Xia Yinuo walked out of the teahouse. After getting into her car, she didn't rush to start the engine. As expected, a few minutes later, Song Nian’s long legs swung over as she naturally took the passenger seat.
"It seems Boss Xia’s cold has mostly recovered! You made me worry for nothing." There was a hint of teasing in her voice; it was clear that Lawyer Song was in a very good mood.
Xia Yinuo chuckled softly, leaning over to grab a paper box from the back seat and handing it to Song Nian. "It’s all thanks to my family taking good care of me. Today went very smoothly. I’ve troubled Lawyer Song to do so much in just a few days; I’m truly grateful. This is a cake Xiao Fan made early this morning. If you don't mind, Lawyer Song, why not take it back and try some?"
"Really? That curly-haired little sister is quite capable." Song Nian took the box casually and placed it on her lap, tilting her head to stare at Xia Yinuo with abandon. "But Boss Xia, has anyone ever told you that you live your life too earnestly?"
Xia Yinuo thought for a moment and answered calmly, "Not really."
"Then why are you being so polite with me! I told you, it’s my honor to serve Boss Xia." As Song Nian spoke, she opened the box on her lap, took one look, closed it again, and raised her eyebrows with an appreciative nod. "However, I am curious—why did you say those things to him just now?"
Xia Yinuo’s hand tapped lightly on the steering wheel, her gaze toward Song Nian filled with doubt.
Clearly, back in the teahouse, there had been a considerable distance between the two tables.
Song Nian understood immediately. She raised her hands and said with a laugh, "What a clever person! Don't look at me like that. I did plant a bug under the table, but it was all for your own good as my client, Boss Xia!"
"I didn't mean to blame you." Xia Yinuo blinked. "I was thinking that if there has to be a reason, I felt I should give Jiang Yang a chance. You must have seen those files; the surgery and treatment costs for his girlfriend’s mother are no small sum."
Song Nian breathed a sigh of relief, resting her hands behind her head against the backrest. She smiled. "But that doesn't constitute a reason or an excuse for what he did. I’ve seen too much of the 'hateful people must have a pathetic side' trope. Don't blame me for not warning you: sometimes, being kind to an enemy is being cruel to yourself."
"He and I aren't exactly enemies."
"Fine, as long as you're happy. I hope he understands your kindness."
Xia Yinuo took her glasses case from the armrest and put on her nearsighted glasses. "Speaking of which, Jiang Yang is my university classmate, and his girlfriend was my girlfriend's primary school classmate. Don't you think that’s a strange kind of fate?"
Song Nian looked disdainful. "Tch, I’d rather not have that kind of fate."
Xia Yinuo gave a noncommittal smile.
"Hey," Song Nian suddenly asked, "I just thought of something. Boss Xia, do you think judging people by their appearance is acceptable?"
Xia Yinuo: "It is not."
Song Nian rested her chin on her hand, a half-smile playing on her lips. "But someone told me that judging by appearance actually makes some sense."
Xia Yinuo: "I’m all ears."
For once, Song Nian wiped away her usual lazy and idle expression. "Because the face is born from the heart. Character is written at the corners of the mouth; fulfillment shows in the corners of the eyes. Rationality and sensibility reside in the tone of voice; honesty and hypocrisy are reflected in the pupils. Standing posture reveals talent and grace; gait shows self-awareness. One's recent state of mind is in their expression, and past years are hidden between the brows. Clothing shows aesthetic taste, and hairstyle expresses personality. Whether you're compatible or not, you’ll know after one meal together. As for Jiang Yang, his brow bone protrudes like a stone cliff, and his eyes are deep-set like a hungry tiger’s. He carries an air of violence. In his daily life, he must be someone who takes shortcuts, exhausts his mind with schemes, yet remains frustrated and unsuccessful."
Xia Yinuo feigned a serious, solemn expression. "What you said makes a lot of sense. I actually can't find a reason to refute it."
Song Nian burst out laughing. "There’s no time like the present. Why don't we have a meal together later and see if we’re compatible?"
Xia Yinuo declined with tact. "Lawyer Song has been such a big help; treating you to a meal is a must. But could we do it another day? I have to rush to the company today. I already delayed some matters yesterday."
"So insincere!" Song Nian complained bluntly. She paused, then added, "But forget judging by appearance—even time has its favorites. After many years, some people remain clean and youthful; some so-called hypocrites find all sorts of excuses to gloss over their worldly hearts; and others are even more crude, not even bothering to pretend, becoming 'true villains' with a clear conscience. Look at Jiang Yang—where did his youthful spirit go?"
Xia Yinuo adjusted her glasses and said nothing.
"They say youth and dreams are enough to stun one's time, while life and memories can gentle the years. But young people nowadays are generally too impetuous. They might stun time for a moment, but I wonder if they have the endurance to gentle the years. At the drop of a hat, they say things like 'I don't care about forever, only about having had it once.' Sigh, am I getting old? Why have I become so wordy." At this point, Song Nian chuckled and turned to ask Xia Yinuo, "Boss Xia, tell me, which is more important: stunning one's time or gentling the years?"
Xia Yinuo smiled faintly and asked in return, "Then has Lawyer Song found that person who stuns your time and gentles your years?"
"Me?" Song Nian was taken aback, then shrugged and gave a half-stretch in the cramped space. "Boss Xia might not know, but I am the legendary... most unrestrained wind from beyond the mountains and across the seas, the kind that never stops..."
The dimple on Xia Yinuo’s right cheek became more pronounced, but she didn't intend to pry. "If I may ask, how old are you, Lawyer Song?"
Song Nian arched an eyebrow. "Older than you, for sure."
A trace of a smile lingered on Xia Yinuo’s lips. "I do know a type of person who is used to building a protective shell, using indifference and lack of concern to disguise their pure heart. It’s probably because they’re afraid of being expected of, afraid of letting others down."
Song Nian narrowed her eyes, which were as deep and bright as a leopard's. "I think Ah Hao should have introduced us sooner."
Xia Yinuo calmly released the handbrake. "Why must we have met before to be friends? Regardless, I am very grateful to you."
Hearing this, Song Nian laughed loudly. "Tell me, if I had met you years earlier, would I have liked you?"
"But where do all those 'ifs' come from?" Xia Yinuo smiled radiantly and prepared to drive.
Song Nian hurriedly said, "I didn't drive today. Give me a lift?"
Xia Yinuo: "Sure, where to?"
Song Nian: "North Street."
Xia Yinuo: "North Street?"
Song Nian: "North Street!"
***
Autumn had arrived, and the weather made people prone to laziness. Especially with a great weight lifted from her heart, Xia Yinuo felt much more relaxed.
This Saturday, Xia Yinuo and Liang Juejun stayed at home, not wanting to go anywhere. Liang Juejun reclined on the sofa reading a book, while Xia Yinuo sat on the rug in front of the coffee table, focused on a pile of puzzle pieces spread out before her.
The tranquility of time was a comfortable sense of mutual understanding; the lingering warmth of the years was a vivid sense of security. Xia Yinuo didn't realize that a pair of eyes had been quietly watching her for a long time.
Just as Xia Yinuo was racking her brain over the puzzle, a pair of long legs suddenly reached over from behind and rested on her neck, swaying playfully.
A smile blossomed on Xia Yinuo’s lips. She swiftly reached back to grab those mischievous legs and threatened, "Quickly, say 'Heroine, spare my life,' and this Great Hero might reluctantly let you go!"
Unfortunately, the words carried no deterrent power. Liang Juejun leaned in happily, hugging Xia Yinuo from behind. Her warm breath brushed against Yinuo's ear. "I never intended for you to let me go. I have something to tell you, but you're not allowed to be angry."
"Really? Would I ever be angry with you?" Xia Yinuo didn't seem to care, her hands restlessly stroking Liang Juejun’s smooth calves. "Go ahead and tell me."
Liang Juejun said seriously, "Xiao Bao, why don't you move back to Sanhe Villa for a while?"
Xia Yinuo’s movements visibly stiffened. She turned her head to look at Liang Juejun.
Liang Juejun’s warm hand covered Xia Yinuo’s face. "Isn't there a saying: 'To resist external threats, one must first stabilize the interior'? Mumu also said that telling your family about us before resolving the Jiang Yang matter was indeed a bit rash. Now that the external threat is gone, it’s time to face the internal trouble. Letting things drag on will only make them worse. You shouldn't let your relationship with your family remain tense because of this. Since that's the case, we should take a proactive approach. Based on my experience back then, I think moving back for a while might lead to a turning point. Of course, this is only temporary."
After a long silence, Xia Yinuo spoke thoughtfully. "You're right. I’ve been worried about not having a chance to talk to my mom again. Then it’s decided—I’ll move back for a while."
Seeing Xia Yinuo’s slight frown and the dimming of her eyes, Liang Juejun felt a dull ache in her heart. She even wondered if she shouldn't have made the suggestion.
Unexpectedly, in the next second, Xia Yinuo flashed a sly smile. "In that case, before I go, why don't we seize the time to do some... things we love to do..."
"Xia Xiao Bao!"
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
"..."
The next day, Xia Yinuo appeared at Sanhe Villa with simple luggage, using the excuse that someone near the faculty housing was renovating and it was too noisy, so she wanted to move home for a while. Surprisingly, no one questioned such a lame excuse. Li Qinglan said nothing; Li Xiuheng knew the truth; Li Du was an outsider to the drama and was naturally very happy to see the house so lively.
Counting it up, Xia Yinuo really hadn't stayed overnight at Sanhe Villa since the Spring Festival.
Li Mu, having caught wind of the news, came to her aunt's house for dinner that night. She then used the excuse that it was too late and begged her "dear sister" to let her stay the night. Instead of sleeping in the guest room, she insisted on squeezing into the same bed as Xia Yinuo.
After showering and preparing for bed, Li Mu wiped her face and asked casually, "Which side are you used to sleeping on?"
Xia Yinuo blurted out, "The right side."
Li Mu gave a wicked, knowing grin.
Xia Yinuo realized her slip and her face flushed red. "You're so young!"
Li Mu played innocent. "I didn't say anything!"
Xia Yinuo couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Alright, my little ancestor, go to sleep."
Li Mu settled in, slid into the covers, and asked daringly, "Hey, you won't do anything strange to me while sleepwalking in the middle of the night, will you?"
Xia Yinuo sat on the edge of the bed and spat out two words expressionlessly: "Heh heh."
Li Mu propped her chin on her hand and nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, but thinking about how much of a 'shou' you are, I can rest easy!"
A pillow slammed into Li Mu.
Li Mu laughed wildly. "Hey! Xia Xiao Bao, even if you're embarrassed and angry, you don't have to be so violent!"
"That depends on who I'm dealing with." Xia Yinuo turned and lay down in the covers, burying her head in the pillow.
Li Mu clicked off the bedside lamp. "Fine, fine, what a boring person!"
The room was instantly plunged into darkness. After a while, Li Mu tucked the quilt around herself and asked carefully, "Sis, what exactly is Auntie’s attitude right now?"
Xia Yinuo’s voice betrayed no emotion. "Hard to say."
Li Mu mumbled, "I knew it. Brother Xiuheng didn't invite me to dinner for no reason tonight; it was to ease the atmosphere..."
Xia Yinuo sighed. "It’s okay. There will be a turning point."
Li Mu: "Then how long do you plan to stay here?"
Xia Yinuo: "Mom won't make me wait long, and I won't make Shijie wait too long either."
The next day, Li Xiuheng used another excuse to bring their grandmother back to Sanhe Villa from Li Qingfeng’s place. Li Mu could only sigh: *Brother Xiuheng, with your tactics, it’s a pity you didn't become a neighborhood committee auntie mediating family disputes.*
Li Qinglan went to work and came home as usual, showing no signs of anything being wrong. However, unless necessary, she would not take the initiative to speak to Xia Yinuo. Xia Yinuo worked during the day and came home for dinner. After the meal, she would watch TV and chat with her grandmother, or use the excuse of helping out at the cafe, but she was always home by eleven.
In the past, Xia Yinuo rarely cooked, but this time she specifically prepared a rather sumptuous dinner for the whole family. The old lady and Li Du nodded repeatedly, praising Xiao Bao for truly growing up, while jokingly poking fun at the "kitchen disaster" Li Xiuheng. Xia Yinuo happily told them to eat more if it tasted good. There were several dishes on the table with slightly complex procedures; Li Qinglan saw this, but she only smiled along and said nothing more.
A week passed quickly.
That day, C City was hit by a sudden torrential rain. In such weather, traffic became a major problem. During the morning and evening rush hours, the congestion was spectacular. Liang Juejun told Xia Yinuo to stay home obediently after dinner, and Xia Yinuo followed her advice, retiring to her room early to rest.
A rainy night is a time when one can be rightfully vulnerable. Xia Yinuo lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, hearing the raindrops outside hitting the glass in a dense, rhythmic pattern. She imagined the city lights being soaked and softened by the rain.
Picking up her phone, Xia Yinuo typed a line to Liang Juejun: "What are you doing?"
In just a few seconds, the other party replied: "In the study, sitting on the sofa listening to music on your iPad."
Xia Yinuo’s lips curved up. "Listening to what?"
A screenshot was sent over.
In the center of the screenshot was a striking line of lyrics: *You know, even if the heavy rain turns this city upside down, I will give you my embrace.*
Xia Yinuo gripped her phone, hugged her quilt, and rolled over on the bed. After a long while, she typed a few more words in the chat box: "Let me tell you a bedtime story."
Liang Juejun replied: "Okay."
Xia Yinuo: "The name of the story is—My Summer Vacation."
"The name sounds like a primary school student's essay."
"Don't look down on primary school essays."
"Alright, I'm all ears."
"Do you know why I took you to Dongzhuang last time?"
"Why?"
Xia Yinuo’s fingers began to dance on the keyboard. "When I was a kid, as soon as summer vacation started, my brother, Mumu, and I would always beg my uncle to take us to Dongzhuang. Summer in Dongzhuang mostly has breezy mornings. After dawn, the distant mountains are dark green and the sky is azure; it’s quiet and far from the hustle and bustle. We often sat in the courtyard in a daze, watching the old lady next door tidy her yard, watching the ants in the corner move house, listening to the wind rustling through the bamboo forest, and seeing the colorful morning glories in bloom. You could say Dongzhuang brought a lot of joy to our childhood."
"I especially liked that mountain stream. My uncle would take us there to catch fish and flip over rocks for crabs. Heaven knows, my brother and I were only in primary school then, and Mumu was only in kindergarten. If Grandma had known, she definitely would have lectured Uncle."
The screen kept showing that the other party was typing. Liang Juejun could almost imagine the expression on Xia Yinuo’s face right now.
"A few years ago, probably when I was in the first year of my PhD, they were going to build a highway near Dongzhuang. Some villagers on the southwest side needed to be relocated to the east side of the village. That wasn't all—because they were building a mountain tunnel, they said they had to cut off that mountain stream. I thought to myself then: I haven't even had the chance to meet the person I love, haven't had the chance to take that person to see that little stream—how could it just disappear like that? Later, after much negotiation by the villagers, the stream was saved. Don't you think that’s lucky?"
Liang Juejun: "A great blessing."
Xia Yinuo: "So I thought, I had to hurry and take you to see my grandmother's home."
Liang Juejun: "So you said, 'Where my heart finds peace, there is my hometown.'"
Xia Yinuo: "Yes. That day you asked me what a hometown is, we talked about local and global issues, and you told me why you wanted to return to C City. I was very happy."
Liang Juejun: "This story and the title 'My Summer Vacation' seem a bit off-topic."
Xia Yinuo: "Is it? It does seem a bit off-topic. Then I'll change the name."
Liang Juejun: "To what?"
Xia Yinuo: "I miss you."
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 惊艳了时光，温柔了岁月 | Stun one's time, gentle the years | A poetic expression about people who bring excitement vs. those who bring long-term comfort. |
| 相由心生 | The face is born from the heart | Physiognomy; the idea that one's character reflects in their appearance. |
| 攘外必先安内 | To resist external threats, one must first stabilize the interior | A political idiom applied here to family/personal life. |
| 受 (shou) | Shou / Submissive / Bottom | Term used in GL/BL to describe the passive or submissive partner in a relationship. |
| 三河山庄 | Sanhe Villa | The Xia family residence. |
| 董庄 | Dongzhuang | The village where Xia Yinuo's grandmother lives. |
| 小情歌 | Little Love Song | A famous song by the band Sodagreen, quoted in the text. |
| 师姐 (shijie) | Shijie / Senior | How Xia Yinuo refers to Liang Juejun, reflecting their school senior-junior relationship. |
