At the Moment of Parting (2) (Dedicated to Ke Zuanshi)

Linglan clutched her trench coat tightly as she headed to the shopping mall to meet Ye Shenghan.

Her phone rang incessantly in her pocket. Linglan snapped out of her trance and answered, "Hello?"

"Look behind you."

Linglan turned instinctively, searching the crowd until she found him. Ye Shenghan was standing not far away, waving at her. "Over here."

Linglan smiled at him and trotted over. Ye Shenghan noticed her V-neck top and how the wind had turned her neck slightly red. "Are you cold?" he asked with concern.

Linglan shook her head. Ye Shenghan sighed softly, lamenting that she didn't take better care of herself by dressing warmer, yet as he watched her, the corners of his lips curled up, as if he were in a good mood. "Let's go."

Ye Shenghan turned to lead the way, but after only a few steps, he glanced back at her, slowing his pace to wait.

Linglan, unaware of his intention, stepped onto the escalator side-by-side with him. Feeling his gaze, she looked up slightly and realized Ye Shenghan was watching her. She offered a responsive smile and asked softly, "What is it?" She touched her cheek. "Is there something on my face?"

Ye Shenghan looked away, pretending to be distracted, his lips pressed together, though he couldn't quite hide the pleased expression on his face. In his memory, this was the first time they had gone shopping together, and the first time they had spent New Year's Eve together.

His fingers crept stealthily toward hers. After a brief hesitation, he felt the cool temperature of her skin and finally opened his palm to take her hand.

Linglan started, looking over immediately to find Ye Shenghan holding her hand firmly. Her heart hammered like a drum—not with the expected joy, but with a sense of panic that left her at a loss. Ye Shenghan, however, was not satisfied with just that; he interlaced his fingers with hers.

She looked up at him. He was still looking elsewhere, asking with a smile, "What’s wrong?"

Her gaze was somewhat stagnant. "My hand!"

The words finally spilled from her lips as she realized she felt a sudden resistance. What was wrong with her? In a moment of distraction, she pulled her hand away. Ye Shenghan watched her descend a step, deliberately creating distance between them, his expression pensive.

The two exchanged few words on the way. Ye Shenghan followed behind her as she stood before the cold cabinet selecting fresh poultry. He had already written out a menu, and they went straight to the task. Linglan smiled. "You even prepared this?"

Hearing her laugh broke the awkward, stagnant atmosphere. Ye Shenghan replied with a faint smile, calling her name softly, "Linglan!"

"Yes?"

"This is our first New Year's Eve together."

He emphasized the word "together," a term laden with meaning. Linglan lowered her face slightly and nodded. "Yes!"

"After our plan is complete," Ye Shenghan paused, looking at her earnestly, his voice probing, "have you ever thought..."

Before he could finish, Linglan looked up, her eyes filled with a flicker of astonishment. Despite her best efforts to mask it, he could still detect a hint of hesitation. Compared to half a year ago, she had changed; she had become someone who held things back in his presence.

Ye Shenghan paused. He had originally wanted to ask her, "Have you ever thought about... being with me?" But those last five words stuck in his throat, choking him into silence. Instead, he heard Linglan ask hesitantly, "When will that information be released?"

Ye Shenghan looked into her black-and-white eyes, their clarity now devoid of any pretense. "In seven days," he said.

As expected, her gaze turned turbulent. Linglan gripped the shopping cart handle tighter. Seven days later would be the end of the Spring Festival holiday, the time when regular work resumed. There was no need to ask why; she understood perfectly well that Ye Shenghan intended to hit the financial world with a bombshell the moment they returned.

Linglan dared not imagine the consequences, but she had already made her decision, hadn't she? Ye Shenghan had asked her to hand over the original photos she had taken. She had delayed for a few days, but tonight was likely the final deadline. She bit her lip, her delicate face revealing a growing anxiety. Even if she tried to hide those emotions, the subtle expressions on her face could not lie.

Ye Shenghan said nothing more. Linglan lowered her eyes and gave a faint smile. "Alright!" She realized that even this single word was trembling.

***

After purchasing their New Year supplies and fresh food, she followed Ye Shenghan to his place.

His apartment was spotless, reflecting the self-discipline of his daily habits. Ye Shenghan taped the menu to the cupboard; Linglan washed and chopped the vegetables, while Ye Shenghan took charge of the stove. They worked with clear division of labor, two busy figures in the cramped kitchen.

The water was icy, turning her fingers red, but she was reminded of a time when he had suddenly hugged her from behind and turned on the hot water tap for her. With the sound of flowing water, Linglan's thoughts drifted away.

"Cough... cough..." The man's slight cough brought her back to reality. She realized the basin was overflowing, her hands still submerged in the freezing water.

She glanced quietly at Ye Shenghan, who was focused entirely on the soup on the stove. She took the opportunity to dry her hands and stepped out of the kitchen. Mo Zhicheng had given her two days off, but he hadn't contacted her during that time. She snuck into the bathroom, grabbed her phone, and opened her inbox. There were no unread messages.

Linglan's gaze dimmed. The phone in her palm was as quiet as a sobbing child, without a single movement.

Where would he be on New Year's Eve?!

"Linglan?" The man was looking for her from outside the room. Linglan pulled herself together and replied, "I'm here."

The kitchen was filled with a rich aroma. Ye Shenghan was tasting the seasoning. "Linglan, chop some more ginger slices."

"Okay!"

The sound of chopping echoed beside the man. Linglan was distracted. Where would he be on New Year's Eve?

—"Want to spend New Year's Eve with me? My dad is in the U.S., and I just got back; he knows that, and I won't be going back for a while."

Thinking of the call from Leng Tingyu in the elevator that day, she frowned, only to feel a sharp sting in her hand. "Ah!" Looking down, she saw the sharp knife had sliced through her fingernail, and bright red blood was gushing out. Hearing her scream, Ye Shenghan rushed over, struck with alarm. Her index finger had a deep cut. Heart aching, he immediately grabbed her finger and put it under cold running water, but that wasn't enough. He began to suck the blood from the wound. When he looked up, he saw her brows knitted in pain. "Does it still hurt?" he asked, his heart aching. The sensation felt as if it were cutting into his own chest, the pain spreading through his entire body.

So, when she was in pain, he felt it even more acutely than she did!

Ye Shenghan breathed deeply, unaware that his own brows were furrowed in distress. "Why were you so careless?"

Linglan shook her head, trying to pull her hand away. "I'm fine."

"You sliced your nail, and you call that fine?"

"It really doesn't hurt." She smiled at him, but her brow remained furrowed, still carrying a hint of sorrow.

They celebrated their New Year's Eve together with a toast. The house was brightly lit, and outside, fireworks bloomed. The thunderous roar of firecrackers welcomed the new year and its beautiful hopes.

Linglan pulled back the curtains, watching the velvet-like sky. Fireworks suddenly erupted, illuminating the night. Like falling stars, the sparks cascaded from the sky, the world of jade trees and shimmering flowers reflecting against the dark night. She pressed her palms together, closed her eyes, and made a wish.

Ye Shenghan stood beside her, watching the colorful light play across her fresh features. With the starlight dancing around them, he watched her butterfly-wing eyelashes tremble in the dark night.

After dinner, Ye Shenghan drove her home. He parked his car in the usual alley, and they walked the remaining few hundred meters together along the path. The shadows of the leaves fell in mottled patterns on the cobblestone road. It felt as if nothing had changed, yet, in the shadows, something had quietly shifted—though neither of them had realized it yet.

Under the fireworks-lit sky, he waved at her. "Go on up!"

She watched his receding figure, but then he stopped. Through the darkness, he shouted, "Linglan, tell me... what did you wish for tonight?" His voice echoed in the night air.

*Beep.*

Her phone pinged. Ye Shenghan looked down to see she had typed: *I won't tell you!* Another text arrived: *Young Master Ye, Happy New Year!*

*Beep.*

"Happy New Year, may you always be happy!"

Linglan looked at the words, gently masking her eyes. She gripped her phone tightly and looked toward the man in the distance. The night shrouded his tall figure as he watched her. Linglan smiled faintly. When she looked down at the phone again, her decision was made. No hesitation—she must not hesitate, or she would ruin the Young Master's plan.

Finally, the smile gradually faded.

She sent the entire folder of photos to Ye Shenghan. A beep indicated that all data had been transmitted.