Chapter 1

I’m 32 years old this year. While my friends are busy getting married, having kids, and starting families, I remain single and alone. Every time my mother brings up my situation, she shakes her head in frustration. “Hopeless,” she mutters. At first, her nagging wasn’t too intense, but after my cousin—my second uncle’s daughter—got pregnant, my mom became so anxious that she developed blisters on her lips. Every time she saw me, she got so angry that she practically wanted to beat me up. I tried to comfort her. “It’s fine, Mom. I’m doing well. I have a stable life—plenty to eat, plenty to wear.” That, of course, only added fuel to the fire. She smacked me hard on the back, making me grimace in pain. “Fine, my ass!” she snapped. “When you die, you’ll be a lonely wandering ghost. Who’s going to burn offerings for you?” I put on my best apologetic smile. “I’ll take it seriously, I swear. I’ll ask Second Grandpa to set me up on a blind date.” Hearing that, her expression finally softened, but she still gave me an ultimatum. “If you don’t bring someone home for the New Year, I’ll skin you alive.” I just grinned sheepishly without making any promises. She knew I was just humoring her. After a moment, she probably decided I wasn’t worth getting worked up over and went off to play mahjong. Days passed, and as expected, I never followed up on that blind date plan with Second Grandpa. Then came the Mid-Autumn Festival. Everyone who worked away from home had returned. Watching my peers, each with their own families—some even with kids who could already walk—I couldn’t help but feel a little sentimental. When did we all grow up so fast? Fast enough that I now had nieces and nephews? Fast enough that I was already 32? Over drinks with Song Wei, we ended up on this topic. Propping my head up with one hand, I sighed. “Xu Jingchen is getting married over National Day. Can you believe that?” I gestured with my hand, showing the height he was when he was little. “That tiny little bean of a kid—he’s going to be someone’s husband now. Time flies.” Song Wei chuckled. “What, did you think your brother would end up like you? Your mom would go crazy.” I clinked my glass against hers and laughed. “Good point. Out of two kids, at least one should be obedient.” She took a sip of her drink before giving me a careful look. “So, what’s your plan? Your mom even called me the other day, telling me to talk some sense into you.” I frowned. “Talk to me? About what?” I downed the rest of my drink in one gulp. Song Wei refilled my glass and said gently, “It’s been so many years. Don’t you think it’s time to move on from Jiang Huaiyang?” My smile faded. I turned to look out the window, at the city lights flickering in the night. Jiang Huaiyang. That name… I hadn’t heard it in so long. We grew up together, childhood friends since as far back as I could remember. I used to trail behind him everywhere he went. There were plenty of older kids in our neighborhood, but I only wanted to play with him. If he said go east, I wouldn’t go west. If he said let’s chase dogs, I wouldn’t go after chickens. The other kids used to tease us, saying I was his little shadow, that we were meant to be together, that we would get married one day. After hearing it so many times, even he started asking me, “Little Moon, you always listen to me. Do you like me?” Like? What did that even mean? “It’s like your mom and dad,” he explained. “It means getting married, having kids, and being together forever.” Oh. So that’s what it was. I nodded and asked him back, “Then, Huaiyang-ge, do you like me?” “I asked you first! You have to answer first.” “I do! I like playing with Huaiyang-ge. I want to be with him forever!” He lifted his chin proudly, looking as if he’d expected nothing less. “Then you’ll be my bride. I’ll love you just like my dad loves my mom!” “Okay!”