Chapter 28: CH 28

Lu Zhi Wei held onto her phone tightly.

As if she was trying to hold onto this warm dream.

There was blissfulness in the dream, and there was also a version of her who would not be forgotten; there was everything she once dreamed of but couldn’t get.

The stuttering Xiao He would have someone to remember her.

The transparent Lu Zhi Wei would also have someone to remember her.

They would no longer be alone.

Sang Wan Ci stood by her window, looking at the show as she held her phone.

She remembered Lu Zhi Wei’s birthday.

She remembered her talking about her low sense of existence.

She remembered that surprised and happy expression when she was asked about her birthday.

It was genuine, not an act.

So Sang Wan Ci wanted to personally wish her happy birthday, even if it’s over the phone.

She wanted to tell her, there’s someone who will remember your birthday.

They’ll remember you.

Hearing the hoarseness in her voice, Sang Wan Ci asked gently: “Lu Zhi Wei, are you crying?”

Even over the phone, Lu Zhi Wei was embarrassed.

She wiped away her tears roughly and cleared her throat.

“No such thing.” She laughed, “Teacher Sang wished me happy birthday right at midnight. Such a joyful thing, how could I cry?”

Sang Wan Ci didn’t believe it, her voice was gentle with a trace of compassion.

“Don’t cry.” Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

Lu Zhi Wei had barely kept her tears back, and they surged again at that moment.

Humans really are odd creatures.

No matter how hard they try to build up their own defences, as long as they hear a gentle word from someone beside them, their walls will immediately collapse and they’ll surrender.

She pressed her lips tightly together, trying to suppress it.

But in the end, the tears won, squeezing silently from her eyes.

“Thank you……”

In the end, it was these two words again.

She found that she didn’t have anything else to say to Sang Wan Ci.

Sang Wan Ci really did live up to her name, with the last word in her name meaning compassion.

Compassionate and kind.

Gentle and mesmerising.

She will forever be worthy of being liked.

Sang Wan Ci suddenly recalled how Lu Zhi Wei looked like when she cried on set.

It was the day she finished her scenes and they were all giving her flowers.

That day, her expression was filled with disbelief, as if everything in front of her was a hallucination and would burst like a bubble if she touched it.

Because she never experienced it before, so she didn’t know what to do. In the end, she could only silently tear up.

The her then was like the her now, only being able to say two words: Thank you.

It was like she didn’t have anything else to say.

It was like she didn’t know what else to say.

She just didn’t expect other people to care about her.

Sang Wan Ci didn’t want to see her like this.

She couldn’t bear it.

“I bought a present for you.” Sang Wan Ci opened her mouth gently, trying to distract Lu Zhi Wei. Her voice was warm and polite, “but I don’t have your address, is it okay if you tell me where I can send it to?”

Lu Zhi Wei was shocked: “How could I make Teacher Sang go to such expense!”

It was already enough that she had waited till midnight to wish her a happy birthday.

How could a contented person even dream of more?

“It’s very normal to exchange birthday gifts amongst friends,” Sang Wan Ci said. “Besides, I’m not the only one.”

Lu Zhi Wei: “?”

What does that mean?

Sang Wan Ci had no intention of explaining to her: “I’ll hang up first.

“Remember to send me your address.”

Lu Zhi Wei: “???”

“Wait ——”

The line dropped.

Without hesitation.

Lu Zhi Wei looked at her phone suspiciously, then realised there were quite a few messages from WeChat.

[Xiao Ying]: Wishing our Teacher Lu a happy birthday! [Rose] [Trumpet] [Rose] [Trumper] [Rose]

[Xiao Ying]: I specially waited till midnight to wish you, sigh, I really am a good didi

[Xiao Ying]: Wasn’t sure if you slept, so I didn’t dare to call you

[Xiao Ying]: I passed your present to Teacher Sang, she said she’ll help me mail it to you

[Xiao Ying]: I’m going to sleep, I still have to work hard for my Lamborghini tomorrow. Chat tomorrow

The originally silent chat box was immediately made lively and active by Ying Xi Ze, with happy stickers all over the screen

Almost like a playful child who was afraid she wouldn’t see his wish.

Lu Zhi Wei’s eyes suddenly felt hot.

The disobedient tears blurred her vision again and again, and she wiped them away again and again.

Her finger scrolled across the screen, reading these messages again and again.

So even he remembered.

Not just……

Far from it, she saw other people sending her messages just now too.

She sniffed and went back to the chats. She wiped her eyes and looked at the list, stunned.

Lu Si Jiao.

Her own blood-related sister.

[Lu Si Jiao]: Jie, happy birthday!

[Lu Si Jiao]: Ahhhh, I forgot to wish you at midnight because I was studying!

After two minutes, a new message came in.

[Lu Si Jiao]: Happy birthday, you must be happy forever

Lu Zhi Wei could tell, Lu Si Jiao didn’t know what to say to her.

The two of them didn’t talk much. Even though they were biological sisters, they were two strangers in reality. You don’t understand me, and I can’t figure you out.

When the need to talk arose, it would certainly become awkward.

But at least Lu Si Jiao remembered.

She remembered her sister’s birthday for once.

Sang Wan Ci, Ying Xi Ze, Lu Si Jiao…… And even Wen Yao wished her.

They remembered her birthday, and remembered her.

In this moment, she finally realised that she was also a person who had the right to desire things.

She sat leaning against the headboard of her bed, replying to Lu Si Jiao and thanking her as the tears kept flowing down her face.

Her heart was boiling over with warmth.

She was elated, feeling as if this winter was no longer as cold.

The next second, she suddenly pulled her blanket over her head and asked carefully: “Lao Wu, are you watching me?”

She very seldom cried, and she didn’t want to let others see her crying.

Even if it was Lao Wu from another planet.

【No.】

Lao Wu looked away and opened another program, pretending he didn’t see anything.

【I was fixing a bug, why?】

Lu Zhi Wei slowly put down the blanket.

“Nothing, you continue fixing, don’t worry about me, I want to be alone.

“Best if you can turn the sound off.”

【Alright.】Lao Wu said compliantly. 【Rest early, see you tomorrow.】

“Mm, see you tomorrow……”

When she couldn’t hear Lao Wu’s voice anymore, she finally stopped controlling her tears.

She hugged her blanket and cried.

The gray little transparent entity finally had colour that could be seen by the world.

…… Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

When Lu Zhi Wei woke up, it was still snowing outside.

The whole room was quiet.

Everything was as it was before, unchanged.

She blinked blurrily as she looked at the white snow swirling outside the window.

Then she suddenly had a feeling.

It was as if it was still the past.

No system.

No male protagonist halo.

No birthday wish from Sang Wan Ci.

They were still strangers.

Everything was just a beautiful dream from last night.

【If you keep sleeping for a bit, you can eat lunch directly.】

Lao Wu’s voice suddenly rang out.

As if she was waking up from a dream.

She felt that what Lao Wu said was quite similar to what parents would always say to lazy kids who liked sleeping in.

Of course, she had never experienced this with her parents.

But she at least had a sister. She knew it from watching her parents interact with her sister.

Each time, Lu Si Jiao would get up unwillingly and ask: “Food’s ready? What are we having today?”

She never had a chance to ask before, now that it happened, she learnt from Lu Si Jiao and joked with Lao Wu: “Food’s ready? What are we having today?”

Lao Wu: 【?

【You want to eat my food?】

Lu Zhi Wei chuckled and was about to say it was a joke when Lao Wu exclaimed in surprise: 【Wow, someone actually dares to eat my food.】

“?” Lu Zhi Wei asked: “Why not?”

Lao Wu couldn’t help but reminisce: 【I cooked for her once. After she finished eating, she asked me how I could cook food to the point that it was as poisonous as arsenic.】

His voice changed: 【After I heard that, I stopped cooking for good.】

Lu Zhi Wei: “……”

Sorry my eyes were so bad, I never realised you had such a talent.

I don’t dare to eat it anymore, farewell!

She used all of her willpower to overcome her laziness and get out of bed to wash up.

As she brushed her teeth, she swiped through her phone.

Unexpectedly, she saw new replies from Lu Si Jiao.

[Lu Si Jiao]: Jie you don’t have to thank me

[Lu Si Jiao]: Isn’t this what I should do……

[Lu Si Jiao]: Oh yes, do you have anything you like? I’m working part-time and I have some cash, I can get you a present

[Lu Si Jiao]: Also, you address and phone number……

Lu Si Jiao had her head lowered as she typed, she had never felt so embarrassed before.

The person on the other side of the screen was clearly her biological sister.

But when it came to her sister, she didn’t know anything at all.

She didn’t know where her sister lived.

She didn’t know what her sister liked or disliked.

She didn’t know if her sister had changed her phone number.

She didn’t know if her sister was living well.

She wasn’t a good sister.

But Lu Zhi Wei was a good sister.

They didn’t talk much, but whenever Lu Si Jiao’s birthday came around, Lu Zhi Wei would always wish her happy birthday and send her a red packet with money.

Although their conversations were always short and she would always somehow forget to reply, thus resulting in Lu Zhi Wei’s chat being slowly pushed down until she totally forgot about it.

As if in her life, there was no such person as Lu Zhi Wei.

But even so, Lu Zhi Wei had never scolded her or said anything bad about her.

It was always quiet, until her birthday came around again, then she would get wishes and red packets and Lu Zhi Wei would tell her to study well and eat well.

She even remembered that Lu Si Jiao liked to draw when she was young, and she would wish for her to make her dreams come true.

But Lu Si Jiao didn’t even know what her sister liked.

Going through their chat history these few days made her extremely ashamed.

She was…… a really terrible sister.

Now she wanted to try to get closer to her sister and make up for the past.

Seeing her sister say she wanted to buy a present, Lu Zhi Wei was actually quite happy.

No matter what, it was nice to be remembered.

As for the present, forget it.

She was still studying, how could Lu Zhi Wei want a present from a student?

[Lu Zhi Wei]: No need, keep the money for yourself. I know your good intentions. Study hard

[Lu Zhi Wei]: It’s getting cold out, remember to stay warm

Seeing these two messages, Lu Si Jiao suddenly felt despondent.

She felt like Lu Zhi Wei was rejecting her.

—— Is jiejie very disappointed at me for ignoring her in the past……

Lu Zhi Wei certainly didn’t think so deeply about it.

After she replied, she washed her face and started considering what to eat.

Then, the doorbell rang.

A man in a suit and leather shoes was standing outside.

He had a big, furry plush toy in one hand and a luxury gift bag in another.

Lu Zhi Wei was confused.

“Who…… are you?”

“Are you Miss Lu Zhi Wei?” The unsmiling man asked.

Lu Zhi Wei paused: “Ah…… Can I help you?”

Man: “There are two parcels here for you.”

Lu Zhi Wei blinked.

The man first held out the luxury gift bag: “This is from Miss Sang.”

Lu Zhi Wei took it woodenly.

The man then held out the big teddy bear: “This is from Mr Ying.”

Lu Zhi Wei hugged it, it was so big it only left her eyes and the top of her head peeking out.

The man left once he was done delivering the items, not staying for a single second more.

Lu Zhi Wei hurriedly went back into her house and closed the door, putting the gifts on her bed.

Sang Wan Ci had gifted her a star and moon necklace, it was very pretty.

Sitting at the foot of the bed, her gaze swapped between the necklace and bear, feeling as if it was a dream.

After triple confirming, she finally dared to believe it, smiling happily.

—— The little transparent entity really had birthday gifts!

…… Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

Coming close to Chinese New Year, 《Phoenix》 finally finished shooting and the cast could go home.

Everybody congratulated and wished each other a happy new year.

Wishing stuff like all the best for the future, hope we’ll work together again next time.

After packing all her stuff, Sang Wan Ci dragged her tired body and followed Zhang Xian Rui up the car.

Fastening the seatbelt, she turned her head to the side and closed her eyes to rest.

Zhang Xian Rui closed the car door and looked at the assistant who was driving, before looking at Sang Wan Ci.

She fiddled with her sleeve: “Where do you want to go?”

Sang Wan Ci opened her eyes slowly, looking at the reflection of herself in the glass.

Her eyes were filled with tiredness.

“Home.” She said.

Zhang Xian Rui lifted a hand and leaned her face on it as she reminded: “It’s the new year.”

Sang Wan Ci clearly heard the reminder as she turned to look at her without any change in her expression.

“My own home.”

“You’re really not planning on going home for the new year?”

“No.”

“Wan Ci ——”

“Zhang jie.” Sang Wan Ci interrupted her tiredly, her eyes shimmering and hiding a trace of pitifulness. “Don’t try to convince me.”

Zhang Xian Rui looked at her and fell silent.

Sang Wan Ci turned her face around again and closed her eyes.

“He doesn’t lack company.

“And I can be by myself.”

…… Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

Aside from her sister Lu Si Jiao’s wishes, Lu Zhi Wei didn’t receive anything from her parents.

Not even a “are you coming back for the new year”.

Maybe…… They really forgot her.

One daughter is enough for them.

But what’s the matter?

It’s always been like this.

Why did she have to wish for this year to be different?

Is it that this year, if she was alone, she couldn’t have a good new year? No.

Lu Si Jiao asked if she was going home for the new year.

Thinking that since her parents didn’t even mention it, then forget it. She replied a “no” and the matter was settled.

Ever since then, she hadn’t worried about her parents.

She cleaned her house happily and prepared what she needed to welcome in the new year.

Then she stuck an inverted “fortune” word on the door and it suddenly felt like the new year was around the corner.

She purchased plenty of ingredients for the upcoming days.

Snacks and drinks were all bought too.

She was alone at home, so it wasn’t a big expense.

She had planned to stay at home the entire time this new year.

After she finally finished making all these plans, the system gave her a new mission on the eve.

As if afraid she was bored.

【Mission issued: Coincidentally meet the female lead Sang Wan Ci.

【System reminder: No time limit.】

Lu Zhi Wei: “???”

“Wake up, not everybody’s like me. The female lead has a family.”

She simply had no strength to complain.

Don’t rely on the fact that it’s an idol drama to do whatever you want!

It was Chinese New Year, where could she go to coincidentally meet the female lead?

Were they expecting her to run to the female lead’s house to force a coincidental meeting?!

She would be thrown out of the neighbourhood by Sang Wan Ci in that case!

【How do you know the female lead has a family.】 Lao Wu asked.

Lu Zhi Wei: “?”

There’s something wrong with your words.

Lao Wu corrected himself naturally: 【No, how can you be sure the female lead will definitely go home and spend the new year with her family. What if?

【Did you never consider why a rich miss like Sang Wan Ci would come out to be an actress and work hard?】

Lu Zhi Wei scratched her face, genuinely saying: “Never.”

Lao Wu: 【…… You really are a passable male lead.】

Lao Wu drove her out of the house with a tone that felt like a parent who didn’t want to see their child stay at home.

【Go, hurry up and go, you’ve grown fat staying at home these days and cleaning.

【Hurry and go out, exercise more.】

Lu Zhi Wei was rushed to put on her coat, as she said unhappily: “I was deep cleaning the house these few days, climbing up and down, how could I get fat……”

【Regardless of whether you got fat or not, you have to exercise.

【Hurry up and go, go coincidentally meet your love.】

Lu Zhi Wei frowned and scratched her ear.

What love, she was clearly just friends with Sang Wan Ci right now.

If she had to date Sang Wan Ci right now……

She thought about it.

She couldn’t think of anything.

In the end, she was driven out of the house by the nagging Lao Wu.

… Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

It was a cold winter day, the cold cut like blades on her face.

Lu Zhi Wei wrapped herself in a thick down coat as she walked out of her housing estate, aimlessly.

She didn’t know where to go.

She didn’t know where Sang Wan Ci stayed either, so there was no way she could really go to her house to force a coincidental meeting.

As a support system, Lao Wu gave a suggestion: 【Why don’t you go walk around the place that you were at when you two met for the first time?

【What’s that place called again?】

“Xinghe Mall.” Lu Zhi Wei buried half her face in her scarf.

【Good that you remember.】 Lao Wu encouraged. 【Hurry up and go.】

Lu Zhi Wei was still thinking of something to say, but when she thought of Sang Wan Ci staying out alone on Chinese New Year’s eve……

That really was quite saddening.

With the darkening sky, she walked towards the bus stop.

The faster she went, the faster she could get back and make herself dinner.

—— The ingredients need not be the most expensive, but there must definitely be the vibe!

……

Sang Wan Ci sat alone at the scenic viewpoint for a long time.

The corals stood quietly in the sea, like the moon.

Standing on the cliff, she could see everything.

She liked it here, she could hear the sea and wind, entwining like a majestic symphony.

The only thing out of place was her phone ringing.

She fished out her phone and answered the call. Zhang Xian Rui’s voice came from the other side, with a hint of alarm: “Why is there the sound of the sea near you?!”

Sang Wan Ci was calm: “Because I’m looking at it.”

“……”

Zhang Xian Rui said nervously: “It’s so late at night, what are you looking at the sea for. Hurry up and go home, don’t run around outside.”

Hearing the unease in her voice, Sang Wan Ci smiled: “Zhang jie, I’m not thinking of doing anything silly.”

Zhang Xian Rui wasn’t calmed: “Even so, you have to hurry up and go back. Running around and looking at the sea at night, it’s not safe.

“Where are you? I’ll go fetch you now?”

“No need. It’s Chinese New Year eve, stay at home.” Sang Wan Ci stood up from the wooden bench. “I’ll go back now.”

Knowing her character, Zhang Xian Rui didn’t press the issue: “Then hurry up and go home. Let me know when you’re back.”

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“Happy new year, jie.”

The whistling of the sea breeze drowned out her voice.

The world around her suddenly became exceedingly lonely.

She wasn’t in a rush to go back to that empty house.

Wearing a mask and cap, she left the viewing spot and went to a nearby mall.

365 days, the most crowded day would always be the new year.

Big red lanterns were hung up high, with colourful lanterns hanging on sturdy tree branches, the new year decorations all around the streets.

Every breath exhaled in the crowd was the spark of life.

Compared to going home, she did prefer staying outside.

Looking at the night sky and stars, looking at everyone’s smiling face, looking at the red lanterns, only then did she feel like the new year was approaching.

Since she had time, she decided to slowly walk around.

At this moment, a shadow appeared in the crowd.

The woman was wearing a down coat with a scarf wrapped around her neck, and her two hands were stuffed in a pair of gray, hand-knit gloves.

Her head was twisting left to right as she looked for something.

Sang Wan Ci immediately recognised that pair of gloves.

—— Lu Zhi Wei had knitted it on set, with two kitten heads on the back. She had finished knitting it right before the end of her scenes.

Surprise showed in her eyes, she hadn’t expected Lu Zhi Wei to appear her.

Without knowing it, her feet brought her behind Lu Zhi Wei as she lightly said: “Lu Zhi Wei.”

The person in front of her got a shock, her body trembling under the big coat. It was oddly cute.

Almost as if she was a surprised doe.

Hearing that familiar voice, Lu Zhi Wei immediately turned back and met with that beautiful pair of eyes.

No matter where, no matter how much was covered up, she could always recognise her eyes.

And with the system’s voice reminding her that the mission was completed, it would be hard to not recognise her.

“Teacher Sang, it’s you.”

Sang Wan Ci blinked: “You recognise me?”

“Of course.” Lu Zhi Wei smiled. “After all, our Teacher Sang is so pretty.”

She smiled, radiant as the autumn sun.

Sang Wan Ci couldn’t help but take another glance, then asked: “What are you looking for?”

Good question. Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

It immediately stumped Lu Zhi Wei who was out and about doing her mission.

She couldn’t be honest and say she received a mission to find Sang Wan Ci.

After two seconds, she smiled awkwardly and politely.

“Happiness is infectious. I was just looking around. Seeing everybody so happy, I would be happy too.”

This sort of nonsense, would Sang Wan Ci believe it?

She believed it.

Because Lu Zhi Wei was such a pitiful person.

She looked down, two hands in her pockets, not saying anything.

Seeing it, Lu Zhi Wei asked: “What about you, why are you here?

“Aren’t you going home for the new year?”

Sang Wan Ci shook her head, becoming even more despondent.

Thinking that she had touched her sore spot, Lu Zhi Wei quickly comforted her: “It’s alright, look, I’m not going home either.”

Sang Wan Ci looked at her with those pretty eyes, as if asking why.

Rubbing her head, Lu Zhi Wei said lightly: “Ah, my family doesn’t lack people, I won’t go back.”

Sang Wan Ci looked at her silently.

The point of the new year was to reunite with the family, since when did they consider the number of people?

Was it that she…… was forgotten again?

The wind came by silently.

A lock of black hair gently fluttered against Lu Zhi Wei’s face.

The tip of her nose was red from the cold.

Sang Wan Ci suddenly reached out and touched the lock of hair.

The cold tips of her fingers landed on Lu Zhi Wei’s face, waking her from her reverie as she grabbed Sang Wan Ci’s hand.

“It’s so cold out, why didn’t you wear gloves when going out? Look how cold your hands are.”

She frowned, pulling off her gloves to put it on Sang Wan Ci.

The her at this moment was like an older sister who was caring for her younger sister.

Sang Wan Ci suddenly felt like a puppet letting her do what she wanted. Before she realised it, she looked at the gray gloves on her hands.

Then she looked at Lu Zhi Wei’s fingers.

“Then what about you?”

Lu Zhi Wei stuffed her hands into her pockets: “I have pockets!”

So did Sang Wan Ci.

But Lu Zhi Wei still gave her gloves to her.

Seeing the expression on her face, Lu Zhi Wei said: “You’re smaller than me, I should take care of you.”

Sang Wan Ci didn’t agree with that.

Many times, she felt like Lu Zhi Wei was the one who needed to be taken care of.

Her emotions needed caring.

She needed to be seen.

She needed to be remembered.

But she would never take the initiative to ask. She was used to acting as an older sister, taking care of Ying Xi Ze, taking care of Sang Wan Ci, making people feel like she didn’t need to be taken care of.

But just like this new year.

Was she really not going back because her family didn’t lack people?

Did she really not want someone to accompany her?

Sang Wan Ci felt like the answer was obvious.

—— If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t feel embarrssed about it.

Lu Zhi Wei felt like they shouldn’t just stand there like that.

It was cold out and the wind was blowing.

So she looked left and right, intending to find a more secluded shop to bring Sang Wan Ci in to warm up.

The rest of the stuff could wait till later.

But at this moment, she suddenly heard Sang Wan Ci ask: “Do you mind bringing me home?”

Lu Zhi Wei: “?”

Sang Wan Ci looked at her, eyes glimmering: “I want to spend the new year with you.”

Lu Zhi Wei was stunned.

She suddenly didn’t know how to handle this question.

She was like a new intern at her first job, panicking and afraid she wouldn’t do a good job.

Can she? Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

Could she?

Sang Wan Ci really wouldn’t mind?

She stood in the same spot, suddenly lost and deliverating with herself.

The gloved hand slowly stretched out and took her cold hand.

A soft and flirtatious sentence floated out from between Sang Wan Ci’s lips, landing in her ear.

“Don’t reject me.

“Jiejie.”

“!!!”

Hearing that, Lu Zhi Wei’s ears immediately turned red.

It was as if someone was blowing in her ear, and also as if someone was biting her earlobe. It was numb and itchy.

How on earth did that happen?

Why was Sang Wan Ci’s “jiejie” not the same as others’?

God, who taught her how to say it like that???

As her heart was exploding, the system came and considerately offered up a new mission ——

【Mission issued: The emotions are rapidly rising, please sleep in the same bed.

【System reminder: No time limit】

Lu Zhi Wei: “???”

She asked Lao Wu: 【Do you know what I want to do right now?】

Lao Wu: 【What?】

Lu Zhi Wei: 【I want to put this randomly issuing mission system up on Pinduoduo so you can get slashed[1]!!】

[1] So basically, Pinduoduo is a site where you can send your friends the link to a product you wanna buy, and the more friends that click on it, the bigger a discount you get, or 砍一刀 (slash with a knife). The discount is usually a few cents per “slash”, so the more “slashes” you get, the cheaper the product gets.