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In truth, Xu Zhiqiao’s flight was scheduled for next week.
But she couldn’t bear to stay a second longer. The moment she got home, she changed her ticket and threw herself into packing.
Ji Huailuo tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn’t budge. Exasperated, he grabbed his keys and headed out, saying he was going to buy her some gifts to bring back for her friends.
The entire Ji residence was quiet, with only her and Sister Li left inside.
After stuffing a few changes of clothes into her suitcase, Xu Zhiqiao spotted the black down jacket tucked away at the back.
Zhou Cong had bought it for her.
It didn’t feel right to return it—she’d already worn it.
Trying to give him money for it wouldn’t work either. Zhou Cong would just refuse, and that would only deepen their entanglement.
Xu Zhiqiao rubbed her lips again. No matter how hard she rubbed, she couldn’t seem to wipe away his scent.
In the end, she shoved the jacket to the deepest corner of the wardrobe.
As she shut the door, her phone buzzed.
Zhou Cong: [Baobao, I’ll be over for lunch tomorrow.]
Zhou Cong: [My tongue’s cut.]
Zhou Cong: [You bit me.]
Zhou Cong: [Planning a trip over the break. Anywhere you want to go?]
Xu Zhiqiao blocked and deleted him without hesitation.
Then, she paid extra to change her flight to the earliest one available the next morning.
—
The next day, Zhou Cong came straight from the company—and happened to run into Ji Huailuo’s car pulling into the driveway.
“I’m telling you, that girl actually congratulated us on our wedding,” Ji Huailuo was still fuming. “I almost smacked her—”
Zhou Cong had just stepped onto the lawn. “Where is she?”
“Gone already,” Ji Huailuo replied grumpily. “Damn it, she kept changing her flight like someone was out there waiting for her.”
Zhou Cong’s brow darkened, a cold pressure emanating from him. “She left?”
“Yeah,” Ji Huailuo muttered. “Complain all you want, but don’t scold her. She’s my Little Bao. Only I get to scold her.”
Zhou Cong stepped back off the grass and said curtly, “I’ve got things to do at the company. I’m leaving.”
The car door slammed in front of Ji Huailuo, engine roaring back to life.
“What the hell is wrong with everyone today!” Ji Huailuo snapped.
—
After schools began their winter breaks, companies across Shenzhen City also started closing for the holidays.
Xue Bie Zhen had given birth to six baby rabbits—three gray, three white.
Zhou Cong took pictures and named them Xu One, Xu Two, Xu Three… and so on.
Even the battle-hardened Zhou Family patriarch was left speechless.
“You heading out somewhere?” the old man asked.
Zhou Cong’s expression remained unreadable. “Yeah. Could you take care of them for me?”
“Where are you going? It’s almost the New Year.”
Just then, the sound of a car pulling up came from outside. A servant came in to announce the arrival of Zhou Hezheng and Madam Wu Shoufang.
The old man chuckled. “Good, tell the kitchen to add a few more dishes.”
Wu Shoufang wore a white overcoat that softened her typically imposing aura.
After the greetings, she turned to her son. “You haven’t been in touch with Ningning lately, have you?”
“Why would I?” Zhou Cong smiled coolly. “Didn’t I already tell you? Stop trying to matchmake me. Unless you’re ready to start apologizing one by one.”
Zhou Hezheng cleared his throat quickly. “Is that any way to speak to your mother?”
“It’s fine,” Wu Shoufang said. “Let him speak.”
The old man looked between them. “You two start arguing the minute you’re together. It’s almost the New Year—can’t we all be cheerful for once? Shoufang, come take a look at the baby bunnies Xue Bie Zhen just had…”
Wu Shoufang smiled faintly. “Xu?”
“Hm?” The old man blinked. “Something wrong with the surname?”
“She’s a Xu… that girl from the Ji family.”
“What about it?” Zhou Cong snapped, irritated. “What are you getting at?”
Wu Shoufang looked him straight in the eye. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”
“Then it’s good you noticed,” Zhou Cong said lazily. “Stop playing matchmaker. I already have someone in my heart.”
With that, he added nonchalantly, “I’m off. Not coming back for the New Year.”
The cold wind swept through the Courtyard, and Wu Shoufang’s face darkened.
Zhou Hezheng paused. “You think he’s fallen for Huailuo’s younger sister?”
“That girl…” the old man mused, “She’s quite lovely, isn’t she?”
Wu Shoufang’s expression turned sharp. “Father, she’s a stepdaughter. Her background is nothing like ours.”
The old man scowled. “I hate that kind of talk. Our ancestors struggled and sacrificed so that we, their descendants, could live how we wanted—happily. What do family backgrounds matter, as long as ours is enough?”
“Dad, Dad,” Zhou Hezheng coughed. “Let me handle this. You go play with the rabbits.”
After coaxing the old man away, Zhou Hezheng hesitated. “But how are you so sure… Zhou Cong’s into her?”
Wu Shoufang scoffed. “I know my son. I knew something was up the day I ran into them at that restaurant. That boy is such a clean freak and so prideful—he actually used her cup to drink, and even personally sterilized her dishes.”
“…That’s… very attentive of him.”
Wu Shoufang glared. “Are you out of your mind?”
Zhou Hezheng blinked. “No, no—I meant you’re attentive. Great observation.”
“…”
“Alright, alright,” he straightened up, serious now. “Kids are fickle. You know our son—he always wants what he can’t have. It’s never him getting hurt, it’s the girl we need to worry about.”
Wu Shoufang’s face clouded again, clearly far less optimistic than her husband.
—
Xu Zhiqiao’s home in Jindong was on Lekuan Street, in a six-story walk-up built twenty years ago. The Xu Family lived on the top floor.
Back then, Xu Shu had chosen the sixth floor because it was cheaper than the first, but the first floor was damp and gloomy—bad for a child’s health. So she picked the sixth.
Qu Xiuxiu and Wei Long had already come by earlier to help clean.
In her first few days back, Xu Zhiqiao barely stayed home—either Qu Xiuxiu dragged her to the Qu house, or Wei Long hauled her off to his.
Uncle Wei had grinned as he handed her a thick red envelope, saying he never got the chance to properly congratulate her for getting into University after the college entrance exams.
Finally, she had a moment to herself at home. Qu Xiuxiu and Wei Long were messaging in the group chat, arguing over who’d host the New Year’s Eve dinner.
In the end, they decided: lunch at Qu’s, dinner at Wei’s, and the three of them would head downtown together to ring in the New Year afterward.
Xu Zhiqiao put her phone down and lay back on the rocking chair, letting the warm midday sun bathe her.
Just then, there were three knocks at the door.
Wearing her bunny-ear slippers, she padded over, the soles slapping against the floor.
She peeked through the peephole—but it was pitch black. She couldn’t see a thing.
Probably just an old neighbor, she figured. It was midday, after all. Without thinking too much, she pulled the door open.
“…”
Seeing who it was, her pupils contracted, and she instinctively tried to slam the door shut.
Zhou Cong blocked it with one quick move. “Xu Zhiqiao!”
“Y-You… how are you here?” she stammered, flustered. “Wait—how do you even know my address?”
Zhou Cong was wearing a camel coat, suitcase thrown against the wall, looking thoroughly travel-worn.
“You forget something?” he asked, half-laughing in disbelief.
Xu Zhiqiao’s eyes darted nervously. “What?”
He pressed the door open with the tip of his foot, enunciating each word: “We. Kissed. Don’t you think that deserves an explanation?”