For The Rest Of Our Life – Chapter 46

Lin Xian, if you were born a little earlier

The night was cool like water. In the small mountain village, there wasn’t much entertainment. Once night fell, except for the occasional barking of dogs, it was silent all around.

After Xia Zhijin had dinner with her grandmother and younger sister, she accompanied her grandmother, watched some television, and had a conversation. After seeing her grandmother take her medicine and fall asleep, she stepped out of the house. Alone in the open space in front of the low house, she wearily sat on the wooden chair where her grandmother often sat, tilting her head back and gazing absentmindedly at the night sky, her eyes filled with deep thoughts…

Echoing in her ears, it seemed that her mother’s words repeated over and over again. Before her mother passed away, she had admonished her by her sickbed, saying, “Zhijin, as human beings, we should repay kindness. In the future, you must repay Aunt Shi properly.”

But, mother, you didn’t tell me back then that money is easily repaid, but kindness is hard to repay. Do emotional debts also require emotional repayment?

She didn’t know how much time had passed when suddenly footsteps approached. Then, a small stool was placed beside her. Her younger sister, Xia Zhiqi, sat down on the stool and grinned at her.

Xia Zhijin pursed her lips and forced a faint smile, speaking softly as if nothing was amiss, “Did you finish your homework?”

Xia Zhiqi nodded, “Yes, I finished it and even did some previewing.” She paused for a moment, hesitating with unspoken words. “Sis, you…”

Xia Zhijin glanced at her, puzzled. “Yes?”

Xia Zhiqi licked her lips and gently held Xia Zhijin’s hand, her face showing obvious concern. She spoke warmly, “Sis, do you… have something on your mind?” Although Xia Zhijin had explained that she came back this time during a non-holiday period because of the school sports meet, Xia Zhiqi could tell that Xia Zhijin had something weighing on her mind. Her brows and eyes were filled with exhaustion. Her sister was never one to talk much, but this time, she barely said a few words all day.

She rested her head on Xia Zhijin’s shoulder, her voice carrying a hint of youthful innocence. “Sis, don’t work so many jobs every month and send back so much money. Grandma and I don’t need that much at home. Grandma just saves it all up. You should keep it for yourself. I’ve thought about it. When I get into a high school in the city, we can rent a house and bring Grandma over to live with us. During our free time, I can also do part-time jobs like you to cover our tuition and living expenses. Sis, when I grow up, I will work hard to earn a lot of money and repay Aunt Shi’s kindness. Don’t bear such a heavy burden alone and take everything upon yourself, okay?”

Xia Zhijin gently rubbed her forehead against Xia Zhiqi’s, feeling both heartache and comforted by her maturity. “You’re still young, don’t think about these things like tuition and living expenses. It’s not something you should worry about.” She paused, thinking about the check hidden under the ledger she had kept for years, pressed beneath the Shi family’s belongings. She clenched her teeth and took a deep breath before asking her sister, “Zhiqi, do you want… to live in the city with Grandma earlier?”

“I don’t want to.” The girl answered without hesitation. She didn’t know what came to her mind, but her tone was surprisingly transparent and mature for her age. “Sis, it doesn’t matter where we live. It’s about what kind of abilities we have and what kind of life we lead. I just want you to live a little more freely and lightly. If Mom were still here, she would have wished the same.”

Xia Zhijin gently pressed her forehead against Xia Zhiqi’s, closing her eyes and murmuring, “Zhiqi, thank you.” She whispered, “In a couple of years, when I’ve repaid Aunt Shi’s debt, let’s live our lives easily and freely, okay?”

“Okay,” the girl happily replied. She didn’t see the tear that quietly slipped from the corner of Xia Zhijin’s eye, disappearing into the night.

The salon held by Xiao Wanqing Literary Magazine two days before Christmas was a great success, despite the last-minute change of the guest speaker. Thanks to Wen Tong’s support, it received a positive response.

After the salon ended, Xiao Wanqing and Wen Tong went downstairs together to the parking lot to retrieve their cars. Xiao Wanqing once again expressed her gratitude to Wen Tong for saving the day, and Wen Tong casually smiled. She took out a stack of business cards from her bag and waved them in front of Xiao Wanqing, saying, “Enough with the politeness. It’s not certain that I should be the one thanking you. I’ve been thinking about changing jobs, and there might not be opportunities for me here.”

Xiao Wanqing was taken aback for a moment and asked, somewhat surprised, “Changing jobs? Did… you encounter a bottleneck in your work recently?” Honestly, the company Wen Tong currently worked for, Xinchao, was considered one of the best platforms in Anjiang City. The benefits and treatment were quite good in the industry. However, one downside was that it was demanding and exhausting, with complex interpersonal relationships.

Xiao Wanqing herself had initially started her career at Xinchao when she had just graduated. However, she couldn’t accept the intense socializing and the complex interpersonal environment where there was no respite. Eventually, she chose to resign and joined the magazine she currently worked for, which offered relatively lower salary and development prospects but a more relaxed environment.

But Wen Tong was different. She had adapted well to Xinchao. In fact, from a certain perspective, Wen Tong and Xiao Wanqing were completely different people. Wen Tong didn’t have great ambitions or many thoughts about her work. She valued a comfortable and stable life more than career development and social status. On the other hand, Wen Tong had clear plans and goals for her work. She was willing to sacrifice some aspects of her life for a promising job. Wen Tong had always believed in the potential of Xinchao and was the only one among their cohort who had persevered since graduation, gradually climbing the difficult ladder to her current position.

And now, she was saying that she wanted to leave. Xiao Wanqing couldn’t help but feel a bit lost and confused.

Wen Tong leisurely walked in her high heels, slightly hooked her red lips, and casually said, “Yeah, Xinchao doesn’t offer me any further opportunities for promotion. It’s time for me to consider getting closer to my life goals.” She turned her head, glanced at Xiao Wanqing, and smiled lightly. “But let’s not talk about that. Do you have any plans for Christmas Eve? Shall we have a meal together?”

“Is that your way of making up for tonight?” Xiao Wanqing joked, gathering her thoughts.

“Not really,” Wen Tong replied discontentedly, casting a displeased glance at Xiao Wanqing. “Can’t I invite you to have a meal without any compensation? Do I need compensation just to make plans with you? Busy woman, Xiao.”

Xiao Wanqing thought of Lin Xian and couldn’t help but arch her eyebrows, then answered Wen Tong, “Indeed. I have plans tomorrow evening, so let’s do it another day.”

Wen Tong’s expression changed slightly, and her gaze suddenly sharpened. “Who is it?”

“Xianxian…” Xiao Wanqing said absentmindedly.

“Oh, Xianxian…” Wen Tong immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She relaxed her eyebrows and generously said, “Alright then, I won’t compete with the little one for auntie’s time. Let me check for other available dates. Let’s plan for New Year’s Eve. We can go to the Wanquan Villa in the outskirts and soak in a hot spring. I heard there will also be a fireworks display.” Anticipating that Xiao Wanqing would likely refuse, she added without a doubt, “Consider it compensation!”

Xiao Wanqing’s initial response of “I won’t go” was stifled on her tongue. After a moment of silence, she furrowed her brows and reluctantly agreed, “Fine.”

Wen Tong, upon hearing this, contentedly softened her gaze. Unable to resist, she gently poked Xiao Wanqing’s cheek with her hand and mischievously said, “The way you’re unwilling yet can’t do anything about it, I haven’t seen that in a long time. It brings back some memories.”

Helpless, Xiao Wanqing glared sideways at Wen Tong, let out a soft snort, and without looking back, walked straight ahead, saying, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go ahead. Xianxian is waiting for me at home.”

Wen Tong stood in place, watching Xiao Wanqing’s departing figure without any attachment. Within her deep and profound eyes, there was a mixture of tender affection and faint sorrow. After a moment, she slowly followed behind, murmuring to herself indulgently, “Always like this, grinding the donkey after it has finished its work…”

On the drive back, Xiao Wanqing couldn’t help but think about what Wen Tong had just mentioned—the idea of leaving Xinchao.

So, even the last person who held on was going to leave?

She gazed out the car window at the bustling traffic, a bitter smile of melancholy lingering on her lips.

Back then, the three of them had joined Xinchao together with the recommendation of their mentor. The night before they started working, they had gathered in the bare apartment rented by Wen Tong, toasting, discussing the future. The scene seemed vividly clear in her mind.

At that time, Wen Tong said her life’s ideal was to conquer the workplace, accumulate experience and connections, and eventually start her own magazine. She joked that her family had been farmers for generations and it was up to her to turn their fortunes around.

Yan Jia said her life’s ideal was to work hard and earn a lot of money, to support them in walking their own paths without interference. After retirement, she wanted to travel the world with Xiao Wanqing and see this lively world.

She smiled and said her life’s ideal was the same as Yan Jia’s.

Yan Jia happily kissed her cheek, and Wen Tong disdainfully made a slight “tch” sound, as if expressing the anger of being a single dog, and declared, “Let’s see who achieves it first in fifteen years!”

In the blink of an eye, so many years had already passed…

Unfortunately, before the fifteen years were up, only Wen Tong remained, unwavering in her original intentions…

And as for her beginning and her end?

Ah…

When Xiao Wanqing returned home and opened the door, she found that the living room was not the familiar pitch-black darkness she had known for years. There was a dim yellow light, refracting layer upon layer, shining through.

Lin Xian had left a light for her.

Xiao Wanqing’s heart warmed as she sat down, changed her shoes, and took a few steps inside. Then, Lin Xian came into her view, wearing cotton slippers and a short-sleeved pajama set, pattering happily towards her. She raised an eyebrow and greeted her, “Aunt Xiao, you’re back? How was the salon?”

She looked like she had just crawled out of bed, with slightly tousled hair and a cute, dazed expression. Xiao Wanqing gazed at her, her eyes softening. She relaxed her shoulders and swiftly took off her coat, draping it over Lin Xian’s slender shoulders. She gently pulled her closer and scolded, “You never listen, running out without wearing a coat.”

Though her words sounded like a reprimand, her tone was full of tender indulgence. Lin Xian looked into Xiao Wanqing’s smiling eyes, feeling the warmth radiating from her, gradually seeping into her own body. Her heart couldn’t help but soften.

Xiao Wanqing met her gaze, seemingly charmed by her watery, big eyes, and couldn’t resist lightly flicking her nose. Then, she turned around and grabbed a cup from the counter, walking towards the water dispenser. As she filled the cup, she answered Lin Xian, “The salon was very successful. Your Aunt Wen helped a lot.”

With that said, she finished filling the cup and casually unbuttoned the second button of her shirt, revealing her slender and graceful neck, along with a small patch of fair, subtly alluring… cleavage.

Lin Xian sat down on the back of the sofa, her gaze following Xiao Wanqing’s movements. She bit her lip and absentmindedly clutched the coat draped over her, still carrying Xiao Wanqing’s fragrance, mingling with her own scent. Her throat bobbed, and involuntarily, she swallowed.

Xiao Wanqing remained oblivious. With one hand casually holding the cup, and the other elbow resting on the counter, she leaned against it, quietly sipping her water, wearing a pensive expression.

After a while, she suddenly raised her eyes and looked at Lin Xian, whispering, “Xianxian, have you ever thought about what your ideal life would be like?”

Lin Xian was currently captivated by Xiao Wanqing’s rare combination of handsomeness and sexiness. Her heart pounded like a drum, caught off guard by Xiao Wanqing’s question, she froze for a moment. She sat up straight, collected herself, and replied calmly, “I don’t know if it counts as thinking about it. Actually, although I chose to study finance, I’m not particularly fond of it. It’s just that my parents thought this profession had better prospects, and I thought so too, so I followed their advice.” She paused, tilted her head, and continued, “In my envisioned life, I would probably work hard and save enough money before the age of forty to ensure a carefree life for my parents. After forty, I would retire early, settle down in a remote and tranquil small town, and live a simpler and quieter life—taking walks, walking the dog, writing little stories I want to write, and enjoying my remaining years.”

She never told anyone else about her thoughts. When she mentioned it to Zhou Qin before, Zhou Qin laughed, saying she was still young, too idealistic. After the age of forty, when you have a family and responsibilities, how could she withdraw from the world? Yan Yuhan also laughed at her, saying that everyone has similar desires, but did she really think she could retire at forty?

But she knew that Xiao Wanqing wouldn’t make fun of her.

In this world, there are people who are knowledgeable about the ways of the world yet remain unaffected by them. That’s how Lin Xian described Xiao Wanqing after pondering for a long time.

She always felt that Aunt Xiao had a touch of pure idealism in her—she could pursue her dreams with sincerity.

She pursed her lips and asked Xiao Wanqing with an intense gaze, “Aunt Xiao, what about you?”

Xiao Wanqing looked into her eyes, as if there were gentle ripples of tenderness shimmering within, with a hint of an expression Lin Xian couldn’t comprehend. After a while, she pondered and replied, “I’m the same as you…”

Actually, Yan Jia’s dream was not her own dream. Because Yan Jia enjoyed liveliness, she was willing to embrace Yan Jia’s dream as her own.

But that wasn’t her ideal life.

She set down her cup and walked up to Lin Xian, gently rubbing her soft and fluffy black hair, whispering softly, “Lin Xian, if you were born a little earlier, after retiring, maybe we could have been great neighbors.” Her tone carried a mix of joy and regret.

Lin Xian pouted and mumbled, “I can do it now too.”

However, Xiao Wanqing simply smiled faintly and remained silent.

LP: Idealistic dreams are near impossible to come true…

On another note, I’m currently trying a new Adsense feature which fine-tunes how many “auto ads” are being displayed. I set it at the lowest settings which 5, but if the ads are a bother, please let me know and I’ll disable the feature~