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Winter came again.

At the end of the year, people from all walks of life started to get busy.

Shao Cixin had to be prepared for the recording of the New Year’s broadcast, and Wen Zhihan was busy with Guanglan’s affairs. For a while, neither of them had time to spare.

Following a busy week, Shao Cixin’s schedule freed up for the first time in a while.

After winning the title of Best Actress and getting married to Wen Zhihan, her rest time gradually normalized in the last few years.

Outside of her filming schedule, she would stay in Fengcheng and spend time with her family in the month approaching the New Year. She didn’t take any more trips during this period.

At the same time, Rong Ya knew that Shao Cixin wanted to accompany her wife and did not arrange any more work for her.

Lin Mumu took advantage of Shao Cixin’s break, becoming happy and relaxed whenever this time of year rolled around.

But while Shao Cixin was temporarily freed from her responsibilities, her Mrs. Shao wasn’t yet.

These last few days, Wen Zhihan had been holding non-stop meetings both big and small. She also had to review various projects, read numerous documents, and then sign her approval on the ones she found agreeable.

She was busy all the way to New Year’s Eve before she relaxed.

Finally, she could also take a vacation.

Shao Cixin was not at home on New Year’s Eve, as she had to make an appearance on Fengcheng’s New Year’s Eve broadcast.

After the broadcast, it was already past one o’clock. As she was getting in the car to go home, Shao Cixin took to social media to say Happy New Year to her fans, then left a message for her parents.

She sat down in the backseat and stretched her arms. “We’re on break, we’re on break, I can go home and spend time with my wife!”

In the front row, Lin Mumu happily agreed, “Yes, yes, I can also go home to see my wife!”

Rong Ya glanced at the two of them and smiled helplessly.

The day they first met still felt like yesterday, but in the blink of an eye, they had both started their own families. Rong Ya suddenly felt like an old mother hen watching her two daughters grow up.

“That’s right, we’re on break.” Rong Ya breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ll see you next month—no, I’ll see you at the company’s annual New Year’s program this month.”

She remembered that Shao Cixin was on the list this year, so she turned and asked, “What are you performing?”

“I’m not sure yet,” Shao Cixin said calmly.

Because their company had so many artists, their agency’s annual programs had always adopted a rotating system.

Different artists put on different shows every year. Those who were watching in the audience one year might have their turn to perform on stage next year. It was a very fair system.

However, most people who were selected were also singers, dancers, and the like. It truly felt like watching children being dragged by their parents to perform in front of relatives during the Lunar New Year “because of their talents.”

This year, it was Shao Cixin’s turn again, but she needed to think carefully about her own performance. Singing was out of the question. Other people might sing for money, but she sang for their lives.

And she had already demonstrated all her talents, such as playing the piano, so it would be boring to do it again.

Whatever. It was still a long time away anyway. She could take it slowly.

If she couldn’t find anything that worked, she would take a completely unexpected route and go up to give a soulful poetry recitation!

“Okay.” Rong Ya patted Shao Cixin’s shoulder. “Go home and think about it slowly. We’re waiting to watch your show.”

Shao Cixin gave her a dependable look. “Believe in me and you won’t go wrong.”

She, Shao Cixin, could definitely debut a different type of performance^[1]!

When Shao Cixin arrived home, the lights in the living room were already extinguished, leaving only a few gentle and warm yellow wall lamps glowing throughout the house.

She changed into cotton slippers and took off her heavy-down jacket.

Thinking that Wen Zhihan was already asleep, she quietly walked to the bedroom.

But it turned out that Wen Zhihan was sitting on the side of the bed reading a book.

“You still haven’t gone to bed?” As soon as the words fell, Shao Cixin was already lying on the bed and skillfully crawling into Wen Zhihan’s lap with a smile in her eyes. “I thought that because I came back too late, you would already be asleep, so I didn’t dare to walk too loudly.”

Wen Zhihan put a bookmark in her book and closed it. After she softly set the book on the bedside table, she raised her fingers to gently stroke Shao Cixin’s long hair, then leaned forward to kiss her.

“I was waiting for my beautiful Mrs. Wen,” she said softly. “Cixin also had a busy day today.”

Wen Zhihan’s gentle eyes and soft words soothed Shao Cixin’s fatigue.

After seeing the person she loved, she no longer felt as exhausted. “I was very tired before, but now that I’ve seen you, I’m not tired at all. You don’t know any magic, do you?”

“En, I have a little bit of magic that makes Cixin like me more.” Wen Zhihan smiled and patted her head. “Be good and go take a shower first. A hot shower will make you more comfortable.”

“Uh-huh.”

Shao Cixin rose and got out of bed. She softened her footsteps to go take a shower.

After a while, her voice came from outside.

“Zhihan, I forgot to bring my pajamas!”

Wen Zhihan smiled and got out of bed to get her wife’s pajamas.

After entering the bathroom, she thoughtfully helped Shao Cixin hang her clothes on the hooks, then turned around to kiss her careless wife.

“Let me know if you need anything else.”

Shao Cixin suddenly stuck to Wen Zhihan and refused to let her go.

The water droplets on her skin stamped Wen Zhihan’s clothes, dyeing her blue pajamas a dark navy. Shao Cixin lifted her fingers and pinched the buttons of Wen Zhihan’s pajamas.

“President Wen is already here, so why doesn’t she take a shower before leaving?”

Wen Zhihan understood Shao Cixin’s intention.

At this moment, a gentle smile melted in her eyes, causing ripples in the calm lake of her heart.

“I’ll listen to my Mrs. Wen.”

Shao Cixin only returned to her and Wen Zhihan’s room after finishing their “business.”

She slid under the blankets, snuggling close until she was pressed against Wen Zhihan’s side. When she raised her eyes, she could still see the red plums dotting Wen Zhihan’s snow-white neck. They were signs that a kiss of ownership had landed on this piece of skin.

Shao Cixin briefly snuck a peak, her face lighting up with delight. Then she turned her gaze away and hugged Wen Zhihan’s waist, gently resting her head against her shoulder.

Because of Mrs. Shao’s cooperation, she had a great time “playing with water.”

Meetings were good. She liked meetings.

All adults should have more meetings!

Wen Zhihan caught a glimpse of the smile playing on Shao Cixin’s lips, and she curved her eyes. As she reached out to pull Shao Cixin into her arms, she asked softly, “What is my family’s Cixin thinking? She looks very happy.”

Shao Cixin smiled. “I’m thinking that my wife is Wen Zhihan, so I’m very happy.”

Wen Zhihan heard this, then lovingly kissed the ends of Shao Cixin’s eyes. “Since my wife is Shao Cixin, I’m also very happy.”

Shao Cixin embraced Wen Zhihan’s neck and kissed her on the lips. “In this new year, I will continue to love you well.”

Wen Zhihan said gently, “Me too.”

“It’s time to sleep. Goodnight, beautiful Mrs. Shao.”

“Good night, beautiful Mrs. Wen.”

Whenever she was on break, Shao Cixin became even more clingy.

She stuck to Wen Zhihan like an annoying little goblin every day.

They were both lucky to be reborn, and Wen Zhihan loved her so much, so what reason did Shao Cixin have not to love her back?

Since the very day they got together, she had decided to make every waking hour sweet and good. As long as no one really died, she would be sweet to the point of death!

Wen Zhihan was sitting with Shao Cixin in her arms on the big sofa in their home theater. As they watched a movie, Shao Cixin fed her wife cherries on one hand and ate from the other.

The lights were dim, and the atmosphere was full of joy.

“When will the Guanglan annual party start?” Shao Cixin suddenly asked.

Wen Zhihan discussed it with her for a moment.

Shao Cixin raised her eyebrows. “Huh, it’s only two days away from my company’s production. After I finish attending mine, I can go to yours. Will you welcome me?”

“Of course you’re welcome. Mrs. Wen can come to the company’s annual party at any time.”

Wen Zhihan kissed Shao Cixin’s soft hair with a smile. Then she remembered that Shao Cixin was going to perform at her own company’s annual party, but she never saw her practicing.

She felt that this was strange, so she gently caressed her long hair and asked softly, “I heard that you’re going to perform on stage this year. What program have you prepared?”

Shao Cixin fed Wen Zhihan another cherry.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

When Wen Zhihan heard this, she began to give her advice.

“You look great dancing, so why don’t you dance?”

“I already danced.”

“Then…what about playing the piano?”

“I already did that too.”

“You can do what you did before. It’s no problem.”

“Hmm…No, I want to do something different and impress everyone.”

She felt that it wasn’t fun to do the same routine all the time.

Her interesting soul did not allow her to repeat herself!

After hearing this, Wen Zhihan couldn’t help but think deeply and ask, “Does our Cixin want to go up and sing?”

Shao Cixin: “?”

What a shocking proposal.

Wen Zhihan said with a smile, “This is also very different, and it will definitely leave a deep impression on everyone.”

Shao Cixin: “…”

As someone who knew her own singing talents very well, she quietly rejected this shocking proposal. “No, I’m afraid that they will ask me to reimburse them for their medical expenses. There are too many people, and I can’t pay all of them.

“It’s enough for me to just harm my wife.”

“You’re not harming me, I like to listen to it very much,” Wen Zhihan said. “Because our Cixin’s singing is very cute.”

Wen Zhihan didn’t care whether Shao Cixin sang in tune or not. After all, she didn’t listen to Shao Cixin singing for the melody.

As long as Shao Cixin was willing, Wen Zhihan would listen to her for however long she sang. In her eyes, Shao Cixin was so unreasonably cute even when she was singing out of tune—or maybe because of it.

“This is the power of the love filter,” Shao Cixin heard Wen Zhihan’s evaluation and commented objectively. Then she said happily, “But I like it very much. You can wear a few more layers of love filters. The more the merrier.”

With a smile on her face, Wen Zhihan gently took away the fruit bowl in Shao Cixin’s hands, lowered her head, and kissed her on the lips.

Even now, Shao Cixin is extremely cute.

Wen Zhihan probably had a disease called Shao Cixin is cute no matter what she does…

Shao Cixin happily responded to Wen Zhihan’s kiss.

When they broke apart, she said quietly, “I want to eat cherries…”

“Okay,” Wen Zhihan said softly.

Then she set down the bowl in her hand, chose a cherry, removed its stem, and put it in her own mouth in front of Shao Cixin. Leaning down, she gently fed the cherry to Shao Cixin.

Shao Cixin curved her eyes into a smile. She received this cherry which was very suitable to her tastes.

The two of them played like this for a while.

Then Shao Cixin sat up. She spat out the core and solemnly summarized the result of their meeting: “Let’s switch to a fruit that doesn’t need you to spit out its core next time.”

Wen Zhihan responded okay and immediately adopted this suggestion.

After they sweetly kissed each other, Wen Zhihan leaned back on the sofa and spread her arms.

Shao Cixin obediently climbed into Wen Zhihan’s embrace as if it were some kind of trap. A trap where, as long as Wen Zhihan opened it, she could catch a puppy named Shao.

The two quietly began to watch the movie again and enjoyed their beautiful time together.

After a while, Wen Zhihan felt a gentle tug on her clothes.

She looked down and saw her beloved wife looking at her with bright eyes.

“I’ve figured out what to perform!” Shao Cixin smiled with pride. “I’ve never seen anyone perform this at our company’s annual production.”

Wen Zhihan curiously asked, “What is it?”

Shao Cixin said, “A poetry recitation.”

Wen Zhihan: “?”

Shao Cixin responded, “Do you think it’s too dull? That’s okay. I’m going to add some musical instruments in the background. It will definitely be an annual festival performance that no one has ever seen before!”

Wen Zhihan asked, “What musical instruments?”

Shao Cixin said, “About this, let’s keep it a secret for now~”

Wen Zhihan raised her eyebrow slightly.

Shao Cixin smiled mysteriously.

It’s begun, it’s begun. She, Shao Cixin, was going to start trolling again!

Shao Cixin’s program proposal was submitted.

Before the annual production, her proposal was 100% confidential, so she didn’t have to worry about her surprise being leaked.

She began to diligently practice musical instruments at home and recite poetry with great emotion.

At first, Wen Zhihan had no idea what musical instrument Shao Cixin was talking about, but she soon found out.

She had just come back from work one day when she heard an unusual sound coming from the bedroom as soon as she walked into the living room. Their bedroom door was closed, but the sound was very clear yet familiar, making people unsure of what it was…

Following the sound, Wen Zhihan walked to the door, gently turned the doorknob, and entered the room. There, she stood at the entrance and met Shao Cixin’s eyes.

Her gaze slowly trailed down, finally stopping at the bamboo clappers^[2] in Shao Cixin’s hands.

Two seconds later, she asked slowly, “Is this the instrument you want to perform?”

Shao Cixin confirmed, “Yes.”

“…”

“How is it? I’m playing the bamboo clappers and reciting poetry! No one has done it before, and no one will do it again^[3]. It’s a masterpiece!”

“En, it is.”

“Then you leave first. I have to continue practicing, and I’ll show you when I’m done!”

The door closed again.

Wen Zhihan stood outside and silently looked at the door.

She sincerely believed that Shao Cixin must have once aspired to do comedy.

Thinking of Shao Cixin’s enthusiastic look, Wen Zhihan lowered her eyes and chuckled.

She took out her phone and found the WeChat account for President Ming, the boss of Shao Cixin’s agency. Then she wrote a message and sent it.

[Wen Zhihan]: Do you mind if I attend your company’s annual production?

[President Ming]: What’s your plan?

[Wen Zhihan]: I don’t want to miss my wife’s wonderful performance.

[President Ming]: …

[President Ming]: Is it really that wonderful?

The day of the annual production came around, and it was Shao Cixin’s turn to take to the stage.

She wore a pair of extremely casual suspender trousers, neatly combed her long hair, and applied only a little makeup. But her appearance was still beautiful and moving.

First, she greeted the audience, paying special attention to Mrs. Shao, who was sitting beside her boss.

Awesome. Since her wife was here to support her today, she must perform well!

President Ming was sitting next to Wen Zhihan. She was also looking forward to seeing what Wen Zhihan said about this so-called wonderful performance.

She crossed her arms across her chest and calmly watched as Shao Cixin moved her hands behind her back. Then she saw Shao Cixin take out a kuaiban from behind.

President Ming: “…?”

Right before her gaze, the beautiful person on stage announced seriously with a clear voice, “Next, I will bring you the program—kuaiban poetry recitation!”

President Ming: “??”

What—what poetry recitation???

Shao Cixin was already on stage pumping herself up. “Everyone applaud and encourage me!”

President Ming turned her bewildered head to look at Wen Zhihan, who was applauding her wife with a smile, her face full of sincerity.

She poked Wen Zhihan with her elbow.

Wen Zhihan glanced at her. “?”

President Ming asked modestly, “Is this the wonderful performance you didn’t want to miss?”

She hadn’t yet discovered whether it was wonderful or not, but she could tell at first glance that it was full of comedic energy.

Why didn’t she let Shao Cixin debut as a comedian in the first place? Wait, no—Wen Zhihan, such a serious person, actually liked watching something like this?!

Wen Zhihan asked calmly, “Isn’t it wonderful?”

President Ming: “?”

Wen Zhihan’s voice was extremely gentle as she spoke, “The bamboo clappers plus poetry recitation, isn’t this combination very cute? My family’s Cixin is very talented.”

President Ming: “…”

She only saw the aura of a comedian. Was this what the other person referred to as “cute?”

Could this be Wen Zhihan’s flavor of cuteness?

She couldn’t understand it.

“In some ways, you two are really well matched,” President Ming sighed.

“We are a perfect match in every aspect,” Wen Zhihan corrected with a smile.

She and Shao Cixin were a match made in heaven, destined to be together.

In this world, there was no one more compatible with each other than them.

President Ming raised her eyebrows but didn’t refute. She turned to enjoy the show put on by Wen Zhihan’s talented Mrs. Wen.

Shao Cixin’s program was a great success at the annual production. With her vivid performance, she made groups of people in the audience laugh out loud.

She also unexpectedly won first place at the annual production performance awards, receiving the trophies and prizes associated with the honor.

After the annual production, she happily held Wen Zhihan’s hand and went home. 

“Ah, it’s really great. Today is another beautiful day~” she exclaimed blissfully.

Wen Zhihan saw the twinkle in Shao Cixin’s eyes, then lowered her gaze to their clasped hands. A smile floated into her own eyes.

“Yes, today is another beautiful day.”

[The End.]

The translator (AmEricaNo) has something to say:

Well, we’re finally here. Thank you so much to everyone for reading this humble fan translation and 热到昏厥 for writing such a wonderful novel. I wish Shao Cixin and Wen Zhihan the greatest happiness in their universe!

If you can, please consider supporting 热到昏厥 by buying the chapters to Didn’t Expect That, Did You? on jjwxc. If you aren’t familiar with the jjwxc system, here’s a guide for how to navigate the site by shokotranslates: [Link] 

I also want to thank all of my Ko-fi supporters: Yamahl, Pigeons, Monica, Jax, SirlanHewig, and mysterious anonymous supporter. You all inspire me to keep on working on this silly little project of a website, and without you, it simply wouldn’t have been possible.

Finally, I’ve decided to pick up 热到昏厥’s most recent novel Jiejie, Help Me Please (姐姐, 帮帮我). It’s a short and sweet story about a main character who crushes on her mortal enemy’s beautiful stepmother (~7 year age gap). 

You can read the synopsis and first chapter here: [Link]. 

As for what’s going on with How Do You Still Have This Side, I’ve included an explanation in the new dedicated fan translation page.

TL;DR: You guys seem to like the idea, so I’ll be releasing my version of the chapters as a treat to supporters on Ko-fi.

See you in the next project!

The author (热到昏厥) has something to say:

The—end—of—the—full—text—ah!

Thank you for your continued support! (I’m really working hard on the 28th locked chapter^[4], woo woo~^[5])

This is a joke that was not included in the extra chapter. I hope everyone can enjoy reading it today, and I wish everyone good dreams and a Happy Lantern Festival!!!

As for what I will write next, I haven’t decided yet.

I’ve thought about Infinite Flow^[6], I’ve thought about two mothers, I‘ve thought about flowers, but…I just haven’t decided yet. I am not sure which to start.

So according to the old tradition, I will first put a summary here and open it to collections. If there are no surprises, the next one will be this one. If there are any surprises, I will let everyone know on Weibo.

I can’t say for sure about this thing of imagination, but I hope everyone can understand it [bow.jpg]

So, Wengu Zhixin has accompanied you all the way to the end. I’ll see everyone in my next novel. Good night!

^[1] Shao Cixin says “她邵某人绝‌能整出一个不一样的活来,” using the words “整” and “活,” which, when put together, makes the phrase “整活” or “trolling,” implying that she plans to troll her performance.

^[2] The “快板” (kuàibǎn), or as it’s sometimes called in English “bamboo clapper,” is a traditional Chinese percussion instrument. It is often paired with poetry to make “快板诗” or kuaiban poetry, which follows a beat kind of like rapping, and it looks like this:

^[3] “前无古人，后无来者” (qián wú gǔ rén, hòu wú lái zhě) is a satirical saying that describes a practice that has never been approached and will never be approached again.

^[4] I don’t know what she’s referring to here…?

^[5] “呜呜” (wū wū) is a character meant to imitate crying sounds.

^[6] See: Chapter 73, Footnote 4

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