new year

Xie Shangjia didn't sleep all night and felt unprecedentedly clear-headed and satisfied.

The sky was turning pale as he looked at Shen Qianyue's profile, which was still as cool as ever while she was sleeping beside him. He couldn't help but lean over and plant a precious kiss on that smooth forehead.

He got out of bed, asked the waiter at the inn to boil some water, and then ran back to the room to look after Shen Qianyue.

When Shen Qianyue woke up, the water was ready and breakfast was placed in the insulated food box in the room.

"What time is it?"

Xie Shangjia looked at her eagerly: "It's only morning, why don't you take a break?"

Shen Qianyue was indeed tired, but she couldn't sleep any more: "Don't miss the time, sleep in the carriage."

Xie Shangjia put the clean clothes on the bed and circled around Shen Qianyue.

After everything was ready, the atmosphere was a little subtle when several people met at the carriage in the backyard.

Xie Shangyu's gaze swept across Shen Qianyue's indifferent profile and his brother's loving eyes, and he smiled gently at Pei Miaoyin.

"We have a long way to go. Why don't you ask Miss Pei to move and ride with me? That would be nice... to relieve my boredom."

This statement was flawless, not only fulfilling the courtesy but also clearly pointing to Pei Miaoyin.

Pei Miaoyin said with a smile: "Obedience is worse than courtesy, Second Young Master, please come in?" She made a "please" gesture to Xie Shangyu.

They got into the simple carriage in which they had come.

Chen Qianyue did not refuse Xie Shangjia's earnest help, and let him carefully help her onto the more sturdy black-covered carriage.

Xie Shangjia followed closely behind him and stepped into the carriage, sitting down next to Shen Qianyue. He diligently adjusted the thin blanket on her knees, and then, like a magic trick, he took out a warm hand warmer and put it into her slightly cold hands.

In the carriage, there were only him and her, and the air was filled with a cool fragrance and the vigorous warmth from his body.

Inside the other carriage, the atmosphere was completely different.

Pei Miaoyin was a wonderful person, always talkative and cheerful, talking about all sorts of things, telling odd stories and anecdotes at will, trying to liven up the atmosphere.

Xie Shangyu also responded cooperatively, with a gentle and appropriate smile on his face, and there was no fault in his words and actions.

But Pei Miaoyin could feel that beneath that gentle appearance, there was a calm silence without any ripples.

"Miss Pei dislikes my brother very much. Why?" Xie Shangyu asked.

Her gaze, her avoidance, her disgust were all clear at a glance.

In the morning, Xie Shangjia and she only brushed past each other slightly, and when she appeared in public again, she had changed her clothes.

…

The car rumbled along, heading south.

After four days of non-stop travel, the scenery on both sides of the official road gradually changed from the bleakness of the north to the elegance of the south of the Yangtze River.

In the afternoon, fine snowflakes began to float in the sky. At first they were scattered, then gradually became denser, and soon they became heavy snow like goose feathers.

The carriage happened to arrive at a large water town.

The pink walls, black tiles, small bridges and flowing water are now covered with white snow, like an elegant ink painting.

The town is not big, but it is filled with a strong New Year atmosphere. Brand new Spring Festival couplets are posted on the doors of every household, and red lanterns are hung under the eaves, swaying with a warm halo in the wind and snow.

Children wrapped in cotton-padded jackets were chasing and playing in the snow, and their crisp laughter and sporadic sounds of firecrackers penetrated the wind and snow.

The air is filled with the tempting aroma of fried rice cakes and steamed cured meats, mixed with the smell of gunpowder from firecrackers, creating a warm and noisy atmosphere unique to the Spring Festival.

The wind and snow were so strong that the official road was slippery and difficult to travel on. The driver reported that he might need to take shelter here temporarily and continue his journey until the snow died down a little.

Shen Qianyue nodded slightly, agreeing.

Two carriages slowly drove into the town and stopped in front of an inn that looked clean and spacious.

The name of the inn is "Kelaiju". At this moment, it is also decorated with lights and is bustling with people, crowded with travelers stranded by the wind and snow and wanderers returning home.

The guards had already changed into servants' attire and were standing guard around the two carriages.

Xie Shangjia jumped out of the carriage first, turned around and stretched out his hand very naturally. Shen Qianyue held his hand, stepped on the footstool, and got out of the carriage gracefully.

Today she wore the bright red Shu brocade dress chosen by Xie Shangjia, with a thick fox fur cloak on the outside. The circle of snow-white fur at the collar made her face look like jade and bright and beautiful.

Xie Shangjia stood beside her, his tall figure blocking most of the wind and snow for her, his eyes focused, as if he could only see her.

The two of them standing together looked like a perfect couple, instantly attracting many astonished glances at the entrance of the inn.

Pei Miaoyin walked over with a smile, looking quite excited.

"Oh, what a coincidence! We're celebrating the New Year here! Sister Yue, why don't we also experience the New Year atmosphere of this small town in the south of the Yangtze River and wait until the snow stops before leaving."

Shen Qianyue looked at the flying snow and the pair of fiery red lanterns at the door of the inn, and her frozen eyes seemed to be melted by the warm New Year atmosphere.

"Okay."

Xie Shangjia was even more delighted. He had never been out of the capital, and being able to spend two days in this water town full of the festive atmosphere of the New Year was a pleasant surprise.

"I'll arrange the best room for you and ask them to prepare some hot New Year's Eve dinner!" As he said this, he was about to walk into the inn.

"Wait." Shen Qianyue called him softly.

Xie Shangjia immediately stopped and looked back at her with a questioning look.

Shen Qianyue's gaze passed over him and fell on Xie Shangyu, who was silently looking at the pair of red lanterns at the door of the inn a few steps away.

He was still wearing the slightly thin indigo suit, with a thin layer of snow on his shoulders. His figure looked particularly lonely and out of place against the noisy and festive background.

"Prepare two jugs of good wine for my second brother."

After saying this, she stopped looking at anyone, gathered her cloak, and walked into the warm and bustling lobby of the inn.

The smile on Xie Shangjia's face froze for a moment, then returned to normal, but the pride in his eyes when he looked at Xie Shangyu was replaced by a hint of complexity.

Xie Shangyu seemed to have just come to his senses, and he withdrew his gaze from the red lantern. The gentle smile on his face reappeared: "Come in."

His voice was calm, without any trace of emotion, as if the loneliness just now was just an illusion.

At the door of the inn, a little girl in a bright red cotton-padded jacket and pigtails was standing on tiptoe, trying hard to hang a string of small red firecrackers on the door frame, but she couldn't reach it.

Xie Shangyu paused slightly.

He stretched out his hand and naturally helped the little girl hang the string of firecrackers somewhere high up where she couldn't reach. His movements were gentle and there was a calmness that was out of tune with the hustle and bustle of the inn.

The little girl raised her red, frozen face and smiled sweetly at him: "Thank you, uncle! Happy New Year!"

The smile on Xie Shangyu's face seemed genuine for a moment. He raised his hand and gently brushed away the fallen snow on her braid. His voice was low and gentle: "Happy New Year."

He turned and walked into the warm and noisy lobby of the inn, his figure quickly swallowed up by the noisy voices and the pervasive aroma of food.

The wind and snow were still howling outside the inn, and red lanterns were swaying under the eaves.

In the Tianzi No. 1 room of Kelaiju, the charcoal fire was burning brightly, creating a warm atmosphere that blocked out the wind, snow and noise outside the window.

Chen Qianyue took off her fox fur coat and sat on the armchair by the window, looking out the window at the black tiles covered with snow and the red lanterns swaying under the eaves, her expression calm.

Xie Shangjia couldn't sit still. The laughter, firecrackers and shouts outside the inn were like hooks, tickling him.

He moved closer to Shen Qianyue, his eyes sparkling with the excitement typical of a young man.

"Miss Shen, it's so lively outside. Let's go out and take a look at what the New Year's market in Jiangnan Town is like."

Shen Qianyue turned to look at him, her icy phoenix eyes reflecting his excited and expectant face.

"Well, put on some thick clothes."

Xie Shangjia felt as if he had received an imperial decree and was so happy that he almost jumped up.

He immediately rummaged through the boxes and drawers, found the thickest mink cloak, and personally tied the belt of the cloak for Shen Qianyue, his movements diligently and clumsily.

The two went downstairs and saw Pei Miaoyin leaning against the counter and chatting with the shopkeeper. When she saw them, she smiled and joked.

"Hey, go out for a stroll, don't get lost. Although this town is small, the alleys are very winding."

Xie Shangjia pretended not to hear the teasing in her words. His entire attention was on Shen Qianyue beside him, and he was too lazy to even respond perfunctorily.

Shen Qianyue responded to Pei Miaoyin's words: "Just take a look around."

The next second, he was pulled into the hustle and bustle outside the inn, where the wind, snow and the New Year atmosphere were intertwined.

There were no guards or other people around, only them, and Xie Shangjia completely let himself go.

Although the New Year's Eve market in the small town is not as grand as the temple fair in Beijing, it has the gentleness and fireworks of the Jiangnan water town.

The narrow bluestone road is lined with all kinds of vendors.

The steaming hot fried dumplings and spring rolls emit an enticing aroma, the crystal clear candied haws are inserted on the straw targets, the colorful clay figurines, the exquisite bamboo lanterns... everywhere is filled with the strong festive atmosphere of the New Year.

The wind and snow seemed to be somewhat dispelled by the noisy fireworks of the world.

Xie Shangjia held Shen Qianyue's slightly cold hand tightly, and his tall figure tried to separate her from the crowded crowd.

His face was filled with pure youthful excitement, his eyes were surprisingly bright, and full of novelty and love for everything he saw.

"Miss, look at this!" He stopped in front of a stall selling velvet flowers and pointed at a sweet-scented osmanthus hairpin wrapped in soft velvet.

"This suits you very well!" Without waiting for Shen Qianyue's response, he took out some small change to buy it, and clumsily pinned the not-so-expensive osmanthus hairpin on Shen Qianyue's jet-black hair.

She was wearing a red mink cloak and had a face as cold as jade. At this moment, the vibrant golden hair on her temples added a touch of nobility that was not common among ordinary people.

Shen Qianyue raised her hand and gently touched the soft velvet flower, with a faint smile in her eyes.

Xie Shangjia seemed to have received great encouragement and became even more excited. He pulled her to the stall selling paper-cuts, bought the largest and most beautiful one, and presented it to Shen Qianyue like a treasure.

"Let's put it on our carriage windows later, it's festive!"

Attracted by a burst of sweet fragrance, he pulled Shen Qianyue to the stall selling osmanthus wine and ordered two bowls of steaming sweet wine with a strong aroma.

Regardless of the heat, he blew on a spoonful to cool it down first, then carefully handed it to Shen Qianyue's lips, his eyes shining like stars: "Try it, it will warm your body."

Shen Qianyue looked at his face, which was slightly red from the cold but full of anticipation, and finally opened her lips slightly, took a sip of the spoonful of sweet wine from his hand.

The warm liquid with the sweetness of plum blossoms and a faint aroma of wine slid into the throat, dispelling the chill brought by the wind and snow.

He was like a child eager to share all the happiness, and he wanted to bring all the liveliness and sweetness of the market to Shen Qianyue.

Shen Qianyue was half pushed and half pulled by him, weaving through the noisy crowd.

She still didn't talk much, but the aloofness that kept people at a distance seemed to have melted away a little in the face of Xie Shangjia's undisguised enthusiasm and the strong New Year atmosphere.