Night Tide-Extra3

Christmas.

It was Xiang Wan and Chao Xin’s first Christmas since they got together. Last year, they spent it in Water Town without any special preparations. They simply joined in with the town’s promotional activities, making gingerbread and eating steak. At that time, Xiang Wan felt that being with Ms. Chao was enough to make her happy. Chao Xin didn’t seem to care much about the festive season either.

It wasn’t until the variety show when Chao Xin expressed feeling neglected, counting the holidays one by one, that Xiang Wan realized even Ms. Chao, who appears unaffected by all, also harbored a hidden desire for ritualistic celebrations. Just like anyone else who’s fallen in love.

Life is different with a significant other by your side.

When alone, the calendar becomes mere numbers, counting from 1 to 30, or at most 31, before starting all over again. However, with her around, the days become landmarks, certain dates get renamed in memory as ‘the day she kissed me’.

So, Xiang Wan made an effort to embrace this Western holiday and planned to give Chao Xin a perfect Christmas.

“That’s pretty much it,” Paipai closed her iPad, ending the crash course she was giving Xiang Wan.

“Mmm,” Xiang Wan murmured, seated cross-legged on the carpet, glancing at the towering Christmas tree in the corner, which nearly reached the ceiling. It was adorned with an array of small gifts, shimmering boxes, golden and bright silver bells, and red and white candy canes. At the very top, a star shone brilliantly. A few strands of colorful lights were the final touch. Paipai flipped the switch, and the lights began to twinkle, reflecting in Xiang Wan’s eyes.

“Do you think Ms. Chao will really like it?” Xiang Wan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as she looked over the tree.

Paipai stood to the side, hands on hips, looking quite satisfied. “Well, I like it,” she said.

“After the holiday, who’s going to take it down and throw it out?” Xiang Wan asked.

Paipai looked at Xiang Wan, and Xiang Wan looked back at Paipai.

“How about,” Paipai sat down next to Xiang Wan, “we let my mom throw it out.”

“Very well,” Xiang Wan nodded.

“Nice,” Paipai snapped her fingers.

“To be honest,” Xiang Wan spoke, leaning back on her hands, her hair cascading down, “I still don’t quite understand this holiday.”

“How so?” Paipai asked, curious.

“In my hometown, hanging stockings everywhere like this would be a bit inappropriate,” she hesitated, glancing at Paipai before continuing, “and then there’s you, showing up with the stocking at the foot of mine and Ms. Chao’s bed in the morning, asking why there are no gifts inside.”

Putting gifts inside stockings… For Xiang Wan, that was indeed a bit rough around the edges.

“It’s not just any stocking, those are special Christmas stockings I bought,” Paipai protested loudly.

“And that’s another thing I don’t understand—why you’re so enamored with an old person’s stockings.”

“You…” Paipai felt stuck.

“You say this old man is like a god,” Xiang Wan, seeing someone ready to argue, decided to clarify, “that every year at this time, he descends from the sky to bestow blessings upon you, right?”

Paipai nodded, “Exactly, Santa Claus, don’t you know about him?”

“But then you say he’s supposed to come in through the chimney.” Xiang Wan tilted her chin down slightly, her eyebrows raising just a touch, as she rubbed her eyes as if witnessing something unbearable.

She lifted her fair hand, her fingers like the roots of green onions; she bit gently onto her bent index finger.

The Guanyin Bodhisattva or any celestial being in the stories of old would always descend into the courtyard, their back against the stars, looking down upon the world. Now in the modern city without courtyards, that’s fine, but why would they come down the chimney?

A god being covered in coal dust after a tumble—would that leave any of their cultivation intact?

“Ah, this…” Paipai was taken aback, murmuring, “He’s not exactly a god, it seems.”

“Then what is he?”

“He’s Santa Claus,” Paipai was on the verge of tears.

“Carrying a big sack, wearing a red robe, donning a triangular hat, stepping in little boots,” Xiang Wan curled her lips, “In our place, there’s also a legend about such a figure.”

“Who is that?”

“Vanity,” Xiang Wan said, referring to “Baopuzi.”^[1]

“Ah, that one, I know, I know, I saw it in ‘Reading the Remnants’^[2],” Paipai hurriedly said.

“Reading the Remnants, what book is that?”

“Uh…” A baihe book.

“Elementary school extracurricular reading,” Paipai mumbled vaguely, biting her upper lip with her lower teeth, awkwardly changing the subject, “Why hasn’t my mom come back yet?”

“She said earlier that she would be working overtime today. Why don’t we wait for her downstairs at her company?” Xiang Wan suggested after a moment of thought.

“Wow, you’re so amazing, Ms. Xiang; you even want to give my aunt a surprise,” Paipai looked at Xiang Wan with admiration.

Xiang Wan modestly pursed her lips and gracefully stood up, extending her hand to Paipai, she said, “Let’s go.”

Paipai followed, bouncing with excitement.

Forty minutes later, Paipai, holding Xiang Wan’s hand, stood in the lobby, unable to hold back any longer, she cautiously looked up and asked, “Mom, do we really not need to call my mom?”

After living together, Paipai often mixed up the titles, calling Xiang Wan ‘Mom’ especially when she was scared.

It was a sign of respect.

“Don’t call me ‘Mom’ when we’re outside,” Xiang Wan tightened her grip on Paipai’s hand, speaking softly.

Paipai’s large eyes looked around. Now the entrance hall was empty, and the towering Christmas tree at its center is no longer lit. The security guard stationed at the door cast occasional glances their way, while Xiang Wan bundled up Paipai tightly. Paipai’s straight-across bangs and long black hair were tucked under a scarf, her little jacket puffing her up like a ball.

Paipai’s hands were sweaty from Xiang Wan’s firm grip, yet Xiang Wan stood ramrod straight, showing no intention of sitting down for a while, nor of going directly upstairs.

“Don’t you really think,” Paipai gasped, muffled by her scarf, “that the two of us standing here look unusually like a mother and daughter walking thousand-miles to find the husband?”

“It’s not- it’s not that we don’t even have her phone number,” Paipai said while catching her breath.

Xiang Wan looked down and unwrapped Paipai’s scarf, holding it in her hand, “Wasn’t it you who said you wanted to surprise her?”

“Last time, when she waited for me at the dormitory building, I was so happy the moment I saw her,” she sweetly bowed her head, recalling the sight of Chao Xin sitting downstairs, clad in her jumpsuit and high heels, the curve of her curled hair, and the expression on her face when she finally saw Xiang Wan.

To this day, Xiang Wan remembered it all vividly, as fresh as ever.

And so she wanted Chao Xin to experience it too.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you two, but I can assure you,” Paipai’s face turned the color of wilted vegetables, “my mom waiting for you would definitely not look like digging for wild vegetables like you right now.^[3]“

Xiang Wan neither agreed nor disagreed, simply focused on waiting for Chao Xin.

The elevator chimed, and she felt a slight tremor of anticipation.

Looking up, the person she had been longing for appeared not far away, stepping out of the elevator with her head down, dressed in professional attire, with a black cashmere coat over the top. Her long curly hair was slightly disheveled, showing signs of fatigue from a long day. Her calves, paired with high heels, were still as delicate and haughty, swaying gracefully as she walked.

Xiang Wan’s heart melted instantly. Somehow, it felt like it had been a long time since she had seen her.

Despite having slept just the night before, and despite Chao Xin’s morning farewell of “See you tonight,”

Xiang Wan was about to wait for Chao Xin to notice herself when she suddenly saw Chao Xin stop, facing the open elevator doors as if waiting for someone.

A girl, a newcomer from Chao Xin’s studio emerged from the elevator, sporting a high bun and with her hands tucked into the pockets of her puffer jacket. She was wearing flat snow boots, yet noticeably tall and slender.

She stood in front of Chao Xin, said something, and began to giggle.

Chao Xin tilted her head and laughed, lifting her hand to massage her sore neck before running her fingers through her long curls, gazing at her with tenderness.

Ah, this…

Paipai felt the hand holding hers tighten, and she sensed trouble. She stealthily glanced at Xiang Wan.

Xiang Wan still maintained her composure, her expression unchanged. However, a flood of thoughts suddenly filled her mind. Chao Xin was holding her phone, and some time had passed since the project ended and she came down in the elevator. Yet, she hadn’t sent a WeChat message to say she was finished and would be home soon.

This was a holiday that Xiang Wan cherished, yet Chao Xin didn’t rush home. Instead, she lingered in the elevator lobby, chatting and laughing with someone else, dawdling for quite a while.

And there she was, having decorated the house with Paipai all day long, and braving the cold wind to wait for her downstairs.

Unexpectedly, she ended up waiting for two.

Xiang Wan bit her lower lip, unable to hold back the sourness in her heart.

“You… stay calm, Ms. Xiang,” Paipai hugged her waist, softly comforting her, “I’m definitely on your side.”

…Xiang Wan glanced down at her.

What did Paipai mean by being on her side? Could it be that Paipai also thought that Ms. Chao might be involved with someone else?

“I only recognize you as my mom, truly.” Seeing Xiang Wan look even more upset, Paipai, remembering how good Xiang Wan was to her, hurriedly pledged her loyalty.

Xiang Wan let go of Paipai without a word.

Oh no, Paipai steeled her heart and shouted, “Chao Xinxin! What are you doing?!”

Chao Xin, taken aback, looked over and saw Xiang Wan and Paipai. Her eyes curved into a smile, she waved to her colleague before going over, “Why are you guys here?”

Her voice was low and raspy, almost the same tone she used last night when whispering in Xiang Wan’s ear.

The cadence of her voice and the look in her eyes seemed to offer themselves to Xiang Wan alone, her eyes squint slightly as if they could accommodate no one else.

Xiang Wan turned her face to look at Chao Xin and felt her heart lighten slightly. She bit her lower lip and asked, “Today’s a holiday; you’ve been working so long, are we still celebrating it?”

Chao Xin slightly raised her eyebrows, “You said before that you don’t really celebrate Western holidays, so I didn’t make any plans.”

“Didn’t you say you liked it?” Xiang Wan glanced at Chao Xin.

“You remembered… that I like it?” Chao Xin held Xiang Wan’s hand, warming it in her palm, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were waiting to celebrate with me.”

Can anyone in the world resist Chao Xin’s soft apology? Certainly not Xiang Wan.

It seemed Paipai couldn’t either as she felt goosebumps all over.

“Let’s go, the car is parked at the door. How about we go have a big dinner tonight?” Chao Xin pulled Xiang Wan along and reached out to Paipai, and the three of them headed outside.

“Chao Xin, what were you talking about with that lady just now?” Paipai created a chance for Chao Xin to make things clear, “You were all smiles; what was so funny?”

Catching the cue from Paipai and noticing Xiang Wan’s lack of enthusiasm, Chao Xin quickly understood. She gave a lazy smile and said to Paipai, “Someone once told me they wanted a cat. My colleague’s boyfriend runs a cattery, so I asked her to keep an eye out for any cute kittens, and I’d bring her over to check them out.”

“Wow, that person must be very important to you, for you to be thinking about it so late at night,” Paipai said with exaggeration.

“Extremely important,” Chao Xin said softly.

Xiang Wan glanced at Chao Xin, pursing a smile at the corner of her mouth.

“Hehe,” Paipai, seeing the clouds parting, hugged Chao Xin’s hand and said, “Are we going to have a cat now?”

“Mm.”

“Wow, what should we name the cat? Ms. Xiang, what name do you suggest?” Paipai nudged Xiang Wan’s palm.

“What do you think?” Xiang Wan asked her softly.

“Since it’s Christmas today, I think we should call it Dan Dan,” Paipai suggested.

“Dan Dan? That’s an awful name,” Xiang Wan objected.^[4]

Paipai was discontented “Then what do you think we should call it?”

“I see today’s snow is white as jade; how about we call it, Bai Yu^[5]?”

“Naming a cat Bai Yu,” Paipai looked incredulously at Chao Xin, “you wouldn’t agree to that, right?”

“As long as Ms. Xiang likes it,” Chao Xin said.

“You…”

Xiang Wan smiled and joined Chao Xin and Paipai in the car.

“Ms. Chao, there’s a surprise waiting at home.” Sitting in the passenger seat, she watched Chao Xin start the car and said with a smile.

“Really?” Chao Xin’s eyes danced with curiosity.

“Drive, I’m afraid you two will start kissing in front of the kid,” Paipai popped her head out from the back seat, “Merry Christmas, I’ll say it first.”

“Merry Christmas,” Chao Xin replied, reaching back to pat Paipai’s head with a smile.

1. The Baopuzi is a literary work written by Ge Hong.(Baopuzi – Wikipedia) ^{[return to text]}
2. Reading the Remnants(Reading The Remnants – Novel Updates) is another book of qxhs. ^{[return to text]}
3. Digging for wild vegetables(挖野菜) is a meme, derived from a CDrama Love Amongst War – Wikipedia, in the drama, the FL was born in a rich family but she cut her tie from her family to marry with ML and then suffer from poverty, digging vegetables to survive while the ML leaving for 18 years and finally ML married another women. The meme is used to satire who blindly treat love as the most important things in life. ^{[return to text]}
4. Christmas Day is called 圣诞节(pinyin: ShengDanJie) in Chinese, so Paipai is naming from the Dan(means birth) in ShengDanJie, but Xiang Wan thought about ‘egg’(蛋, pinyin: Dan). ^{[return to text]}
5. Bai Yu(白玉) means white jade. ^{[return to text]}