Chapter 60

Wei Lai finished pasting the horizontal couplets, his hands almost numb from the cold. He rubbed them vigorously, carefully descended from the ladder, folded it up, and then turned to put it in the trunk.

Just as he took a couple of steps, he halted.

About ten meters away, Zhou Sujin got out of a black car, wearing a black shirt without a sweater. He opened the rear door, presumably to get a jacket.

Looking further back, she saw Zhang Yanxin, also without a coat, wearing only a deep brown sweater.

Her brain short-circuited for two seconds.

How did he get here?

Last year was New Year’s Day, and this year it’s New Year’s Eve.

Without much thought, she dropped the ladder and ran towards the roadside.

“Zhou Sujin!”

She ran towards him as she used to, and Zhou Sujin, forgetting to put on his coat, took a few steps forward to embrace her.

Wei Lai ran up to him, grabbed his hand, and, panting, managed to say, “Help me put the ladder in the trunk.”

Zhou Sujin calmly replied, “Okay, I’ll put it there after I put on my clothes.”

When she ran up, he mistakenly thought she was going to throw herself into his arms.

It was too cold outside, so Wei Lai let go of his hand, urging him to hurry up and put on his clothes.

Zhou Sujin glanced at her attire, a coffee-colored coat and a deep brown turtleneck sweater.

Worried that they might have a conflict on New Year’s Eve, Wei Lai grabbed his fingers and pulled him towards the supermarket entrance as soon as Zhou Sujin was dressed.

Zhou Sujin clasped her fingers in his palm, turning his head to look at her while she glanced back at the person behind them.

Wei Lai glanced at Zhang Yanxin, then quickly averted her gaze within two seconds.

Zhang Yanxin understood her look, interpreting it as a signal for him to leave quickly.

He opened the car door, sat back inside, and seemed to have lost all his strength to drive.

They walked all the way to the supermarket entrance, and Wei Lai didn’t look back again. All the past memories had dissipated in her mind.

Now there’s neither love nor hatred.

Only in those memories, there someone who loved her very much.

He showed her the stars and accompanied her through every weary day.

They thought they could be together forever, but those affections were ultimately shattered by reality.

Unrecoverable.

Zhou Sujin placed the folded ladder in the trunk and gestured for her to get in the car first. “I’ll move the car to a parking space.”

Zhang Yanxin’s car was still parked on the roadside, and Wei Lai grabbed the hem of his coat.

Zhou Sujin opened the passenger door on Wei Lai’s side, coaxing her, “Wait for me in the car.” Then he added, “I came to have New Year’s Eve dinner with you, not to cause trouble with anyone.”

With his assurance, Wei Lai finally felt at ease.

Zhou Sujin walked towards the roadside without glancing back at the car.

As he reached for the car door handle, about to open it, someone from the car behind called out, “Mr. Zhou.”

Zhang Yanxin got out of the car, leaving his coat on the back seat, too lazy to bother taking it.

Already emotionally unstable, he didn’t care what day it was today. He didn’t care if he could offend the person in front of him again. He had already thoroughly offended someone on New Year’s Day last year.

He didn’t care about doing it again.

Zhou Sujin turned around at the sound, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Yanxin’s deep brown sweater. He had just promised Wei Lai not to cause any conflicts, and he calmly asked, “What do you want to ask me?”

Zhang Yanxin glanced at the watch on his wrist and said, “Wei Lai likes watching fireworks. Remember to accompany her.”

With such blatant provocation, if it were Yuan Hengrui, he would have gone up and punched him already. But Zhou Sujin just nodded calmly and asked, “Is there anything else?”

Zhang Yanxin remained silent.

The conversation had taken a completely unexpected turn, and Zhou Sujin, meeting his usual cold gaze, didn’t react as expected, showing no signs of embarrassment or anger.

But it was a frightening calmness.

“Give my regards to Mr. Zhang for me,” Zhou Sujin said as he opened the car door and got in.

Because of Zhang Yanxin, the surprise of coming to accompany her on New Year’s Eve had been greatly diminished.

When he moved the car back, Wei Lai was still surprised, “Why did you come early? Didn’t you say you’d come tomorrow to be with me?” He had ten days of vacation after the New Year and could be with her until the tenth day.

Zhou Sujin had already adjusted his emotions that were stirred up when he moved the car just now. He casually unfastened his seatbelt and said, “I spent New Year’s Eve with my mom last year, so this year I’ll come to be with you.”

He took off his coat and handed it to her without putting it in the back seat.

Wei Lai took it and naturally draped it over her legs. It was the coat she had bought for him. He had just put it on today, and it still didn’t carry too much of his scent.

As he started the car, Zhou Sujin asked, “Is Mom not at home?”

“Have gone to Haicheng.”

“With Mr. He?”

“My mom didn’t say who she’s spending New Year’s Eve with, but it should be Mr. He.”

Wei Lai watched as he signaled to turn towards the underground garage of Jiang’an Yunchen. She quickly reminded, “Let’s go to the apartment first to get some food. There’s nothing at home.”

Zhou Sujin promptly turned, heading towards her apartment.

Along the way, she looked out the window without affecting his driving.

She no longer tried to push further, and their marriage seemed superficial.

“Wei Lai.”

“Hmm?”

Wei Lai came back to her senses, pulling her gaze away from outside the car. “What’s up?”

Zhou Sujin was driving and couldn’t make eye contact with her. “Nowhere do you want to go after the New Year?”

“I don’t want to go anywhere. The weather forecast says there will be heavy snow the day after tomorrow, so staying at home is comfortable.”

“You won’t feel bored being at home for ten days?”

“I won’t,” Wei Lai replied absent-mindedly. “Before I knew you, I stayed in the apartment for a month. I only went out occasionally to buy things. I didn’t feel bored at all.”

As they queued at the intersection waiting for the traffic light, Zhou Sujin glanced sideways at her. “You didn’t go out during summer vacation?”

“It wasn’t during my school years. During my school years, I spent my vacations traveling everywhere.” She didn’t specify the timeframe.

Zhou Sujin understood. It was the month after she broke up with Zhang Yanxin.

Wei Lai didn’t intentionally bring up the past and changed the subject, “I was waiting for your call in the afternoon and evening.”

She still thought of him, still anticipated him. Just like after their contract ended and they parted ways, she would always miss him at some point, wondering if he would suddenly come to Jiangcheng to see her one day. But the longing and anticipation, if unfulfilled, wouldn’t lead to disappointment.

“If you didn’t come, I would have called you in the evening. You don’t need to wait anymore in the future.”

In the past, she might have acted spoiled, asking him why he didn’t call earlier and insisting he called multiple times a day, in the morning, at noon, and again in the evening.

Wei Lai smiled. “Now I know. I won’t keep waiting.”

“You can call me when you’re not busy on duty.”

“Wouldn’t that disturb you?”

When she said this, Wei Lai didn’t look at him.

Zhou Sujin glanced at her, lightly pressing the accelerator, as they crossed the intersection. “Does it matter if it’s disturbing during the New Year? I’m not discussing business with anyone that day, so I’ll have time to answer your call anytime.”

She remained silent.

“When I’m busy, I can’t always answer your calls promptly. If you want to chat freely, you’ll have to wait until the evening when I’m back and have time to talk to you.”

Unconsciously, they had arrived at the downstairs of her apartment.

The apartment was warm, with several pots of orchids, elegant and graceful.

There were some red lanterns and hanging red envelopes on a silver willow branch placed beside the sofa, adding a festive atmosphere to the apartment.

The snack plate on the coffee table was filled with her favorite snacks.

Wei Lai didn’t take off her coat when she entered but instead grabbed a few shopping bags and took things out of the fridge.

The double-door refrigerator was also packed full. This Spring Festival, she intended to celebrate it well for Wei Lai’s sake.

She turned to Zhou Sujin and said, “I’m not very good at cooking your favorite dishes, but you can manage.”

“It’s okay. I can taste the local specialties of Jiangcheng.”

After returning to Jiang’an Yunchen from the apartment, it was already a quarter past ten.

Wei Lai used to wait until her mother finished her work to have New Year’s Eve dinner, so she didn’t think it was late.

Spring couplets were posted on the door. Zhou Sujin glanced at them a couple more times, then unlocked the door with his fingerprint, placed the things on the side cabinet by the door, and turned to pick up Wei Lai’s coat to hang it up for her. But Wei Lai had already hung it up, not noticing his raised hand.

The house was originally spacious, and it had been uninhabited for two or three weeks, so it was chilly inside. Wei Lai turned on the air conditioning.

Zhou Sujin calmly took off his coat and hung it in the wardrobe. The living room was spotless, with only two books belonging to Wei Lai on the coffee table, nothing else.

Under the light, the gray slate tiles gave off a faint cold light.

The curtains in the dining room were not drawn, and there were lights from other houses in sight.

Wei Lai went to the kitchen and put on an apron.

Zhou Sujin rolled up his sleeves and went over to help. The dishes he brought were all semi-prepared, and there was hardly anything he needed to help with.

“What wine do you want to drink?” He opened the wine cabinet and asked.

“Anything will do. Red wine is fine.”

Zhou Sujin took out a bottle, opened the second cupboard door, but couldn’t find the corkscrew for the wine. He turned his head to ask Wei Lai where the corkscrew was, “Wasn’t it here last year?”

Wei Lai pointed to the cabinet on the left and said, “I tidied up here a few days ago to make it easier for you to use.”

Last year, she didn’t have a sense of boundaries and arranged everything here according to her own preferences. This year, when she hired a cleaner to clean the house, she rearranged the items in the house, trying to restore them as much as possible.

However, for some things, she really couldn’t remember where they were originally placed, so she could only put them randomly.

Zhou Sujin just nodded without saying a word.

At eleven forty, a relatively sumptuous New Year’s Eve dinner was ready.

This was their first New Year’s together.

Wei Lai clinked glasses with him, smiling lightly, “Mr. Zhou, Happy New Year.”

Zhou Sujin responded, “Happy New Year.”

He tilted his head slightly and finished his drink in one gulp.

All the indescribable emotions were swallowed down by the wine.

Wei Lai took a sip of red wine and suddenly remembered, “I forgot to buy dumplings. You usually eat dumplings for the New Year.”

Zhou Sujin said, “We have soup balls. It’s the same.”

Wei Lai continued chatting, “What do you usually have for your family’s New Year’s Eve dinner?”

Zhou Sujin mentioned several specialty dishes, “There are many dishes. I don’t pay much attention to the ones I don’t eat. If my mom and Mr. He still spend New Year’s Eve together next year, I’ll take you to our ancestral home for dinner. You can see for yourself.”

Wei Lai hurriedly explained, “That’s not what I meant. I was just curious.”

Across the dining table, Zhou Sujin looked over. Before Wei Lai met his gaze, she lowered her eyes and sipped her wine, avoiding his gaze.

At eleven-fifty, the second round of fireworks in the park began.

From the living room, they could see the fireworks soaring into the sky, dazzling and magnificent.

Zhou Sujin put down his glass. “Do you want to go to the terrace outside?”

Wei Lai leaned her chin on her hand, staring out of the floor-to-ceiling window. “No need, the view is pretty clear from here.”

“Think about what you wish for at midnight.”

Wei Lai turned back and sat down. “I don’t have any wishes this year.” After a pause, she changed her mind. “Except for one.”

Zhou Sujin said, “You can tell me first.”

Wei Lai smiled, “No, I can’t. It won’t come true if I say it.”

Zhou Sujin looked into her eyes. “Is it related to me?”

Wei Lai continued to smile lightly, shaking her head.

They had the TV on while they ate, so the house wouldn’t feel too empty.

As the countdown to the New Year began, Wei Lai stared unblinkingly out the window.

When the fireworks lit up the sky at midnight, she made her only wish: she hoped Wei Lai would make it into the top forty this year.

After making her wish, she put down her glass and stood up.

Zhou Sujin had already walked over to her side and hugged her.

Wei Lai looked up. “Happy New Year.” Zhou Sujin’s kiss fell directly, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back, biting his lip lightly.

She didn’t know if it hurt him, but it hurt her.

Her heart ached with longing.

She was vain, vulgar, and now, greedy.

If she weren’t greedy, she wouldn’t have repeatedly tested herself to see how special she was in his heart after meeting him, nor would she have inadvertently fallen into it.

If only emotions could be controlled by reason.

When she wanted to return to the initial state, emotions could be completely withdrawn, and she really didn’t miss him or long for him.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t cultivated to that level yet.

She could only try to return to a comfortable zone for both of them as much as possible.

At one in the morning, the bedroom finally warmed up.

After the coldness dissipated, there was no longer a New Year’s atmosphere.

Zhou Sujin’s lips slid from her chin to her neck, and Wei Lai pushed his shoulder to remind him, “Don’t leave a hickey on my neck.”

Zhou Sujin paused for a moment and didn’t kiss her neck again, raising his head to look at her.

He wanted to ask, hesitated, and stopped.

Wei Lai said, “I’m going to visit the stores tomorrow. I bought a new dress to wear.”

“Are you still working overtime tomorrow?”

“Yeah. My mom visits the stores every New Year’s Day and gives out red envelopes to the employees. Now it’s my turn.”

Zhou Sujin’s lips descended again, this time on her collarbone.

Wei Lai said, “Be careful there too. The dress has a low neckline.”

“…”

Zhou Sujin made a sound of acknowledgment.

He held her hand, and his lips descended further.

Wei Lai’s breath tightened, feeling as if she were back to that night when they got their marriage certificate, everything was unfamiliar.

A tremor rose from where he kissed and crept up her abdomen.

At three in the morning, the city quieted down.

So did the bedroom.

Wei Lai fell asleep deeply on her pillow, turning her back to Zhou Sujin.

He looked at her for a few seconds, turned off the light, and went to take a shower.

Wei Lai turned on the warm water in the shower, feeling no stinging sensation like last year. Last year, almost every time, there were scratches on his body, starting with just one, and then more and more.

She scratched everywhere, tentatively at first, and when he didn’t stop her, she became unrestrained.

But not today.

Adam’s apple, which had obsessed her before, she only accidentally touched tonight.

The next day, the first day of the new year, arrived.

Wei Lai was awakened by the alarm clock at eight o’clock. She had to go to the store today and couldn’t afford to wake up too late.

Zhou Sujin woke up twenty minutes earlier than her, finished washing up, and came out of the bathroom.

Wei Lai buried herself under the covers, only showing half of her face. “New Year’s fortune.”

Zhou Sujin gestured to her. “Look between the two pillows. Your lucky money.”

Wei Lai turned over from under the covers, and there were two red envelopes, one thin and one bulging.

Zhou Sujin said, “One is mine, and the other is from my grandmother for you.”

Wei Lai sat up and opened the thick red envelope. It contained crisp banknotes, totaling eighteen thousand eight hundred yuan.

“My grandmother wishes you a prosperous business at the supermarket and abundant wealth.”

Wei Lai happily accepted the red envelope. “I’ll video call my grandmother later to wish her a happy new year.”

She opened the lucky money envelope given by Zhou Sujin, which contained a card. She smiled and asked, “How much money is in here?”

“More than you think.” Zhou Sujin fastened his shirt cufflinks and said straightforwardly, “When the supermarket is short of funds, you can use the money here. Finding financing from elsewhere takes time.”

Wei Lai said, “…”

How much money could there be in a card that he used the term “financing”?

Suddenly feeling the card burning in her hand, she said, “Your lucky money is too much.”

Zhou Sujin said, “This is the meaning of me making money.”

Wei Lai’s heart stirred slightly as she accepted the lucky money.

“What’s the password?”

“I only have one password.”

The same as the one for the locker in the South Warehouse.

Every time she got up, she would lie in his arms for a few minutes. Zhou Sujin stood by the bed, not leaving after putting on his cufflinks.

Wei Lai got out of bed, walked straight out of the bedroom, and put the red envelope from her grandmother and the card he gave her into her bag.

Zhou Sujin watched her back. “Wei Lai.”

Wei Lai was about to step out of the bedroom and turned to look at him. “What’s up?”

Zhou Sujin met her gaze for a few seconds, and the words he wanted to say changed to, “What do you want for breakfast?”

“I’ll cook dumplings for you, and I’ll have some too. The supermarket will open soon.” Wei Lai waved the red envelope and card in her hand. “Let me put these away first.”

Returning from the living room, Wei Lai’s phone, which she had placed on the bedside table, rang. It was Chen Qi’s call.

After exchanging New Year’s greetings, they got to the point. Chen Qi, who was on duty today, asked her, “Wei Lai, are you going to visit the stores today?”

“I am. I’ll start with the seventeen stores of Wei Lai Supermarket first. Then, I’ll go to Bai Duo. I’ll visit as many stores as I can today, and continue tomorrow.”

Chen Qi said, “Then I’ll accompany you. After visiting Wei Lai Supermarket, we’ll go back to the company. I just received a call. Several executives from Baiduo Industrial will come over this afternoon. They said they wanted to visit the stores for the first year and give out red envelopes to the employees working on New Year’s Day.”