When Qin Suisui woke up again, she was awakened by a pleasant ringing sound.

She was suddenly startled awake with her eyes closed, jumped up, grabbed her phone, and stared at it intently.

It was 5:30. Thank goodness, she thought to herself, she hadn't slept.

Only then did she have the energy to see who was calling.

The caller ID showed "Senior Brother Huo," and she suddenly remembered the words he had given her when he drove her back.

She quickly dialed Senior Brother Huo's number.

"Senior brother, it's me!"

A low, husky, and aloof voice came from the other end of the phone: "Just woke up?"

"Um!"

Qin Suisui was unaware of the slight reproach she unconsciously gave when she answered.

Huo Zhongyuan chuckled: "Sui Sui, hurry up and pack, I'm coming to pick you up now."

Give me ten minutes!

Qin Suisui lifted the covers, tidied them up, washed up briefly, and put on some light makeup.

Her luggage had been packed in the morning.

She pulled her suitcase, closed the door, and took the elevator to the garage.

Huo Zhongyuan had been waiting in the garage for a long time.

When Qin Suisui saw him, his tall and slender body was leaning against the half-open car door. His sharp casual suit could not hide the tension of his muscles. From a distance, he exuded a cold and aloof aura. When his sharp black eyes saw her, his smile deepened.

"Senior Brother Huo!"

"Sui Sui!"

He then opened the passenger side door, and soft music slowly drifted into the garage.

The car's heater was already on, and the temperature was comfortable when Qin Suisui sat inside.

Is the temperature low in the south of the city?

After observing and spending time with her several times, Huo Zhongyuan learned that Sui Sui was not tolerant of the cold and liked to wrap herself up tightly whenever she went out.

He caught a glimpse of Sui Sui's expression out of the corner of his eye; her brows and eyes were filled with disgust and annoyance, and the corners of her mouth curled up.

"The temperature is about the same as in Huating!"

Qin Suisui talked about the weather in Nancheng.

"The distance between Nancheng and Huating is only 300 li, and the outdoor temperatures are similar, but the indoor temperature may not be very comfortable, it's rather chilly."

She recalled that during her university years, she would often wake up in the middle of the night from the cold during the few days she returned home for the Lunar New Year, frequently shivering under the covers.

The old house didn't have heating equipment; the temperature inside was controlled by air conditioning.

Aunt Wang always liked to turn off the air conditioner in her room. After a few times, she disliked going back to that house where she didn't feel like she had a place.

"I've been to the southern part of the city!"

Huo Zhongyuan glanced at her, recalling his unforgettable memories of his youth in Nancheng. However, the girl beside him might have long forgotten that past, otherwise, why would she still look at him with such unfamiliarity all these years?

"when?"

Qin Suisui looked at him with great interest.

Huo Zhongyuan: "I lived on Nanyang Street for a period of time when I was in high school."

"Nanyang Street?"

Qin Suisui was filled with surprise. She remembered that when she first entered junior high school, there was a period when she was quite rebellious. She always liked to go to the building where her mother left her on Nanyang Street to seek the maternal love that she had lost in her memory.

At that time, I couldn't hide my feelings. When I couldn't get my father's love, I was always emotional.

As her disappointment piled up and she had nowhere to vent it, she would sit quietly under the building her mother left her, sometimes for half a day at a time.

It seems that just by sitting there, she can feel her mother's protection and love, and a surge of energy will rise in her heart to keep striving forward.

Even after many years, Nanyang Street still holds a different meaning for her, and she listens to her senior brother Huo's daily life on Nanyang Street with almost reverence.

"Senior Brother Huo, it's a pity I didn't know you back then, otherwise I would have taken you to visit all the historical sites in the South City!"

"Yeah?"

Huo Zhongyuan glanced at her sideways, hoping that one day he would have the opportunity to relive their past feelings with her, but he wondered what kind of mood Sui Sui would be when she did.

On the 29th day of the Lunar New Year, there were very few vehicles on the streets of Huating. Half of the migrant workers had returned to their hometowns in the past few days, and Huating town was suddenly much quieter.

There was no traffic congestion, and the drive was smooth. We arrived at the high-speed rail station in less than forty minutes.

Huo Zhongyuan carried Sui Sui's luggage and escorted her to the ticket gate.

Seeing that there was little time left before boarding, he handed his luggage to Sui Sui. Looking at her fluffy, smooth black hair, he couldn't help but reach out and ruffle it.

"Call me back when you get to Nancheng."

Qin Suisui's cheeks flushed, and she couldn't help but glance at him sideways.

Hearing the announcement reminding them to board the train again, Huo Zhongyuan put his arm around her shoulder and helped her walk towards the ticket gate.

Only after Qin Suisui's figure disappeared from sight did Huo Zhongyuan follow the crowd out of the station. Standing at the entrance of the high-speed rail station, he looked up at the increasingly dense snowflakes falling from the sky, and felt a trace of warmth in the icy air.

Qin Suisui arrived in Nancheng half an hour later than expected.

Unlike Huating, the snow in the southern city was sparse, and the temperature was even colder than in Huating.

She got into the ride-hailing car she had booked and drove towards the city center. As she got closer to the city, the bustling street scenes finally made her feel the atmosphere of the New Year.

Nancheng is an ancient city with a long history. Unlike Huating, half of the city's population comes from all over the country.

More than two-thirds of the residents in the southern part of the city are locals, while the remaining third come from surrounding cities.

A large majority of these people chose to buy houses and start families in the southern part of the city. They have long since integrated into the city and participated in its development.

Their arrival has injected new blood into the development of Nancheng, bringing vitality and enthusiasm to the city.

The ride-hailing car stopped at the Petroleum Community, and Qin Suisui picked up her suitcase and walked into the community.

Fireworks went off non-stop along the way. Although there are explicit regulations prohibiting the setting off of fireworks and firecrackers, there are always some mischievous kids who buy some simple fireworks and set them off by the roadside.

Qin Suisui hadn't been back for nearly six years, and most of the people she encountered on the road were strangers.

If she sees a familiar face, she will always smile slightly and call them "uncle" or "elder brother".

"Oh my, it's Sui Sui. After all these years, you're finally back."

Finally, someone recognized Qin Suisui; it was an uncle from one of Qin's father's offices.

He was holding a baby less than a year old in his arms, wondering who the girl who was, bundled up tightly, was who was greeting him.

Her smiling expression suddenly reminded him of the girl in his memory.

"Sui Sui, your dad said a week ago that you'd be coming home for Chinese New Year this year, and you're finally back!"

"Uncle Jin, is this yours?"

The child in Uncle Jin's arms opened his innocent and naive eyes, peeked at her, and grinned. Qin Suisui couldn't help but reach out and tease him.

"This is your brother Xiao Bei's daughter."

Jin Yang gently rocked the child in his arms, teasing her, "Nannan, this is your Aunt Suisui. Let's say hello to Aunt Suisui!"

The baby in her arms kept making babbling noises and drooling.

Qin Suisui smiled and teased her for a while, but seeing the blush on the child's face, she couldn't help but worry.

"Uncle Jin, please take the child back. Her face is all red from the cold."

"Okay, Sui Sui, I'll take Nan Nan back first. Come visit your uncle's house sometime, and your aunt will make your favorite steamed cake."

"Okay, I'll definitely go!"

Qin Suisui smiled and waved goodbye to the other person before carrying her luggage upstairs.