"It’s okay, it’s okay," Mr. Dubian quickly waved his hand, "Though I don’t drink, I’d still like to chat with those guys."
"Thank you, Uncle Dubian," Kiyono Lin nodded slightly.
Jiutiao Meijie remained silent.
Dubian Che grasped her hand that was holding a spoon and asked her, "Will you accompany me?"
Jiutiao Meijie shook off his hand and continued eating her noodles, which meant she agreed.
When they were ready to leave, Matsuda Seiko in a white pagoda dress made her entrance.
The four of them got into the Dubian family’s kcar—the price of which was even less than the cost of a dress that Jiutiao Meijie would wear for a day and then discard.
The two young ladies sat in the back, and Dubian Che sat in the passenger seat.
In the small car, they drove through the unique countryside night.
"Woo Fairy Girl~" Dubian Che tapped on the car window’s armrest, singing the song Matsuda Seiko had just sung.
"Shut up," both young ladies said at the same time.
"Um-hmm," Dubian Che coughed lightly.
In the driver’s seat, Mr. Dubian glanced at his son.
Although his own dad was under his wife’s control, how could he tolerate this?
"Ah, pork fat bones, bring them for stewing, you have my eggs to wash~~"
In everyone else’s ears, Dubian Che’s "Red Lotus" sounded just —barely able to speak even the local dialect.
The two young ladies in the back again shouted to shut up, but Dubian Che sang louder.
"Don’t bother me, making a bag, fast vegetarian noodles—"
He sang with more confidence and louder, the two young ladies frowned and exchanged looks.
At that moment, the two young ladies had the same thought:
To sew Dubian Che’s mouth shut.
Realizing this phenomena, both turned their faces away from each other, looking out at the night scene.
Mr. Dubian reached out and pressed the passenger side window control on the central console.
Cold air backdraft, Dubian Che’s hair was blown up.
"So cold! Dad, what are you doing!"
"It sounds terrible," Mr. Dubian said lightly, holding the steering wheel.
"Even you dislike me?! But I’m your son!"
The cold-faced young ladies in the back burst out laughing, unable to stop their shoulders from shaking.
Occasionally, street lamps would appear on the road, flowing quickly into the dark, but the brilliant galaxy overhead was always there, no matter day or night.
Upon arriving in town, just getting off the car, they saw the bonfires inside the Shrine.
Sparks flew, looking from afar like mist.
Mr. Dubian got out of the car and went to his coworkers, telling Dubian Che to just give him a call when it’s time to go back.
In the chilly wind, the two beautiful young ladies wrapped themselves in their clothes, Dubian Che with his hands in his pockets.
The three climbed up the stone steps, entered through the ancient gate, and approached the bonfires.
Shrine staff were distributing free sweet tea, and Dubian Che, seeing the cups were disposable paper cups, went and got three.
Jiutiao Meijie, supporting her right hand with her left, took the paper cup, not to mention her expensive clothes, her demeanor alone exuded extraordinary poise.
"Thank you," Kiyono Lin took the paper cup with both hands.
She still felt a bit cold, having drunk miso soup spiked with medication for a few days, which hadn’t been very effective.
The three stood by the bonfire drinking sweet tea, opposite the bonfire were crowded stalls.
Soon, the countdown bell rang.
"Another year is about to end," Dubian Che stared at the bonfire’s soaring sparks.
Both young ladies remained silent, but their cheeks tinged by the firelight, were undoubtedly reflecting on something.
Perhaps, they were recalling this incredible, unprecedented year, imagining what the next one would look like.
"Happy New Year," Dubian Che smiled and said to them the instant the bell stopped.
"Happy New Year," both responded simultaneously.