Before coming home, Chi Shuo had already prepared herself for an argument with her mother, or rather… prepared to be unilaterally scolded.
Because she sympathized with her mother’s past experiences, Chi Shuo tried her best not to talk back to her. If she couldn’t hold back, she’d adopt the attitude she used with He Xiuqi.
She wasn’t a weak person, just someone who made choices.
Her mother’s five words stunned Chi Shuo for a long moment. Another song and dance performance on the Spring Festival Gala ended before she finally recovered, a smile spreading across her face.
She had thought this New Year wouldn’t go well, but it seemed things hadn’t turned out as expected.
This unexpected turn lifted Chi Shuo’s spirits. She put the letter paper back, closed the envelope, and even patted it gently—this was a precious gift.
Chi Shuo glanced at her mother’s bedroom door, then stood up, went to her own room, and placed the envelope in her drawer.
After putting it away, she noticed something else in the drawer, something she had long forgotten.
It was a small, palm-sized square box, not very thick, with some rusty spots on the outside.
Chi Shuo pressed her lips together, pulled out a tissue to wipe it, and then opened it.
Inside lay some small, crumpled notes. After so many years, the paper had yellowed slightly.
Chi Shuo took out one note, smoothed it open, and looked at the contents.
Written on it was 【hldily】—the abbreviation for “He Lindi, I like you.” Back then, her feelings were deep yet shallow, filled with too much unspoken affection, yet she didn’t dare tell anyone. She could only express it by writing this small line on notes during breaks in class. (The original was 【hldwxhn】 which abbreviates to Hè Lín Dí wǒ xǐ huān nǐ [賀臨笛我喜歡你] which wouldn’t make sense in English, so I changed it.)
The date was written on the back. Chi Shuo calculated; this note was probably written during the first semester of her first year of high school, seven or eight years ago now.
When she had decided to give up on He Lindi, Chi Shuo had actually thrown away many things. This box probably survived because she hadn’t noticed it; otherwise, it might be sitting in some landfill by now.
She opened a few more notes one after another. The content was exactly the same, never changing.
After flipping through them for a little while, Chi Shuo didn’t rush to put them back. Instead, she took out her phone, snapped a few pictures, and sent them to her small group chat.
【Breaking news, I found an old small box.】
Zeng Guai tried to decipher it: 【’Returning, I like you’?】
Xia Zhou: 【It’s He Lindi.】
Zeng Guai was shocked: 【The date… that long ago?!】
Chi Shuo smiled on her end: 【Didn’t I say she was my love rival? Actually, before that relationship formed, the person I liked was always her.】
【Damn, so sweet.】
【What’s sweet about it?】 Chi Shuo recalled that time, 【It was a one-woman show, what’s sweet about that?】
Xia Zhou typed back: 【Now that you’re together, it’s sweet.】
After chatting idly with them for a while longer, Chi Shuo sent similar content to He Lindi. It was almost nine o’clock, and He Lindi still hadn’t replied. Chi Shuo sighed and went back to the living room.
Only then did she realize her mother was already lying on the sofa. Chi Shuo changed direction and headed to the dining table to clear the dishes.
Before she even touched the chopsticks, she heard her mother’s voice: “Any plans for tomorrow?”
Chi Shuo immediately stood up straight and replied, “Going out with high school classmates.”
“Have fun.”
Chi Shuo nodded: “I will.”
Her mother added, “I’m going to play mahjong.” She yawned. “I should have gone tonight, but I refused.”
Chi Shuo was puzzled: “Why?”
“No reason.”
“Oh.”
Chi Shuo still picked up the bowls and chopsticks. Before entering the kitchen, she said, “Mom, you don’t have to stay home just to keep me company. I’m already grown up.”
Chi Shuo’s mother: “…Who wanted to keep you company?”
At eleven o’clock, after blow-drying her hair, Chi Shuo lay down in bed. She scrolled idly through Weibo, snatching red envelopes. Around 11:30, she finally received He Lindi’s call.
Chi Shuo answered happily: “Happy New Year’s Eve!”
“Happy New Year’s Eve. Have you been waiting long?” He Lindi’s slightly tired voice came through.
Chi Shuo pinched the note in her hand—she had taken it out again—and replied, “Honestly, a little.”
He Lindi: “Sorry, my family’s New Year traditions are just very complicated.”
“But waiting for you makes me happy too.”
“Because it’s you I’m waiting for.”
He Lindi’s mood lifted, and she chuckled: “Is that so?”
“Did you see the pictures I sent?”
“Not yet,” He Lindi said. “Just got back to my bedroom, haven’t had time to look.”
Chi Shuo’s lips curved: “Take a look?”
“Okay.”
Two seconds later, He Lindi’s laughter deepened: “Why didn’t you give them to me back then?”
“Didn’t dare.”
“Why?”
“Too many people liked you.”
“You liking me is enough.”
Chi Shuo lay down, pulled the blanket over herself, her voice slightly muffled: “Stop saying sweet things. Hearing them when I can’t hug or kiss you is forbidden.”
Being apart, the longing easily multiplied. It had been less than twelve hours since they separated, yet Chi Shuo already found it hard to bear.
While she was on the phone with He Lindi, her mother’s voice came from outside: “Shuo Shuo, Xiao Tong is looking for you.”
Chi Shuo paused, surprised by the change in her mother’s form of address. She moved the phone slightly away and replied, “Coming.” Then she said into the phone, “I need to step out for a moment.”
He Lindi stopped her: “Can I listen?” She paused. “To your conversation.”
Chi Shuo didn’t hesitate: “Sure.”
So she kept the phone in her hand and left the bedroom.
Tong Jinjin stood in the living room, his cheeks slightly flushed, smelling faintly of alcohol.
Chi Shuo’s mother opened her own bedroom door: “I’m going to sleep.”
“Okay.”
Chi Shuo pointed to the sofa: “Sit.”
Tong Jinjin obediently sat down on the sofa. His eyes weren’t as clear as usual, but he sat very straight, hands placed on his knees.
Chi Shuo smiled at him: “Not playing games?”
“Wanted to come find Shuo Shuo Jie Jie to talk about something.”
Chi Shuo thought of He Lindi listening in and felt a bit nervous, because she knew Tong Jinjin liked her, and worried he might accidentally blurt it out.
Chi Shuo slowly exhaled: “What is it?”
“I…” Tong Jinjin scratched the back of his head, his face contorting with pain. “I did something wrong.”
“What wrong thing?”
Tong Jinjin covered his face, looking pained. “How can I tell my family…”
Chi Shuo’s heart jumped. She heard Tong Jinjin say tearfully, “I…” Fear made his words unclear. “She’s pregnant.”
“When?”
“Two months ago.” Tong Jinjin grabbed a tissue from the table and wiped his face. “I drank some alcohol, mistook her for… someone else.”
Chi Shuo was a bit stunned; she hadn’t expected things to develop this way.
Tong Jinjin reached out and grabbed her hand, his face still tear-streaked, looking anguished. “Shuo Shuo Jie Jie, what should I do? I don’t dare tell my family, I’m afraid my dad will beat me. But I don’t want to be a dad so soon, I…”
Chi Shuo comforted him while pulling her hand away. “You can’t hide this from your family. You must tell your aunt and uncle.” She sighed, then patted Tong Jinjin’s hand, which was still hanging in the air. “You’re an adult now. You can handle some things, don’t be afraid.”
Tong Jinjin recovered in the living room for a while, then went home.
Chi Shuo let out a breath and continued her call with He Lindi. “Did you hear?”
“Mm,” He Lindi replied. “This development… I didn’t expect it.”
He Lindi paused. “Shuo Shuo Jie Jie, I was thinking, quite a few people seem to like you?” She chuckled. “Don’t think I don’t know Xiao Cheng confessed to you too.”
“…”
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