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On New Year’s Eve, Shi Yin still went home.
Her mother had started calling her a week in advance, using every tactic imaginable—reasoning, persuasion, threats, and bribes.
“You and your father are both stubborn mules! He says you can’t come back, so you really won’t? It’s only a two-hour subway ride. Why are you being so stubborn with him?”
“He’s just saying that. You know how he is. Deep down, he misses you. When I told him about that book event of yours the other day, he secretly looked up the video online.”
Then, after a pause, she added, “He doesn’t want you drawing comics and wants you to find a proper job—it’s for your own good! Can you really draw comics your whole life? What will you do when you stop? Are you going to live on air?”
Shi Yin said lazily, “Mom—”
“All right, all right, I know you don’t like hearing this,” her mother sighed. “I won’t say it anymore. Just come home, okay? Do you hear me? I’ve already planned the menu. I’ll cook all your favorite dishes. There are only three of us in this family. If you don’t come home for the New Year, where else will you go? Do you want to drive me to my death?”
Shi Yin didn’t respond. Her mother suddenly paused, quiet for a few seconds, then abruptly asked, “Are you planning to spend the New Year at your boyfriend’s house?”
Shi Yin: “... No, I don’t think he’s going home either.”
“Isn’t your little world enough for you two during normal days? Are you inseparable even during the New Year?” her mother raised her voice. “Shi Yin, let me warn you. Don’t even think about cohabiting or anything like that. You’ve only been together for how long? If you’re going to live together, at least bring him home for us to meet first, understand? Bring him home during the New Year so we can take a look.”
Shi Yin: “...”
For now, Shi Yin had no intention of bringing Gu Congli “home for inspection.” After becoming an adult, every conversation between her and her father ended unpleasantly. If Gu Congli were there and another argument broke out, it would be awkward.
Her father truly loved her. From childhood to adulthood, Shi Yin had only fought with him twice—once over choosing a university for her college entrance exam and once over her career choice after graduation.
Those two arguments were chaotic and exhausting, leaving father and daughter refusing to speak to each other.
Shi Yin had many relatives—aunts, uncles, cousins galore. She was the youngest in the family. As a child, she often heard comparisons: which cousin excelled academically, which cousin got into prestigious universities like the 985s or 211s.
Her family produced top scholars. Her older siblings always earned scholarships wherever they studied. Shi Yin’s grades were decent too; she’d never fallen out of the top tier of students. She had assumed she would follow the prescribed path: study hard, get into a good university, pursue a “promising” major according to her parents’ standards—and that would be her life.
In her first year of high school, she met Gu Congli.
The man slowly opened the door to another world for her—a world filled with black and white, lines, and oil paints.
At first, Shi Yin didn’t realize what drew her to this world. Her presence there was entirely because of Gu Congli.
But this world held an undeniable charm.
She loved the soft scratching sound of pencil tips gliding across paper, the faint squeak of paint being squeezed onto a palette, the process of transforming crooked lines into smooth ones, and the fresh wooden scent of a new easel.
When she decided to prepare for the art entrance exams, nearly everyone in her family tried to stop her. Relatives came one by one to talk sense into her.
Finance is good, law is good, medicine is good, Tsinghua and Peking University are good. How could you give up guaranteed admission slots and a bright future to chase something like this? Taking art exams? Are you out of your mind?
Shi Yin found it amusing.
Most people in this world thought their chosen path was the correct one, the best option, and assumed others should feel the same.
They probably saw themselves as gods or the center of the universe—as the ultimate truth and the guiding beacon for everyone’s life journey. Whenever someone made choices contrary to their beliefs, they felt compelled to assert their existence and preach their “truth.”
Throughout these conversations, Shi Yin remained expressionless. Since they were all elders, she couldn’t say anything too harsh. So she calmly repeated the same line to everyone trying to dissuade her:
“Peking University is great, but I don’t want to go.”
You aren’t a fish—how can you know the joy of a fish?
Moreover, Shi Yin was confident that even if she started late, she wouldn’t fall behind anyone. She could get into the best art schools in the country.
And indeed, she did.
When Shi Yin mentioned this to Gu Congli, he was driving. Upon hearing her words, he chuckled softly but offered no opinion.
Two days before New Year’s Eve, she went home for the holiday, and Gu Congli accompanied her to the doorstep.
Since they’d reached the door, it seemed impolite not to go in. So Gu Congli carried the gifts he had bought for her parents, holding her bag in his left hand, and followed her inside.
The original plan was to just greet them and leave. But when the door opened, Aunt Two greeted them with a radiant smile.
Seeing Shi Yin, Aunt Two exclaimed in delight, “Yin Yin! You actually remembered to come home!”
Shi Yin greeted her politely. Glancing into the living room, she wasn’t surprised to see a gathering of relatives—three aunts and six uncles, all present.
Aunt Two, embodying the enthusiasm and gossip typical of modern housewives, noticed Gu Congli standing behind Shi Yin and asked with a smile, “And who is this?”
Shi Yin rubbed her nose. “My boyfriend.”
Aunt Two gasped and stared at Gu Congli intently, raising her voice. “What a handsome young man!”
This immediately drew the attention of all the relatives in the living room.
Five minutes later, Gu Congli and Shi Yin sat on the living room sofa, feeling like exhibits in a museum under the scrutiny of various gazes.
Shi Yin felt extremely uncomfortable, but Gu Congli remained calm and composed. He was the kind of person who could adapt effortlessly to any environment if necessary, and his manners were impeccable.
There weren’t many girls in Shi Yin’s generation in her family—just her cousin from Aunt Two’s side and herself. Her cousin was highly educated, having studied abroad and recently brought her boyfriend home to meet the family. Before Shi Yin entered, Aunt Two had been praising the prospective son-in-law to the skies. They had met abroad, and he worked in management at a private company. She proudly showed off photos on her phone, boasting about his impressive appearance.
Naturally, comparisons arose. The moment Gu Congli walked in, he completely overshadowed the man in the photos they had just seen.
This young man was undeniably striking.
Aunt Two felt a pang of unease but smiled and asked, “Xiao Gu, what do you do for work?”
Gu Congli’s expression didn’t change. “I’m currently the editor-in-chief of a manga magazine.”
Aunt Two subtly displayed a hint of pride but didn’t make it too obvious. Smiling, she said, “That’s quite nice. As long as you enjoy your work, it’s good. Actually, I prefer jobs that are more ordinary. My future son-in-law and my daughter share the same high ambitions. When he first returned from abroad, small companies offered him high salaries, but he turned them all down. He finally settled on his current position after much deliberation.”
Proudly, Aunt Two mentioned the name of the company.
Gu Congli paused briefly, raised his eyes, then lowered them again.
Aunt Two, sharp as ever, caught this subtle movement and quickly asked, “Xiao Gu, have you heard of this company?”
Gu Congli slowly set down his teacup, nodded politely, and said in a measured tone, “Yes, I’ve heard of it. My father owns it.”
Aunt Two’s smile froze for a moment.
Shi Yin lowered her head and stifled a laugh. Her mother, sitting beside her, poked her in the ribs.
Quickly, Shi Yin shifted away, trying to hide her amusement as she discreetly glanced at Aunt Two’s fallen expression.
Her aunt wasn’t malicious—just overly enthusiastic, gossipy, and a bit vain. The family was used to her antics and usually ignored her, letting her revel in her self-satisfaction for a while.
Sure enough, Aunt Two’s face fell. Skeptical, she asked, “Oh, Xiao Gu, your family owns a company? So you’re a rich second-generation heir? Why aren’t you working in your family business? Why are you doing something else?”
Gu Congli smiled faintly, remaining low-key. “As long as I enjoy my work, that’s all that matters.”
Gu Congli stayed until dinner. Throughout the meal, Shi Yin and her father didn’t exchange a single word.
It’s often said that daughters resemble their fathers. Shi Yin looked a lot like her father, and when they both wore stern expressions, the resemblance was especially striking. However, while her father’s sternness was genuine, Shi Yin’s was just for show.
After dinner, Gu Congli left, and Shi Yin escorted him downstairs. Her father sat on the couch, leaning on his knees, sneaking glances toward the door.
He saw Shi Yin standing by the door putting on her shoes. Her coat was too long, and she was too lazy to squat, so she stood facing away, lifting one foot. Gu Congli, familiar with the routine, bent down and helped her pull on her boots.
Once her foot was secure, she stomped lightly, turned around, and he helped her wrap her scarf.
The girl beamed brightly, tugging his hand as she opened the door, and the two stepped out together.
Her mother saw them off at the door. The security door slammed shut with a loud bang.
Her father snorted coldly, raising his hand and pointing his index finger at the door, shaking it. “Did you see that? This girl spent the entire evening giving me the cold shoulder, and now she’s smiling like a flower. Is she deliberately trying to provoke me?”
Her mother shot him a glance. “And you—you’ve been giving her the silent treatment too. It’s the New Year, and our daughter brought her boyfriend home. Why are you acting like this? What must the boy think?”
“Tch!” Her father glared. “Did I agree to this? Did I agree to this? Have you ever seen a couple act so lovey-dovey? Helping her put on her shoes, wrapping her scarf! Isn’t she just seeing him off downstairs? Will she freeze to death or something?”
Her mother glanced around and muttered to herself, “Did Yin Yin knock over a bottle of vinegar? Why does the house smell so sour?”
Her father leapt to his feet, his temper flaring. “Who’s sour?! Who’s sour?!”
Her mother understood perfectly. “Look at yourself. You’re almost fifty years old. Are you really jealous of your daughter’s boyfriend? Isn’t it because she gave you the cold shoulder all night while being all smiles and sweet with Xiao Gu? Aren’t you uncomfortable because of that? You’re the one who chose to fight with your daughter. Who’s fault is it?”
Her father fell silent, slumping back onto the couch.
Her mother straightened the cushions on the sofa. “I think this young man is quite good. He’s handsome, well-mannered, and comes from a wealthy family. There’s nothing to criticize about him. I never expected Yin Yin to find someone so excellent.”
Her father exploded again. “What do you mean ‘never expected’? Why wouldn’t you expect it? Is Yin Yin not worthy of him? That she likes him is his good fortune from a past life! Shouldn’t we be secretly delighted?” He slapped the table. “So what if he’s a rich second-generation heir? So what if he’s handsome? I think he’s a toad trying to eat swan meat! He’s only fit to tie my precious daughter’s shoelaces!”
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