In the blink of an eye, it was already Spring Festival 2001.

After Young Master Yan recovered, A-Heng urged him to report his well-being to those in America.

Yan Xi grinned, “Report what? Plenty of people are already concerned about my little troubles.”

A-Heng thought about it and nodded – this was true. Although Yan Xi wasn’t favored by his grandfather, he was still his grandfather’s precious one, raised by him since childhood. Grandfather constantly worried about Yan Xi whisking Si Wan away to outer space, while Yan’s grandfather probably secretly complained about Si Wan always clinging to Yan Xi. As they say, there’s a proper place for everything – well, parents will always care for their children.

A-Heng smiled, “Yan Xi, you’re quite fortunate.”

Yan Xi’s eyes welled up with tears as he rattled off a folk rhyme from who-knows-where: “Listen, miss, to this humble one’s tale, I’m but a mountain boy from nowhere. At age four that year, my home had games and money, and life was boundless joy. Who knew that awful auntie, so shameless in her ways, colluding with adults without fear, stealing my games and allowance day by day? I reported this to the kindergarten fair, but my grandfather turned against me there, said I lacked unity, split the family, and beat me flat with just one swing. Nanny Li called me a deceiver of the kind, and gave all my snacks to her instead, behind the TV and under the bed, hidden for half a year, not a candy crumb remained, but I stood brave and unyielding, starved myself for three whole days! And then there’s that Wen family’s Si Wan, smart in studies but slow in the brain, three hundred sixty days a year, following me everywhere. Her malt candy for my little stick, even to the toilet she would stick. Red flowers given in kindergarten, she got them while I got none, grandfather beat me every time, grandfather beat! Miss, why do you say this humble one is blessed? I endure humiliation with dignity, swallowing broken teeth with blood!”

A-Heng, who had been drinking tea, sprayed out a mouthful of hot water. She pointed at Yan Xi, trying to speak but couldn’t get the words out. Her cold hadn’t fully recovered and her nose was still stuffed, but she laughed so hard she nearly fainted.

Yan Xi helped pat her back to catch her breath, rolling his eyes: “You have no sympathy.”

A-Heng laughed until tears appeared in her eyes, her face flushed like peach blossoms, speaking with a nasal voice: “Sorry, sorry, I thought I would be more sympathetic than you imagined.”

Yan Xi’s large eyes curved, his long dense eyelashes carrying a hint of helplessness as he handed over cold medicine: “Daughter, bedtime story’s over, time to take your medicine.”

A-Heng smiled, pouring several bitter-looking brown pills into her mouth, tilting her head back to swallow them, drinking water from the glass in Yan Xi’s hand, all in one smooth motion.

Yan Xi clicked his tongue: “Wasn’t it bitter?”

A-Heng smiled softly, looking down at his hand holding the glass, long and fair-skinned with slightly pink nails. As she gazed, her eyes grew tender: “Not bitter. Who else but you treat taking medicine like torture?”

When he had his mental episodes, taking medicine meant him running ahead while she chased behind. She would hold a handful of pills, running several laps around the huge courtyard just to catch him and make him take his medicine.

Yan Xi stared at A-Heng with great admiration.

A-Heng smiled, feeling somewhat tired, and leaned back against the bed closing her eyes. Through the haze, she felt Yan Xi gently covering her with a blanket. She remembered something and grabbed the young man’s hand, forcing her eyes open against drowsiness: “Yan Xi, bring your physics textbook, you haven’t done your tutoring today.”

Yan Xi glared fiercely with wide eyes: “What tutoring! We’ll talk after you wake up. Why worry so much while you’re sick? You’re so young, be careful or you’ll grow white hair. If you become ugly, no one will want you, and you won’t be able to become a virtuous wife and good mother, understand?”

Yan Xi naturally knew A-Heng’s ultimate life goal – just those four words: virtuous wife and good mother.

A-Heng held back her laughter, speaking seriously: “Who says no one will want me? Someone from the next class confessed to me just yesterday.”

There was a boy in the next class whose grades were always fourth in the year, always a few points behind A-Heng. Yesterday after she went to get her final exam results, that person blushed and gave her a letter, filled with neat handwriting. He said he thought she was pretty, gentle, good at studies, and had admired her for a long time, asking her to go to the cinema with him tomorrow.

Yan Xi smiled without humor: “Don’t bother waiting, stay home and rest tomorrow, he won’t be going to the cinema.”

A-Heng was puzzled: “Hm?”

Although she had already politely declined and hadn’t planned to go tomorrow, how did Yan Xi know about the cinema? She didn’t remember mentioning it.

The scene at the time was like this: While the boy was shyly confessing in a jumbled manner, A-Heng patiently listened with a smile, occasionally glancing at her watch. Not far away, hiding in a corner and stacked on top of each other, were two figures.

One Aunt Xin and one Chen-style meat strips, one person retelling, one person making a phone call.

“Um, beauty, let me tell you, there’s an unidentified creature not far from me threatening your beloved daughter to watch a movie with him the day after tomorrow, or else he’ll send gangsters after her. Your daughter is scared and crying right now, yes yes, beauty, it’s up to you to handle it. You told me to monitor her, don’t forget about the Quanjude duck you promised. What? You’re coming over right now with a cleaver? Ah? That’s not necessary… ahem, well, I’m hanging up…”

Then the two scurried away like rats.

A-Heng left school after declining the boy. The boy gazed tearfully into the cold wind at A-Heng’s long-gone figure.

Then, not far away, a cleaver came swinging, as a certain beauty smiled enchantingly with a sidelong glance: “Mr. Eternal Fourth Place, choose one – watching the movie or staying alive…”

Speaking of which, the beauty was breathing unsteadily with sweat on their brow, but that face still dazzled the boy’s eyes.

So radiant…

“Um, could I choose to watch a movie with you?”

“Oh, so Mr. Fourth Place, you’ve chosen not to live.”

The Yan family never lacked fireworks during New Year’s. Si Wan and A-Heng were always mature and steady, just putting on a show in front of the adults for fun. Yan Xi and Xin Dayi were different – they had been mischievous since childhood, playing with firecrackers into adulthood, lighting them, setting them off, and arranging fireworks with great enthusiasm.

Si Er still coldly fanned herself: “How old are you all…”

A-Heng seriously corrected: “Young at heart despite age.” Then she sighed, realizing she would soon turn eighteen – time truly flies. But why do some people in this world always love to act young?

Xin Dayi pretended not to hear, his face covered in firecracker ash but his smile growing brighter.

Si Wan remembered something, frowning as she bit her nails: “Should we invite Chen Juan to spend New Year at our house? He’s all alone…”

Si Wan would bite her hands whenever she thought about something – really a childish habit. However, it contradicted her usually mature and gentlemanly image, making it somewhat cute.

Xin Dayi raised his ash-covered face, coughing violently: “Wen Si Wan, are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for me? I finally don’t have to go to school or face that dead sissy!”

A-Heng smiled gently and kindly: “Weren’t you two eating harmoniously at Quanjude just a few days ago?”

Xin Dayi felt guilty – A-Heng probably knew about him and the sissy following her. But thinking again, he became angry: “Who was harmonious with him? One roast duck – I just went to the bathroom once, and when I came back not even a feather was left. Yan Xi is such a cheapskate, it’s not easy to get a meal from him!”

Yan Xi was very disdainful – Xin Dayi, you can be even more shameless.

He wiped the ash from his face with his sleeve and spoke: “I have something to do, I’m leaving first.”

Si Wan frowned: “Haven’t seen you properly stay at home these past few days, where are you going?”

Yan Xi turned and waved his hand, too lazy to answer, leaving stylishly.

Everyone’s gaze shifted to A-Heng, who smiled: “Don’t look at me, I’m not that close to him.”

So, how would she know where he went?

Everyone: “Get lost!”

A-Heng smiled – she hadn’t lied.

Every afternoon, Yan Xi would disappear and return only at seven or eight in the evening, covered in all sorts of messy fragrances, with wolf-like eyes, pouncing toward the dining table with eagle-like speed, not lifting his head until he had cleaned every dish and bowl.

She didn’t ask where he went – after all, the People’s Republic of China is a democratic country, and we respect civil rights and privacy, ahem.

However, during evening tutoring, Yan Xi kept complaining with pouted lips about why the study content had doubled compared to before.

A-Heng smiled faintly, pretending not to hear. This was a small punishment, the price he paid for including her among those he guarded against.

Finally finishing his studies, Yan Xi collapsed boneless on the bed, not moving an inch.

The young man remembered something, his eyes turning somewhat cold and disgusted. He propped his chin with his hand and spoke lazily: “A-Heng, help clean my ears, they’ve been itchy all day.”

A-Heng found the ear pick and kicked him to get up, but he curled up like a cicada pupa next to her, resting his head on her lap, exposing his right ear, closing his eyes, and playing dead in a spoiled manner.

A-Heng was speechless. Just as she was about to clean his ear, she noticed a faint patch of rouge-red on his jade-white translucent ear. She narrowed her eyes. Her hand brushed against it – sticky and sweet-smelling, it was lip gloss.

A-Heng’s lips twitched, her heart churning with mixed feelings.

The good news was that at least Yan Xi wasn’t interested in men; the worrying part was that Si Wan would probably cause trouble after being rejected.

A-Heng’s face alternated between pale and flushed, her thoughts quite complicated. She didn’t control her strength well, leaving red marks where she pinched Yan Xi’s ear.

Yan Xi opened his eyes in pain, staring blankly at A-Heng’s expression. Something about it seemed to warm a corner of his heart, and he couldn’t help but smile.

A-Heng came to her senses, feeling embarrassed, and also chuckled: “Yan Xi, in a few days it’ll be January 10th, have you prepared a gift?”

Si Er’s birthday.

Yan Xi looked at her, his expression somewhat peculiar, and shook his head: “Oh, I’ve been working part-time these past few days. I’ll prepare something after I get paid.”

A-Heng was surprised: “You’ve been working? Doesn’t your family have money?”

Yan Xi sat up, pouting: “Family money is family money. You only turn eighteen once – it’s about being grown up.”

A-Heng lowered her head silently. After a while, she smiled: “Er Er will be very happy when she finds out.”

With the New Year approaching, Chen Juan, though young, was used to being alone and hadn’t accepted Si Wan’s invitation. He only asked A-Heng to accompany him shopping for New Year supplies.

The streets were bustling with people. It was rare to have such auspicious snow this year – it was a peaceful year, with everyone at home healthy and free from misfortune.

A-Heng was in a good mood. Looking at the crowd, she quietly asked Chen Juan: “Mary, why won’t you spend New Year with us?”

Chen Juan smiled: “I need to wait for a phone call on New Year’s Eve.”

A-Heng nodded. After all, Chen Juan’s family was in Vienna, so naturally they would call.

Chen Juan’s eyes rippled with emotion, his smile unusually bright and bewitching: “Don’t get the wrong idea. My parents divorced when I was ten. Now they each have perfect families, married with several children old enough to run errands. Why would they call me on New Year’s Eve? They’re not that idle.”

A-Heng was surprised. She lowered her head and kicked at the snow, saying nothing.

The youth touched the phoenix tail at the corner of his eye, somewhat sad: “It’s… that person. He calls to send New Year’s greetings every year.”

A-Heng slightly raised her eyes, seeing the dejection and helplessness in the youth’s delicate features. She smiled and patted his shoulder: “This year, try not answering. Perhaps without him, once forgotten, it will all pass.”

Chen Juan smiled, glancing at her: “You know who that person is, don’t you?”

A-Heng’s steps faltered slightly as she nodded slightly: “Mm.”

Chen Juan muttered “knew you were pretending,” then remembered something and said seriously: “When I was in Vienna before, I hired private investigators to look into Yan Xi.”

A-Heng’s face darkened – indeed despicable, and honest about it too.

“Child, you’re not born after ’85, are you?”

Chen Juan looked confused: “Yeah, I am.”

A-Heng thought to herself: Very good, very impressive indeed.

“Do you know who the investigation report said was most important to Yan Xi?”

“That person?” A-Heng answered without thinking.

Chen Juan gloated: “Wrong, wrong, it’s Wen Si Er.”

A-Heng seemed thoughtful: “That’s not without basis.”

Chen Juan saw her composed face and was dumbfounded: “You’re not upset? Not depressed? Don’t you like…”

A-Heng gave an ambiguous smile, and Chen Juan wisely stopped talking.

“Amitabha, please don’t ruin this humble monk’s reputation, good sir. From this monk’s observation, benefactor Yan has recently encountered romantic prospects and good fortune approaches, so please mind your words.”

“Huh? He’s interested in another man?”

A-Heng twitched: “Woman, woman, woman, okay?”

Chen Juan looked into the distance, his gaze somewhat strange: “Mm, seems to be a woman.”

A-Heng turned, following his gaze.

Not far away stood a young man wearing a linen bat-wing shirt, a scarf around his neck, long blue and white jeans, linen boots with silver buckles, black hair, and large eyes, very handsome and quite eye-catching.

Beside him was an equally beautiful girl in a European-style dress, with an excellent figure and very tall, almost matching his height, with a very sweet smile.

The young man slightly lowered his head to listen to what the girl was saying, his gaze gentle, occasionally nodding. In his hand was a paper cup, with an automatic coffee vending machine not far away.

It was Yan Xi.

A-Heng raised her hand to check her watch – three in the afternoon. Not working but dating? Why wear such thin clothes in this cold weather? What nonsense was this?

Yan Xi hadn’t noticed A-Heng and Chen Juan. He finished his coffee in a few gulps and turned toward the street opposite. The girl followed behind him, her face flushed red, looking at Yan Xi with tender, flickering eyes.

Chen Juan secretly watched A-Heng’s expression, but couldn’t discern any joy or anger – she just maintained a blank face, her features much subdued.

“Ahem, let’s follow them and take a look,” Chen Juan didn’t expose A-Heng’s thoughts, just pulled her along in the direction Yan Xi and the girl had gone.

A-Heng followed behind him, her steps somewhat uncomfortable, but she didn’t make a sound, saying neither yes nor no.

When they reached the opposite street, the two had vanished.

Ahead, many people were gathered watching something, with large camera stands set up, seeming like a photo shoot location.

It had snowed just two days ago, and the snow was still thick – they were probably capturing snow scenes.

Chen Juan pulled A-Heng closer to the front. There were many onlookers, and they could vaguely hear some voices among them.

“Camera three, get ready for the side shot. Ready? Action!”

“Cut, cut!”

“Female model, move to kiss the male model’s cheek.”

“Makeup artist, come here, not enough ice in the male model’s hair, add more.”

It was chaos.

An older woman in front sighed continuously: “Isn’t this just torturing people? Just in the time I’ve been watching, they’ve poured several bottles of water on this child. Such a good-looking boy, in such cold weather – if he gets sick, won’t his family be heartbroken?”

Others agreed: “Exactly, these people are too cruel, look, the boy’s lips are turning purple from the cold.”

Some mocked: “What’s there to feel sorry about? He’s making money, he’s willing!”

The voices in front were chaotic, making A-Heng frown.

Chen Juan, being tall, could see clearly. After a while, he turned back awkwardly: “A-Heng, am I seeing things? Why does that person covered in ice crystals and barely breathing look like our beauty?”

A-Heng’s head was buzzing as she pushed through the crowd. There, against the backdrop of ice and snow, stood a person whose skin was pale and transparent to the extreme, with even blue veins almost clearly visible. His hair, eyes, clothes, and fingers were all covered in ice, so pale they had lost all color, like an ice sculpture.

Black hair and bright eyes, increasingly clear and striking in the ice and snow.

She stood there, quietly watching him.

He turned and saw her, his gaze fixed.

He smiled slightly, his lips curving up with the warmth of a child seeing sunlight, silently mouthing: “A-Heng, go, don’t watch me.”