"Haha, that’s your aunt and your little brother. She is someone who pays great attention to—what do you call it—'a sense of ritual.' It’s some western fad; I don’t get it, but don’t you worry, your aunt is very easy to get along with!"

Arthur pushed open the car door and led me out.

"Wanzhi, I’ve brought Elena back!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Wanzhi quickly ran down the steps with her younger son, Fu Shuning. The moment the mother and son saw me, they both gasped.

Fu Shuning’s face turned into the color of a boiled crab at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Chapter 11

Xie Wanzhi held my hand, beaming so brightly she couldn't hide her joy, praising me repeatedly: "I only heard from your uncle that you were pretty, but I never expected you to be this beautiful. The clothes and skirts I bought for you this afternoon don't even seem worthy of you!"

"It doesn't matter. Rest well tonight after dinner. Tomorrow, I'll take you to an old tailor shop to have several sets custom-made—qipaos, western dresses—you'll look wonderful in anything!"

"Old Fu has really done it this time, bringing me back such a beautiful daughter!"

I was ushered into the house by Xie Wanzhi, feeling completely at a loss, unable to even squeeze in a word.

The room was clean and bright, with a faint, pleasant fragrance lingering in the air. The table was already spread with hot, steaming dishes, smelling delicious and looking vibrant.

I looked awkwardly at my clothes, which I hadn't changed in three days, feeling completely out of place in this pristine house.

I gripped the corner of my shirt nervously, mumbling: "Auntie Xie, I... I am dirty..."

Xie Wanzhi sensed my unease and didn't show any sign of annoyance or disgust. Instead, she took my hand directly and sat me in the seat between herself and Arthur.

"There’s no rush. Eat first, then take a bath and have a good night's sleep. Your mother's situation is finally looking up; the hard days will all pass."

"Well? Fu Shuning, where are your flowers?"

Fu Shuning, who had been following at our heels, hurried forward eagerly when he heard his mother call. He was no longer awkward holding the flowers, his face smiling more radiantly than a sunflower.

"S-Sister, these are the flowers Mom had me prepare for you. They symbolize living toward the sun and having a bright, magnificent future!"

He smiled so broadly his eyes disappeared, thrusting the flowers into my arms, and added foolishly: "Sister, you are so beautiful! You are the most beautiful person I have ever seen!"

Xie Wanzhi chuckled and chided him playfully: "What a silly boy."

I placed the flowers in an empty spot and pointed to the table: "I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I just made a little of everything. These crabs are in season; they were just delivered this morning."

Arthur sat down with a laugh, the scene bathed in warmth and light.

Capital, The Julian Residence.

Julian pushed the door open. The house was pitch black and devoid of any life.

He didn't turn on the lights, leaning back against the sofa in the darkness, exhausted. The silence in his ears felt unbearable. Elena’s every smile and frown floated through his mind as he slowly closed his eyes.

A long while later, he turned on the light and walked slowly upstairs.

"Click."

He twisted open the door to the room that had once belonged to Elena. The furnishings were all as they had been, as if no one had ever lived there, and there was a faint scent of dust in the air.

The bed was covered with a dark green sheet that had grown old over time. The wardrobe was completely empty; not a single piece of clothing remained.

Only then did Julian remember that, from start to finish, the only thing Elena seemed to have brought was that unremarkable little cross-body bag.

The bookshelf by the window was bare, and there was only a lonely, old desk lamp on the desk. Julian sat in the chair, imagining Elena hunched over her reading.

But when he pulled open the drawer, he found only a book titled "Self-Respect and Self-Love: Correcting Women’s Ideological Issues."

His brows furrowed, and in a fit of irritation, he rolled the book up and tossed it into the trash.

A moment later, he reached out and took it back out.

Flipping open the cover, he found a line of elegant handwriting added inside—"The prejudice in a person's heart is a mountain; no matter how hard you try, you can never move it."

Julian felt a sharp, sudden sting in his heart.

He took the book back to his own room, folded the cover to display the page with the handwriting, and placed it on his nightstand.

Afterward, he pulled open his bedside drawer and took out an exquisitely wrapped gift box containing a delicate hair clip. This was the welcome gift he had originally prepared for Elena, but he had never given it to her because of the incident on the train.

He held the clip in his hand, his tone full of regret.

"If only I had given her this back then."

Chapter 12

South City, The Arthur Residence.

After dinner and a brief rest, Xie Wanzhi had the housekeeper, Mrs. Wu, prepare a bath for me in the third-floor bathroom and thoughtfully provided a set of clean, new pajamas.

Xie Wanzhi waited by the bathroom door the entire time, afraid I might need something and be too embarrassed to ask.

Sitting in the warm water and washing away the exhaustion of the past few days, I finally relaxed. I hugged the clean new pajamas to my nose and inhaled—a warm, clean scent infused my heart.

"I must repay Uncle Arthur and Auntie Xie well in the future."

After my bath, I quickly dried myself, got dressed, and walked out. Back at the Julian house, Selina and I had shared a bathroom; every time I showered, Selina would fuss about needing to use the toilet.

As I pushed the door open, I saw Xie Wanzhi sitting on a small stool at the door. I froze, my words stumbling.

"A-Auntie, I'm finished." I said, my hands moving inward, thinking I had stayed in the bath too long and delayed her use of the facility.

Seeing me come out, Xie Wanzhi’s eyes lit up.

She hurriedly took my hand and pressed me into a chair to help me blow-dry my hair.

"You're done so quickly. I was afraid you might need something and not be able to call for anyone, so I waited at the door. Your hair is truly lovely—so long and smooth. It’s better to dry it early so you don't catch a cold."

"We only knew you were coming this afternoon. The third floor was cleaned up in a hurry; you have it all to yourself, so it's quiet. Just see what you need, and tomorrow I'll take you out to buy clothes."

After blow-drying my hair, Xie Wanzhi coiled the cord, tucked the dryer into the vanity drawer, pulled a jar of cold cream from the many on the counter, and gently dabbed some onto my face, smoothing it in tenderly.

"Your uncle and I always wanted a daughter but never had the chance. We are so happy you're here. Everything on the third floor is for you; use it however you like, don't be formal."

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, wearing a grateful smile, and said sincerely: "Auntie Xie, thank you."

Xie Wanzhi tapped my nose lightly: "With all these 'thank-yous,' you're being far too polite."

After tidying up, Xie Wanzhi held my hand and led me into the room. There was an independent little living room at the front where Arthur and Fu Shuning were waiting for me.

The sunflowers were now safely placed in a vase in the center of the coffee table.

"S-Sister Elena." The moment Fu Shuning saw me, his face turned red as a monkey’s bottom, and he hid his gaze, not daring to look at me.

"This is a small living room, and there’s a balcony outside you can go to. Tomorrow I'll take you to buy some flowers and plants you like. When the weather is nice, you can drink tea here, read, or listen to music—it’s quite charming."

Xie Wanzhi introduced her carefully arranged living room with enthusiasm, but Arthur just shook his head with a laugh.

"All these things you’ve set up, it’s all stuff for capitalist western ladies. Our Elena is a thrifty, ambitious female comrade."

"What’s wrong with being a 'western lady'? Not satisfied? Go ahead, sue me—sue me all the way to the Central Committee! I’ve finally got a daughter; can’t I raise her properly?"

Xie Wanzhi rolled her eyes at him and said to me with a laugh: "He’s such a country bumpkin."