The Man in the Black Sweater - Chapter 18 — Look, Your Sky Full of Stars

Luo Xu sat on the sofa, watching people come and go as they carried boxes of New Year goods around the house.

It was New Year’s Eve. Some people were going home, and others were heading with Pei Yan to the old family residence.
Luo Xu was the one staying behind — she would be spending her Spring Festival here, alone.

Even Aunt Chen had left. Her children had come back from abroad and were taking her to a nearby city for the holidays, so she left with a beaming smile.

Pei Yan came down the stairs wearing a silver-gray shirt, fastening his cuffs as he walked.
Seeing Luo Xu sitting there absentmindedly, he asked, “Are you really not coming with us?”

“Ah… no.” Luo Xu snapped out of her daze and smiled, shaking her head.

Tang Juan’s grandmother clearly didn’t like her. Showing up uninvited during the New Year would only make things awkward — she’d just end up ruining everyone’s mood. It would be a miracle if she didn’t get chased out.

“Will you be alright here alone?” Pei Yan was still fiddling with his cuffs, glancing down as he asked.

“Of course. I’ve been living here for a month — I’m used to it by now.”

“If you want to go out, just call Old Liu. He’ll come pick you up.”

“Okay.” Luo Xu looked up and smiled brightly, doing her best to show she could handle being on her own.

Pei Yan looked at her and said, “If you get scared at night…”

“I’ve slept in storm drains before — what’s there to be scared of?” she scoffed.

“I mean,” he continued, “if you do get scared, I can come back at night.”

Luo Xu tilted her head, tugged at her ear, and said in mock contemplation, “Now that I think about it… this house is kind of big…”

“Hm?”

“I might get scared after all. I mean, it’s not really my place…” she said, looking straight at him — her eyes wide, innocent, and pure.

Pei Yan’s lips curved slightly, but he didn’t respond.

Luo Xu stood up and tugged at his sleeve.
“Here, let me help you. You’ve been fumbling with these forever,” she said, bending her head to fasten the cuff for him.

He glanced down — and saw the soft crown of her head, a little swirl of hair at the top that was just as endearing as she was.

“There! I thought it’d be harder,” she said, patting his arm with a grin.

Pei Yan asked, “What do you want for your New Year’s gift?”

Luo Xu raised her brows, surprised. “I get to ask for one?”

“Of course.”

Her eyes lit up. She clapped her hands excitedly. “Then… how many can I ask for?”

“One.”

“Ah…”

So stingy?
With all his wealth, this was the level of generosity he could muster?
She’d never heard of a company president who built an empire through penny-pinching.
Was he really capable?

Luo Xu looked at him with deep suspicion.

“Take your time. Let me know when you’ve decided,” Pei Yan said as he picked up his coat, changed shoes, and headed for the door.

“Oh.” Luo Xu followed him to the entrance, watching as he left.

From some corner of the house, Ross came bounding out, rubbing affectionately against Luo Xu’s leg before hopping excitedly after Pei Yan.

“Hey! Dumb dog, come back here!” Luo Xu yelled, chasing after him.

…..

The Pei family’s New Year’s Eve dinner was, in truth, rather bleak.
It was the thirtieth night of the lunar year — a time meant for family reunions — yet the atmosphere was anything but joyful.

Old Master Pei sat at the head of the table, his body present but his heart clearly elsewhere.
The Pei family’s eldest daughter had long since passed away; her husband and son were in Egypt on an excavation and couldn’t return. Only the younger daughter, Tang You, was here tonight.
As for Pei Yan — still unmarried, seated alone.

Old Madam Pei, on the other hand, was in high spirits, urging everyone to eat more.
Even her husband’s cold expression didn’t dampen her enthusiasm in the slightest.
Perhaps, in her mind, she was the rightful wife — and on a day like this, no matter how favored that “other woman” once was, her husband still had to come home and sit beside her.

A husband whose heart was elsewhere, and a wife desperately maintaining the illusion of harmony — together, they had turned their home into a battlefield of silent hostility.
Each taking what they wanted, each restraining the other.

Like countless New Year’s dinners before it, this one was exhausting in its quiet tension.

Tang You finished eating and obediently sat beside the old lady, chatting to keep her company.
Pei Yan, meanwhile, was summoned to the study by his father — to talk about Luo Xu.

“Your sister died young. You should help her look after Tang Juan,” the old man said earnestly.

“Mm.” Pei Yan sat on the sofa, his expression unreadable.

“And that girl — what’s her story? I heard your mother doesn’t approve of her?”

Doesn’t approve was an understatement. His mother’s reaction had practically been “choose her and lose me.”

“She’s fine. Ambitious, sensible,” Pei Yan said calmly. “My mother’s opinion is… biased. She still believes family background and pedigree are everything, so naturally she looks down on her.”

“Hah.” The old man sneered. “Your mother? She just wants everyone to flatter her — wants every well-born girl to line up so she can play god and pick one, just to feed her own control complex.”

Pei Yan rubbed his forehead. “I’m used to the constant tension between you two, but she’s still my mother. Please watch your words.”

“When she starts meddling in your marriage, I hope you can keep that same level of grace,” the old man said with a wry laugh, clearly certain of his wife’s eventual interference.

“I grew up in this… unhealthy household, but I’ve never interfered in your affairs,” Pei Yan replied evenly. “So I’d appreciate the same courtesy from you — and from her.”

“I agree,” the old man said, backing off slightly. “You have your freedom. Since the day I handed Pei Corporation over to you, I no longer interfere — not in business, nor in your personal life.”

“Good.”

“As for your mother, she’s not under my control. So on her side…”

“You don’t need to worry,” Pei Yan interrupted, a faint smirk on his lips. “I won’t treat marriage like a bargaining chip — or repeat your mistakes.”

The old man’s expression darkened. He shot Pei Yan a cold look but said nothing more.

Meanwhile, Luo Xu had turned on every light in the house.
The living room gleamed bright as day.

She took a deep breath and pressed play on the remote again.

On screen, a little girl crawled out from under a hospital bed — pale-faced, hair hanging loose, wearing a white dress, barefoot — slowly approaching the woman lying on the bed.

“Push! Push harder!”

The woman on the bed was drenched in sweat, struggling through childbirth.
The little girl climbed onto the bed and stuck out her tongue—

“AH!” Luo Xu screamed, leaping up and hitting pause again.

“Hoo… hoo…” She panted heavily, pacing back and forth across the living room.

“One minute and thirty seconds! A new record! Not bad, not bad!” she said, patting her chest and nodding at her own bravery.

After a few rounds of pacing, she got hungry.
Heading into the kitchen, she started rummaging for something to eat.
Ross circled her ankles, tail wagging, his messy fur sticking out in every direction, nudging her leg for food.

She cut off a small piece of ham and placed it in his bowl.
Ross sniffed at it suspiciously before taking a hesitant lick.

Luo Xu smirked, picked up the bowl, and set it on the counter — out of his reach.
The dog immediately started whining and pawing at her leg pitifully.

“Masochist,” Luo Xu muttered, chuckling as she put the bowl back down.

This time Ross didn’t dare fuss — he gobbled it down happily.

Opening the fridge, Luo Xu saw rows of neatly packed kimchi that Aunt Chen had prepared before leaving.
They looked delicious. She took out a box, grabbed a pack of ramen, two eggs, and whatever else she could find, planning to throw it all together into a stew.

Her cooking wasn’t anything to brag about, but she could make edible food — and she wasn’t picky.

The ramen smelled wonderful, though the noodles turned out a bit overcooked.
Still, she thought, as long as it’s edible, it’s a win.

After eating and washing the dishes, she sat back in front of the TV with a box of fresh cherries.
Setting her phone alarm to go off in two minutes, she pressed play once more.

The essence of a horror movie, she thought, was the perfect mix of image and sound —
after all, it’s impossible to be scared if you’re watching a ghost flick while listening to a sweet Jay Chou love song.

On screen, a man opened a door.
He flipped on the light — and there, hanging from the ceiling, was a woman’s corpse, suspended and wrapped in strands of what looked like hair, swaying back and forth…

Then, in the real world, the sound of a key turning in the lock broke through.

Luo Xu froze.
When she realized it wasn’t coming from the TV, she shrieked, jumped up onto the sofa, and hugged a pillow like a weapon, glaring toward the entrance.

Pei Yan stood in the doorway, keys in hand, watching her dramatic display from start to finish.

“If I were a burglar,” he said dryly, “were you planning to bludgeon me to death with that pillow, or just deafen me with your scream?”

Luo Xu dropped back onto the couch, relieved. “Oh… it’s you. I thought you were a ghost.”

Pei Yan glanced at the TV, grabbed the remote, and turned it off.
“You’re afraid of ghosts but still watch horror movies? Masochist.”

“I just wanted some excitement! It’s boring being home alone.” Luo Xu shifted in her seat, adjusting her pregnant belly.

“I told you — you could go out. Old Liu’s been waiting for your call all day,” Pei Yan said, sitting down beside her.

“The streets are packed. In my condition, it’s… not convenient,” she muttered.

He picked up a cherry and popped it into his mouth. “Then where do you want to go?”

“Somewhere quiet — anywhere without a crowd.” Luo Xu scooted closer, eyes shining expectantly.

Pei Yan had originally come back for peace and quiet, but seeing her so restless and eager, he couldn’t bring himself to say no.

“Go get dressed. We’re heading out,” he said, standing and grabbing his car keys again.

“Yay!” Luo Xu jumped up, her face lighting up with delight, and dashed upstairs.

…..

Luo Xu stood in front of the museum, pointing at the Closed for Holiday notice on the door.
“So… you predicted this?” she asked.

Pei Yan chuckled. “Do I look like you?” He walked ahead first.

A security guard appeared from the side, handed Pei Yan something that looked like a key, and said politely,
“The curator said you can have two hours inside, but please be mindful of the time.”

Pei Yan nodded, then turned back toward Luo Xu standing at the bottom of the steps.
“Come on,” he called, gesturing to her.

“Yes, sir!” Luo Xu perked up immediately and followed him excitedly.

Pei Yan walked in front, steady and confident, while Luo Xu trailed behind, glancing around nervously.
She had just watched a horror movie earlier — and now being in this vast, silent space stirred up uneasy memories.

Pei Yan stopped abruptly, and Luo Xu bumped into his back. “Ouch… are we there?”

He unlocked the door and stepped aside to let her enter first.

“Hehe… you go first,” she said, sticking close behind him, refusing to take the lead.

It was a large lecture hall, dark and silent, with the curtains drawn — nothing could be seen.
Pei Yan walked up to the podium and bent down to fiddle with something below it.

Luo Xu tiptoed closer, craning her neck to peek under the desk.

“Go sit down,” Pei Yan said calmly.

“Oh.” Luo Xu looked around, took out her phone, and turned on the flashlight to light her way.

Suddenly, several beams of light flashed across the room — the entire hall lit up in an instant.

When she looked up, the ceiling that had been pitch-black moments ago had transformed into a sea of stars — the Milky Way, vast and dazzling.

It was as though she were floating in space.
The galaxy above her swirled slowly, pulling her in, surrounding her completely.

On the stage, Pei Yan held a remote control.
He pressed a button, and the stars shifted, forming faint connecting lines — the lines joined, slowly outlining a recognizable shape.

“I know this one! That’s Ursa Major — the Big Dipper!” Luo Xu cried out in delight, pointing upward.

Pei Yan smiled faintly and pressed another button.

The starry sky above them went dark again.
Still lost in the magic of it all, Luo Xu turned and protested, “Hey—!”

Just then — whoosh! — a shooting star streaked across the ceiling.
Before she could complain, her eyes followed it instinctively, her breath catching.

Then, as if choreographed, countless meteors swept across her field of vision, arcing through the sky in graceful parabolas — like ballet dancers leaping mid-air, arms outstretched, powerful yet elegant.

It was so breathtaking that she could hardly believe she was standing in the middle of it.

Then came a deep, calm voice behind her.
“Happy birthday.”

Luo Xu turned around, startled — her eyes wide in disbelief.

“Tang Juan told me today’s your birthday,” Pei Yan said, standing on the steps with his hands behind his back. His tall, poised figure seemed even more striking than the brilliant stars overhead. “He asked me to make sure I wished you a happy one.”

For a moment, Luo Xu couldn’t even speak. “You… how did you—”

Pei Yan glanced at his watch and said, “Twelve-oh-one. Just in time.”

Luo Xu stared at him, dazed, her heart whispering to itself —

Not just in time.
Perfect.

…..

Damn it — after this night, this man was destined to become the cinnabar mark on her heart, the one she could never forget!