Secretly Seducing the Third Female Lead Behind the System’s Back - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Happy New Year

It was a fifty-cent coin.

Bai Chu glanced at it under the car’s interior light.

“A ten-cent coin is too small, and a one-yuan coin is too big. I was afraid it might mess up while boiling,” Jiang Yisheng explained.

A tear rolled down Bai Chu’s cheek without warning. She quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand.

“You made these yourself?” she asked, trying to change the subject to cover up her emotions, though her voice still carried the trace of having cried.

“Yep.” Jiang Yisheng nodded, placing the paper she used to wrap the coins aside and pulling out a fresh tissue to gently wipe away Bai Chu’s tear. “Actually, I can do everything.”

There was no need to ask about her tears. Jiang Yisheng just quietly wiped them away.

Bai Chu continued eating a few more dumplings, and Jiang Yisheng kept holding up a tissue to catch the coins inside.

“I’m full now,” Bai Chu said softly, setting down her chopsticks.

Jiang Yisheng helped her separate the dumplings and coins into different containers. “No wasting—if you can’t finish them, eat the rest tomorrow.”

Bai Chu nodded. “Aren’t you spending New Year’s Eve with your parents?”

“They didn’t want me to leave at first, but when I said I was bringing dumplings to you, they let me go.” Jiang Yisheng rested her chin on her hand and turned her head to look at Bai Chu.

Bai Chu avoided her gaze. “Put on your seatbelt.”

The car pulled out of the hospital and merged onto the main road. On New Year’s Eve, there were barely any other cars. The smooth road was lit only by streetlights flickering one after another, illuminating their lone vehicle.

“Back to your place across the river?” Bai Chu asked.

“No, to my parents’ place, over on Yingsheng Road,” Jiang Yisheng gave her the address.

The ride was quiet.

Jiang Yisheng leaned her elbow against the car window, palm supporting her chin, gazing out at the scenery.

Bai Chu glanced sideways at her before turning her eyes back to the road.

Then a soft melody played, bringing Jiang Yisheng back from her thoughts.

“Come on, it’s the New Year. Let’s play something more upbeat,” she said, interest sparking as she tapped through the screen to pick a new song.

Bai Chu lightly rubbed the steering wheel with her fingers. She could sense that Jiang Yisheng wasn’t happy tonight.

Was it because of her earlier rejection?

She stole another glance. The streetlight fell in patches across Jiang Yisheng, her eyes glowing with the blue reflection of the screen, her brows gently furrowed.

Bai Chu turned back to the road, feeling an unshakable weight in her chest.

Suddenly, a cheerful song with drums filled the car. Jiang Yisheng leaned back in satisfaction, tapping her fingers along to the rhythm on her knee.

She looked out the window, wondering if her confession had been too impulsive.

But she had only spoken out of heartache for Bai Chu. She wanted Bai Chu to know that someone in this world still cared about her.

She knew Bai Chu didn’t feel the same way. She was worried her sudden confession might’ve become a burden.

Lost in their thoughts, they arrived at Jiang Yisheng’s parents’ house.

From afar, they could see the place fully decorated and festive for the New Year.

Bai Chu parked outside and got out to walk Jiang Yisheng to the door.

“Want to come in for a bit?” Jiang Yisheng tilted her head up to look at her.

“President Jiang,” Bai Chu said softly.

Jiang Yisheng didn’t speak, just waited quietly for what came next.

“I’ve never really thought about relationships. I…” Bai Chu looked conflicted.

“Chu Chu,” Jiang Yisheng stood under the warm, glowing lights strung across the yard, looking at her with gentle eyes. “I was just worrying if my sudden confession might’ve become a burden to you.”

“I just wanted to tell you, you’re really amazing. I really like you. I really care about you. Whether or not that’s the kind of like you can return.”

She took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Bai Chu. “Happy New Year. Be happy every single day.”

Bai Chu gave a quiet hum. “Happy New Year.”

Jiang Yisheng released her quickly and asked again, “Really not coming in?”

Bai Chu shook her head.

“All right. I’ll miss you. Don’t forget to message me when you get home,” Jiang Yisheng said as she waved goodbye, turning back to look three times as she walked away.

Bai Chu watched her go, a hollow feeling suddenly opening up in her chest.

She returned to the car, placed the pink plush toy on her lap, and played the song Jiang Yisheng had picked earlier as she slowly drove home.

When Jiang Yisheng arrived home, Yu Mushan and Jiang Hang were snuggled up on the couch watching the New Year’s Gala.

“Look who’s back?” Yu Mushan teased.

“Of course—it’s our hopelessly romantic little girl,” Jiang Hang chimed in.

Jiang Yisheng smiled helplessly, took off her coat, and sat beside Yu Mushan.

Yu Mushan immediately sensed her daughter’s emotions.

“What’s wrong? Not happy?”

Jiang Hang turned down the volume and sat upright to listen.

Jiang Yisheng suddenly pouted, her voice trembling. “I just think this world is so unfair.”

“What makes you say that?” Yu Mushan reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Why is it that some people try so hard to live well, and yet life is still so hard for them?” Jiang Yisheng’s nose was red, tears glistening in her eyes.

Yu Mushan gently wiped her daughter’s tears with her fingertips.

“Life comes with a lot of helpless moments. But Mom believes, as long as we’re alive, there’s nothing we can’t get through.”

She pulled Jiang Yisheng into her arms and gently patted her back, feeling her softly sobbing in her embrace.

Jiang Yisheng cried for a long time, and Yu Mushan patiently comforted her the entire time, like she was cradling something precious.

Looking up from her mother’s arms, Jiang Yisheng thought: If only you could be my mom forever.

Yu Mushan chuckled. “Look at you—all tears like a little kitten.”

Jiang Yisheng laughed through her sniffles and wiped her chin with the back of her hand.

Yu Mushan let her lie in her lap, gently resting her chin on top of Jiang Yisheng’s head. “Mom went through a time like that too. No matter how hard I tried, things just wouldn’t get better.”

“What did you do?” Jiang Yisheng asked, watery eyes looking up at her.

Yu Mushan pressed a light kiss on her forehead.

I asked myself—could anything be worse than death? So I gritted my teeth and kept going. And slowly, things really did change.

“You see, luckily I held on back then. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here holding my baby now.”

Her eyes were filled with deep, overwhelming love.

“Yisheng, only by living do we have hope. How do you know the turning point isn’t coming in the next minute?”

Jiang Yisheng nodded and slowly closed her eyes. Another tear slipped from the corner and fell onto Yu Mushan’s sleeve…

That night, Jiang Yisheng had a dream. She dreamed she returned to the real world—not just her, but Bai Chu, Yu Mushan, Jiang Hang, and Zhang Tao all came with her.

She joyfully welcomed them into her little rented apartment and cooked hot pot for everyone.

But right in the middle of their laughter, they all disappeared, leaving her completely alone.

She searched everywhere, but couldn’t find any of them. She panicked, spinning in circles, crying in desperation.

Suddenly, a gentle voice spoke above her.

“Don’t be afraid. Mommy’s here.”

Jiang Yisheng opened her eyes groggily to find Yu Mushan lying beside her, gently wiping her tears.

“Mom…”

“Will you always stay with me?” Jiang Yisheng asked like a little child, tightly gripping her hand.

“As long as I’m alive in this world, I will never leave you,” Yu Mushan answered seriously.

Jiang Yisheng hugged her tightly, head resting on her shoulder. “Mom, Happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year, baby.” Yu Mushan pinched her hand. “Wanna go see what your dad’s cooking this morning?”

“Okay.”

They walked to the dining room on the first floor and saw Jiang Hang in the kitchen, flipping food in a wok while talking on the phone.

“Work calls on New Year’s morning?

“Alright, whatever it is, deal with it after the holiday. Don’t call me again—I’m cooking for my wife and daughter,” he said before hanging up, softly humming as he went back to cooking.

“Dad,” Jiang Yisheng called from the doorway.

Jiang Hang turned around immediately.

“Up so early? I thought you’d sleep longer. I timed everything just right.”

He picked up the pace with the big ladle.

“Almost done—just fifteen more minutes. Go sit and watch some TV with your mom.”

“Okay. Happy New Year, Dad!” she called before skipping out of the kitchen.

“As long as you and your mom are happy, I’m happy!” Jiang Hang shouted after her, his eyes crinkling with laughter.

Lying on Yu Mushan’s lap, Jiang Yisheng opened WeChat.

Sure enough, there was a message from Bai Chu.

“I’m home. Happy New Year.”

It was sent exactly at midnight.

“Oho, young love is romantic—a midnight greeting,” Yu Mushan peeked at her screen.

“Ugh, Mom,” Jiang Yisheng quickly flipped the screen face down.

“How did it go last night? Did little President Bai get her dumplings?” she teased.

“Of course. I made them myself—she had to eat them,” Jiang Yisheng said smugly.

“Good thing your dad and I cleverly snuck two out beforehand, or we wouldn’t have gotten any.” Yu Mushan pouted.

“Aww, if you want more, I’ll make them for you every day.” Jiang Yisheng wrapped her arms around her mom’s and acted cutesy.

“Making dumplings takes half a day. If you did that every day, you’d have to live on the countertop,” Jiang Hang joked as he brought out the last dish from the kitchen.

“Come on, time to wash up and eat!” He set the table and took off his apron.

“People will be dropping by to visit later. If it’s too noisy, you can go upstairs or out somewhere,” Yu Mushan said, placing a chicken wing in her bowl.

“Who’s coming?” Jiang Yisheng asked, cheeks full.

“That uncle whose wig you knocked off last time,” Jiang Hang reminded her.

“Then… maybe I should stay out of sight,” she quickly ducked her head.

“Hahaha!” Jiang Hang burst into hearty laughter.

“That uncle was your dad’s college buddy. They used to be super close,” Yu Mushan added. “But for a while, we didn’t hear from him at all.”

“That old guy—if I hadn’t invited him to a meeting, he’d have forgotten me completely,” Jiang Hang snorted. “Now he remembers to drop by for New Year’s. Where was he the past few years? I’m definitely gonna give him a hard time.”

Meanwhile, Jiang Yisheng was already planning whether to go find Bai Chu later that day…