MC - Chapter 35

On Christmas Eve afternoon, Zhang Rufan went to OW. The mall had an event that evening, and she had to be there to oversee it.

The mall was filled with a strong Christmas atmosphere. Snowflake lights hung along the railings, and a several-meter-tall Christmas tree stood in the open space on the first floor, its tip reaching up to the mall's third level. The tree was covered in string lights, and its base was piled with exquisitely wrapped gift boxes. Nearly every shop in the mall had Christmas stickers on their windows, and small Christmas trees were placed at their entrances.

In OW Plaza stood a ten-meter-tall wrought-iron Christmas tree, surrounded by large three-dimensional figurines of Santa Claus and snowmen. This festive display, full of Christmas charm, attracted many people to come and take photos.

The mall also held a Christmas Eve event: anyone who made a purchase at any store that evening could exchange their receipt for different gifts by finding "Santa Claus" at any exit. Additionally, children under 1.4 meters tall could receive a free "peace apple".

In the evening, after having dinner with Yuan Shuang, Zhang Rufan returned to the office building. The mall would be at its busiest that night, and extra hands would be needed, so they had to stay on standby.

While at her desk, Shen Mingjin messaged her to ask about her work arrangements for the evening. Zhang Rufan replied that she wasn’t sure yet. He then said he’d come by later to bring coffee for her and her colleagues.

By now, everyone in the company knew Shen Mingjin was her boyfriend, so she didn’t stop him from coming.

Just as Zhang Rufan replied to Shen Mingjin, she heard Sun Lu muttering angrily, "How can people be so unreliable? They agreed to come, and now they’re backing out at the last minute."

Yuan Shuang quickly asked, "Lu-jie, what’s wrong?"

"It’s about the ‘Santa Clauses’ handing out gifts at the mall entrances. Every year, we hire students for this part-time job, but now a few of them are saying they won’t come." Sun Lu frowned anxiously. "They didn’t even give us advance notice. The event is about to start—there’s no time to find replacements now."

Hearing this, Zhang Rufan also frowned. The part-timers had flaked, but the mall couldn’t break its promise to customers—otherwise, accusations of false advertising would damage OW’s reputation.

After a few seconds of calm consideration, she said to Sun Lu, "Lu-jie, I’ll fill in."

Yuan Shuang paused, then immediately understood and added, "Right, Lu-jie, we’ll cover for now while you try to find more people."

Dressing up as mascots wasn’t part of the marketing department’s job, but with time so tight, there was no other choice.

"We’ll have to make do for now."

Sun Lu contacted the logistics department to deliver the costumes, which were then distributed to the marketing team for them to change into.

Zhang Rufan went to the restroom to change. When she came out, she ran into Yuan Shuang at the sink, already dressed in the costume with the hat on, adjusting the beard.

"This feels like a throwback to kindergarten, when teachers always made us dress up as cartoon characters for performances." Yuan Shuang smoothed her beard, and, seeing Zhang Rufan in the mirror fidgeting awkwardly with her costume, couldn’t help laughing. "You’re tall, so the outfit doesn’t fit you quite right."

She turned to adjust the bright red outfit on Zhang Rufan, then tied the belt for her. After studying her for a moment, she said, "But honestly, your fair skin really suits the red."

Zhang Rufan had never worn anything like this before. Standing in front of the mirror, she felt uncomfortable all over.

She asked Yuan Shuang uncertainly, "Do I not look much like Santa Claus?"

"Once you put on the hat and beard, you will." Yuan Shuang helped her with the hat and then attached the fluffy white beard, adding, "Lu-jie is already trying to find people. We just need to hold out for a little while."

Once dressed, the marketing team set off. Because of the evening event, the mall had already prepared gifts at each exit. The "Santas" just had to check receipts and hand out gifts based on the purchase amount.

The mall was crowded that night, with many customers coming to exchange for gifts. It was Zhang Rufan’s first time doing this kind of work, and she was even more nervous than with her usual tasks. Fortunately, it wasn’t too difficult—the only tricky part was dealing with children.

The free "peace apples" for kids on Christmas Eve were popular, and many parents brought their children specifically to receive them. The kids were also intensely curious about Santa Claus, often circling her to inspect and asking for photos.

Of course, Santa couldn’t refuse the children’s requests, so Zhang Rufan dutifully played along. OW wasn’t Disney—there were no strict rules for mascot performers—but to preserve the kids’ wonder, she stayed silent, communicating only through gestures. Interacting with children was a bit exhausting, but seeing them leave happily gave her a quiet sense of fulfillment.

Zhang Rufan stood at the mall entrance, greeting and sending off visitors. Before long, the gifts were nearly gone. Just as she was about to contact a colleague, she caught sight of a familiar figure in her peripheral vision.

Shen Mingjin walked into the mall carrying coffee. His gaze swept past the "Santa Claus" at the entrance, and their eyes met briefly. He took a few steps forward before suddenly sensing something off and turned back.

The Santa beard was thick and bushy, covering most of her face and leaving only her eyes visible. Yet despite this, Shen Mingjin recognized Zhang Rufan and was both surprised and delighted.

"So this is your work assignment for tonight?" He looked her up and down and couldn’t help laughing.

While Zhang Rufan had been fine with strangers seeing her like this, she felt embarrassed in front of Shen Mingjin. Just then, another parent brought their child to claim a peace apple, so she had no time to explain. She handed over the wrapped apple and, at the child’s request, took a photo with them.

Shen Mingjin watched with amusement. Once the child left, he teased, "So, Santa, don’t I get a gift?"

Zhang Rufan explained earnestly, "Only children under 1.4 meters tall qualify. Your height… is way over."

Shen Mingjin chuckled, then looked up and said, "Then how about a photo together?"

Before she could refuse, he stepped beside her, pulled out his phone, switched to selfie mode, leaned his head close to hers, and quickly snapped a picture.

Looking at the photo, he smiled contentedly and said, "So cute."

Seeing how pleased he was, she didn’t ask him to delete it.

Not wanting to delay her work, Shen Mingjin set the coffee on the gift table and reminded her to share it with her colleagues. Before leaving, he reached into his coat pocket and handed her a small box.

"What’s this?" Zhang Rufan asked, puzzled.

"A gift."

"For me?"

"Mm." He pressed the box into her hand and said with a smile, "Even Santa deserves gifts on Christmas."

Her heart stirred, and suddenly, it felt as if a door that had closed to her in childhood had swung open again.

… 

After Christmas, the OW staff had no time to rest, immediately diving into planning for New Year’s Eve—one of the mall’s most important and grand annual events. OW Plaza had a massive LED screen that usually played mall promotions and partner ads, but on New Year’s Eve, it would display a countdown, drawing crowds to the square to celebrate together.

The pre-holiday period was the mall’s busiest time, and Zhang Rufan resumed her routine of leaving early and returning late. Recently, she had moved into Shen Mingjin’s apartment, and the operating hours of Jindu now aligned with her overtime schedule. No matter how late she worked, he would wait for her and take her home.

While organizing Christmas events, OW had already begun preparing for New Year’s. This year, the mall planned to host a New Year’s concert, inviting bands to perform and draw even more people to the plaza for the countdown.

After Christmas, Zhang Rufan had been in talks with music agencies, and after several rounds of negotiations, they finally secured a rising indie band.

Two days before New Year's, the mall set up a stage in the plaza, and all personnel conducted their first rehearsal. On New Year's Day afternoon, after all the equipment was installed, the band ran through another practice.

The band OW invited was an up-and-coming group that had gained attention after winning a major competition. The lead singer, in particular, had skyrocketed in popularity due to his striking looks. Even before the concert began, the rehearsals alone drew large crowds, forcing the mall to deploy extra security to maintain order.

Zhang Rufan and her marketing team colleagues spent the entire afternoon working outdoors. Since the stage was open-air, they had been worried about the weather, but fortunately, it didn’t snow, allowing the setup to proceed smoothly.

By the time rehearsals ended in the evening, it was already past dinner. Zhang Rufan headed straight to Jindu after work. During the holiday, the café was bustling—she was surprised to see nearly every table occupied when she walked in.

Spotting Shen Mingjin waving at her from the counter, she approached and said, "It’s so crowded today."

"Mm, thanks to your mall."

"Huh?"

"The concert hasn’t even started yet, but lots of people are stopping by to rest."

Zhang Rufan nodded.

"Let’s go eat." Shen Mingjin greeted Xiao Mu before stepping out from behind the counter, taking Zhang Rufan’s hand as they walked out. "You’ll be working late tonight, right?"

"Mm," she replied. "Until after the countdown."

"Day off tomorrow?"

"Mm, a week-long break."

Shen Mingjin lowered his voice. "I’ve already bought the tickets. We’ll leave tomorrow—first to Qingcheng to see your grandma."

"Okay."

Zhang Rufan couldn’t help smiling. In the past, she never looked forward to time off—her life had been so monotonous that even breaks felt empty. But lately, she’d been counting down the days, yearning for this vacation more eagerly than she ever had as a student.

Shen Mingjin took her to a nearby restaurant. As soon as they sat down, his phone lit up with a message. Zhang Rufan noticed the wallpaper—a photo of them together on Christmas.

After replying, he set his phone down and said, "That was my dad."

She knew his parents were divorced, but this was the first time he’d mentioned his father.

"He’s back from abroad and wants to meet for dinner."

Hearing this, Zhang Rufan urged, "Then you should go."

"It’s fine." He chuckled. "I told him I’m on a date and he’ll have to wait."

She pressed her lips together, concerned. "Won’t he be upset?"

"Nah. I’ll just have a couple of drinks with him later."

Seeing how relaxed he was, she remarked, "You have a good relationship with your dad."

"Pretty decent," he said. "He took care of me during my rehab overseas. You’re busy today, but I’ll introduce you to him sometime."

"Okay." She lowered her gaze.

Noticing her distraction, Shen Mingjin guessed she was thinking about her own father.

During their relationship, she’d shared her family background—her mother’s passing, her strict father, and how she’d grown up under rigid discipline.

After a pause, Shen Mingjin said, "I used to really resent my parents."

"Huh?" She looked up.

"Before the divorce, they fought constantly, turning the house upside down. Neither paid much attention to me, but I wasn’t exactly thrilled when they split either." He shrugged. "Remember how I told you I acted out after transferring schools in ninth grade because of it? It was your words in the office that snapped me out of it."

"Eventually, I realized—parents give us life, but our lives are our own. No point punishing ourselves for their mistakes."

His words struck a chord, leaving her momentarily speechless.

After dinner, Zhang Rufan returned to the mall for work.

At 8 p.m., the concert in OW Plaza began on schedule. Despite the open-air chill, the area in front of the giant screen was packed— calling it a “sea of people” wasn’t an exaggeration.

The concert was in full swing, the band pouring energy into their performance, electrifying the crowd and heating up the atmosphere.

Zhang Rufan had been assisting backstage when Yuan Shuang called out to her, saying, “I just saw your boyfriend outside—looked like he was searching for you, so I brought him over.”

“Huh?” Only then did she check her phone—the music had drowned out her ringtone.

Handing the schedule to Yuan Shuang, she stepped out and, sure enough, there was Shen Mingjin.

They’d only parted after dinner, so she was puzzled by his return. “What’s wrong?” she asked as she approached.

He lifted a bag with a grin. “Brought you a drink.”

The logo wasn’t Jindu’s, which confused her. Taking the bag, she checked the cup’s label—and was stunned.

“Bubble tea?”

“Mm.” He smiled. “You mentioned missing out on that cup in high school, right? Consider this a replacement.”

Glancing around, he exhaled theatrically, then bent slightly to meet her eyes. “Good thing you’re my girlfriend now—I can give you this openly. Otherwise, with this crowd, it’d be way more embarrassing than in front of our classmates.”

Her heart clenched. Gazing at him, her eyes grew moist.

She understood the gesture perfectly—the tea she’d missed out on years ago was now in her hands. He was telling her: whatever she’d lost, he’d help her reclaim.

Noticing her reddening eyes, he brushed his thumb under her lashes and sighed in mock disappointment. “I’d love to see you cry over me, but you’re on duty—no crying allowed.”

She blinked back the dampness. The warmth of the cup in her hands seemed to smooth out the creases in her heart left by her family.

She felt it then—the pathways to understanding the world, once severed, were reconnecting.

Shen Mingjin was her bridge back to it.

OW Plaza was packed, the concert in full roar—singers belting onstage, the crowd cheering below, the soundwaves nearly shaking snow from the trees.

Zhang Rufan had spent the night monitoring backstage, anxious over any mishaps. Only as midnight neared and the concert wound down did she relax slightly.

Liu Pinyuan, taking pity on their long night, urged them to step out and soak in the energy—to properly ring in the New Year.

Having never attended concerts or festivals, Zhang Rufan was awed by the crowd. The last time she’d seen such a massive gathering was at her university graduation.

Yuan Shuang, thriving in the excitement, dragged her toward the stage, soon swaying and shouting with the crowd. They started at the periphery but were quickly swallowed by the swelling audience.

At three minutes to midnight, the emcee took the mic: “Joy flies fast—our countdown concert is ending. In these final moments of the year, is there someone you long to see? Words left unspoken? Don’t hesitate. Go to them. Say it. Don’t carry regrets into the New Year.”

As he spoke, snow began falling—flakes swirling, glistening.

“Wow—snow! Likely the year’s last... and the new year’s first. A pure blessing.” The emcee smiled. “For our finale, the band will debut a new song: Mountain Coral. With two minutes left, let their music carry us from the old year to the new. When the clock strikes, may the one you love most be by your side.”

Zhang Rufan’s heart leapt. Fingering the necklace Shen Mingjin had given her—the Ace of Hearts—she turned without hesitation.

The countdown flashed on the giant screen. As she pushed through the crowd, her phone lit up—his call, right as she was about to dial him.

“Where are you?”

“Where are you?”

“The plaza.”

“The plaza.”

The moment the call connected, they echoed each other—identical questions, identical answers.

“I’ll find you.”

“I’ll find you.”

One minute left. The crowd surged. Zhang Rufan fought against the current, rising on tiptoe to scan the sea of faces—but he was nowhere.

Thirty seconds. She broke free and sprinted across the plaza. She’d never thought she’d yearn for anything so fiercely—yet here she was.

At ten seconds, the crowd chanted in unison.

“Ten...”

“Nine...”

“Eight...”

Zhang Rufan halted, frantic—until his voice came through the phone at her ear.

He said, “Turn around.”

She turned—and there he was.

“Five...”

“Four...”

“Three...”

Beaming, he spread his arms. She barely lifted a foot before he closed the distance, pulling her into his embrace.

He swept her up, spinning once.

“One...”

The bells rang. The plaza erupted.

“Ace of Hearts—Happy New Year,” he murmured fiercely into her ear.

Her eyes burned.

She thought of all the years she’d deemed herself ordinary—yet he’d lit them up. A constant star, reminding her she was no dim planet.

Wrapping her arms around him, she whispered hoarsely, “Shen Mingjin—Happy New Year.”

A new year. Snow swirling above, voices rising below, singing:

“They say coral grows only in the sea,

Mountains bear just blossoms.

Yet I keep faith that a soul exists—

one who would offer all they own

to find me coral, not in the sea, but upon a mountain peak.”

1. 平安果 (Píng’ān guǒ) – A wrapped apple given on Christmas Eve, symbolizes safety and blessings, a common gift in Chinese Christmas celebrations

2. 跨年音乐会 (Kuànián yīnyuèhuì) – New Year’s Eve concert 

Characters

章入凡 (Zhāng Rùfán) – The protagonist.

沈明津 (Shěn Míngjīn) – A former classmate who wrote Zhang Rufan a love letter in high school, in her copy of Anne of Green Gables.

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.

杜升 (Dù Shēng) – Someone Zhang Rufan didn't want to add as a friend on WeChat at first.

刘品媛 (Liú Pǐnyuán) – The planning department manager at OW.

孙璐 (Sūn Lù) – Zhang Rufan’s direct supervisor at OW, who goes by "Sister Lu" (璐姐, Lù Jiě).

袁霜 (Yuán Shuāng) – A friendly coworker in the planning department.

周慈 (Zhōu Cí) – Shen Mingjin’s mother

Sevyn here ~~~

And that is the final chapter of Mountain Coral. Please rate it on Novel Updates if you have enjoyed this novel 😊

The first time I finished reading it, I felt there should have been more of ZRF and SMJ, perhaps the visit to Grandma’s house that was mentioned quite a few times.

But on the second reading, as I translated the novel line by line, I began to see how beautifully complete it truly is. The author did not leave anything unsaid. Though it is a short novel, every thread finds its resolution.

At its heart, this is ZRF’s story—a girl taught to be strong, self-reliant, composed—yet never given the luxury of childish wonder. She grew up in a world where magic had no place, where innocence was a thing long outgrown. And yet, through the unfolding of her journey, she discovers that the past she once regarded with embarrassment was not barren after all—it held someone who had quietly cherished her, someone who saw light where she saw only shadows.

The final chapter, where she becomes Santa, feels almost like a quiet miracle. It completes a circle: the girl who once denied magic now becomes its bearer, giving it to others with open hands. There is poetry in that transformation—the return of innocence, the rediscovery of joy.

And in SMJ, she finds the companion who restores to her all that she once missed—the laughter, the belief, the wonder, and the love.

This was, at its core, a true romance novel, no grand betrayals, no overwrought drama, no unnecessary embellishment. Just love, in its quiet and steadfast form.

It shows that love is simply this: someone who chooses to stay by your side, someone who would give all they have—

to find, for you, a coral of the peaks.