Chapter 11: Summer, Let Us Embrace

The dumplings were ready; Xia An wrapped them by hand. Tang Wan liked the three-flavor filling, while Xia An preferred beef. But in the Northeast, sauerkraut and pork dumplings held a sacred place—whether you liked them or not, they had to be there.

Xia An busily prepared dish after dish without complaint. From inside the room came Tang Wan’s exclamations: “Wow, this is fun!” Then, “I made it to the semifinals, Xia An!” And, “I won, Xia An!”

Xia An poked his head in to ask how much she had won. Tang Wan explained she wasn’t qualified to enter official matches yet—the level wasn’t high enough. Xia An said nothing about how beginners always faced computer opponents; he didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm.

When the braised prawns and the first basket of dumplings came out of the kitchen, Tang Wan bounced out excitedly. She showed five fingers to Xia An.

“Five thousand?” Xia An asked, dumbfounded.

She shook her head and said, “Fifty yuan in phone credit.”

Xia An gave a thumbs-up. “Awesome.”

Tang Wan dashed back inside. Watching her retreating figure, Xia An smiled faintly. What kind of twenty-five-year-old young woman was this? If a beautiful girl possessed a pure heart, she was truly a masterpiece of the divine. Indeed, in his heart, Zuo You was just such a girl.

“Don’t worry, Little You, I, Xia An, will not falter!”

Tang Wan tilted her head, calling out from the room, “My number won’t work. Should I top up your phone?”

Xia An replied, “I’m going to Binhai next month; I’ll need a new one too.” Tang Wan said nothing.

At the feast, with a dazzling array of dishes before her, Tang Wan’s eyes nearly dazzled. “You’re incredible,” she exclaimed.

She asked if she could have a little wine. This was rare for her. A year ago, she never touched alcohol. Even at college dorm parties, she abstained completely. Only after being diagnosed with her illness did she occasionally drink to drown her sorrows.

Perhaps she had been too tense, too exhausted before. The past two days here had relaxed her. Today, she really wanted some wine.

Whatever she wished, Xia An granted. He produced a bottle of 99-yuan Great Wall dry red wine, a treasured keepsake from his mother.

At first, the half glass of wine in Tang Wan’s hand seemed merely to moisten her lips. The setting was wrong, the attire was wrong, the dishes were wrong, yet the moment she held the glass, a natural elegance blossomed within her—a refinement born of her very bones.

She smiled politely and raised the glass lightly to her lips. It was less drinking and more a gentle kiss to the wine.

Xia An disliked red wine but drank alongside her. When she did not raise her glass, he sipped his beer alone.

Tang Wan noticed that Xia An seemed different today—more composed, more steady. What she did not know was that he was quite pleased as well. Securing a sure gain brought peace of mind.

For the first time, confident about his future, Xia An formally asked Tang Wan about her plans ahead.

She shook her head adorably, resting her chin on her hand, and said dreamily, “None.” Or rather, she hadn’t planned her future for a long time.

Before she was fifteen, she dreamed of studying abroad, learning fashion design, creating her own wedding dress, and marrying the best man. She also dreamed of studying business management to help her parents with their company. After that, nothing.

She had sealed herself off in the world of numbers. She could recite the last fifty thousand digits of pi but did not know what to do with her tomorrow.

“Continue running training classes as the senior mentor?” Xia An asked.

“Maybe. That’s not a bad idea,” Tang Wan smiled.

Xia An understood she wasn’t keen to discuss the topic further. Before dinner, he had thought of guiding her in a ‘princess’s revenge’ plan, but that was cruel—bringing it up would only reopen old wounds.

Earning money was her business; he could quietly benefit from her, but he wouldn’t set a trap. A clever hand might be dark, but the heart must not be. Malice and shamelessness were different things.

Xia An raised his glass. “Trust me, in this superficial world, you will have everything.”

Tang Wan smiled and asked, “You mean money?”

“To some extent, yes,” he replied.

She thought for a moment and shrugged. “How much money is enough to live without worries?”

Xia An was taken aback. “You’re asking me?”

She nodded.

He looked at her. Under the dim light, the wine in her glass shone a deep crimson. He put down his chopsticks and answered seriously:

“The question isn’t precise.

“For example, if you earn a thousand and I earn five thousand, it seems the difference is only fivefold. But if the cost of living is nine hundred?

“That means you have a hundred left each month, while I have four thousand one hundred.

“My life can bear forty-one times more risk than yours.

“So your so-called worry-free life depends on how much it costs to achieve it.”

Tang Wan smiled gratefully. She knew Xia An was explaining with numbers, the language she best understood.

“I don’t want castles. Stability is enough. I hope to marry a good man someday. That’s every girl’s biggest dream.”

Xia An smiled. “Then go to a big city, find a university, and continue your studies.”

Tang Wan stuffed a dumpling into her mouth, her cheeks puffed like a hamster. She didn’t understand and asked, “Why?”

“I heard from a relative’s sister that her junior college classmates did only one thing for three years—they camped out in the study room of a prestigious university to snag a boyfriend. Now the couple lives in Yanjing; the man is ambitious and capable.”

Tang Wan chuckled.

Her glass emptied, and she poured herself more. After a while, she said, “That’s an even better idea. I’ll seriously consider it.”

Looking meaningfully at Xia An, he waved it off. “Forget it, it might not suit you.”

“Why?” Tang Wan blinked innocently.

“Wu Dalang’s life proved to all men: without strength, don’t marry the top choice.”

Tang Wan laughed so hard she trembled.

“You have to admit, though you’re young, you’re quite a charming guy.”

Xia An raised his eyebrows. “Look at you, always flattering people.”

Tang Wan laughed nonstop.

Xia An said, “You should find something to do. Lin Jiajia’s hospice care project is worth serious thought.”

“Tell me about it?”

Xia An carefully described the project’s immediate effects and future prospects.

Ignoring Zhao Zhijing’s dirty tricks, hospice care was at least a noble cause. Later, they could raise funds to help seriously ill patients who couldn’t afford medical bills.

Hearing this, Tang Wan pictured herself in the role and said immediately, “I want to do it, but I can’t show my face yet. If Uncle Zhao… Zhao Zhijing and Tang Tianxing find out I’m involved, they’ll cause trouble. Maybe I should invest in her.”

Xia An asked, “You plan to win through JJ?”

Tang Wan: “I saved tens of thousands from not having surgery.”

Xia An scratched his head. “You won’t need that much; a hundred thousand or eighty thousand is enough.”

Tang Wan didn’t understand. Isn’t internet business expensive?

Xia An said, “Lin Jiajia went south with the project team to study. When she returns, you two will meet.”

Night fell.

Tang Wan sighed softly, “Another day gone.”

Xia An followed her gaze to the window. “Looking forward to tomorrow.”

Tang Wan paused. Yes, last year she had been anxious, never knowing which day might be her doom. Why was she still so down?

“No matter what, all plans must wait until I am free. Xia An, do you think I can do it?”

She poured more wine for him.

Xia An straightened his back, his expression solemn.

“Listen carefully.

“On July 4th, 1776, somewhere on Earth, a declaration was issued and widely recognized and revered.

“It stated first and foremost that certain truths exist in this world, chief among them: all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.

“Among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

“According to this declaration, no matter what relationship one is in, one has the right to seek freedom and happiness; others have no right to interfere or prevent this.”

Each word, each phrase, fell like a great bell into Tang Wan’s chest, accompanied by Xia An’s tone and expression.

Her face flushed hot, her eyes suddenly burning. Tears slipped down silently as she reached across the table to grasp Xia An’s hand.

“Thank you, Xia An. Truly, I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

Xia An waved it off casually. “No thanks necessary. We’re all fellow travelers in this world—we must learn to commit ourselves, Sister Tang.”

Tang Wan covered her mouth and laughed, punching the air playfully at him.

Then she batted her eyes coquettishly and said, “Alright, I said that night at the bar, but you didn’t agree. So, now?”

—Ssshh—

Xia An suddenly realized her personality was quite something—a genuine hexagonal beauty.

Joking and drinking, the mood grew ever better.

Seizing the moment, Xia An gently asked if she had ever thought about reclaiming her parents’ business.

Tang Wan shook her head with a smile. “Forget it. I understand the right and wrong, the grudges and debts. I must act within my means.”

Xia An said no more.

The two bottles of red wine were drained; Tang Wan even began drinking beer.

At midnight, she held a bottle, standing on a chair with one foot and pounding the table with the other hand.

“He killed my parents. I want to curse him! Curse him, curse him, curse him!”

Her cheeks flushed, eyes fierce, biting her lip—the twenty-five-year-old Sister Tang was furious.

Meanwhile, Xia An…

The window was half open. Leaning against the sill, he held a tall beer glass in both hands, dressed in a white tank top.

One hand slipped into his shorts pocket; one foot shuffled in plastic slippers on the floor. Swirling his drink, he turned his gaze from the screen door and smiled faintly at Tang Wan.

A strikingly handsome young man, like Ling Lingqi in his prime!

“Miss Tang, the moonlight is beautiful, and sleep eludes me. Care to join me?”

Tang Wan muttered curses under her breath but wobbled over. Holding Xia An’s arm, she stood on tiptoe, gazing at the night sky.

Their skin brushed together. Xia An whispered in her ear, “Want to curse him? I’ll help you.”

“Alright, it’s a deal—pinky swear!”

Tang Wan pouted and nodded at him.

Their little fingers intertwined, passing untold warmth between them.

After releasing their pinkies, Tang Wan wrapped her arms around his neck.

A faint scent of wine breathed out from her small mouth.

“Xia An, let’s embrace.”