Chapter Fifteen: Zhi Xin, I Miss You (Part 2)

  The sky had just turned dark, and the firecrackers started to go off one after another. The colorful fireworks lit up the ink-like sky, and suddenly a strange pale blue color appeared.

  The TV was full of Spring Festival gala programs from various channels, with waves of celebrities walking around like they were on a catwalk. Gu Zixin would criticize one person's outfit and then discuss another person's hairstyle, looking like she was in a good mood.

  Su Jinping stole a few glances at Gu Xixin before carefully asking, "Xixin, what's going on between you and that Xu guy, oh Xu Rui?"

  "It's nothing much." Gu Zhi Xin replied casually while focusing on the entertainment news on TV. After finishing, she raised her eyes to look at Su Jin Ping, "Mom, it's okay for us to be friends, but if we're talking about dating and getting married, there's still a bit of a gap between us."

  Su Jinping didn't say a word and lowered her head to eat. Gu Xixin looked at her and said helplessly, "Mom, don't worry about me, I've got it under control."

  "Zi Xin, I know you don't want to hear it, but you can't not consider it either. You're almost thirty now, and you have to think about the future. A woman's youth is only a few years, it can't be delayed."

  Gu Xixin thought of Yin Shu, and then thought of Kang Yue, her heart was filled with mixed emotions. After a while, she raised her head, "Mom, I'm not lying to you, you really don't have to worry about me, if there's someone suitable, I'll consider it. Actually... how can I put it, now is not the time, but when the time comes, I'll bring him to meet you. Really."

  Su Jin looked at Gu Xi Xin with a mixture of doubt and suspicion, seeing that she didn't seem to be speaking casually, but also clearly didn't want to continue the conversation, so he stopped asking.

  Gu Zi thought for a moment and hesitantly opened her mouth: "Mom..."

  "What's wrong?"

  "Have you been in touch with my dad recently?"

  "...A while ago, your dad called me on the phone, probably because you mentioned it to him. I've been having knee pain lately, so he called to ask about it, but we only chatted for a few sentences before hanging up."

  "Mom, Dad is still alone now, you..."

  "Zi Xin, Mom is already at this age, don't think about anything else, as long as you're fine, that's all that matters. What we are like has nothing to do with you, so stop worrying about Mom."

  "But, mom, I'm really worried about you like this. Your body is getting weaker by the day, it's always good to have someone by your side."

  "We'll talk about what happens next later, for now I'm still in good health and it's nice to live a quiet life for the next couple of years."

  After dinner, the table was not cleaned up, and the mother-daughter duo snuggled up on the sofa to watch TV. Perhaps the conversation earlier was too heavy, both mother and daughter were a bit emotionally disturbed, and they didn't pay attention to what was playing on TV.

  Every year during the Lunar New Year, everyone would make phone calls to each other to extend greetings. This is also a kind of custom. This year, Gu Zixin had already finished calling all her relatives, from great-aunts to great-uncles, so her mobile phone was left untouched on one side.

  As the clock struck twelve, her phone rang. Gu Xi Xin picked it up, and Kang Ya's gentle voice mixed with the muffled sound of firecrackers came from the receiver: "If I told you 'Happy New Year', would you think I'm being cheesy?"

  "If I must say something, then Happy New Year." Gu Zixin said with a straight face.

  Kang Yue listened and just smiled softly.

  "Right, your family will set off firecrackers at midnight on New Year's Eve, won't you?"

  "Really?" Gu Zixin didn't understand what he meant.

  "Shall we make a wish?"

  "Is there still such talk? It seems like no one here does it that way."

  "I just made a wish, want to know?"

  "Do you want to tell me?"

  "My heartfelt wish is that at this moment, the person I am thinking of has the same feelings as me."

  Gu Xixin held her phone without speaking, in fact, she wanted to say something to break the silence, but couldn't find the right words. This was Gu Xixin's first time receiving such an obvious hint from Kang Yue. On a lively yet not particularly happy night, this sentence brought her a special feeling that couldn't be denied. Gu Xixin felt that at this moment, she didn't want to refuse this warmth, and even needed it.

  The person on the other end of the phone seemed to have also sensed the subtle change in atmosphere and cleared his throat, saying: "What I mean is..."

  "Kang Yue, I suddenly miss the taste of the cake you bought for me." Gu Zixin interrupted him.

  Kang Yue was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, "Alright, when you come back, I'll take you out to eat."

  She hung up the phone and thought: Well, so be it. This might not be a bad choice after all.

  Su Jinping looked at her and said: "Zi Xin, shall we go to the rooftop to set off firecrackers?"

  "It's a bit cold, don't want to go out."

  "But..."

  "Mom, we..." The phone rang again, interrupting the conversation between mother and daughter. Gu Zhi Xin picked up her mobile phone, it was the number of the unreturned call from daytime.

  "Hello."

  On the other end of the phone was a long silence, accompanied by stillness, as if one could hear their own heartbeat. The quiet atmosphere formed a strong contrast with the bustle on this side. In an instant, Gu Xixin guessed something, and her hand holding the phone tightened unconsciously, with a faint white color appearing between her fingers.

  The two people did not make a sound and just quietly waited like this.

  After a while, Yin Shu's voice finally came from the other end of the phone: "Zi Xin, I miss you."

  Gu Xixin opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't make a sound.

  "Hey, I know you're mad at me, forgive me. I didn't mean to not contact you, I'm currently abroad and will be back soon. I've been here for almost half a year now, originally wanted to wait till I get back to explain everything properly, but today is special, I really miss your voice, can we talk? Say anything, just let me hear your voice."

  Yin Shu's voice had an irresistible softness, and Gu Zixin's heart was like being soaked in warm water, soft and mushy.

  After some thought, Gu Zhi Xin spoke up, "Today is New Year's Day, did you hear the firecrackers? It's so lively outside, everyone is happy, and I'm happy too, really, I'm truly happy..." Gu Zhi Xin's voice was surprisingly calm, but in this calmness, there were too many emotions that were difficult to detect.

  "Don't be sad, it's my fault, Zhi Xin. Wait for me to come back." Yin Shu's voice seemed to carry a hint of urgency.

  Gu Xixin didn't say a word, she just stood there holding her phone, after a while, she said softly: "Okay, hang up."

  She hung up the phone and stared at her scorching hot mobile phone, with Yin Shu's low and husky voice echoing in her ears: "I miss you so much." After a daze, Gu Xi suddenly seemed to remember something, "Mom, it seems like it's warmer outside, let's go set off firecrackers!"

  Digression

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