His face, drawn tight to his chest, held not a trace of a smile.
By contrast, Zhang Ying wore a smile, "Come on, stop staring, you’re not embarrassed?"
Yue Jiandong’s teeth and fists were clenching audibly, as he could only mutter under his breath, "This rotten kid, adding trouble during the New Year."
He looked as if he was ready to rush out and start a fight with Jiang Jingze at any moment.
Fortunately, Jiang Jingze made no further move, only gazing at Yue Qingqing, whose face was flushed as if on fire, his eyes growing tenderer.
"Your face is so hot."
His fingertips still rested on Yue Qingqing’s cheek, sensing the astonishing warmth.
Yue Qingqing felt her heart pounding furiously in her chest as if to hammer out a melody, and she hastily stepped back two paces.
Despite the silent understanding that had seemed to form between them,
that sentence was still vitally important to the girl.
Yue Qingqing felt a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
Just as she was prepared to turn around and walk back, Jiang Jingze took her hand.
His palm was so large, gently yet deftly enveloping Yue Qingqing’s hand.
"I’m sorry, it’s my fault."
Jiang Jingze, looking down at Yue Qingqing, had eyes that shifted between amber and the hues of moonlight and snow, creating a third breathtaking color.
His already captivating features were rendered even more heart-stopping by the earnestness in his eyes.
Jiang Jingze’s voice was velvety, quietly flowing between the two of them.
"Qingqing, would you be my girlfriend? I planned to ask you after your college entrance exam, but I can’t wait any longer."
Jiang Jingze had never felt such urgency before in his life.
Just thinking of Yue Qingqing’s face, of her smiling expression when she spoke, made Jiang Jingze’s heart feel as if it was tightly gripped, a dull pain emanating from his yearning.
Especially on this special evening of the New Year, Jiang Jingze missed Qingqing terribly, even a distant glimpse of her would have been enough.
It seemed that such a sight could soothe the restless emotions in his heart.
The sudden confession turned Yue Qingqing crimson and made her ears burn. She felt that what held her hand was not his, but a red-hot brand, searing her so much that she wanted to immediately break free.
In both her lives, Yue Qingqing had never received such a solemn confession.
In her previous life, it seemed some had wanted to get close to her, but they were almost always chased away by her senior brother before they could approach.
The scorching heat spread up from her palm, making Yue Qingqing almost wish she could roll in the snow to cool down the burning sensation.
"Would that be okay?" Jiang Jingze looked at her seriously.
Yue Qingqing finally stopped being an ostrich and, with her head hanging low, gave a slight nod.
She hummed a very faint yes.
This tiny sound, reaching Jiang Jingze’s ears, seemed to reverberate powerfully against his eardrums.
Jiang Jingze took a deep breath, wishing he could pick up Qingqing and run around for a few laps.
And that’s exactly what he did.
Dizzy with stars in her eyes from being spun around, Yue Qingqing felt as if she was drunkenly unable to walk and had no choice but to clutch Jiang Jingze’s hand.
Jiang Jingze, holding Yue Qingqing’s cheeks in his hands, meticulously examined her face under the moonlight.
As if he wanted to etch her face forever in his heart.
"Qingqing, thank you."
Thank you for agreeing to be with me.
Thank you for saving me from drifting aimlessly in this world, unaware of the meaning of my existence.
Thank you for being there with me in the days to come.
In Yue Qingqing’s deer-like eyes reflected Jiang Jingze’s image, inexplicably calming her heart.
Today, she severed blood ties, yet it seemed she had formed new ones.
Not ties of natural blood, but as if their hearts were in sync, attuned to each other’s joy and sorrow.