Chapter 13

The next day was New Year’s Eve. The neighborhood was decked out with festive decorations, and the atmosphere was celebratory. At Song Wei’s house, there were simple decorations that brought a hint of the New Year spirit. However, none of them enjoyed watching the Spring Festival Gala nor had the habit of doing so. After finishing their New Year’s Eve dinner and tidying up, everyone retreated to their rooms.

Song Wei chatted with Zhu Qingfei for a while, sent holiday greetings to her former colleagues, and even distributed red envelopes in her current work group chat. Back and forth, her New Year’s Eve passed without a moment’s rest.

By the time she put down her phone, it was already past eleven. She went to take a shower, and when she came out, she noticed a missed call—from Chen Jubai.

The call was at 11:50 PM.

Song Wei blow-dried her hair for three or four minutes until it was half-dry, then called him back.

“Hello?”

His voice was clear on the other end. “Still awake?”

Song Wei replied, “No, it’s New Year’s Eve. Who sleeps this early?”

Chen Jubai asked, “What were you doing?”

“I just finished showering. Before that, I was chatting with some colleagues and friends.” Song Wei sat on the edge of her bed, put her phone on speaker, and tossed it onto her blanket. As she stroked her cat, Snowflake, absentmindedly, her mind wandered to the previous night. Was their relationship now in a new phase?

Biting her lip, Song Wei softened her tone and asked, “What about you? What were you doing?”

“Just came back from a walk with my aunt, uncle, and Jiang Xiaoyu.”

A walk… It had been ages since her family did something like that.

When Song Wei was younger, Song Gaoyi and Yang Yingqiu would take her downstairs for walks. Later, it was just her father accompanying her. Eventually, as both parents became busy with work and she with her studies, evening walks became a luxury.

Suppressing her envy, she replied casually, “That’s nice. Is it lively outside?”

“Yes, lots of people, though most shops are closed. Only a few are selling small lanterns and toys.”

“Do you always spend New Year’s at your aunt’s house?”

“My dad came over for dinner earlier, but he left afterward. I’m staying here with them.”

“I see.”

Chen Jubai didn’t go upstairs; instead, he was calling from downstairs in the neighborhood. The weather was pleasant, and even at this hour, children were running around, laughing and playing. He stepped to the side of the road and said, “I only stay here during holidays or when I have time to visit. I have two apartments near my company, about a ten-minute drive away. I usually live there; they’re fully furnished.”

Song Wei muttered almost inaudibly, “Why are you telling me this?”

Chen Jubai’s dark eyes lit up with amusement, but he said nothing, letting the subtle emotions flow through the line.

Somewhere in the neighborhood, someone boldly set off fireworks. The brilliant bursts of light lit up the night sky, then faded.

Hearing the sound of fireworks, Song Wei couldn’t tell if it came from his end or hers. Instinctively, she turned to look out the window. At the same time, his gentle voice came through: “Happy New Year, Song Wei.”

She froze and glanced at her phone. It was exactly midnight.

“Happy New Year,” she replied.

Outside, the dazzling fireworks heralded the arrival of a new year.

When the fireworks ended, a quiet atmosphere settled over the phone call. Song Wei wanted to say something, but before she could, she heard loud arguing from outside her room.

Yang Yingqiu’s voice was sharp: “Song Gaoyi, you know exactly what you’ve done. Don’t think I don’t know!”

Song Gaoyi’s tone was weary. “Yingqiu, it’s New Year’s Eve. Don’t make a scene.”

“Make a scene? Is that all I ever do in your eyes? Am I making things up?”

“I don’t want to argue with you.”

Yang Yingqiu’s voice dropped, cold and quiet. “Fine. I don’t want to argue either. I’m tired of it.” A loud door slam followed.

Hearing the commotion, Chen Jubai asked over the phone, “What’s going on?”

“I’m not sure,” Song Wei replied. It was the first time she had heard her parents argue so loudly. “I’ll go check. I’ll talk to you later.”

After ending the call, she stepped out into the living room. Only Song Gaoyi was there, slumped on the sofa, his posture radiating exhaustion.

She sat down beside him and asked softly, “Dad, what happened?”

Looking up, Song Gaoyi forced a smile. “Nothing. It’s late; go to bed.”

“I won’t be able to sleep. Just tell me.”

Perhaps he needed someone to talk to. After a moment, he said briefly, “Your mom misunderstood me about something. She wouldn’t listen no matter what I said. She found some tiny clue and made a big deal out of it. It’s not a big issue. Things will settle down in a couple of days.”

Song Wei’s chest tightened. “Is it about what happened before?”

“You know about that?”

Song Wei shook her head. “No, Aunt mentioned it to me yesterday.”

Song Gaoyi smiled faintly. “What couple doesn’t argue? Your mom and I have been together all these years. I’ll talk to her again tomorrow. Don’t worry; it’s nothing serious.”

“Dad…”

He patted her shoulder gently. “Really, it’s fine. Go to bed.”

Left with no choice, Song Wei returned to her room.

Later, a few more messages came in from him. Song Wei stared at the conversation for a while before simply replying, Good night.

It was the New Year, after all—best not to ruin the mood.

…..

On New Year’s Day, the three of them acted as if nothing had happened. After breakfast, they each went about their own business, as though last night’s argument had never occurred.

Song Wei observed Yang Yingqiu carefully. It wasn’t that she wasn’t angry—more like she didn’t care anymore. She still spoke to Song Gaoyi as needed and even had him arrange the groceries and gifts for their trip to the countryside tomorrow.

Their family didn’t have many relatives. Song Gaoyi was an only child, and on Yang Yingqiu’s side, it was just her younger sister who visited often. The only elders were her grandparents in the countryside. They would visit on the second day of the New Year. If colleagues or friends came over later, they would get busier; otherwise, the New Year would pass uneventfully.

Song Wei felt reassured. She hadn’t been home much in recent years, and her parents, who lived together day and night, must have their own way of getting along.

The next day, they visited her grandmother’s house with her aunt’s family, returning in the evening with a carload of local specialties.

On the third and fourth days of the New Year, they rested. On the fifth day, two of Yang Yingqiu’s colleagues came to visit. Song Wei sat with them until noon. Most of the conversation revolved around her—her work, marriage, and children. It was overwhelming, and she escaped to find Zhu Qingfei.

But Zhu Qingfei was just as nosy, relentlessly asking about her and Chen Jubai’s relationship.

Song Wei was still uncertain. “It’s just… like that.”

“What do you mean ‘like that’? Didn’t he come to your house? He’s already met your parents. What’s next?”

The sequence seems out of order. Most people confirm their relationship before meeting the parents. But for them, nothing had been confirmed, yet they already spent the New Year together.

Song Wei didn’t know how to explain this, so she glossed over it vaguely.

After lunch, Zhu Qingfei dragged her out shopping for clothes, saying it was a new year, new beginnings, and one should shine when returning to work.

Song Wei wasn’t much for shopping, but she ended up buying a few outfits too.

When she returned home in the evening, the house was unusually quiet. Thinking Yang Yingqiu and Song Gaoyi weren’t home, she placed down her shopping bags—only to hear voices coming from the study.

She froze, hesitated for a few seconds, then walked toward the door.

It didn’t sound like an argument. She waited for a moment until voices rose again.

Song Gaoyi’s tone was restrained. “Yingqiu, there’s truly nothing between her and me. Why don’t you believe me?”

Yang Yingqiu replied, “Ten years ago, I believed what I saw with my own eyes, and ten years later, I still do. Whatever relationship you two have, I’m not interested in dissecting it anymore. It doesn’t matter.”

“So, at the core, you just don’t trust me.”

“And you—when have you ever trusted me? When have you ever taken my side?” Yang Yingqiu looked at him, her gaze full of disappointment. “The issues between us are more than just trust, Song Gaoyi. Over these years, I know you’ve been tired, but so have I. Do you think I made a scene at your workplace all those years ago for no reason? I was afraid because I cared. And you—you just said I was being unreasonable, humiliating me in front of everyone.”

“We’ve drifted further and further apart, and you never tried to fix things. Whenever there was an issue, you just evaded or gave it the cold treatment. Most of the reasons we’ve ended up like this are because of you!”

“When Weiwei was in high school, I didn’t want to make a fuss. I didn’t want to affect her studies. Later, when she went to college and started working, I thought about how divorced parents might make her future in-laws look down on her. So I endured it. When I couldn’t bear it anymore, I buried myself in work to distract myself.”

Song Gaoyi was shocked. “Yingqiu, you…”

Yang Yingqiu gave a small smile. “None of those reasons matter anymore. Once our daughter has settled down, let’s go through with the divorce. There’s no need to keep propping up this marriage that’s a hollow shell.”

Song Gaoyi tried to persuade her. “What’s the point? We’re old now, close to retirement.”

Yang Yingqiu’s voice finally wavered, caught between laughter and tears. “And you want to keep living like this even in retirement?”

“Yingqiu—”

“It’s decided. Prepare yourself.”

Hearing footsteps, Song Wei left the doorway.

Three minutes later, she went back out to retrieve the shopping bags she had left behind. The house was silent as if nothing had happened.

Carrying the bags back to her room, she sat blankly in her chair.

At some point, Snowflake appeared from a corner, rubbing against her feet. Song Wei looked down but didn’t bend to pick it up as she usually would.

Her mind was completely blank, incapable of forming thoughts.

They were getting a divorce.

After all this time, they had reached this point. But instead of relief, she felt suffocated.

She understood that separating was the best choice for them, but her chest still felt unbearably heavy.

Even though the house was always quiet, the three of them still ate breakfast together, visited her grandmother’s home together, and discussed family matters together.

But someday, all of this would vanish, like those childhood memories that faded into the distance. This year’s New Year’s Eve dinner might have been their last one as a family.

She had deliberately overlooked many details, thinking it would help her avoid guilt.

They stayed together because of her. For ten years, they could have had better lives.

The love she bore on her shoulders was a heavy burden.

Perhaps they no longer loved each other, but the love they gave her was abundant. Every time she came home, Song Gaoyi would cook her favorite meals, care about her work and life, and comfort her whenever she argued with Yang Yingqiu. His fatherly love stood steadfast like a mountain behind her.

Yang Yingqiu, though strict in her demands, never forced her into anything she didn’t want to do. The piano lessons and dance classes she refused as a child, the decision to attend a university far away, choosing a less-favored major, insisting on working in the capital, not pursuing a government or corporate job after returning—she was always allowed her freedom.

Song Wei felt a thousand pounds of guilt pressing on her. She thought, I’m truly not a good daughter. Mom must have suffered deeply in those countless nights when our opinions clashed, and she had to compromise.

Her eyes turned red as her vision blurred.

Even at 26, Song Wei found herself unable to accept her parents’ divorce.

Sensing her emotions, Snowflake meowed incessantly, rubbing against her.

Song Wei bent down to stroke it and softly reassured, “It’s okay. Everything’s fine.”

After a few minutes, she steadied her breathing and went out to knock on the master bedroom door.

A muffled voice answered, “Come in.”

Pushing the door open, Song Wei saw her mother sitting on the bed, back turned to her.

She softly called, “Mom.”

Yang Yingqiu turned around, smiling faintly. “You’re back?”

The sight made Song Wei’s heart ache even more.

Both her parents, even at this point, still treated her like a child, hiding everything from her.

If she had married into a family that cared about such things, would they have kept enduring it for a lifetime?

Song Wei walked over and instinctively hugged her mother from behind, softly murmuring, “Mom.”

Yang Yingqiu was taken aback. “What’s wrong? Did you argue with Xiao Chen?”

“No.”

Song Wei held her mother, staying silent for a long time.

She loved the scent of her mother.

Everyone carried their unique scent. Song Gaoyi’s smelled of lab equipment from years of working in a laboratory. Her aunt carried the fragrance of her usual perfume. And Chen Jubai… Song Wei’s mind went blank. She couldn’t quite pinpoint his scent—sometimes it was the freshness of body wash, other times no scent at all, and occasionally a faint whiff of green tea. In any case, it was never unpleasant.

Her mother, however, smelled of the sweet scent of gardenias—a fragrance etched into her memory, the scent of her mother throughout her growth.

Song Wei nuzzled closer, hugging her more tightly.

Yang Yingqiu, confused by her behavior, asked, “What’s wrong? Did you really have a fight? There’s no need to pressure yourself. I’m not insisting you stay with him. If you don’t like him, take your time. You’re still young.”

Song Wei shook her head and whispered, “Mom, I heard you and Dad talking tonight.”

Yang Yingqiu froze, her voice tinged with unease. “You heard everything?”

“Yeah. Thank you both.”

Yang Yingqiu was startled again. After a moment, a faint smile surfaced as she reached back to pat her daughter’s head. “Silly child.”

“Mom, whatever you and Dad decide, I’ll support you. I’m not a kid anymore. You don’t need to factor me into your decisions.”

Yang Yingqiu’s voice, still hoarse from crying earlier, softened. “Weiwei, you don’t need to worry about your parents. No matter what happens, you’ll always be our daughter. But you’ll have your own life to live, and the rest of the journey will be yours to navigate.”

Song Wei had come to comfort her mother, determined not to cry herself, yet her tears flowed uncontrollably at this moment.

“I’ve had a failed marriage, so there’s not much wisdom I can pass on. But in the future, no matter who you choose to spend your life with, remember to nurture the relationship. Communicate openly, face problems together, and never resort to avoidance or silent treatment. Respect and support each other, okay?”

Song Wei nodded, tears streaming down her face.

Yang Yingqiu turned her daughter around and gently wiped her tears. She chuckled. “Didn’t you say you’re not a kid anymore? Look at you, crying like a big baby.”

Song Wei swallowed her pleas for them not to divorce and buried herself in her mother’s embrace, sobbing softly.

Yang Yingqiu stopped speaking, lightly patting her daughter’s back in a soothing rhythm.

It was unclear how much time passed before Song Wei’s sobs subsided. Yang Yingqiu let her go and said, “Alright, off to bed. I have a business trip tomorrow.”

Song Wei shook her head, her reddened eyes filled with determination. “Not yet. I need to talk to Dad.”

Yang Yingqiu laughed softly. “Go ahead. But don’t cry in front of him—he can’t handle that.”

Song Wei sniffled and nodded. “I’ll try.”

By the time she left Song Gaoyi’s room, it was nearly midnight. Exhausted, she took a shower and collapsed into bed, falling asleep instantly.

Her troubles lingered in her dreams. Scenes from her childhood flashed through her mind—when she was seven or eight, insisting on squeezing between her parents to sleep. Song Gaoyi would tell her all kinds of physics stories in a voice that was both gentle and strong.

Then the dream shifted to the day she finished her college entrance exams. Her parents had waited at the school gates with flowers, congratulating her on a major milestone in her life.

The scene transformed again to her wedding day. Both her parents were there. She walked arm-in-arm with her father down the aisle to the melody of the wedding march.

At the end of the aisle stood someone whose face was blurry, but she could see the smile of blessing on her mother’s face in the audience.

The dream ended abruptly, and Song Wei opened her eyes.

The dream replayed in her mind as her consciousness returned. She lay awake, unable to fall back asleep.

…

The next morning, she woke to find the house empty except for a cooled breakfast on the dining table and two notes. Yang Yingqiu’s note mentioned her business trip, while Song Gaoyi’s explained he needed to return to work early for a major project at the research institute.

The festive New Year weather had taken a turn. The sky outside was overcast, looking like it would snow again.

Song Wei stood still, letting out a silent sigh.

It was the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, the final day of her holiday. After breakfast, the snow began falling as expected, blanketing the sky in white.

She curled up on the sofa with her cat, Snowflake. Human and feline sat quietly, watching the snowflakes drift outside.

The living room lights were off, and the muted natural light painted the space in cold, subdued tones of pale grays and whites, exuding an austere tranquility.

Time slipped by. Restless, Snowflake eventually tried to squirm away. Song Wei pinched the cat’s chin and pretended to scold it playfully. “Little troublemaker.”

Around ten, her former boss Andy called. Song Wei answered, “Hi, Andy. Happy New Year!”

Andy’s voice was as warm as ever. “Happy New Year, Weiwei. How’s your holiday going?”

“It’s been good. What about you?”

Andy laughed. “Not so great. After you left, the company merged our department with another, and it’s been chaos. I couldn’t take it anymore.”

Song Wei didn’t know how to respond. After a pause, Andy revealed the true purpose of her call. “Weiwei, I’ve started my own company. Would you like to come back?”

Song Wei was shocked. “Andy…”

“I’ve worked for years without making much money, but at least I’ve built connections and a solid client base. The old company was stuck in limbo, so I decided to strike out on my own. Now, I’m my own boss,” Andy explained. “Several of our former core colleagues have joined me, including two from the tech team. Working with familiar people makes everything smoother.”

Andy’s sincerity came through in her tone. “Weiwei, are you interested in joining us?”

If this opportunity had come when Song Wei was first laid off, she would’ve jumped at it without hesitation. But in the past month, too much had changed.

The sting of being laid off had faded.
She had found a new job.
Her parents’ situation weighed on her mind.
And then there was Chen Jubai…

She already had new ties and responsibilities here.

“Thank you for trusting me, Andy,” Song Wei said. “But I’ve found a new job here and might not be able to return to Beijing for now.”

Andy was quiet for a moment, then sighed. “I see. Looks like I was too late. Which company are you with now?”

“It’s a young tech startup in the smart technology industry. They specialize in VR and recently completed a Series C funding round.” Song Wei hesitated briefly before adding, “What’s your new venture focused on, Andy?”

Andy chuckled, catching on immediately. “Ah, I see what you’re doing.”

Song Wei smiled sheepishly. Having worked together for years, Andy had been her mentor and knew her too well. “I admit, I’m curious. I’ve been thinking that if we’d innovated sooner, our department might not have been cut.”

Andy was silent for a long time, then asked, “What’s your company’s name?”

“Guangnian Technology.”

“Let’s talk more tomorrow when you’re back at work.”

Song Wei’s lips curved into a smile. “Alright.”

After hanging up, her gloomy mood lifted a bit. She patted Snowflake on the head and mused aloud, “If I bring Chen Jubai a new client, he should thank me, right?”

As if summoned by her thoughts, Chen Jubai messaged her. What are you up to?

Her lips twitched. She snapped a photo of the snowy scene outside and sent it to him. Watching the snow.

Chen Jubai: It’s snowing in Nan’an?

Song Wei: You’re not here?

Chen Jubai: Just arrived in Shenzhen. I have a meeting tomorrow.

Curious, she replied, What’s the meeting about?

Chen Jubai: A project with Zhirui Corporation in the medical field.

Song Wei: A new project?

Chen Jubai: It’s not new for them, but it’s our first time tackling it.

Song Wei: Sounds competitive.

Chen Jubai: It’s a challenge, but that’s fine.

Song Wei: Good luck.

Chen Jubai: Thanks, it’ll go well.

Ending the chat, Song Wei patted Snowflake again. “The New Year’s holiday not even over, and he’s already back at work. Impressive. I hope he lands a big deal—and gives me a bonus. Ha!”

Around eleven o’clock, a dull pain began to weigh in her lower abdomen. Song Wei checked the calendar, then went to the bathroom to confirm—sure enough, her period had arrived right on schedule.

Her period was always unruly, and every visit felt like it claimed half her life. Yang Yingqiu had once said it was hereditary—she had suffered the same way.

Sometimes, one or two ibuprofen would work; other times, even miracles wouldn’t help.

Song Wei searched the medicine box at home but found no ibuprofen left.

While she could still move, she ordered some through an online delivery service.

The snow outside grew heavier, obscuring the surrounding buildings. It took the delivery an hour to arrive.

With no one else home for lunch, she simply cooked a bowl of noodles, took an ibuprofen, and collapsed onto her bed to brace for the first day of her period.

Having slept poorly the previous night, she fell asleep almost immediately.

She woke up later, jolted by the pain.

Clutching her lower abdomen, the first thing she did was check the time—two o’clock. Then she dragged herself out of bed to get some water and take more medicine.

Perhaps the emotional turmoil of the previous night had taken its toll, for today’s pain was relentless, hitting her in waves.

There was no cure for menstrual cramps; she could only endure them.

Curled up on the bed, she bore the pain until sweat began to bead on her forehead.

Her phone, lying beside her pillow, kept lighting up and dimming as messages poured in.

Half an hour later, the phone began ringing. With a trembling hand, Song Wei groped around for it, fumbling before finally hitting the green button without even checking the screen.

“Hello? Who is it?”

Chen Jubai immediately caught the weakness in her voice. “It’s me. What’s wrong?”

The moment she heard his voice, the phone slipped from her ear and landed on the pillow. “Nothing… just not feeling well.”

“Are your parents home?”

“No…”

“Can you get to the hospital on your own?”

“No need… no hospital…”

Her voice grew fainter, almost inaudible.

She didn’t know when the call ended and didn’t care. Once again, she curled into a ball.

Based on her experience, the worst would pass after tonight. If she could get some sleep, she’d be able to make it through.

The pain came and went in waves, lulling her into a fitful slumber.

Around nine in the evening, the doorbell began ringing incessantly, one buzz after another, as if it would never stop.

Song Wei, forgetting that her door had a keypad lock, assumed it was Song Gaoyi returning from work without his keys. Dragging her uncooperative body, she stumbled to the door to open it.

But when the door swung open, it wasn’t her father.

Standing there, windswept and weary, was a man with snowflakes clinging to his shoulders and worry etched in his eyes.