CH 76

On Chinese New Year’s Eve, the sound of skits from the Spring Festival Gala and the deafening fireworks and firecrackers make this day the most cherished one of the year.

At 11:45 p.m., Yu Zhou received a call from Su Chang.

It was very quiet on her side while Yu Zhou’s end was quite noisy. So, she stepped onto the stairs and walked to the bedroom on the second floor to listen to what Su Chang had to say.

But Su Chang didn’t say much, she just gently told her, “Happy New Year.”

She said it early, probably afraid that after midnight, there wouldn’t be such a peaceful moment.

Yu Zhou smiled and also said, “Happy New Year.”

“Um, please say it to Auntie and Uncle for me too.”

Su Chang’s voice was a little coy, which made Yu Zhou unwilling to do it. She laughed, “Wasn’t someone quite well-behaved before? I heard she used to send WeChat messages during the holidays. What’s the matter this time? Can’t you send one yourself?”

On the other side of the phone, a gentle, breathy voice whispered, “This time, I want you to help me say it.”

The words made her ears tingle – Yu Zhou felt a little overwhelmed and knew her ears turned hot.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, she changed the topic, “It’s so quiet over there, aren’t you guys watching TV?”

“No.”

“Aren’t your parents watching?”

“I’m alone,” Su Chang said.

“What? You didn’t go back home?”

“No.”

“Why? Where are your parents then?” Yu Zhou frowned.

“Um…” Su Chang thought for a moment, “My dad and grandma are still in Canada, my mom’s probably in Germany.”

This “probably” was so subtle and it was only specific to the country. Yu Zhou carefully recalled the past three years when they were together. In the first year, they each went back to their own homes to spend time with their families. That year, Su Chang was with her parents and grandpa.

In the second and third years, she went back home with Yu Zhou. At that time, Yu Zhou felt that she loved her dearly, so every time she said she didn’t want to go home alone, Su Chang hesitated for a moment and then agreed.

Yu Zhou even told Su Chang, “You go back with me first and after the Spring Festival, you don’t have to work and can find some time to accompany your parents. Is that okay?”

Su Chang agreed.

But later, in the hustle and bustle of their lives, the matter of going back home was forgotten and neither of them mentioned it.

Yu Zhou imagined Su Chang’s family situation using her own, thinking Su Chang was doing some work with her parents behind her back. After all, Su Chang also occasionally sent text messages and called her parents and everything seemed normal.

She didn’t ask Su Chang too much about her family, because she once asked if Su Chang wanted to come out to her family, but Su Chang said she didn’t want to, so Yu Zhou tried not to bring it up again.

But she didn’t know that ever since the outbreak started, Su Chang hadn’t seen her parents for two years.

Yu Zhou was at a loss for words. When she finally snapped out of her daze, the countdown had already begun downstairs, so she asked Su Chang, “Would you like to come to my house for the New Year?”

Su Chang smiled and said, “How many people do you want to bring home for the New Year?”

Ah, yes… that was indeed a bit awkward.*

“Um…” Yu Zhou also felt a bit embarrassed, but she said, “You’re all my friends and my mother knows about you, so there shouldn’t be any problem.”

“No need,” Su Chang said. “Let Xiang Wan have a good rest. We’ve been through quite a few projects before the New Year and there are more to come after the holiday. I’m afraid she’ll think of work and feel stressed as soon as she sees me.”

“Oh.”

Yu Zhou touched the cold window with her hand.

By the time they hung up the phone, it was already 2023, so they had gone past the New Year together. Su Chang told her one more time, “Happy New Year, Zhouzhou.”

“Happy New Year.”

The next day was the first day of the Chinese New Year. Ms. Zhao got up early to cook tangyuan, four for each person, representing prosperity in all four seasons. The steaming hot tangyuan made Xiang Wan’s face turn red. After a short rest, the group went out for shopping. Yu Zhou’s family didn’t usually visit other people’s houses on the New Year, but close relatives would come to her house for dinner.

Because they had a big house with a large dining table, a lot of people could be seated.

Usually, it was the three families of her aunt and two uncles. With one large round table and a smaller one, everyone could sit neatly.

After buying groceries and returning home, Ms. Zhao and Yu Zhou’s father started cooking while Xiang Wan helped. Yu Zhou cleaned the house.

The door was left open and relatives would just walk in, throw their bags on the sofa, greet each other and sit down to peel peanuts. Her younger uncle and aunt went to help in the kitchen while the two aunts-in-law compared whose dyed hair color looked better on the sofa.

When Xiang Wan came out with the dishes, her older aunt exclaimed before asking Ms. Zhao, who followed with plates: “Whose sister is she?”

“She’s my goddaughter, Xiang Wan. Isn’t she beautiful?” Ms. Zhao said proudly.

She then introduced Xiang Wan to everyone, saying she was a voice actress and was quite popular online.

The aunts didn’t let Xiang Wan go back to cooking, but sat her down on the sofa, asking her which TV dramas she had dubbed and if there were any characters they knew.

Xiang Wan slowly and politely chatted with the aunts. When she didn’t know how to answer a question, she looked at Yu Zhou, who would come to her rescue.

“Hey, why didn’t your friend come?” Her younger aunt patted Yu Zhou’s thigh.

“Which one?” Yu Zhou pretended to be confused while knowing the answer.

“Su… Su something, she’s also a voice actress.” Her aunt-in-law was straightforward and puzzled. “It’s so strange. Do you run a voice acting class in Jiang City? Why are all your friends voice actors?”

Xiang Wan hooked her lips while Yu Zhou felt awkward.

As they started eating, the elders and youngsters took their seats. Yu Zhou, Xiang Wan, and their cousins sat at the children’s table. Yu Zhou’s second cousin and uncle-in-law brought a box of beer back from the car before placing it beside the table. Her second cousin washed his hands but didn’t sit down. Instead, he gently patted Yu Zhou’s back.

“Hey, sis.”

“Huh?” Yu Zhou held her bowl and turned to look at him.

“Come here.” Her second cousin motioned for her to follow him to the restroom door.

“What’s going on? I don’t have any red envelopes for you. You’re only a year younger than me. Have you no shame?” Yu Zhou still held her bowl.

“I saw Su Chang outside.” Her second cousin said.

What?* Yu Zhou’s bowl almost fell out of her hand.

“Really?” She whispered as loud as she could, exaggerating her mouth movements.

Her second cousin knew about her relationship with Su Chang. The first year she brought Su Chang home, they confided in each other. He helped cover for them in exchange for a small red envelope.

“It looks like her.” He put his hands in his pockets, tilting his chin toward the outside. “Go take a look. She’s at the intersection, Anyway, the car looks like hers.”

Boys were always sensitive to cars. He wouldn’t have noticed Su Chang if he hadn’t looked at her car twice.

Yu Zhou’s heart pounded like crazy as she hurriedly put her bowl and chopsticks down and ran outside.

Sure enough, from a distance she saw Su Chang’s car. Su Chang was standing next to it, looking down at her phone while texting. She was wearing an all-black cashmere coat with her hair tied up, a few strands falling around her face. She looked both aloof and gentle.

Yu Zhou’s mouth felt tight as she approached, her footsteps disturbing Su Chang.

Su Chang looked up, holding her phone and smiling: “I was just about to text you.”

She couldn’t remember which building it was. Well… more accurately, she hadn’t decided whether or not to go in.

Although they had talked about it yesterday, Su Chang couldn’t control herself and she had nothing else to do, so she came.

“Weren’t you not coming? And you even drove here, it took several hours, right? Four or five hours at least?” It was a bit cold outside, Yu Zhou shrank her neck with her hands retreating into her sleeves.

“Yeah, I happened to have a client nearby, so I swung by to take a look.” Su Chang said.

Su Chang often used “Yeah” when talking, especially when lying.

“How many of your voice projects require you to travel around, especially during the New Year?” Yu Zhou grumbled at her about being unable to think of a better excuse.

“No, I told you before, my dad has a small investment company and I am the legal representative. He has a friend who wants to invest, so he asked me to bring some materials and files to discuss. If they agree, we will proceed with the equity transfer.”

Yu Zhou wasn’t sure if that was true, but it seemed unlikely that anyone would discuss business matters on the first day of the Chinese new year.

“Well… let’s go in for dinner. We’re still eating.” Yu Zhou was really cold and she shivered again, hugging her neck.

She then stomped her feet, feeling them about to freeze.

Su Chang put away her phone and said, “Okay.”

As she led Su Chang into the house, everyone at the table looked over. Xiang Wan was momentarily stunned before standing up to greet her, “Miss Su.”

Ms. Zhao was also taken aback, then she became extremely delighted, exclaiming in a high-pitched voice, “Changchang!”

“Auntie, happy new year.” Su Chang smiled.

Ms. Zhao happily greeted her, pulling her in, “Ah, Changchang is here to pay a new year’s visit! How did you come here? Did you drive? Oh dear, your hands are freezing. Come, come, we’re still eating. Let me get you some chopsticks.”

She pushed Su Chang to the table and went into the kitchen to fetch a bowl and chopsticks.

“Sis, who is this?” The aunt had not come back for the past couple of years and had never met Su Chang before.

“My other goddaughter, Su Chang. You can just call her Changchang,” Ms. Zhao said as she set the chopsticks.

“You have so many goddaughters.”

“Aiya, isn’t it a blessing? They’re all very well-behaved.” Ms. Zhao sat down and was going to serve Su Chang some food.

Su Chang’s back was touched when Yu Zhou stood behind her, “Hey!”

Su Chang turned her head.

“Sit at our table! This one is for adults.” Yu Zhou whispered.

“…” Su Chang was a bit embarrassed, it was Auntie who had asked her to sit here and had set her place.

“Mom,” Yu Zhou called Ms. Zhao, “I’ll have Su Chang sit at our table. She won’t drink, she drove here.”

“Oh, right, right.” Ms. Zhao slapped her forehead, “Then, Changchang, you go to the small table. The food and drinks are the same, it’s just a bit lower.”

Su Chang’s presence was so strong that she instinctively wanted her to sit at the main table.

Yu Zhou helped her carry her bowl and chopsticks. Their cousin moved aside to make room for Su Chang, who sat next to Yu Zhou.

Xiang Wan was also concerned about how Su Chang came here and the two chatted while eating. Their cousin also joined the conversation while the two male cousins ate while watching a soccer match, not saying much.

Yu Zhou whispered to Su Chang, “Are you uncomfortable? This stool is a bit low.”

Her waist wasn’t in the best condition, and with her long arms and legs, curling up in this spot might be uncomfortable.

“I’m not uncomfortable,” Su Chang said.

She looked at Yu Zhou, holding back a comment. The way Yu Zhou had just brought her down felt very comforting to her.

It was as if they had returned to the past, when Yu Zhou would unilaterally make arrangements for the two of them with complete authority.