Volume One: First Scroll
Going Home
“Mom, would you mind having another daughter like Lin Yan?”
The curve of Song Yuhang’s lips widened and widened, the affection flowing in her chest almost overflowing.
Her heart pounded wildly, and she actually felt an unreal sensation, as if she were walking on clouds.
She touched her own lips, savoring the words Lin Yan had just spoken, then turned away and pressed her forehead with her hand, barely managing to restrain the urge to jump for joy.
This feeling was too wonderful, more joyous and thrilling than receiving an award for meritorious service.
Lin Yan watched her series of actions, completely devoid of the maturity and composure of a middle-aged person, and chuckled, “What’s wrong with you?”
Song Yuhang suddenly spun around, pressing down on her shoulders. “Lin Yan, I want to…”
Lin Yan covered Song Yuhang’s lips with one hand and pointed to an empty space nearby with the other.
A group of people was walking towards them.
Song Yuhang’s expression changed; she nearly beat her chest and stamped her feet1 in exasperation. With a bang, she slammed the car door shut and strode towards the driver’s seat with a formidable air.
Fang Xin got into the car. “What’s wrong with Captain Song?”
Lin Yan rested her hand on the car window, glancing at her obliquely, a smile playing on her lips. A casual glance from her was full of charm and allure.
“Maybe she’s hungry.”
Song Yuhang: “…”
Zheng Chengrui rubbed his belly. “Actually… I’m a bit hungry too.”
Duan Cheng’s stomach happened to rumble at that moment.
The few of them giggled and laughed.
Song Yuhang rolled down the car window, letting some of the cool night breeze in to disperse the heat. She shook her head, a little helpless, and gave Lin Yan a look that said:
You just wait when we get home.
Lin Yan fearlessly raised an eyebrow: Waiting it is.
Because it was already late and most restaurants were closed, the group ate something simple at a roadside stall.
Lin Yan barely took a few bites before losing interest.
Seeing her listless and sleepy appearance, Song Yuhang knew she was mostly tired. After all, she still had injuries, and she had fought again today. Song Yuhang finished her food in a few quick bites and drove them home.
“Captain Song, just drop me off at the intersection ahead,” Fang Xin said, picking up her bag. Once the car stopped, she got up and pushed open the door.
Song Yuhang rolled down her window to say goodbye to them. “Be careful on your way.”
Fang Xin waved. “Okay, you guys head back early too.”
Once the car was far away, she looked at Duan Cheng standing beside her. “Why did you get out too?”
“My home is around here too.”
Fang Xin took two steps forward, and Duan Cheng followed closely behind her.
“Can’t you walk on that side of this wide road?”
Duan Cheng shook his head, pointing straight ahead. “My house is on this side of the road.”
Fang Xin: “…”
Finally, seeing a Malatang2 stall ahead, Duan Cheng’s eyes lit up, and he grabbed her hand and ran.
“Hey, what are you doing? Men and women shouldn’t touch hands when giving or receiving things3!”
“Are you full yet?” Duan Cheng turned his head, his smile having a certain big-boyish frankness.
Fang Xin nodded, then shook her head.
Duan Cheng ran straight to the Malatang stall. “Well, there you go then! Let’s eat some more. Boss, two bowls of Malatang, medium numbing and medium spicy. One bowl…”
He glanced at Fang Xin and blurted out, “No cilantro, extra vinegar, and two bottles of Beibingyang4.”
“Coming right up!” Soon, two steaming bowls of Malatang were on the table.
Duan Cheng put a straw in the drink bottle and handed it to her, while he drank directly from his bottle.
Fang Xin mixed the seasonings in her bowl. “How did you know I don’t eat cilantro?”
Duan Cheng buried his head, slurping noodles, hiding the fleeting unnaturalness in his eyes. “Well… when we ate in the cafeteria, I saw you pick out the cilantro from your bowl every time.”
Fang Xin’s heart warmed, and a smile appeared on her lips. “Boss, another bottle of Beibingyang. This meal is on me.”
After dropping Zheng Chengrui home, Lin Yan was drowsy and leaned back against the seat. Song Yuhang squeezed her hand and turned up the air conditioning a bit.
“Hang in there a little longer, we’re almost there.”
Lin Yan moved slightly, raising her eyes to see that the view outside the car window wasn’t the road back to the villa.
“Where are we going?”
“My home.”
“…”
Song Yuhang parked the car in the garage and pulled her out. Lin Yan dawdled, shrinking back.
“I’m not going, don’t pull me…”
Song Yuhang half-pulled, half-carried her upstairs. “You haven’t been home in months. The villa isn’t fit to live in, it needs to be cleaned up.”
Lin Yan struggled. The voice-activated light in the hallway suddenly lit up. She lowered her voice, her face slightly red.
“Then I can get a hotel room! What’s the deal with me going home with you this late? Your mom will kill me!”
Song Yuhang laughed, directly carrying her up a flight of stairs. Lin Yan reached out and grabbed the stair railing.
The two were at a stalemate.
“My mom isn’t like your dad, always yelling about fighting and killing, making a fuss about life and death. You’ll know when you meet her.”
“That won’t do either! I’m going to meet her looking like this?!” Lin Yan’s ideal meeting with parents involved being dressed stylishly, with clean and neat makeup, meeting at a high-end restaurant, first exchanging pleasantries like “Hello Uncle, Hello Auntie,” then presenting luxury gifts. Not like now, bare-faced, still wearing a hospital gown underneath, with Song Yuhang’s jacket thrown over it—completely nondescript5.
Lin Yan saw an opening and tried to run downstairs again, but was pulled back. Song Yuhang dragged her upwards, panting slightly.
“What’s wrong with now? I think it’s great. If you really dressed up all bewitchingly, met my mom at a high-end restaurant, and immediately offered luxury clothes and bags, she’d be the one truly scared, okay?”
Lin Yan struggled, and was pulled into an embrace, dragged upwards from behind.
“What ‘bewitchingly’? Do you even know how to talk?!”
“Alright, alright.” Song Yuhang said helplessly, pressing her against the wall and reaching out to ring the doorbell.
“You’re the prettiest, you’re the cutest, you’re the smartest, you’re the wittiest…”
The more she said, the more embarrassing it became.
Lin Yan clamped a hand over her mouth.
The door opened.
Four eyes met.
Lin Yan immediately withdrew her hand, smoothed her hair and clothes a couple of times, and stood obediently beside Song Yuhang, trying hard to make the smile on her face appear more amiable.
“Hello, Auntie.”
“Mom, this is Lin Yan.”
Mother Song sized up Lin Yan from head to toe, then looked at her own daughter’s hand resting on the other’s shoulder. A mysterious smile suddenly appeared on her face, and she warmly welcomed them in.
“Come, come, come in quickly! You must be Lin Ge’s younger sister, you look so much alike! Why are you wearing so little? Aiyo, your hands are so cold! Yuhang, bring the hot water bottle, and get a thick coat for her to put on!”
Lin Yan felt that her face wasn’t frozen stiff tonight, but rather smile-stiff.
How was this not the same style as she had imagined?
In her impression, Song Yuhang had lost her father at a young age, and her brother had passed away soon after. An elder who could support such a family should be as resolute and tenacious as she was, or even stern and unsmiling6, and unreasonable7 like Lin Youyuan.
But although Mother Song had a full head of white hair, wore winter loungewear, and the slippers on her feet weren’t new, even a bit old, and her face was full of wrinkles and lines, her expression was so kind and gentle, and her smile showed no trace of pretense.
Lin Yan’s heart relaxed. “Thank you, please don’t trouble yourself.”
Song Yuhang brought out a blanket, had her take off the jacket and wrap herself in it, and tucked a hot water bottle into her arms.
Mother Song poured her a cup of hot water to warm her hands. Seeing she hadn’t sat down, she pulled her over to sit by the stove.
The Song family didn’t use air conditioning; they still used the most primitive method of heating with a coal stove, with a long chimney leading outside.
The fire was burning brightly, and Mother Song added a few more pieces of coal.
“I saw your brother at the hospital last time. He said you were badly injured. Are you feeling better?”
Lin Yan was still a bit reserved. She was used to speaking casually, cussing “f#ck your mother” every time she opened her mouth. Suddenly being asked to act virtuous and gentle made her uncomfortable all over, restless and fidgety.
Seeing Mother Song hand her water, she quickly stood up, took it with one hand—no, that wasn’t right—so she took it with both hands.
“Much… much better…”
“Aiyo, child, why are you being so polite? Sit, sit quickly! Here, have some oranges, and sunflower seeds, fruit platter, candies, help yourself, help yourself! Yuhang, bring out the osmanthus rice cakes8 your sister brought back from her business trip last time…”
In no time, the coffee table in front of her was magically filled with all sorts of fruits and snacks.
Song Yuhang’s lips twitched: You’re not even this enthusiastic when I come home.
She drawled, “Mom, she’s still a patient, her stomach can’t handle those things—”
Mother Song turned her head, fiercely: “If she can’t eat them now, can’t she take them home to eat?”
Lin Yan held an orange in one hand and a handful of candies in the other, not daring to refuse, her scalp tingling, wanting to cry but having no tears.
“Enough, enough, Auntie, it’s too much…”
Her current meek and submissive9 appearance, like a house cat with its claws retracted, made Song Yuhang unable to help but laugh. She leaned back on the sofa, lowered her head and chuckled, then pretended to be serious when Lin Yan shot her a fierce glare.
“Mom, I’m hungry. Don’t give her any more, she really can’t eat it. Is there anything left in the fridge?” Song Yuhang, having laughed enough, began to help her girlfriend out. She pulled Lin Yan to sit beside her, placed one of the oranges from her hand on the stove to warm, took the candies from her pocket and put them on the fruit platter, leaving only a few in her hand for her to pass the time and satisfy her cravings.
“Aiyo, why didn’t you say so earlier? You haven’t eaten dinner this late? Yanyan hasn’t eaten either, right?”
The hallway light was dim, so she hadn’t looked closely. Only now did she see that Lin Yan didn’t look too well, and was still wearing a hospital gown inside! Mother Song’s maternal love overflowed, and her face immediately filled with heartache.
“I’ll go cook, I’ll go cook. You too, knowing her stomach isn’t well, you still didn’t let her eat dinner so late at night. She just got out of the hospital, right? Just have something light tonight, Auntie will make you something delicious tomorrow.”
Mother Song looked at her sitting there, not as tall as Song Yuhang, thin and small, her chin sharp enough to cut someone, and her face palm-sized. It was a stark contrast to her own daughter, who was still lively and energetic no matter what, tall with long legs, broad shoulders, and arms full of toned muscles.
For a moment, it was a case of “men fall silent, women shed tears10.”
When would Song Yuhang learn from others? Not to be overly delicate, but at least look like a woman!
It really was a case of the more you look at other people’s children, the more you like them, and the more you look at your own, the more exasperating they seem. Plus, with that scene in the hospital corridor the other day, Mother Song felt even more sympathy for this child.
Presumably, this was also why Song Yuhang would bring someone home late at night. Mother Song not only didn’t mind her sudden intrusion but was also very enthusiastic. This made Lin Yan feel even more embarrassed. At the same time, listening to her words, a warmth had been flowing through her chest ever since she entered the door.
So… this is what a normal family is like?
A completely different way of speaking and interacting than Lin Youyuan, and the omnipresent care and love for their children, even extending that love to their daughter’s friends like loving the house and the crow on it11. The last time she had experienced this kind of warmth was from Mother Chen.
Thinking of this, Lin Yan’s eyes warmed. “No need to trouble yourself, Auntie…”
Before she could finish, Song Yuhang half-draped an arm around her mom’s shoulder and went into the kitchen with her, giving Lin Yan a reassuring look, signaling her to sit for a while.
“Mom, let me give you a hand. Something light will be fine,” Song Yuhang said, opening the refrigerator door.
“Go, go, don’t block the way here.” Mother Song pushed her away and took out a handful of scallions from the fridge to wash.
“There’s still some chicken soup left from this afternoon in the fridge. Yes, yes, that soup pot, take it out and heat it up. It can be used as a base for noodles later.”
Mother Song first turned on the stove to boil water, then grumbled while washing vegetables, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier that we’d have a guest today? Mom could have prepared earlier. Now look, everything is leftovers.”
Song Yuhang put the soup pot on the stove as well and smiled. “Mom, she won’t mind.”
Mother Song suddenly sighed while washing vegetables. “Ai, if you ask me, it’s good that you and Lin Ge broke up. His conditions are good, yes, but ultimately, he’s from a wealthy and influential family12—”
Mother Song lowered her voice and told her what she had seen in the hospital corridor that day. The smile on Song Yuhang’s face gradually faded, and she frowned, still feeling some heartache for Lin Yan.
“Look at that, such a nice young girl, her life was still hanging in the balance, and her stepmother and biological father were already planning the funeral arrangements. That stepmother is even younger than her, really…” Mother Song shook her head and added noodles to the pot.
“Even though we’re not that kind of family, it’s better not to marry into such a wealthy clan.”
She said this intending to comfort Song Yuhang, afraid she would be sad, but unexpectedly, Song Yuhang smiled and, while scooping soup from the pot, tilted her head to look at her mother.
“Mom, then what do you think of Lin Yan?”
Mother Song recalled their meeting just now, her appearance, her temperament.
“Pretty good. She doesn’t have any airs of an eldest young miss, and she’s polite, just a bit reserved.”
Song Yuhang thought to herself: Luckily, you haven’t seen her when she’s cussing people out.
“It’s her first time visiting someone else’s home, so it’s normal to be nervous.”
Mother Song smiled, adding fresh vegetables to the heated chicken soup.
“That’s true. She’s your colleague, right? Young, so good-looking, and still able to endure hardship to be a police officer. It’s not easy.”
Speaking of this, a hint of pride showed in Song Yuhang’s eyes and brows. “Of course! And she’s a technical police officer, a forensic pathologist.”
“Aiyo, that’s incredible! That young lady is so brave!” Mother Song was even more excited than her, showing no trace of disgust or misunderstanding towards Lin Yan’s profession.
Half of Song Yuhang’s heart settled. “Mom, do you have any taboos about these things?”
Mother Song gave her a strange look. “What’s there to be taboo about? Your dad’s and your brother’s memorial portraits are displayed in the center of the living room every day, and I haven’t seen you have any taboos. This is doing good deeds, accumulating merit.”
Another half of Song Yuhang’s heart settled. She swallowed, sidled up to her mother, and helped her ladle out the cooked noodles.
“Mom, then would you mind having another daughter like Lin Yan?”
This question was asked tactfully. Although Mother Song felt a strange, indescribable feeling, she didn’t think too deeply about it and said with a scolding laugh.
“Aiyo, that would be great! As long as she’s not like you, it’s fine. I’m just afraid she wouldn’t think much of me.”
Song Yuhang whined in a drawn-out voice, “Mom—”
Listening to the faint sounds of laughter and conversation from the kitchen, Lin Yan’s heart remained warm. She grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and cracked them open, while observing the furnishings in the room.
Compared to her house, this wasn’t luxurious, even a bit shabby and simple, but it had much more of a human touch than her villa.
It was just a two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment, but thoughtful arrangements were visible everywhere: a cartoon hook for keys at the entrance hall, fresh flowers on the dining table.
The sofa was small and soft, a few books were placed on the background wall, a spider plant hung down adding a touch of green, and next to it hung a family photo.
The coal stove was placed in the middle of the room, opposite the television. Next to the television hung two black and white portraits; the people in them wore police uniforms and bore some resemblance to Song Yuhang.
Lin Yan put down the sunflower seeds and walked over. She picked up the sandalwood incense placed on the offering table, lit it, clasped her palms together and bowed several times, then inserted it back into the incense burner.
She was so focused that she didn’t notice when the kitchen door had opened. Mother Song looked at this child, liking her more and more.
Lin Yan came back to her senses and saw them all looking at her. Her face instantly turned red, and the usually eloquent person stammered, “Ah… I…”
Mother Song placed the bowl she was holding on the table, her eyes and brows full of smiles. “Quick, quick, what are you standing there dazed for? Go wash your hands and eat.”
Song Yuhang pulled her into the bathroom in a flash, closed the door, turned on the faucet, and hugged her from behind to wash their hands together.
“What made you think of paying respects to my father and brother?”
Lin Yan’s face was still red. She let Song Yuhang’s hands weave through her fingers, lathering them with hand soap, and rinsed them clean together.
“Ah… I just saw them, so I did.”
She just felt that Song Yuhang’s father and brother, who had died young in their prime, must have also been good police officers who were loyal and dedicated to their duty, serving the people wholeheartedly13.
Such people deserved her respect.
Song Yuhang dried her hands with a towel, then cupped her face and rubbed it. “My mom likes you a lot.”
Lin Yan looked completely bewildered. “Huh?”
Her brain seemed to have been stuck in a crashed state all evening.
She… she was dressed like this, bare-faced, hadn’t brought any gifts, and made a sudden visit, and she still liked her?
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was around and Mother Song was setting the table outside, Song Yuhang’s heart warmed. She cupped Lin Yan’s face and gave her a small peck on the lips.
“Mm, not just my mom, me too. No matter how you are, I like you.”
Looking at her own reflection in those clear, bottomless eyes, she had never been affirmed like this by anyone before.
Lin Yan’s eyes warmed. She ducked her head, a small smile on her lips, and lightly punched Song Yuhang’s shoulder.
“Yuhang, are you done yet?” Mother Song called from outside. “Don’t dawdle, eat while it’s hot.”
Song Yuhang had wanted to be a bit more intimate with her, but Lin Yan covered her lips.
“I’m hungry.”
Song Yuhang was helpless, and Mother Song was urging them again, so she had no choice but to pull her along and walk out.
The two sat down separately.
Song Yuhang picked at the noodles in her own bowl. “Mom, why does she have fried eggs and I don’t?!”
Lin Yan’s bowl had a chicken soup base, with glistening oil droplets floating on top, accompanied by green leafy vegetables and a few pieces of chicken breast, and two fried eggs nestled on top.
In contrast, her own bowl didn’t even have a piece of meat, just chicken soup.
Song Yuhang felt a trace of desolation, a hint of bitterness within the desolation, a touch of amusement within the bitterness, and a faint warmth within the amusement.
What was warm was that her mother didn’t see Lin Yan as an outsider.
Mother Song took off her apron and hung it on the back of the kitchen door. “Aiyo, look at your figure, are you even embarrassed? Let Yanyan eat it!”
Song Yuhang muttered, “What’s wrong with my figure? My figure is great, all muscle. You just don’t appreciate it.”
Only at home, and in front of Lin Yan, would Song Yuhang relax more and show her childish side.
Lin Yan, taking advantage of when Mother Song wasn’t looking, sneakily put a piece of meat into her bowl, mouthing: Eat quickly.
Song Yuhang was inwardly crying a river of tears: My girlfriend still dotes on me the most.
This back-and-forth interaction didn’t escape Mother Song’s eyes. She shook her head and smiled, thinking, These two kids have such a good relationship.
“You guys eat, I’m going to bed first. Yuhang, wash the dishes after you finish eating. Clean towels and toiletries are in the bathroom cabinet. Get them for Yanyan later. If it’s cold, turn on the air conditioner in your room. I’ve already turned on your electric blanket…”
Mother Song rambled on. Song Yuhang stood up to see her off. “Got it, Mom. You go to bed quickly. Don’t you have to get up early tomorrow to go dancing with Auntie Wang?”
Seeing her stand, Lin Yan, who hadn’t even swallowed a mouthful of noodles, also wiped her lips and stood up. “A… Auntie, rest early.”
“Aiyoyo, what’s all this? Sit down and eat quickly! Alright, alright, I can see you’re not comfortable with me here. Yuhang, take care of her. Tomorrow is the weekend, Yanyan, don’t leave. Auntie will make something delicious for lunch.”
Lin Yan was about to refuse, but Mother Song didn’t give her a chance at all. She waved her hand, signaling her to quickly sit back down and eat, then smiled again and closed her own bedroom door.
Song Yuhang pulled out a tissue for her. Looking at the noodles in her bowl, Lin Yan sat down, protectively guarding her food, and looked at her with a wary expression.
“Can you finish all that?”
“I can finish it.” Lin Yan moved the bowl a little closer to herself.
Song Yuhang chuckled. “Be good, don’t eat too much, it’ll be hard to digest at night.”
“…Oh.”
Lin Yan reluctantly watched her take most of the noodles from her bowl, leaving behind all the meat and vegetables. The eggs were also untouched. Only then did she start eating again with satisfaction.
Song Yuhang finished her portion in a few quick bites. “You eat first, I’ll go run the bath. When you’re done eating, just leave the bowl in the sink, I’ll wash it.”
By the time Lin Yan finished eating, the bathwater was ready. Song Yuhang rummaged through chests and cupboards looking for pajamas.
At home, she rarely wore thick winter loungewear like her mother’s, being used to short-sleeved T-shirts all year round. It took her a long time to find a long-sleeved one.
“Make do with this for now. We’ll go to the mall tomorrow to buy new ones.”
“These are clean clothes, I’ll bring them over for you.” Song Yuhang, wearing slippers, walked into the bathroom, took a new pair of slippers from the rack for her, and then took out the toiletries one by one.
“This is the toothbrush, toothpaste, rinsing cup…”
“The facial cleanser is here.”
She pointed out the location of each item for her.
“Try the water temperature, is it okay? I didn’t put too much, after all, you still have an injury on your shoulder, it wouldn’t be good if it got bumped.”
Lin Yan reached out to feel; the water temperature was just right, not too cold and not too hot. Song Yuhang had also carefully placed a disposable bathtub liner at the bottom of the tub.
“I rarely use it, mostly shower. I was afraid you’d find it unhygienic.”
She scratched her head and smiled, looking a bit embarrassed. Seeing Lin Yan start to unbutton her clothes, she shot out like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
“Then you wash first. Call me if you need anything.”
A soft sentence from Lin Yan made her freeze: “Officer Song, I can’t get this off. Could you help me?”
Song Yuhang slowly turned around. A faint smile played on Lin Yan’s lips, but her eyes were charming and unrestrained.
Her voice trailed off lightly and slowly, sufficiently thought-provoking.
Lin Yan’s brown curly hair cascaded over her shoulders. Without a trace of makeup, she looked even more exquisitely beautiful and unconventional.
However, listening to her words, looking into her eyes, the curve of her lips, her bare feet on the floor, toes slightly curled due to the cold.
A word instantly popped into Song Yuhang’s mind: Fox spirit14.
A natural one.
During the long, tense eye contact, steam blurred their vision. Something was gradually heating up and fermenting in the narrow bathroom.
Song Yuhang swallowed and slowly walked over.
LP: Re-translated on May 31, 2025
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Thanks as always for the translation! Happy holidays!
Thanks as always for the translation! Happy holidays!
why no update?
Sorry for the delayed updates! I’ve been sick and well, it’s christmas and new years too! But, expect updates on 3 or 4!
why no update?
Sorry for the delayed updates! I’ve been sick and well, it’s christmas and new years too! But, expect updates on 3 or 4!