STT – Chapter 33

Zizheng, isn’t it good to just stay like this?

On the sixth day of the lunar month, for some unknown reason, Lu Zizheng woke up just as dawn was breaking. She got up, opened the window for some fresh air, and then realized that outside, the sky was gloomy, the cold wind was howling, and snowflakes were flying; it had started snowing again.

While having breakfast, Lu Zizheng was lost in thought, wondering if it was snowing in Linzhou and whether Jiang Huaixi had listened to her advice and worn more clothes before setting off.

Unable to stop worrying, Lu Zizheng put down her cup, went back to her room to get her phone, and sent a text message to Jiang Huaixi: “It’s snowing in Juzhou, wear thicker clothes, if you catch a cold, I won’t pay for your medical bills.”

Jiang Huaixi replied to her after a while: “If it weren’t for the last sentence, I might have kindly thought that you were concerned about me. As expected, I should indeed assume the worst intentions about you, humph.”

Looking at the final “humph” character on her phone, Lu Zizheng inexplicably smiled in a good mood.

After finishing breakfast, she thought it over and still felt uneasy, so she hurried back to her room and rummaged through her wardrobe for her thick clothes, just in case Jiang Huaixi needed them.

Around ten in the morning, Lu Zizheng was sitting in the living room holding the clothes and watching TV when the doorbell rang.

Lu Zizheng jumped up immediately, but Mother Lu was even quicker, reaching the door like the wind and opening it.

Standing in the living room, Lu Zizheng indeed heard Jiang Huaixi’s clear and cold yet extraordinarily pleasing voice coming from the entrance: “Auntie, Happy New Year to you…”

Mother Lu, laughing and indulgently scolding her, said: “If you are coming, just come. Why bring anything? We are going back in a while, and you’ll have to carry it back again.”

Lu Zizheng looked at her watch, bit her lip, and felt a warm sensation in her heart. She didn’t believe Jiang Huaixi’s excuse about coming to Juzhou on the fifth day to handle some business and conveniently taking them back. Even though a new highway had been built from Linzhou to Juzhou, it still took four hours by car. Now it was just past ten o’clock, and Jiang Huaixi had already arrived, likely leaving before dawn.

In a little while, Jiang Huaixi entered the living room.

She was rarely seen wearing a thick black down jacket and a long scarf. The clothes, which should have looked bulky, unexpectedly highlighted her tall and graceful figure on her slender body.

Lu Zizheng nodded in satisfaction to herself, thinking that Jiang Huaixi was at least obedient.

Her gaze moved upwards, finally resting on Jiang Huaixi’s familiar and delicate face. She should have felt joy and excitement, but surprisingly, the moment Lu Zizheng saw clearly, she frowned, her eyes locking tightly onto Jiang Huaixi’s face.

Jiang Huaixi took off her scarf and, seeing Lu Zizheng silently staring at her, curved her lips into a smile and said, “Have you not seen me for so long that you’re suddenly finding my beauty irresistible?”

Lu Zizheng frowned even more deeply, ignoring her teasing, and asked, “Why is your face so pale?”

Jiang Huaixi was slightly taken aback, rubbed her hands together, and blew on them, saying, “It’s so cold outside. If you go out for a few minutes, see if your face doesn’t turn as white as mine.” After saying that, she seemed to remember something and added, “Hmm, it probably won’t. Your face is darker than mine.”

Lu Zizheng silently turned around and went back to her room.

Jiang Huaixi’s smile froze, feeling a bit puzzled. Today’s Lu Zizheng seemed a bit off.

Before she could think further, Lu Zizheng came out again, holding a hand warmer. She placed the hand warmer on the sofa, plugged it in, and then returned to the still puzzled Jiang Huaixi. She extended her hands, took hold of Jiang Huaixi’s clasped hands, and gently rubbed them to warm them up.

Jiang Huaixi, surprised, didn’t move for a while. Feeling the soft and warm touch on her hands, the smile on her lips became more pronounced. “Zizheng, how is it that just after the New Year, you’ve suddenly changed your nature, being so considerate towards me? Could it be that the water and soil in Juzhou are better, nurturing girls to be as gentle as water?”

Lu Zizheng’s hands paused, she raised her head, and fiercely glared at Jiang Huaixi.

Receiving her glare, Jiang Huaixi’s smile became even more unrestrained, understandingly saying, “I knew it, it hasn’t even been five minutes, and your true nature is already showing. Zizheng, you still need more practice.”

The hand warmer bubbled and boiled, and with a click, indicated it was ready for use. Lu Zizheng withdrew her hands, went to the sofa, took the hand warmer, and stuffed it into Jiang Huaixi’s arms, saying indifferently, “I’m afraid your hands will freeze, and no one will be able to drive later.”

Jiang Huaixi inserted her hands into the hand warmer, held it in her arms, sat on the sofa, and gave a light chuckle. Suddenly, she looked up at Lu Zizheng seriously and said, “Zizheng, Happy New Year.”

Lu Zizheng looked at Jiang Huaixi’s sparkling eyes, relaxed her eyebrows, smiled, and also warmly replied, “Hmm, Happy New Year.”

Jiang Huaixi blinked her eyes and asked, “Look, I came from a great distance to wish you a Happy New Year. Shouldn’t you show some appreciation?”

Lu Zizheng raised an eyebrow, a smile forming at the corner of her lips, and said in a deep voice, “Hmm, I should.” As she spoke, she put her right hand into her pocket, as if taking something out, and instructed, “Close your eyes and extend your hands.”

Jiang Huaixi looked at her skeptically and said, “I don’t believe…”

Lu Zizheng frowned, “If you don’t want it, then forget it.”

Jiang Huaixi, with her beautiful large eyes, seriously stared at Lu Zizheng for a long time. Seeing her serious expression, not looking like she was joking, Jiang Huaixi hesitantly took out a hand from the hand warmer and extended it, slowly closing her eyes. Her long, dense eyelashes adorably fluttered with the movement of her eyes.

But just as she closed her eyes and extended her hand, Lu Zizheng, with lightning speed, mercilessly smacked Jiang Huaixi’s extended left hand with a “slap.”

Jiang Huaixi was startled and immediately opened her eyes, her face darkening a bit as she angrily glared at Lu Zizheng.

Mother Lu came out of her bedroom and happened to see this scene. She walked to Lu Zizheng’s side and chided, “Zhengzheng, you’re bullying Huaixi again.”

Jiang Huaixi, seeing the situation, called out pitiably, “Auntie…”

Mother Lu patted Jiang Huaixi’s head and said with a smile, “Zhengzheng is being stingy, not giving it to you, so I’ll give it to you.” Saying this, she pulled Jiang Huaixi’s hand, took out a big red envelope from her pocket, and placed it in Jiang Huaixi’s palm.

Jiang Huaixi’s expression froze, and she immediately stood up, refusing, “Auntie, I was just playing around with Zizheng, I can’t accept this.” Saying this, she tried to return the red envelope to Mother Lu.

Mother Lu’s face darkened, and she said sternly, “In Auntie’s heart, you are just like Zizheng, both are my own daughters. If I give my own daughter New Year’s money, why can’t you accept it? Are you saying in your heart that Auntie and you aren’t close?”

Even though Jiang Huaixi was usually eloquent, she was at a loss for words at this moment, weakly defending, “Auntie, of course, it’s not like that…”

Mother Lu then decided to strike the final tone with a hammer, “Then don’t say any more, just accept it. I’ll go to the kitchen to prepare lunch for you.” Saying this, she turned and went to the kitchen.

As soon as Mother Lu turned around, she broke character, dropping the serious facade she used to scare Jiang Huaixi. She squinted her eyes and smiled kindly. She was planning that when they returned to Linzhou, she should go to the jewelry store to buy some jewelry, to prepare a dowry for Zizheng and a meeting gift for Huaixi from her future mother-in-law.

Jiang Huaixi held onto the red envelope given by Mother Lu like it was a hot potato, feeling somewhat restless. Lu Zizheng took the red envelope from her hand and put it into the pocket of her down jacket, comforting her, “Mom gave it to you, so just accept it. Don’t be so polite. If you don’t accept it, Mom will feel uneasy.”

Jiang Huaixi sighed and softly replied, “Hmm.” She reached out to rub her temples, looking somewhat tired.

Lu Zizheng, seeing her somewhat pale face, thought about how she had been traveling since early in the morning and felt a bit distressed. She bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then suggested, “If you’re tired, you can lie down in my room and rest for a while.”

Jiang Huaixi looked up at Lu Zizheng in surprise, her eyes full of astonishment. She had visited this place once during her first year of college, and at that time, Lu Zizheng’s room was strictly off-limits, akin to a forbidden zone. Jiang Huaixi chuckled softly and teased, “I’m afraid to go in. Didn’t you say before that the floor inside is full of landmines, and if I dared to step in, I would be blown to pieces with no remains left?”

Lu Zizheng could see the mischievous smile in her eyes and felt a bit embarrassed thinking about the scare she had given back then. She deliberately put on a serious face and said coldly, “That was then, this is now. If you don’t want to rest, then forget it.”

Jiang Huaixi wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity. She stood up unhurriedly and calmly said, “Since you’re inviting me so warmly, how could I be so tactless? It would be impolite to refuse.”

Lu Zizheng led Jiang Huaixi step by step towards the bedroom. Jiang Huaixi followed behind her, and although she couldn’t see Lu Zizheng’s face, her smile grew deeper. Lu Zizheng knew that the opening of her bedroom meant something significant to herself. Since Jiang Huaixi had already entered her heart, there was no place left that she could keep her from stepping into.

Jiang Huaixi entered the room and quietly observed her surroundings. Lu Zizheng’s bedroom was very simply decorated, with a desk connected to a bookshelf, a chair, and nothing else.

Jiang Huaixi’s attention was drawn to the family photo placed on Lu Zizheng’s bedside table. In the photo, Lu Zizheng had her hair in a ponytail and was lying on her father’s shoulder, with a sunny and bright smile that Jiang Huaixi had never seen before. Jiang Huaixi stared at it, unable to look away. She turned her head and softly asked Lu Zizheng, “Zizheng, do you have a photo album?”

Lu Zizheng curiously asked back, “Yes, why?” Saying this, she squatted down next to the desk.

Jiang Huaixi pursed her lips and smiled, with a hint of malice, “I suddenly got curious whether you were this embarrassing to look at when you were a kid.”

Lu Zizheng opened the cabinet under the desk, took out a thick photo album, and threw it onto the bed in front of Jiang Huaixi with a “thud,” angrily saying, “Then you’d better not look. I’m afraid your eyes will hurt, and we don’t have any eye drops at home.”

Jiang Huaixi snorted lightly, squatted down, and began flipping through the album on her own. When she saw the first naked photo of Lu Zizheng as a full-month-old baby, she immediately laughed with her eyes curved, “Tsk tsk, nice body…”

Lu Zizheng got anxious immediately and attempted to grab it, but Jiang Huaixi deftly sidestepped, blocking Lu Zizheng’s attack.

Just at this moment, Mother Lu called out, “Zhengzheng, come out and bring some fruit in for Huaixi…”

Lu Zizheng bit her lip and stomped her foot, deciding to let it go for now. She turned and left the room to go to the kitchen to get the fruit.

She had just walked halfway when the phone in the living room rang. So, Lu Zizheng changed direction and went to the living room to answer the call.

The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number from Linzhou. Lu Zizheng, feeling a bit puzzled, answered the call, thinking it was probably another insurance sales call. However, on the other end of the phone came a slightly familiar, clean male voice.

“Sister Zizheng, it’s me, Huaichuan.”

Lu Zizheng was taken aback, clearly surprised.

Jiang Huaichuan asked her anxiously, “Sister Zizheng, is my sister with you?”

Lu Zizheng glanced towards the bedroom and replied, “Yes, she’s with me.”

On the other end of the phone, Jiang Huaichuan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and said, “I thought so. My mom and I have been calling her all morning, but her phone has been off, so I had to call you. After saying this, he paused for a moment before continuing, “Sister Zizheng, my sister had a severe cold and high fever a few days ago. She just got a little better in the past two days, but she didn’t listen to advice and left the hospital to go back to her place. My mom was worried and went to look for her this morning, only to hear from Aunt Zhang that she drove out early before dawn. Knowing she’s with you, we feel relieved.” After another pause, he lowered his voice and sincerely requested, “Sister Zizheng, please take care of my sister a bit more.”

Lu Zizheng was slightly stunned; indeed, she didn’t look well, she was sick. She frowned and seriously responded to Jiang Huaichuan, “I will.” After thinking for a moment, she added somewhat puzzled, “But Huaixi’s phone doesn’t seem to be off. I was still texting her this morning.”

Jiang Huaichuan remained silent on the other end of the phone for a while before explaining, “My sister’s phone has dual SIM cards. One of the numbers is known only to you, and that number, probably, is always on 24/7.”

Because of Jiang Huaichuan’s words, Lu Zizheng’s heart, like the calm surface of a lake suddenly skipped by a stone, stirred up ripples that wouldn’t settle for a long time…

She went to the kitchen, brought the fruit back to the bedroom, and through the slightly ajar door, she saw Jiang Huaixi lying by the bed, holding her phone, taking pictures of the photos in the album one by one, her expression serious and focused as if she were examining important reports.

Lu Zizheng’s heart grew even more tender.

She knocked on the door, reminding Jiang Huaixi. As expected, Jiang Huaixi quickly put her phone into her pocket and turned her head, pretending to be nonchalant as she teased, “I just looked at all the photos and discovered a big secret. Uncle and Auntie look very good. It seems like you had a genetic mutation.”

Lu Zizheng put down the fruit plate and listened carefully, noticing the faint nasal sound in Jiang Huaixi’s voice. She couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty for not noticing it earlier. She sighed, forked a piece of apple, and brought it to Jiang Huaixi’s mouth, deliberately pretending to be angry, “I wonder if eating can shut your mouth.”

Jiang Huaixi raised an eyebrow, opened her mouth to bite the apple, and said nothing.

After eating a few pieces of fruit, Lu Zizheng suddenly pushed Jiang Huaixi to sit on the bed and reached out to pull her clothes.

Jiang Huaixi rarely showed a panicked expression, reflexively crossing her arms over her chest, but in an instant, she quickly regained her composure. Raising an eyebrow, she chuckled lightly, “Teasing a virtuous woman in broad daylight doesn’t seem quite proper, does it?”

Lu Zizheng’s eyebrow twitched hard, and she said coldly, “Who is a virtuous woman? Aren’t you tired? Lie down and take a nap. I’ll call you when it’s time to eat.”

Jiang Huaixi initially wanted to refuse, but as soon as her head touched the pillow, she felt so comfortable that she wanted to close her eyes. Really, she felt so tired, like she couldn’t hold on anymore. So, she went along with Lu Zizheng’s words, responded with an “Mm,” and lay down securely.

Perhaps she was truly exhausted, or maybe it was the pillow filled with Lu Zizheng’s scent that made Jiang Huaixi feel particularly relaxed and familiar. In just a moment, she fell into a deep sleep.

Lu Zizheng tucked in the corners of the blanket for Jiang Huaixi and looked at her peaceful and serene sleeping face, her eyes full of tenderness.

She didn’t know how much time had passed, but Jiang Huaixi vaguely heard someone calling her. She slowly opened her eyes, and in her drowsiness, she saw Lu Zizheng leaning down to gently kiss her forehead. She slightly curved her lips, feeling it was a dream, unwilling to wake up, and soon, she once again lost consciousness in a blur…

When she woke up again, she saw Lu Zizheng sitting at the desk, quietly watching her.

Seeing Jiang Huaixi awake, Lu Zizheng stood up and walked to the bedside, mocking, “I thought you were going to sleep until the evening to have dinner.”

Jiang Huaixi got up somewhat annoyed and asked, “What time is it?”

Lu Zizheng replied, “It’s past two. Mom kept your lunch warm. After eating, we probably need to get ready to leave.”

Jiang Huaixi put on her coat and was about to go out when Lu Zizheng suddenly grabbed her and said, “Didn’t you just ask me for a New Year’s gift?”

Jiang Huaixi stopped in her tracks, looking at Lu Zizheng with confusion.

Lu Zizheng reached into her pocket and took out a large red envelope, handing it to Jiang Huaixi.

Jiang Huaixi raised an eyebrow, a smile appearing on her lips, “What’s inside? It seems quite thick. It’s not all one-cent coins, is it?”

Lu Zizheng laughed and cheerfully said, “Why don’t you open it and see?”

With some curiosity, Jiang Huaixi smiled and opened the red envelope. Inside, it was actually filled with money, one red bill after another.

A smile hung on Jiang Huaixi’s lips, and there were even some small bills. She counted slightly, and suddenly, the smile froze on her lips. Five hundred and twenty, five two zero?¹

She looked up with a questioning gaze at Lu Zizheng, only to see Lu Zizheng looking at her with a tenderness and seriousness she had never seen before. Lu Zizheng said, “Huaixi, I like…”

Before she could finish, Jiang Huaixi panicked and hurriedly interrupted her, “I seem to be a bit hungry, I’ll go out and eat first.” She fled in a hurry.

Lu Zizheng froze entirely, the smile on her lips disappearing bit by bit…

It wasn’t until Mother Lu called Lu Zizheng to get ready to leave that Lu Zizheng left the room.

On the way back to Linzhou, Lu Zizheng and Mother Lu sat together in the back seat. The atmosphere was inexplicably oppressive.

Mother Lu felt the atmosphere was a bit off and wanted to say something to break the awkward silence. But looking at Lu Zizheng’s cold expression and Jiang Huaixi’s indifferent demeanor, she opened her mouth, only to ultimately choose silence.

And so, for the four-hour journey, the three of them didn’t say a single word.

Finally, they endured until they reached Linzhou. Linzhou had indeed also received snow.

As soon as they arrived at the neighborhood, Mother Lu couldn’t wait to get out of the car first, carrying some luggage upstairs, leaving space for Lu Zizheng and Jiang Huaixi.

Jiang Huaixi silently helped Lu Zizheng carry some of the luggage upstairs. When they reached the door, after more than five hours of silence, she finally spoke for the first time, “I won’t go in.” After saying that, she turned around to leave.

Lu Zizheng, caught off guard, reached out and grabbed her, looking at Jiang Huaixi with intense eyes. She bit her lip and said in a hoarse voice, “Huaixi, you know what I’m going to say, don’t you? Why did you deliberately stop me from finishing?”

Jiang Huaixi avoided Lu Zizheng’s gaze, lowered her head, and softly replied, “I don’t know what you want to say. Zizheng, isn’t it good to just stay like this?”

Lu Zizheng’s grip on her hand gradually weakened, slipping down powerlessly. Finally, she let go of Jiang Huaixi, turned around, and went inside without looking at her again.

Mother Lu stood worriedly at the entrance, watching Lu Zizheng. Lu Zizheng seemed very calm, methodically taking off her shoes, then her socks, one by one…

Suddenly, as if triggered by something, she stood up straight, barefoot, and rushed out the door…

She pressed the button for another empty elevator, going straight down to the first floor. Then, she ran out of the building with all her might, using all her strength to call out to Jiang Huaixi, who was not far ahead, “Jiang Huaixi!”

Jiang Huaixi’s steps halted, and after a moment of daze, she finally turned around, her expression complex.

Lu Zizheng, barefoot, walked step by step in the snow to stand in front of Jiang Huaixi, her eyes red, and asked her, “Jiang Huaixi, I like you. Is there really no possibility for us to take one step further?”

Jiang Huaixi, however, crouched down, took off her own shoes, and remained silent without answering her.

Lu Zizheng lowered her head, looking at the figure before her that was once extremely familiar but now strangely unfamiliar. She used up all her courage to ask her one last question, “Then why are you so good to me?”

Jiang Huaixi held Lu Zizheng’s foot, trying to fit her own shoe onto Lu Zizheng’s bare foot. She was silent for a while and finally responded in an unperturbed tone, “Aren’t we good friends?”

Lu Zizheng seemed to have finally given up, her face instantly turned ashen and pale. As if finding it quite funny, she repeated, “Indeed, we are good friends. Are you this good to every good friend?” Her foot slipped out of Jiang Huaixi’s hand, she turned around and walked back, softly saying, “I’m sorry, I misunderstood. In the future, don’t be so good to me, I can’t bear it.”

Jiang Huaixi crouched in place, watching Lu Zizheng’s bare, frostbitten red feet stepping through the snow, walking away with difficulty. Her expression was sorrowful, and gradually, her eyes turned red as well…

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LP: Re-translated on August 19, 2024

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1. Five hundred and twenty, five two zero (五百二十, 五二零): In Chinese, “520” is often used as a code for “I love you” because the pronunciation is similar.