She studied He Dongli closely, as if trying to see what kind of woman could be Mr. Zong’s ambiguous companion, so she could gossip to the other women who liked to tease Mr. Zong for laughs.
Chen Xiangyang didn’t notice his girlfriend’s little thoughts.
Seizing the chance, he pointed at the man beside Dongli and slyly asked, “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
“Friend.”
He Dongli succinctly introduced Zou Yan by name.
Chen Xiangyang shook hands with Zou Yan, then teased He Dongli in a big-brotherly tone, “She’s always been a loner—it’s rare to see her with a friend around.”
He Dongli’s brows rose slightly at his words.
Zou Yan could tell she was close to Chen Xiangyang, but not in any ambiguous way.
“It’s just that every time you see me, I’m not paired up like you—well, not in a group, at least.”
When He Dongli said this, she didn’t sound anything like her calm, composed self at the hospital—she was almost the opposite, a bit sharp, even a little quietly biting.
Chen Xiangyang laughed heartily, and after seeing his girlfriend’s slightly jealous expression, he added generously, “Oh, I forgot to mention, Dongli is technically my angel investor. She’s also Zong Chi’s…”
Before he finished, Zong Chi returned from his rounds.
Chen Xiangyang motioned to him as Zong Chi and Liang Jianxing approached.
He Dongli quickly cut Chen Xiangyang off before he could finish his joke, “No.”
The approaching Zong Chi only caught that line, and heard her seriously correct, “I’m not really an investor. That extra money wasn’t even mine.”
Zong Chi saw she meant it. Indeed, that year she’d returned the share certificate for that very reason.
She’d had her lawyer pass on her message: that money had been spent by Zong Chi all those years flying to see her, day and night, tirelessly.
That money, she said, should count as compensation for his “relationship mileage.”
Li Anni listened, completely confused, but with gossip right in front of her, she couldn’t help but ask.
Setting the money aside for now, she asked Dr. He, “You and Mr. Zong…?”
He Dongli glanced at the man across from her.
There was a hazy lamp shadow on his shoulder—hexagonal, like a turning kaleidoscope.
All around were people, countless gazes like paper confetti, just like at the end of their two-month-long orchestra training, when their performance made it to the S City Youth Pioneer Commendation Conference—a perfect celebration, but Zong Chi had arrived late.
He had trained as part of the group for so long, but never took the final stage.
He’d gone to Singapore, where his grandmother—whom he’d never met—had passed away.
It was his first time formally “returning to the family.”
He stepped on the red and green confetti at the celebration, telling He Dongli with an aloof air that he didn’t like that side of the family at all, but his mother seemed to value this acceptance.
He Dongli couldn’t quite understand his words.
He opened the window, letting the north wind chill them to the bone.
She felt like the wind carried his words straight to her ears: his mother was actually his father’s brother’s daughter—a stepdaughter.
In short, his father had been driven out of the family for being with the woman he loved, and for over ten years, had no contact with them.
Now the family matriarch had passed, his father’s business was thriving, and he had to take up the family mantle.
With his newfound authority, it seemed his mother was finally accepted—him included.
He Dongli didn’t know how to comfort him, so she just lightly asked, “Are you leaving?”
Zong Chi’s clothes flapped in the wind, his eyes gray and bloodshot, “Do you want me to leave?”
On Christmas Eve, someone popped a balloon, and amid the laughter, everyone wished each other Merry Christmas.
He Dongli was about to leave, packing up her things.
Before she left, she gave him a formal, standard farewell, “Merry Christmas.”
“Classmate.”
At the Liang Family banquet, Zong Chi clarified to those curious about their relationship, saving her from having to speak, “High school classmates, plus a year of junior high classmates.”
Li Anni listened, both surprised and amazed, recalling something her friends often said: if a boy and girl go through junior high and high school together, how can they not be childhood sweethearts?
Childhood playmates before that didn’t count—it’s the guessing stage that matters.
I stand before you, but I can’t guess you at all.
Li Anni was about to joke, but Chen Xiangyang pressed her wrist, and she instantly fell silent.
It was Liang Jianxing, the host, who stepped in to entertain the guests, deftly shifting the focus, “Dr. He didn’t say just now.”
He Dongli had gotten some crumbs on her hand while eating the pastry, and was unconsciously rubbing her fingers.
Zou Yan noticed and handed her a tissue.
She thanked him as she took it, wiping her hands as she said, “Mm, I didn’t say because Mr. Liang didn’t ask.”
Liang Jianxing smiled, about to make another joke, but Zou Yan cut him off, asking He Dongli, “Can we leave now?”
He Dongli glanced at Zou Yan, nodded, and stuffed the used tissue into her vest pocket.
As she pulled her hand out, a snagged fingernail caught on the yarn—she’d forgotten there were two Pearl Earrings in her pocket, and her hurried movement sent both tumbling out.
The pearls, set in Platinum, fell to the marble floor with a soft sound, like drops of water in the sea.
Yet, they seemed to grow legs, bouncing apart—one landed at Zou Yan’s feet, the other rolled farther away.
Without hesitation, Zou Yan bent to pick up the one near him for Dongli, while she went to retrieve the other herself.
But before she could, Chen Xiangyang signaled to his cousin, Chen Xiangdong, who hurried over to pick it up before the pretty lady could get there.
He was about to hand it back to her when Zong Chi, holding a brandy glass in his left hand, stopped him.
Zong Chi downed the drink, passed the glass to Chen Xiangdong, and reached for the earring.
Chen Xiangdong, not knowing why, obediently handed it over.
Zong Chi picked up the Pearl Earring, glanced at it meaningfully, then teased his old classmate in front of everyone, “I remember you’re allergic to precious metals—are you fine now?”
Obviously not—he’d already seen it upstairs.
He Dongli didn’t want to answer, and was about to reach for it, but Zong Chi beat her to it, shifting his gaze from her to the man who’d helped pick up the other pearl.
Judging by how gently He Dongli had just thanked this man, Zong Chi could almost be certain—he was “the friend,” the one with “the friend’s grandmother.”
Liang Jianxing saw Zong Chi look at Zou Yan and quickly introduced him, giving Zou Yan’s name and profession.
“Yǎn, which yǎn?”
Zong Chi asked absentmindedly.
He Dongli shot him a look, helping to clarify, almost protectively, “The ‘yan’ in ‘yǎnshēng’ (to derive).”
Zong Chi acted as if he understood, and immediately asked, “The ‘yan’ in ‘fūyǎn’ (to perfunctorily deal with)?”
He Dongli’s expression changed instantly, and she explained to Zou Yan beside her, “His Chinese isn’t great, don’t mind him.”
Chen Xiangyang cheerfully smoothed things over, “Yes, our Zong Chi lived abroad until he was seven—his mother tongue’s average. Even in school, his English reading and writing didn’t exactly rank at the top.”
Zong Chi, hit from both sides, fell silent for a moment, then shot a look at Chen Xiangyang, “And you know everything, huh?”
Chen Xiangyang teased him, “If you’re so good, write ‘fū’ from ‘fūyǎn’ for me.”
“Alright, my bad.”
Zong Chi said, slipping the earring into his pocket, freeing his hand to nod at Dr. Zou, admitting defeat, “Sorry, Dr. Zou, on account of…well, they’ve already talked about me.”
Zou Yan smiled indifferently, shaking hands with Zong Chi, “No worries. In this fragmented age, who doesn’t get their wires crossed sometimes?”
Zong Chi withdrew from the social niceties, completely unfazed by the teasing, but still had to refute Dr. Zou, “There are exceptions. I mean He Dongli—her mind’s always sharp, never makes mistakes.”
Zou Yan listened, turning to glance at He Dongli, as if agreeing with Zong Chi.
It was clear this Dr. Zou had good manners, good temper, good looks, and was willing to play the supporting role, waiting for He Dongli to finish socializing—such flawless goodness was truly admirable.
Of course, Zong Chi was an exception.
He never claimed to be a good person, so he didn’t hesitate to suspect others with the greatest possible jealousy.
Chen Xiangyang offered to give Dongli a ride, but she declined, saying she’d go with her friend.
Zou Yan said he’d been drinking, so she’d have to drive.
He Dongli agreed and took his car keys.
Feeling a bit down, Zong Chi said he’d be leaving.
At the door, Chen Xiangyang asked if Zong Chi wanted to go straight to the hotel.
Zong Chi shook his head, saying he was going to drink with Lin Jiaoyu.
He was already reeking of alcohol, yet claimed he hadn’t been to S City in years, “This time it’s…”
“An exception?”
Someone nearby thought he’d lost his train of thought from the alcohol and helped finish his sentence.
Zong Chi took back his coat, draped it over his arm, breath steaming white, and said with absolute clarity, “No, it’s breaking the ban. The condition for getting my passport back back then was…”
He stopped abruptly, and everyone took it as drunken rambling.
He Dongli’s heart thudded irregularly at those words.
As the gathering dispersed, Zong Chi got into Chen Xiangyang’s car.
Remembering something, he rolled down the window and tossed back the cigarettes he’d swiped from Chen Xiangyang in Shanghai, complaining, “Here, take them back—boring.”
But He Dongli’s Pearl Earrings—he did not return.