Silver Snow Line [Criminal Investigation]

"I know you're all busy, so you don't have to rush back. You must have had a hard time on the road? Was it hard to buy a plane ticket?"

Xin Xiuyun served Xie Qingfei a bowl of soup, and then took Wei Cheng's bowl and filled it up as well. He saw his daughter only a few times throughout the year, and every time they met, he would ask her a lot of questions.

"It's not that hard. Wei Cheng has the money." The soup contained pork ribs and yam. The yam was soft and Xie Qingfei ate several pieces. "Mom, your cooking skills are really good."
Wei Cheng followed up with, "Yes, Auntie, can you give me some pointers when you have time?"
"Oh, of course." Xin Xiuyun smiled from ear to ear, wishing she could put the pot on their bowls.

Holding an empty bowl, Xie Zhan looked eagerly at his wife, daughter and the other man, and silently picked up a piece of vegetable for himself with his chopsticks.

However, in order to blend into this harmonious family atmosphere, he cleared his throat and started a conversation.
"Can you stay a few more days this time?"
Xie Qingfei said: "The flight is tomorrow night, and I will be on duty the day after tomorrow."
The two elders were a little disappointed, but they also knew that it was her duty, and it was not easy for her to come back on New Year's Day to have a reunion dinner.
Xin Xiuyun asked, "What about A Cheng? Does your hospital also have to be on duty?"
Wei Cheng shook his head and told Xie Zhan about his research. Xie Zhan was quite interested in his research direction and asked a few more questions, which Wei Cheng answered one by one.

Xin Xiuyun whispered to Xie Qingfei, "Look at your father, it seems like he knows a lot."
Xie Qingfei burst out laughing. These two people's professions were completely unrelated, but the way they were discussing it seriously seemed like they were really into it.
Xin Xiuyun changed the subject and casually mentioned: "I went to see Xiaonan the day before yesterday, and I felt that her face had become a lot rounder."
"My cousin has been pregnant for more than three months, right?" Xie Qingfei remembered this after she reminded him, "Is she healthy?"
"Okay. The baby hasn't been very troublesome before, and knows how to care for her mother. Shen Yu also knows how to take care of her, otherwise she would get fat."

Xie Qingfei had no idea about these things, but her professional sensitivity allowed her to hear the hidden meaning in Xin Xiuyun's words, and she looked at her hesitantly.

Xin Xiuyun's next words were as expected: "You and Acheng are not young anymore, and your relationship has been quite stable. When do you plan to consider getting married?"
The relationship is stable, but you don't know that they quarreled and broke up for several months. After walking for half a lifetime, they are still in the passionate love period when they return.
Xie Qingfei could only secretly complain about this. On the surface, he just said, "We haven't thought about this yet. Dating is good, and we all have our own work to do. Now is not a good time to talk about this."
Xin Xiuyun was a little disapproving, but she never contradicted her daughter. She looked at her hesitantly, then at Wei Cheng, and lowered her voice and asked, "Does he think so too?"

Xie Qingfei was stunned. She was used to making decisions, and it seemed that she had never asked Wei Cheng about his opinion on marriage. With the way they got along, it didn't matter whether they got married or not. She could often see his peaceful sleeping face when she opened her eyes. When she looked up during work breaks, he was also flipping through books not far away. Whenever she spoke, she would get a response. He had become a part of her life.
Xie Qingfei had to admit that most of the time she couldn't consider the details, and his thoughts were always based on her wishes.

However, the couple seemed to have discussed the matter in advance. At this moment, Xie Zhan had successfully brought the topic to marriage and asked Wei Cheng's opinion on behalf of Xie Qingfei.
It’s just that Wei Cheng probably heard what Xie Qingfei had just said to Xin Xiuyun, and responded with the same words.

It's not a bad thing for young people to focus on their careers, especially since they are so outstanding. They shouldn't sacrifice their ideals for their family. It's just... it's not that difficult to have both. I don't know what their plan is.
Fortunately, Xie Qingfei's parents were open-minded about it and did not bring up the topic again during the meal.

After the meal, Xie Zhan called Wei Cheng aside and said sternly, "Go next door to see your teacher Song. She hasn't been feeling well since she caught the flu last time. I asked her to come over for dinner but she didn't agree. It's lonely to be alone on New Year's Day."
Wei Cheng nodded, took the thermos box of pork rib soup that Xin Xiuyun had specially prepared in advance and went to knock on the door opposite.
Song Zhihui was very happy to see him and quickly invited him into the house.

The TV was playing a rerun of the Spring Festival Gala, but the volume was turned down low. Wei Cheng saw that the dining table was spotlessly clean and there was no smell of fireworks in the house. As he put the thermos box away, he asked calmly, "What did you have for dinner? Why didn't you come to eat with us?"
"There are dumplings in the refrigerator, which were also sent by Teacher Xin and the others. Qingfei rarely comes back, so I won't disturb the family on their reunion day," Song Zhihui pulled him to sit on the sofa, carefully sizing up his features, and said with a smile, "I know you will come to see me, and I'm happy to see you."
Wei Cheng said: "I will come to see you often and make sure you are happy every day."

Song Zhihui's hair on her temples had turned a lot grayer. She held Wei Cheng's hand tightly with her skinny fingers and asked him how his work was going and if he had encountered any difficulties. All of these were good. She then asked if Wei Cheng and Qing Fei were getting along well, and if they had ever planned to get married after being together for so long.
To reassure her, Wei Cheng nodded and said that they had a good relationship and would get married soon.
Song Zhihui was very satisfied. She still thought he was a student, and she asked him about his studies the most. Wei Cheng patiently told her about his courses and research, and she said that if Lao Meng was still alive, he would definitely be proud of you.

Before we knew it, the Spring Festival Gala replay had reached the end of the chorus.
Song Zhihui was used to going to bed early, and had prepared to go back to her room before Wei Cheng came. After chatting for a few more words, she was obviously exhausted. Wei Cheng did not stay for long. After she returned to the room, he turned off the lights in the house one by one. When he was about to leave, he received a call and stayed on the balcony for a while. After hanging up the phone, he turned back to the living room. The bedroom door was not locked tightly, and the keyhole flicked and opened the door a crack, and the light inside poured into the dim living room.

But he clearly turned off the lights in the room before leaving.

Wei Cheng tiptoed over and was about to help close the door, but he saw Song Zhihui had stood up and sat at the table, holding a photo of his teacher Meng Lanchuan in her hand.
She stroked her late husband's face in the photo and said with a smile, "Ah Cheng came to see me just now. He has grown up and is getting married. His wife is the daughter of Mr. Xie and his wife, who live next door to our house. She is a very outstanding girl. Do you remember her? She also came to see you at home before."

"Time flies so fast. The children have grown up, and I am old too." Two lines of crystal tears rolled down her cheeks and landed in the center of the photo frame with a "pop". The face of the young and handsome man in the photo became blurred. Song Zhihui wiped the water stains with her fingertips and smiled, "Why are you crying? In a few decades, you will be the youngest among us. You will definitely be very proud then."

Wei Cheng closed the door gently, and finally heard her murmur: "I miss you so much."

Later in the evening, the two of them still did not stay overnight. It was difficult to get a taxi on New Year's Eve, and the hotel they booked was not far from here, so they simply walked back. The night in Beijing was very cold, but the streets and alleys were decorated with New Year's atmosphere, and the bright red color somewhat diluted the chill.
Wei Cheng took Xie Qingfei's hand and put it in his pocket. The heat from his body was always a little higher than hers. At first it was just one hand, but later half of her body was pressed against him. She walked lazily, letting his weight pull her.
Wei Cheng was afraid that she would fall, so he simply grabbed her arm and carried her on his back.

Xie Qingfei was caught off guard by the sight being raised, so she unceremoniously hugged his neck and fiddled with the hair on the back of his head with her fingers. When she got tired of playing, she leaned over to his ear to look at his profile. Wei Cheng's neck was itchy because of her breath. He held her knee with one hand and even had a hand free to push her head away, saying righteously: "How can you be so clingy in public?"

Xie Qingfei then quietly lay on his back without saying a word.

He himself had verbally refused, and when others really stopped making a fuss, he was the first one to hold back. He turned his head after walking a few meters and said in a bad temper, "I was just joking, why are you really ignoring me?"
"How could I ignore you? I'm just thinking." Xie Qingfei also had a serious expression.
"Thinking about what?"
Xie Qingfei patted his shoulder, jumped off his back, grabbed his scarf and pulled him closer: "Are you angry?"
Wei Cheng was surprised and said, "No, why are you angry?"
"During dinner tonight, my parents asked me when I would get married, and I said I hadn't thought about it." Xie Qingfei said, "I saw your expression and thought you were angry."
"You're talking about this," Wei Cheng said calmly, "What's there to be angry about? Didn't I explain it clearly to my uncle later?"
"You translated my words into Chinese."
"It shows that we two heroes have the same views on this matter."
Xie Qingfei drawled out, "Oh - so you really have never thought about marrying me."

Wei Cheng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly leaned over to study her expression, looking left and right, wondering what new world he was trying to discover. Xie Qingfei was already nervous from his gaze, and held his chin: "What are you doing?"
"Am I a very casual person?"
"…mostly not."
Wei Cheng didn't care when the rare situations happened, and asked again: "Then have you ever thought about the future with me?"
Xie Qingfei immediately said: "Of course I have thought about it."

Her hand was still against his lips. As soon as she finished speaking, Wei Cheng tilted his head and kissed her fingertips.

"So you want to marry me so much."

A smile played on his lips, and he reached into the inside pocket of his clothes and felt around.
Before Xie Qingfei could react, he had already taken out a small box and knelt on one knee in front of her.

There were still a few shops open on the street, and as customers came in and out, the song of "Gong Xi Fa Cai" floated out from the cracks in the doors from time to time. The sporadic sparks in the darkness were the fairy wands lit by some children.
Such a peaceful atmosphere seems to have nothing to do with romance.

But Wei Cheng looked up at her with sparkling eyes, and the light of the ring in his hand was not as bright as his eyes.

Xie Qingfei was so frightened that he took two steps back, looking at him almost at a loss: "You... why are you so sudden? When did you prepare this?"
"I can't remember clearly," Wei Cheng urged, "Hurry up, you were the one who asked first, don't go back on your word."
If it weren't for the blush on his face that betrayed his mood, Xie Qingfei would have almost thought that he was indifferent. But it was precisely because of his shyness that she was also infected and her face turned red and her heart beat fast, and she reached out her hand without thinking.

"Okay." Wei Cheng rubbed her fingers, muttered why they were so cold, and held her hand again, pulling her towards the hotel as if nothing had happened.

Halfway through the journey, Xie Qingfei's heartbeat stabilized, and he tugged at him again: "Why are you carrying the ring with you? Have you really planned this for a long time?"
"It's for a rainy day," Wei Cheng corrected her wording and looked ahead, "It's just... I don't know when you'll be willing to take it with you, so it's more convenient."

Is there such a thing?
Xie Qingfei snorted: "How can you propose like this? You don't even say a nice word. I only agreed to you because I'm a nice person."
Wei Cheng raised his eyebrows and smiled: "It shows that you love me very much, so you don't care about me, and you are obviously very happy."
"Who said that?"
"Your pulse is in vibration mode."
"..."
Xie Qingfei quickly pulled his hand out of his pocket and glared at him angrily.

"I have really been preparing for it, but I am afraid that you are not interested in it, and I don't want to put pressure on you." Wei Cheng said slowly, "If you don't plan to get married, I won't take it out. But if you give me this signal, I can also let you know my answer at the first time. How efficient is that? We are worthy of it."
This ring is obviously not bought casually. Just looking at the design, you can tell that a lot of effort was put into it. I don’t remember when I prepared it, which means I have been planning it for a long time and I have been carrying it with me all the time.
Xie Qingfei looked up at him: "Are you so anxious?"
Wei Cheng said seriously: "I can't wait even a second."

Being stared at like this by him, Xie Qingfei felt her heartbeat, which had just calmed down, begin to beat again. Her thumb unconsciously touched the ring. She pulled off the ring that had been on her neck and took his hand.
Hers could only barely fit one of his knuckles, and she was a little annoyed: "I'm not prepared at all, are you disappointed?"
Wei Cheng showed a sad expression.
Xie Qingfei felt even more guilty: "Then...what do you want? Rings are hard to buy right now, can I give you something else first?"
She searched her body but couldn't find anything more valuable.

"Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore." Wei Cheng stopped acting in time and smoothed her brows with a smile, "I am a little anxious, but I have enough patience to wait for you. Besides, you have agreed to marry me, what else can I be dissatisfied with?"
"But how did you think of this before me?" Xie Qingfei realized it later and was stunned for a moment, "Doesn't that mean I lose?"
Wei Cheng opened his eyes wide: "Let's not compete now. Are you going to give in?"
The competition did not give in. Xie Qingfei said, "What happened just now doesn't count. I must be the first to propose when we return to Shengzhou."
"That won't work. We can't go back on our word." Wei Cheng put his arm around her shoulders. "But my performance was not good enough. I didn't say many nice words. Thanks to you for not holding it against me."
Xie Qingfei: “Humph.”
Wei Cheng: "Let's talk at the hotel, okay?"
Every time he showed this expression, Xie Qingfei felt a pain in his waist. He asked distrustfully, "Are you serious?"
Wei Cheng smiled even more: "If you want to listen to something frivolous, that's fine."

(End of this chapter)