At the Jiang family home, as the last notes of "Unforgettable Tonight" faded, Aunt Cao Yingying picked up the remote and switched off the television. The last bit of noise in the living room fell silent.
Jiang Shuoyuan rose from the sofa, poured a glass of warm water, then took out the family medicine kit and began searching through it.
"Honey, what are you looking for?" Cao Yingying asked softly.
"Didn't Little Zhi say he had a bit of a headache at dinner?" Jiang Shuoyuan said without looking up, concern in his voice. "I'm worried he caught a chill. I'm finding some cold medicine for him to drink, just in case."
Cao Yingying sighed. "If you ask me, Little Zhi's headache is probably because he's upset. We haven't managed to get everyone together for the Spring Festival these past few years. This year, we finally got Xiao Ting back, only for him to be called away on New Year's Eve."
Jiang Shuoyuan sighed too and closed the medicine kit. "There's so much work to be done for the country. That boy Xiao Ting has a heavy burden on his shoulders. Whatever you do, don't bring this up in front of Little Zhi. He's already miserable."
"Don't worry. I know better."
Jiang Shuoyuan carefully mixed a warm cup of medicine and carried it upstairs. At Ji Yanzhi's door, he gently turned the handle. Only a dim wall lamp lit the small sitting room. He took two steps inside. The bedroom door stood ajar, and beyond it was darkness and silence.
Looks like he's asleep. Jiang Shuoyuan stood by the door for a few seconds, then quietly closed it and went back downstairs with the undelivered medicine.
Inside the bedroom, Ji Yanzhi had indeed long since fallen asleep. Ever since Ji Ting