After Wen Ran and Luo Xiao left on their honeymoon, everyone’s life returned to normal.
Luo Zhenting went back to work, Luo Feng returned to the headquarters in A City, and Ju Yaxin went back to her home in Singapore—inviting Wen Pingping along. The two of them traveled around Singapore and nearby places together.
Now the family group chat included both Wen Ran and Wen Pingping, and it had become especially lively.
Either Ju Yaxin would share photos of herself and Wen Pingping out having fun, or Wen Ran would post scenic shots from his travels with Luo Xiao.
Everyone popped into the chat daily. The big family felt warm and harmonious.
From Wen Ran’s photos, it was clear he and Luo Xiao had been to many places.
They’d climbed mountains, toured lakes, visited famous scenic spots—traveling all over.
About a month into their trip, Wen Pingping hosted a thank-you banquet at a luxury hotel in their hometown, C City.
Around fifteen tables were set, inviting close relatives and friends, including Wen Ran’s whole gang of friends.
At the banquet, Wen Pingping was dressed formally. Luo Zhenting and Ju Yaxin also attended. The three of them held drinks and went from table to table offering toasts.
On stage, a large screen played videos of Wen Ran and Luo Xiao traveling together. Below, Wen Pingping and the others toasted and chatted warmly with guests.
No wedding, just a thank-you banquet—it looked simple, but it was anything but ordinary. Each table cost 58,000 yuan, not including cigarettes and alcohol. Cigarettes were 100 yuan a pack, liquor was Wuliangye, and on top of that, each guest received a gift bag worth thousands.
By now, everyone knew Wen Ran had married in a flash and landed an excellent husband—handsome, tall, and from a family so rich they’d given a blank check as bride price.
Relatives congratulated Wen Pingping. “Your son really did well—found such a good husband.”
Wen Pingping raised her glass. “Even if he hadn’t, he’d still be my son. As long as they’re doing well, that’s all parents want.”
“Besides, our Ranran isn’t only impressive because he got married.”
“He’s impressive no matter what.”
“Good in every way.”
The relatives exclaimed, “Pingping! These are your in-laws? They’re so young! And your in-law mom is gorgeous!”
Ju Yaxin smiled gracefully. Wen Pingping said cheerfully, “She’s not just my in-law—she’s my little sister. We’re very close.”
On the big screen, drone footage showed Wen Ran and Luo Xiao chasing each other across a lawn, laughing—proof of how good their relationship was.
At two tables below, Wen Ran’s group of friends were eating and drinking with abandon.
Shang Ge even video-called Wen Ran while gnawing on a hairy crab. “Do you know how high-end your mom’s banquet is? Fifty-eight thousand a table! Cigarettes are a hundred a pack—that’s a thousand just in cigarettes per table!”
Wen Ran said, “It’s a wedding banquet. Eat as much as you want.”
Shang Ge asked, “Where are you guys now?”
“Japan.”
?
“Why Japan?”
“Too much nature scenery,” Wen Ran replied. “Luo Xiao brought me here to shop and change my mood. After shopping, we’ll go back to traveling.”
Shang Ge kept eating. “What’d you buy?”
Wen Ran lifted his shopping bags. “Hermès. They kneel to serve you here—I bought a ton!”
Shang Ge grew sour. “Suddenly these hairy crabs don’t taste so good.”
“My painting sold smoothly back home,” Wen Ran added. “I bought stuff for you and Wenwen. I’ll mail it after I get back.”
!!
The hairy crab tasted good again.
“Alright, alright—buy, buy, buy!” Shang Ge cheered.
Wen Pingping successfully wrapped up her thank-you banquet. She was especially happy and proud, and in her good mood, she transferred Wen Ran another two million, telling them to take their time traveling—no rush to come home. She herself wouldn’t be home either, having planned a Europe trip with Ju Yaxin.
Meanwhile, after attending the banquet, Ju Yaxin and Luo Zhenting took notes from the experience and planned to organize their own thank-you banquet, aiming for next spring.
Ju Yaxin said, “I just don’t know whether Ranran and Luo Xiao will still be traveling then. I don’t really mind if they’re there or not. It’s just the relatives back home who’ll complain—no wedding is one thing, but not even showing up for the thank-you banquet?”
Luo Zhenting said, “They can complain if they want. Worst case, we’ll host separate banquets in A City, Singapore, and the hometown.”
“Ranran~~”
Ju Yaxin quickly dropped the topic and video-called Wen Ran again. “Where are you today? What? Japan?”
“Buy! Spend freely! Ten or twenty million, don’t worry about duty-free limits—you’ll definitely exceed them. Worst case, pay the tax; I’ll cover it. If that doesn’t work, I’ll send the family plane to pick you up.”
As the banquet wound down and guests gradually left, Shang Ge and the others stayed behind. They asked the hotel for large plastic bags and began packing leftovers table by table to take to the animal shelter.
Ju Yaxin found it strange. “What are you kids doing? If there are leftovers, just throw them away. If you want more food, I can order more.”
“No, Auntie,” Shang Ge and the others explained—it was for the cats and dogs.
Ju Yaxin’s heart immediately melted. Oh my god, Ranran is way too kind.
She asked whether the shelter had a donation account. She’d like to donate 500,000 yuan, and another 500,000 to buy cat and dog food.
Mom!!
Shang Ge and the others cried out again.
Alright, alright—Wen Pingping knew them well. “I’ll look into finding a cat and dog food factory. You can source from them in the future. If funds run short, come to me—I’ll figure something out.”
What else could she do? Wen Ran had built the shelter himself. Now that he wasn’t home, could she really just ignore it?
Mom!!
They called again.
Wen Pingping was startled, laughing helplessly. “You brats, why are you shouting so loud?”
After the banquet ended and they left the hotel, Wen Pingping suddenly remembered something and asked Ju Yaxin, who was walking beside her, “Your eldest son didn’t come today? Is he really busy lately?”
Don’t even mention it.
Ju Yaxin sighed. “One of his special assistants left—someone who’d been with him for many years. He’s been half-dead over it lately…”
Wen Pingping asked, puzzled as they walked, “If an assistant leaves, can’t he just hire another? Was the old one really that capable?”
“I don’t know either.”
Ju Yaxin: “He didn’t explain the details to me either. I only heard that he offered the guy ten times the salary, but the assistant still insisted on leaving… forget it, I won’t meddle. Work stuff—he can handle it himself.”
A City, a certain art museum.
Yan Yu had been standing in front of a painting for a full twenty minutes. A staff member from the museum noticed and walked over, smiling.
“Teacher Yan, do you also think this piece is well done?”
He went on to explain, “It was sent over by Ivan. You know how he is—he won’t promote anything mediocre. Once he takes it on, it’s bound to be something special. Same with this piece: a completely unknown young artist, and the painting sold for 680,000 right off the bat…”
The staff member kept talking, but Yan Yu had already stopped listening.
Six hundred eighty thousand.
A few years ago, that painting of rice ears and a kite had sold for only three hundred thousand.
Wen Ran…
Yan Yu stared at the painting, then at the placard beside it, at the name printed there—Wen Ran—and silently clenched his molars.
Weren’t you only selling a few mediocre paintings through that bumpkin Zhou Lanjing these past years?
Weren’t you not even using your real name?
Weren’t you supposed to be unable to paint anymore?
So what is this now?
You can paint again?
Using your real name?
And you even managed to get someone like Ivan—such a heavyweight agent—to operate for you?
What, you’re back?
Yan Yu looked at the painting, expressionless.
Too late.
I’ll make you understand—this industry isn’t something you can just step into, even if you’re a genius.
Japan.
Luo Xiao came back from the restroom and saw Wen Ran holding a pen, sketching on a sheet of white paper printed with the Hermès logo.
“What are you drawing?”
Luo Xiao bent down beside him.
Wen Ran moved his hand aside to show him. “Just doodling.”
On the paper were two cartoon figures holding hands, arms full of shopping bags.
Luo Xiao smiled. Wen Ran smiled too. They met each other’s gaze, leaned in, and pressed their foreheads together.
Not far away, at the counter, two sales associates were busy packing their purchases.
Later, they walked out hand in hand. Wen Ran was in front, tugging Luo Xiao along. One of Luo Xiao’s hands was full of shopping bags; the other held his phone to his ear. From the other end, Ivan was practically shouting:
“I went and looked into your wife—my god, he’s an absolute genius!
Other people’s college paintings are trash, but his were kept by the school as teaching materials!
When he graduated, several agents wanted to sign him. It was only because of that incident that upset him that he didn’t sign with anyone.
And that Zhou Lanjing you mentioned last time—I saw the paintings of your wife that he sold. Even in an ordinary state, he could paint that well. Out of a hundred thousand people, you might not get one like him. He’s definitely a genius! …”
Luo Xiao didn’t say a word. When they reached the crosswalk, he wrapped an arm around Wen Ran’s waist and guided him forward, speaking calmly into the phone.
“At the very least, it’ll have to wait until we’re back.”
“After we’re back won’t work either—we’ve got other plans. And once Wen Ran gets home, he needs time to paint. Painting takes time.”
“That’s fine. Meeting me is no problem.”
They crossed the street and merged into the crowd. Luo Xiao kept the call going, his free arm around Wen Ran’s shoulders.
Two months later—
Wen Ran opened his eyes to the sound of wind howling outside the tent.
He glanced beside him. The double sleeping bag held only himself—Luo Xiao wasn’t there.
Huh?
He was puzzled for only a moment. Not knowing what Luo Xiao had gone out to do, he closed his eyes again, planning to doze a little longer.
The sleeping bag was warm, still carrying Luo Xiao’s scent, making him feel incredibly safe.
They were in Xinjiang now, at Sailimu Lake.
It was autumn, and Sailimu Lake and the surrounding area were already quite cold.
Luo Xiao was experienced. The tent he used was the same kind for climbing K2 and K3—completely windproof. With double-layered pads and a thick double sleeping bag, it wasn’t cold inside even without heating.
They had already spent two nights at Sailimu Lake. Nights there were cold, dark, and windy, but during the day, as long as there was sun, the temperature wasn’t too low.
Wen Ran had already seen the scenery. He wasn’t in a hurry to get up today. He lounged in bed, thinking he’d wait and see if Luo Xiao came back and crawled back into the sleeping bag.
Just then, the tent zipper opened. Luo Xiao came in and immediately zipped it shut.
“You awake?”
He took off his shoes and slid into the sleeping bag.
“Mm.”
Wen Ran opened his eyes. “Where’d you go?”
“Bathroom,” Luo Xiao said.
Their tent wasn’t far from the restrooms nearby. For safety, Luo Xiao had deliberately chosen a spot close to the tent hotel—more people around meant less risk.
“Mm.”
As soon as Luo Xiao lay down, Wen Ran scooted right over to him.
Luo Xiao’s presence made him feel especially secure.
“It’s seven. Sleep a bit more. The tourist traffic won’t pick up until after eight.” Luo Xiao tucked the sleeping bag around them.
“Okay.”
Feeling completely at ease, Wen Ran drifted back to sleep.
Luo Xiao looked down at Wen Ran sprawled against his chest and couldn’t help smiling—after traveling together for a full three months, Wen Ran had gotten quite a bit tanner.
Like a gray-furred little hamster.
Luo Xiao leaned down and kissed the little hamster.
Sailimu Lake was the final stop of their trip.
That afternoon, they’d pack up and leave. Tomorrow, they’d fly back to C City.
Just then, Luo Xiao paused—because Wen Ran, inside the sleeping bag, grabbed him.
?
Wen Ran kept holding on, eyes closed, muttering, “The one in the morning needs to be a bit bigger.”
Luo Xiao laughed, pinched his cheek, and said, “If you’re awake, get up and go use the bathroom. It’ll be crowded later.”
Wen Ran replied, “If it’s crowded, I’ll just pee on the ground.”
Luo Xiao said, “Come out on a trip and you didn’t learn anything else—just learned how to brag.”
“That’s not true,” Wen Ran said calmly, without blushing. “I’m pretty good at bragging about my junk now.”
Luo Xiao chuckled under his breath and tickled Wen Ran inside the sleeping bag. Wen Ran immediately opened his eyes and tickled him back, the two of them laughing and fooling around.