Fireworks soared into the sky, another year passed.
The room was filled with the fragrance of delicious dishes, with Mother Xu and Liu Rushuang chatting and laughing as they prepared the New Year's Eve dinner.
Xu Musen, on the other hand, was setting off fireworks with Yao Mingyue in the courtyard.
In the courtyard of the villa, bunches of fireworks rose and blossomed into dazzling shapes in the sky.
It only felt like New Year's when the sound of firecrackers filled the air.
The two of them looked up at the continuous blooming fireworks in the sky, not saying much. For them, this has been a day they spent together every year since childhood.
The sulfur smell of gunpowder in the air made Yao Mingyue cough.
Xu Musen glanced sideways, gazing at Yao Mingyue's delicate profile, illuminated intermittently by the fireworks, her fairness almost unnatural.
But her eyes were beautiful, with the blossoming fireworks reflecting in the depths, her phoenix eyes seemingly also slowly bursting forth with brilliant light.
"Why are you staring at me?"
Yao Mingyue steadied her breath, her somewhat pale cheeks now displaying a proud look, seemingly to cover up her physical frailty.
Xu Musen did not look away, smiling, "Can't I look if you are beautiful?"
She loved compliments, especially his.
Though she had heard them countless times, Yao Mingyue still sweetly flashed a smile.
She tilted up her gorgeous cheeks, her slender snowy neck generously exposed for Xu Musen to see clearly.
"This beauty will generously let you have a few more glances, since tonight, someone won't be able to openly admire other beauties."
"I'll look if I want to."
Xu Musen reached out his hand, as if mimicking her playful action at the airport, his hand also gently landed on her smooth neck through her collar.
Xu Musen's hand was always warm, carrying a bit of a boy's roughness, yet it always provided Yao Mingyue the sense of security she needed the most.
Just being "caught" by the neck , Yao Mingyue still felt a tickly sensation; this gesture done by girls was okay.
But it seemed inappropriate when a boy did it; it looked like he was making a move on her.
Xu Musen loosened his grip slightly but then, like teasing a cat, gently stroked her chin. Her skin was fair and tender, a sensation that even cats couldn't provide.
The tingling and ticklish sensation made Yao Mingyue's words turn into muffled murmurs, her whole body couldn't help but shake~
Just like a pet cat acting coquettishly wanting to be petted.
Xu Musen laughed heartily.
Yao Mingyue's cheeks reddened. How dare he tease her like that? Did he think she was one of those big white rabbits like An Nuannuan who acted cute in front of him every day?
"Not being honest at all, if it were Nuannuan, she would definitely be squinting her eyes and enjoying it right now," Xu Musen, pinching her face, noted that Yao Mingyue's cheeks were more delicate while An Nuannuan's were soft and tender.
"Then go find her! This beauty is just unromantic, pah!"
Yao Mingyue, getting irritated, stuck out her pink tongue at him, but Xu Musen seized the opportunity to flick her little tongue with his finger.
"You… didn't wash your hands after setting off fireworks. Xu Musen, you're so annoying!"
Chasing and running ensued; she chased and he fled, childhood friends' yearly necessary activity.
Of course, in terms of physical strength, Yao Mingyue could never catch up with Xu Musen, but every year, she ultimately did manage to catch him and beat him up.
Only this year, Yao Mingyue's chasing footsteps were slower, the cold air making her cough after just a few steps.
Xu Musen also voluntarily stopped, not comforting her, pretending not to notice, he waited for Yao Mingyue to slowly approach and fulfilled her desire to punch him.
Liu Rushuang appeared at the door, watching the two in the yard, really as if she had returned to more than ten years ago, her expression complex.
If only it could always be …
Unfortunately, after tomorrow, everything might really change.
Liu Rushuang was happy that Xu Musen could find a suitable girl, but also saddened for her own daughter.
Even she had moments of helplessness.
All of this, they would have to see for themselves.
She silently sighed, her breath quickly disappearing in the cold night, finally shaking her head with a smile, calling out to the two in the yard.
The New Year's Eve dinner.
Toasting and changing seats, Liu Rushuang brought several bottles of red wine, and Mother Xu also uncharacteristically drank quite a lot.
"It's wonderful to be back here again, how many years has it been since we last celebrated New Year's Eve dinner together here, this dining table is still the same, look, there are marks from when Xiao Sen poked it with a fork..."
Mother Xu couldn't help but speak up, in this familiar villa, they seemed to have finally returned to their past lives.
"Yes, the one we've been longing for, to finally come back here for New Year's together, the kids have grown up in a blink of an eye."
Liu Rushuang sighed, but the person on her left would never come back, her tone inevitably tinged with sadness.
Father Xu and Mother Xu also looked towards the empty seat, sighing in the silence.
If not for that incident, the two families would definitely be better off than now.
Yao Mingyue bit her lip slightly, watching her mother's sad expression, her eyes also shimmering with a sour gleam.
Xu Musen took out a tissue and handed it to her, Yao Mingyue then passed it to her mother.
"Look at me… talking about these things during the festive season, really, getting old, can't help but bring up the past after drinking a bit."
Liu Rushuang took the tissue, wiped the corners of her eyes and showed a smile, looking at her daughter and Xu Musen, her sadness mixed with relief, "But Old Yao would definitely be very happy to see the kids so grown up, in the blink of an eye, Xiao Sen is even getting engaged and married soon."