Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 40

by Little Panda

Past Events

Your name is Wei Nuan.

Wei Changyuan spent half his life searching for a heart transplant, repeatedly given hope and then disappointed. Just when he was about to give up, the Cheng family brought news that they had found someone – the tissue typing was done, blood type matched, cardiac compatibility matched, all data aligned. It was the perfect donor. The entire Cheng family and Wei Changyuan were overjoyed. Even Wei Hui, who was abroad, received a call from Wei Changyuan telling her to return quickly as he had wonderful news to share.

Everyone was immersed in happiness, forgetting one crucial thing.

This was a living person, a young one at that, waiting for transplant after death – timing unknown. Someone suggested taking drastic measures, but Wei Changyuan disagreed. He had a long private conversation with the man, and they emerged one after another. No one knew what they discussed, nor whether the man agreed willingly or was coerced. Nevertheless, within days, the man had a car accident and was critically injured. The heart transplant surgery proceeded, coinciding with Wei Hui’s return. She rushed from the airport to the hospital, waited outside for a day and night, only to learn that Wei Changyuan didn’t survive the surgery.

Wei Hui had returned with joy in her heart, only to be doused with cold water from head to toe, chilled to the bone, trembling!

Later, after taking over Wei Tian, she found a videotape and a separate will, finally learning the truth.

The man was a gambler who had accumulated substantial debts in his youth. His wife was driven to suicide by loan sharks, and he, not wanting to live anymore, attempted to take his own life along with his newborn child. After being rescued, he sent the child to a welfare center and wandered alone, hiding for several years until the Cheng family found him. He had already become indifferent to his own life, but his child remained his only concern. Therefore, he agreed to Wei Changyuan’s surgery proposal with one condition: Wei Changyuan must adopt his child. Even if Wei Changyuan didn’t survive the surgery, his family would have to take in the child as a member of the Wei family. They signed a contract and made handprints. Wei Changyuan, though honest all his life, uniquely chose the wrong method in this matter – his desperate desire to live led him to extreme measures.

That man’s car accident certainly had connections to her father, and while Wei Hui resented his methods, she was helpless. Following the will’s instructions, she ordered Pei Tian and the Cheng family to search for the child, but the welfare center informed them the child had been adopted. Years later, when she finally located the adoptive family, she learned they had all perished in a travel accident. She gave up the search then, never imagining that child would turn out to be Shiyi.

“I didn’t expect it either,” said Su Ziyan. “That day after her examination, seeing her rare blood type, I had a feeling.”

However, he didn’t immediately tell Wei Hui, but rather repeatedly verified the findings before sharing the results. Seeing Wei Hui’s silence, Su Ziyan continued: “Shiyi was indeed adopted, but within half a year, she was taken by human traffickers. Fortunately, she later met a servant who treated her well.”

That must be the grandmother Shiyi spoke of.

Wei Hui’s heart contracted painfully, her face deathly pale. The cup lay fallen on the ground, water spreading to her feet in winding patterns, the gleaming puddle reflecting her disheveled image.

“How can it be her?” Wei Hui closed her eyes briefly. “Why did it have to be her?”

Su Ziyan lowered his eyes, knowing Wei Hui must be suffering. He stood up, walked to her side, picked up the cup, and asked: “How do you plan to settle Shiyi?”

Wei Hui’s face was white as paper, showing no trace of her usual composure. She took two deep breaths. According to the will, she should bring Shiyi into the Wei family now, but— she gritted her teeth: “Let me think about it. You can go now.”

Su Ziyan patted her shoulder: “Contact me directly if you need anything. Don’t bear it alone.”

Wei Hui wanted to decline, but with Shiyi’s matter, she might really need Su Ziyan’s help. She nodded: “I will.”

After Su Ziyan left, Wei Hui leaned back in the sofa chair. She closed her eyes, seeing darkness that gradually gave way to light, revealing Shiyi’s bright eyes, her smiling features, and clear voice: “Third Miss.”

Her heart twinged, hands clenching. This child – if she had found her earlier, would she have suffered so much?

She should have enjoyed a life of wealth, even if bought with her father’s life – it was what she deserved! What the Wei family owed her! But she hadn’t found her, hadn’t found her earlier, letting her endure such hardships. Wei Hui coughed dully, an unnatural flush appearing on her pale face. She took several deep breaths. The office door was knocked, and Pei Tian stood respectfully at the entrance: “President Wei, Vice President Luo is here to see you.”

Wei Hui composed her complicated thoughts, went to the bathroom, and only emerged after washing up and applying light makeup. Luo Zhouping was already seated on the office sofa. Pei Tian looked at her, and she asked: “Does Vice President Luo have business?”

Luo Zhouping smiled: “Not really. I just ran into Doctor Su, and I was worried something might be wrong with President Wei.”

Wei Hui met his sharp gaze with a natural smile: “I’m fine.”

Luo Zhouping narrowed his eyes, as if trying to see through the disguise beneath her light makeup. His piercing eyes coiled around Wei Hui like a venomous snake’s tongue. She looked up at Pei Tian: “Bring two cups of coffee.”

Pei Tian responded: “Yes.”

When the coffee was brought in, Luo Zhouping was discussing year-end shareholder dividends. Wei Hui frowned deeply, her profile against the sunlight showing an unnatural pallor. Pei Tian noticed her tightly clenched hands, veins prominent on the back – she was forcing herself to endure.

“President Wei, the video conference starts in five minutes. Would you like to verify the materials one more time?” Pei Tian stood behind her, asking with lowered head. Wei Hui nodded along with his words: “Alright, please see Vice President Luo out first.”

Pei Tian maintained a respectful demeanor: “Vice President Luo, please.”

Luo Zhouping’s eyes remained narrowed, appearing completely at ease. After a moment, he smiled: “Since President Wei is busy, I’ll take my leave.”

As soon as Pei Tian led Luo Zhouping out and closed the door, Wei Hui couldn’t help pressing her chest. Fine, scattered pains shot from her heart into her nerves, unlike her usual attacks – it felt more like heartache.

Thinking of Shiyi, she couldn’t help but ache.

Why did it have to be her?

If only she had been more careful back then, if only she had paid more attention to this matter, if only she had noticed something was wrong, if only—

Would Shiyi have avoided so much suffering?

The fault was hers.

Wei Hui leaned back on the sofa, closing her eyes, hearing Shiyi’s clear voice in her ears: “I don’t have a name. Grandmother said she brought me home on the eleventh month, so I’m called Shiyi.”

“Third Miss, if I leave, will you catch me and beat me?”

“Third Miss, please let me be a servant. I can do anything, I can learn anything, I’ll do everything well, I’m not afraid of hardship.”

“Third Miss, I don’t have a habit of stealing.”

Word by word, sentence by sentence, each stabbed like an awl into Wei Hui’s chest, making her face pale and eyes slightly red. This child who should have enjoyed everything, because of her carelessness, because of her irresponsibility, had wandered outside for so many years, and she had even thought of using her to bear a child.

What absurd things was she doing?

Absurd, utterly absurd!

The entire office was silent. Wei Hui leaned on the sofa for a long while before standing up and calling Pei Tian: “Prepare the car.”

Shiyi was at home receiving guests – one person and one dog. Du Yueming said with a smile: “Aren’t you very bored staying at home usually?”

She nodded shyly: “It’s alright.”

Du Yueming shook her head and sighed: “If I were you, I couldn’t stand it for even half a minute.”

Shiyi laughed lightly. Shortly after returning, she had received Du Yueming’s call asking where she was. After giving her address, Du Yueming had rushed over with her dog, saying Sisi missed her. When Shiyi asked why she hadn’t gone playing with the secretaries, Du Yueming waved her hand – they weren’t close, what was there to play about? At this moment, Shiyi envied Du Yueming a bit. She handled all relationships with ease; even with unfamiliar people, she could still joke around during team building activities.

This kind of social ability really made Shiyi envious.

Hearing her words, Du Yueming laughed: “Envious of me? Do you know what people say about me outside?”

Shiyi’s eyes widened: “What do they say?”

“Flower butterfly [someone who flirts around].” Du Yueming wasn’t bothered by this nickname at all, instead smiling: “Do you know what it means?”

Shiyi stared with round eyes, instinctively feeling it wasn’t a good term. She shook her head: “I don’t know, and I don’t want to know.”

Hearing this, Du Yueming looked at her, reached out and pinched Shiyi’s cheek hard, laughing heartily: “Shiyi, you’re so understanding, I really want to take you home.”

She was always like this, never serious. Shiyi smiled and played with Sisi, ignoring Du Yueming. When Wei Hui returned home, she saw the two people and dog playing in the back garden. Sunlight fell on Shiyi, making her smile even warmer. Wei Hui stood at a distance as Aunt Liu asked beside her: “Third Miss, should I call the Young Miss over?”

“No need.” Wei Hui shook her head: “Go about your work.”

Aunt Liu looked at her, then at Shiyi, lowered her head in acknowledgment, and turned to leave.

From a distance, Wei Hui watched as Shiyi held food high in her hands. The slightly large dog immediately pounced on her, knocking her to the ground, but instead of grabbing the food, it first licked her cheeks. Shiyi’s clear, pleasant laughter carried across the distance.

This child should have grown up in such an environment, should have lived happily without restraint, enjoyed life, received a good education. All this was bought with her father’s life, what the Wei family owed her, but she hadn’t fulfilled it.

She hadn’t found her in time, letting her taste such bitterness – it was her fault.

Wei Hui heard the bursts of laughter, but the pain in her heart was beyond measure. Standing in the sunlight, her usually straight posture was slightly bent.

After feeding Sisi, Shiyi turned her head by chance and immediately scrambled up from the grass, walking to Wei Hui’s side, biting her lip: “Third Miss, why have you come back?”

This was her home, why shouldn’t she come back?

Shiyi realized she had asked a foolish question and scratched her head, hearing Wei Hui explain quietly: “Nothing at the company, so I came back early. When did Miss Du arrive?”

Du Yueming also walked over with her dog: “I’ve been here for a while, but I’m leaving now. Shiyi, see you later.”

Shiyi was startled: “Weren’t you staying for dinner?”

Du Yueming winked at her: “Better not, I’m afraid I’ll get indigestion.”

Wei Hui listened to their whispers without speaking, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Shiyi – not sharp, not piercing, unprecedentedly gentle. After Du Yueming left with her dog, Shiyi finally looked up boldly at Wei Hui, forcing a smile: “Third Miss, it’s cold outside. Let me accompany you back inside.”

“Shiyi.” Wei Hui’s hands were behind her back as the cold wind whistled past. She said softly: “I’m sorry.”

Shiyi found Wei Hui’s words puzzling. Perhaps the wind was too strong and scattered the sound, or perhaps Wei Hui’s voice was too low, but she couldn’t hear clearly. Shiyi repeated: “What did you say?”

Wei Hui met those bright eyes, her lips moving slightly, but finally lowered her head: “Nothing, let’s go home.”

Shiyi followed closely behind her. Entering the foyer, Wei Hui glanced at the mirror. In it, Shiyi was slightly shorter than herself, with a thin, slender frame, wearing simple athletic clothes. Her hair had just been tousled by the wind outside, clinging to her back and cheeks. Her skin was fair, her eyes bright and spirited, wearing a slight smile.

“Huihui, Father did a foolish thing. If I can survive the surgery, I will atone personally. If not, you must find that child and bring them back to the Wei family.”

“From now on, she will be your sister.”

Wei Hui stood motionless in the foyer, staring at the mirror. Seeing her stop, Shiyi didn’t urge her, just stood foolishly behind her. Wei Hui looked at their reflections for a long time before speaking: “Are you hungry? I’ve asked Aunt Liu to prepare dinner.”

Her voice was gentle, but different from noon, from morning – altogether different. Shiyi didn’t know what was wrong with Wei Hui, using three different attitudes toward her in one day. She was confused and asked directly: “Third Miss, did I do something wrong?”

“Is it about Miss Du? Do you dislike me spending time with her?”

Wei Hui laughed softly: “Shiyi, have you ever thought about how you would live if you found your family?”

Shiyi was stunned. After last night, this was the second time Wei Hui mentioned family. She wouldn’t bring it up without reason, which could only mean— “Are you trying to send me away?”

Was it because she had taken too long to consider, so Wei Hui had grown impatient and wanted to drive her away?

Or had Wei Hui found another suitable girl?

Shiyi imagined that after she left, Wei Hui might bring another girl home, might treat her the same way, might comfort her, talk with her, might hold her hand, teach her how to kiss, might even have children with her.

No—

Shiyi couldn’t accept such imaginings. She shook her head, her heart feeling as if it had been struck hard by a fist, tears welling up in her eyes.

Wei Hui extended her right hand, intending to place it on Shiyi’s shoulder, but halfway there, she curled it back, saying softly: “No, I was just asking. If you found your family, what would you do?”

Shiyi felt a lump in her throat: “I don’t know.”

Wei Hui’s gaze shifted, her expression inscrutable: “Then what if… I were your family?”

Shiyi looked up in surprise, her large eyes still filled with tears, the corners red, her nose sniffling: “What did you say?”

Wei Hui pressed her lips together: “I’m just hypothesizing.”

Shiyi thought for a moment, walked to Wei Hui’s side, and embraced her. Being petite, she wasn’t as tall as Wei Hui, making the posture more like throwing herself into her arms. The soft fragrance, like precious jade – Shiyi’s heart softened incredibly. Holding Wei Hui, head buried in her embrace, she said: “If… I want to hug you.”

She used Wei Hui’s hypothesis to do what she wanted, keeping her head down, afraid Wei Hui would see through her, not meeting her eyes.

Wei Hui didn’t push her away, didn’t scold her, had no other reaction. She simply allowed Shiyi to hold her like this. After a long while, she raised her hand and patted Shiyi’s shoulder: “Dinner should be ready. Let’s eat.”

Shiyi had a million questions in her heart, but after releasing Wei Hui, she dared not ask any of them. She feared that one extra word would make Wei Hui send her away. She guarded her small and fragile feelings, restraining her actions, not daring to be too bold, only able to be cautious.

Wei Hui, unlike before, didn’t keenly see through her – or rather, now she didn’t want to see through Shiyi. Those barely hidden little gestures, the shows of affection, the concealed emotions – how could she not notice? She had come back and asked Pei Tian to find Shiyi’s family, not just because she had developed feelings, but also because of Shiyi – this child had developed feelings for her.

That’s why she wanted to send Shiyi away, but things were unpredictable.

The two sat at the dining table as Aunt Liu served several dishes, saying: “Look how thin you both are. You haven’t been eating well. Eat properly tonight.”

Shiyi smiled at Aunt Liu: “Thank you.”

Wei Hui lifted her eyelids to see her gentle smiling profile, blinked, and lowered her head to eat.

After dinner, Wei Hui didn’t go upstairs or to the study, but sat on the sofa. When Shiyi came out from the dining room, she heard her say: “Shall we take a walk?”

Shiyi’s heart instantly tightened again. She quietly replied: “Alright.”

The night had turned cold, with rustling wind blowing against their faces. Shiyi couldn’t help sneezing twice, then embarrassedly rubbed her nose, pretending to look down, seeing their shadows stretched long by the streetlights.

“I’ll be very busy next week,” Wei Hui spoke first. “The abandoned building project needs to start construction, I must oversee it personally. The company also has many year-end matters requiring my attention.”

Shiyi didn’t understand why she suddenly said this, staring wide-eyed: “Third Miss.”

“So I won’t have much time to accompany you.” More a statement than explanation – Wei Hui had never reported her whereabouts to anyone before and felt quite unaccustomed. Fortunately, the night was dark, hiding her expression in the inky blackness.

“I’ve arranged teachers for you. Starting tomorrow, you’ll have private lessons.”

Shiyi was completely confused: “Lessons?”

Wei Hui nodded: “Monday, Wednesday, Friday for academic subjects; Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday for etiquette. You can rest one day on weekends, but I hope you can keep up with the teachers’ pace quickly.”

Shiyi still hadn’t understood: “I’m going to start studying?”

Wei Hui nodded solemnly: “Yes, you’re going to start studying.”

Shiyi frowned: “Why?”

Wei Hui said softly: “Don’t you want to become better?”

Shiyi was silent for several seconds. Of course she wanted to become better, wanted to be worthy of Wei Hui, wanted to stand beside her, wanted to not just feel dizzy looking at those figures but to help handle them. She had imagined all this – how did Third Miss know?

Seeing her reaction, Wei Hui continued: “I’ve thought about it. Rather than giving you ten million later, it’s better to start teaching you now how to enter society. What do you think?”

Shiyi certainly thought it was good, but everything was too strange – Wei Hui’s words these two days, her actions, that hypothesis when she just returned. Shiyi was confused and asked: “Can I know why?”

“Of course.” Wei Hui lowered her eyes, darkness in their depths: “I’ve thought it through. My child – I won’t be able to accompany their growth for long. So I hope you will. Most importantly, my child’s mother can’t be without a name, so tomorrow I’ll register a new name for you. Is that alright?”

So that’s what it was, but— “New, new name?”

Wei Hui raised her eyes, her gaze profound: “Yes. Since you’re now in the Wei family, you should take my surname. The eleventh month is early spring, when cold retreats and warmth first appears, so let’s call you Wei Nuan [wèi nuǎn, meaning ‘warm’].”

Shiyi stammered: “Ah?”

Wei Hui tilted her head to look at her: “Is that alright?”

Shiyi was almost lost in the twists and turns. Wei Hui spoke too fast for her to process, so she could only agree: “Y-yes.”

Wei Hui sighed in relief, loosening her hands behind her back: “One more thing – I want you to learn everything the teachers teach. I’ve thought about it; I have ten years at most. I hope you can learn as much as possible in these years. After I’m gone, before the child comes of age, you’ll temporarily manage the company. I’ll give you additional compensation then.”

Shiyi’s heart jumped when she heard “ten years at most”: “Third Miss.”

Wei Hui’s gaze was calm: “Any other questions? If not, tomorrow I’ll have Pei Tian draft a contract for you to sign.”

Shiyi’s mind was in chaos, like a tangled ball of thread inside. She couldn’t sort it out. Third Miss wanted to give her a new name because a child’s mother couldn’t be nameless, wanted her to study to educate the child – everything was because of that arrangement. It seemed there weren’t any problems, but Shiyi felt strange, very strange. She had an odd feeling in her heart but couldn’t express it. She was really so stupid, stupid enough to cry. Wei Hui said in a gentle voice: “If there’s nothing else, go rest first. I’ll sit here a while longer.”

“Oh.” Shiyi responded numbly, walking away dejectedly for several steps. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, a bold thought rushing through her mind. She immediately ran back to Wei Hui’s side, looking at her urgently, asking quickly: “Th-Third Miss, I have a question.”

Wei Hui sat on the bench, turning her head. The streetlight dimly illuminated half her face, the other half hidden in darkness, her tone normal: “What question?”

“I, I, I…” Shiyi gritted her teeth: “Do I have a blood relationship with you?”

Wei Hui choked on the wind, having expected her words might have some ambiguity, but hadn’t thought Shiyi would misunderstand like this. She laughed lightly, her expression gentle in the lamplight: “Of course not.”

Of course not.

Shiyi’s wildly racing heart suddenly calmed, leaving only a dense, spreading pain.

They had no other relationship. All of Third Miss’s proposals just now were centered around the child. Why did she explain everything so clearly? Was it because – her time actually wasn’t as long as ten years?

Shiyi thought of this and said firmly: “Then I have one last question.”

Wei Hui smiled: “What question?”

Shiyi met her obscure eyes, so deep one couldn’t see the bottom. She held back the original question on the tip of her tongue and asked instead: “Can I hug you again?”

Wei Hui blinked, pondered for a few seconds, then opened her arms: “Of course.”

Shiyi closed her eyes and fell into her embrace. The two sat on the bench, Shiyi completely buried in Wei Hui’s arms. The familiar fragrance filled her nose. Her body trembled slightly as she slowly raised her head from Wei Hui’s embrace, chin resting on Wei Hui’s shoulder, turning her head, nose against Wei Hui’s slender neck. The cold air was desolate but couldn’t disperse this intimate moment. With all the courage of her life, Shiyi bit Wei Hui’s neck, her tongue tracing the contours of her skin. Wei Hui instantly tensed, forgetting to react.

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