Extra Chapter Five: The Final Chapter (The End)

As the seasons turned, time flowed steadily onward.

Little Wen Can was now in the first grade of primary school. The thing she looked forward to most every day was going to school, because that was where she could see her desk mate, Huo Yu.

As he grew older, the aloof, cool-headed temperament of little Huo Yu became even more pronounced. Back in kindergarten, when other children were still playing in the dirt, he had already found such activities utterly childish. Yet, strangely enough, he couldn't help but think that Wen Can looked incredibly adorable even while playing in the mud. This, perhaps, was the only thing that troubled the young boy.

By some stroke of fate, the two were placed in the same class in primary school, and Wen Can once again managed to seat herself next to him. Huo Yu felt helpless, yet he indulged her, harboring a secret sense of joy he couldn't quite explain. Only when facing Wen Can would a hint of a smile grace his otherwise precociously mature face.

His father, Huo Yeran, often looked at his son with a sigh. "How is it that you didn't inherit a thing from your old man? I wouldn't say I'm exactly exuberant, but I'm certainly no mute."

Huo Yu had long since learned to turn a deaf ear to his father’s self-assessments.

However, it was strange that recently, Wen Can had suddenly lost her enthusiasm for going to school. Huo Yu wanted to ask why, but didn't know how to bring it up. The next day, Wen Can took the initiative to tell him the reason: "Huo Yu, I have a little brother! My mom gave birth to a baby brother for me; he’s tiny and super cute."

It was true. Before starting primary school, Wen Can’s favorite pastime at home had been urging her parents to have another baby. Young as she was, seeing other children with siblings always filled her with envy, especially after she’d seen pictures and videos of her friends' brothers and sisters at kindergarten. She would pester her mother, asking, "Mom, why does everyone else have a little brother or sister, but I don't? I want a baby to play with, too." She was truly envious, for although she had an older brother, he was always busy and only had time for her on weekends.

Wen Jiu had smiled at her daughter’s words and asked, "Sweetie, who told you that? Having a baby isn't that easy, but Dad and I will think about it." She was surprised by her daughter’s hidden thoughts. It was true that without peers at home, the girl could be lonely; she was always happiest when playing with Xia's son.

As it happened, Wen Jiu and Gu Zehuai had been planning to have a second child. That evening, when Wen Jiu relayed their daughter's words to Gu Zehuai, he was surprised as well, and together they decided to bring another little one into the world.

Thus, shortly after Wen Can started primary school, her brother, Gu Yuchen, was born. Every day, Wen Can looked forward to finishing school and rushing home to play with him. Because he was so small, she took the initiative to shoulder the task of looking after him, much to the immense relief and happiness of Gu Zehuai and Wen Jiu.

***

Shen Mengxia and Ye Chen’s son, Ye Cheng'an, was due to start primary school the following year. Whenever the weekend arrived, Shen Mengxia would bring him over to the Gu household; the two children could truly be called childhood sweethearts. Ye Cheng'an had perfectly inherited the excellent genes of his parents, possessing Ye Chen’s features and Shen Mengxia’s personality. He was bright and lively—the complete opposite of little Huo Yu. Wen Can, however, had no concept of these differences; she only knew that both boys were her good friends.

Several years ago, under the pressure of his family, Pei Yi had finally succumbed and had a whirlwind marriage with a woman he met on a blind date. Their little one was now nearly two years old. As for Lin Youqi, in the second year after Wen Jiu and Gu Zehuai’s wedding, he had successfully won back his first love from university. The series of amusing efforts he had made to win her over became a frequent subject of teasing by his friends for years to come.

During a gathering, Lin Youqi draped an arm around his hard-won wife and said smugly, "You're all just jealous, hmph." This was directed especially at Pei Yi, who was so annoyed he forced Lin Youqi to down several glasses of wine. Meanwhile, Lin Youqi’s girlfriend silently stuffed his mouth with food to stop him.

"Don't get carried away."
"Yes, dear!" He knew he had to listen to his wife.

Yu Keyan and Lin Lehan had also found their true loves. Yu Keyan’s dating experience was quite interesting; aware of her own personality flaws, she had deliberately tried to mask her true self when interacting with the opposite sex. To her surprise, the boyfriend she eventually dated was attracted to her precisely because of her real personality.

Her boyfriend had met her at a dance performance. Just before she went on stage, she had received a breakup text from him, the reason being that she wasn't "proactive" enough. Yu Keyan had been furious, unable to fathom breaking up over something so trivial, and launched into a heated rant right then and there. She didn't realize there was a boy standing behind her, hesitating over whether to pass by.

Later, they met by chance. He was exactly her type. After they established a relationship, Yu Keyan tried her best to control herself, but before long, she grew exhausted. Why should she wrong herself for the sake of a relationship? She couldn't lose herself to love, and she certainly couldn't keep up a charade forever. Finally, while they were having a meal together, she laid all her cards on the table. To her surprise, the boy was delighted; he was finally seeing the real her. She realized that interacting in the way that felt most comfortable was the correct way to love.

***

After Gu Zehuai and Wen Jiu married, they moved into their marital home, which was closer to the company and both their families, only occasionally returning to the apartment for a day or two. Recently, Gu Zehuai had renovated both units, knocking through the balconies to connect them into a single, flowing space. Now, every so often, they would bring their son and daughter to stay at the apartment for a few days.

Little Wen Can asked curiously, "Mom, Dad, is this our home too? I don't seem to remember it."

Gu Zehuai explained with a smile, "This is where Mom and Dad first met. It was because of this place that we had the chance to get to know and love each other. So, this has always been our home."

Wen Jiu’s face remained lit with a soft smile. It was true; this had always been their home. When they first met, Gu Zehuai had apologized to Wen Jiu for Gu Yulin’s unfiltered childhood remarks. Neither of them had expected that in the near future, those innocent words would become Gu Zehuai’s most cherished fulfillment of wishes.

It was Gu Zehuai’s wish fulfilled, and in the same way, was it not also Wen Jiu’s?

[The End]