jin mumbled: “What’s good about it? By the time you’re my age, I’ll be forty, and I’ll be worse than you in every way. Isn’t that terrible?”

She suddenly escaped from the grip of his fingers, grabbing her head in distress: “Oh god, I can’t imagine it – forty–“

“What’s wrong with forty?” Li Wu laughed, gazing unblinkingly at the most beautiful woman in the world.

“I won’t be as pretty as I am now, approaching menopause, ten times more fierce than now, a woman whose crow’s feet appear with every expression,” Cen Jin said, using her index finger to pull at the corner of her eye, baring her teeth like a fierce beast: “Picking fights with you all day long, nagging and cursing, let’s see if you can still stand it.”

Li Wu was driven crazy by her cuteness, letting out a low laugh and pecking her lower lip.

Cen Jin was momentarily dazed, and a second later, she returned the slight coolness left by the young man back to his mouth.

Words had become pale and inadequate for them; only kissing could present true feelings between their lips and teeth in the most appropriate and richest form, like waves rolling back into the sea, like spring breeze containing the warbler’s song.

The location heightened the excitement, and they dared not linger too long, but the kiss was passionate enough that when they separated, both were breathing heavily.

Li Wu’s chest rose and fell slightly: “Cen Jin, have you heard of quantum entanglement?”

Cen Jin blinked, making a “please continue” gesture: “Professor of Physics, begin your lecture.”

Li Wu said: “Simply put, with two entangled particles, even if they’re light-years apart, when the state of one changes, the other will be instantly affected. In 2015, a Dutch scientist indirectly proved that this kind of instantaneous long-distance sensing exists.”

Cen Jin tried to understand: “Are we those two entangled particles?”

“You could say that.”

“Seemingly unrelated, but we’ve already formed a connection.”

Cen Jin’s eyes curved like crescents, delighted by his earnest sweet talk: “So?”

Li Wu gripped her hand: “So I’ll be happy when you’re happy, sad when you’re sad. Because I’m the other particle that matches you, ignoring time and space. Just because you exist, I exist too, and no matter what changes you go through, I’m the particle that belongs to you.”

Eleven years was nothing.

Insignificant in the vast universe.

The only fortunate thing was that in this dimension where he existed, he could be guided by the energy of all things.

To meet her, to fall in love with her, and then become one.

Love transcends distance – from this moment on, he would hold this as truth, following it until death.

–The End–

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