The car glided smoothly along the night road, city lights streaking past the tinted windows.
Tang Yuze leaned back in his seat, cap pulled low, mask still hanging loosely from one ear. Tang Meilin sat beside him, calm and composed.
Yuze's phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen and sighed softly."Here it comes."
Meilin raised an eyebrow. "Your assistant?"
"Mm." He swiped to answer. "Sister Wen."
"Sister Wen" didn't waste time.
"Yuze," her voice came through brisk and sharp, the unmistakable tone of someone handling a fire backstage, "what's going on with Weibo? The keyword 'Tang Yuze's girlfriend' just shot to the top searches. Who's the girl with you?"
Yuze chuckled lazily. "You already know her."
There was a brief pause on the other end."…Tang Meilin?" Sister Wen confirmed.
"Correct," he said easily. "My sister. The kind you can't fake."
Meilin turned her head slightly, giving him a sideways glance. Her lips curved faintly, amused.
Sister Wen exhaled. "I thought so. I saw her at the airport earlier. Still, fans are restless. Should we issue a clarification post? Pull the search?"
Yuze tilted his head and looked at Meilin. "What do you think?"
Meilin met his gaze calmly. "Let it cool on its own."
Yuze smiled. "Hear that? Let it cool."
He added lightly into the phone, "Anyway, she's not my girlfriend. Why rush? The more you suppress it, the more they'll dig."
"…You're really something," Sister Wen muttered, but her tone softened. "Fine. I'll keep monitoring it. Call me if Grandpa Tang says anything."
"Got it. Thanks, Sister Wen."
He hung up and tossed the phone aside.
Silence returned to the car, comfortable and unforced.
Yuze stretched his arms. "See? Fame is trouble. You can't even go to a movie in peace."
Meilin smiled faintly. "Your fans are passionate."
"Too passionate," he said with a grin. "Next time, I'll disguise myself as a delivery guy."
The car slowed as the Tang residence came into view.
Warm lights glowed behind the tall gates.
—
Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was tranquil and dignified, the faint scent of sandalwood lingering in the air.
Grandpa Tang sat in his usual chair, a blanket draped over his legs, reading glasses perched low on his nose. When he heard footsteps, he looked up.
His stern expression softened instantly.
"You're back," he said, eyes lingering on the two of them together.
Meilin and Yuze greeted him in unison.
After a moment, Grandpa Tang set his book aside. "Tomorrow, we're going to Qingyun Mountain."
Both siblings paused.
"Qingyun Mountain?" Yuze echoed. "That's far."
"I'm visiting an old friend," Grandpa Tang explained slowly. "He hasn't been well lately. The air there is clean, quiet. Good for the body."
His gaze swept over them. "We'll leave at six in the morning."
Yuze blinked. "Six?!"
Meilin, however, nodded calmly. "Alright, Grandpa."
Grandpa Tang's eyes crinkled with satisfaction. "Good. You two rarely get time away from the city. Consider it a short break."
Yuze sighed dramatically, then laughed. "Fine, fine. A mountain retreat it is."
Dinner that night was unhurried.
Simple dishes, warm soup, familiar flavors—nothing extravagant, yet comforting in a way that made the day's chaos feel distant.
Afterward, the household gradually quieted.
Yuze stretched again. "I'm turning in early. Six a.m. is brutal."
Meilin stood as well, Zimei still nestled against her. "Good night, Grandpa."
"Rest well," Grandpa Tang said, watching them with a rare, contented smile.
As the siblings headed toward their rooms, the Tang residence settled into silence—calm, expectant.
And somewhere ahead, beyond the city and the noise,the mountains waited.