The night was deep.
Warm yellow light shone through each window.
Lian Xiao walked alone in the snow, all by himself.
Back in the courtyard, he pushed open the door and for the first time felt how desolate the place was.
He never thought of it that way before, only considering it a temporary place to stay.
He trains and goes on missions during the day, and when he comes home at night, he falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. He doesn't care whether the house is empty or quiet.
But today was different. The moment I stepped into the courtyard, the image of Xu Xinghe's house inexplicably popped into my mind.
The window was decorated with paper cutouts of mythical beasts, the room was piled with New Year's gifts from Wang Chunmei, and there were also yarn sunflowers on the windowsill.
In contrast, his little courtyard was completely devoid of any human presence.
Lian Xiao walked into the house, slumped into a chair, and took a deep breath.
The alcohol I drank in the cafeteria just now seems to have finally taken effect; my temples are throbbing and I feel a little dizzy.
Even when I feel dizzy, that image keeps replaying in my mind.
It's like a movie, played frame by frame on repeat.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide.
Grandpa's words echoed in my ears, "You are different from others. You are a son of the Lian family. You were born to stand higher and see further. The burden on your shoulders is also heavier than others."
From childhood to adulthood, he has never failed to get anything he wanted.
While others were still wearing the same old black, blue, and gray clothes, he was already able to buy the latest leather jackets from the port city.
While others were riding old-fashioned bicycles, he had already gotten a motorcycle.
Grandpa never stopped him. Only by seeing good things can one avoid developing a petty personality and being bought off by sweet talk.
Grandpa wanted him to be a worldly person who didn't lose his true self.
Yes, he can have anything, so why can't he be Xu Xinghe?
So what if she has a fiancé?
Without a marriage certificate, they're not considered husband and wife; it's just a verbal relationship. Why should Jiang Linchuan have exclusive rights to her?
Lian Xiao slowly loosened his clenched fist, and the irritability and frustration in his heart dissipated instantly.
He stood up, walked to the water vat, scooped up a ladle of cold water, and splashed it hard on his face.
The icy water jolted him awake, and he sobered up considerably.
He shook the water droplets off his face, walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and lay down. "Yes, let's fight for it. There's nothing I, Lian Xiao, can't get if I want it."
Besides, Grandpa likes Xu Xinghe so much, he would definitely be happy if he knew what Xu Xinghe was thinking.
With this thought, Lian Xiao felt more at ease and slowly closed his eyes.
...
The first day of the Lunar New Year is a day for visiting relatives and exchanging New Year's gifts in Heilongjiang Province.
A faint sense of joy permeated the hospital.
Small "Fu" characters were posted at the nurses' station and in the wards.
The ward door opened gently, and Zhang Cishu walked in.
He was dressed in all black, which made his skin appear even paler. He was tall and slender, but the coldness emanating from him seemed out of place with the festive atmosphere of the New Year outside.
"Grandpa, I'm going to deliver New Year's gifts today."
"Okay, go ahead." General Zhang leaned against the hospital bed, his gaze falling on him. He looked him up and down and couldn't help but frown. "It's the New Year, wearing all black isn't appropriate. Aren't you going to see Comrade Xu? Change into something brighter. The blue cotton-padded jacket I had made for you before is very nice and makes you look more energetic."
“No need to change.” Zhang Cishu raised his hand to straighten the hem of his clothes, his tone flat. “Grandpa, I’ll be back soon.”
"Hehe, you..." General Zhang chuckled helplessly, a hint of worry in his voice, "You only seem a little more cheerful when you mention Comrade Xiao Xu."
He sighed. His grandson was good in every way, except that he was too cold-hearted, like a block of ice that could never be warmed, as if he had no human warmth.
He had thought his grandson had changed his personality a bit when he asked him for help for Xu Xinghe, but he never expected that after only a few days, the boy would revert to his cold and indifferent self.
These days, even during the Lunar New Year, there's not a trace of a smile on their faces. Even if they occasionally manage a slight smile, their eyes remain cold and indifferent.
Thinking about it this way, General Zhang's previous thoughts resurfaced. "Ci Shu, perhaps you really aren't suited to stay by my side forever. I used to think that you were too young and cold-hearted, and that you would be easily bullied if you went out into the world, which is why I kept you by my side. But now it seems that won't work. You don't even understand human relationships, how will you take over the Zhang family's responsibilities in the future?"
He paused, his tone becoming more serious, "How about this, after the Lantern Festival, you go to the Heilongjiang Provincial Military Headquarters to report for duty and get some experience there. By the way... get to know Comrade Xiao Xu more often; maybe she can help you change your temperament."
Zhang Cishu pursed her lips, her brows furrowing slightly. "I don't want to go."
"No!" General Zhang's tone became more serious. "This is the task I gave you! If I continue to indulge you like this, it's not out of love, it's ruining you! You must go! Learn from Comrade Xu how to get along with people. Only when you show humanity and understand the meaning of responsibility will you be considered qualified, and then I'll let you come back. If you continue to be so cold and indifferent, I'd rather hand over the burden of the Zhang family to someone else than to you!"
If one's own grandson is truly beyond help, then one can only settle for a grandson from another family.
This is the only option we have.
Zhang Cishu remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded, "Since it's a mission, then I understand."
"That's more like it." General Zhang's expression softened a bit, and he added, "Go and deliver the New Year's gifts quickly, and come back as soon as possible. I'll have someone explain the military's instructions to you later, so don't cause any trouble when you report for duty on the 15th. Remember, the military is not a place where you can act recklessly, and I won't let them go easy on you because of me."
He waved his hand. "Go ahead."
Zhang Cishu didn't say anything more, turned around and left quickly.
General Zhang watched his retreating figure, sighed softly, and turned to the guard who had been standing by his side. "Do you think what I'm doing is right? Sigh, as people get older, their hearts soften, and they're always afraid of wronging him."
The guard pondered for a moment and said truthfully, "General, I think it's feasible. The young master is aloof, mainly because he doesn't interact with enough people. He didn't care about anyone before, but he paid more attention to Comrade Xu. Maybe spending more time with Comrade Xu can really make him more cheerful."
"I hope so." General Zhang nodded. "You go and rest for a while. I'll take a nap. Wake me up when Cishu comes back."
Outside the hospital.
The car started slowly.
Zhang Cishu sat in the back seat, looking out at the snow-covered landscape, her long eyelashes drooping, concealing the emotions in her eyes.
Where he goes and what he does are all the same to him; it's just about completing a task.
Even inheriting the Zhang family fortune was just one of the tasks assigned by his grandfather.
Military compound.
Lian Xiao got up early and took out all his best things, filling a large bag to the brim, all of which were New Year's gifts for Xu Xinghe.
Now that he understands his own feelings, he naturally wants to do his best.
He stood in front of the mirror and carefully tidied himself up.
She specially changed into a white shirt, put on a black cotton jacket she bought in Shanghai, and combed her hair with hair oil to reveal her smooth forehead.
Looking at his sharp and energetic reflection in the mirror, Lian Xiao nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad, much more pleasing to the eye than that Jiang Linchuan guy."
After saying that, he picked up the New Year's gifts, strode out the door, and walked towards Xu Xinghe's courtyard.
I had only taken a few steps when I saw a group of people walking towards me from the side.
A soldier from the military led the way, followed by two unfamiliar men.
Wait, one of the men's faces looks strangely familiar.
The man had fair skin and was about the same height as me, but taller and somewhat slender. When he looked up in my direction, his face was expressionless, yet he exuded a cool and aloof air of nobility.
This face seems a few degrees more handsome than mine?
He frowned slightly and didn't look at it any longer.
They were probably there to deliver New Year's gifts to Political Commissar Wang or other leaders; otherwise, they wouldn't have had soldiers from the military headquarters specifically leading the way.
But as he walked, Lian Xiao gradually felt that something was wrong.
Why is this person always going the same way as me?
Political Commissar Wang's residence is not here either!
Lian Xiao stopped and blocked the soldier leading the way. "Hey, who are they? Which family compound are they going to?"
The soldier chuckled dryly; he dared not offend this Comrade Lian. "Comrade Lian, this is Comrade Zhang Cishu, who has come to deliver a New Year's gift to Comrade Xu Xinghe."
"Comrade Xu? Xu Xinghe?" Lian Xiao narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, it's Comrade Xu." The soldier nodded. "Comrade Lian, you're also going to deliver New Year's gifts to Comrade Xu, right?"
Lian Xiao didn't answer, his gaze fixed on Zhang Cishu. "I remember now, it's you! The younger member of the Zhang family on the train!"
He still remembers the scene from back then!
"Did you come here specifically to give Xinghe a New Year's gift to thank him for helping you back then?"
Zhang Cishu nodded calmly, his tone indifferent. "Yes."
"Tsk, fine then." Lian Xiao curled his lip and didn't ask any more questions.
Isn't he just a guest who came to give a gift? He'll probably stay for a while and then leave.
He carried the New Year's gifts and continued walking towards Xu Xinghe's courtyard, but his pace unconsciously quickened.
Zhang Cishu followed quietly behind.
Soon, the two arrived at the courtyard one after the other.
Lian Xiao glanced back at him, then stepped forward and knocked on the door.
"Squeak—"
The door opened.
The heat turned into white mist.
Xu Xinghe poked her fluffy little head out. She had drunk some wine yesterday and went straight to sleep. She woke up a little late today and hadn't had time to comb her hair yet. Her two braids were loose and disheveled. "Why are you here?"
Looking at her adorable appearance as if she had just woken up, Lian Xiao couldn't help but smile. "Today is the day for delivering New Year's gifts, didn't you know? Oh right, you have guests."
"A guest?" Xu Xinghe stood on tiptoe, peering over him to look back, her face full of surprise. "Zhang Cishu? What brings you here?"
She never expected that the guest would be him!
"I've come to deliver a New Year's gift." Zhang Cishu stepped forward. "Happy New Year to you."
"You too, Happy New Year." Xu Xinghe only then remembered that she hadn't tidied up yet, and quickly looked away. "Um, you guys wait in the living room for a bit!"
She ran back into the house in her slippers, quickly closed the door, took her braids apart, and combed them again.
The guard who came with Zhang Cishu nodded when he saw this.
This was his first time meeting this young Xu, and he certainly seemed to have some presence!
And it's not just any ordinary person; they possess a unique vitality that others don't have!
Good, young master should associate with people like this!
Maybe it won't be long before I can become like a normal person!
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