The idea of walking back had sounded daunting, yet in reality, it passed in a flash.
Chu Duxiu enjoyed the brief “VIP treatment” of being carried on Xie Shenci’s back before hopping down to walk on her own again.
Hand in hand, they strolled along, chatting all the way – about Chu Duxiu’s childhood stories with her sister, about Xie Shenci’s days studying abroad. The conversation flowed endlessly, like a river stretching far beyond sight.
Before they realized it, their destination had come into view – they had really walked all the way back.
At the hotel entrance, Shang Liang happened to return by car just as the two of them arrived on foot. Chu Duxiu and Xie Shenci had left early, but taking a car should certainly have been faster than walking.
Inside the lobby, Chu Duxiu spotted him from afar and greeted him first, “Mr. Shang, you guys finished already?”
“No, they’re still over there. I doubt they’ll be able to get out of bed tomorrow,” Shang Liang replied. Witnessing this scene, however, his expression shifted. “You actually walked all the way back…”
Was that really necessary?
Chu Duxiu looked puzzled. Hadn’t Xie Shenci already explained? Why was Mr. Shang still so surprised?
Xie Shenci said calmly, “You can perform a handstand at the annual party.”
Shang Liang: “…”
The third season of the show ended in a blaze of glory. Contestants partied the whole night at the celebration banquet, then flew back to their own cities with fond memories in tow.
After the program wrapped, theater shows in Haicheng were sold out again, just like during the second season, setting off another wave of ticket-buying frenzy. The Shanle performers, meanwhile, busied themselves with handling the follow-up affairs of the show and scheduled live performances, working through a hectic but fulfilling period before finally settling back into a normal rhythm.
Chu Duxiu was scheduled for commercial performances in various cities – Yancheng, Nancheng, and others. She even called her sister specifically to arrange a meeting in Nancheng.
“That’s perfect,” Chu Shuangyou said with a smile. “By the time you come for your show, I’ll have just wrapped up my work. We can meet then, and I’ll transfer the money back to you.”
Chu Duxiu was taken aback. “You’ve already recovered the money you invested?”
The last time the sisters met at home, Chu Duxiu had handed over her savings to help Chu Shuangyou through a temporary cash-flow problem.
“Mm, it took a bit of effort, but the results turned out quite good,” Chu Shuangyou said, clearly in high spirits. “Even more than I expected.”
With Chu Duxiu’s victory in the show and Chu Shuangyou’s successful investment, it was truly a double blessing. They agreed to meet and celebrate together.
“Oh, and there’s one more thing,” Chu Duxiu hesitated. “Um, I’ve… recently started dating someone…”
They had never kept secrets from each other, so naturally she had to share.
Chu Shuangyou was silent for a few seconds before asking, “Is he also flying to Nancheng? Or will he come home during Spring Festival instead?”
“…I didn’t even say who it was. How do you already know?”
“Heh, a boss who chases you all the way to our home – I’ve never seen that before,” Chu Shuangyou sneered. “Mom can open another bottle of liquor this New Year.”
Last time was just a small test of the waters; this time, it was the real deal.
Chu Duxiu gave an awkward laugh: “Hahaha… or maybe just another bottle of Sprite, right…”
In early winter, the performance in Nancheng arrived as scheduled. Chu Duxiu and Xie Shenci flew to the warm, humid south, where they also met up with Chu Shuangyou.
The three of them had once gathered in Yancheng in Typoon Transit, and now, coming together again on Chu Shuangyou’s turf, they couldn’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia.
“Sis!” Chu Duxiu waved excitedly.
At the street corner, Chu Shuangyou, dressed in a fine wool coat, raised her brows ever so slightly when she saw her younger sister arriving with a new boyfriend. After greeting Chu Duxiu, she turned to the man and gave a polite nod. “Mr. Xie, long time no see.”
Following just behind Chu Duxiu, Xie Shenci heard the address and replied affably, “This is just a private get-together among friends and family, not a company function – no need to be so formal.”
But Chu Shuangyou did not agree, and maintained her courteous phrasing with a faint smile. “Mr. Xie, you’re too kind.”
Xie Shenci calmly countered, “Sis, you’re too kind.”
“…”
Caught off guard, Chu Shuangyou was momentarily at a loss for words. Seeing his expression remain utterly blank, she couldn’t help but think to herself that this man was truly shameless – actually following her sister’s lead and calling her “Sis.”
Chu Duxiu quickly tried to smooth things over, blinking furiously. “Shall we go for a walk? Maybe grab something to eat later?”
As the three strolled through the shops, an undercurrent of tension followed them. Chu Shuangyou had always been lavish when spending on her younger sister, and this time, with Xie Shenci present, she clearly intended to make a statement – throwing money around without restraint, only to be countered again and again by him.
They even ended up fighting to pay the bill, watching each other closely, wary that the other might slip away first to settle it. At the counter, they shoved and blocked one another with feigned calm.
Holding up his phone, Xie Shenci reasoned, “It’s rare that she wants something. I hope you’ll give me this chance to show I can do something for her.”
But Chu Shuangyou blocked the QR code with a smile. “Oh – come now, you two haven’t been together that long. It wouldn’t be proper. Let me handle it.”
The argument dragged on, until a ding rang out from the nearby machine.
Dizzy from their back-and-forth, Chu Duxiu decisively scanned another code herself, expression blank. “Enough. I’ve paid.”
If she didn’t put a stop to it, they’d never get out of here today.
Xie Shenci and Chu Shuangyou: “…”
Fortunately, aside from the chaos over paying the bills, the rest of their trip to Nancheng was very pleasant.
Chu Shuangyou took her role seriously, showing the two of them around and even leaving behind plenty of photos at scenic spots and street corners. Xie Shenci helped take pictures of the sisters, while Chu Shuangyou helped take pictures of the couple. Unfortunately, no matter how the arrangements were made, both Chu Shuangyou and Xie Shenci refused to appear in the same frame, making it impossible to get a three-person photo.
In the end, during a meal, Chu Duxiu secretly snapped a shot, finally achieving her goal through a selfie angle – her very first photo of the three of them together.
Though caught in the picture, Chu Shuangyou didn’t stop her, only sighed helplessly. “You’re really persistent.”
Chu Duxiu lowered her head, delight written across her face. “This is great.”
The two people who understood her best in the world were both in this photo, giving it a meaning beyond the picture itself.
Seeing this, Xie Shenci leaned over to glance at her phone, and they admired it together.
After their outing, Chu Shuangyou had to return to the office for overtime, while Chu Duxiu and Xie Shenci needed to head back to the theater area, rest for the night, and prepare for the next day’s performance.
The three of them said their goodbyes at the entrance, agreeing to meet again another time.
“If I have time tomorrow, I’ll stop by the theater,” Chu Shuangyou said with a smile, then glanced at the two of them. “Otherwise, I’ll have to wait until the Spring Festival to see you two again.”
“Don’t worry about it if you’re busy,” Chu Duxiu said with concern. “Just don’t overwork yourself.”
After all, today’s outing had been Chu Shuangyou squeezing time out of her schedule, which surely meant work would be piling up.
Hearing her use the words “you two”, Xie Shenci nodded in agreement. “True, there’s still plenty of time at Spring Festival.”
A moment later, Chu Shuangyou left first, leaving only the two of them behind.
Chu Duxiu immediately took Xie Shenci’s hand, swinging it back and forth as she praised him, “Good, very good – you did great!”
Although Chu Shuangyou’s words had been barbed at the start, Xie Shenci had handled everything with composure. By the end of the day’s outing, the two had grown more familiar, the stiffness and formality of their first meeting gone.
Chu Duxiu knew well that both Chu Shuangyou and Xie Shenci had set aside the harder edges of their personalities for her sake, creating that warm, harmonious atmosphere. And so, she treasured this rare affection all the more.
“Guess that counts as passing one test,” Xie Shenci glanced at her. “But what if, when we go back to Wencheng for Spring Festival, your parents make things difficult for me?”
Chu Duxiu hesitated. “That… shouldn’t happen, right? You’ve already met them…”
Xie Shenci asked, “Will you speak up for me?”
At that, she widened her eyes. “B-but, the internet says, ‘All you need to do is bring the cat home – leave the rest to the cat’…”
“…”
Xie Shenci fixed his gaze on her in silence.
The pressure instantly got to Chu Duxiu. She spread her arms wide and pulled him into a bear hug, reassuring him. “No believing or spreading rumors! Of course I’ll speak up for you – I’d never just leave you hanging!”
Only then was Xie Shenci satisfied, pulling her smoothly into his arms.
Winter in Nancheng wasn’t truly cold, yet a sudden gust of wind could sweep in, dark clouds blotting out the bright sky, the damp air heavy with the promise of rain. The weather here was unpredictable – sometimes pouring in torrents, only to clear into a flawless blue right after.
But his embrace was warm, steady and enduring, enough to chase away the chill of the night.
Chu Duxiu rubbed her cheek against the soft fabric of his clothes, feeling as if the whole world around her had grown warm. Suddenly, something occurred to her, and she looked up without warning. “Then… will you speak up for me in the future?”
The tables would turn eventually – he had already met her family, but she had yet to visit his.
Xie Shenci had long lived alone in Haicheng, while his family remained in Yancheng, so chances to meet them were rare.
Xie Shenci thought for a moment. “I probably won’t need to speak up for you.”
“Why not?”
“They’ll just abandon me outright and dump me on you,” he suggested matter-of-factly. “You could try going to Yancheng and see for yourself.”
“…”
The final stop of Shanle’s tour was set in Yancheng. Chu Duxiu and the others also dropped by Typoon Transit, where they sat down for a chat with Chen Jing at the bar.
Nie Feng returned to the bar midway, but unexpectedly received a phone call and was hurriedly summoned away. He could only apologize helplessly, saying they could talk again at the dinner gathering that evening – he had to go deal with matters regarding the comedy club’s new theater.
Typoon Transit was a well-known stand-up comedy label in Yancheng. In recent years, its roster had grown steadily, to the point that they had even established a company to manage operations.
The cramped bar could no longer accommodate so many performers and audience members, so Nie Feng and his team had been searching for a new venue. At last, all the necessary paperwork was in order, and they would soon be moving there for regular shows.
Curious, Scallion even tagged along, eager to see it for himself.
Chu Duxiu and Xie Shenci stayed at the bar, sitting on the soft sofa by the window. Gentle, light music floated around them, and the sunlight streaming in left them comfortably warm.
It was their regular spot. At first, Chu Duxiu always chose this seat for meals, later she used it as her corner to write, with Xie Shenci sitting across from her to edit drafts together. Over time, the spot had gained its own fame, with audience members even dropping by just to “check in” there.
Chen Jing brought over their drinks and explained with a smile: “From now on, they’ll be performing at the new place. The open mics here will be fewer. This space is too small, so we’ll just leave it for newcomers to practice.”
“It feels just like graduation,” Chu Duxiu sighed. “As soon as we leave school, the campus changes completely – everything gets replaced with something new.”
“If you’re interested, you could perform at the new place too,” Chen Jing added. “It’s been set up pretty nicely.”
With a soft ding, the door swung open, and Chen Jing hurried over to greet the guest, leaving the two of them to sit for a while.
In the quiet of the afternoon, the bar felt more like a café – peaceful and still.
Gentle, lingering music drifted past her ears, a languid female voice murmuring in a foreign melody. From the counter came the aroma of coffee and cake, and suddenly her memories were pulled back, like film rewinding, old scenes flickering into view.
The clear floor-to-ceiling windows kept out the chill, letting only wide streams of sunlight spill inside, making the bottles on the liquor shelves glitter brilliantly in a dazzling array.
Back in her school days, she had come here countless times, passing the hours by idly counting those bottles. She never imagined that one day, she would pick out the very one that held a miracle.
This was the place where she first encountered stand-up comedy – and the place where she first met him.
“Now that there’ll be fewer shows here, you won’t even be able to pick up résumés anymore,” Chu Duxiu raised her brows, teasing, “No more chances to rope in actors, either.”
With Typoon Transit moving to a new venue, even the “cat” would no longer have a trash bin to rummage through.
“I didn’t pick up just anyone’s résumé – it depends on the person,” Xie Shenci retorted with confidence when she poked fun at him. “Being able to tell jokes isn’t enough.”
He felt she had misunderstood him. Yes, he loved stand-up comedy, but not just anyone who could do stand-up would do.
Or rather, what he longed for was the vast, unbounded heart behind the art.
“Isn’t it?”
“Of course not. I thought I made that clear that day.”
“What day?”
“The day of the finals, when I confessed,” Xie Shenci lifted his gaze. “Do I need to say it again?”
Chu Duxiu froze.
In the bright, leisurely bar, the warmth of the winter sun tapped at her heart, just like that night surrounded by the fragrance of roses, when his words – carried on heated breaths – had poured into her ear, scalding and filling her whole being.
They had wandered the wilderness of life, only to finally link hands with a red string, finding kindred souls who drew closer through laughter, until they could rest side by side.
“I like your humor-
but I like you even more.”
(The End)
Translator’s Words:
Don’t be fooled! This isn’t really the end! There are still about fifteen bonus chapters to come. This is just the end of the main story!
