TYAM Chapter 79

When Ji Linqiu returned to the wedding venue, a large group of Kuang Ye’s relatives and friends were arriving, parking their cars one after another.

The live band was warming up with pre-performance music, and costumed chipmunks were dancing around with balloons.

The wedding indeed reflected the personality of its planner.

Jiang Wang came out after a while, deliberately avoiding overlapping appearances with Ji Linqiu and taking the opportunity to answer a call from Swift Express Group.

The QR code promotion timeline would be accelerated, and the company was already looking for domestic manufacturers to produce customized scanning devices.

As the primary planner, he was responsible for coordinating the internal operational process and developing a corresponding system for implementing the new tools, taking into account various perspectives.

Compared to the high-intensity, high-pressure work in real estate before, this workload was nothing.

After finishing the call, Jiang Wang returned to Ji Linqiu’s side and overheard him chatting with friends.

“So, back in class, we usually…”

Jiang Wang glanced at the tightly buttoned top button of Ji Linqiu’s shirt and poured himself a glass of iced wine. “The sun’s so intense today. Teacher Ji, you’re dressed way too tightly.”

The friends quickly joined in. “Yeah, aren’t you hot?”

“Not really,” Ji Linqiu said with a light smile. “When we reopened the class later, we made sure not to admit students like that again.”

The group’s attention returned to the lively gossip, engrossed in their conversation.

Ji Linqiu subtly stepped away from the crowd and cast a quick glance at Jiang Wang.

The latter feigned interest in the scenery.

The wedding proceeded as scheduled, with the bride gracefully walking down the aisle arm in arm with her father. They exchanged vows and rings, then kissed amid unicorns and rainbows.

The banquet was lively and joyous, a genuinely pleasant celebration for all.

The food was exquisite, the band adept at setting the mood, and the dance floor was never empty. The atmosphere was exceptional.

Jiang Wang sat quietly on the sidelines, watching, unable to help imagining what style they might choose for their own wedding in the future.

Compared to the small-town wedding he had attended before, this one was refreshing. There’s no invasive questions, no crying children, and even the elderly were serene and pleasant.

Stripped of the complexities of social obligations, leaving only passion and purity, it felt more authentic.

After watching for a while, he began to feel brave enough to imagine reaching out for the future and marriage.

The bride, after making her round of toasts, changed into a dainty golden dress reminiscent of daisies and became animated chatting with her friends. With champagne in one hand, she took to the stage to sing loudly.

Seeing her, Kuang Ye couldn’t help but laugh. After her rendition of “Tian Mi Mi”, he grabbed the mic and joined in with “Today You’re Marrying Me.” But his complete lack of pitch control made his singing sound like wailing ghosts, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Ji Linqiu sipped a bowl of chicken and mushroom soup and turned to find Jiang Wang on another call, momentarily zoning out.

He couldn’t help but wonder how many guests they would invite to celebrate if they reached this day. What would it be like?

Lost in thought, Duan Zhao leaned over with a teasing grin.

“So romantic, right?” 

Ji Linqiu took a moment to realize Duan Zhao was referring to him. He instinctively asked what he meant, and Duan Zhao tilted his head, signaling him to check his neck.

Only then did Ji Linqiu recall that he had loosened his collar earlier in the sweltering afternoon heat.

A faint blush on his collarbone stood out conspicuously.

…Jiang Wang, that rascal.

“It’s strange. There are still mosquitoes, even though it’s almost New Year’s,” Ji Linqiu replied lightly, with a smile. “Let it be. It’s too hot today.”

Realizing he had read too much into it, Duan Zhao chuckled apologetically. “Here, try the durian pastry. The chef they hired is exceptional.”

---

As the New Year approached, a brief spell of sunny weather gave way to an abrupt, fierce cold snap.

One day, it was warm enough for T-shirts and shorts. The next, the cold was so biting that everyone was shivering indoors, listening to the howling wind scream like ghosts.

The streets were decorated with red lanterns, Chinese knots, and New Year-themed art, and community members organized seniors to cut paper and make window decorations.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, Little New Year, Du Wenjuan arrived in Yuhan on time with her luggage.

If not for Jiang Wang hiring a confinement nanny and a caretaker, this year would have been grueling for her.

When Xingxing was just born, even with her mother-in-law and her own mother helping out, the chaos and inexperience left her sleep-deprived and stressed for months. Just hearing the baby cry gave her headaches, chest pain, and heartache.

With two professionals now assisting, life was much better.

Feeling indebted to her family, she took advantage of the weaning period to visit and spend New Year’s with them.

Her small suitcase didn’t hold much of her clothes. It was mostly filled with books and gifts for the three of them, along with her homemade cured sausages and bacon.

She planned to cook fresh braised chicken and soy-sauce goose once she arrived in Yuhan. They would be delicious.

The day before her mother’s arrival, Jiang Wang gave Xingwang a thorough cleaning, scrubbing off layers of dirt.

He was puzzled. “You bathe every day, don’t you? How are you still this dirty?!”

The child earnestly explained, “I run the water, soap up, rinse, and dry!”

“—You! Have to scrub! Not just rinse like you’re washing hotpot meat!!”

After cleaning up, they went to the station together to pick up her mother. When they saw Du Wenjuan, both were in great spirits.

The little boy, who had been shy earlier, ran to her with an excited cry, “Mom—!”

Jiang Wang stood back, watching their tight embrace with a faint smile.

After hugging her son, Du Wenjuan walked over to her faraway cousin, who had always spent New Year’s alone, and opened her arms. “Come on, let’s hug.”

Caught off guard, the man awkwardly complied. “Let’s go. I’ve already prepared your room.”

This year, Ji Linqiu’s family decided to stay in Yuhan for the New Year, enjoying the quiet instead of heading back to the mountains.

Coincidentally, Jiang Wang’s family gathered there too, making for a warm and peaceful holiday.

Du Wenjuan’s room had a terrace and a small flower pot containing a sunflower that Peng Xingwang had planted himself.

It wasn’t blooming yet, but the tall green shoots radiated vitality.

After settling in, she brought out her homemade goods, looking for the fridge and checking what ingredients she could use for a feast.

Peng Xingwang, like a little shadow, followed her everywhere with a bright, happy smile.

Jiang Wang gave her a brief house tour and handed her a set of keys and access cards.

“I need to check on something at the company this afternoon, so I won’t be around much.”

“Alright, alright. Go do your thing.” Du Wenjuan replied quickly. “Just send a message if you won’t make it back for dinner.”

“Okay.”

As Jiang Wang put on his coat to leave, he opened the door and found Peng Jiahui standing there with his hand raised, about to ring the bell.

“Ah, if it isn’t Boss Jiang! You’re back?” Peng Jiahui held gifts for his son—a robot model and a new school bag. He greeted Jiang Wang warmly, “It’s been a while! How have you been recently?”

Jiang Wang froze for a moment, uncharacteristically at a loss for words.

Peng Xingwang happened to run over to grab some plastic bags. When he saw his father at the door, he froze as well, stammering, “Dad, you’re here?”

Peng Jiahui, puzzled by his son’s reaction, enthusiastically showed him the gifts. “Dad just got back from Shenzhen. Take a look, do you like it?”

Peng Xingwang stood there, caught between crying and laughing, too afraid to take the gifts. He turned to Jiang Wang with a pleading look.

For the first time, Jiang Wang was deeply grateful he wasn’t in his past-self’s shoes.

“Xingxing? Did you disappear with the trash bag?” Du Wenjuan stepped out of the kitchen holding a green onion, wiping her hands on her apron as she asked, “If you can’t find hi–”

But then she froze, unable to say anything further.  

Now four people stood there in awkward silence.  

Peng Jiahui hadn’t seen his ex-wife in years. For a brief moment, looking at her, he thought of how young she had looked when they first got married. He was left speechless.  

Jiang Wang was the first to react, saying, “Sorry, sorry, I forgot to tell you…”  

“No, no, I should be the one to apologize,” Peng Jiahui quickly said, fumbling as he placed the gifts he was holding on the shoe cabinet. Stepping back, he added, “Maybe I’ll come back another day to spend time with Xingxing? You all seem busy.”  

Du Wenjuan forced a smile and said, “Why don’t you come in and sit for a bit?”  

Peng Xingwang, oblivious that his mother was just being polite, reflexively handed his father a pair of shoe covers.  

Peng Jiahui felt it was inappropriate to stay, but his son had already given him the shoe covers. With no other choice, he reluctantly put them on and stepped inside.  

“It’s… been so long since I’ve seen Xingxing,” he mumbled. “It’s good to spend time together as a family.”  

Jiang Wang had originally planned to visit the office to hand out red envelopes to his staff, but when he turned and saw the little boy’s “Brother, please save me” expression, he sighed internally, pulled out his phone, and sent a message to his secretary, asking them to postpone everything until the next day.  

The four of them sat in the living room, but the tension was palpable, as if even the air had frozen.  

Silence. A silence as long and heavy as the Yangtze River Bridge.  

It truly felt like the family hadn’t sat together like this in a lifetime.  

Peng Xingwang was only nine years old, and for him, the four years his parents had been apart was half his life.  

For Jiang Wang, it felt surreal. He had believed he would never see his parents again, let alone sit under the same roof with them.  

Both the young Xingwang and the young Jiang Wang had fantasized about this scene countless times.  

They dreamed of their parents reuniting, sitting happily at the dinner table, with no fights, no pushing and shoving—only warm smiles and gentle hands caressing their faces.  

But now that this scene had actually come to life, it felt strangely stiff and hollow.  

Breaking the silence, Peng Xingwang suddenly blurted out, “My final exam scores came out! I got 95 in English!”  

Du Wenjuan, still in a daze, murmured an absent-minded “Oh,” before realizing she hadn’t praised her son. She quickly added, “Your English is so good! You must have worked really hard!”  

Peng Jiahui had been about to chime in with a compliment, but his ex-wife had already said everything he’d wanted to say. He found himself even more out of place, sitting awkwardly on the sofa, shifting in his seat every few seconds.  

Jiang Wang, observing Peng Jiahui’s inability to sit still, cleared his throat and took over the conversation. As Peng Xingwang’s current guardian, he began discussing the child’s progress and daily life.  

“He’s doing very well in math now. His Chinese needs a bit of work, but we’re helping him improve. I’m sure he’ll get much better over time.”  

He talked about Xingwang’s school, the friends he’d made, and even the little sunflowers the boy had planted that had yet to bloom.  

Both Du Wenjuan and Peng Jiahui, who had missed two entire years of their son’s life, listened intently, occasionally chiming in to chat with the boy.  

Jiang Wang, seeing that the atmosphere had eased slightly, felt both relieved and melancholic.  

This was a role he never imagined himself playing: the one who bridged the gap between two estranged parents, ensuring they could hear about their son’s life.  

It felt right. 

As though he was fulfilling a duty he had always been meant to fulfill—being a part of this family, sharing in their conversations.  

But it also felt wrong.  

It felt like he should be sitting here, discussing Xingwang’s growth for the past two years like he was a teacher in a parent-teacher meeting.

There should be more to say at this reunion.

His father should have apologized to his mother.

He shouldn’t have yelled at her. He shouldn’t have hit her. He shouldn’t have waited for so long to quit drinking. He shouldn’t have missed out on his son’s entire life.

His mother should have apologized to Xingwang.

She shouldn’t have left him with his father, in that hopeless place, where all he could do was to hug his pillow and cry until he fell asleep. There, nobody could soothe him from the nightmares he got at night.

Yet now, it was Jiang Wang who sat there, smiling warmly and carrying the weight of holding the conversation.  

Du Wenjuan and Peng Jiahui never once made direct eye contact with each other. They spoke only to Jiang Wang or Peng Xingwang, their shared history reduced to an unspoken void.  

Jiang Wang and Peng Xingwang sat between them, caught in the space between a cliff and the sea—a chasm of silence and estrangement.  

Jiang Wang glanced down at Xingwang, meeting the child’s eyes for just a moment.  

In that brief exchange, they understood each other perfectly.  

It was clearly the parents that have betrayed their son.

Both of them escaped from a life responsible for their son, exchanging them for a respite and a lasting freedom.

But now, it is Jiang Wang and Peng Xingwang who felt like they have betrayed their parents. 

If Xingwang grew closer to his mother, he’d feel like he was betraying his father.  

If Xingwang leaned toward his father, it would mean ignoring his mother’s pain.  

Sitting in the middle, trying to balance it all, left no room for genuine smiles.  

During the conversation, Jiang Wang’s phone buzzed repeatedly with messages from his secretary, checking if he needed assistance.  

For a moment, he was tempted to take Xingwang with him to the office. Then, absurdly, he considered leaving the child here to let his parents hold him more.  

Jiang Wang couldn’t decide what he truly wanted.  

Did he hope Xingwang would receive their embrace, or did he wish to shield him from it?  

Peng Jiahui eventually stayed for less than forty minutes, offering a hurried excuse to leave.  

But just before stepping out, he turned to his ex-wife and bowed deeply.  

“I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to you in the past.”

“I’m very sorry.”

“I hope… you and Xingxing can live a happy life from now on. And… Happy New Year, in advance.”  

Peng Xingwang had spent the entire visit regretting handing his father the shoe covers and fidgeting nervously during their awkward conversation.  

But when his father suddenly apologized, his eyes turned red again. He didn’t want his dad to leave.  

‘You adults are so cruel,’ the boy thought. ‘Why are you doing this?’

Why couldn’t all the people he loved stay together, happily ever after?