No one knew where Chen Qi had gone. So people said that a well-known online account was hers, specializing in reporting celebrity gossip. After Chen Qi disappeared, this account also went silent.
Later, Lin Dong ca looking for Su Ronggui, waiting under the Chinese scholartree in front of the newspaper office.
Tu Hengsha had only t Lin Dong once, and that was the ti he fought with Su Ronggui. The only impression left was of Lin Dong as a drunkard. Seeing him again, his appearance had not improved much from that night; his hair had not been cut in a long ti, resembling a pile of dry grass, with a face full of stubble. At a glance, it was a head overgrown with weeds, so obscured that his features were unclear. He was very thin, with a hunched back, wearing clothes that hadn’t been changed for who knows how long, the cuffs marked by greasy stains. Getting closer, there was also an unpleasant sll emanating from him.
Gone was the arrogance of that day; he rely asked Su Ronggui where Chen Qi had gone.
Su Ronggui said, "I don’t know."
"Will she face criminal charges?" Lin Dong asked again.
"I really don’t know. If you’re keen on consulting soone, you could find a lawyer to ask. You should know more than we do," Su Ronggui spoke truthfully. No one knew what Chen Qi had actually done. The sparse information known was passed on by Su Rongxing, and whether his words were true or exaggerated, no one knew. Instead, it was Lin Dong who possibly knew the most.
Lin Dong nodded, stayed silent, and didn’t leave. He lowered his head in front of Su Ronggui. In terms of height, he wasn’t much different from Su Ronggui, but one stood tall and straight, while the other was hunched. The difference in deanor was as stark as cloud and mud.
Tu Hengsha didn’t sympathize with him and pulled on Su Ronggui to leave. Only then did Lin Dong suddenly say, "It wasn’t a big deal, really, so why did she disappear? Taking photos of celebrities’ private lives is one thing, but it’s a willing trade. As for those rich n’s wives, they just wanted her to snap photos of their husbands’ infidelity..."
So, did Lin Dong still think Chen Qi’s disappearance was because of this?
Besides, wasn’t it Lin Dong who originally threatened Chen Qi with this?
Lin Dong suddenly squatted down, utterly dejected. After a while, his shoulders shook, and subdued sobs erged. Only then did Tu Hengsha realize that he was crying.
"I know I’m at fault... but... I said I would change..." Lin Dong sobbed.
Looking at Lin Dong, Tu Hengsha still couldn’t muster a bit of sympathy. How many tis had he displayed this posture in front of Chen Qi?
This ti she truly pulled Su Ronggui away, with Lin Dong’s sobs trailing behind them, "I can’t go on without Chen Qi... I can’t make it..."
Tu Hengsha glanced at him one last ti in the car’s rearview mirror. He remained squatting on the ground, probably still repeating phrases like "can’t go on without Chen Qi"...
After a few bouts of rain and wind, the weather turned colder. Tu Hengsha’s birthday also arrived.
Every year on her birthday, she spent it with Mom.
She often didn’t rember it herself, but Mom always did. She wouldn’t deliberately remind her, but every ti she went ho for her birthday, no matter how late, there would always be a bowl of homade longevity noodles waiting for her, hot with two poached eggs.
Well, eggs were the bane of her life...
Yet she still enjoyed those birthday noodles, enjoyed those two eggs.
This year, Tu Hengsha forgot her birthday again. Opening the window in the morning, she felt the brightness was dazzling; it had unexpectedly snowed lightly at night—a thin layer covered the rooftops and treetops. Unfortunately, the snow on the ground had already been trampled into a wet, dark ss by early risers.
But nonetheless, the first snow always brought a bit of joy.
"It’s cold. Get back early after work if you don’t have anything else!" Shu Hui reminded her as she left.
She agreed, thinking it was just a usual reminder.
Nowadays, Mr. Su was the perfect devoted boyfriend. As long as he wasn’t on a business trip or assignnt, he would pick her up, co rain or shine. If he couldn’t make it, Su Rongyu would take over. She herself felt overly protected...
The workday ended fairly early, leaving on ti. Mr. Su tid his return from outside just right to pick her up and take her ho.
"My mom said since it’s snowing today to co ho early, so I won’t go to the alley to eat," she said as she got into the car.
"Okay." He agreed readily.
Tu Hengsha rembered what day it was only when she saw a staff mber from a cake shop on the street handing out event flyers while wearing a birthday hat at a stoplight.
But Mr. Su didn’t know...
She sneaked a peek at Mr. Su. When the light turned green, the car started moving, and Mr. Su, focused on driving, completely missed her gaze.
Oh well, she couldn’t bla him; she had never ntioned her birthday to him...
"Mr. Su, are you staying for dinner at my place today?" she mumbled to ask him.
"Mm, of course."
Now, whenever he first took her ho after work, he would usually stay for dinner.
She smiled, imdiately feeling happy again. It was enough to have Xiao Xu with her on her birthday; whether he knew or not didn’t matter.
"You seem really happy I’m staying for dinner?" he asked while driving.
"Mm! Happy!" She thought for a mont, then couldn’t help but remind him, "Today is a special day!"
"Yes, very special."
Her heart leaped with joy, "You think it’s special too?" Did Mr. Su know sothing?
"Of course! The first snow of the year."
"..." No point continuing the conversation! Wasn’t the normal routine to ask, "What day is it today?" Her eyes darted around, "Mr. Su, I feel like having cake."
"Okay, I’ll park at the cake shop up ahead and go down to buy you so. Want tea to go with it?" Mr. Su was certainly good-tempered!
"No." She continued to mumble, "Just want cake, a birthday cake with a chocolate plaque saying happy birthday on it."
"Alright, it’s just up ahead. I’ll park and get it," he said as he parked the car, genuinely ready to get out.
"..." Tu Hengsha was shocked. Shouldn’t he ask why she was eating cake if it wasn’t her birthday? She grabbed him, "Forget it, let’s wait until it’s my birthday!"
"Alright!" Again, a prompt "alright," he sat back and continued driving.
"..." She was stunned. At this point, shouldn’t he casually ask, "When is your birthday?" Was Mr. Su low in IQ or EQ?
Holding onto these feelings of dissatisfaction and doubt, they arrived ho.
Shu Hui was busy in the kitchen, with a table already full of dishes.
As soon as Mr. Su entered, he remarked, "Wow, what’s the special occasion today for such a feast?"
Tu Hengsha glared at him and huffed her way into the kitchen.
Shu Hui was cooking noodles, almost done, lifting them with chopsticks into a bowl.
Upon seeing this, Tu Hengsha was stunned, "Mom, what are you cooking? Noodles or worms?"
Shu Hui glared at her, "Why are you raising a fuss? Of course not worms, noodles!"
"These are noodles?" Tu Hengsha covered her eyes; the sight in the pot was unbearable, yet she was expected to eat them! Every bite would feel like biting worms.
"Why wouldn’t they be? Xiao Xu spent the whole afternoon making these longevity noodles for you!" Shu Hui lightly patted her hand.
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