Chapter 26

*The Moon Runs to Me*
“Big Sis, Sang-sang’s been back so long and still hasn’t shown her face. She’s not *avoiding* me, is she? And what kind of young person just sleeps all day? Why don’t I go wake her up?”
They still lived in the old house. It held the memories of three people. After Qin Dahai died, Wen Shuyu hadn’t wanted to move. A couple of years ago the roof had started to leak; mildew had bloomed on the walls.
Stubborn as she was gentle, Wen Shuyu had only replaced the tiles. The house itself she refused to touch. It was the last place her husband had left his trace.
The one flaw was the thin walls. Sound carried. Early that morning, Aunt Minzhu’s sharp voice filled the whole place.
Qin Sang lay there a while, staring at a sea-green patch of mold in the corner. Sunlight crept into the room and hit her swollen eyelids, stinging.
She flinched and shut her eyes. Outside, her aunt went on, “You can’t say that. She’s not a kid anymore. Time to think about marriage. Look at Xiao Yan—she’s younger and already talking wedding.”
“Xiao Yan’s hearing-impaired, and even she’s found someone. Our Sang-sang’s conditions are so good. If she stays single, it’ll sound bad.”
Qin dragged the pillow over her head. It didn’t block that voice.
She sighed, flung back the blanket, and opened the door just in time to hear:
“Women don’t stay young long. She’s twenty-six already. In a blink she’ll be thirty. Then it’ll be hard. Just look at you—marrying that useless man, ruining your own life and your child’s.”
“Aunt Minzhu,” Qin said coolly, “my dad’s been dead seven or eight years. His bones are cold. Do you have to pick at him? The dead should be left in peace. Life in this world is full of turns. Dad might not have been as ‘capable’ as Uncle—but he loved us more than himself. Uncle, on the other hand…”
She smiled without warmth. “By the way, Aunt—why *didn’t* Uncle come back with you this time?”
As a child, she’d been clueless. Now she understood. Minzhu and her husband had never gotten along. They’d only stayed together for Penny. With Penny now grown and abroad, he had stopped pretending. He refused to come home and was set on divorce. No wonder Minzhu had moved back to Ningjiang.
Her aunt’s face darkened. She barely kept up appearances. “He’s busy. Lots of work, no time. He’ll come at New Year to visit your parents.”
“Oh, that explains it.” Qin widened her eyes as if enlightened. “No wonder I saw him chatting so intimately with a lady at that charity gala. They must’ve been discussing work. He’s so busy. Cousin’s overseas. You must be bored alone at home, Aunt. No wonder you’ve got spare energy to manage other people’s lives so early in the morning.”
“You—”
The word caught in her throat. After a long beat, Minzhu ground out, “You talk terribly. If I weren’t your *aunt*, I wouldn’t care about your future.”
“Fine,” she snorted, standing. “I get it. You just can’t stand me. I try to help and you bite my hand. I’m the one at fault.”
Qin tilted her head against the doorframe, smiling lazily. “Strange, Aunt Minzhu. We don’t have a dog, but I keep hearing barking all morning. Very disruptive.”
“Sang-sang.” Wen Shuyu shot her a warning look.
Minzhu almost burst. She turned to tears instead. “Big Sis, how can she talk to me like that? I was being *kind*—thinking of you, a widow and your child. That boy I mentioned has great conditions. He works at a confidential unit. Simple family—just a grandfather, no messy relatives. Perfect. People couldn’t find a match like that with a lantern. How can she be so ungrateful?”
“She’s just careless with words,” Wen Shuyu soothed. “I’ll apologize for her. Don’t take it to heart.”
Minzhu grabbed her bag. “Don’t. I can’t afford it. Your daughter’s sharp enough to cut. If my brother hadn’t begged me, I wouldn’t have come.”
“Minzhu—”
“Save it. Being good to people doesn’t pay. Pretend I was never here. Pretend I never wasted my kindness on a white-eyed wolf.”
She stormed out. Wen Shuyu couldn’t stop her. Turning back, she sighed at Qin Sang. “Don’t be so blunt. She’s still your elder. If word gets around, people will talk.”
“Let them,” Qin muttered, curling on the sofa. “My reputation’s already bad. What’s a little more gossip?”
Her mother smiled helplessly. “You really are your father’s daughter.”
At his name, sorrow flickered across her face. Qin Sang froze. “Sorry, Mom.”
“It’s not your fault,” Wen Shuyu said softly. “Your aunt’s spoiled and sharp-tongued. She’s hurt people with that mouth. But…”
She hesitated. “She’s had it rough too. Your uncle’s been awful. For Penny’s sake she swallowed a lot. Now that Penny’s abroad, he’s gotten worse. Your aunt’s proud. She’s eaten plenty of bitterness.”
“Next time you see her, apologize. However much you dislike a senior, be polite. Don’t give people something to stab your back with.”
“Got it,” Qin mumbled. “If I can’t deal with her, I’ll just hide.”
Her mother brushed her cheek and smiled. “Alright. Now stop pouting. Go nap. We’re having dinner with your uncle tonight. Don’t let people see you’ve been crying.”
“Uncle’s back?” she blurted.
“Mm. Came in last night, got here at dawn. He wants to see you. You can ignore Minzhu, but not him. He dotes on you.”
Aside from Aunt, the Wens had treated her fairly well. Grandma and Grandpa had doted more on Penny, but that was only natural—Penny had grown up with them.
Uncle Wen Hengyu, though, had always been even. He was a diplomat, often stationed abroad. When she’d stayed with the Wens, he’d teach her to read and take her to the observatory.
In her memory, he was a gentle gentleman—courteous to the bone, precise in all things.
“Then I’ll get ready,” she said.
She really wasn’t fit to be seen like this.
Thankfully, the dinner was at night. By then the traces around her eyes had faded. Unless you looked closely, you wouldn’t see she’d cried.
They met at a newly opened restaurant—traditional architecture, elegant and refined.
The elders greeted each other warmly. Qin Sang stayed quiet at her mother’s side, smiling politely when people addressed her.
“This must be Sang-sang,” one aunt said, holding her hand and looking her up and down. “So pretty. Our family doesn’t have a girl this lovely.”
Because it was a family meal, Qin had dressed properly—an oyster-pink coat, white knit dress, hair smooth with a pale felt clip at one side. Her eyes were bright, brows soft—pure and graceful.
“Of course,” someone muttered. “She’s a big star now. Eyes growing on top of her head.”
Minzhu had come, too. Still stewing from the morning, she turned away with a snort when she saw them. Hearing others praise Qin, she couldn’t resist a cold jab.
Wen Shuyu sent Qin a look. Qin hesitated, then stepped forward with a teacup. “Aunt, this morning was my fault. Please don’t be angry with me.”
Minzhu eyed her, then sniffed. “I can’t afford your tea. I’d probably get indigestion.”
“Perfect. I’m parched from the trip. Let me drink it.”
The last to arrive was Uncle Wen Hengyu—he wasn’t alone. An elderly man beside him stood straight, sharp eyes under thick brows. Authority radiated off him, but when he looked at Qin, his gaze turned warm.
“Come here, young lady,” he said with a smile.
Qin glanced at her uncle. When he nodded, she brought the tea over.
The old man took the cup and sipped, clearly pleased. “Good tea.”
She still didn’t understand what was happening. She glanced again at Wen Hengyu.
He chuckled. “Sang-sang, this is Old Master Xie from Jingcheng. Call him Grandpa Xie.”
Murmurs rippled around the table.
“Jingcheng’s Xie family? The retired commander? I heard he moved to Ningjiang, thought it was a rumor.”
“What’s he doing here? And so close with Hengyu?”
…
Qin froze. Jingcheng’s Xie family… that meant—
“Sorry I’m late.”
A familiar voice sounded behind her.