A Winter Gift in Return

[The print edition goes on sale August 29 at 7:00 p.m. For more events, see @Jinjiang Su Qi.] Blurb: Song Tan has won all three major film awards and become the youngest and most valuable critically acclaimed actress in film history. Then, five years ago, she suddenly vanished from the entertainment industry, sparking endless speculation. Then the media happens to photograph Song Tan at the airport, holding the hand of an adorable little girl with rosy cheeks who looks just like the actress did back then: delicate and beautiful. That night, the trending searches explode: [Former actress secretly married and had a child] [Who is the child's father?] [Song Tan, single mother] A friend calls to ask: “So who is the child's father?” Song Tan: “…Ji Fuxi.” -- Song Chu Qing is four years old and in the middle class at kindergarten. One day after school, she sees a man at the kindergarten entrance who's even more handsome than Ryder. He's tall and long-legged, and his eyes look exactly like hers! Song Chu Qing looks up at him timidly. “Who are you?” Ji Fuxi crouches down, hesitates for a moment, then says softly, “I'm your dad.” Later, a cartoon can often be heard playing outside the CEO's office: “No job is too hard, when you've got a brave dog!” -- Without Song Chu Qing, Ji Fuxi and Song Tan would never have crossed paths, much less been forced to raise a little girl together. One quiet night, he opens a bedroom door and sees a woman sleeping soundly beside their daughter in the child's little bed. After watching them for who knows how long, Ji Fuxi steps inside quietly and lifts the woman into his arms. The first time he holds her, she's much lighter than he imagined. #Reader's note: There's plenty of child-rearing, but it's not all parenting, and this isn't simply a child-rearing story. #Ryder is one of the main boy characters in the cartoon PAW Patrol. #2024.2.23 Upcoming novel: Everyday Life in a Secret Marriage with a Child Blurb: Lin Ke follows her family's arrangements and enters a marriage alliance with financial tycoon Si Yuming. They marry in secret, see little of each other, and sometimes go a whole month without meeting. Their only connection is their three-year-old daughter, Si Xiaotie. Recently, Lin Ke transfers to a job at Si Yuming's company and happens to overhear some gossip. “Yesterday the media caught the Jiang family's heiress on a date with President Si. Rumor has it she's his one true love, and they've been secretly married for years.” “I knew it! The little princess's mother must be her!” “Now that you mention it, they really do look alike.” A colleague nudges her shoulder. “Lin Ke, you've met the little princess, right?” She has. They don't look alike. -- One day, the boss brings his child to work. Everyone holds their breath during the meeting, afraid of waking the little one asleep in the break room. Ten minutes later, Si Xiaotie, fully rested, rubs her eyes and sleepily scans the room. Then she runs straight into Lin Ke's arms and calls out in a sweet little voice, “Mommy~” Embarrassed, Lin Ke glances at the composed man in a suit at the head of the table, picks up her daughter, and answers gently, “Yes?” #2025.05.28 #Marriage first, love later; raising a child. Xiaotie is her nickname. Theme: Parents are their children's best teachers.