Chapter 33

After finishing her phone call, Shu Shiran walked back to the kitchen, where the pot of water—which Ji Xi had just topped off with cold water—was nearing a boil.

Steam billowed in increasingly dense clouds, and the plump wontons bobbed restlessly on the surface of the water.

Shu Shiran walked over to Ji Xi, glanced at the pot, and asked, "You know how to cook?"

"A little," Ji Xi replied.

Shu Shiran was slightly surprised; she hadn't expected someone like Ji Xi to actually know his way around a kitchen.

Noticing her expression, Ji Xi pulled at the corner of his mouth and said, "Ji Wenguang and the others didn't exactly look after me much after they sent me to the States."

So that was when he had learned. That explained it.

When the water came to a boil again, Ji Xi turned off the stove. Shu Shiran brought over the bowls, and the two sat down at the dining table to eat. The wontons were her favorite—shepherd's purse and fresh pork filling with a hint of dried shrimp, making them exceptionally savory.

Remembering that Auntie Hui had asked in their group chat what they wanted to eat for the Lunar New Year so she could prepare in advance, Shu Shiran brought up their holiday plans.

"Are you going back to the Ji family for New Year's Eve?"

Ji Xi said indifferently, "If I show up at the Ji household, they probably won't have a very good holiday."

Shu Shiran felt the same way.

"How have you spent the New Year in the past?" he asked.

"I’d go back to Lubei on New Year's Eve and—" She instinctively started to say "with my grandparents," but then caught herself, realizing this would be the second Spring Festival since her grandfather passed away. "I’d have the reunion dinner with my grandmother, stay for a couple of days, and then fill the rest of the time with dinners with friends. I also have to visit my uncle’s place."

"Shall I go back to Lubei with you on New Year's Eve?" Ji Xi asked.

Shu Shiran looked at him.

He added, "Anyway, I don't associate with the Ji family, so I can just follow your schedule for the holiday."

Shu Shiran had indeed wanted to spend the holiday in Lubei to keep her grandmother company, especially since last year’s New Year had been somber and quiet due to her grandfather’s recent passing. However, now that she was married, things involved two families; she couldn't just do as she pleased, and her grandmother would surely lecture her if she didn't consider her husband.

But now that Ji Xi was saying she could do whatever she wanted, it couldn't be more perfect. She suddenly discovered the benefits of being married to him.

"Make sure you act like you're good to me when we’re there," she said, stirring her bowl with a spoon, cautioning him. She would be good to him as well, putting on a show of affection in front of her grandmother.

Receiving no response, she looked up at him. Ji Xi studied her for a few seconds, then asked with a cryptic smile, "What constitutes being 'good'?"

Shu Shiran couldn't quite put it into words. "Just like a normal couple, wouldn't it be?" At the very least, he shouldn't be his usual cynical, biting self.

Ji Xi chuckled. "Tell me, what do normal couples do?"

"..." Shu Shiran felt this wasn't going in a serious direction, so she didn't take the bait.

Just then, Ji Xi reached a hand out toward her. Shu Shiran looked at his hand, then back at him.

"If we're going to act affectionate in front of your grandmother," he said languidly, "are we not even going to hold hands?"

Shu Shiran thought he had a point. She looked at his outstretched hand again. Did he mean now?

"Think of it as practice," he added. "I'm afraid you'll look too stiff and give us away."

The thought of holding his hand made her feel genuinely awkward. As she lifted her hand, she caught the glint of amusement in his eyes and realized he was teasing her. But pulling her hand back immediately would make her look like she had no backbone. Instead, she swatted his hand, though she misjudged the force and it landed quite lightly. Her soft fingertips accidentally brushed against his open palm.

Shu Shiran was already annoyed that her swat hadn't been effective, and seeing the grin on his face only made her angrier. She glared at him. "We'll hold hands when the time comes."

***

Amidst the busyness, the Spring Festival finally drew near. The Chunxiang Firm closed for the holidays three days early. In those final days, no one had any heart left for work. The clients were mostly in holiday mode too, so Dai Jiao didn't have to fly around anymore. Wu Tianqi hadn't looked forward to the Spring Festival like this in years; only after working did he realize how wonderful a vacation could be. He even posted a celebratory update on social media on the first day of the break.

On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, Shu Shiran and Ji Xi returned to Lubei. They pulled into the courtyard, parked, and got out of the car. The weather wasn't great; it was overcast and gray, with no sign of the sun. A gust of wind made Shu Shiran shiver.

Ji Xi walked over to her side and reached out his hand. His knuckles were distinct, his skin pale as jade against the gloomy, gray light of the sky. Shu Shiran’s eyelashes fluttered, and she reached out to meet him.

First, her fingertips touched a temperature that wasn't her own; his skin was slightly warmer than hers. Then, as he covered the back of her hand, that dryness and warmth spread over her. Her fingertips twitched involuntarily. Feeling this, the hand holding hers tightened, and their fingers interlaced.

"I told you," Ji Xi’s voice sounded, "you need the practice."

"..." Seeing Auntie Hui coming out to greet them from the corner of her eye, Shu Shiran didn't say anything, just gave his hand a secret pinch.

When Grandmother Shu saw them walking in hand-in-hand, she smiled and ushered them to sit down. Holding hands while sitting felt a bit too deliberate, so Ji Xi released her, and they sat on the sofa together. Although the old lady didn't concern herself with outside affairs anymore, she had heard about the Ji family in the past, and upon learning of their marriage, she had made some inquiries about Ji Xi. She wasn't overly surprised to see him return with Shu Shiran.

"Come back with Ran-ran more often when you have time," she said.

Ji Xi agreed and asked about her health. That was a sore subject for Shu Shiran. Grandmother Shu looked a bit guilty and said, "It's New Year's Eve, let's not talk about that."

But how could Shu Shiran not? Auntie Hui had called her the afternoon before, saying the old lady was insisting on eating cake and wouldn't be persuaded otherwise. Grandmother Shu was diabetic, and the doctor had strictly forbidden it. Auntie Hui had tried to compromise by offering to make a cake with sugar substitutes, but the old lady refused, complaining that it didn't taste right. Auntie Hui had no choice but to call Shu Shiran.

Facing the topic, Grandmother Shu felt in the wrong and muttered, "It’s all Huiping’s fault."

"Auntie Hui was just looking out for you," Shu Shiran countered.

"Alright, alright, child," Grandmother Shu said. "I didn't end up eating it, did I?" She hadn't eaten it only because Shu Shiran had threatened to drive straight back to Lubei to keep an eye on her. "You tell me, who could stand that?" the old lady asked Ji Xi.

Ji Xi, who had been listening to their exchange, chimed in, "It is hard to handle."

He received a gentle, pointed look from Shu Shiran.

He added, "But Ran-ran is just looking out for you, too."

Shu Shiran had just looked away, but when she heard him say "Ran-ran," she froze. He said it so naturally, and perhaps because he was speaking to an elder, his tone was imbued with a softness that made her ears burn. She didn't turn to look at him.

About an hour later, Shu Shi'an arrived. Everyone would be there tonight. After greeting the grandmother, Shu Shi'an looked at the couple and said, "Big sister."

Shu Shiran nodded. "This is Ji Xi."

Neither of them sounded particularly warm. Before they had even registered their marriage, Shu Shi'an had once bumped into them together one night. Upon learning they had married, he immediately recalled that evening. He gave a curt, "Brother-in-law."

Soon after, Ji Xi stepped away to take a call. Shu Shi'an chatted with their grandmother while Shu Shiran, having nothing to say to him, took out her phone to check messages. Zheng Tingyan was complaining in their small group chat about being pressured to marry the moment she got home, and that her parents had even gone ahead and booked a blind date for her on the third day of the New Year.

- Zheng Tingyan: @Shu Shiran, my parents are using you as an example, saying you’re already married.

Shu Shiran chatted with her for a bit, then caught movement from the corner of her eye and looked up. It was Shu Shi'an. He stood by her for a few seconds before speaking: "I didn't expect you to marry Ji Xi."

Shu Shiran glanced at him, unsure of what he was getting at.

"Did you two reach some kind of agreement?" he asked.

Shu Shiran was surprised. "Did you hear something from someone?"

"I'm just guessing," he replied. He knew better than anyone how much Shu Shiran minded the fact that Ji Xi was an illegitimate child. Yet, she had married him, and so suddenly.

Just as Auntie Hui walked by, Shu Shiran lowered her voice, not admitting anything. "Don't talk nonsense."

After five o'clock, Shu Yingshan arrived, accompanied by Shu Shi'an’s mother, Song Qin. Song Qin had originally been Shu Yingshan’s secretary before becoming pregnant with Shu Shi'an and being kept by him. Shu Shiran rarely saw Song Qin, usually only during these New Year's dinners in Lubei. She knew Song Qin didn't like seeing her, and she certainly didn't care to see Song Qin. Every time she saw her, she was reminded of her own mother. She couldn't help but harbor resentment toward her father and Shu Shi'an.

Suddenly, her hand—which had been hanging at her side—was grasped. A warm palm pressed against the back of her hand, enveloping it. The warmth pulled her out of her brief trance. She looked up, slightly dazed, to see Ji Xi’s face, which usually appeared cool and distant.

He looked down at her, his eyelids slightly lowered. "It's time to eat."

Shu Shiran gave a soft "Oh." He didn't let go of her hand, and she was led to the table just like that.

Auntie Hui had been preparing for this meal for days, filling the table with dishes, mostly local Nancheng specialties. Because it was the New Year's Eve reunion dinner and the old lady was present, the atmosphere remained relatively harmonious. Ji Xi and Shu Shi'an even shared a few drinks with Shu Yingshan.

The final dish was the Eight-Treasure Rice. It was brought out only after everyone was mostly full, a tradition that had to be tasted even if one couldn't manage another bite.

After the meal, Shu Yingshan had tea with Grandmother Shu for a while before leaving with Song Qin. Shortly after, Shu Shi'an received a call from a friend and left as well. Shu Shiran and Ji Xi stayed behind to watch the Spring Festival Gala with the grandmother and Auntie Hui.

Grandmother Shu sat with Auntie Hui on her left and Shu Shiran on her right. Ji Xi sat on the opposite sofa, watching TV while idly replying to messages on his phone. Auntie Hui loved soap operas and knew more about the actors than Shu Shiran did, often explaining to the grandmother and Shu Shiran who had acted in what the previous year. Although the programs weren't particularly interesting, the chatting made the evening pass pleasantly.

During a public service announcement break, Grandmother Shu said, "Ran-ran, see if there's anything else you need in your room and have Huiping get it for you."

Shu Shiran didn't catch the drift at first. "What?"