Chapter 24 She Pierces Randomly

Xie Songshan gave a slight nod, though he didn’t want to acknowledge this grandson—he stank like donkey dung.

Zhao Meiqin said politely, “Hello, I’m a freshman at Capital University of Technology, and I’m Xie Wei’s classmate. I noticed he wasn’t feeling well and immediately took him to the hospital. He’s fine now.”

Zhang Shuying, with a silk scarf covering her nose, acted like even if Xie Wei died, it would have nothing to do with her. The calculating glint in this girl’s eyes made her deeply uncomfortable. Zhao Meiqin, having spent half a day in this stench-filled place, now reeked of a pigsty.

As agreed, Zhang Shuying “fainted” into Xie Songshan’s arms. Though in truth, she really did have a headache—it was just too smelly.

Xie Songshan said to Zhao Meiqin, “Sorry, my wife has fainted. Please let Xie Wei know that we’ve been here.”

And with that, the Xie couple vanished without a trace.

Zhao Meiqin was still waiting to be praised, but when she looked up, everyone was already gone. That was it? Not even a token gift, not a single apple or banana. She thought Xie Wei’s grandparents were incredibly stingy.

Disappointed, she walked back to the hospital room, forgetting to hold her breath—and gagged right at Xie Wei’s bedside.

Unable to help herself, she lashed out, questioning Xie Wei.

The nurse pushing the door open quickly ran off when she heard an argument erupt inside.

From outside, she vaguely heard:
“If I had gotten together with Xue Qingdai back then, neither of us would be suffering like this. Just get out!”
“Xie Wei, don’t be mad. I was just upset for you, that’s all. I really will treat you well—always, I promise.”

Back at home, Zhang Shuying genuinely fell ill. She lay on her bed enjoying days of leisure, being spoon-fed fruit and tea by Xie Songshan. But unfortunately, she caught another chill one night.

As the day she’d promised to go to the movies with Daidai approached, she realized she wouldn’t be able to go. She decided to give the ticket to her own stinky son instead.

“Xie Yan!” she called.

Xie Yan was about to push his bicycle out the door, clearly anxious. “Mom, please don’t mess with me. I need to find Daidai.”

Zhang Shuying’s voice was hoarse from the cold, but it carried authority: “Take this movie ticket. Take care of her. I can’t go.”

“And remember to buy some sunflower seeds and snacks.”

“Sigh, sons grow up and don’t stick around anymore…” she muttered.

Xie Yan poured her another cup of hot tea, peeled an apple for her, and once his father returned, he handed over all the duties.

“Wouldn’t want to interrupt you two lovebirds.”

He then rode off briskly toward Xue Qingdai’s guesthouse.

However, the landlady downstairs, whom he’d already greeted before, told him:

“She already moved out. That girl and her brother packed up everything last night—bags and all. By now, they’re probably already on a train.”

The woman liked this polite, handsome young soldier. “I didn’t tell her brother you’d come by. Don’t worry.”

Xie Yan’s voice trembled as he asked, “Auntie, she really left with all her luggage?”

“Yes, sweetie. They took everything. You just missed her.”

“I understand,” he replied softly, his voice so quiet it was swallowed by the wind.

Xie Yan clutched the crumpled movie ticket, lost in self-doubt.

Last night, the capital welcomed the season’s first snow. The bustling streets had turned into a winter wonderland under a white coat. Street lamps gave off a warm yellow glow as the city slowly embraced nightfall.

Workers left early, their faces full of joy at the snowfall.

Passing a supply store, Xie Yan stared blankly at a jar of White Rabbit milk candy.

The girl who used to chase after him for those candies… had gone home.

He rode his bike over the snowy road, the wheels crunching with a soft creak creak. His ears had turned red from the cold, but he didn’t care.

People bustled by on the road. The noise, the laughter—it all belonged to them. He was just a bystander.

Daidai would be back home now, snuggled with her loving family. If she proposed breaking off the engagement, his parents would agree without hesitation.

His opinion wasn’t that important. After all, his infertile body would only hold her back.

Daidai would find someone better—someone who could give her everything.

He would be nothing more than a passing, former fiancé.

Their recent meeting… might have been their last.

He might never see her again.

The movie ticket no longer mattered.

He thought about throwing it away—but couldn’t.

It would be a keepsake. After all, it marked the only time he ever had a secret crush. The only one. And now it was over.

Someday, when he saw Daidai as another man’s wife, being lovingly spoiled…

No. He couldn’t let go.

He turned his bicycle in the opposite direction of home, toward the train station. Maybe he could still catch one last glimpse.

Because of the snow, some trains were delayed.

Xie Yan searched the train station again, but still didn’t find the one he longed for.

Snow kept falling harder.

His brown wool hat gathered flakes. His brows were dusted with snow. His vision was blurred by the whirling snowflakes.

Standing tall at the station entrance, he watched trains leave one after another.

He shook the snow off his army coat with forced calm, but inside he was utterly hollow.

Some people spend their whole lives regretting the ones they missed.

Xie Yan opened his mouth and let the snow fall in. The icy cold bit into his lips, freezing the last remnants of warmth in his chest.

He truly felt like this snow had fallen just for him.

Meanwhile, Xue Yongkang had just dropped off a big client and was boarding a train when he saw his future brother-in-law standing there with his face upturned, catching snow with his mouth.

“???”

“Xie Yan, what are you doing? Why aren’t you home?”

“Have you gone dumb?”

Xie Yan’s face was frozen stiff. His hands were numb. He wiped his face slowly, and when he saw Xue Yongkang clearly, his eyes—dark as the night—suddenly lit up.

“Third Brother!”

“Where’s Daidai?”

Xue Yongkang was pulled into a hug—tight enough to crush ribs. This soldier really was strong.

His brother-in-law was being too enthusiastic.

“Xie Yan, let go!” Xue Yongkang grumbled. “You’re about to crush me! Do tall people always have this much strength? Can’t you see I don’t even have room to grow taller?”

Xie Yan paused for a moment and replied seriously, “You’re younger than me, of course you can still grow.”

Xue Yongkang actually believed him. He had to admit, his brother-in-law was saying all the right things. But the age gap between him and his sister was still a bit too wide. He responded calmly, “Mm. Come with me, let’s go pick up Daidai.”

Although Xue Yongkang had already acknowledged Xie Yan as a future brother-in-law in his heart, he wouldn’t say it out loud. Men don’t treasure what’s too easily obtained. He planned to make Xie Yan wait anxiously for his final approval.

He was dressed up for a business meeting in a brown leather jacket and carried an imitation leather briefcase. With his silver-rimmed glasses, he looked refined and trustworthy—like a cultured gentleman and a witty, upper-class young master.

Xie Yan was genuinely surprised. This was a completely different Xue Yongkang than the one he met before—back then, Yongkang wore plain clothes, and his sister was in a simple gray cotton blouse. The two had looked like refugees fleeing famine.

The Xue family was clearly one that hid its talents well—none of them were simple people.

And Daidai… she was even more adorable. He was finally going to see her again.

Xie Yan couldn’t stop the curve of his lips. But suddenly he remembered how frozen his face must look and quickly searched for a pane of glass to check how silly he appeared. He didn’t want Daidai to be put off by his current state.

Meanwhile, Xue Yongkang was struggling in his leather shoes. He took out a pair of cloth shoes that his little sister had bought him and changed into them. As they walked, he chatted casually with Xie Yan.

“My sister’s been wanting to learn some medical skills from her master lately. Don’t underestimate her—she’s clever. If she uses you to practice acupuncture, don’t cry about the pain, alright? It’s no big deal.”

Xie Yan looked at his now slightly tanned arm and nodded firmly. “Don’t worry. I’m not afraid of pain. She can poke me as much as she wants!”

Xue Yongkang gave a dry cough. His sister had recently suspected he was sick and had been poking him with needles every day—three on the top of his head, a couple on his shoulders. Ever since they moved into the new hutong, the entire courtyard could hear his howls. He’d become famous in the neighborhood.

His sister’s random acupuncture was worse than their old man’s herbal medicine that looked like cow dung. That stuff only stank—it didn’t hurt.

Xie Yan, with his sturdy build, could handle it. Let her torment him instead.

“Xie Yan, you really are a great guy. I admire you!” Xue Yongkang gave him a pitiful look. Having a brother-in-law to take the brunt of it all was definitely preferable. He showered praise like it cost him nothing.

The compliments warmed Xie Yan’s face by another degree—already bright red from the cold.

Xue Yongkang led Xie Yan down the path toward Xue Qingdai. The atmosphere between the two men was cheerful and relaxed.

Meanwhile, Xue Qingdai was cleverly working undercover at a traditional medicine clinic, trying to infiltrate their internal herbal supply chain. Unfortunately, today’s snowfall had made her brother uneasy—he didn’t want her going home alone.

She gazed out at the snowflakes landing on the glass window. In the past, she had always faced rainy and snowy days alone. But now… she had family to pick her up.

Rubbing her hands for warmth, Xue Qingdai looked out through the frosted glass and saw Xie Yan—his eyes like dark seas filled with stars.

She smiled and greeted him, breathing warm air onto the glass to form a white fog that blurred their view of each other.

Xie Yan, clearly flustered, almost bumped right into the doorframe just now.