Luo Tian’s surgery lasted twelve hours. Eventually, the bullet was successfully removed from his lung, and he was out of immediate danger. However, he still had to stay in the hospital for over a month.
During that month, Bai Cheng stayed by his side constantly. Mí Qiū was dead, and È Yú had been sentenced to death. With Luo Tian in the hospital, even though he still looked like a severely injured patient on the brink of death, it was clear his spirit had completely relaxed. It was as if he had completed his mission and regressed into a childlike state. Every day, he waited for Bai Cheng to feed him, and to tell him amusing stories from daily life. No matter what she said, he would laugh heartily, playing along with her.
Bai Cheng would say that Luo Tian was truly lucky. Last time, he had survived a bullet to the heart by È Yú, and this time, he survived another bullet to the lung. She joked that maybe it was because he did volunteer work at the church every week, and God had noticed, saving his life each time he was at death’s door.
As she spoke, Bai Cheng put the cross necklace Luo Tian had given her in the drainage tunnel back around his neck. “I hope it continues to protect you,” she said.
Luo Tian looked at the necklace and leaned his head back against the wall. He recalled the rainbow he had seen in the church when he thought he was about to die. “Last time, when I thought I was going to die, I saw Jesus and a rainbow. This time was better. The last thing I saw was you.”
“If God pulled me back from death’s door last time, this time, I think it was you. When I was lying in the ambulance, drifting in and out of consciousness, I could feel your hand holding mine, your presence around me. At that moment, I was incredibly determined. I told myself clearly: I don’t want to die. I want to live. I want to open my eyes and see, for the rest of my life, the person holding my hand, tears streaming down her face. I want to look at her forever.”
“This time, it wasn’t God who saved me—it was you. It might sound irrational, but I’m sure of it.”
Luo Tian spoke slowly, and Bai Cheng listened carefully. As she listened, her tears began to fall again, flowing freely as if they were worthless.
Luo Tian tried to sit up to wipe her tears, but the movement tugged at his wound, and he gasped in pain. Bai Cheng quickly stopped him, telling him not to move.
“Say less and stop moving,” Bai Cheng chided.
Luo Tian nodded in agreement.
The winter afternoon sunlight shone through the window, casting a soft divide between light and shadow on the hospital bed. Luo Tian’s upper body was sitting in the shadows, while his left hand, which wasn’t attached to an IV, rested on the bed, bathed in sunlight. Bai Cheng reached out and gently held his sunlit hand.
Luo Tian turned his hand over, interlacing his fingers with hers, their ten fingers tightly entwined.
On the pristine white hospital bed, the warm winter sunlight cast a faint golden glow over their clasped hands, as if it was a silent, sacred vow.
The day Luo Tian was discharged from the hospital happened to be the Laba Festival. For days, Lin Fei and the others had been talking about gathering to celebrate his discharge. Kang He mentioned that his parents were abroad and their villa was empty, so he suggested hosting the celebration there. Everyone agreed enthusiastically.
On Laba Festival, light snow began to fall. Luo Tian, Fang Chong, and Bai Cheng rode in one car, while Da Liu, Da Li, Ling Xiang, and Lin Fei shared another. The seven of them arrived together at Kang He’s spacious villa.
Kang He was already waiting at the door.
As soon as Ling Xiang got out of the car, he playfully punched Kang He. “You rascal! I knew you were rich, but I didn’t know you were this rich!”
Kang He slung an arm around Ling Xiang’s shoulders and replied, “I’ve always been playing the role of the rich second-generation who bravely ventures into the entertainment industry. My family’s wealth could last several generations without running out.”
The group followed Kang He into the villa. He flopped down onto the luxurious, soft sofa. “My house has everything—gym, video game area, swimming pool, spa, and dining area over there. Feel free to explore and enjoy yourselves.”
“And you, young master?” Lin Fei asked.
“I’ve played with everything already, but if you want me to join in, I’m happy to oblige.”
“There’s no need to bother the young master. We can manage on our own,” Lin Fei said with a grin as she pulled Bai Cheng toward the spa area, while Luo Tian and the others headed to the billiards table.
In the evening, Kang He treated them to a formal dinner in the villa’s banquet hall. When the grand doors opened, Lin Fei exclaimed, “Wow! I’ve only seen banquet halls like this in TV dramas!”
Kang He’s banquet hall was indeed impressive. It featured classic European decor, with a long rectangular dining table in the center, flanked by equally luxurious chairs.
Kang He took his seat at the head of the table, and the rest sat on either side. The dinner began with a traditional Western meal, with each dish meticulously served in a precise and formal sequence.
Lin Fei and the others were having a great time eating and chatting, but Kang He, despite his usual banter, seemed to have a subtle air of melancholy about him.
After the final course of hot drinks was served, Lin Fei noticed that no more food was being brought out and asked Kang He, “Aren’t you having Laba porridge?”
“Huh?” Kang He seemed surprised by the question. “When I was little, our old housekeeper used to make Laba porridge every year. But after I moved abroad with my parents, we stopped celebrating Laba. A few years ago, I came back, but the housekeeper had already passed away. Today’s chef is one I hired from Michelin temporarily, and Laba porridge wasn’t part of the planned meal, so they didn’t prepare it.”
“Then let’s make it ourselves. Home-cooked Laba porridge is warmer and tastier,” Lin Fei suggested.
“Make it ourselves?”
“Yep.”
The group headed to the kitchen, and Lin Fei searched through the ingredients, saying, “It’s true, there aren’t any ingredients for Laba porridge. I’ll order some for delivery. Meanwhile, you guys can set up a stove and table on the second-floor terrace.”
The guys obediently followed instructions, setting up the stove and table on the terrace. Once the ingredients arrived, Lin Fei tossed them into the pot and slowly simmered the porridge over low heat.
Snow continued to fall, and Kang He brought out four blankets, one for every two people to share as they waited for the porridge to cook.
“Look at the moon. It’s so bright,” Lin Fei said, pointing at the sky.
Everyone looked up to see a waxing crescent moon. Though not full, it was, as Lin Fei had said, very white and bright. Coupled with the snowy night and the terrace, it created a unique beauty.
“It is bright, but it’s not full,” Ling Xiang remarked.
“It doesn’t matter if the moon isn’t full, as long as we’re all together,” Luo Tian said as he added another piece of coal to the stove.
Kang He took a sip of his hot coffee. The scent of the simmering Laba porridge filled his nostrils, and he breathed it in deeply before taking another sip of coffee.
“Are you cold?” Bai Cheng asked as she adjusted Luo Tian’s blanket.
“No, I’m fine. Drinking hot tea, sitting by the fire, and wrapped in a blanket—I’m not cold.”
“That’s good.”
“What about you? Are you cold?” Luo Tian held her hand to check her temperature. “You’re warm.”
Bai Cheng lightly held onto Luo Tian’s hand. His warmth reassured her, and she relaxed, rejoining the conversation with the others.
Finally, the Laba porridge was ready. Each person scooped a bowl and began to eat. The soft beans, fragrant lotus seeds, sweet dates, and longans filled their stomachs, and the cold of the snowy night seemed to melt away, replaced by a deep warmth.
“This is so good. I need another bowl,” Kang He said as he helped himself to more.
“Aren’t you supposed to watch your diet, Mr. Celebrity?” Lin Fei teased.
“If the manager didn’t see it, it doesn’t count. Besides, it’s a holiday,” Kang He retorted.
“Let him enjoy it, Lin Fei,” Ling Xiang said, defending him. “You know how rare it is for celebs like him to eat their fill.”
“I was just joking. Of course, I wouldn’t stop him from eating,” Lin Fei laughed.
With everyone laughing and chatting, the pot of porridge soon emptied. The coals in the stove were nearly burned out, the moon had retreated behind the clouds, and the snow had lightened.
“It’s almost the new year,” Fang Chong remarked.
“Yeah, another year has come,” Da Liu agreed.
“Next year’s going to be a good one for sure,” Ling Xiang said.
“How can you be so sure?” Lin Fei asked.
“Because they say a good snow year means a prosperous year,” Ling Xiang replied.
“That’s such an old-fashioned reason.”
“Lin Fei, why do you always like to argue?”
“I’m not arguing, just pointing out that your reason is outdated.”
“Then give me a better reason.”
“My reason is that every year is a good year.”
“Ugh, that’s even more old-fashioned.”
As Bai Cheng listened to their banter and gazed at the dark blue night sky, the moon occasionally peeking through the clouds, she felt a sense of calm. Luo Tian sat beside her, his hand warm in hers. At that moment, Bai Cheng felt peaceful and content.
“Next year will definitely be a good year,” Bai Cheng thought to herself. “The chaos of the past has been swept away by new miracles. We’ve safely crossed the Red Sea and reached the other shore.”
The coals finally burned out, and the eight of them returned inside. The night was deep, and everyone went to sleep in the guest rooms at Kang He’s villa.
