Sweet Oxygen - Extra 4

Chapter 74 – Extra 4

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[ 4.1 ]

Another winter arrived. Christmas and New Year’s brought the group together frequently, their gatherings growing more frequent with each passing holiday.

After all, Xiaotian was only half a year old, making it inconvenient to take him out. Recent gatherings had all been held at home—sometimes at Yaonan Alley, sometimes in Grandma Zhang’s courtyard, and even at Li Nan’s place.

New Year’s Day was spent dining at Zhang Yuqing’s house.

The neighborhood trees were adorned with star-shaped colored lights. Outside the window, a light snowfall drifted down, scattering in the glow of the illumination.

The property staff had delivered a new calendar for the year, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Li Nan’s wife Chen Lingbei was also pregnant—five months along. She pushed open the kitchen door, her belly prominent, offering to help Qin Han.

Qin Han had recently learned to make hotpot from Mother Qin. She claimed that during cold weather, this warm dish was best for dispelling chill, and tonight she would prepare it for everyone.

As she turned with a ladle in hand, she startled at the sight of Chen Lingbei.

“No, no, no! Don’t come in. The kitchen floor is slippery with oil and water. What if you slip?”

Qin Han, wearing a pink apron, turned to Zhang Yuqing. “Right? Pregnant women shouldn’t be in the kitchen, right?”

During her own pregnancy, Zhang Yuqing had forbidden Qin Han from entering the kitchen. This had left Qin Han with the impression that pregnant women shouldn’t be in the kitchen at all.

Chen Lingbei covered her mouth with a laugh. “Qing-ge must have told you that. He spoils you too much. It’s actually fine. Let me help you.”

Zhang Yuqing wore a light gray apron, identical in style to Qin Han’s—a simple plaid pattern. The larger size accentuated his softer demeanor.

He pulled open the kitchen door, leaning against the frame as he called out to the living room, “Li Nan, don’t let Chen Lingbei cook. Come help me instead.”

Li Nan, mid-argument with Luo Shijin, jumped at the command. He hurried over, dragging Chen Lingbei behind him. “Oh my god! What are you doing in the kitchen? I’ll help, I’ll help! You just sit and rest.”

He settled Chen Lingbei on the sofa. “Stay here. Don’t move.”

Chen Lingbei nodded obediently. “Okay.”

“Who would want to have a child with someone so thoughtless?” Luo Shijin seized the chance to retaliate for his earlier defeat in the argument. “All you do is stand around here talking nonsense. Can’t even take care of a pregnant woman properly.”

Li Nan and Chen Lingbei turned to look at Luo Shijin, their matching Christmas makeup and straight long hair framing identical expressions.

One said, “He treats me well enough.”

The other added, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Feeling wounded as a single man, Luo Shijin rose from the sofa. “I’m not staying here to watch you lovebirds eat your relationship food. I’ll go check on Dandan and the grandmother across the way. At least playing with Beibei is more enjoyable. Let me know when dinner’s ready.”

“I’m not telling you!” Li Nan said.

“Then I won’t let Beibei go home with you!” Luo Shijin retorted immediately.

The two grown men bickered like elementary school children.

So childish.

When Luo Shijin left, he hesitated for a moment, glancing at Xie Ying.

But Xie Ying was gazing out the window, lost in thought. Luo Shijin opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again. In the end, he went to his grandmother’s house across the street.

After Luo Shijin left, Li Nan went to the kitchen to help Zhang Yuqing and the others, leaving Xie Ying and Chen Lingbei alone in the living room.

Xie Ying seemed absent-minded. Chen Lingbei had been holding a plate of nuts in front of her for quite some time, but she hadn’t noticed.

It was Qin Han who came out from the kitchen, saw the scene, and sat down next to Xie Ying. “What are you thinking about?”

Xie Ying finally snapped out of it and apologized to Chen Lingbei. “I was lost in thought.”

“I thought you might be thinking about something important, so I didn’t interrupt,” Chen Lingbei said with a smile.

The three women sat on the sofa, the only light coming from the stars outside the window. Fireworks were banned within the five rings of Imperial City, so the night didn’t look as lively as other cities.

Some people went to temple fairs, but among this group, one was pregnant and another had a six-month-old baby, making it inconvenient for them to go.

Qin Han said, “By this time next year, we can go to the temple fair and see the lanterns.”

“Right.”

Chen Lingbei smiled, gently touching her belly. “I’ve always wanted to buy one of those paper lanterns for my child. I wonder if they still sell them.”

“They do at Yaonan Alley,” Qin Han replied. “The elders there make them, and they’re particularly exquisite.”

“Qing-ge must have bought you one before, didn’t he?”

Qin Han smiled but didn’t answer.

Qin Han’s home wasn’t quiet either. The open balcony was strung with golden lights, resembling a small, sparkling Milky Way.

Xiaotian was sleeping sweetly in the crib in the living room, occasionally smacking his lips.

The child’s sleeping face was particularly adorable. Chen Lingbei couldn’t resist leaning in closer. “If my baby could grow up as cute as Xiaotian, that would be wonderful.”

Xie Ying finally spoke up, “You’re good-looking too, so the child will definitely be beautiful.”

Though meant as praise, her words sounded lifeless.

Chen Lingbei turned to Qin Han and mouthed, “What’s wrong with Xie Ying?”

Qin Han shook her head, signaling that Xie Ying would explain.

Xie Ying and Qin Han had been best friends for eight years—sharing both joys and sorrows. They’d even huddled under the same blanket in college, crying and confiding in each other. Their understanding ran deep.

Seeing Xie Ying sit there silently, Qin Han knew immediately something was bothering her. Mimicking their college habit, she draped an arm around Xie Ying’s shoulders. “Not happy?”

“It’s not that I’m unhappy… I just keep thinking… I’ll be 27 after the New Year.”

Xie Ying sighed. “Little Qinhan, I’ve never been this indecisive. You know how I feel about Luo Shijin…”

They’d first met at Zhang Yuqing and Qin Han’s wedding two years prior, where Xie Ying served as maid of honor and Luo Shijin as best man. The couple’s friends had joked about their resemblance, leaving a strong impression on both.

After graduation, Xie Ying stayed in Imperial City, renting a place in Yaonan Alley. The shared neighborhood and mutual friends with Qin Han and Zhang Yuqing had gradually brought her closer to Luo Shijin.

In truth, Luo Shijin possessed an excellent character and strong sense of responsibility. Xie Ying could sense he treated her differently from others.

But no matter how long they waited, Luo Shijin never spoke up.

Qin Han knew what Xie Ying wanted to say. Lacking experience in such matters, she could only call Zhang Yuqing from the kitchen.

Zhang Yuqing told Xie Ying that Luo Shijin was likely afraid he couldn’t provide her with the life she desired.

Chen Lingbei remarked, “Men always overthink things. It was the same with Li Nan back then. I had to confess first; waiting for him to take the initiative would’ve made me a toothless old lady by fifty. Xie Ying, why don’t you take the lead?”

Xie Ying sighed. “I’ll think about it.”

Just as the pot stew finished cooking, Xiaotian suddenly woke up.

When the baby cried, Zhang Yuqing picked him up and examined him carefully. He turned to Qin Han with a hint of helplessness. “We still need you. The baby hasn’t been changed, so he’s probably hungry.”

Qin Han rose to take Xiaotian. Since becoming a mother, a tender warmth unconsciously softened her features.

She said to Xie Ying, “It’s New Year’s Day today, and it’s snowing outside. Seems like a good day.”

“What makes it good?”

“Whatever you do today will succeed. That’s what makes it a good day,” Qin Han replied.

Xie Ying smiled. “I see.”

The pot stew contained pork and chestnut meatballs, large shrimp, scallop pieces, small abalone, tofu, napa cabbage, and rice noodles.

The soup was delicious, and the group ate and chatted. Grandmother’s memory came and went, but today she suddenly suggested drinking some baijiu. “On days like this, baijiu warms the body best.”

Qin Han, Chen Lingbei, and Dandan drank juice, while the others had varying amounts of alcohol.

That night, Chen Lingbei drove Li Nan home. Qin Han asked if Xie Ying and Luo Shijin needed a ride.

At first, neither Xie Ying nor Luo Shijin spoke. Then Xie Ying said, “I’ll walk home. It’s not far, and I ate too much. I need to digest.”

“It’s late. You shouldn’t walk alone. I’ll walk with you. If we get tired, we can take a taxi,” Luo Shijin said.

Xie Ying nodded.

Before they left, Xie Ying wobbled while putting on her shoes. Luo Shijin quickly steadied her and asked worriedly, “What’s wrong? Did you just lose your balance or are you drunk? If you’re drunk and uncomfortable, you can stay at Qing-ge’s place. Don’t catch a cold outside.”

After regaining her balance, Xie Ying turned to Luo Shijin with bright eyes. “I just lost my balance. Where do you get all this nonsense?”

After they left, Qin Han asked Zhang Yuqing, “Do you think they’ll be okay?”

Zhang Yuqing patted her hair and smiled. “Don’t worry. Luo Shijin might be hesitant, but he’s not a coward. Everything will work out.”

Some things needed to be cleared up between the two of them alone.

Outside, a light flurry of snow fell, the weather not too cold.

Xie Ying and Luo Shijin walked together in silence. The streets were quiet, only the streetlights shining steadily. The layer of snow on the ground crunched underfoot.

A gust of wind blew by. Xie Ying, wearing her small leather shoes, slipped on a stone protruding through the snow. She wobbled.

Luo Shijin grumbled beside her, “I told you to eat more, but you wouldn’t listen. Look how thin you are—just one gust and you’re swaying. What if you get sick from malnutrition?”

“I slipped on a stone.”

“It’s freezing out here! You can’t wear leather shoes in winter—they’re slippery and freeze your feet! Why do girls care so much about looks instead of their health?”

After Luo Shijin’s rant, Xie Ying remained silent. She looked down at her pointed leather shoes and suddenly smiled.

Back in her university dorm, she’d always been the most efficient and daring. Why had she grown so timid now?

Even Qin Han had said today would be a good day.

Xie Ying turned her head, tucking stray curls behind her ear. “Luo Shijin, I’m not a girl anymore.”

Luo Shijin twisted his head in confusion. “What? What did you say? If you’re not a girl, then what? A boy?”

“I’m 27 now,” Xie Ying said with a shrug, her tone deliberately casual. “We spent Christmas together last year, remember? That’s when I started waiting for you. You once said it’s not manly for girls to confess first, and I didn’t want to take the lead either. But waiting a whole year is too long for someone like me. After today, I won’t wait anymore.”

Luo Shijin froze momentarily before instinctively grabbing Xie Ying’s wrist. “If you’re not waiting for me, where will you go?” he asked foolishly.

“What do you mean ‘where will I go’? I’ll still work in Imperial City. But I won’t wait for you. I’ll date other men, get married, and have children.”

“That’s not happening!” Luo Shijin shouted, his voice cracking.

Xie Ying lifted her chin. “Why not?”

Luo Shijin’s face flushed crimson as he pulled her closer. “Xie Ying, my family’s situation isn’t ideal…”

“So what if your family isn’t well-off? Three generations back, every family was peasant stock!”

His eyes glistened with unshed tears as he shook his head. “There’s so much I want to tell you, but I don’t know if you’ll listen. Li Nan always says I ramble too much. Do you want to…”

Xie Ying wrapped her arm around his waist. “Just talk. I’ll listen to anything you say.”

They hailed a taxi back to Yaonan Alley that day. Luo Shijin had barely begun when he stopped himself, and both blurted out simultaneously, “Standing in the snow to have this conversation is the height of stupidity!”

They dissolved into laughter, eyes meeting in shared amusement.

At the alley’s entrance, Luo Shijin took her hand and broke into a run. “Ying, let’s hurry!” he shouted against the wind. “This whole street’s a wind tunnel. We’ll catch cold!”

When they reached Xie Ying’s apartment door, she fumbled for keys, gasping. “If you’re so concerned about my health,” she wheezed, “why didn’t you carry me? You just… made me run! How ungentle of you!”

Her breath puffed out in winter’s night, forming white mist that hung before her face.

“Me too,” Luo Shijin gasped, scratching the back of his head. “I didn’t think of it at the moment. You’ll remind me next time, right?”

Xie Ying opened the door and flipped the wall switch. Under the lamplight, she smiled at him. “Sure.”

The room she rented was a spare space in Grandpa Liu’s courtyard. The bedroom wasn’t large, but it was kept tidy.

Xie Ying entered first and turned to Luo Shijin. “Come in. Why are you standing there? Are you planning to tell me stories from the doorway?”

“Xie Ying, I really like you. When you were Qin Han’s bridesmaid, I kept thinking, ‘Who is this girl? She’s so pretty. If only she could be my girlfriend.'”

Luo Shijin stood frozen in the doorway, looking lost. “But I know it’s like a toad trying to eat swan meat…”

Xie Ying dragged him inside and slammed the door shut. “Come inside, you toad! Don’t let the swan freeze to death in this wind!”

She pushed him into a chair while she settled cross-legged on the bed.

He found it hard to describe his feelings—it was like happiness was right before him, yet he didn’t dare reach out to grasp it.

“I used to think it was unmanly for a woman to confess first,” Luo Shijin said. “But when it came time for me to speak, I realized how difficult it is. Xie Ying, let me tell you about some things from my past. If you’re still willing to listen after I finish, then I’ll confess.”

“So you need to make sure I’ll agree before you dare confess?” Xie Ying rolled her eyes.

“No, no! I just want to say… don’t assume I can handle things just because you saw Qin Han living happily with Qing-ge…”

Luo Shijin fell silent for a moment before continuing. “Let me start by telling you about Qing-ge.”

In this life, the person Luo Shijin admired most was his Qing-ge. In his own words, his Qing-ge was the epitome of manliness and responsibility!

Truthfully, as a child, Luo Shijin had found Zhang Yuqing quite annoying.

The Luo family’s courtyard and the Yu family’s courtyard were close neighbors on Yaonan Alley, old residents of the same neighborhood. The families interacted frequently, and through these interactions, Zhang Yuqing became the “perfect child” in Luo Shijin’s parents’ eyes.

Luo Shijin was two years younger than Zhang Yuqing, and he held his parents’ overly idealized praise of Zhang Yuqing in utter disdain.

At that time, he thought, Fake! What kid doesn’t love to play? They’re all putting on an act!

As a child, he couldn’t stand up for himself. But once he reached ten years old, little Luo Shijin started to talk back.

Whenever Father Luo said, “Yuqing is such a sensible child,” little Luo Shijin would stick his neck out and retort, “How is he sensible? Look at his dad—he just lounges around at home all day without working, living off Grandma Zhang’s earnings. Yuqing must be the same—like father, like son!”

In Luo Shijin’s memory, his father was a good-natured man who had sold fruit his whole life. He knew nothing else, but when it came to fruit, he was an expert.

The most temperamental person in the family was his mother, who spent her days wielding a spatula to berate both father and son for their slovenly ways.

At ten years old, little Luo Shijin had two fixed beliefs.

First, his father would never be as irritable as his mother.

Second, no matter how much his mother insulted them as good-for-nothings, she would never abandon them.

Both of these “fixed beliefs” were shattered in the same winter.

First, because Luo Shijin said Yuqing was “like father, like son,” his own father kicked him out of the house, demanding he reflect on whether his words were appropriate.

This incident directly caused Luo Shijin’s impression of Zhang Yuqing to plummet below zero, colder than the frost flowers on winter windows.

Lao Luo was actually mortified by another family’s child kicking him—a great humiliation!

At that time, young Luo Shijin hadn’t yet realized his own mistakes. He rebelled, thinking. If Lao Luo truly loved Yuqing so much, why didn’t he go find Yuqing to be his son instead? Why not praise him all day? In his father’s eyes, he was just a “good-for-nothing who can’t do anything right and eats everything without leaving a bite” waste.

For several days, Luo Shijin refused to speak to his father. He felt Lao Luo needed to reflect on kicking him for another family’s child—it was simply wrong.

But Lao Luo was very busy, disappearing like a dragon seen only in glimpses. Luo Shijin couldn’t tell if his father felt any guilt over the kick.

Not long after this incident, Lao Luo overturned his delivery truck while restocking.

The winter roads were slippery. The brakes failed, and the vehicle flipped by the roadside. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt, though Lao Luo’s leg was injured.

The worst damage was the fruit—everything had fallen into the river.

This particular load carried New Year gift boxes. Boxes of red-plastic-bagged oranges and fortune-inscribed Fuji apples all plunged into the water. The loss wasn’t just the value of the fruit, but also the repair costs for the rental truck.

For the first time, Luo Shijin saw his father’s face etched with worry, yet he couldn’t bring himself to light up a cigarette.

During that period, Luo Shijin’s mother was also unwell. Having labored through her youth, she suffered winter coughs that drained her face of color. Uncharacteristically gentle, she urged her husband, “Chunsheng, why not borrow from Aunt Zhang? We can’t stock our next batch of fruits without funds. How will we make money?”

His father’s face creased with worry. “Aunt Zhang struggles too. Part of her savings came from that little Yuqing’s earnings. How could I ask?”

“What then?” she pressed. “After selling these last fruits, what will we eat?”

Luo Shijin stood quietly outside, watching his father wrap an arm around his mother’s shoulders. “Don’t fret,” he said with a smile. “I’ll find a way. I promise our son won’t lack food or clothes. We’ll raise Shijin into a strong man.”

The old man’s eyes crinkled into fish-tail shapes, their creases deepening like a fish’s caudal fin.

No wonder they’re called ‘fish-tail lines,’ Luo Shijin thought, transfixed.

At ten years old, Luo Shijin tasted life’s pressures for the first time. He had to admit—Yuqing truly deserved all the praise.

While Luo Shijin was enjoying daily meals and parental care, Yuqing had already begun “supporting the household” like a grown man.

After some wild speculation, Luo Shijin made up his mind—he needed to borrow money from Yuqing.

Summoning his courage, he trudged to Yuqing’s house. Standing at the doorway, he hesitated again. Still young and full of adolescent pride, he felt this act of asking for help was akin to surrendering to an enemy—a deeply shameful thing.

When Zhang Yuqing emerged from the courtyard to see Luo Shijin, the boy had already dissolved into a pitiful spectacle. Tears and snot streamed down his face in a torrent.

Zhang Yuqing couldn’t help but be startled. The door revealed a small, round-faced boy in a deep red down jacket. His chubby hands and flushed face matched the garment’s hue, his breaths coming in ragged sobs…

Anyone witnessing this scene would have been equally shocked.

Zhang Yuqing frowned slightly. “Would you like to come in and sit?”

His tone carried no trace of surprise.

At that moment, Luo Shijin didn’t see Zhang Yuqing’s calm as composure. Instead, he bitterly thought, This man is utterly heartless and devoid of compassion.

The more he thought about it, the more heartbroken he felt, and the harder he cried.

He let out all his worries about their family’s poverty, his fear of life’s pressures, his sympathy for his parents, and all the inexplicable hurt and anxiety he’d been carrying.

Just as Luo Shijin thought he might collapse from crying too much at Zhang Yuqing’s doorstep, he felt someone pulling him.

Zhang Yuqing dragged him inside, not into Grandma Zhang’s room, but into his own.

He closed the door behind them and pulled out a roll of paper, carelessly wiping Luo Shijin’s face with it.

In those days, Yaonan Alley still used coal stoves for heat. Zhang Yuqing’s room wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t particularly warm either—their breaths hung in the air as white mist.

The 12-year-old Zhang Yuqing asked through the mist, “What happened?”

Facing the “enemy” he’d silently hated for ten years, Luo Shijin glanced at the tightly shut door behind Zhang Yuqing. Suddenly, he felt safe.

His voice cracked as he choked back sobs, then forced out the words, “…We don’t have any money left.”

Zhang Yuqing nodded. “I heard your family’s truck overturned.”

At the mention of this, Luo Shijin nearly burst into tears. Zhang Yuqing pointed at him. “Swallow it back. Wasting paper on your tears is too much.”

“Oh.”

Zhang Yuqing told him, “My grandmother has already gone to your house with money.”

“What?” Luo Shijin exclaimed in surprise.

“I said, my grandmother has already gone to your house with money. Don’t worry. Stop crying.”

It was clear that Zhang Yuqing was patiently explaining to him.

That day, Luo Shijin felt bewildered. Could difficulties be resolved so easily?

He sat in Zhang Yuqing’s room until his emotions fully settled. Looking around at the furnishings, he saw only textbooks and a few classic novels. Judging by the worn covers, they were likely borrowed from Grandpa Liu.

Luo Shijin asked, “Don’t you read comic books?”

“I don’t,” Zhang Yuqing replied.

“Oh, then I’ll leave.”

Luo Shijin scratched the back of his head in extreme embarrassment, awkwardly blurting out, “Um, when I come next time, I’ll bring you a comic book. It’s really interesting.”

After that, Luo Shijin’s impression of Zhang Yuqing changed dramatically. He realized that Zhang Yuqing truly deserved Lao Luo’s praise.

He also felt that this person was quite a good friend.

That year during the Spring Festival, Zhang Yuqing delivered a large amount of meat filling to their home, claiming he had bought too much and couldn’t finish it.

In the freezing winter, when Luo Shijin opened the door, Zhang Yuqing stood there holding a bag of meat filling. “Take this inside. I bought too much.”

In truth, there was no way to run out of meat in such cold weather. Any leftovers could simply be left on the windowsill to freeze, preserving them indefinitely.

Luo Shijin knew that Zhang Yuqing had only brought the meat because he’d heard their family’s business was struggling that year, fearing they might not be able to afford meat filling.

Mrs. Luo wiped her tears and glanced at the large basin of chopped cabbage. “Shijin, hurry up and thank Yuqing. Otherwise we’d have to eat vegetarian dumplings.”

That was the last Spring Festival Mrs. Luo would see. Luo Shijin found a coin hidden in one of the dumplings and declared it would bring good luck throughout the year.

Winter’s end came swiftly, but Mrs. Luo passed away suddenly from illness.

During those days, it felt as if someone had stolen Luo Shijin’s soul. Lao Luo wept several times, but Luo Shijin remained stoic, refusing to shed a single tear.

After Luo Shijin’s mother was laid to rest, he rushed to Zhang Yuqing’s home. Upon entering, he called out, “Yuqing, I don’t have a mother anymore.”

Zhang Yuqing didn’t say a word, simply embracing him.

That day, Luo Shijin finally broke down into uncontrollable sobs. Between his tearful gasps, he heard Zhang Yuqing murmur, “Cry it out. Don’t hold back. I won’t mind the mess.”

From that moment on, Luo Shijin’s address to Zhang Yuqing changed.

He stopped calling him Yuqing and began addressing him as “Qing-ge.”

Later, Luo Shijin trained as an auto mechanic and found employment at a city car repair shop.

Due to his young age and straightforward nature, Luo Shijin was constantly bullied at the auto repair shop. He was assigned the most grueling tasks while earning the least pay.

Each day, he returned home covered in grime, yet his heart remained preoccupied with Lao Luo.

Lao Luo’s former fruit shop had been forced to close when the landlord sold the property, leaving him without a livelihood.

One day, after being unfairly accused of slacking off by his supervisor, Luo Shijin refused to accept the unjust treatment. He fought back against the manager, ultimately losing his job.

At seventeen years old, he trudged back to Yaonan Alley, his face streaked with tears and grime. Once again, he found himself in Qing-ge’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

Zhang Yuqing smiled reassuringly. “Why the tears? Isn’t there space behind this shop? Set up a fruit stall there—it could earn you some money.”

At the time, Qing-ge had also recently dropped out of school, carrying even heavier burdens than his younger brother. The rear space could have easily been rented to anyone else for extra income, yet he insisted on letting Luo Shijin use it for free to sell fruits.

Luo Shijin wiped his tears with the back of his hand. “Qing-ge, thank you. Really.”

“What’s there to thank?” Zhang Yuqing replied casually. He pointed out the well behind the shop, explaining how it could be used to chill watermelons during summer. “Remember how your family’s fruit cart fell into the Yao River? I guess the river god was so pleased with the offering that he’s giving you this chance to sell fruit.”

As Luo Shijin told Xie Ying these stories, his eyes welled up twice with unshed tears.

Xie Ying patted his shoulder. “It’s all in the past now. Everything’s alright.”

Luo Shijin gritted his teeth and held back the tears for a moment before managing to suppress them. “See, the truly impressive one is Qing-ge. He went to university, has culture and brains, stays calm in any situation, and is incredibly capable. I’m just… not. Without Qing-ge, I wouldn’t even know what I’d be doing right now. Xie Ying, you’re a university graduate from a prestigious school, a teacher at that. Don’t you feel… unworthy being with a man like me?”

Despite his efforts, a single tear escaped and slid down his cheek.

Xie Ying wiped her own tears and shook her head. “Luo Shijin, let me ask you this: Will you treat me well? Will you always treat me well? Will you treat only me this way?”

“Yes!” Luo Shijin nodded vigorously. “Xie Ying, if you’ll stay with me, I’ll give my life to make you happy.”

“Then let me ask you this: Do you like me? Because I’m 27 and single, and you feel sorry for me? Or because you actually like me?”

“I love you, Xie Ying. I swear to heaven, I love you!” Luo Shijin raised three fingers, his face solemn.

Seeing his goofy expression, Xie Ying couldn’t help but chuckle. “That’s all I needed to hear. I love you too.”

“I can afford the house down payment now, but the car…”

Luo Shijin scratched his head. “I don’t know how well the fruit will sell next year. If you really want a car, I could borrow some money from Qing-ge…”

“Luo Shijin! You’re ridiculous!”

Xie Ying laughed through her anger. “We’ve barely been together two minutes, and you’re already talking about houses and cars? Whatever you give me, I’ll enjoy. If we can’t afford something, we’ll work together for it. What’s there to fear? Right now, the most important thing is… don’t you want to kiss your girlfriend?”

As she spoke, her cheeks flushed crimson, her heart pounding wildly.

Luo Shijin had a knack for killing the mood. “But what about… I ate garlic tonight…”

“Go brush your teeth, idiot!”

That night, Luo Shijin didn’t return home. He stayed overnight in Xie Ying’s bedroom.

[ 4.2 ]

The next morning, Qin Han called out of concern. She dialed Xie Ying’s cell phone, but Luo Shijin answered, “Hello, this is Luo Shijin.”

“…Luo Shijin? It’s Qin Han. Where’s Xie Ying?” Qin Han asked, utterly bewildered.

A mortified scream came through the receiver, “Luo Shijin! Why are you answering my phone?”

“Sorry Yingying, I was half-asleep!”

Qin Han had put the call on speaker. The chaotic conversation left her utterly confused.

She’d called Xie Ying, but Luo Shijin answered.

And Luo Shijin’s voice still carried traces of sleep. He even claimed to have been half-asleep?

As she pondered this, Zhang Yuqing approached from behind and wrapped his arm around her waist to end the call.

He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Still listening? Keep this up and we’ll need morning exercise.”

Qin Han finally snapped out of it, her eyes widening in realization. She turned to Zhang Yuqing with a mix of excitement and shock, “Zhang Yuqing! Are they… together?”

“Probably.”

“I was worried all night…”

Last night, Qin Han had indeed slept poorly. She told Zhang Yuqing about her past dormitory life, recounting the unhappy days she spent with Xie Ying.

“Before I left for abroad, Yingying was always by my side. She’s such an emotional person too. I was so worried that Luo Shijin wouldn’t…”

At the time, Zhang Yuqing had comforted her, “Don’t worry so much. The moment Luo Shijin saw Xie Ying, his eyes practically glued themselves to her. He definitely likes her.”

Morning light streamed through the glass window, soft and gentle. Zhang Yuqing smoothed the hair tangled in Qin Han’s neck, smiling as he asked, “Xiaotian’s still sleeping. Want to join him for a while? I’ll wake you before lunch.”

“No more sleep.”

“Then sleep with me? Want to stay a bit longer?”

Qin Han patted his chest. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Zhang Yuqing grinned instead. “Haven’t we been neglecting our morning exercises lately? Want to try?”

[ 4.3 ]

Luo Shijin and Xie Ying’s wedding was set for spring, when the forsythia flowers bloomed in patches. Luo Shijin had lost a few more pounds, and when he tried on his groom’s suit, he looked like a strapping man with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.

They say you shouldn’t see the bride before the ceremony. When Luo Shijin snuck into the dressing room, Xie Ying was wiping a picture frame.

She looked stunning today, wearing a fluffy white wedding dress. Her high heels lay to the side, and she was currently slacking off in slippers.

As Luo Shijin entered, Xie Ying turned around and jumped in surprise. “Holy shit! What are you doing here? Weren’t we supposed to meet at the ceremony?”

“I missed you, so I came to see you.”

Xie Ying pointed at her face. “I got up before 4 this morning. How does this makeup look?”

“Beautiful!” Luo Shijin gave her a thumbs-up.

Smiling, Xie Ying showed him the photo in her hand. “I just told Mom we’ll be fine from now on. We’ll never make her worry again.”

Only then did Luo Shijin recognize the photograph—a childhood snapshot of Xie Ying with her mother.

The 182cm-tall man nearly burst into tears again.

[ 4.4 ]

Each summer brings endless joys. By the time summer came again, Xiaotian had turned one.

Li Nan and Chen Lingbei’s child had reached the hundred-day milestone—a girl named Xixi. Li Nan mentioned that if they had a second child, they’d call her Dongdong, making their family name “Dongxi Nanbei” complete.

Xie Ying also became pregnant that summer. Luo Shijin suggested their child’s nickname should be Xiaogua.

The cactus on the Sweet Oxygen shop’s windowsill bloomed again, while Beibei lay basking in the sun at the store entrance.

The elderly lady selling sour plum juice shuffled with age, but her iced sour plum juice and osmanthus cakes remained as delicious as ever.

Dandan pushed Grandma Zhang to the market, where she could now shop independently. The market vendors all knew her and would give her fresh-picked greens and earthy-smelling carrots.

Everyone was growing better.

Qin Han chatted on video with her roommates upstairs—not her university roommates, but those she’d lived with during her exchange in America.

Goldie and Park Chi, the Korean couple, had been married for a year. They hadn’t had children yet, but their dog Gira from America had given birth to a litter of beautiful puppies.

Emma, the short-haired French girl, now had long, smooth hair that looked stunning.

That German playboy Andri had already become a father.

When Zhang Yuqing carried Xiaotian upstairs to call Qin Han for dinner, their international video conference was nearing its end, with everyone bidding farewell.

As Zhang Yuqing’s figure appeared at the door, a sudden chorus of screams erupted from the video. Several roommates cheered in different accents, exclaiming that Qin Han’s husband and son were both incredibly handsome.

After hanging up, Zhang Yuqing suddenly said, “I saw it.”

“What?” Qin Han took Xiaotian from him, holding the child close as she looked at Zhang Yuqing with confusion.

Zhang Yuqing remained silent, but Qin Han suddenly remembered—Zhang Yuqing had seen a photo of Andri before.

It was a picture of just the two of them, apparently a candid shot taken by Park Chi during Christmas.

Is he jealous? Qin Han wondered. The man’s already 33. Does he really need to dig up old jealousies now?

Still puzzled, Qin Han leaned in to kiss Zhang Yuqing’s cheek. “But there’s nothing between Andri and me.”

The baby in her arms, Xiaotian, mimicked his mother’s gesture, babbling as he tried to kiss his father’s cheek.

With both cheeks being kissed by their beloved ones, Zhang Yuqing chuckled softly.

He asked, “Why are you acting so guilty? What does that German man have to do with anything?”

“I thought it was because of the old photos…”

Zhang Yuqing ruffled Qin Han’s hair. “No.”

Qin Han grew more puzzled. “Then what did you see? What exactly?”

“I saw the light in your room.”

Last night, Zhang Yuqing’s family of three had stayed at the shop. Xiaotian loved the bottles and jars there, as well as Yaonan Alley and the fireflies at night.

Almost every month, Qin Han and Zhang Yuqing brought him to stay at the shop twice.

Recently, Qin Han’s eyesight had been poor, and she’d been using eye drops to relieve fatigue.

Last night, Zhang Yuqing had work that required him to stay up late. Before going downstairs to work, he’d urged Qin Han to sleep early and not stay up reading with her desk lamp again, which was bad for her eyes.

Qin Han had nodded obediently. “Okay, but don’t stay up too late either.”

“Mm, goodnight.”

But at around one in the morning, Zhang Yuqing went to the storage room for something. As he climbed the stairs, he noticed light coming from under the bedroom door.

He didn’t push the door open, afraid to startle Qin Han and Xiaotian.

Qin Han held her son and raised a hand in assurance. “I didn’t mean to. I just happened to see that old poetry book you read before. I was flipping through it and lost track of time.”

“Which one?”

Qin Han pulled it out from under her pillow, her eyes curving as she asked, “It’s full of love poems. Could it be something you read when you first fell in love?”

It truly was a deeply emotional collection, even including Su Shi’s “Memories of the Night of the Twentieth Day of the First Month in the Year of the Horse,” with its most famous line: “Unthinking, yet never forgotten.”

“My first love was only for you,” Zhang Yuqing replied casually.

Flustered by his words, Qin Han tossed the book into his arms.

Having read countless books, Zhang Yuqing squinted through the pages before remembering. This was the volume he’d casually flipped through during those years when the girl wasn’t around.

He asked Qin Han, “Did you finish reading it?”

“Nope, only halfway through. I got too sleepy and fell asleep.”

Zhang Yuqing flipped to the last page and showed it to Qin Han.

On the blank final page, he’d drawn a simple profile of Qin Han. He said, “I only read love poems when I’m thinking of you.”

(End)

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T/N:

Yeayy, happy ending! 💖 Thank you so much for reading, and I’m really glad you all enjoyed this sweet story to the very end~

If you’re hunting for another story to dive into, and doesn’t mind yaoi, why not try my other project I Became a Cub in the Elven Kingdom? 🌿 It’s a relaxing and cute adventure about a fairy MC who transmigrates into a western fantasy world. Trust me, the worldbuilding is excellent!✨

Or maybe What’s Wrong with This Alpha? 🌟 It’s a sweet and fun yaoi story with a hint of mystery, following a newly transformed, transmigrated Omega and an Alpha in a high school setting. The way they get together is so sweet, it literally made me scream with excitement! 😭

Anyway, that’s all from me for now~ See you again in another project! 💕