Huhai, the second day of the lunar new year, this Shanghai is as bustling as ever.
"Sister, is your brother-in-law coming today?"
An Nannan got up early, dressed in the red cotton jacket Xu Musen had bought for her, and tied her hair into two round buns with red ribbons, making her look vibrant and energetic like a little Nezha.
"Yes, he should arrive around noon."
At this moment, An Nuannuan was also dressed neatly, wearing a light-colored long dress, her long hair neatly draped behind her head, less of her usual cuteness, but added more of a young lady's gentle and graceful demeanor.
She gently pulled her sister over, helping her to retie the slightly crooked ribbon into a butterfly knot, making her look even more adorable.
Seeing her sister's excited and expectant face, An Nuannuan couldn't help but gently pinch her soft cheeks.
"Why are you so happy?"
In TV dramas, shouldn't other girls be reluctant and cry when watching their sisters get married?
But seeing her sister's happy and expectant look, it seemed like she was the one getting engaged today.
"I'm not... I just got up early to dress up nicely, to make you look good, sister~"
An Nannan made excuses for herself, certainly reluctant to let go, since she was still young, not knowing what separation meant, thinking her sister's marriage meant just living a bit farther away, and she could always visit anytime.
"Plus, dad got up even earlier today. When I got up to pee at six, I saw his study light still on."
An Nuannuan smiled, her father wasn't getting up early, he probably hadn't slept all night.
After all, getting engaged meant that both families had recognized this couple, a bond way more solid than a marriage certificate.
For the bride's family, sending off a daughter is like spilling water—once at home, she can only be considered a visitor.
An Shanhai didn't sleep all night and still sat in his study, smoking one cigarette after another.
On his desk was a family photo, four of them, with him standing at the back, An Nuannuan and the then five or six-year-old Nannan, and behind them stood a gentle and beautiful woman with shoulder-length hair and big eyes that curved like crescent moons when she smiled.
"Wife... Our daughter has grown up, she's getting engaged, I don't think this boy looks like a good person, I don't know if you would agree to Nuannuan marrying him if you could see."
An Shanhai looked at the photo of his wife, talking to himself and occasionally shook his head with a bitter smile.
"I really have no right to say that, I am not a competent father myself… Nuannuan is not talkative, but I can feel that she actually has a lot of thoughts and ideas, just like you, a spicy Sichuan girl, appearing gentle and soft, but actually can't stand being unfairly treated…"
An Shanhai laughed self-deprecatingly, memories of his youth with Nuannuan's mother coming back to him.
It was also during a sunny summer at university, that girl who smiled like a gardenia was cute, but only after getting to know her did he realize she was a fiery Sichuan girl who could erupt over anything.
Yet, it was this very personality that made the always nonchalant An Shanhai willingly marry her despite the family background differences.
Nuannuan is very similar to her mother in character; beneath her fragile and cute appearance lies a tough core.
But she shares the same drawback, too soft-hearted, especially towards those she cares for, not able to hide her tender heart behind her spicy words.
An Shanhai is not worried about his daughter marrying poorly, as he can support her for a lifetime.
What he really fears is his daughter's soft heart, bearing grievances without saying a word…
A wave of sourness surged in An Shanhai's heart.
He exhaled his last puff of smoke, the ashtray already full of cigarette butts.
He rubbed his reddened eyes, having not slept all night, looking disheveled, which certainly wasn't a good look for meeting the boy's parents today.
He sighed, just about to stand up, but the guest room door was gently pushed open.
Upon seeing the visitor, An Shanhai was surprised: "Nuannuan?"
Wearing a light-colored long dress, An Nuannuan carried a washbasin and towel and slowly walked in.
"Nuannuan, why are you up so early... Isn't Musen's family arriving only around noon?"
An Shanhai hastily extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray, opened the window to clear the room of smoke, and rubbed his face not to let his daughter see his worn-out appearance.
"Dad, let me help you wash your face."
An Nuannuan brought the washbasin over to him.
"No, no need, I can do it myself."
An Shanhai rubbed his hands, still smelling strongly of cigarette smoke.
An Nuannuan didn't speak but soaked the towel in warm water, then gestured with her hand for him to sit down.
An Shanhai, a formidable figure in the business world, oddly sat down properly like a student.
An Nuannuan, holding the warm towel, carefully wiped his face, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes seeming momentarily relaxed.
An Shanhai looked at his daughter, recalling how his wife used to wipe his face this way.
Unknowingly, he had aged, and his daughter had grown up.
He felt a stinging in his eyes and closed them to prevent tears from falling.
The warm towel gently wiped around his eyes.
"Dad, are you missing mom?"