Hearing these words, Shu Nian froze for a moment. Thinking about what he said, she asked confusedly, “So you got the date wrong? Today isn’t New Year’s Eve, but Valentine’s Day?”
As if afraid she would be angry, Xie Ru He’s voice lowered slightly: “Mm.”
Shu Nian let out a sigh of relief: “So does that mean we don’t have to stay up all night?”
“Mm.”
“Then I’ll go to sleep.”
“…”
Shu Nian lay back down on the bed, noticing that he hadn’t responded, she quietly explained, “I’m too tired. I’ll call you another day. You should get some sleep too.”
Not expecting this reaction, Xie Ru He remained silent for a few seconds.
“…Alright.”
Shu Nian hadn’t gone to bed this early in a long time. Perhaps it was because she was staying in her father’s room, surrounded by familiar and comforting scents, as if she could still hear her father’s hearty laughter from the past.
This sleep was peaceful.
When she woke up again, daylight had already broken.
The curtains weren’t blackout ones, and the winter sunlight with its hint of warmth shone in from outside, patches of light covering the floor.
Outside, she could hear Grandpa and Grandma talking in hushed voices, as if afraid to wake her. From somewhere came the sounds of dogs barking, roosters crowing, children playing, and bicycle bells ringing.
The sounds of morning.
Shu Nian didn’t linger in bed. She got up, changed her clothes, and went to the bathroom to wash up.
Grandpa and Grandma had been awake for some time. One sat in a wooden chair reading the newspaper, while the other wore reading glasses and did handicrafts, chatting occasionally.
Shu Nian obediently greeted them, then went to the kitchen and filled a bowl with porridge. She drank the porridge silently. Having just woken up, her head was still a bit foggy, but her spirits were good.
The two elderly people were also in good spirits, occasionally bickering with each other.
This feeling was very nice, much better than curling up alone in that cold little house, where she didn’t have to worry or feel afraid of every little sound.
During this time, Deng Qing Yu called her and gave her a few instructions, saying she wouldn’t come over for the New Year’s Eve dinner but would come by later.
In Ten Yan Town, New Year’s Eve dinner was eaten early.
After their midday nap, Grandpa and Grandma went into the small kitchen and began cooking. Shu Nian stayed beside them, smiling as she chatted, occasionally sneaking a few bites of food.
It was already New Year’s Eve, and most shops on the street had closed. The ingredients had been bought early and filled the entire refrigerator. Because of Shu Nian’s arrival, the two elderly people had prepared even more than usual.
When preparations were nearly complete, there was a knock at the door.
Both elderly people were too busy to answer, so Shu Nian volunteered: “I’ll get it.”
Grandma Shu muttered from behind: “Who could it be at this hour?”
Shu Nian opened the door to find a man standing outside.
She had seen him just yesterday—the man who had been following Auntie Chen, coaxing her to go home, Auntie Chen’s son.
The man was holding a basket of fruit and smiled at her: “You’re Shu Nian, right?”
Shu Nian nodded: “Hello.”
The man didn’t come in but handed her the fruit basket, saying: “I never properly thanked you. If it weren’t for you back then, now…”
Before he could finish, Grandpa Shu suddenly interrupted: “Nian Nian.”
Shu Nian turned around: “What is it?”
Grandpa Shu said: “Go to the convenience store outside and buy me a drink.”
Shu Nian responded with an “Oh,” and obediently asked: “What kind of drink would you like?”
“Get me an orange juice.”
“Okay.” Shu Nian was very obedient. She went to the sofa to grab her coat and put it on, then nodded to the man, “I’ll go out for a bit. You two chat.”
The man was confused by the situation, watching Shu Nian’s retreating figure and scratching his head: “Grandpa Shu, I hadn’t finished speaking…”
“I know. I’ll accept your gratitude on Nian Nian’s behalf. In the future—” Grandpa Shu sighed, “you’d better not mention this in front of her. She doesn’t like to hear about it.”
Grandpa and Grandma’s home was near Ten Yan Middle School.
It took Shu Nian about five minutes to walk to the convenience store beside the school. The streets were mostly empty now, occasionally a stray cat would dart past.
Shu Nian breathed warm air into her hands as she entered the convenience store.
This was the only store still open on the street.
Shu Nian opened the refrigerator, took out a large bottle of orange juice, and went to the counter to pay. The shopkeeper was no longer the kindly middle-aged woman from years ago but had been replaced by a tall, thin man.
He looked somewhat familiar, but Shu Nian couldn’t quite place him despite thinking about it.
The man scanned the barcode with the machine, looked up in surprise, and said: “Shu Nian?”
Shu Nian instinctively looked at him: “You are…?”
The man smiled and reached out to vigorously ruffle her hair: “Don’t recognize me?”
It was an extremely familiar gesture.