Lao She once said: Life is a rhythm; there must be light and shadow, left and right, sunshine and rain. The true flavor of life is contained within these twists and turns—ever-changing, yet never violent.
With Liang Juejun’s encouragement and Li Qinglan’s consent, the mother and daughter finally sat down for a long, heart-to-heart talk. They poured out the words they had kept buried for years. They acknowledged past mistakes to correct them and resolved misunderstandings to find closure. Every knot in their hearts was untied, replaced by honest relief. In the end, both mother and daughter shared a long, cathartic cry.
Beyond that, Li Qinglan’s request was simple: for the time being, they were to say nothing in front of the grandmother. As for everything else, she would handle the arrangements.
Two days later, Liang Juejun left with a faculty delegation for an academic conference in Europe. Xia Yinuo received a call from Deng Rouyue, inviting her home for dinner after work. Seeing that Xia Yiyan wasn't around, Xia Yinuo spent the meal pondering how to broach the subject. During the dinner, Xia Yan pointedly asked if she had something to tell them. Startled, Xia Yinuo took the opportunity to come clean about her relationship with Liang Juejun. She didn't know what groundwork Li Qinglan had laid beforehand, but Xia Yan and Deng Rouyue’s acceptance was so joyful and calm that it far exceeded her expectations.
Having passed the hurdle of her parents, Xia Yinuo finally breathed a sigh of relief. More than half a month had passed, and the excuse about renovations in the faculty housing had run its course; Xia Yinuo moved back into the Liang residence.
Three days later, at midnight, Liang Juejun’s return flight landed in City C. Xia Yinuo went to pick her up early. The moment they met, a deep embrace dissolved all the fatigue and unease of the past few days.
Back at home, Xia Yinuo fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Liang Juejun, however, was wide awake due to jet lag.
The person beside her was a vision of warmth and softness, bringing her a profound sense of peace. From the curve of her brows to the tip of her nose and chin, everything was exactly as Liang Juejun loved. She couldn't help but pull Xia Yinuo a little tighter, pressing closer.
In her sleep, Xia Yinuo let out a muddled protest: "Mmm..."
Liang Juejun felt her heart flutter and found it endearing. She leaned in and kissed Xia Yinuo’s pouting lips.
Subconsciously, Xia Yinuo buried her head in Liang Juejun’s embrace, finding a comfortable position before settling down, mumbling, "Sleepy..."
Even though an undeniable throb of excitement was rising and fermenting in her heart, Liang Juejun tucked the covers around Xia Yinuo and went to the study. She stayed there for several hours, only returning to the bedroom when the sky outside began to turn the color of a fish's belly.
When the sun was high in the sky, Xia Yinuo woke up to find Liang Juejun awake and watching her. Her eyes darted playfully as she burrowed into Liang Juejun’s arms, feigning bashfulness. "Senior, what was with you last night? Tossing and turning in the middle of the night..."
A smile bloomed on Liang Juejun’s lips, but she played dumb. "Nothing happened. Just jet lag. I couldn't sleep."
Xia Yinuo clung to her like an octopus, sprawling across Liang Juejun’s chest. Her hand wandered restlessly around the other woman's collarbone as she exhaled warm breath. "It’s rare to see Professor Liang in such high spirits, and you don't have work today. Since that's the case, why don't we..."
Liang Juejun pried away Xia Yinuo’s mischievous hand and made a move to get out of bed. "Time to get up! Let's have breakfast!"
Xia Yinuo lunged like a hungry tiger, pinning Liang Juejun back down onto the bed.
Breakfast? It could wait.
***
Once the heart is settled, days seem to grow legs and run at an accelerated pace. In the blink of an eye, Liang Juejun’s birthday arrived.
Under Fan Mi’s incessant nagging and guidance, Xia Yinuo personally baked a cake. That day, a "Closed" sign was hung on the door of A Slice of Coffee. A group of close friends gathered for a simple birthday celebration.
This was also the first time Li Xiuheng brought his girlfriend, Zhong Hui, to meet everyone. Although they had seen photos before, seeing Li Xiuheng and Zhong Hui standing together made Xia Yinuo feel as though she was witnessing the birth of another "Li-Du" power couple at the Affiliated Hospital, much like her mother and father once were.
At Mai Shining’s repeated urging, the essential post-meal entertainment—Truth or Dare—was brought to the table.
This time, they skipped the games and went straight for a beer bottle. Whoever the bottle pointed to was the unlucky soul. It was simple and brutal.
Unsurprisingly, Li Xiuheng was the first target. Because his girlfriend was present and he feared being forced into some ridiculous "Dare," Li Xiuheng decisively chose "Truth."
Mai Shining, sporting a large pregnant belly, gave a mischievous grin. "Brother Xiuheng, why don't you tell us about your first kiss with our sister-in-law?"
Everyone wore expressions of schadenfreude.
Fan Mi, naturally standing on the sidelines, played the "good cop." "Mai Mai, can you have some self-awareness as a wife and mother-to-be? There are so many unmarried young people here!"
Mai Shining rolled her eyes without a care for her image. "Please, don't you want to know? Brother Xiuheng, come on, tell us! It’ll be a good lesson for these perpetual singles!" After speaking, her sharp gaze swept over Fan Mi and Li Mu, making Li Mu’s knees feel weak.
Li Xiuheng scratched the back of his head and began to struggle with his words. "There was this one time... after a major surgery. It was already one in the morning when we finished. As soon as I walked out of the operating room, I saw Xiao Hui sitting on a bench in the hallway waiting for me, holding a container of porridge."
Zhong Hui lowered her head and smiled, saying nothing.
Mai Shining shouted, "The intro is too long! Who wants to hear that? Get to the point! The point!"
Yan Wentian whispered something in May’s ear. Miss Cheng, who only half-understood but loved a good spectacle, clapped and cheered along.
"Alright, alright, I'll say it!" Li Xiuheng laughed, stealing a glance at Zhong Hui. "After that, we went to the breakroom to eat, and then I kissed her."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Mai Shining, ever the daredevil, asked Zhong Hui, "Sister-in-law, how did it feel at the time?"
Li Xiuheng looked at his girlfriend nervously.
"How did it feel?" Zhong Hui blinked. "The feeling was that I was very sleepy, almost falling asleep. And he had just taken off his surgical scrubs, so he was all sweaty."
The room erupted in roars of laughter.
Mai Shining quickly signaled for the game to continue. Then, as if Zhang Jikang’s hand had been cursed by his wife, the bottle spun and pointed directly at Xia Yinuo.
Mai Shining immediately got fired up, slapping Xia Yinuo’s shoulder with gusto. "Hehe! Little Treasure, you don't get a choice! Same question as Brother Xiuheng! First kiss: time, place, scene, who initiated it, how long did it last, what position, and did you use tongues?!"
Xia Yinuo hadn't even processed it yet; she looked completely dazed.
"What's with that face?" Li Mu added fuel to the fire. "Don't dawdle, everyone's waiting!"
Xia Yinuo protested strongly, "Brother didn't have to be that detailed just now!"
"Because the question has been upgraded!" Mai Shining cackled. This was a rare opportunity, after all. "Little Treasure, don't dodge! Don't be shy! A true warrior dares to face a bleak first kiss!"
Xia Yinuo glanced at Liang Juejun. Professor Liang was acting like a casual bystander, leisurely stabbing fruit with a fork. Xia Yinuo covered her face, flushed with embarrassment, and argued back, "Who said it was bleak!"
Seeing the provocation work, Mai Shining slapped her thigh. "That's the spirit! Come on! We're all ears!"
In the seats, Fan Mi, Li Mu, Yan Wentian, May, Zhong Hui, and even Li Xiuheng and Zhang Jikang all had eyes sparkling with anticipation. Meanwhile, Liang Juejun looked at Xia Yinuo with a calm, composed smile, appearing quite intrigued.
"Fine, I'll say it!" Xia Yinuo gritted her teeth and went for it. "It was... one night, at home, watching TV. I initiated it. It lasted about... ten seconds. Normal position. No tongues!"
The crowd exploded into laughter, their vivid expressions seemingly saying: *I feel like I just learned something incredible!*
Mai Shining laughed until tears came out, clutching her round belly. "I couldn't tell, Little Treasure! You initiated it? I always thought you were the 'shou'!"
Li Mu beat his chest. "Sister! I'm sorry! All this time, I've misunderstood you! Sister! Can you forgive me? Sister!"
The two of them were perfectly in sync.
Xia Yinuo’s forehead was covered in imaginary black lines. She turned to Liang Juejun for help. "Senior..."
Liang Juejun acted as if she hadn't seen a thing.
Seeing this, the crowd laughed even more hysterically.
Xia Yinuo resorted to tugging at Liang Juejun’s sleeve. "Senior... I'm being bullied. Don't you feel bad for me?"
Liang Juejun’s eyes were like clear spring water. "Oh? I didn't notice."
Xia Yinuo wanted to cry but had no tears. She pointed a resentful finger at Mai Shining. "You, come here. We need to have a talk about life!"
***
After a night of revelry, Liang Juejun flew to San Francisco the next day for Christmas, as well as to finalize her research projects and handle her resignation. Xia Yinuo couldn't go because of work. She sighed for a long time. "If there were no partings in life, who would know the weight of love? I understand the logic, but with so much happening lately, I can't help but overthink. It feels like this happy time we have together is stolen, and I want to hide it away, keep it all for myself—exclusive to you."
Liang Juejun smiled. "Little silly, don't worry. Everything will only get better."
And wasn't that the truth? Stealing a moment of peace from a floating life.
The bells of 2015 rang out. Seven days later, Mai Shining and Zhang Jikang’s precious daughter, Zhang Xiaobei, was born. Mai Shining endured over six hours of labor to naturally deliver an eight-pound baby girl. Zhang Jikang paced outside the delivery room in a frenzy, wishing he could take her place.
After the birth, the Zhang household was flooded with supplements, ingredients, and baby supplies, piling up like a small mountain.
Liang Juejun was the most practical, bringing back several large cans of milk powder for Xiaobei. Xia Yinuo held Xiaobei carefully, cooing in a baby voice, "Xiaobei, look. Before, your godmother only bought these things for me. Now that you're born, my status is in serious jeopardy!"
Liang Juejun gave Xia Yinuo’s arm a light swat.
"Sigh!" Xia Yinuo feigned a sigh and continued her serious nonsense to Xiaobei. "It's all because your own mother is useless and has no milk for you. You better be filial to your godmother in the future; after all, you're basically growing up on her milk."
Mai Shining, still in her postpartum recovery month and leaning against the bed, gritted her teeth in mock fury. "Xia Yinuo, that's enough! Is this how an auntie acts? There's a limit to being jealous and showing off your love! Don't think I don't have the strength to fix you just because I'm in bed. If you're so capable, you try breastfeeding! You go to a foreign country and carry a crate of milk powder back for Xiaobei!"
Xia Yinuo spoke righteously to the happily gurgling infant, "Mommy is so scary! We're so afraid! Run, whoosh!" With that, she carried Xiaobei and ducked behind Liang Juejun.
Mai Shining cried out, "This is simply lawless! Professor Liang, how can you stand her?!"
Liang Juejun smiled and spread her hands. Being spoiled and arrogant was exactly this.
The funny thing was that Xia Yinuo also had to explain to Xia Yiyan why he wasn't Xiaobei’s brother, but her uncle, explaining everything from generational hierarchy to age rankings. The young boy listened in a daze and understood the gist: basically, this chubby, Michelin-man-like cute girl, whether she was his sister or his niece, was someone he had to protect and grow up with.
Thinking back to that melodramatic movie *The Promise*, besides triggering the "Steamed Bun Bloodshed" internet meme, there was a line of dialogue that was quite true: *True speed is invisible, like the gathering clouds and the rising moon, like you don't know when the leaves turn yellow, when a baby grows their first tooth, or when you will fall in love with someone.*
Xia Yinuo allowed herself a moment of sentimentality. She wondered when Zhang Xiaobei, currently in swaddling clothes and destined to be an artist, would grow her first tooth. When would she start babbling? When would she grow to be as lively as Little Yan? And even... when would she fall in love, and with what kind of person?
As the Lunar New Year approached, because Liang Juejun’s mother had passed away early, Li Qinglan took the initiative to suggest to the grandmother that she take Liang Juejun as a god-daughter. On New Year’s Eve, Li Xiuheng brought Zhong Hui home for dinner, and Li Qinglan told Xia Yinuo to bring Liang Juejun as well. Xia Yinuo remained calm on the surface, but her heart was a whirlwind of emotions. Under the table, Liang Juejun gripped Xia Yinuo’s hand tightly.
And so, this winter bid us farewell in a glow of warmth, finally ushering in the spring where grass grows and orioles fly.
Fan Mi still sported her stubborn curls, switching effortlessly between the roles of barista, pastry chef, and photographer. Whenever she saw Fan Mi’s carefree attitude, Mai Shining would lament her lack of ambition. "Look, your mother’s condition is stable, the cafe is thriving, and everyone around you is in a pair. Can't you consider finding a boyfriend or girlfriend? Besides, you love kids so much; are you planning on reproducing via mitosis or parthenogenesis? What do you think of that Qi Qian that Brother Xiuheng brought over last time? Should I introduce you?"
"Forget it!" Fan Mi laughed loudly. "I'm telling you, ever since you became a mom, you've become so naggy. Can't we avoid the clichés? Forgive me for being wild and free my whole life, living light and keeping it real."
Half of the two-year teaching stint in the countryside had passed. Coinciding with the annual concert at "Flowers Not Sleeping," Su Xu secretly returned to City C. On the day of the concert, Xia Yinuo acted out of character and insisted on dragging Li Mu along as a third wheel. It happened to be a day when the law firm was swamped, and Li Mu was extremely reluctant. However, Su Xu unexpectedly took the stage and performed "Lovelorn Dust," the very song that had made Li Mu fall in love at first sight. True love is always something worth waiting for.
Song Nian’s frequency of visiting North Street only increased. In her spare time, she would sit in A Slice of Coffee, teasing Fan Mi and getting to know the part-time staff. Yet, while Lawyer Song could talk eloquently about history and modern times, she never breathed a word about Lin Zhengyang from the "There is a Bookstore" across the street.
Boss Lin remained as reclusive as ever, rarely appearing in Xia Yinuo’s sight. Occasionally, when the cafe released a new dessert, Xia Yinuo would instruct the staff to send some over to the bookstore.
Chen Diandian became even busier after starting her PhD. Several times, Ko Dinghao even saw shadows of Xia Yinuo’s student days in her. Young people must work and study hard to make their youth worthwhile.
May extended her work visa and continued to teach at the International Exchange College of C University as a visiting lecturer.
AM Company performed exceptionally well at various trade fairs in the first half of the year, earning a top-tier reputation in the industry. This was, of course, thanks to John and Xia Yinuo’s team. Meanwhile, Gu Yizhi’s golden retriever, Little Treasure, finally passed away due to old age and illness. Should love also be reborn?
As for Jiang Yang, word was that he quit his job and went back to his hometown to get married.
In June, Liang Juejun joined the Medical School of C University full-time. At Xia Yan’s insistence, Xia Yinuo and Liang Juejun moved into a new home two blocks away from the university.
This year, Xia Yinuo was twenty-seven, and Liang Juejun was thirty.
Age is a form of wealth for everyone. The refinement of time can make a person calm, composed, indifferent to fame, and profoundly resilient. Those so-called shackles of age are merely the stubbornness accumulated from wasting time. If growth makes your forward steps no longer light, then remember to cling to what is good. After all, pain is inevitable, while suffering is optional.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 偷得浮生 | Stealing a Moment of Peace | Derived from the poem "Stealing half a day of leisure from a floating life." |
| 真心话大冒险 | Truth or Dare | A popular party game. |
| 受 | Shou / Bottom | Slang for the submissive or receptive partner in a same-sex relationship. |
| 张小北 | Zhang Xiaobei | The daughter of Mai Shining and Zhang Jikang. |
| 齐谦 | Qi Qian | A potential love interest mentioned for Fan Mi. |
| 恋恋风尘 | Lovelorn Dust | A song title (literally "Lingering Dust of Love"). |
| 有间书屋 | There is a Bookstore | The name of Lin Zhengyang's bookstore. |
| 择善固执 | Cling to what is good | To choose what is right and hold fast to it. |
