Xiang Yu finally received a long-overdue New Year's card from Han Xing, accompanied by a brief letter. Han Xing mentioned that she had broken up with Si Ping and was now busy practicing every day, asking how Xiang Yu was doing. Xiang Yu felt a pang of sadness, unsure if it was for Han Xing, Si Ping, or some other indescribable emotion. Since the New Year's trip, she hadn't seen Xiao Zhanyuan again. To avoid running into him, she hadn't even gone to the airport to see Si Ping off. Xiao Zhanyuan called her twice, but she responded coldly, expressing a desire for no further contact. After a long silence, Xiang Yu hung up. On the second call, Xiao Zhanyuan said he would respect her decision and hoped she would take care. Though she appeared calm, Xiang Yu had actually shed tears. She knew that deep inside, she was crying silently, much like her past self who loved to cry. In this life, Xiang Yu kept that tearful self locked away inside.
Life remained busy, but the busyness was fulfilling. Xiang Yu bought train tickets and booked a guest room. By the end of her internship, Jessica and Xiang Yu had become friends. Besides her internship salary and meal allowance, the company also paid Xiang Yu overtime, giving her a substantial income. This internship had brought her both money and a new friend.
Xiang Yu had promised to treat Lu Heng to a feast. Lu Heng came to her company to pick her up, and they went for a nourishing soup, perfect for the winter. Xiang Yu then told Lu Heng about her plan to take her grandmother to the seaside for the Chinese New Year. "I've even booked the room and train tickets," she said excitedly. Lu Heng, who had heard about the plan before, hadn't expected her to go through with it and felt uneasy about her traveling alone with her grandmother.
"Can I go with you?" he asked after some thought.
"Ah?" Xiang Yu was surprised and hesitated. "That might not be appropriate."
"Why not?" Lu Heng smiled.
"It would be a bit awkward," Xiang Yu frowned slightly.
"How about you ask your grandmother? If she agrees, let me come along, okay?" Lu Heng suggested.
"But," Xiang Yu still hesitated, "shouldn't you spend the New Year with your parents? Won't they mind?"
"They won't mind at all. If they hear I'm spending New Year with your grandmother and you, they'd be overjoyed. My parents are always asking me to bring you home to meet them," Lu Heng said.
"Ah!" Xiang Yu was even more taken aback. "That's too sudden; we've only just started dating."
"I'm not forcing you to meet my parents right away. It's just that they like you and want to show they care," Lu Heng explained. Xiang Yu took a sip of the soup, which had cooled and developed an oily layer. She forced it down and said, "Alright, I'll ask my grandmother."
"Give me a chance to make a good impression on her," Lu Heng said earnestly, and Xiang Yu nodded.
Xiang Yu had always been open with her grandmother, so she asked directly if she would mind Lu Heng joining them. To her surprise, her grandmother was delighted and agreed, saying she wanted to see if he was a good match for her granddaughter. Xiang Yu was taken aback but told Lu Heng the truth.