Chapter 71

Jiang Sixun added, “After the New Year, you’ll be a year older—take advantage of your youth and come out to play.”

Jiang Chengyu replied dryly, “…If you don’t know what to say, it’s better to say less.”

Jiang Sixun chuckled. “The fact is, you’re older than me. Now, I’m happy to call you ‘brother.'”

As kids, no one wanted to call anyone older “brother,” but now, it didn’t matter much. It was as natural as how he called Xu Heng—just the way things had evolved over time.

He asked again, “Are you coming?”

If Jiang Chengyu decided to go, Jiang Sixun would have to book the room now. If he waited too long, there might not be any availability.

With just 30 hours left before the New Year, there was still time to fly there.

Jiang Chengyu, now more awake than before, thought for a few seconds before responding, “Fine. I’ll go.”

In the dark bedroom, Jiang Sixun glanced around, realizing no one was beside him. His blanket was nowhere to be found either—wrapped around Shen Tang, who was lying about a meter away.

He turned on the bedside lamp and pulled her back toward him.

“Shen Tang, wake up. It’s almost 10 o’clock.” In reality, it was only 5:05 a.m.

Shen Tang mumbled, trying to open her eyes but failing, “Didn’t I just fall asleep?”

“You’ve already been asleep for a long time.”

“Oh.”

Shen Tang snuggled against him, her eyelids still heavy. She cracked one eye open, but it quickly snapped shut again.

She had only fallen asleep past 1 a.m., so it felt like she’d just closed her eyes.

Jiang Chengyu gently rubbed her cheek to help wake her up. “Jiang Sixun and Xu Zhiyi are in Hawaii taking wedding photos. Let’s go there and take a set too.”

Shen Tang, still groggy, took a moment before replying, “Haven’t we already taken wedding photos?”

“We’ve taken one set, but we can always take more. Didn’t you say you celebrate your anniversaries three times?”

She smiled, finally starting to wake up.

It was tough for her to fully open her eyes, still feeling sleepy, but she wondered why it was already 10 o’clock.

“Are we going to the airport now?” she asked.

“Yes. If we wait any longer, we’ll miss the flight.”

“But I haven’t even prepared a wedding gift for Xu Zhiyi yet.”

“We’re family. No need for gifts.”

Finally getting her awake, Jiang Chengyu went to pack his things.

Shen Tang sat up on the bed and asked the walk-in closet, “Where are we celebrating the New Year?” Her brain had been foggy earlier, and she hadn’t caught the answer.

Jiang Chengyu raised his voice slightly. “Hawaii.”

The last time she went to Hawaii was on Valentine’s Day a few years back, when the yacht party was especially lively. She even ran into Ning Yinqi on that yacht.

She asked again, “Are we celebrating on Cohen’s yacht?”

Jiang Chengyu shrugged. “I’m not sure. Ask Jiang Sixun.”

After a pause, Jiang Chengyu added, “Ning Yinqi probably won’t be coming this year.”

Shen Tang chuckled, rolling her eyes, “You’re so petty!”

She hopped off the bed and pulled open the bedroom curtains, expecting the sunlight to hit her like a hammer, ready to shield her eyes with her hand. But to her surprise, the yard outside was as dark as pitch.

She turned to grab her phone, only to glance at the time and see it was 5:10 a.m.

“Jiang Chengyu, you’re lying!”

“You’ve mentally slept enough; that’s why you’re willing to open your eyes,” Jiang Chengyu coaxed, “Are you still tired?”

“Tired,” she mumbled.

“Then sleep on the plane,” he suggested.

On the way to the airport, Shen Tang leaned against him, trying to catch up on her sleep.

Jiang Chengyu quickly typed a message to Jiang Sixun: 【Is the New Year’s Eve party still on Cohen’s yacht?】

Jiang Sixun replied: 【If you want to celebrate on the yacht, I’ll call Cohen right now.】

It was just a phone call away.

Jiang Chengyu: 【No need, let’s keep it simple, just us.】

Jiang Sixun: 【I’ve already booked a table for the New Year’s Eve dinner, and there’s a fireworks show planned for them.】

If it hadn’t been for the wedding photo shoot, he had originally planned to spend the New Year with Xu Zhiyi, watching the Victoria Harbor fireworks display in Hong Kong.

Jiang Chengyu put down his phone and looked at the two of them still looking through the photos. He asked Xu Zhiyi, “How’s Jiang Baichuan’s photography?”

Xu Zhiyi praised, “It’s practically cinematic, not much different from your own skills.”

Jiang Chengyu grinned at the compliment, “Then keep enjoying it.”

Jiang Baichuan, sipping on his iced drink, gave him a cheeky look.

Jiang Chengyu pretended not to notice and grabbed an orange juice, sitting down beside him.

“Dinner together tonight?” he suggested.

Jiang Baichuan raised an eyebrow. “What’s on the menu?”

“Spanish cuisine.” After a beat, Jiang Chengyu added, “Or Chinese, if you prefer.”

“I’m taking Su Yang for some grilled skewers. You two can go for the western food. We’re all gathering tomorrow night anyway.”

On the other side, the two ladies were busy discussing outfits for tomorrow’s photo shoot.

Su Yang had brought along several outfits for the shoot, including a white gown. “The size might not be perfect, but you’re the first to wear this one.”

She had managed to secure this opportunity through the brand partnership.

Xu Zhiyi was deeply touched and wrapped her arms around Su Yang’s neck, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, darling.”

Su Yang playfully responded, “I can’t handle it when beautiful women pamper me.”

Xu Zhiyi kept her hand resting on Su Yang’s shoulder, both of them snuggled together on a lounge chair, heads leaning in as they viewed the photos on the camera. They whispered sweet nothings to each other, their closeness evident.

“You two can talk it out, just go ahead and have a good discussion,” one of the men said.

“Zhiyi, sit in this chair,” the other added.

Both men spoke in almost perfect unison.

Xu Zhiyi: “…”

Su Yang: “…”

Without hesitation, Xu Zhiyi raised her foot and kicked Jiang Baichuan lightly.

Jiang Baichuan stood up, glancing at Jiang Sixun. “Aren’t you hungry? Let’s go eat.”

Su Yang protested, “We haven’t finished discussing yet.”

Jiang Baichuan replied, “We can talk while we walk.”

On the way back, the two ladies were held by their husbands’ hands, walking side by side.

Xu Zhiyi turned to Su Yang and asked, “Do you think we could wear our own clothes for one of the shots tomorrow? I’m a little worried that the outfit might not look good on camera. It doesn’t quite match with Jiang Sixun’s clothes… he’s wearing burgundy, and I’m in turquoise green.”

Su Yang smiled. “Red and green actually go really well together. I’ll make sure you’re happy with the shots tomorrow.”

They walked a short distance before the two couples split up, each heading in a different direction for a meal.

Xu Zhiyi asked, “Why aren’t we eating together?”

Jiang Sixun explained, “We still have to spend the whole day tomorrow with each other. I’d rather not get tired of seeing Baichuan too soon.”

Xu Zhiyi teased him, “That’s just you and Jiang Baichuan getting sick of each other. Su Yang and I won’t get tired of each other. We’ve got plenty to talk about.”

Jiang Sixun said, “Anything you want to talk about, you can talk to me.”

Xu Zhiyi smiled mischievously, “Oh, I’ve got so much I want to talk to you about. We might not even get through it all in this lifetime.”

Jiang Sixun responded with a quiet laugh, “Then we’ll just continue in the next life.”

At the same time, both of them tightened their grip on each other’s hands.

Xu Zhiyi thought to herself that she wasn’t someone whose ties with family were weak anymore.

Maybe there really is a next life, a different space, a different time.

Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a call from He Yi’an.

He Yi’an explained that their daughter would be busy with wedding photos all day tomorrow and then celebrating New Year’s Eve. So, she wanted to call in advance to wish them a happy new year, as she wouldn’t be disturbing them later.

Xu Zhiyi told her daughter that they also had plans for New Year’s Eve.

“What plans do you and Dad have?” Xu Zhiyi asked, curious.

He Yi’an answered, “We’ve invited a few old friends from Manhattan over for dinner. Your… Aunt Jiang will be joining us as well.”

Xu Zhiyi laughed, “You still call her Aunt Jiang, huh?”

He Yi’an chuckled, “Well, I’ve been calling her that for so long, it just comes out automatically.”

“And your mother-in-law will be there too,” she added. “Tell Sixun not to worry about his mom being alone at home for New Year’s.”

Jiang Sixun, who had overheard the conversation, leaned closer to Xu Zhiyi’s phone and said softly, “Thanks, Mom.”

He Yi’an’s voice came through the phone with a warm tone, “It’s what family does. You and Zhiyi just have fun. Don’t worry about things at home.” She paused before adding, “After the New Year, I’ll be easing into semi-retirement anyway.”

As the call ended, the air seemed to warm around them, and Xu Zhiyi realized that, in the end, they were all connected by the bonds of family, no matter the distance.

The company was left in the hands of the younger team, and Jiang Yue had made plans with her. They were going to take a road trip together, visiting all the places they had dreamed of going when they were younger. Xu Xiangyi stayed home, managing things for their daughter.

As for Lu Jianbo, he was responsible for making the money.

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Sixun instructed his secretary to change the delivery address for the New Year’s flowers he had ordered for his mother—they were to be sent to the same place as his mother-in-law’s.

Xu Zhiyi: “You ordered flowers for my mom too?”

Jiang Sixun: “Yes.”

She would be receiving flowers too, delivered to the hotel room tomorrow.

The next morning, Xu Zhiyi was still deep in sleep when the alarm clock went off. Yesterday, Su Yang had mentioned that they would be taking photos of her at sunrise, noon, and sunset by the sea.

As soon as she thought about the wedding photos, she was wide awake. When she opened her eyes, Jiang Sixun had already gotten up.

He bent down and turned off her phone alarm. “Five more minutes of sleep.”

Xu Zhiyi said, “I’m not sleeping anymore. I’ve never had morning grumpiness.”

Jiang Sixun added, “Your sleep is still very deep. You wouldn’t even wake up if there was thunder.”

Xu Zhiyi smiled and quickly got out of bed, playfully wrapping her arms around his neck, as if she was going to complain.

Jiang Sixun kissed her on the cheek and, in Cantonese, cooed, “Good morning.”

His deep, magnetic voice instantly lifted her spirits. Xu Zhiyi almost forgot that whenever she was upset, all it took was him speaking Cantonese, and everything would be better.

After freshening up, there was a knock on the door.

Jiang Sixun pretended not to hear, focused on putting on his cufflinks.

Xu Zhiyi walked over and opened the door. A hotel staff member entered, carrying a bouquet of flowers.

A burst of fragrant red roses, vivid and intoxicating.

After thanking the staff, she closed the door, holding the bouquet in her arms.

“Looks like I got flowers too.”

Jiang Sixun smiled and said, “How could I forget you?”

Xu Zhiyi immediately decided that she would bring these roses to their photo shoot and make sure they stayed in their wedding album forever.

“I thought you would only give me flowers tomorrow,” she murmured. Tomorrow was New Year’s.

Jiang Sixun replied, “The last day of the year is special too.”

He walked over, having finished with his cufflinks, and gently took the flowers from her.

The roses were included in the first set of photos. Xu Zhiyi, wearing a trailing wedding dress, walked barefoot along the soft, delicate sand of the beach.

The sky was clear and blue, and from a distance, the clouds seemed to float on the sea’s surface.

This was her first time wearing a wedding dress. With her slender neck and delicate hands instinctively lifting the hem of the gown, her eyes shimmered with waves of emotion. Jiang Sixun, watching her approach in the backlight, was momentarily captivated.

He had never forgotten that fleeting glance six years ago in the elevator.

Su Yang, through the lens, watched the scene unfold in front of her.

The beach felt different for them—an intimate, almost sacred place. It was clear that the meaning of this beach for them was more profound, so the photo shoot doubled in time.

Under the vast blue sky, the white clouds, the beach, and the roses—these were the most ordinary sights, yet through the lens, they became something extraordinary because of the people in the frame.

Perhaps it was tied to their first meeting.

One day, years from now, looking at these photos, they might remember the fluttering of their hearts when they were young.

This was why Su Yang still loved taking photos of Jiang Baichuan so much. Every picture captured a moment—something that had been said or done in that instant.

As she was photographing Jiang Sixun and Xu Zhiyi, under the sunshade nearby, Jiang Baichuan was busy taking photos of her.

The evening was perfect. The sunset brought vibrant hues of red and gold, the sky and sea painted in shades of fiery crimson. It was even more dazzling than the sunset they had seen during a company retreat years ago.

This time, Jiang Sixun could finally take her hand in his.

Xu Zhiyi smiled gently, their fingers intertwined.

In all the pictures he had before, it had only been her. But today, for the first time, they were together.

Su Yang managed to capture several classic shots before calling it a wrap.

She handed the camera to her assistant. “Take a few more for them.”

Jiang Sixun turned his head, noticing that the photographer and Jiang Baichuan were busy taking selfies.

What a colorful sunset, but unfortunately, the other two couples had missed it.

Jiang Shenghe and Luo Qi didn’t arrive at the hotel until 8:30 p.m. After a quick shower and change of clothes, they rushed off to the restaurant by the beach they had reserved.

“Brother Jiang, congratulations!” Luo Qi greeted, still used to calling him that from the past.

Fortunately, Jiang Sixun was older.

Luo Qi and Xu Zhiyi had always worked together in 3D printing, so video calls were common between them. No need for formalities; they shared a warm hug.

Xu Zhiyi teased her, “Still working on the plane?”

Luo Qi laughed, “You caught me! It wasn’t exactly work, just a quick meeting.”

They sat together with Su Yang, enjoying the wedding photos from earlier in the day.

Finally, the last couple arrived an hour later, a bit late but with smiles.

Xu Zhiyi handed a glass of orange juice to Shen Tang. “Come on, sit and relax.”

Shen Tang had come barefaced, her hair still damp from the shower. Jiang Chengyu had grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the hotel before she could even finish getting ready. She rubbed her face. “It feels like I’m rushing to a show.”

Su Yang suggested, “Since the elders aren’t around, how about we four take a few group photos?”

Shen Tang agreed, “Definitely.”

She turned to Xu Zhiyi, saying, “Next year at New Year’s, you’ll really get to experience it—at the family dinner, things will be all over the place.”

The dog jumped.

Xu Zhiyi laughed, already picturing the scene—elders lecturing, younger ones arguing back, and someone inevitably bringing up old grievances at the dinner table.

Shen Tang said, “Luo Qi, remember last year’s Chinese New Year? When you went to your first reunion dinner and almost got scared by the elders?”

Luo Qi laughed, “A bit, yeah.”

Shen Tang turned to Xu Zhiyi, teasing, “You should go this year and give them a shock.”

The other three burst into laughter.

Jiang Sixun, sitting at the other end of the long table, asked, “What are you guys laughing about?”

Xu Zhiyi smiled, “Just enjoying ourselves.”

“…”

Jiang Sixun chuckled, “You all are so close now, but you’re not allowed to say anything bad about us.”

Xu Zhiyi pointed to the vase in the center of the table. “This vase is the boundary. You’re not allowed to come over.”

Su Yang handed the camera to her assistant and asked them to take a few pictures for the group.

Xu Zhiyi asked, “Do we do the same pose?”

Su Yang replied, “Yes, it’ll be more fun that way.”

Xu Zhiyi grinned, “Then let’s start with the ‘beautiful as a flower’ pose.”

Shen Tang asked, “So, we hold our faces with both hands, right?”

Xu Zhiyi laughed, “Exactly. Doesn’t it look like a delicate, blooming flower?”

The group laughed and struck the “beautiful as a flower” pose.

The four men sitting on the opposite side of the long table silently lifted their glasses. Jiang Sixun opened his mouth, but was unsure what to say.

Usually, they all seemed so normal. But once they got together, things started to get a bit out of control.

It was the first time Jiang Baichuan had heard of the “beautiful as a flower” pose, and what surprised him even more was that, once Xu Zhiyi mentioned it, the other three instantly understood and struck almost identical poses.

After a while, Jiang Shenghe finally said, “Let’s play cards. They won’t finish in less than an hour.”

“…”

As expected, they spent a whole hour and twenty-five minutes on the photo shoot before finally calling it quits due to exhaustion and hunger.

Su Yang created a small group chat for the four of them and immediately shared the finished photos.

This New Year’s Eve had been the most fun and chaotic one yet.

After the photos, they all returned to sit with their husbands.

It wasn’t until they got hungry that they remembered their partners.

Xu Zhiyi picked a few photos to post on social media, with the “beautiful as a flower” shot front and center.

Soon, Ning Yinqi liked the post.

But unlike usual, he only liked the photo without leaving a comment.

Jiang Sixun fed her a bite, glancing at the screen. When he saw the familiar profile picture that had liked the post, he quietly said, “He won’t comment today.”

Xu Zhiyi looked at him in confusion.

Jiang Sixun leaned closer to her ear and whispered, “There’s his first love in that photo.”

Xu Zhiyi froze. One of their four friends was Ning Yinqi’s first love?

She pointed to Shen Tang in the photo, her eyes asking Jiang Sixun for confirmation.

Jiang Sixun nodded and then advised, “From now on, try not to mention Ning Yinqi at our place.”

Xu Zhiyi replied, “Okay, I got it.”

So, it turned out that Shen Tang was the girl who loved riding the Ferris wheel.

She still remembered her first business trip to London, when Ning Yinqi had driven her in his sports car to see the London Eye. He had said he often went there alone, just to spend a little time, because from there, you could look up and see the Ferris wheel.

Jiang Sixun added, “Their relationship was like Qi Zhengchen’s and yours—growing up together. The difference is, Qi Zhengchen’s feelings were one-sided.”

Xu Zhiyi asked, “Then why did they break up?”

Jiang Sixun sighed, “There were many reasons. And Ning Yinqi’s father didn’t approve either.”

He popped a piece of bread into her mouth, “Let’s not talk about it anymore. It’s all in the past.”

Xu Zhiyi nodded and didn’t press further.

She thought about her second brother. She didn’t know where he was spending the New Year, but she hoped he was safe, happy, and well.

As the countdown approached midnight, the eight of them filled their glasses.

When the people on the beach started counting down from ten, they all joined in.

“3, 2, 1!” They clinked their glasses together.

The cheers for the New Year were drowned out by the fireworks at midnight.

They all toasted but didn’t bother drinking, instead, they leaned in to kiss the person next to them.

Jiang Sixun’s lips met hers, and he whispered in Cantonese, “Happy New Year.”