Chapter 48: Watching the Fireworks

Lu Qingyue couldn’t help but let the corners of her lips curl up.

Before long, Cheng Xingye’s reply came through.

[hOShinO]: Happy New Year.

Just four words, even more concise than her own message.

Lu Qingyue pouted, a little dissatisfied.

Why did he have to kill the conversation so quickly?

On the television, the New Year’s Gala was still playing, the screen filled with scenes of singing and dancing, a prosperous and peaceful age.

Lu Qingyue stared at the program for several minutes, mulling over how to find a topic to keep chatting with him, when suddenly her phone vibrated in her palm.

[hOShinO]: Can you come out now?

Lu Qingyue: “???”

She stared at the chat window for a few seconds, then suddenly realized something and whipped her head around to look at the floor-to-ceiling window beside the living room.

On New Year’s Eve, the street lamps outside seemed especially bright.

A thin layer of snow covered the grass, reflecting the glittering lights—it was as if lotus lanterns were floating on the surface of a river, or as if the heavens had accidentally spilled stardust across the earth.

In the fragments of light, Lu Qingyue blinked blankly, then suddenly spotted a familiar black sedan parked by the roadside.

She jumped up with a start, hurriedly rummaged through the rack for her coat and scarf.

Seeing her gearing up to head out, Yan Yuan asked with a puzzled look, “Where are you going?”

Lu Qingyue replied, “Um, Grandma, I want to go out and set off fireworks with some classmates.”

Yan Yuan responded with an “oh,” but then, considering how cold it was outside, cautioned her, “Don’t stay out too late, it’s freezing tonight.”

At times like this, Lu Qingyue was especially obedient. “Don’t worry! I’ll be back early.”

But before she could step out the door, Lu Yi came over with a suspicious look, lazily leaning against the shoe cabinet, his gaze scanning her up and down. “Fireworks in this freezing weather? Can’t they do it without you? Or are you the firework they’re setting off?”

Lu Qingyue didn’t want to argue with him right now—Cheng Xingye was still waiting outside!

So she lowered her eyes meekly and tried to negotiate, “I’ll just be out for a little while, okay?”

She didn’t expect that the usually rebellious kid would actually try to talk it out today. Lu Yi raised an eyebrow in surprise.

He still felt this wasn’t so simple, but since even Yan Yuan hadn’t objected, it wouldn’t look good for him to block her on his own.

Finally, he stepped aside and let her open the door. “Be back in an hour at most. Did you hear me?”

“Heard you, heard you! Both ears loud and clear!” Lu Qingyue dashed out the door in a flash.

...

The streetlamps cast a quiet, cool light.

A damp chill hit her face, making Lu Qingyue shiver. She hurried, half-running, toward the black sedan.

In the stillness, the click of a car door opening sounded especially sharp.

The door swung open; Cheng Xingye leaned out of the car, not even steady on his feet before a small, round quail barreled straight into his arms.

Lu Qingyue had meant to stop, but she’d forgotten about the snow these past few days— the road was slippery. Unable to brake in time, she crashed with a thud straight into his embrace.

The impact was full force; caught off guard, Cheng Xingye staggered back two steps, ending up pressed against the car.

A dull ache thudded in his chest—a collision of hard objects. He looked down to see that a warm little head had appeared in his arms, blinking up at him in dazed confusion.

Both of them were stunned by the collision.

They stared at each other, wide-eyed, for several seconds before Lu Qingyue steadied herself against his chest, pushed upright, and took two steps back to put some distance between them.

Damn!

She’d gotten a bit handsy again!

Lu Qingyue felt a little annoyed with herself, but Cheng Xingye frowned slightly, gripped her shoulders, and pulled her back toward him, lowering his head to check her chin.

“Lift your head—let me see. Did you hit yourself just now?”

His slender fingers pressed under her jaw, tilting her head up.

The car had just been warmed; his palm was toasty, carrying a bit of masculine roughness and the faintest trace of mint candy.

She was wearing a scarf, so the blow had been cushioned and didn’t hurt. Still, she liked the feeling of Cheng Xingye fussing over her, so she obediently tilted her head, letting him check for injuries.

After a careful inspection, Cheng Xingye confirmed she was fine. His gaze drifted from her chin to her clear, bright eyes.

He fixed her with an intense look; the frown vanished, replaced by his usual careless expression. “And what was that about? Throwing yourself into my arms?”

Lu Qingyue, her head tilted up and eyes shining, curved her lips slyly and shot back, “Do you like it? It’s your New Year’s present.”

Cheng Xingye: “.....”

He flicked her smooth forehead, exasperated. “You’re such a handful.”

He had to admit: when it came to quick comebacks, no one could match her.

Lu Qingyue quieted down after the flick. She blinked, glanced at the car behind him, and asked, a little confused, “What are you doing here?”

It was New Year’s Eve—shouldn’t he be with his family?

Surely he hadn’t come all this way just for her? Lu Qingyue wasn’t so self-absorbed as to think that. She tilted her head, puzzled, staring at him.

Cheng Xingye’s Adam’s apple bobbed lightly as he leaned back against the car, feigning nonchalance. “Just passing by.”

He’d never admit he’d come here just to see this little troublemaker.

If he said it out loud, where would his pride be?

Lu Qingyue believed him completely, not giving it another thought. “Oh. Then—why did you ask me to come out?”

Cheng Xingye’s lashes lowered; his tone unintentionally gentle, “To take you to see the fireworks. Want to go?”

Fireworks—for real?

Lu Qingyue had always loved a lively scene; her eyes instantly lit up. “Fireworks? Where?”

Fireworks had been banned in Jiangcheng for years. Occasionally, someone would secretly set them off in the suburbs, but no one dared try in the city center anymore.

The thought that Cheng Xingye would take her to see fireworks made Lu Qingyue perk right up. But before he could answer, she suddenly deflated.

“But my brother said I have to be home in an hour.”

Cheng Xingye smiled. “An hour is plenty. Get in.”

“...Eh?” Lu Qingyue hadn’t quite processed it before Cheng Xingye opened the car door, gesturing for her to get in.

She was powerless to resist him at the best of times—let alone when he was taking her to see fireworks—so she slipped inside without hesitation.

She’d thought he’d be taking her to the outskirts to set off fireworks, but as they drove, she realized something was off.

He was heading into the city.

Wasn’t he afraid of getting caught?

What if they both ended up at the police station and had to call Lu Yi to come bail them out?

Growing uneasy, Lu Qingyue peered anxiously out the window—only to see Cheng Xingye steer the car into the city’s largest theme park.

It was New Year’s Eve. The plaza outside was a riot of color, festively decorated and full of people who’d come for the midnight fireworks show.

Cheng Xingye parked and led her toward the center of the square.

The music fountain in the middle was still running, refracting the colored lights all around, shrouding the scene in a hazy romance.

Lu Qingyue hadn’t expected to come see fireworks when she left home; she’d just thrown a long down coat over her plush pajamas. Now, out in the cold wind, she shrank into herself like a little quail, waddling after him.

After a few steps, Cheng Xingye suddenly stopped.

He turned, hooked a finger into the edge of her hood, pulled it over her head, and zipped her coat all the way up—leaving only her round eyes and neat nose exposed.

Lu Qingyue looked up at him, blinking in confusion, unable to hide the anticipation sparkling in her gaze.

Cheng Xingye smiled silently, stepped aside, and stood shoulder to shoulder with her.

Suddenly, with a boom, the first blossom of fireworks exploded overhead.

One after another, more shot into the sky, bursting in succession above the theme park.

Layer upon layer of petal-shaped halos bloomed and fell, while more fireworks soared upward, illuminating the dark night.

Lu Qingyue shouted in excitement, her ears ringing from the noise, yet she couldn’t help but keep tilting her head back to watch.

The square was packed with people who’d come for the show.

Cheng Xingye, afraid she might get lost, didn’t even spare a glance for the fireworks. His eyes never left her.

The colorful bursts lit her small face in flashes of light and shadow; her black eyes seemed to be filled with stars.

He found it quietly amusing.

This girl was so innocent and pure—just a few fireworks made her this excited.

No wonder she’d been so bewitched by that silly boy; with her naivety, she was already dreaming of young love!

He hoped she wouldn’t be tricked into counting someone else’s money after being sold off.

At the thought of her unnamed crush, a flicker of annoyance stirred in Cheng Xingye.

On every count, he wasn’t lacking, was he?

How could he lose to that secret admirer of hers?

The second that thought appeared, Cheng Xingye snapped back to himself.

Damn. Was he getting jealous again?

Just because that kid hadn’t noticed him, was he really sitting here, sour and brooding?

Cheng Xingye put a stop to it immediately.