MC - Chapter 1

At the end of September, Zhang Rufan left behind the lingering summer heat of Qingcheng and returned to the brisk, clear autumn air of Shangjing.

Qingcheng, a large coastal city in the south, had been her home for five years—four as a university student and one as a working professional. Leaving didn’t quite break her heart, but there was a reluctance, especially at the thought of parting from her grandmother.

Zhang Rufan was a native of Shangjing. Her mother, however, came from Qingcheng. After the college entrance exams, unwilling to stay in Shangjing, she took her grandmother’s advice and applied to Qing University, heading south on her own. During those four years, she rarely came back—some years, not even once. And even after graduation, she had no intention of returning north. She found a job in Qingcheng and moved in with her grandmother after leaving campus.

Qingcheng had become a second home to her. The climate was mild, the scenery beautiful, and life there was easy. It was also her mother’s hometown. Work kept her busy, but in her spare time she’d help her grandmother tend to the garden. Life was slow-paced and peaceful. She had planned to settle there for good—but life rarely goes as planned.

After graduating, Zhang Rufan took a Marketing job at Qingcheng’s largest shopping mall. She resigned in August, spent a month wrapping up work, and gradually shipped her things back to Shangjing. She had only been at the job for a year, and her relationships with coworkers were cordial but distant. When they heard she was leaving, they offered a few customary words of farewell—standard adult politeness.

Before leaving Qingcheng, Zhang Rufan met up with friends for a meal. She wasn’t skilled at making friends nor particularly inclined to. Over her four years of university, the only people she could really talk to were her dormmates. Out of the six in her dorm, only three besides her remained in Qingcheng. When they learned she was leaving, they sighed nostalgically, saying things similar to their graduation farewell dinner—words like how they’d be far apart and rarely meet again.

Zhang Rufan had never placed much weight on emotional ties, but even she felt a twinge of sadness at the thought of saying goodbye after years of companionship.

After settling everything in Qingcheng, Zhang Rufan spent the Mid-Autumn Festival with her grandmother before flying back to Shangjing. She landed in the evening, where her aunt, Zhang Shengpin, waited at the arrivals gate. Spotting her, her aunt took off her sunglasses and waved

Zhang Rufan walked over, giving a restrained nod and a distant greeting: “Aunt.”

“It’s been a while—you’ve blossomed. The southern climate really does suit people,” Zhang Shengpin remarked, looking her over before tilting her chin toward the exit. “The car’s outside. Let’s go.”

Exiting the airport, Zhang Rufan placed her suitcase in the trunk before circling to the passenger side to get in. Without needing a reminder, she fastened her seatbelt and sat upright.

As she drove, Zhang Shengpin glanced at her quiet niece from the corner of her eye. “I’ll take you home first. Your dad, Huiyi, and your little sister all know you’re back today.”

Zhang Rufan turned her head, and Zhang Shengpin gave an awkward smile. “A couple days ago, I was chatting with Huishu and accidentally let it slip. When she heard you were coming back, she told your dad right away.”

The “Huishu” Zhang Shengpin referred to was Li Huishu, Zhang Rufan’s father Zhang Shengyi’s second wife—her stepmother.

“Your dad knew you were coming back today and wanted to pick you up himself, but he just got out of the hospital not long ago. It wasn’t safe for him to drive, so I stopped him.” Zhang Shengpin peeked at Zhang Rufan before adding, “Since you’re back in Shangjing, you’ll have to go home eventually.”

Perhaps it was the fatigue from the afternoon flight, but Zhang Rufan felt tired. She had originally planned to stay at a hotel tonight and return home tomorrow, but hearing Zhang Shengpin’s words, she had no choice but to relent.

She closed her eyes briefly before responding, “Mm.”

The car fell silent for a while until they reached the highway, when Zhang Shengpin spoke again, this time with a lecturing tone. “You’ve finished four years of university and a year of work—how are you still as quiet as when you were little?”

“What do you want me to say?” Zhang Rufan turned her head, her expression still neutral, her tone even, devoid of any discernible emotion.

“It’s not about what I want to hear… Ah, forget it.” Zhang Shengpin shook her head before asking, “How’s your grandmother? Is she doing well?”

“She’s fine.”

“Now that you’re back in Shangjing, she’ll be a bit lonely.”

“Auntie is still with her.”

Zhang Shengpin nodded. “What about work? Any plans? You studied journalism—I actually have a few jobs I could recommend.”

“It’s already settled,” Zhang Rufan replied quickly.

“Huh?” Zhang Shengpin was surprised. “When did you secure that? Which company?”

“OasisWorld. I sent my resume when I resigned last month, passed the online interview, and will start after National Day.”

Zhang Shengpin hadn’t expected her niece to be so efficient, securing a job so soon after returning to Shangjing, leaving no opportunity for her elder to help. While surprised, she also found it reasonable. She knew that under her brother’s strict upbringing, Zhang Rufan had been precocious and mature from a young age, more composed than most children and always methodical in her actions.

This personality of hers was a double-edged sword. Zhang Shengpin sighed softly. “OW, still as a mall planner?”

“Mm.”

“Can you handle it?”

“Aunt, I’ve already done it for a year,” Zhang Rufan stated calmly, as if stating an objective fact.

Zhang Shengpin paused for a second. “Your temperament—to put it nicely, you’re steady; to put it bluntly, you’re inflexible. Back then, I suggested journalism because I thought you weren’t suited for jobs that require frequent interaction with people. Your uncle works at a newspaper—I thought after graduation, you could work as an editor there, writing articles, or at a magazine, doing clerical work elsewhere… I didn’t expect you’d end up in Marketing.”

“Marketing isn’t easy—you need ideas, have to keep up with trends, and constantly interact with people. I’m just worried it’ll be tough for you.”

Zhang Rufan understood her aunt’s concern and didn’t take it as belittlement.

“It was a bit hard at first, but I’ve gotten the hang of it now,” she admitted frankly.

Zhang Shengpin wasn’t the type to dictate to younger generations. Hearing this, she nodded. “It’s good to try different things while you’re young. OW is a good choice—a big mall. Do your best.”

“Mm.”

With the topic of work concluded, Zhang Shengpin turned her attention to Zhang Rufan’s love life. At a red light, she turned her head and asked with a teasing smile, “Seeing anyone?”

Zhang Rufan froze for a moment before shaking her head.

“Really not?”

“No.”

“I thought you might’ve met someone in Qingcheng—that’s why you stayed. I was worried long-distance would be hard once you returned to Shangjing.”

“I’m alone. Your concern is unnecessary, Aunt.”

Zhang Shengpin was both surprised and unsurprised, sighing lightly. “You can’t always be alone. Be more outgoing, take the initiative, and meet more people. Don’t be so rigid all the time.”

As her aunt spoke earnestly, Zhang Rufan recalled how her grandmother in Qingcheng often advised her similarly, though her grandmother wanted her to try opening her heart, retracting her prickliness, and learning to interact with others more gently.

The car exited the highway, and about twenty minutes later, they arrived at Zhang Rufan’s residential complex. Zhang Shengpin parked in the underground garage, pulled out the keys, and turned to see her niece still sitting motionless. She teased with a smile, “Nervous about returning home?”

Zhang Rufan did feel some trepidation. She hadn’t returned to Shangjing last New Year, and thinking carefully, it had been over a year since she’d been back. Today, she didn’t feel like a wanderer returning home but more like a relative visiting.

She sat still for a moment before unfastening her seatbelt and saying to Zhang Shengpin, “Let’s go up.”

After getting out, Zhang Shengpin called out to Zhang Rufan, “Aren’t you taking your suitcase?”

Zhang Rufan stopped. She hadn’t forgotten her suitcase—she simply didn’t want to take it.

Zhang Shengpin opened the trunk, and Zhang Rufan asked, “Can’t I just show my face and leave?”

Zhang Shengpin paused while lifting the suitcase, sighing inwardly before looking up at her reproachfully. “What nonsense. No one just ‘shows their face’ when returning home.”

Zhang Rufan pressed her lips together but ultimately said nothing, taking the suitcase and dragging it into the elevator. When she raised her hand to press the floor button, she frowned slightly, hesitating.

After Zhang Rufan’s college entrance exams, Zhang Shengyi sold their old house in Huai’an District and bought a new one in Binhu District. Before the move, she had already left for Qingcheng in the south. She had only lived in the new home two or three times, each stay lasting less than ten days. This new house felt unfamiliar to her—she had no sense of belonging to it at all.

“20th floor… Look at you—you’ve barely come home these past few years and even forgot which floor you live on.”

Under Zhang Shengpin’s reminder, Zhang Rufan pressed the button. As the elevator ascended, she stared blankly at the changing floor numbers until the doors opened with a “ding.”

Zhang Shengpin stepped out first, and after a second’s hesitation, Zhang Rufan gripped the suitcase handle and followed.

Zhang Rufan did remember which unit was hers, but after over a year away, she had long forgotten the door code. Even if she remembered, after so much time, it might have changed.

Zhang Shengpin raised her hand to ring the bell. As the chime sounded, Zhang Rufan stared at the couplets beside the doorframe, feeling more and more like a guest visiting.

Soon, the door opened. Seeing the person who answered, Zhang Rufan politely greeted, “Aunt Hui.”

Li Huishu immediately smiled warmly. “Xiao Fan, you’re back! Your dad was just talking about you. Come in!”

Zhang Rufan followed Zhang Shengpin inside. At the entryway, she looked down at the row of slippers on the shoe rack, hesitating slightly.

She remembered that the house slippers used to be separated—family slippers on the top rack, guest slippers below, each with different styles. Not seeing her old pair on either level, she paused for a moment before lowering her gaze and, like Zhang Shengpin, bent down to take a pair from the bottom.

While changing shoes, Zhang Rufan caught sight of a little one hugging a plushie, toddling over and hiding behind Li Huishu, peeking at her timidly yet curiously.

“Tongtong, Sister Xiao Fan is back. Come on, say hello.” Li Huishu bent slightly to pat the child’s head, though her eyes remained on Zhang Rufan.

Zhang Rufan stood up after changing shoes, looking down at the little girl, her half-sister, Zhang Zitong. Her name was typical of children born in Generation Alpha. According to recent surveys, the character “Zi” had become so overwhelmingly popular in baby girls' names that kindergartens were flooded with them.

Zhang Zitong stayed silent. She found Zhang Rufan unfamiliar, and Zhang Rufan felt the same about her.

Zhang Zitong had been born during Zhang Rufan’s freshman year of college. With nearly twenty years between them and her infrequent visits home, Zhang Rufan had missed almost all of her sister’s early childhood. She remembered that on her last visit, Zhang Zitong had been a pacifier-sucking baby who drooled when she tried to talk. Now, she was a little older, her features more defined, her eyes and brows faintly resembling her mother.

“This is your Sister Xiao Fan. Don’t you remember? She’s home now—someone new to play with. Aren’t you happy?” Li Huishu tried to coax Zhang Zitong out from behind her, but the little girl clung to her thigh and wouldn’t move.

“It’s been a while—she doesn’t recognize you. Xiao Fan, if you stay home for a bit, she’ll warm up to you. Who knows, she might end up sticking to you nonstop.” Seeing the child’s reluctance, Li Huishu tried to smooth things over.

Zhang Rufan wasn’t the type to take offense at a toddler. She nodded in acknowledgment.

“Where’s my brother?” Zhang Shengpin asked.

“In the kitchen. When he heard Xiao Fan was coming back, he insisted on cooking—couldn’t be stopped.”

Li Huishu took Zhang Rufan’s suitcase and set it aside. “Come in.”

Zhang Rufan walked into the living room, her gaze sweeping the space. The house hadn’t changed much—except there were now children’s toys everywhere. Dolls, plushies, and other bits of chaos surprised her slightly.

Someone emerged from the kitchen. When Zhang Rufan turned and met the man’s gaze, she instinctively straightened and called out, “Dad.”

“Mm,” was all Zhang Shengyi said with a nod.

“Brother, what delicious things did you make? It smells amazing.” Zhang Shengpin circled to the dining area for a peek. “Wow, quite the spread. Whether you welcome me or not, I’m definitely staying for dinner.”

“If you want to eat, it’s not like I can kick you out,” Zhang Shengyi said with a faint smile toward her. But when he looked at Zhang Rufan, his expression sobered. “Wash your hands. Let’s eat.”

“Xiao Fan, you must be tired. Come, sit and eat,” Li Huishu added.

Zhang Rufan washed her hands and took a seat at the end of the table. Perhaps trying to keep her from feeling left out, Li Huishu didn’t just feed Zhang Zitong but made an effort to chat with her, asking about her life and work.

Noticing that her father didn’t stop the conversation, Zhang Rufan frowned almost imperceptibly. It seemed the old rule of “no talking during meals” no longer applied.

“By the way, Xiao Fan, did you only bring one suitcase back from Qingcheng?” Li Huishu asked.

“I shipped the rest.”

“Was it a lot? I can clear out the little room where Tongtong keeps her toys for your things.”

Zhang Rufan lowered her eyes, her voice calm. “I shipped everything to Cheng Yi’s place.”

Cheng Yi was a close friend from her middle school days.

“Why’d you send it there? You’ll have to move it back later.”

At that, Zhang Rufan set down her chopsticks and looked up, speaking evenly. “I won’t be staying at home.”

The table fell silent for a few seconds.

Zhang Shengpin turned and asked quietly, “Didn’t you promise me you’d come back?”

“I promised to return to Shangjing.”

“But if you’re not living at home, how will you take care of your—”

Before she could finish, Zhang Shengyi cut in, his voice stern. “If you wanted to stay in Qingcheng, you should’ve stayed. No need to come back reluctantly. I don’t need you to support me in my old age.”

Hearing his voice, Zhang Rufan instinctively straightened her back. She pressed her lips together and replied calmly, “I’m not reluctant. You fulfilled your duty in raising me. Now that I’m able, it’s my duty to support you in return. Whether you need it or not, that’s what the law stipulates.”

“I’ll stay in Shangjing, but I won’t live at home long-term. In the next few days, I’ll find a place and move out. If you need anything—including illness—just tell me. Since we’re in the same city, I can take care of you, and…” Her eyes flicked briefly toward Li Huishu and Zhang Zitong.

Despite speaking to her family, there was no warmth in her voice. It sounded like she was making a business arrangement.

The atmosphere at the table grew heavy, and Zhang Rufan knew she was the cause. She glanced at Zhang Zitong, who was absently scooping at her noodles, and suddenly felt like an intruder—like a cuckoo in someone else’s nest.

“I’m done eating. I’ll go to my room now.”

Zhang Rufan left the table, carried her suitcase to her room, and closed the door behind her with a heavy sigh.

Returning to Shangjing had reset her—like reverting to factory settings. Her defensiveness, long buried, was back again.

She turned on the lights. The room was just as she’d left it. No dust. Someone had been cleaning in her absence.

Zhang Rufan sat at her desk and checked her phone. A message from Cheng Yi had come two hours ago, asking if she’d gotten home. She’d spent the whole day in the air or on the road and was only now free to respond.

She had just typed out a reply when Cheng Yi messaged again: Perfect timing—you’re back today. Xie Yiwei’s getting married tomorrow. Let’s go together.

Zhang Rufan: Huh?

Cheng Yi sent a voice message: “Xie Yiwei—our high school class monitor, remember? He posted in the class group… Oh, right, you’re not in it. He invited everyone to his wedding, even those not in the group. Said it’s a good chance to reunite. I suspect he just wants more gift money.”

Zhang Rufan: Not going.

“Come on, just go. Otherwise, I’ll be so awkward alone.”

Zhang Rufan: Then don’t go either.

“…Well, I kind of want to see old classmates too.”

“You know how the saying goes—class reunions, where couples are made. What if some guy had a crush on you back then? He might confess!”

Zhang Rufan: Do you think that’s likely?

Cheng Yi didn’t respond right away. Zhang Rufan figured she was trying to come up with a response that wouldn’t be too dishonest or too discouraging.

After a while, Cheng Yi finally sent back: What if?

Zhang Rufan had no romantic nostalgia for her youth and replied immediately: No what-ifs. I’m not going tomorrow—I need to apartment hunt.

Cheng Yi replied with a crying emoji: Fine. I forgot you’re a cold-hearted woman.

Zhang Rufan gave a faint smile, set her phone down, and pulled her suitcase closer.

Inside were only two outfits and her toiletries. The rest were books—textbooks from her university days she hadn’t had the heart to sell. She knew she’d never use them again. Like her high school textbooks, she kept them for sentimental reasons.

She felt little attachment to people she'd once shared classrooms with, but she had a strange emotional bond with objects. She didn’t know if preferring things over people was a psychological flaw.

She arranged the books neatly on the shelf. As she was placing the last one, her sleeve knocked something loose. A book fell.

It was Anne of Green Gables. She hadn’t opened it since her senior year of high school.

Bending to pick it up, she suddenly noticed something tucked inside, its corner barely visible.

Pulling it out, she found it was a letter, the envelope clearly addressed “To Zhang Rufan” in handwriting that, while not beautiful, was painstakingly neat.

How had a letter gotten inside? When? Who put it there?

Puzzled, she carried the mysterious letter to her desk, turned on the lamp, and took a craft knife from the pen holder. Carefully slicing the envelope open, she extracted a single sheet of paper.

Folded in thirds, Zhang Rufan half-suspected it was a curse from some classmate who’d disliked her.

Her expression grave, she slowly unfolded it—only for her solemnity to morph into shock, then prolonged bewilderment at its contents.

Instead of arcane curses, the letter bore a single, neatly penned sentence:

Zhang Rufan, I like you. You’re the heroine of my heart.

—Shen Mingjin

1. 清城 (Qīngchéng) – A fictional coastal city in southern China where Zhang Rufan studied and worked.

2. 上京 (Shàngjīng) – A fictional northern city, Zhang Rufan’s hometown.

3. OasisWorld (OW) – The shopping mall company where Zhang Rufan works as a marketer/planner.

4. 绿山墙的安妮 (Lǜshānqiáng de Ānnī) – Anne of Green Gables, the book where the hidden love letter was found.

Characters

章入凡 (Zhāng Rùfán) – The protagonist.

章胜义 (Zhāng Shèngyì) – Zhang Rufan’s father. 

李惠淑 (Lǐ Huìshū) – Zhang Rufan’s stepmother ("惠姨 Huìyí").

章梓橦 (Zhāng Zǐtóng) – Rufan’s much younger half-sister (~18 years age gap). 

章胜嫔 (Zhāng Shèngpín) – Rufan’s aunt (father’s sister). 

程怡 (Chéng Yí) – Rufan’s close friend from middle school. 

谢易韦 (Xiè Yìwéi) – High school class monitor who is getting married, prompting the reunion.

沈明津 (Shěn Míngjīn) – Mystery person who left a love letter for Rufan in her copy of Anne of Green Gables.

外婆 (Wàipó) – Rufan’s maternal grandmother, whom she lived with in Qingcheng.

小姨 (Xiǎoyí) – Rufan’s aunt (mother’s sister), who now lives with her grandmother.

姑丈 (Gūzhàng) – Rufan’s uncle (aunt’s husband), who works at a newspaper.

Sevyn here ~~~

This was so looong! Again updates may be sporadic since it is a side project. The goal is to update once a week!