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As expected, before Yu Nianyuan could finish his thoughts, Xiang Zuo put down the newspaper. “Arrange for someone to communicate with both these newspapers and the website. Hold the news back and give us some time to investigate thoroughly. We’ll hold a press conference.”

“Mr. Xiang, this incident happened before we acquired Dongyin. Actually…” In fact, there was no need to go to such lengths to reverse the situation. With a new management team and new corporate mechanisms, that was already the best explanation to the public!

But Xiang Zuo didn’t let him finish, decisively waving his hand. “Go make the arrangements. Also, help me set up a dinner with Director Cheng from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. They’ll probably get involved in the investigation soon. And get in touch with the person in charge of Jiabai, I want to meet him.”

Yu Nianyuan opened his mouth, hesitated for a few seconds, and then unwillingly left Xiang Zuo’s office. Was all this trouble really just to clear the name of a subsidiary for a misdeed committed before its acquisition? Was it really necessary?

On the day when Momo and Nianqing met at Uncle Hu’s house, it happened to be the first heavy snow of winter. Snowflakes danced in the air, and Zhang Momo, brushing off her down coat, was let into the house. Looking up, she saw Zhang Nianqing rise from the sofa.

After so long without contact, there was a sudden unfamiliarity upon meeting face to face. She wanted to smile and say, “How have you been?” or, as in the old days, pout and complain that she’d come to Uncle Hu’s without inviting her. Yet now, she couldn’t muster any of those expressions. So she turned her face toward the host of the house. “Uncle Hu, happy birthday! May you be healthy and spirited for many years to come.” She handed the two bottles of Wuliangye she’d brought to the old man.

“This child,” Uncle Hu said, grumbling, but unable to conceal the warmth in his voice. He took the liquor, his kindly eyes lingering on the two sisters for a long moment, as if he too sensed the awkwardness in the room. “It seems only you two still remember this old man.” He had wanted to put the sisters at ease, yet his tone turned somewhat melancholy.

The sisters exchanged glances, silent for a long while. Uncle Hu’s only son had died in an accident a few years back, and his wife, unable to bear the blow, had fallen ill and soon after passed away. This lonely old man, once their father’s dearest friend, was now the only elder left to help them as if he were family. How cruel fate was!

In that brief silence, the discomfort on Nianqing’s face only deepened, and she stood up anxiously. “Uncle Hu, I’ve imposed on you long enough, I should be going.” Seeing this, Momo hurriedly followed her lead, though she didn’t even know what she wanted to say to Nianqing. After such an effort to meet, to part again so soon was too much to bear.

Just as they were about to leave, while Nianqing was waiting for the elevator, Momo suddenly thought of something and turned back to the door. “Uncle Hu, about the counterfeit lottery ticket—did you know? My father didn’t do it, did he?”

Her bright eyes were filled with hope, but all she saw was a flash of deep hesitation and sorrow on the old man’s face. “Momo, what’s past is past. Junru is gone. Right or wrong, what’s the point of pursuing it now?” But Momo would not let it go. Precisely because her father had passed, his reputation could not be left tainted by such a false accusation! She wanted to press on, but Uncle Hu spoke again after a moment’s silence, “Mr. Xiang is a man who can summon clouds with a turn of his hand. It’s only to your advantage to maintain a good relationship with him. In business, everyone knows it’s harder to take advantage of Xiang Zuo than to climb the sky. Momo, in the past, we wronged him… You’d best not anger him again. It will do you and Dongyin no good.”

Those words were like a lantern lit on a rainy night, suddenly illuminating the path for a lost traveler. “Don’t anger him again; it will do you and Dongyin no good!” No wonder, she thought, that the lottery ticket incident, though so long in the past, had suddenly resurfaced. Truly, everything has its cause and effect! From then on, Momo said not another word; she silently returned to the elevator, only to see that it had already descended to the ground floor. Her heart, already bitter, was now pierced by a new wave of sadness. Nianqing, did she not even wish to speak a word to her?

As she walked out in a daze, snow swirling all around, she saw Nianqing waiting quietly by her car. That single sight was like a bud emerging from the snowy earth. Without thinking, Momo rushed toward her sister.

Song Jiakai’s days had grown somewhat dull of late. His “bargain girlfriend” had, upon realizing her mistake, abruptly ended their short-lived romantic farce, and he’d been relegated once more to the ranks of bystanders. Worst of all, his itch for drama remained unsatisfied!

Sitting in a spacious private room at Yitianxiang Restaurant, he and his buddies were discussing where to go for fun after dinner, but for once Song Jiakai couldn’t muster any interest. His mind was already elsewhere, grumbling inwardly that even if he was only a bit player, it was unfair to be dropped from the cast without warning. The more he thought about it, the more he felt abandoned—almost as if he’d suffered a real heartbreak, his heart caught on a snag that refused to come loose.

Half-listening as his friends argued whether to go to a KTV or a bar, he lounged with a teacup, half dozing as he sipped. Suddenly, Kong Liang, seated opposite the huge glass window, grew animated, pointing toward the quiet Lushan Park beside the restaurant. “Hey, look! Two women fighting over there.”

With tea in his mouth, Song Jiakai turned his head absentmindedly, only to catch sight of two women facing each other in the park. One suddenly slapped the other. Taken by surprise, he sprayed a mouthful of tea straight at Kong Liang.

“Ow!” Amid Kong Liang’s howls and the others’ uproarious laughter, Song Jiakai didn’t even pause before dashing out of the room.

The distance was considerable, but Song Jiakai—who’d always been a poor student but never had bad eyesight—recognized the Zhang sisters at once. What puzzled him, though, was how he just knew that the one being hit was Zhang Momo. Logically, it should have been Nianqing, who was always delicate and frail, while Momo was lively and quick-witted—he’d suffered plenty at her hands. Yet somehow, he just knew the one taking the slap was Momo.

If there is anything in the world truly unbreakable, it must be the bond of blood. However deeply wounded, however distant, when Momo saw Nianqing waiting downstairs for her, she was overcome with excitement. She rushed over, but Nianqing remained silent. They walked into Lushan Park together, and before Momo could even voice her questions or greetings, Nianqing raised her hand—the slap landed before Momo could react, leaving a burning pain on her cheek.

Clutching her face, the warmth in her heart was instantly frozen on the cold winter ground. Nianqing’s eyes brimmed with red, her teeth clenched. “Zhang Momo, what did you promise me? You said you wouldn’t get involved with Xiang Zuo, wouldn’t be with him, wouldn’t pester him! You promised me those three things, so why have you been running to Dongyin again and again? What are you trying to do—drive me to my grave?”

Nianqing’s hand hurt, but her heart hurt more. She was the world’s biggest fool—Xiang Zuo had said, “She will always be the mistress of this house,” and she’d been comforted. But in the end, he’d given her the house and left. She’d been tricked by Xiang Zuo, and now betrayed by her own sister. Momo had promised not to contact Xiang Zuo again, a promise extracted in exchange for more than twenty years of sisterhood—and now it was all a lie!

In the icy world, snowflakes landed on her cheeks and melted instantly, the cold seeping into her chest, choking her with bitterness. Momo froze for several seconds, then finally stifled her trembling and covered her face.

“Sis, what right do you have to hit me? Do you know why I’ve been going to Dongyin? Have you cared about the trouble Dongyin is in now? Dad lived an upright life—after his death, he’s been slandered like this. What have you done for him? You have shares in Dongyin, you’re on the board, but you won’t even look into who handled that deal back then! Every day I have to swallow my pride and beg Brother Tang Hao to investigate old matters from two years ago. You have no idea how hard it’s been for me, and now you hit me? Are you crazy? Can you see anyone besides Xiang Zuo anymore?”

“Enough, Zhang Momo!” Nianqing cried, her lips curling in disdain. “You’re really going to Dongyin for that stupid counterfeit lottery ticket? After all this time, does it really matter if it was real or fake? You know full well who you’re running to Dongyin for!”

“You…” Momo’s eyes stung with unshed tears, but no words would come. All her sorrow was caught in her chest, unable to be voiced. Unable to, she turned to leave; but her sister wouldn’t let her go, grabbing her down coat and refusing to release her.

“You’re not allowed to go to Dongyin again, not allowed to get close to Xiang Zuo…”

Suddenly, the grip on her coat vanished. There was a startled cry as Momo turned to see Nianqing stumble back a few steps. Song Jiakai had stepped between them.

“If you want to throw a tantrum, do it at home. Besides picking on Momo, is there anything else you know how to do?” Song Jiakai, his back to Momo, was visibly impatient, his smoldering anger suggesting he might even strike a woman if pushed.

Nianqing, lacking the courage to argue with such a shameless rogue, was left brimming with grievance and looking pitiful, but he showed not a trace of compassion. All her resentment now turned to Momo—who else had brought this upon her? “Zhang Momo, from today on, I no longer have a sister!” Resolute, she turned and walked away.

Momo’s heart sank as if into an ice cellar; all the world’s desolation could not compare to the chill of those words. No longer her sister—never again her sister…

Song Jiakai was just about to turn around when a sudden shove from behind nearly sent him sprawling. He stared in disbelief at Momo—just moments ago, she’d been limp and docile, but now she stood with hands on hips, eyes blazing.

“Who said you could push my sister? Why did you push her?”