'SEE YOU MORNING' 038 Christmas Eve

Picking up Kesiya and Malaya from the airport, the group passed through the commercial district of Moses Lake on the way back and stopped to browse and shop. The pre-holiday crowds were thick, and the smart shopping carts equipped with purchasing guidance had already been taken by other customers.
Malaya linked her handheld terminal to the commercial street’s smart system and walked ahead with Qin Wenjing, discussing what else they needed to buy as they went.
Kesiya was still not very familiar with Qin Wenjing—even Li Haojun noticed she was far less socially at ease than her sister—so she quietly trailed behind with Li Haojun.
Kesiya wore the same coat she had worn on their trip to Nevada, which kept bringing Li Haojun back to those memories, making him savor the time they had spent apart; he found himself glancing at her now and then.
Each time, Kesiya answered with a smile, saying nothing, which left Li Haojun shaking his head, pressing his lips together in a wry smile, sighing to himself about what had come over him.
The commercial street was rich with holiday spirit—the roadside greenery was strung with twinkling lights, and every shop entrance displayed a Christmas tree. The flow of people made everything feel lively.
Up ahead was a department store. Qin Wenjing and Malaya chattered away, then turned left into the store arm in arm without so much as a word to the two behind them. Seizing the chance, Li Haojun quickly took Kesiya’s hand and hurried a few steps to catch up, his bright smile drifting through the winter crowd.
The first floor of the mall always gleamed with jewelry and finery, though most of what was sold now were mass-market goods made of synthetic materials. The old aura of rare luxury had long since faded, replaced by something closer to everyday life.
They wandered slowly through the gallery of the jewelry section, admiring the luster of different materials, designs of every style, and the clash of cultural inspirations.
At the end of the gallery, Qin Wenjing turned and looked back at Li Haojun, asking with a grin,
“Aren’t you going to buy something for your children?”
“No need to go to any trouble,” Malaya said, giving Qin Wenjing’s arm a tug.
“Alright,” Li Haojun replied. He had already picked out several pieces he liked and had discussed everyone’s preferences with Kesiya while browsing earlier.
So the four of them retraced their steps. Li Haojun had long decided to buy Kesiya that freshwater pearl necklace she liked, though he had no idea which item Malaya and Qin Wenjing had settled on.
Inside the gallery were necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, and all sorts of other accessories. Li Haojun thought a certain multi-layered rose-gold necklace would suit Malaya’s outfit perfectly that day.
Seeing the two girls hesitate, he paused in front of it and gave a careful recommendation.
Indeed, the design was delicate—a slender, layered rose-gold structure. At first glance it seemed understated, but on closer inspection, its gold shifted gradually, changing with the light from gold to brown, forest green, indigo, and purple. Irregularly set tiny diamonds glittered like stars in the night sky, their density shifting diagonally across the layers like the Milky Way itself.
Li Haojun studied the product name—“zanchika2084318836C”—and thought, What a mess of a name. He glanced at Malaya: her slender figure, her budding youth, her clever yet mischievous little mind, her aloof high ponytail that gave off an air of “to be admired from afar but not profaned,” like a star in the night sky.
With that in mind, he asked softly,
“Malaya, what do you think of this one? If I were naming it, I wouldn’t use that string of cold letters. I’d call it ‘Starry River Shines.’ See how the metal shifts color like the sky from dusk to deep night, and those tiny diamonds are like stars scattered across it.”
As he spoke, he looked up into Malaya’s eyes, wondering what she thought.
Only then did he notice, out of the corner of his eye, that Kesiya and Qin Wenjing were watching with suppressed laughter, which left him slightly embarrassed.
Qin Wenjing teased at once,
“Hey, look—don’t those diamonds form the Big Dipper? With this on, Malaya, you’ll never lose your way.”
Li Haojun quickly shook his head and waved his hands. “Don’t joke around.”
Kesiya said nothing, only smiling at her sister.
When Qin Wenjing finished joking, she seemed to remember something. She stared into space for a moment, then turned to Malaya, resting a hand on her shoulder.
“Good sister, to be honest—every time he travels, you arrange everything. Every time he comes back safely, I’m truly grateful to you.”
“Don’t worry,” Malaya replied. “I’ll bring him back safe to you.”
After browsing the jewelry and cosmetics on the first floor and women’s wear on the second, Li Haojun wanted to keep going upstairs to look at children’s toys—his youthful heart didn’t seem entirely gone.
“Let’s skip it,” Malaya said, surprising him with a refusal. Her gaze was steady and certain as she looked at Li Haojun. Though he wasn’t sure what she meant, he followed her suggestion, and the group left the department store.
Back outside, the sun was already leaning west. On the walk back through the pedestrian street, Kesiya passed the hair salon they had seen earlier and suddenly decided she wanted to change her hairstyle. Women’s hearts were truly hard to fathom.
Seated in the stylist’s chair, Kesiya actually chose a short haircut. Standing behind her, Li Haojun met her eyes in the mirror and asked,
“Are you really going to cut your long hair?” He knew how long it must have taken her to grow it out.
She smiled, certain, and tapped “Confirm” after setting the parameters on the panel.
Around her, multiple mechanical arms moved—no scissors or human tools, only implements with built-in blades serving the same functions. First came foaming dry-wash, then shaping, trimming, and finally a dry-clean finish that cleared away loose hairs and foam. Everything was neat and fast.
Kesiya chose a chin-length bob, its ends curving inward in a large C-shape, baring her neck. A side part at three-to-seven, the left fringe swept back behind her ear, then down along the curve of her jaw. The right fringe half-veiled her right cheek, its lower edge curving forward to follow her jawline perfectly. In the shadow of her bangs, her blue eyes looked even deeper. The new short haircut, paired with the fluffy wide collar of her white faux-fur coat, drew attention to the close-fitting freshwater pink-pearl necklace at her throat.
Stepping out of the salon, sunlight fell across Kesiya’s smiling face. Her sister exchanged a glance with her, then walked past to catch up with Qin Wenjing, leaving the two of them behind.
Back at the parking lot, Li Haojun opened the rear passenger door for Kesiya, while Qin Wenjing invited Malaya to sit in the front passenger seat. Qin Wenjing herself took the seat diagonally behind the driver, where the rearview mirror gave her a clear view of Li Haojun’s eyes—though today there were two more young women riding with them, at her own invitation.
On the way back, traffic was light. The setting sun stretched long shadows of bare trees across the road with its fading warmth. Li Haojun drove gently along the winding road, the afterglow slipping through the windows—sometimes dazzling, sometimes tracing Malaya’s silhouette. Everyone he cared about was around him in that moment, like a beautiful dream. The only thing reminding him it was real was Qin Wenjing in the mirror, her smiling face tilted slightly as she watched him with a look of satisfaction he had never seen before.
She seemed relaxed, at ease—Li Haojun felt he had never seen Qin Wenjing like this, as if a great weight had been lifted.
By the time they got home, darkness was settling in as planned, with only a faint purple glow lingering at the horizon. In the winter night, the brightly lit house felt especially warm.
Malaya volunteered to help Qin Wenjing prepare the Christmas Eve dinner, leaving Kesiya and Li Haojun in the living room to decorate the Christmas tree.
Kesiya took off her coat, revealing a pale beige off-the-shoulder sweater underneath, still paired with those jeans that flattered her figure. But it was her delicate short haircut and the pearl necklace against her fair neck that were unusually captivating. Li Haojun wanted to hug her, but the impulse stayed only in his thoughts, ending in a silly grin as he asked,
“It’s been a while. How have you been lately?”
Kesiya didn’t answer. She only smiled at him.
“Come on, let’s get the tree decorated.”
She said nothing more about the past, focusing instead on working seriously with Li Haojun—discussing where to place the colored eggs, gifts, and star-shaped lights, choosing different ornaments together. For the higher spots, they even needed a ladder.
Kesiya was enthusiastic, always climbing up herself. Li Haojun steadied the ladder from below, and sometimes she would ask him to step back and check if anything was crooked.
As they neared the end, Kesiya looked at the tree and hesitated, murmuring to herself,
“Why favor one side and neglect the other?” There was sadness in her tone.
It turned out they had spent all their time decorating the side facing the living room—the side lit by indoor lights—while the back of the tree, facing the window and shrouded in darkness, remained bare and bleak.
With that, Kesiya took some ornaments and walked around to the back. Li Haojun followed, carrying the remaining decorations. When Kesiya hung the last ornament and turned to look at him, there was no festive joy on her face. In the same melancholy tone, she said softly,
“Actually… this is my first time spending Christmas in a home.”
Her eyes and her words tightened something in Li Haojun’s chest. He gently drew her into his arms, wanting to give her more warmth.
On the tree, the colored lights shimmered, faintly illuminating the shadows behind it. Their embracing figures reflected dimly in the glass, layered over the bare branches of the garden flower beds, woven between the green pine needles—real or unreal, it was hard to tell.
In the kitchen, Qin Wenjing was preparing the Christmas Eve dinner. Although Malaya was helping, Qin Wenjing hadn’t assigned her any real work—just something symbolic to keep her from standing idly by.
Qin Wenjing liked her youth. Modern technology could reverse age, but the people and events of the past could never be reclaimed. She envied Malaya’s youth, and seeing her beside Li Haojun reminded her of herself in earlier years. That unfulfilled wish of hers could only be lived out through someone else now.
Just then, Kesiya came into the kitchen and took Qin Wenjing’s arm.
“Emily, take a break. Let them handle things for you.” With that, she led her away, leaving only Li Haojun and Malaya.
Li Haojun went back to handling the unfinished ingredients and keeping an eye on the turkey in the oven. Malaya stood nearby, watching with a smile, saying nothing.
Feeling a little awkward, Li Haojun wondered if the girl had just caught him staring. To break the silence, he spoke up:
“Thank you both for coming. It was actually Emily who thought of inviting you.”
“Didn’t you want us here?” Malaya cut in.
“Oh—I did. I just didn’t expect her to be so generous,” Li Haojun admitted, lowering his head as he cleaned the ingredients.
“To be honest… I don’t even understand myself.” He turned to look at Malaya.
“Forgetting the past doesn’t mean forgetting who you are. You’re still you,” Malaya said, her smile fading into something colder.
Seeing Li Haojun’s puzzled expression, she explained,
“What you feel inside is still you.”
“Oh.” Li Haojun nodded slightly, then glanced back toward the living room, where Kesiya and Qin Wenjing stood in the bright light. Looking again at Malaya, he realized how mature she seemed beyond her years—for a teenage girl, she was impossible to read. It was as if she saw straight through him, sensing his feelings for them both but knowing he held back because of Emily.
“Would you leave Emily for Kesiya?”
“No. I can’t do that. She took care of me when I was at my weakest. I can’t do that to her.”
“What about for Kesiya and me?”
“Malaya, why are you asking this?”
“Just curious how you’d answer.” Malaya gave a small smile.
“I can’t do anything to hurt her. She has no one else but me. And she’s such a sentimental person—all these years, she’s lived with me, even when I was unconscious. A person who couldn’t speak or move, with no guarantee of ever waking up… she still wouldn’t leave me. How could I…” Li Haojun looked at Malaya’s expression, then softened his tone.
“How could I just walk away from her?”
“Mm. I understand.”
Li Haojun looked at Malaya, wanting to say, Can’t we just live together like a family? But then he thought better of it. Wasn’t he overestimating himself? These sisters were young and beautiful—what right did he have to take up their youth? Once they settled here, they’d surely have suitors. Better to rein in his overflowing sentimentality. With that in mind, he asked casually,
“We haven’t seen each other in months. What do you do for fun in your free time?” As soon as he said it, he regretted it—asking a girl about her private life felt inappropriate. He quickly added,
“I mean—what are your hobbies?”
“Hobbies? Heh. Cooking, mostly.”
Li Haojun blinked in surprise. “Doesn’t your sister take care of you?”
“I don’t like her cooking. Honestly, she’s not very good at it.”
Li Haojun thought back to Kesiya’s work and studies—she could be a bit clumsy sometimes, but endearing. Smiling, he asked Malaya,
“So what is your sister good at, then?”
“What do you think?” Malaya countered with a smile, not answering directly. She didn’t leave him hanging, though, and went on,
“When I have free time, I play computer games.”
That caught Li Haojun’s interest—he liked certain types of games too.
“What kind?”
“Racing. Grand Prix highlights. But I only have a simple wheel with no force feedback, plus pedals for throttle and brake.”
“Oh, I have that game too,” Li Haojun said eagerly, putting down what he was doing. “Which car and track do you like best?”
“Mm… Maserati 250, Monte Carlo circuit.”
Li Haojun gave a double thumbs-up, but before he could speak, a carrot and potato tumbled from the counter and hit his foot. They both laughed, and Li Haojun scrambled to pick them up, adding quickly,
“Great taste!”
Malaya pressed her lips together, her smile looking especially sweet.
“I play that game too. I’ve got a full sim setup. Want to try it sometime?”
“Sure,” Malaya said softly, bending to help plate the prepared ingredients. As she leaned over, her high ponytail slipped forward over her shoulder, the necklace beneath it glittering through her hair like a winking star in the night sky—Is she a girl brought here by the stars? The thought flashed through Li Haojun’s mind. But when he focused on her face again, she was simply and calmly finishing her task, arranging the food and carrying it to the table. Watching her retreating figure—her slender shape both graceful and tempting—Li Haojun dared not, and did not wish to, entertain improper thoughts.
Over by the tree, Qin Wenjing and Kesiya seemed to have finished their talk and came to check on dinner. The turkey still needed a while longer. Qin Wenjing turned back, her eyes meeting Li Haojun’s. He only curved his lips slightly, saying softly,
“I feel really happy.” He held her gaze without blinking.
Qin Wenjing froze for a moment, caught off guard, then gave him a gentle hug before staying with him in the kitchen to finish the preparations.
Outside the living room window, night had fully fallen. Inside, the bright lights and the live-streamed Christmas Eve music filled the air with warm holiday atmosphere. Having placed the dishes on the table, Malaya looked back just in time to catch Kesiya giving her a meaningful glance toward the kitchen pair. Understanding at once, Malaya didn’t disturb them, joining her sister instead by the Christmas tree, tucking riddle notes into the hollow ornaments.
“Are you still willing to share him?” Malaya asked Kesiya in a voice barely above a whisper.
“Mm.”
“You see he won’t leave her.”
“It’s fine. I never wanted to have him all to myself.”
“Are you sure he’s the one?”
“Mm. I remember how it feels to be with him.”
“A lot of memories?”
“No—just a familiar feeling. Like something buried deep in my memory, suddenly waking up whenever I see him or get close to him.”
“Then what’s your plan for the future?”
“Heh, just keep going like this. What do you think? Got any better ideas?”
“Oh—sorry. Let’s just leave it for now. I haven’t thought that far ahead. I haven’t even…”
“Hahaha.” The sisters sat before the Christmas tree, whispering like that.
Before long, dinner was ready. Li Haojun carried the steaming turkey to the table, and Qin Wenjing followed with the side dishes.
“Thank you for preparing such a wonderful meal,” Kesiya said as she pulled her sister over.
“Sit down—we’ve really been looking forward to having you here,” Qin Wenjing added, glancing at Li Haojun.
“Please, have a seat,” Li Haojun said, serving slices of turkey onto their plates and handing them over.
Malaya accepted hers with both hands, polite and composed. Kesiya, meanwhile, scooted forward on her chair, reaching out early, tilting her face up toward Li Haojun.
He handed it to her with a smile, saying nothing, his eyes full of her beaming face.
The small dining table felt a little crowded with four people around it, but it was no longer lonely. Across from him sat Malaya, to his right Kesiya, to his left Qin Wenjing. Under the table, Li Haojun’s left hand lightly brushed Qin Wenjing’s thigh.
She only glanced at him before busying herself introducing the fruits and vegetables to the two girls, telling them to help themselves as they liked.
Li Haojun carved meat from different parts of the turkey—some crisp, some tender—hoping to give these two children a little warmth beneath this roof.
“Here’s cranberry sauce, and the turkey gravy is homemade. Give it a try and see if it suits your taste,” Qin Wenjing said, sliding the condiments toward them.
Malaya thanked her and sampled everything methodically. Kesiya only smiled and nodded, her gaze drifting now and then from Qin Wenjing to Li Haojun as she ate.
After a few bites, Li Haojun suddenly remembered something. He got up and returned from the kitchen with black pepper, mustard, and honey.
“There’s also these. See if you need anything else?”
“It’s fine, no need to trouble yourself. This should be enough,” Kesiya said, looking at Li Haojun, then giving Qin Wenjing a small nod.
“Ah—Haojun, the juice in the fridge,” Qin Wenjing said, turning to Kesiya and Malaya with a smile.
“We won’t be serving alcohol to minors.”
“No, no, we don’t drink,” Malaya said with a laugh.
“If you’d like a little wine, go ahead—we’re fine with juice,” Kesiya added.
Inside the dining room, voices were warm and harmonious. From the living room, the live broadcast played scenes of Moses Lake’s holiday festivities, punctuated now and then by the sound of fireworks or firecrackers—somewhere, people were celebrating. In the small courtyard, the bright lights of the living room, together with the glowing and shadowed beads of the Christmas tree, spilled across the snow-dusted flower beds and tiled paths.