Look at that, she can speak these words so naturally.

Jin Yaotiao narrowed her eyes.

Today, like every other day, she was curious about what had made Shen Qiming change this way.

Shen Qiming naturally dodged her gaze, smoothly turning the steering wheel.

After reversing the car and looking ahead, his smile slowly faded. “In the end, it’s still my fault for letting the outside world have the chance to question your past. I’m sorry.”

Apart from clarifying things and investigating the source of the article, he had also read quite a few comments. When he thought about the malicious intentions towards Jin Yaotiao’s past fueled by that article, his gaze darkened.

He rarely drove himself, but when he did, it was smooth and steady, with sharp contours on his side profile as he stared straight ahead.

The golden-red sunset of Shen City poured through the car window and bathed his face, casting a soft glow.

Jin Yaotiao leaned back in the soft seat, unaffected by it, calmly watching the trees outside pass by, a little lost in thought. “Actually, you don’t need to keep blaming yourself. I really don’t care about those things. If they are guessing about me like this, I also have my own issues.”

Shen Qiming rarely disagreed with her, almost instinctively, he said, “Nonsense.”

You’ve always been good.

Jin Yaotiao didn’t argue.

She rested her hand on the window sill, lazily supporting her head.

Some things, she had gradually figured out herself.

Her slender, fair wrist peeked out from her sleeve, and along with her fluffy black hair, she was bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, radiating a natural and gentle beauty.

When the traffic light turned red, Shen Qiming turned his head and saw this scene, his mood unconsciously relaxing.

But Jin Yaotiao suddenly spoke: “Ling Meng came to see me.”

Shen Qiming was momentarily taken aback. “Who?”

Two seconds later, he remembered the former assistant who had been fired for who knows how long. His expression immediately became serious. How did she pop up again? “What did she do to you?”

Dead.

Still here asking for praise, the past issues haven’t been settled, and today might as well be his death day.

He was thinking about how to make Jin Yaotiao believe that he had no personal connection to those irrelevant people, while Jin Yaotiao, sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly laughed.

Shen Qiming, feeling puzzled, wondered if he was angry.

Jin Yaotiao gazed at the distant horizon and suddenly thought of her past self—lost in thoughts but too scared to speak up.

“What could she do to me? She just said a few words,” Jin Yaotiao noticed Shen Qiming’s alert expression and sighed. “It’s true. Don’t overthink it. If she did something that upset me, I’ll tell you directly.”

The car drove all the way to Jin’s house. Jin Yaotiao unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. She looked up at Shen Qiming, who had opened the door for her, and said, “Still, thank you for coming out to help me.”

At this moment, Shen Qiming wasn’t acting all smug like when they met at the parking garage. His deep eyes looked at her. “That’s what I should have done, I just didn’t do it well before.”

Jin Yaotiao lowered her head and smiled, then turned to leave.

Shen Qiming watched her, feeling as if she had nothing more to say. He sighed lightly, realizing that it was his own fault. The stones that were now tripping him were ones he had carelessly placed in his own path.

But as he saw Jin Yaotiao walk a few steps and suddenly turn back, she said, “Also, happy birthday. Go home early and eat some noodles.”

For Shen Qiming’s birthday this year, Xu Wan had started learning in the company’s cafeteria months ahead of time, even consulting with her occasionally.

Today, she had taken leave early, so by now, she had likely already prepared a table of dishes at home.

Her eyes, gleaming with a smile, reflected the sunset light, shining brightly like a flowing galaxy.

Shen Qiming was momentarily stunned.

Until her figure disappeared behind the gate, he finally withdrew his gaze.

As he closed the car door, Shen Qiming took out his phone and sent a message to his current assistant, asking them to investigate whether anyone with unclear intentions was approaching Jin Yaotiao and trying to harm her.

After sending it, before putting his phone down, he scrolled to an unread message.

It was the first birthday wish message from his mother this year, inviting him to come home early for the celebration.

The sky darkened, and the wind outside turned cold with the onset of winter.

Yet, inside the Jin family yard, Jin Yaotiao’s laughter could be heard as she teased the children.

Shen Qiming smiled faintly at the sound.

This winter solstice seemed to be unusually lively.

---

Jin Yaotiao stuffed a piece of homemade nougat into her son Lei Qiu’s mouth, patted his head, and told him to go play.

She glanced at Lei Qiu, who was washing vegetables in the kitchen.

Lei Qiu didn’t seem to have any issues.

She withdrew her gaze and checked her phone. It was a message from Jia Bingyang.

[Ms. Jin, is she and the child okay?]

Today’s local evening news was about Mingde, covering an event organized by Jin’s father, where he and the Mingde employees did a winter solstice charity event according to the old calendar.

As Mingde grew stronger, the group’s attention was increasing day by day, and she became busier, finally unable to attend in person like before.

But her father and the company staff did a great job, and the footage was full of laughter and joy.

Lei Qiu came out with the washed vegetables and glanced at the TV, smiling. “It’s no wonder Mingde has such a good reputation. You know, the group’s fame is spreading so widely. Even in Beijing, I heard a show team interviewed them about the annual winter solstice event. They might come for a special interview after the New Year. When that interview comes out, not just Linjiang, even Beijing may support you.”

Jin Yaotiao put down her phone and smiled. “You took leave to come to Shenzhen, right? When are you going back to work?”

Lei Qiu paused, picked up a piece of nougat, and put it in her mouth.

The rich milk flavor mixed with the nutty aroma was chewy but not sticky. While chewing, she calmly said, “Let’s see.”

After brushing past the topic, she smiled at Jin Yaotiao and shook her phone. “Ms. Jin, you really are a nationwide winner in life now.”

She was referring to the online jokes.

Since Shen Qiming publicly responded to the article, netizens’ admiration had broken the internet.

The account that posted the article had been ridiculed, and now Jin Yaotiao herself had become the undisputed center of attention.

The internet has a memory, especially when Shen Qiming himself had no intention of hiding anything.

The account with his real name was quickly dug up by netizens and scrutinized thoroughly.

Shen Qiming had even made time to attend the fundraising event launched by Jin Yaotiao’s fan club for Mingde’s new product launch. It was truly hard to believe.

Someone who could have everything with just a wave of a hand was, in private, so down-to-earth for the person he liked.

The onlookers were moved to tears.

But somehow, this event happening to Jin Yaotiao didn’t seem so unbelievable.

Since the fan club began, pictures of Jin Yaotiao’s impressive achievements had gone viral again.

This time, the reach was even wider than before, and the shares were full of admiration.

“At this rate, Mingde will probably be listed in two years. No wonder fans and employees call her ‘Your Highness’,” one post read.

“Heaven’s unfair, they always say strong women end up lonely, but why can she be both a domineering CEO and have a domineering CEO chasing after her?” another read.

“I heard that since she joined Mingde, Mingde has become the hottest company to work for in both Shenzhen and Linjiang.”

“What a scary woman. Whatever she does, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“Publish a book, please! I’ll buy it! I’ll buy it, okay?”

Lei Qiu looked at her phone and sighed. “Forget them. If you really publish a book, even I’d want to buy it.”

Jin Yaotiao smiled as she took out ingredients from the fridge. “What do you still need? You’ve got everything, haven’t you? Your job’s going great, and you seem to get along well with Jia Bingyang.”

Hearing this, Lei Qiu suddenly fell silent. After a while, she forced a smile. “What are you thinking? I told you, Jia Bingyang and I are just work partners. He… He and I could never be anything more.”

Jin Yao Tiao raised an eyebrow, “How is that impossible? You don’t think he’s good enough for you?”

Lei Qiu gave her a sidelong glance, and after a long pause, she spoke softly, “It’s not like before. He’s a big director now. He has fame and money, and there are so many young and beautiful girls in the industry vying for his attention. Do you think someone like him would be interested in me? A woman older than him and with a child? Are you crazy?”

Jin Yao Tiao furrowed her brows. Lei Qiu smiled lightly and scrolled through her phone, tossing something her way. “Don’t say that kind of thing again.”

When Jin Yao Tiao looked, she saw it was a news article from not long ago—

“Famous documentary director Jia Bingyang rumored to be in a relationship?”

The accompanying photo showed Jia Bingyang talking to a young woman across from him at a restaurant.

Although Jia Bingyang was a documentary director with many fans, his personal life wasn’t closely scrutinized like that of pop stars.

Therefore, the news didn’t generate much buzz, only sparking discussion about the identity of the young woman in the photo.

Jin Yao Tiao squinted at the photo and shook her head, “That doesn’t prove anything.”

Lei Qiu said, “I’ve run into them several times at a café downstairs from the Beijing TV building. Once, he lied to me, saying he was going to a meeting, but actually, he was meeting with her. What’s wrong with him? I’m not anyone important to him. Why lie to me? Does he think I’ll be obsessed with him? I know my place.”

Jin Yao Tiao furrowed her brows, “You’re no worse than anyone else.”

Lei Qiu laughed as though it didn’t matter, “I’m just telling the truth. But don’t worry. I’ve been through a lot, so I won’t care about this small stuff. Actually, I feel relieved.”

Jin Yao Tiao paused for a moment and asked, “Have you talked to him?”

Lei Qiu lowered her eyes, “What’s there to talk about? Why humiliate myself? I saw the news and left immediately. I’ve been in Shenzhen for so many days, and he hasn’t contacted me at all. I bet he feels relieved too. Why bother?”

Jin Yao Tiao thought about the text message she had received from Jia Bingyang and felt something wasn’t right. He didn’t seem like the kind of person who would behave that way.

Lei Qiu turned her eyes away, speaking in a casual tone, “There’s no need to make it clear. We’re all adults. Let’s keep things amicable and avoid awkwardness when we meet next time.”

She seemed truly indifferent, but a little while later, as Jin Yao Tiao was going upstairs, she heard faint sobs coming from behind the bathroom door.

She stood outside for a moment, then quietly left.

When Lei Qiu came downstairs, there was no sign of anything being wrong. She was as tough as her nickname, “Exterminator.”

After sternly telling her son not to eat any more candy, she washed her hands and came over to help Jin Yao Tiao.

With eyes that were hard to notice any signs of recent tears, she sniffed the aroma coming from the kitchen and sighed, “I almost want to stay here for the New Year. Last year in Beijing, I really missed the New Year’s Eve dinner I had at your place while filming two years ago.”

She helped Jin Yao Tiao take the fluffy steamed cake out of the steamer, the sweet aroma hitting her face.

The purple rice steamed cake was soft and moist, like clouds about to rain. It wobbled with a chewy texture, topped with plump raisins that had softened from the heat.

Jin Yao Tiao opened her mouth to take a piece that Lei Qiu had cut. The fragrance of purple rice mixed with the sweet juice from the raisins created a blend of sour and sweet.

She opened the pot lid and served the tender pig trotters: “If you want to stay, of course, I have no objection. The more the merrier.”

Lei Qiu bit into the warm purple rice cake and smiled with her head lowered, “Yeah, it was really lively back then.”

Not only were there stewed trotters, but there was also slow-cooked beef tendons. They were long and soaked in a rich brown sauce, almost translucent with a gel-like, tender texture that you could feel even through the knife.

The meat aroma was overwhelming.

Jin Yaotiao looked at Lei Qiu cutting the beef tendons and suddenly said, “I remember you filmed this scene too, right?”

Lei Qiu nodded, “Yeah, but it wasn’t as good as yours.”

The braising sauce at Jin’s house was made fresh every day, a recipe Jin Yao Tiao herself had perfected. Even a stone would taste great soaked in it, let alone the tender beef tendons.

Lei Qiu stared at the beef tendons, but her thoughts seemed to drift away.

She smiled and said, “When we filmed at that restaurant, Jia Bingyang, that idiot, told me that if this dish were made at your place, it would be much better than that owner’s. You don’t know, after filming at Mingde, we couldn’t shake it off for a long time.

Everything we ate reminded us of how you’d make it. Even when we went to Beijing, the crew kept talking about it. Thankfully, you sent some frozen products from Mingde.

When they found out, the crew was thrilled. They even bought up half the stock from the supermarket. I’m so used to your cooking now, I can’t go three days without it.

Once, I went to the supermarket near my house and heard they were out of stock, Jia Bingyang dragged me half an hour to a mall on the third ring road…”

She suddenly stopped talking.

Jin Yao Tiao took the knife from her hand, not looking at her, and gently said, “When you’re feeling down, you don’t have to pretend.”

Lei Qiu laughed softly, “What are you talking about?”

Just then, the sound of tears fell.

She turned her back, staring at the wall, “Damn it, I’ve been through so many storms… embarrassing.”

Jin Yao Tiao made her laugh, “What’s embarrassing about it? After all those storms, you’re still human.”

Lei Qiu muttered, “I’m not human. I’m the Exterminator.”

Jin Yao Tiao laughed even more, “So does being the Exterminator mean you have to be cold and emotionless? Lei Qiu.”

She arranged the beef tendons on a plate, drizzled some dark red sauce over them, and gently said, “Go talk to him. When you don’t understand something, it’s better to say it out loud. Even if Jia Bingyang turns out to be that kind of person, at least you can yell at him. Don’t feel embarrassed. If you don’t, you’ll never get over this hurdle.”

She turned to smile at Lei Qiu.

It was experience speaking.

Lei Qiu stared at her for a moment, then after a firm resolve, wiped away her tears, took out her phone, and stormed out of the kitchen.

Jin Yao Tiao thought she’d hear Lei Qiu yelling at someone, but instead, a few words from the other side left Lei Qiu shocked: “What did you say, where are you?”

Jin Yao Tiao wondered what was going on, and when she went outside, she saw Lei Qiu had opened the door and stood frozen.

Jin Yao Tiao stepped forward and froze too.

Jia Bingyang was standing outside their gate, disheveled with a rough beard and a weary expression.

Though Jia Bingyang didn’t have the good looks of Shen Qiming, he now looked like a wreck.

Jin Yao Tiao said, “…What are you doing in Shenzhen?”

In the cold wind, Jia Bingyang awkwardly sniffed and spoke through his phone, “I came here with her. I’ve been staying nearby recently.”

Jin Yaotiao was puzzled, opening the door. “Then why didn’t you go find Lei Qiu?”

Jia Bingyang lowered his head, then looked at Lei Qiu again. “I… I thought she didn’t want to see me.”

Lei Qiu’s eyes flashed with fury, “I don’t want to see you!”

Jia Bingyang looked pained, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you any trouble. I didn’t want you to avoid me. If you don’t want me to chase you, I won’t bother you anymore.”

Lei Qiu: “…”

Jin Yao Tiao: “What are you talking about?”

Jia Bingyang lowered his head, and tears began to fall: “I know I’m not good enough for you. I come from a poor family, and I have nothing to offer. You’re beautiful, successful, and come from a cultured family. Back when we were on set, I didn’t dare to approach you.

I had nothing, couldn’t give you anything. Even my parents told me to give up, but I couldn’t. Now I’ve finally saved enough to buy a house in Beijing, and my parents encouraged me to try, so I secretly bought the house to confess to you. I didn’t expect you to react like this when you found out. If I had known, I never would’ve…”

Lei Qiu looked utterly confused.