From Broken Family to Life Winner: A Reborn Mother's Journey

Lin Huanzhu hesitated for a few seconds before finally turning her head to look at Tang Yuanxiao.

Tang Yuanxiao was taken aback.

Lin Huanzhu’s eyes were bloodshot. The vibrant energy and crisp, decisive demeanor she had before had completely vanished, replaced by an inexpressible sorrow.

Lin Huanzhu didn’t seem to expect Tang Yuanxiao to appear before her.

She froze for a moment before snapping back to her senses, casually wiping her cheek. ”Tang Yuanxiao.”

’She still remembered this *tangyuan*. Her favorite kind was the black sesame-filled tangyuan.’

Tang Yuanxiao nodded and said, ”It’s snowing.”

’It’s snowing. On a cold day like this, she should be inside, not standing out here.’

Lin Huanzhu didn’t catch Tang Yuanxiao’s underlying meaning. She tilted her head back to look at the sky.

”Yes, it’s snowing.”

A cold snowflake landed gently on her face, chilling her. ”It snows on this day every year. I thought it wouldn’t this year, but... it still did.”

Lin Huanzhu’s voice was very low. Though she was speaking to Tang Yuanxiao, it was more like she was muttering to herself.

Looking at Lin Huanzhu, Tang Yuanxiao hesitated for a moment before speaking.

”Did something happen?”

Lin Huanzhu glanced at Tang Yuanxiao and shook her head.

”No.”

Tang Yuanxiao looked at her nose, already red from the cold, then at the increasingly heavy snow, and tried to persuade her.

”If nothing’s wrong, you should go back inside. It’s getting very cold.”

Lin Huanzhu was dressed in all black, from her pants and shirt to her scarf. Complemented by her black hair and eyes, she was a stark contrast against the vast expanse of white snow.

”You’re right, I should go back.” Lin Huanzhu listened to Tang Yuanxiao and nodded in agreement.

Tang Yuanxiao breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave. But after taking a step, he glanced back and saw Lin Huanzhu was still standing in the same spot.

He frowned and was about to speak when he heard Lin Huanzhu ask.

”Is my name nice?”

This time, Tang Yuanxiao was truly stunned. He had no idea what was going on with Lin Huanzhu.

Before he could answer, Lin Huanzhu continued.

”I told you last time, didn’t I? My name, Huanzhu, means ’joy and happiness, as evergreen as the pine and bamboo.’”

”Lin Huanzhu... It’s a very nice name, but a lot of my colleagues say it doesn’t quite match my personality.”

Tang Yuanxiao watched Lin Huanzhu without interrupting, listening intently.

”They said that when they saw my name, they thought I’d be a very girly-girl. But I’m not.”

”Likewise, when people meet me and I tell them my name, many of them also look surprised.”

Lin Huanzhu looked at Tang Yuanxiao. ”Thinking back, you didn’t seem to have much of a reaction at the time.”

Tang Yuanxiao finally spoke. ”Your name... is nice.”

He was answering Lin Huanzhu’s first question from before.

Hearing this, Lin Huanzhu nodded. ”Mm, I think it’s a nice name too.”

”Even though they say my name doesn’t match my personality, I think it’s fine.”

Tang Yuanxiao nodded. Just as he was about to tell her to go back inside again, he heard her say.

”Actually... my nickname is Yuanxiao.”

This time, Tang Yuanxiao was truly dumbfounded. ”Yuanxiao?”

Lin Huanzhu nodded, a faint smile appearing on her face, her dimples faintly visible.

”That’s right, surprising isn’t it? It’s because I love eating yuanxiao. Tangyuan are also called yuanxiao, and since I love eating them, I got that nickname.”

For a moment, Tang Yuanxiao didn’t know what to say.

Amidst the cold, swirling snow, it was hardly the time or place for a chat, yet Lin Huanzhu had started one with him all the same.

”I really didn’t expect that.”

Lin Huanzhu nodded. ”It’s normal that you didn’t. That name... it hasn’t been used in a long time. No one... calls me that anymore.”

She tilted her head. ”Can you say it for me?”

Hearing this request, Tang Yuanxiao made a small sound, pursed his lips, and then hesitantly called out.

”Yuanxiao?”

’This is so strange...’

Lin Huanzhu listened carefully and shook her head. ”No, that’s not the feeling... The tone isn’t right. It’s too stiff.”

Tang Yuanxiao clamped his mouth shut.

’He couldn’t possibly say it with any other feeling.’

He was very surprised that Lin Huanzhu’s nickname was Yuanxiao, but when he said it, it still felt like he was calling himself.

Tang Yuanxiao kept his mouth shut and didn’t say it again. Lin Huanzhu waited for a moment, and seeing that he wasn’t speaking, she looked stunned. The flicker of life that had just returned to her eyes dimmed once more.

She looked at Tang Yuanxiao’s expression and a bitter smile touched her lips.

”I’m sorry, for making such a rude request.”

Tang Yuanxiao shook his head, indicating that he didn’t mind.

”The snow is getting heavier, and it’s getting colder. You should go back.”

Tang Yuanxiao finally spoke.

Lin Huanzhu fell silent for a moment, looking at Tang Yuanxiao through the veil of falling snow.

”You’re right, I should go back.”

As she spoke, she turned around and looked ahead once more, her gaze distant, melancholic, sorrowful, and heavy.

Tang Yuanxiao waited for her for a moment.

Even though Lin Huanzhu said nothing was wrong, and even though this was only their second time meeting, he wasn’t an idiot. He could clearly see that something was off with her.

He didn’t know what it was, but something was definitely wrong with Lin Huanzhu.

He remembered saving someone together last time, and that bowl of hot tangyuan she brought.

’I can’t just leave her like this.’

The snow had been getting heavier, and after standing there talking for a while, a white layer had already settled on Tang Yuanxiao’s and Lin Huanzhu’s heads and shoulders.

He was wearing a hat, but Lin Huanzhu was not.

Fortunately, after gazing for a moment, Lin Huanzhu finally started to move.

Tang Yuanxiao let out a breath of relief and walked side-by-side with her toward the sanatorium.

”The road is slippery. Be careful you don’t fall.”

After a few steps, Tang Yuanxiao spoke up.

Lin Huanzhu turned her head to look at Tang Yuanxiao, saw the faint concern in his eyes, and nodded.

After nodding, she took a few more steps, then suddenly turned to look at Tang Yuanxiao again.

Tang Yuanxiao noticed and turned to look at her as well, a puzzled expression on his face.

Lin Huanzhu glanced at the sanatorium gates and suddenly stopped walking.

”Tang Yuanxiao, can you go eat tangyuan with me?”

Tang Yuanxiao stopped at the same time and turned to face Lin Huanzhu, not expecting her to ask such a question.

”Eat tangyuan?”

Suddenly, a memory surfaced in Tang Yuanxiao’s mind of buying and eating Su Li pears with Little Tang Mo a long time ago.

He repeated the words, feeling an inexplicable sense of awkwardness.

But Lin Huanzhu didn’t know what he was thinking.

”Yes, eat tangyuan. I know a place that has especially delicious sesame-filled tangyuan. I want to go eat some. Can you come with me?”

Tang Yuanxiao paused, not answering right away.

Hearing his silence, Lin Huanzhu seemed to realize what she had just said.

”Look at me... You should head back. I can just go by myself.”

Lin Huanzhu turned and started to walk away.

Tang Yuanxiao stood in place, watching Lin Huanzhu’s retreating back. He thought of the bowl of tangyuan she had brought him before, glanced at the sanatorium gates, and finally strode forward to catch up with her.

”I’ll go with you.”

’There was probably a reason why Lin Huanzhu didn’t go back to the sanatorium and ask her aunt to make some for her.’

Tang Yuanxiao quickly caught up to Lin Huanzhu’s pace, walking side-by-side with her.

Lin Huanzhu turned her head to look at him and said two words in a low voice.

”Thank you.”

”You’re welcome.”

After Tang Yuanxiao’s quiet reply, there was only silence.

Amidst the vast expanse of white snow, their figures gradually receded into the distance.