The New Favorite

“Oh, and Shen Mu, there’s something else you’ve been unfair about. Xiaodouzi has been back for so long, and you haven’t told me. If I hadn’t bumped into her by chance that day, I wouldn’t have known she was back. You two aren’t fair.” Shen Mu paused, “Xiaodouzi? I haven’t seen her.” He Ming was taken aback, looked at Rongrong, then at Shen Mu in disbelief. “Xiaodouzi, here, you say you haven’t seen her?” Shen Mu’s smile froze as he stared at Rongrong in disbelief. Rongrong’s face was slightly pale; she seemed unable to meet Shen Mu’s gaze, lowering her head with a forced smile, “I didn’t tell Shen Mu about my plastic surgery. I changed my name to Rongrong years ago.” Both He Ming and Shen Mu’s expressions changed. She lifted her head, her sharp chin raised, “I wanted to forget the past. Start anew.” “Xiaodouzi, you-” Rongrong quickly interrupted He Ming, “Call me Rongrong.” The door was gently knocked, and a server brought in the dishes. “Come on, let’s drink some wine today. Rongrong, bring out your good stuff. Had I known Shen Mu was here, I would have brought some wine.” Rongrong nodded, fetched a bottle of Wuliangye, and returned. “Make do with this, it’s not as good as what you have at home.” He Ming inspected the bottle’s date and grinned, “Rongrong, you’re quite generous to me today. Unlike back in the day,” Rongrong’s face changed, interrupting him, and turned to Shen Mu, asking, “Oh, Shen Mu, can you drink today? Your stomach isn’t good.” Shen Mu propped his hand with a smile, “I’ll drink with a friend even if it costs my life.” Xu Ke, being attentive, noticed that Shen Mu seemed a bit uneasy ever since he learned that Rongrong was Little Douzi, as if he hadn’t fully recovered from the surprise. Huo Ming poured a glass of wine and nodded to Shen Mu, “Shen Mu, feel free to drink at your leisure, I know you’ve gotten used to drinking foreign liquor abroad these past few years and don’t drink much baijiu. Xu Ke, you can just watch.” Shen Mu smiled and nodded, then downed a glass with him. Huo Ming poured another, then looked at Rongrong, finishing it in one gulp. Rongrong, not being delicate, picked up her glass and returned the gesture. Xu Ke quietly marveled; this strong liquor didn’t faze her at all. Huo Ming stared intently at Rongrong, “Today, we won’t stop until we’re drunk.” Xu Ke silently watched Huo Ming, recalling that night six years ago when Huo Ming embraced Little Douzi and gave her a fierce kiss. Was it just her imagination, or did that fierceness carry a deep affection as if he wanted to melt her into his very bones? However, she never imagined that Little Douzi had a secret crush on Shen Mu at that time. That’s love for you; the one you love might not love you back, and the one you don’t love might be deeply in love with you. The three of them, except for Xu Ke who didn’t drink, chatted while drinking. Shen Mu spoke the least, while Huo Ming drank the most and talked the most, gradually getting excited, seemingly a bit drunk. “You’re really heartless. I treated you so well back then. When you said you were going to audition for a talent show, I went and greased some palms, gave them ten thousand, just to get you sixth place. I didn’t expect you to just leave without a word. I looked for you for a whole year, do you know that?” “I didn’t know.” “You might not have known, but you could’ve guessed.” Rongrong scoffed, “I couldn’t guess. Why would you look for me with so many women around you? You probably change them every three months.” Huo Ming, eyes red, said, “Little Douzi, you,” “I’m Rongrong. I never promised you anything, and you didn’t promise me anything. I really didn’t expect to have to report my whereabouts to you after leaving.” “You clearly knew I liked you.” “You like many people. I remember one time you bought three bottles of Givenchy perfume, each with a different scent, because you were going to give them to three different girls with different personalities.” Huo Ming seemed choked, “You were different in my heart. I was sincere to you,” “Huo Ming, that’s not sincerity. It’s just throwing money around.” “You’re too heartless.” “No, it’s you who’s too numbing. Because you have too much money. Ten thousand six years ago was an astronomical sum for many, but for you, it was just the price of a few good bottles of wine from your father’s cellar. What you’ve given me, at most, was money. I didn’t feel any of your love. So when I left, really, I felt no guilt at all.” “You think what I’ve given you is just money?” “Forget it, the past is meaningless. Let’s just say I borrowed money from you. Wait a moment.” With that, Rongrong walked out. After a while, she came back with a passbook. “There’s over ten thousand in here, consider it the principal plus interest, I don’t owe you anything now, right?” Huo Ming, eyes bloodshot, threw the passbook to the ground with a thud, opened the door, and stormed out. Shen Mu and Xu Ke hurried after him. Huo Ming shook off Shen Mu’s hand, got into his car. Shen Mu blocked the car door, urgently saying, “You can’t drive drunk, Huo Ming. Little Douzi has always had that bad temper, didn’t you know her back then?” Huo Ming, face pale, pushed Shen Mu away. “I was blind. Seeing her, I couldn’t sleep with excitement all night, and like a fool, I came looking for her.” “Huo Ming!” Huo Ming slammed the car door, floored the accelerator, and sped off. Shen Mu stared blankly at the black silhouette disappearing into the night, clenching his fists. Xu Ke, worried, asked, “Is his place far?” “Not far.” Shen Mu turned to look at Rongrong. “Did you have to hurt him like that?” “He doesn’t understand what love is, thinking that giving something means others should be grateful, expecting them to repay him. Love is never equal. He’s laughably naive. What feelings he has given, compared to mine, what do they count for? Feelings don’t make sense, it’s not about how much you give, you get.” Shen Mu said slowly, “Everyone expresses their feelings differently, as long as it’s sincere, it should be respected. You can refuse, but you shouldn’t hurt.” Tears suddenly fell from Rongrong’s eyes. “Shen Mu, I’ve been by your side for ten years. From Little Douzi back then to Rongrong now.” “I admit Xu Ke is prettier, more innocent, and kinder than me, but she can’t compare to the six years I’ve spent with you. I’ve seen you at your best and at your worst. Six years are enough to change a person’s appearance, to make a relationship go through ups and downs. You unilaterally believe you love her, but you’re deceiving yourself. You just want her to help you untie the knot in your heart.” “If you weren’t feeling guilty because you once thought she was your sister, could you have been obsessed with a woman for six years? Love isn’t as solid, unbreakable, or eternal as you think. If love were to last, it wouldn’t matter about daily presence, that’s all bullshit. Your obsession isn’t because of love, it’s because of guilt.” The author has something to say: During the Chinese New Year, I’ll be busy, so updates will be slower. I apologize for that. The dusk enveloped the three of them. The moment Rongrong’s words fell, those three words, as if carrying a scent of blood, spread through the night air. A deathly silence surrounded them. The wind stopped, the trees ceased, and all was silent. Xu Ke felt her heart, like an untouched string, suddenly being harshly strummed, instantly creating discordant notes. Rongrong’s face was pale, her eyes red, her body seemingly trembling. Such intense and fierce words, erupting without regard for consequences, Xu Ke had never experienced, but she understood the taste of despair and pain well. She turned to walk towards Rongdi, feeling she shouldn’t be between the two; it was their story, and she had been absent for six years, unable to intervene. Shen Mu grabbed her, then turned to Rongrong and said, “I know my feelings better than anyone.” His words were firm, as if speaking to Rongrong but more to Xu Ke. With that, he took her hand and walked away. She hesitated whether to pull her hand away, but he gripped it tightly, as if they were in a silent tug-of-war, trying to convey strength to pull her back from her subconscious drift and hesitation. The two walked back to Rong Residence in silence, his hand never letting go of hers. Under the corridor, Shen Mu stopped and looked at her. “Let’s sit here for a while.” Xu Ke sat silently on the swing under the corridor, her mind in turmoil. Rong Rong’s words weighed heavily on her heart. Shen Mu sat down beside her, causing the swing to gently rock. The courtyard was tranquil at night, with soft lighting and a refreshing breeze that easily calmed the mind. After a moment of silence, Shen Mu pointed towards the lawn and said softly, “I remember the first time I saw you, you were standing right there. Wearing a white dress, so clean and well-behaved. I intended to be stern with you all, but seeing you, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.” Following his finger, she recalled their first meeting; he was standing under the corridor, looking at her from afar, his expression indifferent yet strikingly handsome, like a distant mountain. “I was always cold to you. But you didn’t mind and kindly called me ‘brother.’ Aunt Shao is a good person, at least my father looked healthier and smiled more often. Gradually, I didn’t feel so averse to you all. Then one day, a hedgehog got into your room, and I heard you scream and ran in to find you leaping onto me, clinging tightly.” Her heart skipped a beat; the scene from that night was vivid in her mind, the first time she had ever embraced a man. He smiled, “From that day, something seemed different in my heart. But liking you always made me feel guilty, as if I was betraying my mother. So I always held back, even though I knew you liked me.” She silently looked at the clusters of roses across the lawn, memories unfolding with his words. His attitude was always ambiguous; sometimes, she thought she saw something in his eyes about to surface, but it would vanish in an instant, replaced by composure. “When I learned the truth, I returned home immediately but didn’t seek you out right away because you were with Lin Ge. I thought you were happy, and I planned to silently bless you from afar, only offering you material support. But I couldn’t do it; seeing you, all those feelings came rushing back, stronger than before. I thought of you every day, found excuses to see you, felt jealous when you were with Lin Ge, and was even thrilled when our photos appeared in the tabloids. That day at Cloud Peak, I wished I could lock you inside, never letting you leave. I’m telling you all this to say, my feelings for you have been reborn, not as she described. After knowing the truth, all the shadows have completely cleared, and I have no reservations.” Xu Ke said softly, “I understand. But our feelings always seem to be out of sync.” Shen Mu held her hand, “It won’t be anymore.” Xu Ke was silent for a moment, then looked at him seriously and said, “But I need time.” Shen Mu gazed back at her, “No need, I feel it’s time. You’ve occupied ten years of my life, almost the best ten years; you should take responsibility soon.” What was meant to be a serious conversation was lightened by him. She was both amused and annoyed, suddenly remembering something, and said with irritation, “I haven’t settled accounts with you yet. What did you ask for from Director Huo today?” Shen Mu looked at her with a smile, “Oh, I was doing you a favor, giving you an extra month’s leave.” “Why would I take marriage leave if I’m not getting married? Aren’t you making my colleagues laugh at me?” Shen Mu said earnestly, “Once you’re married, they won’t laugh.” Whenever it came to this topic, he would act stubborn, and Xu Ke didn’t argue, turning to enter the house. He followed her, “Little Ke, I’m serious.” She entered the room, and he followed, clearly intending to continue the conversation. Xu Ke was wary of his seemingly casual yet relentless proposal tactics and quickly made an excuse to get him to leave. “I’m going to take a bath and sleep.” “Okay.” He said, but didn’t move. “Then you should leave.” “Go ahead and wash, there’s a door to the bathroom, isn’t there?” “But,” the thought of him being outside made her uncomfortable, even with a door. He, however, seemed oblivious, perfectly at ease without any intention of leaving. Xu Ke casually placed her phone on the table; he picked it up, dialed a number, and her phone rang. She didn’t understand his intent. He glanced at her phone and then turned to her with a fierce look, “Haven’t changed it yet? Still ‘Red Crowned Crane’?” Xu Ke stifled a laugh, biting her lip. Shen Mu held the phone up to her, “Change the name.” “No, I like it.” Shen Mu gritted his teeth looking at her, then took matters into his own hands and changed the name, handing it back. Xu Ke looked down to see “Red Crowned Crane” changed to “Husband.” Her face flushed, she grabbed the phone to change it back. Shen Mu held her hand down, “You can’t change it.” “No way.” Otherwise, every time she received his call, the screen would display “Husband,” which was too startling. “You can’t change it.” Xu Ke smiled and stepped back, “Then I’ll change one character.” “One character?” “Yeah, ‘Old Shen’.” Shen Mu, with furrowed brows, gritted his teeth, “Old, Shen?” Xu Ke stifled her laughter, “Hmm.” “Am I old?” Xu Ke deliberately smiled, “You’re four years older than me, aren’t you?” “Fine, you wait, I’ll give you a nice name too.” Saying so, he gritted his teeth and did something on the phone. Then, he smiled meaningfully at her. Xu Ke, curious, asked, “What name? Let me see.” “No.” “Stingy.” “Change it to ‘Husband’, and I’ll let you see.” “Then I won’t look.” Although they bickered, she wasn’t angry at all; as they spoke, a smile crept onto her lips, her eyes crescent-shaped and bright. It was as if they had returned to their youthful days. He was a bit dazed by the sight, then suddenly embraced her and kissed her. The ambush was so sudden that it was a thorough conquest. But after a while, he released her and left in frustration. Periods, sometimes, are really quite torturous. The next day was when Shao Yiping was transferred from the ICU to a regular ward. Early in the morning, Xu Ke eagerly had Shen Mu take her to the hospital. Although only a few days had passed, it felt like ages to Xu Ke, as if she had never been away from Shao Yiping for so long. The moment Xu Ke saw her, she gently touched her cheek and couldn’t help but cry. She still had medical instruments attached to her body, her face pale and emaciated, looking severely thin. Shao Yiping opened her eyes and softly called out, “Child.” “Mom,” Xu Ke held her hand, tears falling onto the back of her hand. “Mom, I’ve missed you so much these past few days.” Shao Yiping squeezed her fingers in return, “Mom missed you too.” Shen Mu, standing by the bedside, said, “Aunt Shao, I’ve hired two nurses, they’ll be here soon. Xiao Ke, I need to go to work. Don’t let Aunt Shao talk too much.” Xu Ke walked him to the door, where Shen Mu whispered, “Call me if anything happens.” “Sure, go ahead. I’ll have Wan Cheng come over later; he can handle anything.” Shen Mu glanced at her, “Why not call me?” “Because Wan Cheng is mom’s son.” “A son-in-law is also a son.” Xu Ke quickly pushed him out, afraid Shao Yiping might hear. When she returned to the bedside, Shao Yiping whispered, “Xiao Ke, did Li Jinghua tell you?” Xu Ke nodded, “She did.” Shao Yiping looked at her with guilt, “Child, I wanted to keep it from you forever.” Xu Ke quickly reassured her, “Mom, I’m happy to have a brother or a sister to help take care of you. Otherwise, I’d be worried about not being able to care for you alone.” “Xiao Ke, are you really not upset at all? I’ve always been afraid to tell you, worried you’d be upset.” “Mom, I’m not upset, really. You’ve been so good to me that even if I were upset, it would be about not being your biological child, not about being abandoned.” Shao Yiping held her hand and sighed, “When I woke up in the hospital and saw you for the first time, I loved you to the core. That little bundle of joy was something I exchanged with my life. I felt that even if I died, it would be worth it. Back then, my milk had dried up. I drank fish soup, pig’s trotter soup, and all sorts of folk remedies to bring it back, bit by bit. Your father told me when I had already been nursing you for a month. But that child, I didn’t even get a glance, my flesh and blood carried for ten months. How could I willingly give up? I went to see Li Jinghua many times before she would see me. Not only did she not tell me where the child was, but she also mocked me for taking the money and then regretting it, saying I was shamelessly trying to have both money and the child. She had me thrown out. The only person I’ve ever hated in this life is her.” “After that, she was nowhere to be found. You were innocent, how could I bear to treat you badly? Sigh, since then, you’ve been my only child.” Xu Ke smiled through her tears, “Mom, now you have two children, truly blessed with both a son and a daughter.” Shao Yiping smiled, “I used to think watching you and Shen Mu was like having both. By the way, what did he say about the son-in-law being a son?” Xu Ke hesitated, then softly said, “Mom, Lin Ge and I broke up.” “Broke up? Why?” Xu Ke explained the reasons. Shao Yiping sighed after hearing, “Xiao Ke, you did the right thing. Honestly, even if it was a match made in heaven, with his family interfering, it’s like having something tasteless but not worth eating. Eventually, family conflicts would erode the little love between you and Lin Ge, leading to a life of stagnant days. I’ve never liked that family, but to be fair, Lin Ge is a good kid, and you both had a good relationship, so I was always worried yet reluctant to break it up.” Shao Yiping continued, “That day, Shen Mu told me about the misunderstanding from back then, and I realized I had wronged him. But, I also don’t want you to start over with him. Li Jinghua is too difficult to deal with. In the future, having such a mother-in-law would be even more challenging than dealing with Li Pingyu.” Xu Ke knew this all too well. “Child, there’s wisdom in the old saying ‘marry within your own class’; it helps avoid many unnecessary conflicts. You should find someone more suitable. Treat Shen Mu like a brother.” “Mom, I understand.” “How has Wan Cheng been these past few days?” “He’s doing well, his mom’s back, planning to visit you.” Shao Yiping’s expression changed slightly, then after a moment, she said, “Let’s talk about it after I’m discharged.” “You don’t want to see her?” “No, she raised Wan Cheng well; I have no grudges. I just want to feel better and chat with her about you and Wan Cheng, so it’s like we’ve seen how you both grew up.” As they spoke, the nurses arrived. Shortly after, Yin Wan Cheng also came. Xu Ke smiled when she saw him, “Mom was just thinking about you.” Yin Wan Cheng smiled back, “Well, my mom was thinking about you early this morning too.” They chatted for a while, then Xu Ke’s phone rang. Seeing it was Shen Mu, she stepped out to the corridor to answer. “Xiao Ke, Huo Ming is dead.” Xu Ke was shocked, “What did you say?” “Huo Ming is dead,” Shen Mu’s voice was so low it was almost inaudible. Xu Ke’s heart trembled; how could it be, such a vibrant person, full of life and energy. “How did it happen?” “He was in a car accident.” “Was it last night?” Xu Ke asked, still holding onto a sliver of hope that it wasn’t because of the confrontation at Yu Lu last night. Shen Mu whispered, “Yes, shortly after leaving Yu Lu.” Xu Ke felt an overwhelming weight on her chest. At the time, she only thought Rong Rong’s words were hurtful, not realizing they could be fatal. Huo Ming’s death, she couldn’t shake off the responsibility. If she hadn’t thrown that bankbook at him, he wouldn’t have stormed off. “I need to go to the Huo family today, I won’t have time to visit the hospital. Have Yin Wan Cheng take you home tonight, okay?” “I want to pay my respects.” “Wait until tomorrow; today is very chaotic.” After hanging up, Xu Ke was filled with profound sorrow, unable to accept the sudden news. Life is so strong yet so fragile; a person full of life and laughter could be gone in an instant, forever separated. She stared blankly at the hospital’s courtyard, where life and death coexist, where everyone enters with a desire to live, but not all leave alive. Life is fleeting and unpredictable, leaving one with a sudden sense of emptiness and sorrow. Who knows when life will end? We always think there’s more time to waste, only to find it ends abruptly, leaving no chance for regrets. Back in the hospital room, Yin Wancheng noticed that Xu Ke’s expression had changed and asked with concern, “What’s wrong?” “A friend of mine passed away, not even thirty yet. Last night, we were still having dinner together.” Yin Wancheng was taken aback, “So young?” “Yes, a car accident.” Shao Yiping quickly asked, “Was it a drunk driver?” “Yes, he was in a bad mood and had been drinking.” Shao Yiping immediately grabbed Yin Wancheng’s hand and said, “Wancheng, you must never drive after drinking. I’m not worried about Xu Ke. You’re a man, and you often find yourself in such situations. Don’t be reckless or concerned about saving face. Your life is not something to be played with.” Yin Wancheng nodded, “I’ll be careful, mom, don’t worry.” Xu Ke was deeply saddened and sighed involuntarily, “Mom, life is truly unpredictable, full of uncertainties.” Yin Wancheng said, “Everyone has their day, Xu Ke, try to look on the brighter side.” Xu Ke nodded, taking a deep breath, wondering if Rongrong knew about this news yet? How would she react upon hearing it? This incident would likely leave a permanent knot in her heart.