[170] Happy New Year, My Beloved

Wen Shuang had already heard Bai Yan's confession several times.

Every single time, it was delivered with such earnest sincerity.

"Bai Yan... Let's talk about this after you've fully recovered from your injuries!"

"No, Sister Shuang, I can't wait any longer. I'm afraid that if I wait any longer, Officer Ji is going to snatch you away from me!"

Lately, Ji Shen's constant presence around Wen Shuang had ignited an intense sense of crisis within Bai Yan.

Ji Shen was handsome, came from a prestigious family, and had an eye-catching, respectable profession.

Furthermore... the two of them had a past. Because of this, Bai Yan couldn't sleep peacefully at night, desperate to win Wen Shuang over as quickly as possible!

Wen Shuang remained silent.

Bai Yan grabbed her by both shoulders. "Sister Shuang, I really, truly like you. In all my twenty years, I have never liked a girl this much. Please, just give me a chance!"

Wen Shuang looked into his eyes.

The young man's gaze seemed to hold a sky full of glittering stars.

Bai Yan was actually a very good boy.

He was sweet-talked, meticulous, and knew how to take care of women.

Though he was a bit younger, younger men had their own irresistible charm!

Wen Shuang suddenly felt a little lost.

Suddenly, a sharp, piercing voice echoed from outside: "Well, well, Bai Yan! No wonder you haven't come home for so long—so you've been bewitched by this little vixen!"

Wen Shuang turned around abruptly.

She saw a middle-aged woman striding toward them in a rush.

Bai Yan cried out in shock, "Mom!"

"So you still remember you have a mother, Bai Yan! You haven't been home for nearly two months. I thought you were missing or dead out there, and I was on the verge of reporting it to the police station. But instead, you've been fooling around with this little vixen all this time! If someone hadn't tipped me off, I'd probably still be kept completely in the dark!" Mother Bai raged angrily.

This was Wen Shuang's first time meeting Mother Bai, and she was immediately greeted with a vicious verbal assault branding her a vixen.

Shocked, she tried to explain, "It's not like that, Auntie. Things aren't what you think. Bai Yan and I are... completely innocent!"

"Innocent my foot! I heard every single word clearly just outside the door—Bai Yan was confessing his feelings to you! This boy has been heartless since he was a child; this is the first time he's ever confessed to a girl like this. Do you dare say this isn't your doing?"

Mother Bai railed against Wen Shuang without holding back. "And another thing, is my son in the hospital because of you?"

Just as Wen Shuang was about to admit it,

Bai Yan immediately cut in, "It's not because of her! I was the one who wasn't careful and got hit while crossing the street. Sister Shuang was just kind enough to come and take care of me. Mom, stop saying such horrible things!"

Only then did Wen Shuang realize

that the reason Bai Yan's parents hadn't shown up all this time was because Bai Yan hadn't told his family that he was sick and hospitalized in the first place.

Mother Bai looked Wen Shuang up and down. "Hmph, I know exactly what kind of petty schemes women with pretty faces like yours are plotting in their hearts. You're just trying to use this opportunity to marry into our Bai family. Let me tell you, it's impossible—I advise you to give up now!"

Bai Yan was burning with anger.

"Mom! I won't allow you to talk about Sister Shuang that way!"

"I am your own mother, aren't I even allowed to speak?! Bai Yan, I think you're trying to drive me to an early grave."

Mother and son argued endlessly.

Wen Shuang took a deep breath, deciding it was best to come clean. "Auntie, actually, I've always owed you an apology! Bai Yan is..."

Bai Yan shouted, "Sister Shuang, Sister Shuang, you don't need to say anything!"

Wen Shuang continued anyway. "Bai Yan ended up in the hospital because he saved me. I truly feel so guilty. I'll cover all of Bai Yan's medical expenses, and whatever subsequent compensation you might need, I am ready to..."

*Slap!!*

Consumed by fury,

Mother Bai struck Wen Shuang across the face with a resounding blow!

She gasped for air, shaking with rage. "Good grief, so it really was you! I knew it had to be you, otherwise how could Bai Yan be lying here like this!"

Wen Shuang was caught completely off guard.

A stinging pain flared across her left cheek!

Roaring with anger, Bai Yan immediately stepped in front of Wen Shuang to shield her. "Mom, what are you doing?! Have you lost your mind? Why did you hit Wen Shuang? I'm the one who likes her! What did she do wrong? Besides, I chose to get hurt for her; she didn't push me! Furthermore, after she saw me get injured, she was racked with guilt and tore herself apart with remorse! Do you have any idea how exhausted she's been through all this? You are becoming more and more unreasonable. No wonder I didn't want to tell you anything, and no wonder I never wanted to go back home!"

Mother Bai was shaking with rage.

"Fine! Just for a woman like this, you're talking back to me today, aren't you? Bai Yan, you've really grown some spine!"

"That's only because you were being completely unreasonable first!"

Wen Shuang didn't bother to cover her face.

She said, "Auntie, Bai Yan took a blow for me. You slapping me today is something I deserved to pay back! But don't worry, I, Wen Shuang, know my place and will never entangle myself with your son again!"

With that,

Wen Shuang turned and walked away!

Bai Yan yelled desperately from behind, "Sister Shuang, I'm sorry!"

He made a move to chase after her, but at that moment, Mother Bai shrieked, "Bai Yan, if you still consider me your mother, you are forbidden to take another step!"

Bai Yan ignored her completely.

The next second, overcome by overwhelming agitation, Mother Bai fainted!

......

The moment Wen Shuang stepped out of the hospital ward, her tears finally fell unbidden.

The pressure lately had been too immense, and she was utterly exhausted. She had spent all her time taking care of others, striving to soothe everyone else's emotions, acting as a quiet, receptive trash can for their grievances,

until she forgot how much negative energy she herself was capable of bearing.

She was deeply grateful to Bai Yan.

But Mother Bai's words tonight had been too heavy a blow!

As it turned out, no matter what she did, in the eyes of others, she was merely a seductive little siren.

Ji Shen's mother had said the same thing to her before.

And now Mother Bai was saying it too.

Wen Shuang began to doubt herself.

Running out of the hospital, she found the streets outside bustling with life. Everywhere she looked, fireworks were flashing and sparkling, and people were eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new year—a year that was about to turn a new page.

Wen Shuang raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears.

She gazed up at the colorful, blooming fireworks.

She thought to herself: She had been so unlucky this year; could she please not be so unlucky next year?

Or perhaps... since things were already this painful now, would next year be even harder?

She felt a deep sense of loneliness wash over her!

Suddenly, the phone in her pocket rang.

Wen Shuang answered it slowly. When she spoke, she found her voice was hoarse: "Hello."

Ji Shen, on the other end of the line, paused.

He had calculated the exact moment to call, wanting to wish Wen Shuang a happy new year.

Yet he acutely noticed the hoarseness in her voice.

"Were you crying?"

Wen Shuang stubbornly wiped away her tears and said, "...No, I wasn't."

"You're lying. What happened? Who bullied you?" Ji Shen's voice instantly dropped, turning grim. "Who dared to bully you while I wasn't around? Tell me, and the moment I get back, I'll make things right for you!"

Wen Shuang took a deep breath, forcing her voice to sound calm.

"It's nothing..."

At that moment, fireworks suddenly burst across the sky with a series of loud bangs.

People not far away began to shout in unison:

"10!"

"9!"

"8!"

"7!"

"6!"

......

"3!"

"2!"

"1——!"

Ji Shen's gentle, deep voice came through the phone line,

"Happy New Year, my beloved, Shuangshuang."