Ji Hua dropped Wen Huaiyue off at school, asking just before she left, “How many classes do you have tomorrow afternoon?”
Wen Huaiyue blinked. “Two.”
Ji Hua nodded. “I will come pick you up tomorrow afternoon.” With that, she drove away without waiting for a reply.
Left standing there, Wen Huaiyue felt bewildered, having no idea why Ji Hua wanted to pick her up tomorrow. Still, she didn’t dwell on it too much; she hadn’t seen Ji Hua in over a month, and deep down, she was genuinely eager to see her again.
Returning home that evening, she found that Wen Yao had already come back while Meng Wang was still at the company. The moment Wen Yao caught sight of Wen Huaiyue, she rushed over anxiously and grabbed her, asking, “A-yue, what on earth did Ji Hua pick you up for at noon?”
Wen Huaiyue smiled and said, “Yao Sister, Ji Hua Sister just missed me, that’s all. She cooked for me.”
“Missed you?” Wen Yao looked at her in sheer disbelief, her expression turning bizarre. “Really? Is that true?”
“It really is,” Wen Huaiyue insisted. “Yao Sister, Ji Hua Sister is not a bad person.”
Wen Yao was completely baffled by Ji Hua’s maneuvers, having no clue what her true intentions were.
Oh well, as long as she wasn’t going to harm A-yue, it would have to do. Besides, since they owed her a favor anyway, there was nothing she could do. No matter how much lingering resentment she felt in her heart, she just had to swallow it down.
Wen Yao patted the child’s head. “Go eat your dinner.”
Wen Huaiyue stood at the school gate, having already notified Uncle Chen in advance that he didn’t need to pick her up. She had also informed Wen Yao, who, though displeased, had no choice but to accept it.
Ji Hua’s car pulled up right in front of her. Wen Huaiyue climbed into the back seat, and Ji Hua tossed a small packet of candy at her. “Someone gave this to me. Eat it.”
Catching the candy, Wen Huaiyue beamed with delight. “Thank you, Sister.”
Ji Hua glanced at her sideways. “It is just a packet of candy. What is there to be so happy about? You look like a total fool.”
Perhaps because it had been so long since she last saw Ji Hua, her previous fear had faded somewhat, and her boldness had grown significantly. She gave Ji Hua’s back a playful little punch with her small fist and said unhappily, “You are not allowed to scold me.”
Ji Hua let out a soft snort of laughter and ignored her.
When they got out of the car, Wen Huaiyue walked slowly behind her, dangling her bag of candy and keeping her head down. Noticing that the child was trailing far behind, Ji Hua turned around to look at her.
Wen Huaiyue was still quite a distance back, so Ji Hua called out to her, “Hurry up.”
Startled by the sudden warning, Wen Huaiyue failed to pay attention to a road obstacle ahead and tripped, sending her pitching forward.
A large number of cherry blossom trees were planted around this residential complex, and with the strong winds from the previous night, a thick layer of pink petals had accumulated on the ground. When Wen Huaiyue fell, the flower petals scattered into the air in a cloud around her, mixing with the colorful candies and dusting her entire face.
Ji Hua’s eyes lit up as an idea struck her. She quickly pulled out her phone and snapped a photo of her precisely at that moment.
Only after taking the picture did she leisurely stroll over, folding her arms across her chest and offering unsparing mockery, “Idol, who told you not to watch where you were walking?”
Wen Huaiyue was dressed warmly, and with the cushion of flower petals, she hadn’t hit the ground too hard. Highly displeased with Ji Hua’s mockery, she puckered her lips as she scrambled back up, acting rather petulant and deliberately ignoring her.
Wen Huaiyue kept her head down and marched straight ahead, while Ji Hua followed behind with her hands in her pockets, a playful look in her eyes.
Well, look at that, she even had a temper now.
Ji Hua didn’t know the first thing about comforting people, and expecting her to do so was out of the question. Besides, she couldn’t be bothered to decipher a child’s feelings. As an ancient monster who had lived for hundreds of years, she had zero interest in the intricate psyche of human youngsters; it simply fell outside her domain.
She walked straight back to her room and took out an exquisite porcelain box. Centuries ago, she had conned this item out of an official’s daughter; it was a miraculous salve used to heal fresh blood and remove scars, originally bestowed by the emperor. According to that young noble lady, the shelf life of this item spanned several centuries.
Ji Hua usually only used it on her own blood sources. Carrying the porcelain box, she sat down next to Wen Huaiyue, who was wearing a long face and refusing to speak to her.
Ji Hua didn’t care about any of that. Smearing a bit of the ointment onto her fingers, she unceremoniously applied it to the back of Wen Huaiyue’s neck. Wen Huaiyue instinctively flinched away.
“Do not move.”
Ji Hua pulled down the collar of the child’s sweater and smeared the ointment directly over the scar.
“It is cold,” Wen Huaiyue whispered.
“Just bear with it,” Ji Hua said.
That initial chill gradually transformed into a comfortable, soothing coolness. Wen Huaiyue slowly began to enjoy the sensation. Ji Hua’s fingers were slightly warm with very soft pads, and pressing them against the back of her neck felt just like a massage.
When she finished, Ji Hua shoved the porcelain box into Wen Huaiyue’s school bag. “From now on, whenever I bite you, remember to apply this.”
Wen Huaiyue muttered, “Oh.”
Ji Hua raised her head and stared at her quietly for a few seconds, a faint, amused smile in her eyes. “Why are you still sulking?”
Wen Huaiyue gave a huff. “I fell down, and you did not even help me up. You just took a picture instead. You are a bad person.”
Ji Hua pinched her cheek, drawing a small cry of pain from Wen Huaiyue. Raising an eyebrow with intrigued amusement, Ji Hua said, “Wen Huaiyue, I have noticed that you are getting bolder and more prone to acting spoiled around me. Have you stopped being afraid of me?”
“Ah, it hurts…” Wen Huaiyue wore a mournful little face. Ji Hua let go of her, her voice turning slightly cool, “So disrespectful.”
Wen Huaiyue had already grown used to her volatile moods and stuck her tongue out at her. Ji Hua turned away in utter disdain.
“Truly ugly.”
Ji Hua didn’t cook dinner for Wen Huaiyue that evening because Wen Yao had come to pick her up, explaining that their father wanted to see her. Ji Hua also had matters to attend to that night, so she didn’t keep her, telling her to head down on her own. Primarily, she had no wish to run into Wen Yao; given Wen Yao’s personality, the two of them would likely start quarreling the moment they laid eyes on each other.
The house grew quiet once more. Ji Hua sat before her computer desk, her phone resting beside the keyboard, displaying the photo she had just taken of Wen Huaiyue.
Recently, she had taken on interior illustrations for a children’s magazine, and the editor-in-chief had requested a theme closely tied to spring. Ji Hua had rarely drawn healing-style children’s art before and wasn’t sure how children ought to be portrayed, so she had spent the past few days observing various youngsters.
The posture from Wen Huaiyue’s fall today had provided her with inspiration. On her tablet, she quickly sketched out the basic outline, then paused for several seconds, her eyes fixed firmly on Wen Huaiyue’s photograph.
The picture had turned out exceptionally well. The petals and candies suspended mid-air framed Wen Huaiyue’s youthful, pretty face, backed by layer upon layer of blooming cherry blossoms, making the child look as though she were completely enveloped by spring.
She had been tripped by spring itself.
Ji Hua’s hands didn’t stop moving as she lined and colored with absolute fluidity, working continuously until evening before setting down her stylus.
The overall color palette leaned toward vibrant watercolors and gouache. A child was depicted tumbling into a pile of clustered flower petals amidst a shower of cherry blossoms and colorful candies, completely surrounded, with only the vague shape of the child’s face visible.
She hadn’t drawn the child’s facial features in detail; instead, using the clever obstruction of colors and petals, she cleanly and simply rendered a smiling mouth and a shallow dimple.
Children were innocent, radiating a romance dyed in the flowers of spring. Their smiles were sweet, exuding an infectious, sugary warmth.
Ji Hua had never interacted closely with children, save for Wen Huaiyue.
She had used Wen Huaiyue as a template to shape the piece as a whole.
It was pretty, innocent, and reminiscent of a naive, enchanting spring.
In the bottom corner, Ji Hua inscribed a line of text, entitling the piece Tripping Over Spring.
She would refine the details tomorrow, and it would be complete.
She stretched her back, feeling a great deal lighter.
Picking up her phone, she found that the more she looked at the picture, the better it seemed, and she couldn’t help admiring her own photographic skills. On a whim, she set Wen Huaiyue’s photo as her lock screen wallpaper.
Wen Huaiyue, along with Wen Yao and Meng Wang, arrived at a private sanatorium. Their father had suffered a car accident years ago, leaving his lower body completely paralyzed and his health in poor condition, so he had been recuperating at this facility ever since.
In truth, Wen Huaiyue didn’t have a very deep impression of her father. When she was born, her mother had died in childbirth, and because her father was devastated, his mental state remained unstable for a long time. Not long after, while driving in a daze, he got into the accident, and he had been staying here ever since, frequently refusing visits from his family.
Wen Huaiyue hadn’t seen him very many times, but every time she did, although her father always looked exasperated, she knew deep down that he loved her dearly.
Being led inside and seeing the aged, withered middle-aged man on the bed, she felt a momentary daze; she remembered that the last time she came to see him, he hadn’t looked quite this old.
When Wen Father spotted Wen Huaiyue, he stretched out a lean, withered finger, attempting to pull her toward him. Wen Huaiyue hurried over and took his hand. “Dad.”
“Ah, Yue-yue,” Wen Father said hastily, his voice rough and hoarse as he forced a smile. On the right side of his face was an ugly scar that bunched up whenever he smiled, making it look rather terrifying.
Yet Wen Huaiyue didn’t find it terrifying at all. Pressing her father’s hand against her cheek, she spoke in a spoiled tone, “Dad, have you not been eating properly? You’ve lost weight.”
Wen Father smiled again, the scar making the expression difficult, but he kept smiling nonetheless. “Dad will eat more from now on, and Yue-yue must eat more too.”
“You are not allowed to lie,” Wen Huaiyue said, pursing her lips into a smile.
Wen Yao hadn’t told Wen Father about Wen Huaiyue’s kidnapping, knowing his health was too fragile to withstand the shock.
Wen Huaiyue chattered away incessantly with her father, most of the talking coming from her while he simply listened.
After a long while, Wen Yao tapped Wen Huaiyue on the shoulder. “A-yue, go down to the convenience store on the first floor and buy some water.”
“Okay.” Wen Huaiyue stood up. When she returned with the purchases, she heard voices arguing from inside the room, with Wen Yao’s voice sounding agitated, Meng Wang’s voice helpless, and her father’s hoarse voice weak.
Not quite understanding what they were arguing about, she pushed the door open, causing the voices inside to abruptly cease.
Wen Yao’s eyes were very red, Wen Father’s face was painted with absolute despair, and Meng Wang wore a deep frown. None of them said a word when she entered.
Wen Yao wiped her eyes and said calmly, “Dad, I will never agree to this matter. You cannot be so selfish.”
With that, she walked out, followed closely by Meng Wang.
Wen Huaiyue stared at them blankly. Her father called out to her, and she set the water down, sitting by his side. “Dad, what is wrong with Yao Sister?”
“…Nothing,” Wen Father murmured softly. “Yue-yue, I miss your mother. I miss her so much.”
For some reason, Wen Huaiyue seemed to see a vast, overwhelming wave of sorrow wash over her father.
Because of her mother.
Why?
Ji Hua didn’t come to find Wen Huaiyue for the next several days. Wen Huaiyue spent those days in disappointment, feeling downcast and gloomy the entire time.
Another Friday afternoon rolled around, marking the end of the school week. The streets were packed with people, and Wen Huaiyue was jostled by the crowd, nearly losing her footing. A middle-aged man in a hurried search for his son accidentally bumped into her. Since the main street was right ahead, Wen Huaiyue instinctively stumbled forward, but in the nick of time, her collar was grabbed from behind.
Wen Huaiyue looked back, her eyes lighting up, “Sister!”
Ji Hua hauled her inside. “Watch where you are walking.”
Wen Huaiyue cleverly went over to Uncle Chen to explain the situation, telling him to head back first.
“Sister, what were you up to these past few days?” Wen Huaiyue asked while sitting in the car.
Ji Hua replied, “Busy.”
She had spent those days designing the back-page illustration for that same magazine. The editor had been extremely satisfied with her previous submission and commissioned several more inner pages, keeping her too busy to catch her breath.
“I thought you weren’t going to look for me anymore,” Wen Huaiyue muttered softly.
Ji Hua let out a chuckle. “Oh? You really are getting quite clingy, aren’t you?”
Wen Huaiyue turned her head away to avoid looking at her. “I am not.”
The weather was poor today; it had started raining outside, and there was only a single small umbrella in the car, which was nowhere near enough to shield two people.
Frowning, Ji Hua held the umbrella in one hand and scooped Wen Huaiyue up directly with the other. Wen Huaiyue wrapped her arms tightly around Ji Hua’s neck.
“Do not wiggle around.”
Carrying her, Ji Hua walked briskly into the apartment complex. The rain was heavy enough that both of their hair got damp, and Ji Hua’s shoulders were soaked through.
Reaching her floor, she found a man standing outside her doorway. He was dressed in a long black windbreaker and black trousers, his head lowered as he played with his phone.
Ji Hua found his profile somewhat familiar. Hearing footsteps, the man turned his head and waved at her. “Long time no see, Ji Hua.”
Ji Hua finally realized who he was, Lian Shang, the man who had called her from the ancient town. She held a mediocre impression of this man, neither good nor bad.
Setting Wen Huaiyue down, she walked to the doorway and cast a cold, sidelong glare at him. “What are you doing outside my door? Acting as a watchman?”
Lian Shang chuckled. “Ah, well, I was waiting for you, of course.” Noticing the child, he bent down. “Oh, whose kid is this? Did you give birth to her?”
Wen Huaiyue raised her head and gazed at him calmly.
“Holy shit,” Lian Shang jumped in surprise. “Isn’t this Wen Yao’s little sister? Why is she with you? What did you do?”
Ji Hua opened the door and instructed him, “Shut up.”
With that, she pulled Wen Huaiyue inside. Just as she was about to close the door, Lian Shang wedged his foot in. “Aren’t you going to invite me in for a sit-down? I actually have a favor to ask of you.”
“Get lost,” Ji Hua said expressionlessly.
Lian Shang stubbornly refused.
At that moment, Wen Huaiyue sneezed. Since Ji Hua needed to help her dry her hair, she didn’t care to deal with him.
Lian Shang slipped inside anyway.
Ignoring him, Ji Hua took Wen Huaiyue to her bedroom to dry her hair and changed into a fresh set of clothes herself.
“Sister, who is that?” Wen Huaiyue asked, sitting on the bed.
“A bad person. Pay him no mind,” Ji Hua said while adjusting her clothes.
“Does Sister hate him?”
“Somewhat.” Primarily because she disliked being used.
“Then I will hate him too,” Wen Huaiyue said innocently.
Ji Hua smiled, the corners of her mouth twitching upward.
“Stay here and watch television. Do not come out,” Ji Hua reminded her before pulling the door shut behind her.
Lian Shang was lounging on the sofa, playing on his phone out of sheer boredom.
“Say what you have to say.” Ji Hua sat opposite him, crossing her legs and eyeing him coldly.
“Don’t be so uptight.” Lian Shang maintained his carefree demeanor and smoothly pivoted to another topic. “How did Wen Yao’s little sister end up with you? What did you do to her?”
“What do you think I could possibly do?” Ji Hua let out a cold sneer.
“How would I know?”
“If you do not have any actual business, get the hell out of my house.” Ji Hua had no patience to run in circles with him.
Lian Shang shrugged and got down to brass tacks. “I saw the magazine inner-cover you did for Xinzhen Magazine the other day.”
Xinzhen Magazine was the same children’s publication from before.
“You drew quite well. The comment section is filled entirely with praises, and even the sales numbers have surged significantly.” Twirling his phone around, Lian Shang’s eyes gleamed with greed. “With that kind of skill, have you ever considered joining a proper, formal studio?”
“Oh?” Ji Hua smiled with amusement. “So you came out here poach hunting.”
“That’s right.” Lian Shang laid his cards on the table. “We’re all business people. My partner and I just started a new gaming company, and we’d like to specially retain you as our character designer.”
“Why on earth should I agree? I can secure my own freelance gigs just fine; I don’t need your single commission,” Ji Hua said.
“Ms. Ji, our company will offer you the absolute best terms. Of course, during this period, you are entirely free to take on other projects as well, aside from competing gaming character designs, we won’t restrict you too heavily,” Lian Shang said unhurriedly. “An illustrator’s reputation is vital, too. We can build up your name recognition and broaden your career path. You’re a smart person; you can tell the difference between advantages and drawbacks, right?”
“There’s no need to cling so stubbornly to past grudges. The present moment is what matters most. Don’t you think?” Lian Shang stared straight at her.
Ji Hua wasn’t stupid; the pros and cons were obvious at a glance. Her grievances with Lian Shang weren’t particularly massive, and frankly, they stemmed entirely from the original host.
With profits on the table, self-serving as Ji Hua was, profit always came first.
“Very well,” Ji Hua said, her lips curving into a smile. “Pleasure doing business with you.”