Where Winter is Warm Where Summer is Cool

Did I stay? Yes, the abominable weakness of the heart disintegrated those early feelings of utter determination.

When the first rays of the morning sun came through my window the next morning, I found that I had actually slept well in that house. It had been so dark when I went to bed the night before that I had the illusion of going back in time. There had been a period as a child when I fell sick a lot and was always in bed. The room was kept dark because I spent a lot of that time sleeping.

I turned over in my bed and then fell out of it in shock. 

While my father had had my room cleared of all that didn’t belong in it, he didn’t yet seem capable of keeping his youngest son from wandering around. 

Standing up, I walked over to the recliner to grab a robe and wrap myself in it – it wasn’t cold, the house was heated to a perfect temperature – and then turned around to squint at the little boy curled up in the corner of my bed, asleep.

The mattress would have to be changed again.

I suddenly remembered what Piao Zheng had said.

“Is there no cure for cleanliness?” 

I couldn’t help but smile. 

I dialed Piao Zheng’s phone and relaxed a little as I leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window. “Are you up?” 

“Not because you woke me up.” 

Piao Zheng’s tone was poor. He had always been quite the wake-up caller.

“Brother,” I said, my voice soft but not pouty. 

“Anjie, just give me direct orders if there’s anything you want, don’t give me that.” 

Once again, Piao Zheng, proved that he had absolutely no romantic cells to speak of.

“Piao Zheng, maybe I’ll stay here for a few more days. I will keep you updated.” 

I glanced at myself in the mirror and raised my hand to brush down a few strands of bedhead hair.

There was a moment’s pause on Piao Zheng’s end as he took in what I had just said. 

“About a few days?”

“I’m not sure, maybe two or three days. The ticket will have to be returned. As for my mother, I hope you’ll step in and help me out. She loves you. And the visa for immigration, I think it might be necessary to do it now.”

“What! Did they force you?” Piao Zheng’s voice was cold and hard for a moment.

“Forced? Heh, no in fact, just the opposite.” I felt calm as I answered.

“I’ll get on it.” 

After a pause, Piao Zheng said, “If you can’t stay there any longer, even for just a second, don’t force yourself.”

I traced my finger over the fog-covered glass. “You know I’ve always loved myself.” 

“I think you’re self-abusing, having to run back there again. By the way, are you happy with the bedding set I sent over last night?”

“Not quite.”

“It’s handmade from the South China Sea, and I’ve cleaned and disinfected it myself several times! Tsk, Miss, you’re really picky!” His laugh was pleasantly melodious.

“Thank you, Piao Zheng.”

Piao Zheng was happy to hear that. “I prefer a substantial reward in comparison, come, come come, my credit card number is 3359…”

Laughing, I hung up the phone.

I rubbed at my brow. I had a headache that had built up over the years, but it wasn’t really an ailment. It only flared up in the morning so I never gave it much thought.

“Sister!” 

The sudden call made me remember that there was a small child in the room, who was now sitting at the end of the bed with a pillow in his arms, looking at me with big dark eyes and a wide smile.

“How did you get in yesterday?” 

I was sure I had locked the door, but what was even more mind-boggling was that I had been oblivious to his entrance!

The kid blinked and smiled even more, “Great sis is talking to Yu Yan!” 1

There was the sound of a body hitting the ground. 

“That hurts!” The boy hobbled as he struggled up from the floor, “Ouch, ouch, sis….”

I watched him awkwardly as he rubbed his already bruising forehead, resisting the urge to go and soothe him. 

I hurriedly crossed the room and walked straight into the bathroom. 

I don’t think I’ve figured out how I’m going to adjust to this so-called affinity.

Why is he in this room? Well, as long as he’s not a ghost.…

“She was the one who pushed me down! My baby is gone! She’s the one who killed my baby!”

As long as he isn’t a ghost.…

I flung a few handfuls of cold water on my face. There was something so pathetic about my face in the mirror, pale and depressed with a touch of sickness. 

This is probably who I am when I have nothing to hide behind!

When I came out of the bathroom, I thought I’d find the child gone, but instead I found that not only had he not gone but there was now an adult as well.

This room had apparently become a public place. 

Xichen was sitting on the edge of the bed with Jian Yulin in his arms. His long fingers rubbed the lump on the boy’s forehead with an obviously doting expression on his face. 

“If it hurts, it’s okay to cry.” 

There was tenderness in his voice instead of the usual cold and deep tone.

“If you want to put on a heavenly show of bonding, I suggest you do it in a different place.” I leaned against the sanded door frame of the bathroom, refusing to go any further.