After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 92
Chapter 92
Yu Qingtang took some time to compose herself.
She was afraid Cheng Zhanxi would get impatient and hang up the video call, but she didn't. Cheng Zhanxi was brushing her teeth, her mouth full of white foam, and she mumbled indistinctly, "Almost done."
Yu Qingtang watched the entire process of her brushing and rinsing.
Gurgle, gurgle—
Cheng Zhanxi spat out the last mouthful of water, wiped her mouth with a hanging towel, smiled at her, revealing her freshly brushed, snow-white teeth, and said, "I'm done."
Yu Qingtang's eyes curved involuntarily.
Cheng Zhanxi held up her phone, the camera always aimed at her own face. The starry sky backdrop behind her moved, the image jolted for a moment then returned to normal. Cheng Zhanxi lifted the covers and sat up in bed.
"The phone screen is too small, can I switch to the iPad?"
"Okay."
"Don't you dare not answer my video call, or I'll cry for you to see."
Because she could see Cheng Zhanxi's face, Yu Qingtang also saw her expression as she spoke now—very lively, very cute.
Yu Qingtang couldn't help but smile: "Okay."
After switching to the iPad, the screen showed Cheng Zhanxi's entire upper body as she sat cross-legged on the bed, wearing navy blue pajamas. Her demeanor was calm and steady, a bit mature, and also a bit sexy.
But it was different from the sexiness of wearing a backless dress during the day. Yu Qingtang's vocabulary wasn't quite up to the task; otherwise, she would have had a fitting word to describe it: a kind of reserved sultriness.
What couldn't be questioned was that she looked very good in them; the pajamas were nice, her face was beautiful, her hands were beautiful—everything about her was beautiful.
Yu Qingtang wanted to crawl into the phone, wanted to crawl into her arms, and also wanted... to have her kiss her.
"Why are you sleeping so early today?"
The question brought Yu Qingtang back from her reverie.
On the video, Yu Qingtang had nowhere to hide. She obediently said, "Nothing to do."
"What did they go to do?"
"Watch fireworks."
"I... don't want to watch alone." Yu Qingtang lowered her head.
"Who said you're alone?"
Yu Qingtang lifted her eyelids, looking at her in confusion.
Cheng Zhanxi said, "If you film the fireworks and send them to me, wouldn't that be us watching the fireworks together?" She sighed and said, "Fireworks are banned where I live. I might not get to see any this year. I'm counting on you to show me."
Yu Qingtang's eyes widened slightly as she slowly processed the message Cheng Zhanxi was conveying.
A dozen or so seconds later, Yu Qingtang jumped off the bed.
"I'll go film them for you!"
Cheng Zhanxi stopped her: "Stop!"
She was somewhat exasperated; Yu Qingtang's readiness to act was a bit too quick. Yu Qingtang pressed her lips together and said, "You don't want to see them anymore?"
Cheng Zhanxi said gently, "It's too late. I want to see them tomorrow. Can you film them for me tomorrow, okay?"
Yu Qingtang mumbled, "But..."
What if Cheng Zhanxi changed her mind tomorrow? It was rare to have something she could do for her. Never mind that it was only eleven; she would go out and film for her even at one in the morning.
Cheng Zhanxi coaxed softly, "Be good."
Yu Qingtang pressed her lips together again and hummed a soft "Mm."
Earlier that evening, she had found fireworks uninteresting, but now a feeling of eagerness surged within her, all because of Cheng Zhanxi's words. For Cheng Zhanxi, this was, of course, immensely satisfying, as it showed how much Yu Qingtang cared about her. But she seemed to care a little too much. Thinking back over this period, apart from Xiang Tianyou, she hadn't heard Yu Qingtang proactively mention anything else. Reading, cooking, spacing out—it was all unchanging, as if her life consisted only of waiting.
Waiting for Cheng Zhanxi to return.
Cheng Zhanxi thought for a moment and said, "Isn't there an ancient town near your place?"
"Mm."
"Is it fun? I haven't been there yet." Actually, Cheng Zhanxi had been there long ago. Having spent so much time in Sicheng, and with her penchant for traveling far and wide, she had basically visited all the places, famous or not.
Yu Qingtang had intended to say she didn't know, but the words changed as they reached her lips: "Shall I go take a look tomorrow?"
"Sure, you can be my tour guide when you get back."
Yu Qingtang's eyes curved a little, and she nodded seriously in agreement: "Okay."
"Last time I went sketching there, there were quite a few good spots. Do you have any other places to recommend?"
"I'll go take a look." Yu Qingtang's words came out much more fluently.
"Remember to film them and send them to me. Don't save them all up to tell me when I get back after the New Year."
"I..." Yu Qingtang bit her lower lip and said, "Okay."
Cheng Zhanxi lay down on her side, propped the iPad on the bedside table. On the screen, her blanket was pulled up to her shoulders, revealing only a fluffy head. Her long hair was tucked behind one ear, and the bedroom light made her ear look pinkish-white and adorable, so small it looked like it could be held in one's mouth.
Yu Qingtang wanted to imitate her, but she didn't have a phone stand, so she held it in her hand, meeting Cheng Zhanxi's gaze through the screen.
Neither spoke, a faint smile in their eyes.
A tranquil and gentle atmosphere silently spread through both their rooms.
Later, Yu Qingtang often recalled this night.
For Cheng Zhanxi, the New Year's Eve they truly spent together in a meaningful sense would be after they officially got together—the two of them listening to the distant New Year's bells, intimately close by the window, whispering sweet nothings only they could hear. But for Yu Qingtang, it was this night, when she was in a state of hopeless waiting, and a video call suddenly came through.
And rather dramatically, five minutes before midnight, Cheng Zhanxi couldn't fight off her drowsiness any longer. Her head tilted, and she groggily fell asleep, not even managing to say "Happy New Year."
The second before she fell asleep, she was still solemnly assuring Yu Qingtang that she wouldn't fall asleep.
The next second, Yu Qingtang softly called her, "Xixi?"
The only response was the woman's slightly closed eyes and the sound of her light, shallow breathing.
Yu Qingtang's eyes curved into a smile.
The video call didn't disconnect. Yu Qingtang raised her hand, her fingertips hovering above the screen, caressing Cheng Zhanxi's face through the air.
She was thousands of miles away, yet at this moment, she felt so close, so close that when Yu Qingtang leaned towards the screen, she could clearly see the rise and fall of her chest, so vividly present in her world.
Yu Qingtang gazed at her, entranced, tracing her delicate features with her eyes.
At exactly midnight, the sound of firecrackers crackled outside, near and far, merging into a continuous roar. Brilliant fireworks bloomed in the sky one after another, releasing dazzling colors, illuminating the sky as bright as day.
Downstairs, Fang Wenjiao, draped in a coat, got up, picked up a string of firecrackers she had prepared earlier, lit it, and threw it into the courtyard.
The sound of firecrackers echoed in her ears, and Yu Qingtang looked out the window.
"Amidst the sound of firecrackers, the old year departs; the spring breeze brings warmth with the Tusu wine."
Bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, the new year officially began.
In her sleep, Cheng Zhanxi frowned slightly, as if about to be woken by the firecrackers. Yu Qingtang pressed the microphone icon, muting the external sounds.
Cheng Zhanxi's brow smoothed out again. She nuzzled the goose-down quilt covering the lower half of her face with the tip of her nose, her cheeks flushed from sleep.
"Ha-ppy New Year," Yu Qingtang whispered, syllable by syllable, to Cheng Zhanxi's sleeping face. Then, silently, she mouthed: I like you, Cheng Zhanxi.
Yu Qingtang found a way to prop her phone on the bedside table, facing her bed, and plugged in the charger.
The light in the room stayed on all night.
At six in the morning on the first day of the New Year, Cheng Zhanxi's biological clock woke her up on time.
The iPad had run out of battery and turned off automatically. Cheng Zhanxi remembered falling asleep last night, jolted upright, and quickly turned on her phone.
Yu Qingtang had sent her a "Happy New Year" message at one minute past midnight.
And a "Good night" at four in the morning.
Cheng Zhanxi pinched her own cheek hard, punishing herself for succumbing to sleep so quickly last night.
She sent Yu Qingtang a message: [I'm awake, Happy New Year]
She put the iPad on to charge, went to the washroom to freshen up, taking her phone with her.
Just as she squeezed toothpaste onto her brush, a message from Yu Qingtang arrived.
[Good morning]
Cheng Zhanxi sent a video call invitation.
Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding—
The sound effect played once, then Yu Qingtang declined the call and replied: [I'm going downstairs to make breakfast, let's video call later]
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Are you angry?
[Yu Qingtang]: No
A loaded question for other couples, but for Yu Qingtang, it was simply its literal meaning.
She found it quite baffling, not knowing why she should be angry. Was it because Cheng Zhanxi had accidentally fallen asleep during their video chat and hadn't waited until midnight? People need to sleep; she had spent the whole evening with her family, so it was normal for her to be tired.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Then message me when you're done. I'm going downstairs too. Today I'm going to my grandparents' place for New Year greetings.
[Yu Qingtang]: Okay
Yu Qingtang finished making breakfast. Tingting and Xuanxuan from her maternal uncle's family had just been woken up by their mother. Both the older and younger child were yawning endlessly. Their mother walked behind them, nagging that they needed to wear an extra layer of clothing when they went out later. When their aunt turned her head, she saw Yu Qingtang standing silently at the kitchen doorway, watching her with a profound gaze.
Her aunt was startled and gave her an uneasy smile.
Yu Qingtang nodded at her.
At the dining table, Xuanxuan was clamoring for a drink again and was sternly told off by his father. Even their maternal grandfather's words had no effect. The atmosphere became a bit stiff, and the table fell silent for a moment.
"Are there still fireworks tonight? Where? What time do they start?"
In the silence, a clear, cool voice reached the ears of everyone at the table.
Everyone looked at Yu Qingtang simultaneously, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Had she just spoken?
Yu Qingtang was someone easily overlooked, especially when she wasn't speaking, as quiet as an invisible person.
Yu Qingtang repeated her questions with a calm expression.
The elderly and children all liked watching fireworks. Fang Wenjiao said, "At the square over in Xingnan, and also on the other side of the river."
Tingting said, "They had two rounds last night, at eight and ten. I heard there was another round at twelve."
Yu Qingtang hummed in acknowledgment and added, "Thank you."
Thank you?
The family, eating breakfast together on the morning of the first day of the New Year, all felt a little strange hearing such a formal word.
Tingting and Xuanxuan had said "thank you" to Yu Qingtang several times yesterday and hadn't thought anything of it. Now that it was directed at them, they felt particularly uneasy.
Their father and Yu Qingtang's mother were biological siblings, just like the close relationship the two of them had now. No matter how little they saw Yu Qingtang or how distant they were, they were still first cousins.
After breakfast, the brother and sister whispered to each other in the living room, occasionally glancing towards the kitchen.
Yu Qingtang was washing dishes when she heard the sound of a door sliding open behind her.
She turned at the sound.
Tingting took a step inside, not daring to look Yu Qingtang in the eyes, and asked softly, "Xuanxuan and I are going to watch the fireworks tonight. Cousin, will you join us?"
The air was quiet for a long time.
Just when Tingting thought this cousin wouldn't answer, a calm and peaceful voice came from in front of her.
"Okay."
Tingting looked up, her eyes not yet able to hide her astonishment.
Yu Qingtang was actually also surprised that Tingting would speak to her proactively, but she hid it well.
Tingting: "Then we'll call you tonight?"
Yu Qingtang nodded gently: "You can."
Tingting said in pleasant surprise, "Thank you, Cousin! No, no, I mean..."
Just as she was stammering incoherently, she saw her usually cold cousin smile. It wasn't a big laugh, just a slight upturn of her lips, fleeting like a night-blooming cereus, beautiful beyond description.
Tingting came out of the kitchen in a daze. Her younger brother came over and asked, "Did she agree?"
Tingting said blankly, "She agreed."
Her brother asked, "Then why are you like this?"
Tingting sat down on the sofa, her eyes staring blankly ahead, and said slowly, "Let's not go anywhere today, just stay at home. Anyway, Cousin isn't going out either." Is Cousin a fairy? How can she be so beautiful?
Younger brother: "???"
Yu Qingtang changed her clothes and came downstairs, a bag slung over her shoulder, looking like she was about to go out.
Tingting, who was watching TV in the living room, stood up and blurted out, "Are you going out?"
Yu Qingtang: "?"
Tingting summoned her courage and asked, "Where are you going?"
Yu Qingtang: "...Just going out for a walk."
Tingting bit the tip of her tongue and continued, "Would it be convenient to take us with you?"
The younger brother beside her: "???"
Yu Qingtang: "..."
Five minutes later, Yu Qingtang went out with her younger female cousin and younger male cousin. Fang Wenjiao reminded her to take good care of her younger "brother and sister," while their aunt told the two children not to cause trouble for their "older sister."
Yu Qingtang nodded silently, a strange feeling in her heart.
Younger brother and sister?
Her maternal uncle bore some resemblance to Yu Ci. His children's features vaguely showed traces of the Yu family, especially his daughter Tingting, who bore a slight resemblance to Yu Qingtang.
When they went out, they met a neighbor. As soon as the neighbor saw the two girls, they said to Yu Qingtang, "Is this your younger sister?"
Yu Qingtang said, "My cousin."
The neighbor smiled and said, "I can tell."
Really?
Yu Qingtang also looked at Tingting. Tingting felt embarrassed under her gaze and lowered her head.
[I took my uncle's two children out today. The neighbor said I look like my uncle's daughter.]
Cheng Zhanxi was at her grandparents' house. She took a moment to look at her phone and typed a reply: [Cousins, it's normal to look alike.]
When Yu Qingtang received this message, she was by the roadside buying sugar-fried chestnuts for the two children.
Yu Qingtang felt a little bewildered.
Apart from her maternal grandparents and Wei Tingyu, other titles like "uncle," "aunt," "younger female cousin," "paternal female cousins," etc., were just labels to match people with names, unrelated to kinship. Suddenly having two little shadows trailing behind her, calling her "Cousin" repeatedly, stirred an unfamiliar emotion within her, which gradually accumulated.
The sweet fragrance of stir-fried sugar burst from the wok.
"Cousin Yu," Tingting turned back and asked her, "Aren't you having any chestnuts?"
To distinguish between cousins from her mother's side and her father's side, she had added the specific surname.
Yu Qingtang looked a little unnatural and said, "No, thank you. You two eat."
The two children each had a portion of sugar-fried chestnuts, flanking Yu Qingtang like two guardians. The chestnuts were very hot. Tingting blew on one to cool it, peeled it, and tasted it—fragrant, sweet, and delicious.
She peeled a second one and handed it to Yu Qingtang.
Yu Qingtang reached out and took it.
"Is it good?" The girl's clear, bright eyes looked at her.
The fragrance and sweetness melted together on the tip of her tongue.
Yu Qingtang said, "It's delicious."
After that, Yu Qingtang was continuously fed, the last time being at Cheng Zhanxi's home.
Yu Qingtang had come out to scout the ancient town for Cheng Zhanxi, planning to draft a preliminary travel itinerary after exploring it. Once inside, the two children found everything novel. They asked Yu Qingtang, who also didn't know, so she was forced to learn along with them, genuinely immersing herself in the activity of exploring the ancient town. There was a pitch-pot game, completely imitating the ancient system, which attracted a large crowd of tourists.
Tingting pointed to the two-handled pot in the center and said excitedly, "Cousin Yu, do you know how to play that?"
Cousin Yu shook her head.
Tingting said, "Then try playing it."
Yu Qingtang: "You play."
Tingting grabbed her hand and shook it up and down: "Cousin Yu~"
Her younger brother watched from the side, his heart pounding with fear. He had no idea what had gotten into his sister today. Not only did she proactively go out with the cold Yu Qingtang, but she also dared to act cute with her. Was she tired of living?
Yu Qingtang relented: "...Alright."
The younger brother stared, dumbfounded.
Yu Qingtang paid the money and received eight arrows.
It was her first time playing pitch-pot, and unexpectedly, her aim wasn't bad. Except for the first try, which went too far off due to inexperience, she gradually adjusted. By the third arrow, she hit the mark, and after that, all of them went in. With a light flick of her agile wrist, an arrow would deftly fly into the pot, the collision making a crisp sound.
The onlookers cheered loudly: "Good!"
Tingting clapped vigorously at the front of the crowd. Yu Qingtang's gaze swept over her flushed, excited face, and she felt a slight daze.
After watching the fireworks that night, Yu Qingtang video-called Cheng Zhanxi.
Cheng Zhanxi asked her, "What did you do today?"
Yu Qingtang replied, "During the day, I went to the ancient town with my younger male and female cousins, and in the evening, we went to the riverside to watch fireworks."
Cheng Zhanxi raised an eyebrow.
No longer "my uncle's two children"?
"Was there anything fun in the ancient town?"
"I played pitch-pot, it was... okay."
"Why did you suddenly stutter?" Cheng Zhanxi laughed.
Yu Qingtang didn't know either; she just suddenly stuttered. She propped her forehead with her hand and laughed.
Cheng Zhanxi keenly sensed that she was in a good mood today and laughed along with her.
A day was crossed off the calendar, marked with an X. Eight days remained until they would meet.
Yu Qingtang had nothing to do at home. Xiang Tianyou, who often came to accompany her before the Spring Festival, now had to accompany Xiang Kang to visit relatives. However, as one little shadow fell, two more rose up. After the day trip to the ancient town, Tingting and Xuanxuan discovered that Yu Qingtang wasn't as unapproachable as she seemed on the surface; on the contrary, she was a beautiful older sister with a very good temper, and they grew fond of being close to her.
When Yu Qingtang went out, she would occasionally take them along, then they would have lunch together and return in the evening. At night, if any fruit was cut downstairs, Xuanxuan, at his sister's behest, would bring a plate upstairs, knock on Yu Qingtang's door, and deliver it to her.
The children liked Yu Qingtang, and her aunt's attitude changed accordingly, followed by her uncle, and then her maternal grandparents. Although it didn't extend to solicitous inquiries about her well-being, they would ask her an extra question if something came up, and if there was anything delicious, they would think of saving a portion for her. In this home, for the first time, Yu Qingtang didn't feel like an outsider, forever silently watching their family happiness.
Actually, her uncle's family came back for the New Year every year, year after year, but this year was different. Yu Qingtang knew that all these changes were because of Cheng Zhanxi.
She wasn't fireworks; she was an ever-rising, never-setting sun.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, her uncle's family left Sicheng.
Yu Qingtang gave Tingting and Xuanxuan gifts. Unexpectedly, Tingting had also prepared a gift for her, a very girlish gift—a plush toy.
On the other end of the video call, Cheng Zhanxi lamented, wringing her hands, "Oh no, I was planning to give you one! I'm a step too late!"
Yu Qingtang acted as if she really liked the plush toy and said, "Then what should we do?"
Cheng Zhanxi said, "Then I can only offer myself to you."
Hearing this, Yu Qingtang looked at her.
Cheng Zhanxi looked back at her seriously.
Yu Qingtang, for some reason, skipped this topic and said, "Are you busy tomorrow?"
Cheng Zhanxi's post-New Year schedule, apart from visiting relatives, consisted of gatherings with friends. She had too many friends, and everyone invited her. She couldn't possibly attend them all, so she took the initiative to organize a gathering herself, to "catch all her friends in one net," so to speak, and it was scheduled for tomorrow night.
Cheng Zhanxi replied, "A dinner party with friends. We'll probably stay up all night."
Yu Qingtang: "Does that mean there's no time for a video call?"
Cheng Zhanxi mused, "There can still be time."
"Hm?"
"Hmm, how about you meet my friends?"
The screen suddenly went black; Yu Qingtang had covered the camera.
Cheng Zhanxi was exasperated: "I was just saying it casually."
The camera shook twice, and Yu Qingtang's face reappeared on the screen, her eyes calm, saying nothing.
Cheng Zhanxi wasn't sure what she was thinking, so she didn't bring up the matter of her meeting friends again.
A long time later.
"Three days left." Cheng Zhanxi looked at the woman on the screen and sighed from the bottom of her heart. The longing in her heart hadn't lessened with the video calls; instead, it had grown even stronger.
"Four days," Yu Qingtang corrected her.
It wasn't past midnight yet, so it was still the sixth day of the lunar month.
"Yu Qingtang."
"Hm?"
"Do you miss me?"
Video calls were different from phone calls. Yu Qingtang could say such things frankly when she couldn't see Cheng Zhanxi's face, but now, heat rushed to her face, and her ears instantly turned red.
"Do you miss me?" Cheng Zhanxi asked again.
Yu Qingtang buried her face in the pillow, her fair neck flushing red, and didn't answer.
Cheng Zhanxi softened her voice: "I miss you."
The wind in the bamboo forest stilled for a moment, then began to blow again. The invisible wind passed through the window lattice, rippling the lake of Yu Qingtang's heart, which could not calm for a long time.
The wind blew all night.
When Yu Qingtang woke up in the morning, she walked to the desk and crossed off yesterday's date on the calendar with a pen.
On the tenth day of the first lunar month, a cold air mass from the coast hit Sicheng. The temperature plummeted below 0°C, the lake froze, and the land was ice-bound. Apart from office workers who had to go to work and sanitation workers, there was hardly anyone on the streets.
Meanwhile, there was a blizzard in the Capital City. The weather was terrible, and flights departing from Capital Airport were likely to be delayed or canceled.
Cheng Zhanxi had bought a morning flight ticket, with an estimated arrival time in Sicheng at noon.
Yu Qingtang left home at six-thirty, taking the earliest bus to the airport. Because it was overcast, the sky, which should have been dawning, showed no sign of the sun. It was dark outside the window, like the dead of night.
The light from the streetlamps shone on Yu Qingtang's face through the bus window, flickering.
Her hands tightly gripped the bag on her lap.
At seven-thirty, Yu Qingtang arrived at the airport arrivals gate. On the electronic information board, more than half of the flight times were displayed in conspicuous red, showing "Delay."
The information for Cheng Zhanxi's flight hadn't been updated yet, as it was still some time before its scheduled departure.
Meanwhile, Cheng Zhanxi arrived at Capital Airport.
Pushing her suitcase with one hand, Cheng Zhanxi walked briskly through the airport terminal and called Yu Qingtang: "I've arrived. I'm going to get my boarding pass now."
Yu Qingtang hummed a low "Mm."
Cheng Zhanxi asked, "Have you left yet?"
Yu Qingtang sat on a bench in the airport, watching the flight information scroll on the screen in front of her, and said, without any noticeable change in her voice, "Not yet, I just finished breakfast."
Cheng Zhanxi glanced out the glass window of the airport terminal. The sky was gloomy, and snow was falling heavily. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Cheng Zhanxi said gently, "I received a text from the airline this morning saying there might be delays. You don't need to rush out. I'll tell you when I'm boarding, and then you can leave home."
Yu Qingtang paused for a moment: "I know."
Cheng Zhanxi joined the long queue for baggage check-in and asked, "How's the weather at home? Is it very cold?"
At home?
Yu Qingtang's heart warmed slightly at her natural choice of words, dispelling the coldness in her hands and feet. Her stagnant blood began to flow slowly again.
"A little," Yu Qingtang replied, her voice somewhat soft.
"Remember to wear earmuffs, a scarf, and gloves when you go out. Wear thicker clothes. You're so thin, wearing more won't make you look fat. I'll be angry if I see you underdressed."
"I know," Yu Qingtang replied obediently, pulling her coat collar tighter.
Hearing her speak, Cheng Zhanxi's heart melted. She wished she could sprout wings and fly over immediately. But she had no wings; she could only take the "iron lump" (airplane) back.
Cheng Zhanxi gripped her phone tightly.
Someone behind her urged her on. Cheng Zhanxi looked at the line ahead, which had moved forward at some point, took a few steps, and said softly, "I'll be back soon. Wait for me."
"Mm."
Cheng Zhanxi didn't hang up the phone until she reached the security checkpoint.
Cheng Zhanxi entered the VIP lounge. Two uniformed airport staff members stood on either side of the entrance. On the electronic screen at the far end, there was no delay information for Cheng Zhanxi's flight yet. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Cheng Zhanxi sat down on the sofa and sent Yu Qingtang a message.
[I'm in the lounge]
[Mm]
Cheng Zhanxi poured herself a cup of coffee, got a plate of dessert, and chatted idly with Yu Qingtang.
The closer they got to meeting, the less there was to talk about. It wasn't that there was nothing to say, but rather that they didn't want to say it casually, preferring to save it for that moment.
An hour before takeoff, Cheng Zhanxi glanced down at the boarding pass on the table, her hands gripping the fabric of her trousers on her knees. She had flown north and south so many times, but this was the first time she felt nervous and anxious.
"Attention passengers traveling to Sicheng..."
Cheng Zhanxi's heart skipped a beat, and she pricked up her ears.
"Flight XXXX, which you are booked on, cannot depart on time due to weather conditions. The new departure time is yet to be determined. We sincerely apologize for this. Please rest in the waiting hall and await further announcements."
Cheng Zhanxi meticulously matched the flight number announced over the broadcast, digit by digit, and frowned.
[The flight is delayed]
Before receiving Cheng Zhanxi's message, Yu Qingtang had already seen the word "Delay" suddenly turn red next to flight XXXX from the Capital to Sicheng on the scrolling electronic information screen at the arrivals gate.
Yu Qingtang typed with her head down: [It's okay, I'll leave later then. Tell me when you're boarding.]
Cheng Zhanxi: [Okay]
The scheduled boarding time had passed, and it was nearing the departure time. Cheng Zhanxi stood up, walked to the entrance of the lounge, and asked the staff member stationed there, "Excuse me, when will flight XXXX be able to depart? Can you give an approximate time?"
The staff member, naturally, didn't know and politely apologized.
Cheng Zhanxi returned inside. So as not to disturb others, she chose to sit down, her fingertips pressing against her other knuckles one by one.
Ten o'clock sharp.
Someone in the VIP lounge couldn't sit still any longer, pacing anxiously inside while on the phone.
"It's delayed, can't fly."
"You're anxious? Am I not anxious? I have a meeting scheduled for this afternoon!"
"Do you know how long I've been working on this client? We're about to sign the contract!" His voice grew louder, intensifying the impatient atmosphere in the lounge.
A lady also stood up, her high heels clacking on the floor—da-da-da, da-da-da. She walked to the lounge entrance and back, asked the same question as Cheng Zhanxi, and received the same answer.
The remaining people frequently checked their watches, their faces etched with anxiety.
"Dear passengers, please pay attention..."
Those who were pacing stopped, awaiting round after round of announcements.
"Flight XXXX, which you are booked on, cannot depart on time due to weather conditions. The new departure time is yet to be determined. We sincerely apologize for this. Please rest in the waiting hall and await further announcements."
This was for a flight scheduled to depart at eleven-thirty.
Snowflakes swirled down onto the runway outside the airport.
The electronic screen was now completely overrun, the departure time column a sea of red "Delay" notices.
Anyway, no one could fly, so being anxious was useless. Under these circumstances, the lounge actually quieted down. Everyone returned to their seats, cursing under their breath.
Cheng Zhanxi clutched her boarding pass, waiting from ten o'clock to eleven, and from eleven to twelve.
Cheng Zhanxi picked up a buffet meal in the lounge, placed it on the table with a small cake in the upper right corner, took a photo, and sent it to Yu Qingtang.
Yu Qingtang opened the photo and typed in confusion: [The airport has this much food?]
She remembered that last time she was delayed, they only gave out instant noodles and drinks.
Cheng Zhanxi: [Did you always fly economy before?]
Yu Qingtang paused slightly: [Mm]
Cheng Zhanxi: [Fly business class next time. You're a rich woman who owns a whole building, you know.]
Yu Qingtang tugged at the corner of her lips meaninglessly, looking at the empty arrivals exit.
Cheng Zhanxi should have arrived by now.
Her phone vibrated.
Cheng Zhanxi: [Have you had lunch?]
Yu Qingtang, her expression unchanged: [Just about to eat]
Cheng Zhanxi: [What are you eating?]
Yu Qingtang: [Braised pork belly, steamed pork ribs with black bean sauce, eggplant and melon clay pot, scrambled eggs with tomatoes]
Cheng Zhanxi: [Making me hungry. Send me a picture?]
Yu Qingtang: [I'm going to eat now]
Cheng Zhanxi smiled and used a spoon to scoop up the fried rice from her plate, filling her stomach mouthful by mouthful.
Two in the afternoon.
Cheng Zhanxi's flight from the Capital to Sicheng was unable to depart due to weather conditions and was eventually canceled. The information for that flight disappeared from the scrolling electronic display screen.
Cheng Zhanxi rebooked a flight for the next day with the same airline and route. The Cheng family's driver picked her up from the airport and took her home.
It was the first time Song Qingrou had seen her daughter come home looking listless and preoccupied. She couldn't bring herself to say any words of comfort, merely patted her shoulder and asked a servant to warm a glass of milk and bring it to her.
The Cheng family had a private jet, but private flights required advance filing, and given the current weather, their own plane probably wouldn't be able to fly either.
Cheng Zhanxi managed a weak smile at Song Qingrou.
Song Qingrou stroked her long hair and said softly, "Drink your milk and get some sleep. The weather forecast says the snow will stop tonight. You'll definitely be able to fly tomorrow. It's just one day's difference."
Cheng Zhanxi nodded, took a sip of milk, and said, "I know."
Song Qingrou said, "Don't frown anymore. It makes Mom's heart ache."
Cheng Zhanxi took a deep breath and managed another smile.
Song Qingrou: "Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something else?"
Cheng Zhanxi shook her head, put down the empty milk glass, and pushed herself up from her knees: "No, thank you, Mom. I'm a bit tired. I want to go to my room and rest for a bit."
Cheng Zhanxi's suitcase was still in the living room. She dragged her heavy feet upstairs, entered her bedroom on the third floor, and closed the door.
Sicheng was a small place and shared an airport with the neighboring city. There was only this one flight from the Capital to Sicheng. It was the same for high-speed trains; they all departed in the morning, and there were no more services to Sicheng for the day. Unless she truly sprouted wings, she couldn't fly over the thousand-kilometer distance.
Although it was only a one-day delay, the dashed expectations left Cheng Zhanxi feeling unprecedentedly low, followed by physical exhaustion.
Cheng Zhanxi: [I want to sleep for a bit]
Yu Qingtang sat on the airport bench, maintaining her previous posture, completely still. She replied to Cheng Zhanxi: [Sleep then, good afternoon]
Cheng Zhanxi pulled the blanket up, covering her face as well.
Yu Qingtang lifted her head and gazed silently at the electronic display screen high above, calmly waiting for Cheng Zhanxi's flight information for tomorrow to appear again.
In the evening, Cheng Zhanxi tried to video call Yu Qingtang, but Yu Qingtang declined.
Cheng Zhanxi called her phone, and she declined that too.
Cheng Zhanxi was extremely worried and sent her a voice message: "What's wrong?"
Yu Qingtang replied: [Nothing, I want to sleep early today]
Cheng Zhanxi couldn't understand why she would refuse video and phone chats, but since they would meet tomorrow, it was better to discuss everything then. Before bed, she confirmed with Yu Qingtang: "You will come pick me up, right?" Her biggest fear was Yu Qingtang suddenly disappearing without a reason.
Yu Qingtang affirmed: [I will]
Cheng Zhanxi: "Good night."
Yu Qingtang: [Good night]
The airport at night was even quieter than during the day. A cleaning lady driving a cleaning vehicle passed by the woman sitting on the bench again and again. She sat with her head bowed, motionless, as if she had turned into a statue.
The night grew deeper.
When the fish-belly white of dawn appeared on the horizon, Yu Qingtang lifted her head. Her limb joints felt rusted, and her back was so sore and numb it didn't feel like her own.
She bit her pale lower lip tightly, took a light breath, and, supporting herself with the back of the chair, struggled to her feet. She slowly moved her arms and legs.
At nine-thirty, Cheng Zhanxi's flight departed from the Capital on time.
The plane landed at twelve o'clock. Ten minutes later, Yu Qingtang received a call from Cheng Zhanxi, who said she was waiting for her luggage.
Another twenty minutes later, Cheng Zhanxi, pushing her suitcase, appeared in her line of sight.
Yu Qingtang's vision gradually blurred. She lowered her gaze, quickly blinked away the tears, and offered a faint smile towards the figure in front of her.
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