In a side sitting room, Shi Tang’s sister-in-law cradled her month-old baby, a small crowd gathered around to coo over the infant. Lin Yuxi went over to greet Ling Yaqiong and the other elders. Just as she was about to step out for some air, the sister-in-law called to her. “Xiao Xi, would you like to hold him?” The baby, dressed in a soft cotton onesie printed with little rabbits, was swaddled snugly in a blanket, his skin pale and tender. A pair of big, dark eyes gazed up at her. Before Lin Yuxi could refuse, the woman had already placed the baby in her arms. “Go on, hold him. Look how much he likes you, he can’t stop staring.” She couldn’t politely refuse, so Lin Yuxi sat down, gazing into the infant’s eyes. The baby did seem to like her, gurgling and cooing as he blew bubbles, his eyes squeezing into two happy little crescents. Lin Yuxi smiled back. It was a strange and wonderful feeling; she hadn’t realized being liked by a child could bring such a rush of joy. “Hello there,” she whispered to the baby. “My name is Lin Yuxi. What’s yours?” The sister-in-law chuckled. “He doesn’t know his own name yet. And even if he did, he can’t talk.” The baby’s solid gold longevity lock slipped out from his collar. As his mother tucked it back in, she suddenly noticed Lin Yuxi’s neck. “Oh? Xiao Xi, you’re wearing a peace lock too.” All eyes turned to Lin Yuxi’s neck. She wore a jadeite pendant, an incredibly rare ‘dragon stone’ variety, its color a clear, emerald green. It was carved into the shape of a peace lock—smooth and lovely, small and delicate. Lin Yuxi instinctively touched the pendant. She had worn it for so long that the jadeite seemed to have absorbed the warmth of her skin. Her sister-in-law admired it. “Where did you buy this peace lock? I’d love to get one.” Lin Yuxi shook her head. “I don’t know. It was a gift.” “Ah,” the sister-in-law said with a knowing smile. “Yanjing must have given it to you. Then I doubt I could ever find one like it.” Lin Yuxi managed a faint smile. Sitting there, beneath the brilliant glow of the crystal chandelier, she was suddenly transported back to a winter of heavy snow. Lunar New Year’s Eve, at the stroke of midnight. The man waiting for her downstairs. A fiery embrace and a kiss in the snow. A vast, magnificent fireworks display, just for her. The truth was, Zhou Yanjing had loved her once. An older lady, a connoisseur of jadeite, chimed in. “Young people these days don’t really wear jadeite anymore, do they?” “The translucency is superb. And it looks beautiful on Xiao Xi, it suits her elegant temperament.” Mrs. Shi, a woman with a kind face, complimented Lin Yuxi before turning to Ling Yaqiong. “You’re so fortunate, Yaqiong, that Yanjing brought you such a wonderful daughter-in-law.” Ling Yaqiong offered a faint smile. “Not as fortunate as you, getting to hold your grandson so soon.” It was just a polite retort, a way to fill the silence, but it inadvertently steered the conversation in a new direction. Mrs. Shi turned back to Lin Yuxi. “Xiao Xi, why don’t you and Yanjing have a child?” Lin Yuxi froze. Thankfully, Ling Yaqiong had no interest in pursuing the topic and changed the subject with a few brief words. Lin Yuxi handed the baby back to his mother and slipped out a side door for some air. Outside was a swimming pool, surprisingly still full of water for this time of year. Lin Yuxi had forgotten her coat, and a gust of wind sent a shiver through her. She thought about going back for it, but when she saw the brilliant, warm light spilling from the house and heard the distant sounds of cheerful laughter, she lost the desire to go back inside. That atmosphere of blissful family togetherness had nothing to do with her. She sat for a while on a poolside chair until one of the Shi family’s maids came out with a cashmere shawl. “Mrs. Zhou, it’s windy out here. Please be careful not to catch a cold.” “Thank you,” Lin Yuxi said, gratefully accepting it. “I’ll just be a minute.” The maid quickly left, and she sat alone in the courtyard, feeling a sense of liberation at not having to socialize. But that peace didn’t last long. A sudden cold wetness hit her back. She turned to see a boy of about seven or eight years old aiming a water gun at her. Lin Yuxi didn’t recognize him; he must be the child of one of the other guests. She assumed it was an accident and said nothing. But as soon as she turned away, another stream of water hit her. She looked back. The boy was holding the water gun aloft, a deliberately mischievous grin on his face. Lin Yuxi frowned. “Do I know you?” “Nope.” “Then why are you squirting me?” “Because I want to!” the boy declared, shooting another jet of water at her. “Serves you right for sitting here.” The back of her shawl was half soaked. In the late autumn chill, the damp cashmere clung to her, the cold seeping through to her skin. But Lin Yuxi didn’t take the shawl off. She knew he would just keep shooting. She stood up to leave, but the boy wasn't done. He raised his water gun and chased after her. “Trying to run away?” Most of the time, Lin Yuxi was someone who endured things quietly. She had lost her parents, her home, at a young age. She had been abandoned, bullied, and later, when the Zhou family took her in, living under someone else’s roof was never easy. She learned early to be cautious and observant, to never fight, never complain, never cause a scene. When people picked on her, she never sought help, because she knew no one had her back. So she did her best to avoid trouble. But even the softest fruit will burst if you squeeze it enough. Lin Yuxi stopped and turned to face him. “Maybe you should be the one to run.” The little brat didn’t catch her meaning and started pumping his water gun. “Why should I run?” Lin Yuxi clutched the soaking shawl around her, her voice steady and even. “Because the pool is freezing. You should run a bit to warm up, so you don’t get a cramp when you fall in.” “I’m not gonna fall in!” The boy continued his assault, making “pew pew pew” sounds as he squirted water at her. Lin Yuxi glanced around. Unfortunately, there was someone under the covered walkway. Zhou Yanjing was standing there talking to another man. His hands were in his pockets, his posture casual, his gaze drifting nonchalantly toward the pool. Lin Yuxi’s brow furrowed, and the hand she had started to raise fell back to her side. The man with Zhou Yanjing cupped a lighter, eagerly lighting his cigarette for him. “I had someone run the numbers. The ROI on this project is at least two hundred percent. It’s a sure thing.” He continued to sing the praises of his company’s project, but Zhou Yanjing, a cigarette held loosely between his lips, was barely listening. “The loan department at Hengtai Bank isn't my responsibility, Mr. Wang. You’re talking to the wrong person.” “Come now, Mr. Zhou, you jest. Everyone knows you and your brother are of one mind; it doesn’t matter who I talk to. Besides, you own half of Hengtai Bank. Approving a loan… a single word from you is all it takes.” Zhou Yanjing didn’t reply. His brow tightened, his eyes fixed on the scene by the pool. Mr. Wang followed his gaze and chuckled. “Ah, kids. He just likes playing with pretty ladies.” Zhou Yanjing’s eyes flicked toward him, a glint of ice in them. “Your son?” “He gets his looks from his mother, but his brains from me. His teachers all say he’s brilliant,” Mr. Wang said, his voice swelling with pride. Zhou Yanjing’s voice was cold. “You have a child and you don’t bother to raise him? Are you waiting for me to do it for you?” The man froze, stunned by the chill in his tone. Before he could react, Zhou Yanjing had stubbed out his cigarette and was striding toward the pool. The little brat, seeing that Lin Yuxi wasn’t going to do anything, grew bolder. He aimed the water gun at her face. “Time to wash that makeup off!” Before he could fire, a hand clamped down on his wrist from above. “My wife’s makeup looks perfect. Why would you want to ruin it?” Zhou Yanjing stood in front of Lin Yuxi, effortlessly restraining the boy with one hand, his brown eyes devoid of any warmth. “You’re bullying my wife. Did you ask my permission first?”