Chapter 51 - Xiao Wanqing had taken a step—in Lin Xian’s direction.

Lin Xian nibbled delicately on her sandwich, bite by bite, and felt rather pleased with her handiwork. After drinking more than half a glass of milk, she licked away the foam clinging to her lips, feeling content. As she admired Xiao Wanqing’s graceful table manners—always such a pleasant sight—she suddenly remembered something important.

“Aunt Xiao,” she asked, “did you talk to Aunt Wen about me wanting to spend New Year’s Eve at the Wanquan Resort with you two? Did she agree?”

Aunt Xiao had just finished the last sip of her milk. She stood up, carrying her cup and plate into the kitchen next door, and replied as she walked, “It was already too late by the time I remembered last night. I was afraid she might’ve gone to bed, so I didn’t want to disturb her.”

After washing her hands, she returned to the dining table and sat down again. Smiling, she said, “I’m not sure if she’s up yet this weekend morning, but I’ll send her a quick message. She’ll reply when she sees it.”

She picked up her phone from the table, swiftly tapped into her message contacts, and selected the first name. She typed out a message to Wen Tong: “Are you up? Just remembered—I might not be able to do hot springs on December 31st.”

She set the phone down, assuming it would take some time for Wen Tong to reply. But before the screen even dimmed, a message popped up.

Wen Tong: “Getting your period? No worries, we can just have dinner and watch the fireworks.”

Lin Xian swallowed another bite of her sandwich and softly murmured, “Aunt Wen replied so fast.”

Aunt Xiao smiled lightly, unfazed. “Maybe she just woke up and had her phone on the nightstand.”

Her fingers danced across the screen as she typed, asking: “Xianxian’s not planning to go home for New Year’s Eve. She wants to watch the fireworks too. Would it be okay if I invited her along?”

This time, Xiao Wanqing figured Wen Tong would reply just as quickly. So she didn’t put the phone down, instead casually opening today’s news to browse while waiting.

But once again, she guessed wrong.

Five minutes passed. The phone remained completely still, not a sound or buzz.

Lin Xian had also finished eating. She wiped her mouth with a tissue and, in a half-playful, half-coquettish tone, asked, “Does Aunt Wen not want me to be your third wheel?”

Xiao Wanqing frowned at the phone screen, puzzled. She gently shook her head and reassured her, “She probably just hasn’t seen it yet. Maybe she got up after replying and went to wash up.” Rising to her feet, she rubbed Lin Xian’s head and teased, “Why do kids always overthink things? Our Xianxian is lovable and adored—Aunt Wen would be thrilled to have you join.”

Naturally, she cleared away Lin Xian’s dishes along with her own and headed into the kitchen to wash them together.

Just as Lin Xian was about to follow her in, she noticed the phone Xiao Wanqing had left on the table light up with a soft vibration. She leaned in closer and saw a new message notification.

Grabbing the phone, she darted into the kitchen and called out, “Aunt Xiao, your phone lit up. Could it be Aunt Wen’s reply?”

Xiao Wanqing, busy rinsing dishes under the faucet, couldn’t free her hands. Glancing back at Lin Xian, she trusted, “It’s probably from your Aunt Wen. The screen password is 5566—go ahead and open it.”

Lin Xian blinked in surprise. She gazed at Aunt Xiao’s slender back and suddenly found herself smiling radiantly, eyes soft and shining like water.

Someone with such guarded walls… had come to trust her this much?

Her heart melted, softened again and again. She responded gently, “Okay.” Then she tapped the screen and entered the code—5-5-6-6.

The screen unlocked.

The first thing she saw was the wallpaper—a white cartoon drawing on a pastel background. A young couple was shown playfully chasing butterflies with their daughter. Lin Xian stared at it, a faint ache stirring quietly inside.

She opened the message. As expected, it was from Wen Tong.

Wen Tong: “Sure. I can ask my friend for one more ticket, but the resort might not have any overnight rooms left.”

Lin Xian read it aloud to Xiao Wanqing.

Without turning, Xiao Wanqing replied softly, “Text her back for me—tell her it’s fine. We’ll just head back after the fireworks. It won’t take too long to drive.”

Wen Tong soon replied: “Then it’s settled. I’ll have my friend reserve one more ticket.”

After responding, Lin Xian glanced at the top corner of the message screen. It showed 386 unread messages. Her gaze dimmed slightly, her heart heavy for a brief moment. But she quickly composed herself.

Seeing that Wen Tong didn’t send any more texts, she obediently closed the messages and locked the screen.

She put the phone down, then bounded toward Xiao Wanqing, throwing her arms around her slender waist from behind. She rested her cheek against her shoulder and whispered sweetly, “Thank you, Aunt Xiao. You’re so good to me.”

Warm breath brushed against Xiao Wanqing’s fair neck. She trembled slightly, feeling a tingling sensation ripple across her skin.

It tickled—delicately—like it had traced its way along her nerves and slipped into her heart.

She shifted slightly in Lin Xian’s arms, clearly a bit flustered, but didn’t resist. In the end, she gave in to the desire to stay close and gently nuzzled Lin Xian’s forehead with her cheek, teasing, “The tickets were arranged by your Aunt Wen. If you want to say thanks, she’s the one you should be thanking.”

Lin Xian lowered her gaze, full of fondness. With Xiao Wanqing unable to see, she pressed a feather-light kiss to a few strands of her hair, eyes closed, voice calm and sincere.

“Thank you, Aunt Wen.”

Thank you, Aunt Wen. Thank you for staying by her side all these years.

But love… doesn’t follow the order of arrival.

None of us are that generous.

So… I’m sorry, Aunt Wen.

In the dim bedroom where the curtains hadn’t been drawn, Wen Tong curled up with her knees hugged close. Her hair was messy, and she leaned silently against the headboard. Lit only by the fading glow of her phone screen, she turned her head slightly to gaze at the small handmade lantern sitting on her nightstand—the one she had crafted herself, every stroke and color carefully painted.

The lantern was a soft pink, adorned with an elegant tassel at the base. But right in the center, where a charm or token would normally hang, there was only a long red slip of paper. If you looked closely, you could make out inked words faintly scrawled across it.

After a while, Wen Tong set her phone down and looked away. The warm smile that had appeared when she first read Xiao Wanqing’s message had long faded, replaced by a bitter curve of her lips.

Maybe… it’s still not the right time.

She closed her eyes and told herself that.

On December 31st, as Lin Xian had expected, Xiao Wanqing was indeed inconvenienced. Since she wasn’t planning to soak in the hot springs and only intended to join the evening activities, the two of them didn’t set off until dusk.

Wen Tong wasn’t on the same route as them, so she didn’t make a point to meet up beforehand. Instead, the three of them had agreed to rendezvous at the restaurant within the resort.

When they arrived at the entrance of the resort, Xiao Wanqing was surprised to see far more people than she had anticipated. A long line had formed at the ticket checkpoint. She blinked in disbelief—was a fireworks festival really such a grand and bustling affair?

She circled the car park several times before finally finding an empty spot in a lot a little farther from the main entrance. After parking, they stepped out of the car, and a blast of frigid night wind hit them. Xiao Wanqing instinctively rubbed her hands together to warm them up.

The very next second, her cold hands were enveloped in the warmth of Lin Xian’s.

Lin Xian gently clasped Xiao Wanqing’s soft fingers and tucked both of their hands into the cozy pocket of her down jacket, tilting her head with playful mischief. “Time for your little heater to get to work again.”

Xiao Wanqing's gaze softened. She didn’t resist at all—she was used to this now.

With her free hand, she carefully adjusted Lin Xian’s scarf that had slipped a little down her neck, and said warmly, “Let’s go, little heater.”

That bright smile from her little heater didn’t just warm her hands—it warmed her heart too.

At the VIP entrance, Xiao Wanqing gave the receptionist Wen Tong’s phone number, just as Wen had instructed, and the two of them passed smoothly through the express lane into the resort.

Xiao Wanqing had visited this place once before as part of a magazine assignment. Although called a “resort,” it was more like a compact vacation village, with hot springs, pools, recreational facilities, and natural mountain scenery—all well equipped. Beautiful, yes, but not especially unique. She hadn’t held much expectation for tonight’s New Year’s Eve celebration. Over the years, she had never been fond of making a fuss and didn’t pay holidays much mind. Every time Wen Tong tried to arrange a special celebration, she would politely decline.

Yet this time, as they passed through the resort’s entrance, turned a corner, and truly stepped onto the resort’s tree-lined avenue, Xiao Wanqing felt a moment of awe.

It was deep into the long winter night. In her memory, this path had always been quiet and unremarkable, lit only by tall, dim streetlamps.

But now, this three-meter-wide avenue was ablaze with light and bustling with life. On both sides of the path, beneath towering royal palm trees, stood arch-shaped lantern installations—colorful, intricately crafted, dazzling against the darkness. One after another they stretched endlessly into the night, an ocean of lights that seemed to go on forever.

Beneath the glowing arches, people came and went, many pausing to admire the display. Xiao Wanqing and Lin Xian were no exception, stopping every few steps to take it all in with amazement. What should have taken a few minutes to walk took them twenty, and they left only reluctantly.

And at the end of the lantern corridor, the spectacle didn’t fade—it only grew more majestic. Lin Xian looked ahead and saw elegant pavilions and terraces, their silhouettes illuminated by countless red lanterns hanging in orderly rows, casting a warm and radiant glow. For a moment, it felt like they had stepped into a world of light, where trees seemed ablaze and blossoms glimmered in silver—a dreamlike wonderland.

Lin Xian felt a twinge in her heart, stunned yet oddly heavy. Was tonight really just a fireworks show? If she hadn’t come—what had Wen Tong planned?

As they strolled leisurely side by side, Lin Xian asked casually, “Aunt Xiao, is there really only a fireworks show tonight? Why are there so many lanterns?”

Still admiring the rare sight, Xiao Wanqing replied gently, “I was wondering the same. It’s not Lantern Festival, after all—why all the decorations and lights?”

They finally reached the waterside restaurant where they had planned to meet Wen Tong. Xiao Wanqing smiled lightly and added, “We’ll just ask her when we see her.”

Lin Xian pressed her lips together and tightened her grip on Xiao Wanqing’s hand, nodding. “Okay.”

Even as a love rival, Lin Xian couldn’t deny—Wen Tong was strikingly beautiful. As they stepped onto the second floor of the semi-open-air restaurant, every table was packed, a sea of people. But it didn’t take much effort to spot Wen Tong at once—elegant and composed, seated by the window, gazing off into the distance.

They approached, and Xiao Wanqing tapped lightly on the table, teasing, “What’s out there that’s got you so mesmerized?”

Only then did Wen Tong turn her head, letting out a light chuckle. Her gaze casually swept over their smiling faces—then suddenly dropped, settling on their still-clasped hands tucked inside Lin Xian’s jacket pocket.

Her throat bobbed slightly as she involuntarily glanced up at Lin Xian.

Lin Xian met her gaze with calm composure, greeting her with polite ease. “Good evening, Aunt Wen.”

Wen Tong gave a small nod and looked away.

Unaware of the silent exchange, Xiao Wanqing naturally led Lin Xian to sit across from Wen Tong, only then letting go of her hand and placing both of hers on the table.

But Wen Tong’s eyes couldn’t help but linger on Xiao Wanqing’s pale, slender fingers. Only after a long moment did she retract her gaze and put on her usual lazy smile, teasing lightly, “Chief Editor Xiao really made us wait, huh?”

Xiao Wanqing replied good-naturedly, “We wouldn’t have been late, but we got caught up admiring all the decorations outside.” Then she asked the question that had been on her mind the whole way: “Is it really just a fireworks festival? Everything feels so grand.” Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a small adhesive bandage on Wen Tong’s index finger. Her expression shifted to concern. “What happened to your hand?”

Wen Tong gently rubbed the finger, her mind drifting to the lantern she never got to give away—now stored in a dim little box—and the words she had held back for years. Her eyes dimmed for a fleeting second.

“It’s nothing. Just a staple scratch from a few days ago.”

She switched on the grill and the hotpot, explaining to Xiao Wanqing’s puzzled expression, “I only found out after I arrived—there’s a lantern festival happening tonight. Apparently, it’s a cultural heritage promotion event co-hosted with the city’s Department of Culture. They’re using the New Year as a warm-up. If the turnout is good, they’ll expand it for the Lantern Festival later this year.”

Xiao Wanqing relaxed when she realized there wasn’t anything serious going on. “That explains it,” she replied, then turned teasingly to Lin Xian. “Xianxian sure has good luck.”

Lin Xian’s eyes sparkled. She smiled sweetly at Wen Tong and said, “I’m lucky because of Aunt Wen. Thank you, Aunt Wen.”

Wen Tong tested the grill’s heat, then stood up and playfully flicked Lin Xian’s forehead. “No need to thank me. Come on, let’s pick out what to eat. Let your Aunt Xiao watch over the table.”

Lin Xian happily agreed.

Once the food was brought over, Wen Tong and Xiao Wanqing naturally teamed up to flip the meat on the grill. They chatted casually while Lin Xian mostly listened, occasionally chiming in—but her mouth, meanwhile, was far from idle.

Each time a batch of meat was cooked, Xiao Wanqing instinctively picked out pieces and placed them into Lin Xian’s bowl, so much so that Lin Xian never even needed to reach for the grill with her chopsticks.

When the shrimp from the hotpot was ready, Xiao Wanqing lowered her fair neck and delicately peeled a few pieces with her slender fingers before placing them into Lin Xian’s bowl. She gently said, “See if they’re overcooked.”

Wen Tong finally couldn’t hold back, half-jokingly remarked, “Didn’t you always say peeling shrimp is too much trouble, and that you steer clear of anything that needs peeling?”

Before Xiao Wanqing could reply, Lin Xian turned to look at her and smiled sweetly. She fished out a shrimp from the hotpot and said softly, “Then from now on, I’ll peel shrimp for Aunt Xiao. I’m really good at it.”

As she spoke, she deftly peeled a shrimp in mere seconds and placed it into Xiao Wanqing’s bowl, a little proud of herself. “Look, even the tail’s still perfectly intact.”

Xiao Wanqing lowered her eyes to inspect it, then smiled radiantly and teased her, “Looks like our little heater not only has warm hands but also skillful ones.”

Lin Xian blinked shyly, a little flustered.

Wen Tong watched them, bit her lip, and muttered half playfully, “Aunt Xiao… I want shrimp too…”

Lin Xian quickly laughed and responded, “Aunt Wen, I’ll peel some for you.”

Just a few seconds later, a tender shrimp landed in Wen Tong’s bowl. “Here, Aunt Wen—eat up.”

Wen Tong’s fingers curled slightly on the rim of the bowl. She forced a smile and lowered her eyes. “Thanks, Little Xian.” She picked up the shrimp and slowly chewed.

Maybe her heart wasn’t in it—because it tasted like nothing at all.

That meal stretched from dinnertime all the way into the late evening. By the time it was almost ten, the three of them left the restaurant, their bellies round and full, and began strolling through the garden to admire the lanterns.

As they walked slowly down the path, Lin Xian finally realized the lanterns they saw at the entrance were just the tip of the iceberg. When they reached the Liu Yan Lake at the center of the estate, it felt like stepping into an ocean of lights—a world made entirely of brilliance and shadow.

On both sides of the lakebank, thousands upon thousands of lanterns in every imaginable shape and design swayed gently in the night breeze—more dazzling and radiant than the stars scattered across the dark sky.

The three of them walked side by side—Wen Tong, Xiao Wanqing, and Lin Xian—lingering before lifelike zodiac lanterns, beautifully painted traditional palace lanterns, and grand illuminated structures representing famous landmarks from various cities.

While they were absorbed in the sights, Wen Tong’s steps were briefly halted by the crowd. Falling just slightly behind the other two, she suddenly noticed—at some point, Lin Xian had once again taken Xiao Wanqing’s hand and tucked it into her coat pocket, just like they had done on their way in.

Intimate. Natural.

A gentle night breeze blew past. Wen Tong slowly tucked both hands into her own coat pockets and, all of a sudden, felt a chill seep in.

No one knew how much time had passed when they were all staring up at a 13-meter-tall floating lantern centerpiece in the middle of the lake, and a cheerful girl’s voice rang out beside Lin Xian: “Lin Xian! You’re here too?”

All three turned toward the sound to see two young girls, one tall and one short, both wearing matching snow-white down jackets that looked very much like couple outfits. Under the lantern light, their youthful beauty stood out as they hurried over.

It was Shi Man and Xia Zhijin.

When Lin Xian and Xiao Wanqing saw them, their faces lit up with smiles. Lin Xian greeted, “Manman, Sister Zhijin—what a coincidence! Are you here for the lanterns or the fireworks?”

Shi Man and Xia Zhijin offered sweet smiles to Xiao Wanqing and greeted her in unison, “Hello, Aunt Xiao.” Then Shi Man turned to Lin Xian and explained, “Neither, actually. My mom told us to go out and have dinner together. When we got here and saw the lanterns, we parted ways after eating and came out to take a look.”

Her gaze shifted to Wen Tong, just about to ask how to address her, when suddenly, the sound of the New Year’s countdown rang out in the distance. The crowd around them began to chant in unison: “10, 9, 8, 7, 6…”

Lin Xian and Xiao Wanqing exchanged a smile and were just about to join in the countdown when a loud boom erupted from the center of the lake, cutting the voices off mid-chant and stunning the crowd.

Shi Man jumped at the sound and instinctively retreated into Xia Zhijin’s arms. Though startled, Xia Zhijin quickly and steadily caught Shi Man’s soft body, gently covering her ears with warm hands.

Xiao Wanqing flinched too, caught off guard by the sudden explosion. Lin Xian and Wen Tong both moved toward her at the exact same moment, hands reaching out instinctively—each of them wanting to hold her, to shield her ears and comfort her.

All of it happened in a flash.

Wen Tong stepped toward Xiao Wanqing. Lin Xian did too.

But in the next second, it was only Lin Xian who stood firm and gently cupped Xiao Wanqing’s ears.

A burst of fireworks soared from the lake, lighting up the night sky in brilliant color.

It was so beautiful, Wen Tong felt her nose begin to sting.

Under the endless waves of exploding fireworks, Lin Xian and Xiao Wanqing stood close, nestled against one another. Lin Xian stood behind her, hands over Xiao Wanqing’s ears. Xiao Wanqing leaned lightly into Lin Xian’s embrace, turning her head. Her eyes shimmered like water, her smile radiant as she said something softly to Lin Xian, lips parting and closing in the flickering light.

Moments later, she turned back toward Wen Tong and said in a clear, gentle voice:

“Wen Tong, Happy New Year!”

In that instant, she looked at Xiao Wanqing’s gentle and graceful face and felt a twinge of grievance.

Clearly, she had reached out even faster than Lin Xian—so why, in the end, was it not her who got to touch her...?

Her hand, left hanging in mid-air, slowly, helplessly dropped down, tightening into a fist. Then, her eyes flickered, and she forced a faint smile as she turned to Xiao Wanqing and said, “Happy New Year.”

Because, in that brief moment, Xiao Wanqing had taken a step—in Lin Xian’s direction.

She lifted her gaze through the hazy night and her misty eyes, locking eyes with the tall, poised young girl standing not far away. The girl had one arm loosely around Xiao Wanqing, her posture vaguely possessive, almost like a quiet claim. Her gaze, too, was heavy as it rested on her.

It was as if undercurrents were surging beneath the surface...

After a pause, Wen Tong turned around and quietly, step by step, backed away from that lively, noisy area where the cold wind blew.

She leaned against the trunk of a tree in a quiet corner where few people passed by, staring silently at the water rippling in rings. She lit a cigarette, and as it slowly burned, she stood lost in thought—never taking a single drag.

Someone approached. A low, smooth voice, rich like a cello, asked, “May I borrow a lighter?”

Wen Tong turned coldly to the side and saw a woman with dark hair swept up, elegant features, and a refined, understated air. She stood quietly beside her, eyes calm and clear.

Behind her, fireworks bloomed in the night sky.