Chapter 27 — Starry Night

A sky full of stars, the crescent moon hanging in the dawn. In truth, for a great city, the night sky rarely holds the shadow of a star—if any appear, they are vague and fleeting, as though forever shrouded in a layer of thin cloud.

Ranran's desk faced the only window in the small living room. The two, having eaten their fill, sat at opposite ends of the little table, gazing out the window, craning their necks to watch the stars...

March's chill lingered in the night air, so the window was opened only a crack. The cool evening breeze brushed their faces, a comfort so rare that Lin Xiaowen shut her eyes, savoring the moment.

"Say what you will, but your place—though shabby and small—is quiet and comfortable. Not a trace of the city's usual noise," Cheng Yishu remarked idly, his gaze never wavering from the dazzling brilliance of the stars.

"Yes," Lin Xiaowen agreed. "Ningning helped me find this place—she spent so much effort and thought. She said that with only the two of us, mother and daughter, we needed a safe and convenient neighborhood. It’s far from the city center, but the subway is handy, and most neighbors are elderly. After living here a while, we've grown familiar; everyone greets each other warmly. Sometimes, they'll help pay a bill or run a small errand if needed..."

As she spoke, Lin Xiaowen wore an uncharacteristically gentle expression. Cheng Yishu turned from the window to watch her, listening as she continued softly.

"Ranran has never been strong, even as a child. I never really knew how to care for her. Ningning has her own job, so I couldn't trouble her for every little thing. I tried buying books to read, searching for information online, but there were still times when I was at a loss... I remember when Ranran was less than a year old, I started introducing solid food. I boiled an egg for her—a doctor said she was slightly anemic and that egg yolk could supplement iron and blood, so I fed her some. Who knew, after only a little, she started vomiting, and threw up everything she'd eaten that day. It was terrifying... She cried from discomfort, and I cried too. Aunt Lu from next door heard and came knocking, asked what was wrong, then called her son to drive us to the hospital..."

At this point, Lin Xiaowen gave a self-deprecating smile. "The doctor said children are still small, their stomachs delicate, so it's common for them to be allergic to egg yolk. You see, I'm hardly a competent mother!"

Perhaps lost in that memory, recalling the suffering of her little, tender child, Lin Xiaowen was swept up in guilt once more.

"You've done very well," Cheng Yishu said gently, "Look at Ranran now—so smart and beautiful, and such a kind, adorable child. Among her peers, she must be the rare one who’s so well-behaved and mature!"

Gentleness softened Lin Xiaowen's features like spring water; even her voice was tender and mild.

"Perhaps children from single-parent families mature early. From the moment she began to understand, Ranran has given me surprise after surprise—most often, delight. Yet the more she grows, the more I feel I've failed her, letting her miss so much at such a young age..."

"And her father?" Cheng Yishu could bear no more of Lin Xiaowen's resigned recollections, her tone laced with helplessness. He didn't want to see the sorrow in her eyes as she remembered those difficult times.

He would no longer avoid what should or shouldn't be said, nor concern himself with what could or couldn't be asked. He spoke without hesitation, even if she wouldn’t answer—even as mere friends, he could show concern.

Lin Xiaowen paused, then turned to look at Cheng Yishu, catching the flashes in his eyes that rivaled the stars outside.

The only difference was the stars shone softly, while his gaze was cold and sharp.

"Ranran’s father? Why does he ignore you both? Even if you broke up, divorced, he shouldn’t have abandoned you here, should he?"

Cheng Yishu’s chest rose and fell, his expression turning cold and severe—as if he, not Lin Xiaowen and her daughter, were the one abandoned.

Lin Xiaowen looked back to the sky, a faint smile on her lips. "He’s fine… now, I’m sure he’s very happy."

From the start of their conversation, a strange anger had begun to gather in Cheng Yishu’s chest. He expected Lin Xiaowen, after recalling the past, to curse the man who left them, and he would join her, adding fuel to her fire.

He never imagined this foolish woman would still wish the man well.

Infuriating.

Cheng Yishu suddenly stood, coldly staring at the bewildered Lin Xiaowen.

She, confused by his gaze, stammered, "What’s wrong?"

How deep must that feeling be, how profound the attachment, to never utter a single complaint about that man? Not even a word of blame? Even after so much suffering, the feelings couldn’t be erased?

Cheng Yishu’s expression shifted again and again, his eyes flickering between pain, unwillingness, anger, and…

"You foolish woman!"

At last, the anger in Cheng Yishu’s chest faded in silence, and he managed to squeeze out those words.

"Pfft..." Lin Xiaowen glared at him dismissively. "What do you know? All that matters is that I have Ranran! With her, I fear nothing, care about nothing!"

"And you?" Cheng Yishu sat again, eyes fixed on her. "Are you planning to stay with Ranran in this tiny apartment forever?"

At this, Lin Xiaowen wilted, silent for a moment before she spoke in a low voice. "I’ll try to give her a better life. I've been working on it recently..."

"What are you working on?" Cheng Yishu saw her expression grow solemn and guessed she must be facing some difficulty, so he pressed on. "Is something wrong?"

Lin Xiaowen glanced at his earnest gaze, her heart stirred slightly, but she soon composed herself and replied quietly, "You wouldn’t understand, so I won’t talk about it."

She began to rise, but Cheng Yishu grabbed her wrist, standing as well, dissatisfied with her treating him like a child. He frowned and said, "How do you know I don’t understand? If you don’t tell me, how could I?"

"Cheng Yishu, you’re odd—why are you asking so much? Are you bored?" Lin Xiaowen pulled her hand back, continuing, "Are celebrities always this idle? Or have you been benched? Otherwise, why do you have so much time for wandering around and meddling?"

"Benched? Fool, it’s called being put on ice… You jinx! You’re the one being put on ice!"

Cheng Yishu flicked Lin Xiaowen’s forehead, giving her a sidelong glance. "Are celebrities not people? Can’t they have their own lives, their own friends?"

Foolish woman!

"Friends?" Lin Xiaowen laughed at him. "So, I, Lin Xiaowen, actually have a superstar friend?"

"Doesn’t it feel like your whole life’s just gone up a notch?"

Cheng Yishu swept away his earlier displeasure, leaned closer with a smile.

Lin Xiaowen’s eyes crinkled in laughter, two tiny dimples brimming with sweetness on her cheeks.

The evening breeze rose again, lifting her hair behind her ear. Cheng Yishu suddenly recalled a saying:

"People are but the winds passing through each other’s lives. There are always those who step into your life, willing to stand here with you and listen to the wind..."

So then, would you be willing?