Butterflies Fly Over Winter Chapter 1
byChapter 1: Autumn as the Promised Time
Chu Yiqi, the Yiqi from the phrase autumn as the promised time.
Another voice was cold, yet inexplicably gentle. She said, Clearly, it means using expectation as a name, so that everything in the future can be looked forward to.
She lifted her head and looked toward the source of the voice, but it always seemed to be shrouded in a layer of mist. She could not see clearly, nor could she remember.
The dream was intermittent, a blur of truth and falsehood. The person caught in the dream shifted restlessly, her brow furrowing.
What was the point of raising you all these years! Look at what you have become!
The person in front of her remained a blur, but Chu Yiqi instinctively tried to hide, as if from someone she dared not face, until someone else seemed to stand beside her.
That person grabbed her wrist.
It was strange; she should not have been able to feel temperature in a dream, but that hand felt truly cold. Yet, she was simply unwilling to pull her own hand away.
The furious figure in front of her gradually distorted before completely dissolving into the mist.
…
Chu Yiqi snapped her eyes open, sweat beads forming on her forehead. Even though it was summer, she felt a persistent chill, like a cold draft seeping out from the marrow of her bones.
She picked up her phone: it was just four o’clock.
Chu Yiqi stood up. Since she would not be able to fall back asleep anyway, she simply took her time packing her things and prepared to head out with her suitcase.
–
Domestic, Beicheng.
Xi Ai glanced at her incessantly ringing phone. She made a gesture to the person opposite her and picked it up.
What is it, Sister Luojian? Xi Ai asked with a smile as she returned a ping pong ball.
Su Luojian deliberately spoke in a cold, detached tone. I am not falling for that. Where are you?
At home.
Liar. I can hear the ping pong balls.
Xi Ai caught the ball and said innocently, Sister, when I say home, I mean I am currently at Lanxie Villas.
Su Luojian: …Fine, I forgot. You remember you have to come back tonight, right?
I remember. The group variety show starts tomorrow, so we are having a meal today.
Good. Come by yourself at four o’clock. I am still at the company.
Xi Ai questioned her with half-serious indignation, How can you say that when I just won Best Actress? Everyone else has someone to pick them up, but you are making me come on my own?
We have been talking about assigning you an assistant for years, but you are the one who refused. Besides, little He Yuan is going to pick up Yiqi. The others arrived a long time ago.
Xi Ai fell silent for a long time. Perhaps it was because she had not heard that name in a while. Her expression shifted several times in that instant, and the easygoing playfulness she had while joking with Su Luojian vanished.
She is back?
Do you know this is called a group variety show? Of course she is coming back.
Xi Ai lost interest in continuing the conversation and simply replied, Oh, I see. I will head over after I get ready.
On the other end, Su Luojian sighed.
She was one of the few people who knew about the past between those two, but it was not her place to offer advice.
Especially after both of them had repeatedly said, Rest assured, it won’t affect work, there was even less room to speak.
Their business had to be resolved by themselves.
In the afternoon.
Xi Ai appeared at the villa entrance with her suitcase. But she did not go in—she could not.
She pulled down her mask and stared at the keypad lock with a deep, troubled frown.
…What was the code again?
If she had known, she would have recorded her fingerprint.
Xi Ai ran through several codes in her head and was just about to try one when Su Luojian suddenly opened the door. The two stared at each other in silence.
Xi Ai saw Su Luojian’s lips twitch and quickly said, Do not laugh.
It would have been better if she had not said it; now Su Luojian wanted to laugh even more.
Oh my, our Best Actress cannot remember the password?
… Xi Ai glared at her. After a long pause, she asked the question she had been wanting to ask: Other people’s managers are not like you.
Su Luojian said calmly, Then go find someone else.
How could I, Sister Luojian? Xi Ai smiled and entered the house. When she did not see the person she was looking for, a flash of disappointment flickered in her eyes.
Long time no see—
Come, Best Actress, sit here by me!
The few who had arrived early greeted her. Yu Nianxi, the one most prone to stirring up trouble, shouted, You are late. Should you drink a bottle first?
A whole bottle? You are so heartless, little sister.
Yu Nianxi: It is just a light cooler. Do not worry about it.
Xi Ai walked over with a smile. Just because you are the youngest in the team does not mean I cannot hit you, right?
It does! Yu Nianxi shouted with her neck stiffened, then immediately turned to complain to Meng Yike. Captain, did you see her threatening me?
Meng Yike weighed the situation and decided to favor the younger one. I saw it. What a wicked person.
…Fine.
Xi Ai curled her lip and picked up her phone, which had been vibrating. Go ahead and complain. I am going out to take a call.
What kind of call is so secretive? Yu Nianxi tried to provoke her again, but Meng Yike quickly covered her mouth.
If you can understand it and have the nerve to keep listening, then come out with me, Xi Ai said nonchalantly.
Hey, look at her!
Exactly! Exactly!
The others watched the acknowledged group bully and the group favorite bicker, but they remained silent.
What is it, Grandpa?
On the other end, the old man was quite amiable. I am not disturbing you, am I?
Not at all. I have not caused any trouble lately.
…Who is talking about that? I sent you some fruit that just arrived. Go pick it up yourself.
You should have kept it for yourself.
Elder Xi never neglected himself. Do you even need to say that? I was going to eat it all without leaving any for you, but then I suddenly remembered you were going to record a show, so I had someone buy more for you.
…So, I am just an afterthought?
You can think of it that way. Elder Xi did not bother wasting words with her. I am going out for a walk. Hang up now.
Xi Ai stood in the small garden outside the house for a good while. No, it is summer, why is it so cold… Oh, it is because my heart is cold. Never mind then.
Before she could go out to get the delivery, another person pushed open the gate and walked in.
The newcomer wore a white ruffled shirt paired with a pale green long skirt. At a glance, Xi Ai noticed the shirt was real silk with hidden embroidery.
Chu Yiqi froze for a moment before walking in. Xi Ai did not move; she just calmly watched her approach.
—Though even that bit of calmness was an act.
Long time no see. Chu Yiqi politely extended a hand.
Xi Ai finally snapped out of it. She looked at Chu Yiqi’s hand, and after a moment of hesitation, she shook it. It was polite yet distant.
Mhm.
She did not know if it was an illusion, but Chu Yiqi felt as though she saw an indescribable flash in Xi Ai’s eyes, something very familiar.
It was like when they had first met.
It was as if nothing had changed, yet Chu Yiqi could not find even a trace of the love she expected.
Chu Yiqi lowered her gaze, the shadow of her eyelashes hiding her eyes, making it impossible to see the turbulence beneath the surface.
For no reason, Chu Yiqi felt a sense of loss, but she suppressed it an instant later. When she looked up again, her expression had returned to normal.
The two looked at each other. Amidst their hidden emotions, two years had passed just like that.
Are you going out to get something?
Hmm?
I ran into Uncle Zheng when I arrived. Take a look, is this it?
Xi Ai looked at the box on top of Chu Yiqi’s suitcase and said, Thank you. Should I carry it?
Xi Ai had not meant anything by it, but Chu Yiqi felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
She felt like this was Xi Ai’s polite way of rushing to draw a clear boundary, and her heart skipped a beat in the void.
Xi Ai was not thinking that far ahead; she just felt it was not right to let someone else carry her things, plus a bit of concern born from muscle memory was at play.
When the two entered the house together, the other five members stared at them, and then, with practiced coordination, began inviting them to sit.
Xi Ai looked at Chu Yiqi’s expression and walked over first to pick a seat near the middle, pulling Yu Nianxi along with her. Meng Yike thought about the way these two interacted and said, You two better not sit alone together.
So, in the next moment, two people sat to Xi Ai’s left.
The other two stole glances at Chu Yiqi and then at Xi Ai, silently surrounding Xi Ai in a circle. Finally, Shi Yunshan had to smile and call out to Chu Yiqi, who had just put away her luggage, Come and sit. It is still early. We will have hotpot later.
Yes, come play a Script Kill! I just bought it! Yu Nianxi pulled a box out from under the table.
Xi Ai also looked up at her, though her gaze was somewhat cold. She asked, Have you finished adjusting to the time difference?
As soon as the words left her mouth, Xi Ai paused—even though they had not seen each other in two years, the habit had not changed.
Chu Yiqi was also stunned. She had not expected Xi Ai to initiate conversation. She shook her head. I am fine.
She sat down next to Meng Yike, and the six of them formed a perfect circle.
Still playing? Do you know what we are eating today? Su Luojian had gone to the balcony early to call her family, and when she returned, she saw these people huddled over their scripts.
Yu Nianxi: Sister Luo, why don’t you be the host?
Forget it. First, tell me what we are eating.
Xi Ai looked up from her script. Ask the ACE.
It took Chu Yiqi a moment to realize that ACE referred to her.
?
Yu Nianxi tugged on Meng Yike’s sleeve and started typing on her phone: Didn’t they break up?
Well, their way of interacting is different from before.
While the two were typing, Xi Ai spoke again. She has been away for so long. Let her choose.
This person was truly contradictory; she clearly should have maintained a proper distance, yet she unconsciously wanted to show concern, and she could not help but harbor the intent to deliberately tease.
She attributed this to… the force of habit.
—Habits that she still could not let go of after two years.
Chu Yiqi looked at Xi Ai with a complex and twisted expression. After hesitating for a while, she said, Then, shall we have hotpot?
Su Luojian did not refuse, but she said half-jokingly, Let me say this first: today’s meal is not eligible for reimbursement.
Let the Visual treat us then.
Yu Nianxi poked Xi Ai, but Xi Ai’s gaze was still fixed on Chu Yiqi. You are just going to fleece me?
Yes.
Then how about we just have it delivered.
Fine.
Xi Ai stood up and said, Wait a moment. I will go wash some fruit.
Do you need help?
Xi Ai stared at Shi Yunshan. Would you actually come?
No. I was just asking to be polite.
…
Chu Yiqi listened to their conversation and let out a soft laugh. She closed her script, and as soon as Xi Ai left, she stood up and said, I brought a watermelon back with me. I will go cut it.
Everyone understood there were deeper intentions at play, so as soon as they left, the four of them immediately started gossiping with Su Luojian.
Yu Nianxi started it off: So, what is the situation with them?
It is the awkwardness of having broken up.
I never asked—who initiated the breakup? Weren’t they incredibly clingy back then? Even when gossiping, Shi Yunshan remained calm, seemingly always maintaining her emotionally stable persona.
Yu Nianxi pulled out a bag of potato chips from somewhere and began crunching on them.
Nie Chuiying looked up from a pile of fanfiction and said mysteriously, I think it was Xi Ai. Look at our Qiqi, she looks so aggrieved and cautious.
Indeed, she was so aggrieved that she ran off to another country to keep them out of sight and out of mind.
On the other hand, that wicked group bully was giving her the cold shoulder now that she was back, acting all detached.
Exactly. Poor Qiqi, wicked certain-someone. Yu Nianxi, never one to shy away from drama, chimed in while eating.
Meng Yike glanced at her and heartlessly snatched her chips.
Yu Nianxi: …I bet a hundred it was Xi Ai.
Two hundred on Qiqi.
That is enough, Su Luojian, as the only one who actually knew the truth, watched them gossip helplessly. You have more imagination than the CP fans.
Those young girls are much crazier than us. Nie Chuiying swiped through her tablet as one fanfiction after another popped up. The CP fans have already created countless versions of ABO stories with ‘running away while pregnant.’ Should I read some?
You should watch less of that, Sister. Shi Yunshan glanced at her screen, caught a few keywords, and finally could not help but advise her seriously.
Do not worry about it.
The people in the kitchen had no idea how loud it was getting outside. These two were busy bickering for no apparent reason and had no time for anything else.
Seeing Chu Yiqi come in, Xi Ai said for some reason, What are you doing in here?
I… Chu Yiqi was stunned, immediately feeling that Xi Ai was chasing her away.
Before she could explain, Xi Ai added the second half of her sentence.