Chapter Eighty-Nine: Snowfall and Impulse

People from truly wealthy families would never do this kind of work. Not only is it too public, but every gesture is scrutinized by the masses—a level of ostentation that brings more trouble than benefit. For the He family, this had considerable repercussions. Everyone in the He family knew He Cheng’s temperament and worried that his restless nature would get them into trouble again. That’s why He Cheng had been warned early on: don’t stir up trouble and implicate the family, or there would be nothing in it for him.

Mrs. Cheng, noticing Mrs. He’s lack of enthusiasm, smiled and said to Xin Gan, “I see it clearly now: when Mrs. He wanted to make Hui her goddaughter, her intentions were far from pure. If it weren’t for Jiu’s good relationship with He Chuan, I’d have fallen out with her long ago.”

The Cheng family was one of status and reputation. For Cheng Hui to accept a godmother was no trivial matter. If she really acknowledged Mrs. He, the two families would be tied even closer together—at least, that would be the implication wherever it was mentioned. But for the Cheng family, that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Mrs. Cheng was relieved that Hui hadn’t agreed back then. Otherwise, there would be no way to deal with today’s situation.

It was Xin Gan’s first time hearing that Cheng Hui had almost become Mrs. He’s goddaughter. She glanced at Mrs. He, who was also looking at her.

Xin Gan excused herself to the restroom. Not long after, Mrs. He also said she needed to go.

…

Coming out of the restroom, Xin Gan encountered Mrs. He and greeted her politely, “Aunt He.”

Mrs. He smiled, her expression a bit forced. “Xin Gan, I’d like to have a word with you.”

Xin Gan guessed it probably had something to do with He Cheng. “Alright.”

“Let’s find somewhere else—there are too many people and eyes here.”

They walked to a deserted corridor. Only when Mrs. He saw there was no one around did she speak freely. “Xin Gan, it’s nothing important—I just wanted to ask if you’ve been in touch with He Cheng lately?”

Xin Gan replied, “No.”

Mrs. He didn’t believe her but didn’t show it outwardly, only asking, “Really?”

“Yes, we haven’t been in contact.”

“So you did keep in touch before?”

“Yes, he reached out to me.”

There was no need to hide it; Xin Gan was open and unafraid for Mrs. He to know He Cheng had approached her.

Mrs. He pondered and said, “Xin Gan, if he contacts you again, please don’t respond. Just tell him you’re already married and it’s not appropriate to meet anymore.”

Xin Gan frowned, her voice turning cold. “Alright, Aunt.”

“Don’t take it the wrong way, I don’t mean anything else. It’s just that you and Jiu are already married, you have your marriage certificate, right? I know He Cheng has feelings for you, but he’s still young. Let’s just pretend nothing ever happened, alright?”

Xin Gan smiled. She had always wanted to treat it as if nothing happened, but He Cheng wouldn’t allow it—he kept coming to bother her, and she could hardly avoid him. She was married to Jiu now, and He Cheng knew it.

“Aunt He, I’m married. The wedding is at the end of the year. Even before marriage, I never thought of anything with He Cheng, and now there’s even less possibility. I’ll do my best to avoid what you’re worried about, but really, you should be saying this to He Cheng.”

Xin Gan was always gentle, never one to invite trouble. But after He Cheng’s repeated harassment, she was no longer so accommodating. And for Mrs. He to say this now implied that He Cheng sought her out because she didn’t refuse, making her partially responsible.

Mrs. He was somewhat displeased. “I’ll make things clear to my son. But I also hope you can keep your word and never interact with him again.”

Xin Gan forced a smile. She used to respect Mrs. He greatly; that’s why, when asked to look after He Cheng, she agreed. Now that He Cheng pestered her, it had somehow become her fault.

Utterly unreasonable.

No wonder He Cheng turned out the way he did—it was all Mrs. He’s indulgence, inseparable from their family environment.

Xin Gan let it go and didn’t argue, simply smiled and said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first.”

Mrs. He, not expecting her to be so sharp-tongued, wanted to say more but Xin Gan had already left.

…

Xin Gan returned late. Mrs. Cheng asked, “Did you run into Mrs. He?”

Anyone could see that Mrs. He had gone out after Xin Gan left, so they likely met.

“Yes, but I came back first,” Xin Gan replied.

Mrs. Cheng nodded. “If Mrs. He ever seeks you out, just deal with her casually. Don’t take her too seriously.”

In other words, Mrs. He was not someone to be trusted.

Afterward, Xin Gan offered to see Mrs. Cheng home. Mrs. Cheng patted her hand kindly, “No need, I have a driver. You’ve worked hard tonight. Drive safely, and message me when you get home.”

Mrs. Cheng got into her car first, and only then did Mrs. He emerge from the lobby. Upon seeing Xin Gan, her expression changed and she ignored her.

…

Mrs. He had her own driver. Once in the car, she cursed under her breath, “Bad luck.”

She glared at Xin Gan in the distance, then ordered, “Let’s go home.”

“Yes, madam.”

On the way, the more Mrs. He thought about it, the angrier she became—especially when she recalled Lin Qinglan’s smug face tonight. It was infuriating. So what if Jiu had married Xin Gan? The Chengs and the Xin family were now united, while the He family was completely shut out—getting none of the benefits.

Mrs. He called He Chuan. “Where are you?”

“Is something wrong?” he answered.

“Go check on He Cheng tomorrow. Make sure you go.”

He Chuan was silent.

“Did you hear me?”

“Yes,” He Chuan replied.

“And He Chuan, I want you to promise that no matter what happens, you mustn’t help outsiders. He Cheng is your own brother. You must help him.”

He Chuan grinned, licking his teeth.

…

While He Chuan was on the phone, Cheng Hui was beside him, eating chicken claws. She happened to glance up and saw his smile, which sent a chill down her spine. She spat out the chicken claw and wiped her mouth—almost forgetting they were still at odds.

That afternoon, after her classes, He Chuan—who had been waiting for a long time—caught her, stuffed her into his car, and brought her back to his place.

They sat in a standoff for hours. When she got hungry, He Chuan ordered food for her.

A massive dog was squatting nearby, tongue lolling, occasionally glancing over, attracted by the chicken claws.

The first time Cheng Hui saw that dog, she was nearly scared to death—she was terrified of dogs.

Fortunately, with He Chuan there, the dog didn’t dare move.

He Chuan hung up, his face dark as thunder.

Cheng Hui asked cautiously, “Was that Aunt He?”

“Yeah.” He Chuan slumped back into the sofa.

“Because of He Cheng again?” Apart from He Cheng, she couldn’t think of anyone else.

He Chuan didn’t answer and instead asked, “Feeling better? Not mad at me anymore?”

Cheng Hui’s expression shifted. “I’m not mad, I was just being reasonable. Don’t ever grab me in front of so many people again—it’s humiliating. If you have something to say, don’t lay hands on me.”

If there hadn’t been so many people, she would have fought him to the very end.

He Chuan stared at her for a while, then suddenly leaned forward and reached out to her.

Cheng Hui shrank back, leaving his hand awkwardly suspended in midair. She felt embarrassed too, adjusted her posture, and fiddled with her hair, not knowing what to do.

“You never used to dodge me, Hui.” He Chuan’s tone was low, his emotions unmasked. He withdrew his hand and asked, “Are you full? I’ll drive you back to school if you are.”

“Y-yes, I’m full,” she answered, still dazed.

He Chuan got up and fetched his keys. “Come on, I’ll take you back.”

Cheng Hui: “…”

…

On the way back to school, Cheng Hui was bewildered. Why had He Chuan suddenly done a complete one-eighty? No more teasing after dinner, just taking her back—was it really that simple?

This time, she insisted he stop at the school gate, refusing to let him drive her to the dorm.

The car stopped steadily by the gate. He Chuan said, “If you’re always this obedient, I’ll have so much less to worry about.”

Cheng Hui muttered under her breath, “Scoundrel!”

The car doors were locked. She glared at him, “Open the door, I want out.”

He Chuan said, “Hui, I’ll be away on a business trip for the next couple of weeks, not in Yongcheng. If you need anything, call me or my assistant.”

Upon hearing he’d be away, Cheng Hui was delighted but didn’t dare show it, pretending to be sad instead. “Alright, I’ll remember.”

“Good girl.” He knew she was pretending, but he was happy anyway. Looking at her, he couldn’t help himself—he pulled her close and kissed her cheek.

Only then did he finally let her out.

Cheng Hui hurried back to her dorm. After walking several dozen meters, she rubbed hard at the spot where he’d kissed her, wiping it again and again.

She’d never found him so infuriating before. Now that things were out in the open, he took every chance to touch her—making her feel nothing but annoyance.

…

He Chuan didn’t go to see He Cheng, only called to remind him to visit home when he had time.

He Cheng shot back, “Who should I see?”

“You know perfectly well. No need to play dumb with me.”

“I get it.”

Aside from Mrs. He, no one in the He family cared whether He Cheng lived or died.

He Chuan added, “And behave yourself from now on. Don’t cause any more trouble. Otherwise, He Cheng, I won’t hesitate to deal with you myself. If you want to keep your place, stay in line.”

He Cheng knew exactly what he meant and hung up.

Recently, He Cheng was at the peak of his fame, attracting a lot of fans. The company had crafted a perfect persona for him, securing his image with the public, and—so far—no dirt had emerged. He could stay popular for a while yet.

Of course, a portion of this hype was manufactured by the company, with fake numbers and manipulated data—unsustainable in the long run.

He Cheng didn’t see it that way. He thought he’d made it, that he was invincible, and didn’t fear He Chuan anymore—he barely acknowledged him.

Before leaving for his business trip, He Chuan arranged to meet with Tan Yazhuo.

…

Soon, the winter break arrived. Cheng Hui returned home, while Xin Gan was still busy in her studio. The students were off for the holidays, but she had no break—she’d be free only at New Year.

In the depths of winter, students bundled themselves up to practice in the studio. Cheng Hui would occasionally drop by. If she ran into that male classmate, she’d only greet him briefly. The boy himself seemed awkward—probably because he’d betrayed her—and no longer pestered her.

Cheng Hui didn’t seek him out either, thinking that if He Chuan found out, he’d make trouble for her again.

She was afraid of He Chuan, and afraid others might find out. He Chuan held it over her every time, and she was utterly at his mercy.

…

Xin Gan was unsettled and eventually asked Cheng Hui, “Has your brother contacted you?”

“No. Why?”

“I haven’t been able to reach him for a while—I feel like something’s happened.”

“Don’t worry, Sister Xin. That’s just how my brother’s job is. He often can’t be reached, but once he’s done, he’ll get in touch. When he’s on assignment, it’s confidential. It’s normal that we can’t reach him.”

“But…”

Cheng Hui was unconcerned and assured her, “I promise he’ll be fine. You know my brother’s built like a tank—he can handle three at once.”

The more she said so, the greater Xin Gan’s anxiety became.

Seeing her so worried, Cheng Hui offered, “How about I ask my dad if he knows anything?”

Xin Gan nodded, “Please do.”

Cheng Hui promised and immediately called her father.

When she brought it up, Mr. Cheng said, “It’s nothing, don’t worry.”

“I’m not worrying for nothing—I’m just concerned about my brother. Besides, it’s Sister Xin who’s asking about him, not me.”

Mr. Cheng seemed hesitant, sighing, “Bring Xin Gan home with you tonight. I have something to discuss with you both.”

Cheng Hui agreed and relayed this to Xin Gan.

“Is it about Jiu?” Xin Gan asked.

“Doesn’t seem like it—sounds like something else. Let’s stay positive, Sister Xin. My brother will be back soon, and then you two can be together again.”

Xin Gan smiled faintly. “I hope so.”

…

That evening, Xin Gan accompanied Cheng Hui home. Mr. Cheng called Xin Gan alone into his study.

Cheng Hui wanted to follow but was sternly rebuffed. She pouted, feeling wronged, and fell silent.

Once inside, Mr. Cheng invited Xin Gan to sit. She did so and asked softly, “Uncle Cheng, is there something important you need to tell me?”

He’d sent Cheng Hui away and called her alone—clearly, it was serious.

Mr. Cheng sighed heavily, remaining silent for a long time before finally saying, “I knew I couldn’t keep this from you—you’d find out eventually. I just hope you’re prepared, and whatever you hear, stay calm.”

Xin Gan’s heart pounded. “Please, go on.”

“Jiu can’t come back for now—he’s run into some trouble,” Mr. Cheng said.

It was as if Xin Gan’s mind exploded. She clenched the armrests. “What kind of trouble? Is it serious?”

“There was a change in his mission—he got involved with something he shouldn’t have. Now he’s in a hospital in Beiyu for treatment. I only found out two days ago. The situation is more complicated than we thought.”

That thing he “shouldn’t have gotten involved with”—what else could it be but something forbidden?

Xin Gan furrowed her brows tightly. “I understand.”

…

Cheng Hui was watching TV downstairs when Xin Gan came down. She rushed over, asking, “What did my dad say, Sister Xin? What’s so secret that I can’t know?”

“Hui, I just remembered something I need to finish. I have to go.”

“So soon?”

“Yes, it’s urgent. We’ll hang out another time.”

Cheng Hui could only see her out.

Xin Gan got in her car and left without even saying goodbye.

Cheng Hui was left bewildered. What was going on?

Upon returning home, Xin Gan quickly packed her documents and a suitcase of clothes—there was no time for anything else—and rushed to the airport that very night.

Even her parents were unaware she’d left with luggage. Only the housekeeper saw her and asked, “Going out for a while?”

“Just a short trip. I’ll be back in a few days—please let my parents know.”

There was a direct flight to Beiyu in four hours.

Xin Gan spent those four hours waiting at the airport. When the time came, she went through security and boarded.

Mr. Cheng had said that Meng Can wanted them to wait for news and that it wasn’t convenient to visit yet. Once Jiu improved, they could go see him. The illness could be treated, but the process would be painful, with severe reactions along the way.

It was a thorny situation.

And then there was Jiu’s identity, which required a thorough investigation.

For someone in his line of work to fall into this—it was no joke.

Xin Gan couldn’t describe her feelings. After hearing Mr. Cheng’s words, all she wanted was to see him immediately—no matter what state he was in.

Mr. Cheng initially hadn’t wanted to tell her, afraid she would worry—so he’d kept it from everyone.

But Xin Gan didn’t even tell Mr. Cheng she was going, keeping it from everyone as she rushed to the airport overnight.

Unlike before, she dared not let her thoughts wander. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him gravely wounded, hovering between life and death on a hospital bed.

She bit her lip hard to keep from crying.

Once in Beiyu, she hailed a taxi at the roadside, not knowing where the hospital was—only that she had to find Meng Can.

At the guard post, the officer asked her to wait while he went to report her arrival.

Snow had fallen in Beiyu, blanketing everything in white.

Xin Gan had no hat; her nose and cheeks were red from the cold.

Meng Can soon came out, saw her, and sighed heavily. “Why did you come?”

Xin Gan opened her mouth, breathed out a cloud of warm air, and before she could speak, tears began to fall. Her eyes were red, the tears hot, melting the snow on her face. In that moment, she could no longer tell snow from tears.

“Uncle Meng, I want to see him. No matter what state he’s in, I need to see him.”

Meng Can said, “Don’t cry, don’t cry—silly girl, it’s alright. Why are you crying?”

“Please, let me see him.”

“I’m not saying you can’t. It’s just not the time yet. Come in first, stop crying.”

But Xin Gan was stubborn. “Uncle Meng, don’t lie to me—I know, I know everything…”

Meng Can sighed again and called out, “Bring my car around.”

“Yes, Sir!” came the reply.

“Thank you, Uncle Meng, thank you!” Xin Gan said quickly.

“No need to thank me, child. This is far more complicated than you think. Promise me—when you see him, don’t ask anything. Not a word.”

“I know. I won’t ask, I promise.”

The road had been difficult even before, and now, with snow, it was even harder to reach the hospital.

In the back seat, Xin Gan’s face was grave, her lips white with worry.

Meng Can saw it all but could offer no comfort. Any words now would be hollow.

After a while, he asked, “Did Jiu’s father tell you?”

“Yes,” she nodded.

“You came alone? Does anyone else know?”

…