Zhao Chun stood outside the yard for a long ti. The heavy snow, like goose feathers, poured down on him like raindrops, piling atop his body.
"Achoo—" Feeling chilled to the bone, he raised his hand to rub his itchy nose and shook off the snow clinging to him.
Tian Sangsang stood at the doorway, her pregnant belly obvious: "Why don’t you co in? You’re about to turn into a snowman."
And wasn’t he just that—a snowman. Snow covered his hair, his face, his shoulders, his coat, his pants, and even his shoes.
She was dressed in a snow-white turtleneck sweater, a roomy white down jacket. She looked like a snowball herself.
It was precisely this stark whiteness that set off her vivid allure—the jet-black short hair, striking and captivating.
Zhao Chun lowered his head briefly. When he raised it again, his gaze was calm and shallow.
Inside the house, he behaved as usual, taking a seat on the sofa to warm himself by the fire.
The record player spun slowly, playing a piece of instruntal music from Russia.
ng Shuyan curled up on the opposite end of the sofa, half-asleep. Her small fra cocooned under the blanket like a fluffy puppy, only lacking a wagging tail.
"Sangsang." Zhao Chun suddenly reached into the pocket of his coat.
Tian Sangsang took a sip of steaming tea, her peach-shaped eyes flickering: "Hm?"
Zhao Chun extended the item he retrieved from his pocket forward: "This is the wedding invitation Hua Jun sent you."
He thought about it—he couldn’t justify keeping the invitation from her. Claiming it was for her own good without her consent wasn’t sothing he could permit himself to do, not as a friend. Everyone, he believed, had the right to know. He had no authority to make decisions for her.
Although, deep inside, he hadn’t wanted to give the invitation to her.
Pffft!
Tian Sangsang nearly spat her tea onto the invitation.
Zhao Chun startled: "Careful! Drink your tea slowly."
Tian Sangsang looked helpless: "I was just surprised."
She set down her teacup, then cautiously accepted the invitation and flipped it open: "Hua Jun, of all people—a spinster nun—is getting married? But why send an invitation? What kind of man could make her... wait, eh!"
She froze, blinking hard.
She stared at the text on the invitation, her gaze growing deep and unfathomable.
Ye Jiang & Hua Jun
Ye Jiang. That na buried in the depths of mory surfaced abruptly.
"Ye Jiang?" Tian Sangsang lifted her eyes helplessly to Zhao Chun: "Is this na just a coincidence?"
Zhao Chun’s lips moved slightly, unsure of what to say. He didn’t know anyone nad Ye Jiang—could the na hold so hidden aning? But seeing him today, there did seem to be sothing unusual.
"I used to know soone nad Ye Jiang." She smiled bitterly, her eyes glistening: "No, that’s not right—it’s her who knew him, not . The truth is, I don’t know Ye Jiang."
Her mix of tears and laughter left Zhao Chun at a loss, his heart aching: "Are you okay?"
Tian Sangsang abruptly stood up: "I feel like going out for a bit."
"Huh?" Zhao Chun hurried to block her way: "It’s snowing heavily today. The streets are hard to navigate. Better not go."
"It is snowing heavily." Her gaze drifted to the scene outside as she muttered to herself: "How long has this snow been falling?"
"Which ans, when they get married, the weather will be nice. In that case, I’ll go out in a few days." She picked up the teacup on the table again, the surface of the tea trembling gently.
It was only then Zhao Chun noticed—her hand was trembling. Silently, he steadied her wrist through the sleeve of her clothing.
Touching her hand was sothing he would never dare. Even though he visited her ho frequently and occasional contact was inevitable, the most daring acts he had ever done were touching the swell of her unborn child and borrowing her shoulder for support.
**
Jin Zhi returned to work a few days ago, after the holiday break for the New Year.
Several shops along the streets had gradually reopened.
With the heavy snow of late, there were fewer custors, which allowed Jin Zhi more downti.
But not none at all.
"Jin Zhi, has your boss Tian co in yet?"
Jin Zhi smiled politely at the custor: "The boss is at ho on maternity leave. She’s about to give birth, so she can’t make it."
"Oh, I almost forgot!" The custor had evidently heard snippets about Tian Sangsang’s situation, expressing sympathy imdiately: "Poor child, born into this world without a father."
Jin Zhi refrained from saying too much, sharing the sa sense of pity in her heart.
"Still, with soone like your boss, she’d surely have no trouble remarrying. Her young friend seems quite remarkable—he treats her exceptionally well. Good n like that are rare—taking care of soone else’s child as if it were his own."
Jin Zhi’s smile faltered a bit: "Mr. Zhao is rely a friend of our boss."
The woman shook her head knowingly: "Have you ever been in a relationship, Jin Zhi? Friends don’t go to that extent."
Jin Zhi drifted into her thoughts, handling rchandise alone after the custor left.
The sound of approaching footsteps reached her from outside. When Jin Zhi looked up, her eyes lit up: "Mr. Zhao."
She retrieved the ledger she had tidied up from the counter.
On occasion, Zhao Chun would stop by the shop to help Tian Sangsang with the accounts.
Lately, she hadn’t been in good spirits, so he didn’t dare linger outside long. He took the ledger and prepared to leave.
"Mr. Zhao, let pour you a cup of tea to warm up a bit," Jin Zhi offered.
"Thanks, but no need." Zhao Chun waved her off with a grin: "I need to hurry back."
Jin Zhi uh-ed softly at the door. He had already disappeared down the foggy street; only his retreating silhouette remained visible.
**
The Jiang Family wasn’t the only ones to receive an invitation—so had Zhao Chun and Tian Sangsang.
"What kind of situation is this?" Ye Binyi covered her face as she sobbed: "Isn’t that just Jinghuai? Pretending not to know us, changing his na to Ye Jiang, and now suddenly getting married."
The Jiang father was just as distressed, sinking into the sofa to brood. The more he thought, the more his head ached.
"Sangsang should be due soon, right? For heaven’s sake, don’t go bringing this up to her—she might not take it well. What Jinghuai’s doing is just wrong—one shock after another."
Ye Binyi rebuked him: "He doesn’t rember anything. Can you really bla him for that?"
Defending her son, she sighed afterward. At that mont, she found herself unable to scold Tian Sangsang anymore. Standing as a woman herself, she couldn’t escape the feeling that her son had indeed acted unfairly. Maybe circumstances had changed—what once made her think of Tian Sangsang as a seductress now filled her with mixed emotions.
"Back then, you were always fond of him being with Hua Jun. Now it’s really happened," Jiang father lanted, pulling her closer: "Stop crying now—you’re not made of steel."
Ye Binyi’s mouth opened, a breath caught in her chest. "How could it be the sa?"
She couldn’t have known her one wish got plucked by fate, only to co true. Back then, her son was hers; now her son was on the verge of becoming soone else’s. Soone else’s son, soone else’s grandson—and she had gained nothing.
"Which is why I said don’t tell Sangsang."
"Pay closer attention to the situation on her side. Don’t you still want a grandchild?"
"Am I supposed to be one of those wicked mother-in-laws?" Ye Binyi scowled: "She carries our family’s blood—no matter what, she’s still one of us. That’s not going to change."
Jiang father: "..."
Cautiously, he sought her opinion: "Should we attend the wedding?"
Ye Binyi, exhausted, replied: "Let’s go."
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