Chapter 16
Chapter Summary: "Is being with me happier than being alone?"
On the way back, Ni Zhenzhen tried to call the bald old man. The first call went through but no one answered. She couldn't get through to him no matter how many times she called after that.
Ni Zhenzhen recalled Qian Lina's words, "This is three hundred yuan delivered to his doorstep. He'd be overjoyed, why would he return it to you!"
Ni Zhenzhen refused to believe it. She stubbornly believed that the old man might have had some unavoidable reason, and that the phone number might simply be wrong.
The first snow of winter fell on and off for two days, stopped for a short while, and has started falling again now.
It was already dark, and the streets were ablaze with neon lights. Steam occasionally rose from restaurants, adding another splash of color to the already vibrant cityscape.
Stepping into the rented apartment complex, the glitz and bustle vanish, and apart from the lights shining through the windows, it's hard to see any other colors.
But that didn't stop her from spotting a familiar figure at a glance.
Under the ginkgo tree, Xu Tianzhou stood tall and elegant. The silvery landscape not only enveloped the earth but also draped him in a magnificent and dazzling white.
Xu Tianzhou was wearing a dark coat, unbuttoned, revealing his usual suit underneath, along with a light gray scarf.
That was bought for him by Ni Zhenzhen.
I don't know how long he stood there, his head and shoulders covered with a layer of white snowflakes, his eyes bright and alert.
Ni Zhenzhen's first reaction was, "Isn't he cold?"
She quickened her pace instinctively, almost running through the snow-covered road, her steps uneven, as if she were both distressed and reproachful, "What are you doing here?"
"You're back?" Xu Tianzhou smiled and pointed to the side, saying, "Look."
It was a car covered in snow.
Parking is scarce in the old neighborhood, and all the available parking spaces were full. So even though she saw the car, she didn't connect it with Xu Tianzhou until he pointed at it.
Ni Zhenzhen followed his finger and looked over. Although the snow was thick, it had not yet covered the emblem on the front of the car. Ni Zhenzhen recognized it at a glance as a Mercedes-Benz.
Ni Zhenzhen exclaimed in surprise, "You've already bought the car? So fast!"
Xu Tianzhou smiled but remained silent.
Ni Zhenzhen suddenly realized that this was the "surprise" he had mentioned. There was a hint of "surprise," but it was far from "joy."
As the temperature dropped, Ni Zhenzhen hugged Xu Tianzhou's arm and said, "Let's go home quickly."
"Aren't you going to take a look?" Xu Tianzhou asked.
Ni Zhenzhen was stunned for a moment.
Unlike Xu Tianzhou, she wasn't interested in cars and had no particular attachment to Mercedes. However, since Xu Tianzhou had said so, she didn't want to spoil the mood, so she pretended to examine it for a while, nodded, and said, "Hmm, it's pretty good."
Xu Tianzhou noticed her perfunctory attitude and exposed her without any mercy, "The snow covers it all, what can you tell?"
Ni Zhenzhen really wanted to say that she didn't think there was anything interesting about it. It's not like she hadn't seen them before; they're everywhere—international schools, her own neighborhood.
Besides, her family also had a car, but it was an older model, bought when her father made his fortune. It accompanied her through her childhood and adolescence until she passed away.
Xu Tianzhou seemed determined to make her see it; he stood at the front of the car and waved to her.
Ni Zhenzhen had no choice but to walk over.
At Xu Tianzhou's prompting, she reached out and brushed some snow off the hood. The snow was quite thick, and Ni Zhenzhen's sweep wasn't strong enough, so Xu Tianzhou helped her brush it off, revealing the black paint underneath.
The snow was still falling, and white ice crystals landed on the black car paint, so tiny yet so dazzling.
Ni Zhenzhen thought she had done enough, but Xu Tianzhou remained persistent. He didn't say anything, but looked at her with eyes full of expectation and encouragement, making it hard for her to refuse.
Ni Zhenzhen continued to wave her arms, sweeping away another patch of snow.
This time, she finally noticed something different.
Ni Zhenzhen couldn't quite put her finger on where she'd gotten that idea; perhaps it was the ridgeline on the hood, or maybe it was just a feeling she had from the bottom of her heart.
Without Xu Tianzhou saying anything more, she suddenly seemed like a different person. Ni Zhenzhen didn't care whether the snow would get her wet; she frantically lay down on it, sweeping the snow away one stroke after another.
Soon, the front of the car appeared, just like the one she knew best.
Her vision blurred, and Ni Zhenzhen couldn't believe it. How could this be?
As if to give her a clear view, the streetlights snapped on, enveloping them and giving the car an incredible glare.
Ni Zhenzhen wiped away her tears and continued shoveling snow, with Xu Tianzhou helping her along the way, until the entire car was completely exposed to her.
It was an old black Mercedes-Benz, weathered by time, yet without a single trace.
Tears welled up in Ni Zhenzhen's eyes, and she could no longer hold back. She cried and asked Xu Tianzhou, "Why?"
She thought Xu Tianzhou would buy a new car, but she didn't expect him to buy a used car, and an old car that nobody wanted.
Xu Tianzhou smiled faintly and asked, "Do you like it?"
Ni Zhenzhen was too busy crying to answer.
This car may just be a car to others, but to her it is a key to unlock the door to memories.
Her father was sentimental; ever since he bought that Mercedes, he hadn't changed cars. He used that car to take her to ballet lessons, to school, to exams, to the beach, to museums, to hot spring hotels...
Xu Tianzhou opened the car door and waved to her.
Ni Zhenzhen sat down and first shivered, then began to tremble uncontrollably.
It was much colder inside the car than outside, but her heart was warm. The familiar scene instantly transported her back to her childhood, as if her parents would turn around and ask her with concern, "Sweetie, why are you crying..."
Unfortunately, she can never go back. To be with Xu Tianzhou, she severed ties with her parents. Now, with this car, it's as if she has parents again, and a home again.
Xu Tianzhou also sat down and took a tissue to wipe Ni Zhenzhen's tears.
“How could you…” Ni Zhenzhen sobbed uncontrollably, and Xu Tianzhou had to strain to decipher her words, “I thought…”
"What did you think?"
Ni Zhenzhen burst into tears.
Although she repeatedly warned herself not to interfere with Xu Tianzhou, she was still somewhat saddened, as if she were on a boat that was taking on water, and while she was desperately trying to bail out the water, Xu Tianzhou was making the hole even bigger.
Thankfully, it was all a misunderstanding, and their hearts are still together.
Xu Tianzhou's deep gaze swept over her tear-streaked face, and he feigned anger as he spoke for her, "Do you think I only care about myself?"
Ni Zhenzhen nodded.
However, she didn't blame herself too much, because she realized she'd been tricked; Xu Tianzhou had done it on purpose! He had already planned to buy a used car, but intentionally misled her, causing her...
"You're so annoying!" Ni Zhenzhen cursed.
Xu Tianzhou chuckled and pulled her into his arms. Ni Zhenzhen struggled a couple of times, but her strength was too weak to be noticed and her movements were almost coquettish.
Xu Tianzhou asked seriously, "Are you happier with me than when you're alone?"
"No," Ni Zhenzhen said petulantly, "You always bully me."
"I bullied you?" Xu Tianzhou said, his breath coming in gasps like snowflakes, suddenly ruffled by the wind.
He leaned over, pressed Ni Zhenzhen down onto the seat, cupped her face and kissed the tip of her nose, then couldn't help but touch her cheek.
Tears, still wet and cool, clung to Ni Zhenzhen's eyelashes. As Xu Tianzhou kissed away the tears, he said in a hoarse voice, "Then I'll tease you a little more."
They sat in the car until very late that day.
Xu Tianzhou had wanted to take her for a drive, but the snow hadn't cleared yet, so he had to give up. It was already quite late, but Ni Zhenzhen was still sitting in the car, seemingly reluctant to leave.
On the front of the car was a small snowman that the two of them had made. It was about the size of a palm and extremely cute. Passersby couldn't help but take a second look.
Ni Zhenzhen told Xu Tianzhou many memories about the car. Even she herself didn't realize that many important moments in her life seemed to be related to this car.
This was something she wouldn't have said before, for fear of upsetting Xu Tianzhou. Now, she could finally open her heart.
Ni Zhenzhen also asked Xu Tianzhou about the story of his family's "miracle car," asking, "So when your family goes out together, do you squat or lie down?"
“How could I lie down? I have to haul goods every day, and I don’t know how dirty it is. The school uniform is so expensive. There’s a folding stool in the back, so I sit on that.”
"Weren't you stopped by the traffic police?"
"What do you mean there isn't? They were even fined."
"Really?" Ni Zhenzhen couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
Xu Tianzhou laughed along with him.
What he didn't say was that after being fined by the traffic police that day, his parents were quite upset. They first blamed each other, and then they both accused Xu Tianzhou, insisting that it was his fault.
"If it weren't for you, would we be suffering like this?"
"500 yuan is enough for a month's rent."
"I don't know when I'll be able to earn it back..."
"You must study hard..."
Back home, Ni Zhenzhen fell asleep quickly, while Xu Tianzhou closed his eyes wearily, unable to fall asleep for a long time.
Because he suddenly realized something, he seemed to be getting deeper and deeper into it.
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