Shi Wenli finally spoke: "Mom, I only have Miao Miao as my sister. As for other siblings, I don't think I'm worthy of them."
"Wenli..."
Zhao Moyin's tears fell instantly. "How can you say that? What do you mean 'not worthy'? You are all my children."
"I don't want to argue with you. I only know that brother's name and how old he is. I can remember his age because you gave birth to him the year after the divorce."
Shi Wenli paused again. "Mom, in the twenty-four or twenty-five years we've been apart, our mother-son relationship has long faded to nearly nothing."
"Even if you're unwilling to admit it, that's the truth."
"Wenli, you..." Zhao Moyin choked up. "Do you hate Mom that much?"
"No. When I was young, I complained, I didn't understand, I hoped, I was disappointed, and I thought about it—but I never hated. After all, we are mother and son."
Shi Wenli continued scrolling through WeChat, preparing to note down what everyone had ordered. "Mom, you should head back early. If you ever feel unwell, feel free to contact me or Miao Miao. Of course, it would be best if you never need to go to the hospital. Miao Miao and I have always wished for you to be healthy and safe."
He said again, "Go home and rest early. I'll hang up now."
After ending the call, he looked at the dishes his sister had listed in their chat—all dishes he had loved as a child. He spaced out for a few seconds, and when he tried to add them to the menu, he suddenly didn't know where to begin.
A message came in from Jiang Yang: [Bro Shi, no matter who arrives early tomorrow, make them wait until Chief Shi and I get there before we start the feast!]
Tomorrow, Xu Qinghe would be off, but he and Shi Miao had to work. They could only come after work.
Shi Wenli gathered his thoughts and replied: [I'll just make some food for Qinghe first. We'll cook all the dishes when you and Shi Miao arrive.]
Jiang Yang read this message twice over. Even if he hadn't included the first half, the meaning wouldn't have changed at all.
He was single—why did he have to be tormented like this?
...
Early the next morning.
Xu Qinghe was woken by her alarm at nine. She fumbled for a long time before finding her phone and swiping away the alarm.
Today was the auspicious day of the housewarming. If someone arrived early and she wasn't even up yet, that would be too rude.
No matter how sleepy she was, she forced herself to sit up.
Neither of them had held back last night, and sure enough, the area between her legs was sore and swollen.
Shi Wenli said they wouldn't do it again tonight, or her body wouldn't be able to take it.
But that's what he had said before they went to sleep last night too.
They had only planned for a goodnight kiss, but once their lips touched and their tongues intertwined, it was hard to part.
At the moment of climax, her mind went blank, and she blurted out, "Hubby, I love you."
Her voice, trembling and tearful, carried a hint of coquettishness.
At that moment, no matter what she said, Shi Wenli wouldn't take it seriously. He only saw it as her unconsciously releasing words amidst layers of tingling ecstasy and extreme pleasure.
It didn't count.
But hearing that sentence still stirred something in him. He kissed her and asked if she remembered what she had just said.
Lying in his arms, she nodded.
He kissed her, and then he became aroused again.
...
Xu Qinghe got up to wash up, changed into a dress, put on light makeup, and made the bed before going out to find Shi Wenli.
"Hubby?"
"In the kitchen."
The new home was three times the size of the rental. She could no longer hear every sound in the house from the bedroom like before.
Xu Qinghe made her way to the kitchen, tying up her hair as she walked.
Shi Wenli was dressed formally today, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms.
He had two or three white shirts. Xu Qinghe approached and took a closer look, confirming it was the one she had worn.
She pretended not to recognize it and looked at the counter: "Preparing ingredients for tonight?"
Shi Wenli said no: "Making you some breakfast."
He then asked her, "Did you sleep well in the new place?"
"Very well."
They had done it three times last night. She had been so exhausted she could barely muster the strength to shower.
Lying on such a comfortable bed, even if she had slept on the floor, she would have slept soundly.
"Ding-dong—"
The doorbell rang.
Xu Qinghe glanced at the clock on the wall—it wasn't even 9:30 yet.
"Who's here so early?"
Shi Wenli: "I'll go see."
He thought it was Min Ting.
Looking through the peephole, he saw Wu Xiaofeng standing outside.
Wu Xiaofeng had heard from someone in neurosurgery that Shi Wenli was moving into a new home today. Although Shi Wenli hadn't invited any colleagues, since he knew, he felt he should come.
He had bought a housewarming gift and ordered a bouquet of housewarming flowers.
He thought the feast would start at noon, so he came early to see if there was anything he could help with.
Shi Wenli opened the door and welcomed him.
Wu Xiaofeng handed over the flowers: "Congratulations on the new home! May good luck come your way!" He didn't mind piling on the auspicious words. Taking advantage of the housewarming joy, he added a few more: "Wishing you love and happiness, and a rising career."
"Thank you." Shi Wenli accepted the flowers and stepped aside to let him in. "Are you on shift today?"
Wu Xiaofeng bent down to put on shoe covers: "With such an auspicious occasion for you, how could I not take the day off?"
Originally, he hadn't needed to come to the hospital before the New Year, but Xu Qinghe was too stubborn and refused to reconcile, so he still had to go to Section Chief Wu's office in the afternoon.
Xu Qinghe was really annoying! Couldn't she just let him have a peaceful New Year?
"Who else is here?" he asked as he put on the shoe covers.
Shi Wenli said, "You're the first. The celebration is tonight."
"..."
He had come a bit too early.
But since he was already here, he didn't plan to go back and forth. Besides, he had to go to the hospital in the afternoon anyway, and Shi Wenli's home was conveniently close to the hospital.
"I'll just grab a bite here at noon and wait for the big meal tonight."
Shi Wenli gave him a heads-up: "I'm not alone in the house."
Wu Xiaofeng: "Your partner is here too?"
"Mm."
"Perfect, I'll get to know them."
Wu Xiaofeng had long been curious about who Shi Wenli's partner was.
Shi Wenli called toward the kitchen: "Honey, Wu Xiaofeng is here."