Lu Nan was briefly stunned when she heard this, then suddenly realized: it had indeed happened in her previous life too. 

Qiu Xuan, noticing her lack of surprise, asked curiously, “You knew? Did Ye Yiming tell you himself?” 

“No, I haven’t been in contact with him. But didn’t you just say it was entrusted by someone? Was that really so hard to guess?” Lu Nan replied with a question of her own. 

Qiu Xuan admitted defeat, “Alright, alright. Ye Yiming sent it to Lei Shengze and asked him to pass it on to you through me.” 

Lei Shengze lived in the apartment above Qiu Xuan’s. The two had grown up together — the kind of childhood friends who fought a lot. 

As for Ye Yiming, he was their high school classmate, Lei Shengze’s deskmate and close friend, and Lu Nan’s… first love. By the standards of this timeline, he was her first love and ex-boyfriend. 

Qiu Xuan handed Lu Nan a pink gift box, about the size of a tissue box, tied with a ribbon at the corner. It was clear the outer shipping box had already been removed. 

Lu Nan weighed it in her hand and said tentatively, “How about… you ask Old Lei to return it for me? He should have Ye Yiming’s address, right?” 

“Come on, Nan Nan. You two broke up on good terms back then—just treat it as a gift from a regular friend. Anyway, I’m definitely not going to Old Lei again. If he found out I couldn’t even handle such a small task, he’d laugh at me to death.” 

Lu Nan was a bit hesitant. Gifts between ordinary friends were acceptable, but knowing what was inside, she felt it inappropriate to accept something worth thousands from someone still studying. 

She knew it’d be easy to convince Qiu Xuan—she just had to insist a little more—but dealing with Lei Shengze would be tougher. He’d probably only care about brotherly loyalty. 

“Alright then. Ask Old Lei to send me Ye Yiming’s number overseas. I’ll deal with it myself,” Lu Nan said seriously. 

“Okay.” Qiu Xuan immediately called Lei Shengze, firing off an angry rant over the phone: “Who are you to decide for Nan Nan? Who are you to vouch for Ye Yiming? Cut the crap and give me the number… Hey??? Seriously!” 

After hanging up, Qiu Xuan said speechlessly, “Old Lei is useless. He said he couldn’t afford international calls. They’ve been keeping in touch online.” 

Not too surprising, actually. 

Lu Nan smiled, “Alright, I’ll handle it myself.” 

Qiu Xuan carefully observed Lu Nan’s expression and asked, “So… there’s really no chance of you two getting back together?” 

“Xuan Xuan, like you said, we broke up on good terms. Why get entangled again now? Two years ago, the distance already caused us to drift apart. He’s still overseas now—do you think that sense of distance just disappears after two years? Besides, it’s been two years. We’ve gone from students to working adults. Even you said I’ve changed a lot. Do you think I’d still be standing in the same place waiting for Ye Yiming?” 

Qiu Xuan thought about it: it made sense. 

“But Nan Nan, you’re getting more and more like a strong, independent woman now. How’s work?” Confirming Ye Yiming was truly a thing of the past, Qiu Xuan didn’t press further — no point ruining the mood — and switched topics to something she was curious about. 

Lu Nan briefly described her work situation, without exaggeration or downplaying. She mentioned needing to attend social events and dinners but also noted the decent salary and flexible hours. 

Qiu Xuan was stunned: “So you’re already in charge of a prefecture-level city? Seriously?” 

“There’s still performance pressure. If I don’t do well, I’ll be demoted.” 

“I don’t care. You’re still doing way better than me, stuck doing grunt work in HR. You’re paying for this meal!” Qiu Xuan declared mercilessly. 

Lu Nan laughed: “Xuan Xuan, set your sights higher. These two drinks and snacks barely cost fifty yuan.” 

On her way home, Lu Nan unwrapped the gift in the car. As expected, it was a bottle of pink perfume and a stack of photos. 

She stuffed them into her bag and threw the wrapping into a community trash bin. 

When she got home, Ms. Huang was lounging on the sofa watching TV, a blanket over her legs. She greeted her daughter casually, “You’re home early today.” 

“Yeah. It hasn’t rained yet. I put the umbrella back in place,” Lu Nan said, running over to turn on the living room air conditioning. “If you’re cold, just turn on the heater.” 

Before Ms. Huang could argue, Lu Nan quickly dashed to the bathroom: “I’m going to wash up and take off my makeup first.” 

Hearing no signs of the heater being turned on, Lu Nan smiled to herself. 

After freshening up, she returned to her room, pulled out the photos, and flipped through them quickly. 

As expected, they were all scenic shots of a foreign campus. One even had two swans forming a heart shape on a lake. 

Seems like even after being reborn, the only things I can truly change are myself and those closest to me. 

Same perfume, same photos. Back then, receiving them stirred some feelings. Now, I really feel… nothing at all. 

Lu Nan went through the photos and tucked them into her high school yearbook. 

As for the perfume, she already owned the exact same one. 

Might as well leave it in the drawer. 

Come to think of it, Ye Yiming and Sister Fei from Feixiang have surprisingly similar taste. 

When Qiu Xuan first took out the gift box, Lu Nan had considered simply topping up Ye Yiming’s phone account with 1,000 yuan — he had mentioned after returning to China that he kept his domestic number active during his time abroad. 

But on second thought, there was no need. Although the gift’s value was a bit high for a regular friend, they were exes after all. Fussing over it too much might cause unnecessary misunderstandings. 

So she turned on her laptop and sent a message to Ye Yiming — their last conversation had been a year ago: 
“I received the gift you asked Old Lei to pass on. Thanks. But it’s a bit pricey — I think it’s not very appropriate to be buying gifts like this while studying abroad with family money.” 

This reply carried a more disapproving tone than the one she had sent in her previous life. She was sure Ye Yiming wouldn’t appreciate it. 

Due to the time difference, he wouldn’t reply immediately anyway. 

Falling in love again? Rekindling old flames? 
Was any of that better than making money? 

Lu Nan shut down her laptop, changed into her pajamas, and went to the living room to watch TV. 

“You know, your grandmother will be spending New Year’s at your uncle’s house this year,” Ms. Huang suddenly said. “Your aunt just called and invited us to celebrate there too.” 

Lu Nan wasn’t surprised. She had suspected Ms. Huang had something to say when she had been lounging around the sofa without going back to her room. 

“If you want to go, go,” Lu Nan said indifferently. 

Ms. Huang sat up straighter: “I’m asking for your opinion. It’s not about me wanting to go — honestly, I don’t want to.” 

Saying one thing but meaning another! The queen of contradictions! 

She used to get so gloomy and low, but still loved running off to see her siblings. Now with everything changed, how could she resist going to share the news? 

“If you don’t want to go, the three of us can just celebrate New Year’s at home. Keep it simple — make six or eight dishes, watch the Spring Festival Gala, then go to sleep,” Lu Nan quickly changed her stance, as if she had no opinion or insistence of her own. 

Ms. Huang was nearly driven mad by this and, wearing an expression that said “I can’t get through to you,” called Lu Yang out and repeated the question. 

Lu Yang’s answer was even more indifferent: “Whatever, I’m fine with anything.” 

Sure enough, her little brother lived up to his reputation, and Lu Nan lowered her head to stifle a laugh. 

Ms. Huang eventually muttered to herself, “They’ve called you twice already to invite you. But if we go, your little aunt might still be unhappy.” 

As she spoke, she glanced at her daughter—she knew very well that her son listened to everything his sister said! And her daughter, she was getting harder and harder to deal with—so clever! 

After teasing Ms. Huang enough, Lu Nan motioned for Lu Yang to sit down on the sofa as well, then spoke seriously: “Let’s go. These past few years, it’s been the same — whichever house grandma stays at, that’s where we’re invited for New Year’s. We’ve already been to our eldest uncle’s and eldest aunt’s houses twice. If we don’t visit our younger uncle’s house this time, his wife might think we have a problem with them. 
Mom, you don’t need to feel uncomfortable about it either — we’ll just bring two bottles of good wine and some seafood. The wine I brought back is Yuan Chuan Classic; you know how much it’s worth — it’s a respectable gift.” 

This was actually what Ms. Huang had been hoping to hear all along. Finally hearing it from her daughter, she quickly agreed: “That’s what I thought too. Also, I was thinking, when it’s our turn to host during the New Year, let’s just book a large private room at a restaurant in advance. Our home can’t fit everyone anyway, and we always have to rotate guests.” 

Oh wow, that had been Lu Nan’s original plan — she was going to quietly reserve a restaurant room without informing Ms. Huang first. 

She hadn’t expected her mother to figure it out herself. 

“I completely agree,” Lu Nan explained. “It’s not just about cleaning up after the big gathering. I just think, every year, preparing a banquet for fourteen or fifteen people is too exhausting for you, Mom. Plus, after the meal, we’re stuck eating leftovers for days…” She looked genuinely pitiful. 

Nonsense — her daughter mainly just didn’t want to clean. 

Ms. Huang couldn’t help but laugh a little. 

Later, after achieving her goal, she yawned: “I’m going to bed. You two, remember to turn off the heater and TV later.” 

After hearing the sound of Ms. Huang locking her door, Lu Yang snickered, “Mom must be calling Grandma right now, telling her we’re going to Uncle’s place for New Year.” 

Lu Nan nodded, then waved him over: “Come here, let me tell you something.” 

Lu Yang obediently leaned his ear close. 

“During the New Year’s Eve dinner, Mom will definitely ‘casually’ show off the awards you’ve won in competitions this year and your semester grades. When that happens, don’t be too modest. If it’s a provincial award, say it’s provincial; if it’s a city ranking, mention it.” 

Lu Yang nodded vaguely: “Sis, do you have to do the same?” 

“I’m different from you—I’m an adult. I can’t brag about myself that directly. I have to praise myself in a more ‘subtle’ way,” Lu Nan replied with a laugh. 

But Lu Yang still didn’t quite get it. “But why do we need to show off in the first place?” 

Lu Nan patted his head. “To make Mom a little happier, I guess.” 

… 

Over the past few years, the three of them had indeed spent every New Year’s at Ms. Huang’s siblings’ homes. 

Lu Nan thought back to the time three years ago when they celebrated at her younger uncle’s house. 

Ms. Huang, out of kindness, noticed that her sister-in-law was overwhelmed, so she helped in the kitchen and cooked two quick dishes. 

But when the dishes were served, the sister-in-law, in a joking tone, said: “Second Sister, you use way too much oil when you cook. At our age, we should eat less oil, less salt — lighter food.” 

As if she hadn’t just made a heavily oiled pickled fish dish herself. 

It might have been a harmless joke among relatives (or maybe not), but it made Ms. Huang uncomfortable—and since she couldn’t show it in someone else’s home, she just went back and vented her frustration at home. 

Lu Nan hadn’t realized it back then, but figured it out later. 

Lu Yang was still too young then, and probably didn’t even remember it. 

So today, agreeing to go to her uncle’s house for New Year’s, Lu Nan had thought more deeply about it: Ms. Huang deserved to hold her head high again — and it should have happened long ago. 

As for why they still went to relatives’ homes for New Year’s, even if it often ended in frustration instead of staying at home? 

That had to do with the traditions from when Grandpa was still alive and Ms. Huang’s own conflicted feelings. 

When Grandpa was alive, the Huang family would gather at his house for New Year’s. Since Lu Nan’s paternal grandparents had passed away before she was born, her father just naturally spent New Year’s with the Huang side. 

After Grandpa passed, whichever child’s home Grandma stayed at became the place for the family gathering, and everyone else would join — unless they had in-laws to attend to. 

Since that habit had been established for decades, after her divorce, Ms. Huang was still summoned by her family every year. If she didn’t go, they would keep calling — sometimes even show up at her door. 

Most of the relatives probably didn’t have any truly malicious intentions. 

They were probably just worried the three of them would feel too isolated and lonely. 

But, as always, even within a family, the balance of power matters. 

Originally, Ms. Huang was the most well-off among her siblings. Now? Not bad, but no longer as generous as before—she owns two mortgage-free properties and has some savings, but she can’t spend like she used to. 

Ms. Huang herself struggled to accept this shift, and her younger brother’s wife was indeed the most status-conscious among all the siblings and in-laws. 

New Year’s gatherings over the past few years had been emotionally taxing for Ms. Huang. 

This year’s visit, Lu Nan was prepared for all the inevitable challenges. 

But she believed that after enduring one more year — with a full year ahead for Ms. Huang to experience life in Hailin City — her mother’s mindset and resilience would be much stronger by the next New Year. 

There was no need to rush. 

Changing the character of a woman in her forties, almost fifty, was never her goal. 

Ms. Huang’s change should come from within. I’m just giving her a little push. 

Lu Nan reminded herself: Be patient. The progress we’ve made already is something to be happy about. And in the future, things will only get better for all of us.