Volume 1 Chарter 10: Bumрing into the Whitе Мооnlight Rеturning Нomе
Jiаng Хining pursеd her liрs, thought for а mоment, thеn noddеd.
“I likе him.”
Sоme сlаssmatеs lаughеd аt hеr fоr bеing silly, but Dоu Dou wоuld аlways stand up fоr her. Нe wаs vеrу gоod, and shе liked plауing with him.
Ноwevеr, she аlso liked bеing with Хingхing.
Shе wоnderеd what he was dоing tоdау? Shе wanted to gо find him аnd wаtch а moviе togethеr. Yеstеrdаy, she hаd gоne alоne and соuldn’t undеrstаnd it at аll.
Jiаng Xinjuan didn’t know what was on her mind аnd onlу sighеd sоftlу, ruffling Jiаng Xining’s hаir. “Alright, as long аs yоu like him.”
Нer gаze fell on the phone screen, hoping he would be worthy of Jiaojiao’s affection.
Just then, the phone chimed with a “ding-dong.”
Jiang Xinjuan scoffed lightly, “Well, your Dou Dou replied?”
【Sorry, Jiaojiao. I had an unexpected overtime meeting today, and my phone was on silent, so I didn’t hear it.】
【It’s my fault. It would be rude to rush over now. I’ve already booked a dinner at Yuqian Hall tonight to properly apologize to your parents.】
It was a long message, and Jiang Xining read it several times before understanding what it meant.
Oh, Dou Dou couldn’t make it.
Jiang Xinjuan lowered her eyes, her expression cooling as she turned off Jiang Xining’s phone and tossed it aside. “If he couldn’t come, he should’ve said so earlier.”
Making promises and then breaking them, unable to balance work and life—what could men like this possibly accomplish?
Jiang Xining looked up in confusion, not understanding why her sister had suddenly gotten angry.
She just felt a little disappointed.
If she had known Dou Dou wouldn’t come, she would’ve invited Xingxing. He would definitely have agreed. It could’ve been done quietly, and Dou Dou would never have known.
…
Terminal 2.
Jiang Xining held a bouquet of flowers in both hands, eagerly looking toward the exit, occasionally rubbing her hands together. It was so cold.
Suddenly, her sharp eyes caught a familiar figure, and she nearly jumped with excitement.
“Xingxing?!”
Fu Huaixu was also holding a bouquet of flowers, walking steadily toward the two of them, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips. “Jiaojiao, Sister Jun.”
Jiang Xinjuan nodded slightly. “Mm.”
In truth, Jiang Xinjuan was only half a year older than him, but in Fu Huaixu’s eyes, Jiaojiao’s sister was his sister too, so he addressed her accordingly.
“Xingxing, what are you doing here?”
Jiang Xining looked at the vibrant flowers in his arms and curiously reached out to touch them. “Are you here to pick someone up too?”
Fu Huaixu’s dark eyes settled on her, softening with warmth. “I heard you mention a couple of days ago that your parents were returning to the country. I caused them a lot of trouble back then, so as a junior, I should express my gratitude to them.”
“I’m not busy today, so I thought I’d join in the fun. But your phone was off, and I didn’t expect to run into you here.”
Xingxing was here to pick up her parents!
Jiang Xining excitedly patted Fu Huaixu’s hand, bubbling with joy. “I just, just now…” When she was particularly excited, she occasionally stuttered a little.
“Take your time, no rush.”
Jiang Xining’s almond-shaped eyes sparkled with light. “I wanted to call you on the way here, and you really came!”
“I thought Jiaojiao would want me to come too. Aren’t we in sync?”
Jiang Xining nodded emphatically. “Mm!”
Fu Huaixu glanced around casually and asked, “What about Jinghao? Is he still on the way?”
Jiang Xining replied, “Dou Dou has something to do. He can’t make it.”
Fu Huaixu frowned, scolding, “That’s really unacceptable. I’ll help you teach him a lesson when we get back. No matter how busy he is, he should know what’s important. Your parents haven’t been back in a long time. Work can wait.”
Jiang Xining didn’t mind. “It’s fine, he’s busy. I’m really happy you could come!”Jiang Xinjuan stood with her arms crossed, watching Fu Huaixu’s words and actions with an ambiguous, half-smiling expression on her face.
Fu Huaixu happened to look up and met her gaze.
If it were any other girl, being stared at by those dark, intense eyes would likely make their heart race with nervousness. But Jiang Xinjuan’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. She stood there calmly and composedly, scrutinizing him from head to toe with a critical eye.
He had just returned and was already hugging Jiaojiao so affectionately, showing no restraint in their daily interactions. Now he was even speaking in that subtly manipulative way—she didn’t believe he had no ulterior motives at all.
Fu Jinghao was no good, and this one was even worse.
“Ding-dong! Attention, all passengers awaiting arrivals: Flight CA982 from New York has now arrived at this station. Please prepare for passenger pickup.”
As the announcement sounded, Fu Huaixu was the first to look away.
Jiang Xinjuan watched Jiang Xining’s silly, carefree, and cheerful demeanor, her smile not reaching her eyes.
Whatever ulterior motives he had, as long as he didn’t hurt Jiaojiao.
Otherwise, she would definitely make sure he didn’t have it easy.
Before long, passengers began streaming out from inside.
Jiang Xining had already craned her neck in anticipation. Suddenly, she spotted the two exceptionally distinguished figures emerging from the crowd and waved her arms energetically. “Dad! Mom!”
Jiang Lin and Qin Wan had just stepped out when they heard that clear, bright voice. Their faces, slightly weary from the long journey, gradually softened.
Jiang Xining bounced over, handed the flowers to Jiang Lin, and then eagerly threw herself into Qin Wan’s arms.
“Mom, I missed you so much!”
Qin Wan stroked Jiang Xining’s head. “Mom missed her precious Jiaojiao too.”
Jiang Lin put on a deliberately displeased expression. “Playing favorites, huh? Doesn’t Jiaojiao miss Dad?”
“Of course I do!” Jiang Xining’s face broke into a big smile, her dimples faintly visible as she gestured with her hands in front of her. “I miss Mom this much, and I miss Dad this much too!”
Compared to Jiang Xining’s childish innocence, Jiang Xinjuan appeared much calmer. “Dad, Mom.”
“Hey!” the couple responded. “Jun’er, you’ve lost weight. Is work tiring you out?”
Jiang Xinjuan replied, “It’s fine, not too tiring.”
At that moment, Fu Huaixu stepped forward and presented the flowers to Qin Wan. “Uncle, Auntie, welcome back to China.”
His black overcoat was sharply tailored, his trouser legs crisply pressed, and his entire demeanor exuded an elegant, noble air. Looking at his features, which felt both unfamiliar and familiar, Qin Wan hesitated. “You are… Huaixu?”
Fu Huaixu said, “It’s me. Auntie still remembers.”
“How could I forget?” Qin Wan said with emotion. “Jiaojiao calls out ‘Xingxing’ three times a day—my ears are practically calloused from hearing it. It’d be hard to forget…” She looked at Fu Huaixu’s eyes, which had regained their brightness, and praised, “Huaixu has grown up, but he hasn’t changed a bit. Still just as handsome!”
Hearing Fu Huaixu being praised, Jiang Xining felt a sense of shared pride. She puffed out her chest and declared proudly, “Of course! Xingxing has always been handsome, ever since he was little. I even helped him collect love letters when we were kids!”
“You,” Qin Wan chuckled and poked her head. “By the way, why haven’t we seen Jinghao?”
Jiang Xining explained, “Dou Dou has to work overtime. He’s really busy with work and won’t be free until tonight.”
The couple didn’t think much of it. Being workaholics themselves with packed schedules, they naturally understood the challenges of adult life.
“Jinghao is an outstanding young man with a lot on his plate. It’s fine if he couldn’t make it—we’ll see him tonight anyway.”The group chatted and laughed as they walked out. “Auntie, let me take your luggage.”
“Alright, thank you, Xiao Xu.”
Fu Huaixu took the luggage and walked alongside them, keeping up the conversation. Despite so many years apart, there was no sense of unfamiliarity between them.
But they hadn’t gone far when his footsteps suddenly halted.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Lin and his wife looked puzzled.
“I saw an old friend I haven’t seen in a long time.” Fu Huaixu wore an apologetic expression. “Uncle, Auntie, sorry, I need to go say hello. You and Jiaojiao can go ahead first.”
“Go ahead, remember to come over tonight for dinner together.” Qin Wan didn’t suspect anything, though a flicker of shadow passed through Jiang Xinjuan’s eyes.
Jiang Xining waved as well. “Xingxing, remember to come, okay!”
“Alright.”
The group left together, leaving only Fu Huaixu standing in place.
There was no so-called old friend.
Just two exits away, a handsome man holding a large bouquet of vibrant roses stood facing a woman with a calm and composed demeanor. His expression was complex and hard to decipher—filled with barely restrained excitement, yet tinged with years of melancholy.
It was impossible to hear what they were saying, but the next moment, right there in the public airport, the man pulled the woman tightly into his embrace, as if she were some long-lost treasure.
In an airport, such a scene wasn’t particularly unusual—but the man was none other than Fu Jinghao, who was supposedly “working overtime.”
The roses were delicate and suggestive, their intimacy unmistakable. Even though the woman’s expression remained relatively indifferent, the implications were clear.
Fu Huaixu showed no surprise at all; instead, a glimmer of interest gradually lit up his eyes.