Chapter 58: The Gift

The atmosphere at the dining table remained heavy.

Zhuang Fu cautiously observed Ming Can, noticing that her expression was even more serious than she had imagined. She apologized again: “I’m sorry… I was just too sensitive back then…”

Ming Can shook her head: “You don’t need to apologize to me. You didn’t wrong me, and I wasn’t hurt by what happened.”

Zhuang Fu was silent for a moment, then asked, “Should I apologize to Chi Xiao?”

Ming Can thought for a moment: “I’ll talk to him.”

Even if she hadn’t liked Chi Xiao back then, she shouldn’t have judged a stranger based on someone else’s words and lashed out with unwarranted malice.

Moreover, Ming Can could feel that because of what happened in their first year of high school, her impression of Chi Xiao had always been poor.

Even though she had completely forgotten about him later, when Miaomiao suddenly brought them back into contact a few months ago, the moment she saw Chi Xiao again, she instinctively disliked him, thinking he was arrogant and rude.

If it weren’t for gradually getting to know what kind of person he really was through their interactions, she might have continued to view him with that subconscious malice forever.

Ming Can knew that her biggest flaw was her stubbornness and self-righteousness.

So, she would apologize to Chi Xiao—it would also serve as a lesson to herself.

She’d do it on the day they exchanged gifts.

Zhuang Fu nodded, then couldn’t help but say again, “I’m really sorry…”

Ming Can lowered her head, biting the straw and slowly sipping the fruit tea. She didn’t say anything.

Zhuang Fu hesitantly asked, “Cancan… are we still good friends?”

Ming Can, visibly down, paused for a moment before answering, “Yeah.”

Although this matter was deeply unsettling, Ming Can wasn’t the one who had been hurt. If Zhuang Fu was the one who had done wrong, then Ming Can was simply an accomplice who had been easily swayed. There wasn’t really anything to forgive Zhuang Fu for.

Moreover, after so many years, that small incident had long been buried in the past. If Zhuang Fu hadn’t brought it up, no one would have known she had lied, and no one would have blamed her. But she had chosen to confess today, which showed that she genuinely wanted Ming Can to be happier now.

With so many years of friendship between them, Ming Can found it hard to simply let go of her friend.

When she apologized, she would include Zhuang Fu’s part and sincerely admit her mistake.

“As long as we’ve cleared up what happened in the past, it’s fine,” Rui Yiqing chimed in, trying to lighten the mood as the atmosphere remained heavy. “What I’m more curious about now is, Volcano, are you sure you really don’t have a boyfriend?”

Ming Can: “Of course not!”

Rui Yiqing held her fruit tea, sipping it while smiling: “If I remember correctly, you never used to accept gifts from guys, let alone share them with us.”

“Exactly,” Zhuang Fu agreed. “Why hide it from us? Someone like Chi Xiao—it’s not like he’s someone you’d be embarrassed to show off, right?”

“It’s not that he’s embarrassing… wait, no.” Ming Can almost got caught in the trap. “He’s really just a friend… the kind of friend who exchanges gifts.”

“Since when do regular friends exchange gifts? And it has to be handmade gifts?”

Ming Can couldn’t win against the two of them and grew flustered: “You guys are so annoying! Why would I lie to you?”

Rui Yiqing: “Fine, you’re not lying. Even if you’re not together, you must have some feelings for him, right?”

Ming Can paused, avoiding the question: “I don’t want to be in a relationship.”

Zhuang Fu: “Why not?”

“I think it’s a waste of time,” Ming Can said. “My time shouldn’t be spent on dating.”

It was a very characteristic statement, one that Rui Yiqing and Zhuang Fu had heard many times before.

Zhuang Fu: “But being in a relationship can be really happy.”

Ming Can: “You only think that because you’re a hopeless romantic.”

“No personal attacks,” Zhuang Fu said. “You’ll understand once you’re in one. When you meet the right person, it’s really happy.”

Ming Can replied expressionlessly, “Oh.”

She stood up and went to the restroom, leaving Rui Yiqing and Zhuang Fu staring at each other.

“Someone like her won’t understand what you’re saying,” Rui Yiqing said. “Only real benefits can sway her.”

Zhuang Fu: “You mean power and money?”

Rui Yiqing: “Happiness is also a benefit—the priceless kind.”

Zhuang Fu nodded vigorously.

Rui Yiqing: “Volcano is just a bit slow. Once she experiences the joy a man can bring her, and realizes it’s a real benefit for her too, her determination will kick in strong.”

“That makes sense,” Zhuang Fu nodded as if she had just learned something profound. “It’s true that single people understand love better.”

“Enough already,” Rui Yiqing pounced on her, playfully pinching her. “It’s not like I’m single by choice…”

–

That night, back at home.

Ming Can spent half the night researching the suggestions her friends had given her and finally decided what to make for Chi Xiao.

Chi Xiao’s WeChat Moments had never been active, but fortunately, his QQ space had a few posts. Ming Can sneaked in and browsed through them. There were six posts in total—five were reposts of sports news, and one was a repost of an official encouragement video from the year she took the college entrance exam.

Ming Can remembered that video. She had appeared in it as a representative of the examinees, and her look was pretty silly. She hadn’t dared to watch it again since starting university.

If she ever got the chance to use his phone again, she would definitely sneak into his space and delete that video.

Tonight, Ming Can focused on the five sports news posts he had shared. Two were about the tennis star Rafael Nadal, and the other three were about the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.

She then went online to look up Nadal and the Warriors, discovering that these athletes often used a particular sports accessory—

Headbands.

They seemed practical and not too difficult to make.

That settled it. She would make headbands.

Over the next week, Ming Can hired a professional sports equipment designer to help her design the headbands, went to the market to select high-quality, sweat-absorbent fabric, learned cutting and sewing from a tailor, and finally had an embroidery teacher guide her in stitching the desired patterns onto the bands.

In addition to the one for Chi Xiao, Ming Can also made a smaller one for Miaomiao.

With the guidance of several professionals, on the 28th day of the lunar month, the two handmade headbands were successfully completed.

She placed them in elegant paper boxes, padded with raffia grass, and took several photos with her phone.

It was a little past seven in the evening when the sound of a car pulling into the courtyard downstairs reached her ears. Ming Can put down her phone, stored the gifts in the cabinet, and rushed to the window to look down.

Her aunt had returned.

Ming Shu had her own place in Beicheng, but for some reason, she had chosen to stay at her brother Ming Zheng’s house tonight.

Ming Can didn’t think too much about it and hurried downstairs to greet her.

As the Spring Festival approached, Ming Zheng hadn’t been going to the office much these past few days, so he was home when Ming Shu returned.

Seeing his sister come in with a large amount of luggage, Ming Zheng instructed the servants to take the items upstairs to her room.

“Just leave them on the first floor,” Ming Shu said. “We’ll have to move them to Jingyu Garden tomorrow anyway.”

Jingyu Garden was a luxury estate-style community. Many years ago, Ming Can’s grandfather had spent over a billion yuan to purchase a sprawling estate there, spanning thousands of square meters. The estate had seven main and auxiliary buildings, complete with gardens, water features, a swimming pool, and a tennis court. Unfortunately, it was located in a relatively remote area, so her grandfather didn’t live there often, usually treating it as a vacation estate.

Ming Can remembered the last time the whole family had stayed there was two years ago, during her grandfather’s 70th birthday celebration. Other times, even when the family gathered for holidays, they would only have a meal at the villa where her grandparents usually lived, without staying overnight.

“Why are we going to Jingyu Garden tomorrow?” Ming Can asked, surprised. “Are we all spending the New Year there?”

Ming Shu nodded and explained the situation: “There’s been some trouble at home. Your second uncle secretly sabotaged an important project your first uncle was handling, and it fell through. The two of them had a huge falling out, and it even affected the company’s stock price. Your grandfather was furious and dragged both their families to Jingyu Garden yesterday. This morning, he called and told your dad and me to move there tomorrow too. Haha, our whole family is going to spend a harmonious, lively New Year together.”

As Ming Shu spoke, she laughed, her tone clearly tinged with schadenfreude.

Ming Zheng frowned: “Cancan is still young. Why are you telling her all this?”

Ming Shu: “Cancan isn’t that young anymore. She should have known what our family is like a long time ago.”

Ming Can’s first and second uncles were full brothers, yet they could still clash like this, scheming against each other for their own selfish gains. What warmth was left in this family?

Ming Can was silent for a moment, then suddenly said to Ming Zheng: “Dad, Second Uncle probably did this because he saw an opportunity to push First Uncle further down after his recent investment failure. Grandpa must be very disappointed in both of them now, but you mustn’t think this situation is advantageous for us or do anything like what Second Uncle did.”

Ming Zheng was taken aback: “Why?”

Not long ago, his mother had called and said something similar to what Ming Can was saying now.

Ming Can: “Because we’re still too weak. Staying out of trouble is the most important thing right now.”

Ming Zheng smiled: “You understand this stuff?”

“I do. I know Grandpa hasn’t seriously considered making you the successor. He’s been wavering between First Uncle and Second Uncle, just using you as a whetstone for them,” Ming Can said. “Am I wrong?”

Ming Can wasn’t saying this to lecture her father. She wasn’t capable of that yet. She just wanted him to know that she was fully aware of what the Ming family was like and that he shouldn’t treat her like a child anymore. She was ready to step onto the battlefield at any time.

Ming Zheng’s expression grew more serious: “You’re not wrong.”

He looked at Ming Can as if seeing this pampered, cherished daughter of his in a new light.

Ming Can wasn’t too worried about the family situation. As long as her father stayed steady and didn’t anger her grandfather, they wouldn’t have a terrible time during the New Year.

What she was most concerned about now was that tomorrow was the 29th of the lunar month, and they were supposed to move to Jingyu Garden early in the morning. What about the meeting she had planned with Chi Xiao and Miaomiao?

She had worked so hard to make gifts for them and had even thought about having an early New Year’s Eve dinner together…

Unconsciously, the scales in Ming Can’s heart, which balanced family affection, had already tipped toward the future family she was building.

After hesitating for a while, Ming Can finally spoke up: “Dad, I have something to do on the evening of the 29th. Can we move to Jingyu Garden on the 30th instead?”

Ming Zheng: “What do you have to do on the 29th?”

Ming Can: “…I have a gathering with friends.”

Ming Zheng: “What kind of gathering is scheduled for the 29th?”

Ming Can couldn’t explain: “It’s just… with very close friends.”

“Is it with Yiqing and the others? Didn’t you just have dinner with them a few days ago?” Ming Zheng said firmly. “On the 29th, your grandparents will definitely want to see you and the other younger family members. Cancel the gathering.”

Ming Can insisted: “No…”

“Stop being stubborn. Family matters are more important. You need to listen to your dad,” Ming Shu interjected, pulling Ming Can aside and giving her a meaningful look. “Come upstairs with me. It’s been so long since I stayed here, I’ve almost forgotten where the rooms are.”

Ming Can, her face sullen, followed Ming Shu upstairs to her room.

Once the door was closed, Ming Shu leisurely sat down on the sofa and asked her niece, “Are you planning to spend the 29th with Miaomiao?”

Ming Can sat down slowly beside her: “Yes.”

“Is he being taken care of by his dad now?”

“Yeah.”

“Doesn’t his dad need to go home for the New Year?”

Ming Can lowered her eyes, feeling a bit guilty: “He said he doesn’t have to go home.”

“What a good dad,” Ming Shu said. “On the 29th, I can try to help you sneak out.”

Ming Can’s eyes lit up: “Really? Auntie, you’re the best!”

Ming Shu smiled and ruffled her hair: “Who else would I be good to if not you? The problem is, if you’re gone for too long, I’m afraid your grandparents or your dad might want to see you, and it’ll be hard to explain if they find out you’re not there.”

Ming Can’s mood soured again: “Yeah, and Jingyu Garden is so far away. I was planning to have dinner with Miaomiao and them, so I’d definitely be gone for a long time.”

“There’s another way,” Ming Shu said. “You don’t have to go out. I’ll bring the two of them in, and you can meet inside Jingyu Garden.”

“Huh?” Ming Can was shocked. “Jingyu Garden has tight security. They’re outsiders—what identity would they use to get in?”

Ming Shu vaguely replied: “I’ll have my friend bring them in.”

Friend?

It’s almost New Year’s. What kind of friend would skip spending time with their own family to come to Jingyu Garden to see Ming Shu, and even be willing to cover for Chi Xiao and Miaomiao?

Ming Can realized something: “Boyfriend?”

Ming Shu smiled: “Yeah. I’ll have my boyfriend bring Miaomiao and his dad in, saying they’re friends of my boyfriend. Once you’re all inside the building I’m staying in, just close the door, and no one will bother you.”

The four siblings of the Ming family each had their own building in Jingyu Garden, living separately without disturbing each other.

Ming Can cautiously asked, “Auntie, is your boyfriend still that pilot from last time?”

“Of course not,” Ming Shu said. “I’ve already moved on. The current one you’ve probably heard of—his last name is Luo, and he recently starred in a hit fantasy drama…”

“Luo Sheng?” Ming Can hadn’t watched the drama, but she knew of this rising A-list actor, who was only 24 years old—much younger than Ming Shu.

Ming Shu: “Yeah, that’s him.”

Ming Can: “…That’s great.”

As far as Ming Can could remember, her aunt had been cycling through boyfriends, enough to fill two or three mahjong tables. She had dated several celebrities from the entertainment industry too.

Ming Shu was Ming Yuzhang’s youngest daughter, and from birth, she had been kept outside the core of the Ming family’s power. Unlike Ming Can, who had always harbored a strong desire for power and aimed to rise above others, Ming Shu’s way of rebelling against the family was to reject all arranged marriages her father proposed. She refused to be a virtuous wife and mother, choosing instead to live a life of indulgence and pleasure. She only dated handsome men, never caring about their family backgrounds—after all, she had enough money to last several lifetimes.

In some ways, Ming Shu was a bit like her brother Ming Zheng—both were flirtatious and free-spirited. However, Ming Shu was self-aware and had a moral compass. Since she couldn’t settle down, she refused to start a family and cause harm to others. She was a staunch advocate of staying single and never settling down for anyone.

Ming Can didn’t fully agree with her aunt’s lifestyle, but she respected it. In terms of relationships, Ming Can was more like her mother—she had high standards and found it difficult to develop feelings for someone, let alone engage in casual relationships.

“I’ll think about it,” Ming Can said. “It feels easier to sneak out. Bringing them in might cause trouble for you, wouldn’t it?”

“It won’t affect me. I’d like to see Miaomiao too,” Ming Shu said. “How about this—we only bring Miaomiao in and leave his dad out? We can say Miaomiao is my boyfriend’s younger brother. He can stay for a few days, and we can celebrate the New Year together with him.”

“…” Ming Can was silent for a moment. “Miaomiao’s dad has already told his family he’s going abroad.”

If they didn’t bring him along.

He’d be spending the holiday alone.

Ming Can said softly, “We can’t just leave him behind.”

Ming Shu, who had watched Ming Can grow up, was seeing her niece show concern for a man for the first time.

“He’s a grown man. What’s the big deal about spending the New Year alone?” Ming Shu couldn’t help but tease her. “Or is it that you want to spend it with him?”

Ming Can: “That’s not it.”

Her tone was light, lacking conviction.

“Fine, you decide—sneak out or bring them in,” Ming Shu said. “If we bring them in, we’ll say they’re friends of my boyfriend. Or… I remember Miaomiao’s dad is quite good-looking, right?”

“He’s okay,” Ming Can said, pouting. “Just a little handsome.”

“Then we can say he’s a male model I hired for you,” Ming Shu laughed. “It’s the New Year, after all. It’s normal to have a handsome guy around for a couple of days.”