Sister, won't you come and keep me company?

She paused for more than just a moment.

"Yan, I just wanted to know how you are doing now, which is why I called you."

Tang Yan said coldly, "I'm doing very well. Is there anything else? If not, I'm hanging up!"

He Zhi refused to let it go.

"Yan, I was too impulsive last time at the hospital and didn't consider your feelings. I apologize to you, it was my fault! Where are you now? Let me come see you, okay?"

Tang Yan sneered, "He Zhi, I truly have no idea where you get the nerve to even suggest coming to see me. Remember this: the moment you protected that white lotus and told me to stop making a fuss, I completely gave up on you! You absolute scumbag, get lost!"

She slammed the phone down.

Her chest heaved continuously with anger.

Wen Shuang was shocked, "He still has the face to talk about getting back together?"

"His shamelessness knows no bounds! Telling me he regrets it now—what does he take me, Tang Yan, for? A plaything to be summoned and dismissed at his whim?!"

Tang Yan tossed her phone aside, "With a rotten man like that, why hasn't he been hit by a car walking out the door!"

Wen Shuang comforted her.

Tang Yan breathed heavily, full of fury.

Yet despite saying all that, she still hadn't blocked He Zhi.

Wen Shuang could only hope that Tang Yan would remain this clear-headed moving forward!

Tang Yan said, "Shuangshuang, don't worry, I won't be that foolish again!"

New Year's Eve was approaching.

Ji Shen suddenly received orders from his superiors to go on a business trip.

Originally, he had planned to spend New Year's Eve with Wen Shuang and take her to watch fireworks.

To deepen their emotional bond.

As things stood now, that was impossible.

Man proposes, heaven disposes.

Just before boarding the plane, he deliberately sent Wen Shuang a message: [Dress warmly. I'm away on a business trip and will be back in about a week. I'll come look for you then.]

After receiving the message,

a peculiar sensation welled up in Wen Shuang's heart.

It was indescribable and vague.

In the end, she didn't reply to the message!

The night of January 1st was exceptionally lively.

Almost all the young people in her WeChat Moments had gone out to celebrate the New Year.

Aunt Chun called and urged Wen Shuang to come home for dinner, saying that spending New Year's Eve together as a whole family was such a blessing!

Wen Shuang was somewhat tempted to return.

She had been too busy lately and hadn't been home in a long time to visit Wen Fanhai.

Wen Fanhai also frequently messaged her to ask when she would have time to come back.

Wen Yao's sweet voice came through as well, "Sister, hurry home, we all miss you so much! Brother Qin is also having dinner at home tonight!"

As soon as Wen Shuang heard that,

she instantly lost her appetite.

Any place where Qin You was present was a place she didn't want to visit at all.

"I still have dance rehearsals tonight, so I won't be coming back for dinner. You guys go ahead and eat!"

Aunt Chun sighed.

Wen Fanhai came out of the study and asked what was wrong.

Aunt Chun said, "Shuangshuang still refuses to come back. It seems... she completely has no desire to stay home anymore. I suppose once young girls grow up, they all think the outside world is better."

"Sister seems to have broken up with Police Officer Ji. She's probably found some new man and is dating right now, which is why she refuses to come home."

As soon as she finished speaking, Qin You's expression shifted drastically beside her!

Wen Shuang and the little uncle had actually broken up!

Did that mean he... might have a chance too?

Sister Chun widened her eyes, "Broken up?"

Wen Fanhai was also startled; Wen Shuang had never mentioned this matter to him.

Wen Yao nodded with certainty, "Yeah, that's what I heard from mutual friends. They even said sister was hanging out wildly with a bunch of good-for-nothing people at a bar not long ago!"

Aunt Chun remarked, "Oh my, for a young lady to act like that is just terrible..."

Wen Fanhai was no longer so easily swayed by their words.

"Stop talking nonsense to me. Shuangshuang is a sensible girl; she's simply busy with her career, which is why she hasn't come back!"

Qin You also nodded, "...Wen Shuang is not that kind of person, I know her!"

Wen Yao's face darkened.

"Brother Qin... I'm going to be your future wife."

She pitifully stroked her belly.

Her pregnancy was already nearing four months, and her belly was starting to show.

Qin You looked at her stomach, remembering that he was currently in front of Wen Yao's parents.

He placed his hand on Wen Yao's abdomen, "Of course, our baby is definitely the most important thing right now."

Yet, the only thing he wanted was the baby inside Wen Yao's belly!

As for this woman, he truly disliked her!

She was fine to sleep with, but to take as a wife—it was far too degrading.

Wen Yao smiled brightly, "Brother Qin, I knew it, I'm the most important person in your heart!"

In reality, Wen Yao had never had an easy time in the Qin family.

Her mother-in-law disliked her and frequently undermined her in both open and subtle ways, while Qin You constantly went out to play and stayed out all night.

Every time he returned, he carried the scent of various perfumes.

However, to become a Qin family matriarch, one had to learn to endure.

Wen Yao only reported the good news and kept the worries to herself.

With this small episode over, the mother and daughter no longer deliberately steered the conversation back to Wen Shuang!

They began to focus single-mindedly on Wen Yao's pregnancy.

They talked about how in another six months, the Wen family would have a cute little grandson.

.....

Wen Shuang had originally planned to spend the evening with Tang Yan.

However, Tang Yan sent her a message saying she had matters to attend to that night.

Wen Shuang acutely felt that something was amiss.

Tang Yan had been staying home lately without working; what kind of business could she possibly have?

She wanted to ask if Tang Yan had gone to see He Zhi.

But her fingers paused over the typing screen.

Tang Yan was an adult too, with her own judgment, and she trusted her!

Immediately afterward, Wen Shuang received a call from Bai Yan.

Bai Yan whimpered pitiably that he was all alone in the hospital and felt very lonely.

"Sister Shuang, the hospital is so desolate today; everyone else has gone out on dates. Wuwu, I'm so scared here, I really am such a coward."

Wen Shuang replied, "Then I'll come over to see you. What do you want to eat?"

"Just you coming over is enough. What we eat doesn't matter."

Bai Yan's injuries had healed significantly by now.

He had deliberately changed into a handsome outfit to spend New Year's Eve with Wen Shuang.

Outside the window, clusters of fireworks bloomed.

Brilliant and colorful.

Bai Yan said, "A year passes by so quickly. The older you get, the faster time flies."

Wen Shuang stood by the window, unable to help herself from pondering everything that had happened over the past year.

Qin You getting together with Xia Anran, cheating, and breaking up with her.

Followed by Wen Fanhai's imprisonment; she sought Ji Shen's help, became entangled with Ji Shen for over half a year, and finally ended it because of Jiang Ning, breaking up once more.

Looking back at all of this now, Wen Shuang felt as though a lifetime had passed.

A resilient sense of her own strength sprouted within her.

Because somehow, she had managed to endure all of this.

It was just that Ji Shen...

"Sister Shuang, what are you thinking about?" Bai Yan called out to her.

Wen Shuang snapped back to reality, "Nothing!"

"You look so pretty tonight." Brilliant starlight spread across Bai Yan's eyes, "Sister Shuang, thank you for your hard work during this period, taking care of me tirelessly every day. I'm truly grateful to you!"

Wen Shuang said, "There's nothing to thank me for. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have gotten hurt in the first place!"

Bai Yan said, "There's something I still really want to tell you, Sister Shuang. I like you so much, and I want so badly to be with you!"