Chapter 54

On the first morning after the second mock exam, the thin winter sunlight slanted into the classroom. When that familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar figure appeared at the door of Class 12, the usual pre-morning noise seemed to be paused.

Jiang Ci.

He wore a clean school uniform jacket, with tiny, unmelted snowflakes clinging to his shoulders. His bangs, which appeared to have been trimmed, revealed clear and handsome features. Most striking was his gaze—no longer the icy aloofness and desolation of before, but a settled, clear calm. Like the sky after a storm, still chilly, yet crystal clear.

After a brief silence, the crowd surged forward with a whoosh.

"Jiang Ci?! You're back!"

"My goodness, we thought you really went abroad!"

"We saw what happened in your family... Are you alright?"

"It's good that you're alright! It's good that you're alright! Come back and let's work hard together for the college entrance exam!"

"Jiang Cheng and Wang Lihua deserved what they got! It's gratifying!"

Amidst the chatter of concerned voices, there was the undisguised curiosity of teenagers, and even more so, genuine sympathy and relief. Those gazes that had once shrugged off because of rumors were now brimming with goodwill. At this age, right and wrong, love and hate, are always exceptionally clear.

Jiang Ci's gaze slowly swept over the familiar faces: the worry in Liang Ying's eyes, Zhang Tao's clenched fist, and the pure concern in the eyes of many others. He nodded.

"Thank you for your concern. It's all over now." He raised his hand and pointed to the bright red countdown to the college entrance exam above the blackboard. "Now, we should focus our time and energy on more important things."

The numbers were like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing the newly ignited enthusiasm for gossip. Almost instinctively, everyone sat up straight. The morning reading bell rang at the right time, and Liang Ying quickly walked to the podium to lead the reading. The sound of reading aloud soon filled the classroom.

After morning reading, Teacher Mo called Jiang Ci to her office. Without much small talk, the gray-haired homeroom teacher simply adjusted her glasses, her gaze both gentle and sharp: "Have you taken care of everything at home?"

Jiang Ci stood before the desk, looking at the fine lines around his teacher's eyes and the mountain of review materials piled on the table, a deep, warm feeling welling up in his chest. He bowed deeply.

"It's all resolved. Thank you, teacher."

Teacher Mo stood up and patted his still thin but straight shoulders firmly: "It's good that it's resolved. Come back to class with peace of mind, I'll take care of the rest of the procedures." He paused, his tone serious, "You didn't participate in the second mock exam, time is very tight. Go all out in this final sprint and give yourself a beautiful ending to your three years of high school."

"I will," Jiang Ci solemnly promised.

As he stepped out of the office, a cold draft blew in through the window at the end of the corridor, yet he felt a warmth deep within his heart. This world may have its share of hardships, but there are always corners where unconditional protection and expectation remain.

With New Year's Day just around the corner and the results of the second mock exam not expected to be released until after the holiday, a palpable sense of restlessness permeated the entire campus. During breaks, discussions about New Year's plans were rampant.

"Century Square countdown! Rumor has it there will be a drone show this year!"

"The fireworks display at Coastal City is absolutely amazing! I've already grabbed my tickets!"

"My family has booked a large private room at a karaoke bar, anyone want to come?"

"My mom said we should eat hot pot at home and watch the New Year's Eve gala..."

Xie Qingyan strained her ears, piecing together the significance of "New Year's Eve" in this era from these excited discussions—a highly ritualistic moment, a time for saying goodbye and welcoming the new, usually spent with the most important people.

A sudden pang of regret welled up inside him. He had been completely unprepared for such a crucial moment.

"Jiang Ci," he said hesitantly as he approached his deskmate during the noisy break, "Tonight... is New Year's Eve."

"Hmm." Jiang Ci looked up from his deep contemplation of a physics competition problem, his gaze falling on Xie Qingyan's slightly furrowed brow. "What are your plans?"

"I don't know," Xie Qingyan honestly admitted, her ears burning slightly. "I wasn't prepared. But I want to be with you. No matter what we do."

Jiang Ci looked at his rare expression, which was a little helpless but extremely serious, and the smile in his eyes spread slowly like spring water breaking through the ice.

“Since you’re not prepared,” he put down his pen, his voice low and gentle, a tone only the two of them could understand, “then listen to me.”

Xie Qingyan's eyes lit up—it turned out he had been prepared all along.

As soon as the school bell rang, Xie Qingyan called home immediately. Listening to his mother's nagging instructions on the other end of the line, his fingers were slightly sweaty.

"Mom, I'm going to see the fireworks show with my classmates tonight. I might stay at their house overnight afterward and come back early tomorrow morning."

"Classmate? Which classmate? Is it safe?"

"It's Jiang Ci." Xie Qingyan's heart skipped a beat when she said the name.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Xie's mother's cheerful voice: "Oh, it's Xiao Ci! Okay! Be careful and have fun!"

After hanging up the phone, Xie Qingyan let out a long sigh of relief, a thin layer of sweat beading on his back. This was probably the boldest lie he had told since his transmigration—no, perhaps not entirely a lie.

After school, Jiang Ci took him to the supermarket and bought two large bags of ingredients: sliced ​​beef, tripe, shrimp paste, various vegetables, meatballs, hot pot base, and dipping sauce. Xie Qingyan watched Jiang Ci skillfully select the ingredients, and while he was surprised, the anticipation in his heart swelled up like an inflated balloon.

"You can cook?"

“Well, if you live alone, you have to know a thing or two.” Jiang Ci said calmly, putting a box of strawberries that Xie Qingyan had glanced at a few times into the cart.

The taxi headed towards the eastern coastal area of ​​the city. It eventually stopped in front of an upscale, quiet residential area. The buildings appeared modern and austere in the twilight, with the dark sea faintly visible in the distance.

"This is……"

“My mom bought this for me before she passed away.” Jiang Ci said, carrying the shopping bag and swiping her card to open the building's access control. “This place has been empty ever since she left. Jiang Cheng doesn’t know.”

The elevator ascended smoothly and stopped at the top floor. The moment the door opened, a vast sea view rushed in. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, dusk was falling, a sliver of dark gold remained on the horizon, and snowflakes began to fall sparsely, silently sinking into the deep gray sea.

The interior features a minimalist modern style, so clean it's devoid of any signs of human presence, yet it feels dust-free thanks to regular cleaning. Warm lights gradually illuminate the space, dispelling the chill of the winter night.

Xie Qingyan stood in the center of the living room, looked around, and then turned to look at Jiang Ci, who was changing his shoes:

"So, back then you said you had nowhere to go..."

Jiang Ci paused, straightened up, and walked to Xie Qingyan. Snowflakes danced silently outside the window, while the room was warm and cozy.

"I was lying to you," he admitted, his gaze unwavering. "I pretended to be pitiful, hoping you'd take me in." He paused, his voice lowering, "Are you angry?"

Xie Qingyan shook her head, her eyes clear under the light: "I'm not angry. On the contrary, I'm very happy."

Jiang Ci was stunned.

“Back then, you were all alone and helpless. You didn’t go to Wen Heng, nor to anyone else.” Xie Qingyan stepped forward and gently took Jiang Ci’s slightly cool hand. “You chose me. I sensed your ‘need,’ and I was happy to be the one ‘needed.’ Even if that need was mixed with a little bit of well-intentioned deception…”

He raised his eyes, gazing into Jiang Ci's deep eyes, and spoke each word with gentle yet resolute conviction:

"I would gladly accept it."

The moment the words left his mouth, Jiang Ci suddenly reached out and pulled him into her arms. The embrace was so tight that Xie Qingyan could almost hear their ribs touching and their heartbeats resonating.

Then, Jiang Ci lowered her head and kissed him.

This kiss was unlike any before. It was no longer a test, no longer a confirmation, nor a release of desire. It was like a silent confession, pouring out all the unspoken guilt, emotion, lingering fear, and the overwhelming love that surged like a survivor. It was long, deep, and trembling slightly, as if trying to imprint their souls together.

Jiang Ci only stepped back, panting, after running out of air in his lungs. His forehead touched Xie Qingyan's, and their noses rubbed together.

"Xie Qingyan..." he called out to him in a hoarse voice, a thousand words in total, but in the end, they all turned into one sentence, "I'm hungry, I'll go cook."

Xie Qingyan nodded, her face flushed, her eyes glistening with tears, yet full of smiles.

An enticing aroma soon filled the kitchen. Jiang Ci, wearing an apron, skillfully stir-fried the hot pot broth, the spicy fragrance mingling with the rich aroma of beef tallow. Xie Qingyan assisted her, washing and plating vegetables, her movements clumsy yet earnest.

"Shall we have hot pot tonight?" Xie Qingyan looked at the table full of delicious side dishes, and her stomach growled loudly.

"Mmm, it's warm." Jiang Ci placed the hot pot on the table. The red broth was boiling, and the mushroom broth was milky white. "You can't eat spicy food, so you can cook the clear broth side."

However, halfway through the meal, Xie Qingyan was tempted by the hot and spicy aroma of the bubbling red soup and secretly picked up a slice of fatty beef coated in red oil.

"Hiss—" The moment it entered his mouth, the spicy and savory flavor exploded, followed by a fiery sensation that shot from the tip of his tongue to his throat. His face flushed red at a visible speed, and his eyes quickly filled with physiological tears.

Jiang Ci had anticipated this and immediately handed over the chilled milk, a mischievous smile in his eyes: "I already reminded you. Do you still want some?"

Xie Qingyan gulped down half a bottle of milk, stuck out her tongue and inhaled, her eyes brimming with tears yet stubborn: "...You'll do it again next time."

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter at the same time. The laughter echoed in the empty room, dispelling the last trace of loneliness.

After finishing the meal and cleaning up, it was nearly ten o'clock. Jiang Ci's phone rang; it was Wen Heng.

"How about spending New Year's Eve? How about a barbecue at my place?"

"Thanks for your kind words, have fun."

"..." Wen Heng paused sharply, "You're with Qing Yan?"

"Um."

Send me the address, I'll join in the fun.

Jiang Ci glanced at Xie Qingyan, who was wiping the table beside him, and said indifferently, "You want to come here and be a third wheel?"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone before Wen Heng's exasperated "beep" came through.

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Ci pulled Xie Qingyan into the huge beanbag chair in the living room. Outside the window, the snow was falling heavily, turning the distant sea and lights into hazy patches of light.

There was still more than an hour until midnight. Xie Qingyan actually pulled out a set of science practice papers from her schoolbag.

Jiang Ci raised an eyebrow: "Xie, you're so hardworking?"

"Just killing time." Xie Qingyan spread out the test paper, but seemed somewhat distracted. She had answered six multiple-choice questions, but had gotten two wrong.

Jiang Ci leaned closer, her warm breath brushing against his ear: "Something's not right. How can you take the college entrance exam like this?"

Xie Qingyan's ears burned, but she forced herself to remain calm: "...Maybe it's because of the pressure of being punished for making mistakes."

Jiang Ci chuckled softly, then suddenly reached out and scooped Xie Qingyan up from the sofa, turning him to sit on her lap. The position was far too intimate and ambiguous; Xie Qingyan froze instantly, his cheeks flushing red.

“So,” Jiang Ci’s hand rested firmly on his waist, his voice low and seductively husky, “you deliberately did something wrong because you were looking forward to being ‘punished’?”

Xie Qingyan lowered his eyelashes, his heart pounding like a drum. After a few seconds of silence, he responded very softly:

"Um."

This admission was like a spark falling into dry tinder.

Jiang Ci's eyes suddenly darkened. He tightened his grip on Xie Qingyan's waist slightly, and with his other hand, he stroked Xie Qingyan's burning cheek, his thumb gently caressing his soft lips.

"How do you want me to punish you?" His voice was hoarse beyond recognition.

Xie Qingyan raised her watery eyes, leaned close to his ear, and whispered a few words.

The next second, the world spun around him. Jiang Ci suddenly scooped him up in her arms and strode towards the bedroom.

The door closed behind me, shutting out the light from the living room and the sound of snow falling outside the window.

On this New Year's Eve, in a warm and private space, they confirmed each other's existence in the most primal and intimate way, transforming the turmoil, repression, and fear of the past year into the warmth between their lips and the trembling of their fingertips.

Sweat, sobs, and unconscious whispers and confessions when emotions run high intertwine to create their most secret melody before the New Year.

Afterwards in the bathroom, the warm water washed over her skin. Xie Qingyan was exhausted but refused to sleep. With wet eyes, she looked at Jiang Ci and leaned in to kiss him again. And so, in the misty steam, everything was repeated once more.

When I returned to the living room, it was already 11:50 p.m.

The two changed into clean, soft pajamas and nestled back onto the sofa side by side. Neither spoke, they simply cuddled quietly. The snow outside seemed to have lessened, and the city lights, reflected behind the snow curtain, created a warm, yellow sea of ​​light. In the distance, the faint sounds of songs from a television gala and laughter could be heard, only serving to accentuate the tranquility and peace of this place.

A saturated, almost painful happiness filled the air.

"Jiang Ci," Xie Qingyan suddenly spoke softly, "Have you thought about your New Year's wish?"

"I've thought it through." Jiang Ci pulled him closer to her. "But if I say it out loud, it might not work."

"Then I won't say it." Xie Qingyan smiled, pressing her cheek against his warm chest. "Keep it in your heart, and we'll achieve it together."

Jiang Ci looked down at him. The light from the fireplace danced on his serene profile, his long eyelashes casting fan-shaped shadows under his eyes, and his moist lips were still slightly swollen.

“Xie Qingyan,” he suddenly said, his voice very soft, “have I ever told you… how I felt when I first saw you in the hospital?”

Xie Qingyan shook her head and looked up at him.

“I feel that you…” Jiang Ci carefully chose his words, “like a plant growing in the cracks of ruins. All around are broken walls and ruins, dark and cold, but you stand there with your back straight, quietly, and you are the light source yourself.”

Xie Qingyan paused for a moment, then smiled, her eyes reflecting a glimmer of light: "And you? The first time I saw you in the classroom, I felt you were like a volcano encased in thick ice. The surface was perpetually cold and lifeless, but I knew that beneath it, there must be something burning hot enough to melt everything."

Jiang Ci smiled, a slight vibration coming from his chest: "Then we're quite a match. One blossoms in the ruins, the other burns under the ice."

“A perfect match.” Xie Qingyan said earnestly, extending her fingers to intertwine with his.

In the distance, a faint countdown pierced the snowy night, drifting in and out:

"Ten—Nine—Eight—"

Jiang Ci tightened his arms, completely encircling Xie Qingyan in his embrace. Their fingers intertwined, palms pressed together, and the pulse of their pulses transmitted through their skin, gradually merging into the same frequency.

"7-6-5-"

Xie Qingyan gazed at the increasingly dense fireworks rising into the sky outside the window and softly recited: "The Book of Songs says: 'When I went away, the willows were swaying. Now I return, the rain and snow are falling.'"

Jiang Ci tacitly continued, "But now, we are neither parting in 'the past' nor reminiscing in 'the future.' We are 'here' now, spending 'this moment' together."

"Four—Three—"

They turned their heads at the same time, their eyes meeting in the air. The city's myriad lights and the first bursts of fireworks were reflected in each other's eyes, as if filled with the starlight of the entire Milky Way.

"Two—one—!"

"Happy New Year--!!!"

A tremendous roar erupted simultaneously from every corner of the city! Countless fireworks shot into the night sky, exploding with a deafening roar, their golden, purple, silver, and red hues shimmering and dazzling, instantly turning the snowy night into day! Cheers, songs, bells, whistles… all the sounds merged into a sea of ​​joy.

In the penthouse apartment facing the sea, the two boys still quietly embraced each other.

Neither of them spoke, but they gazed deeply at each other, as if trying to etch the other's image into their eternal memory.

After a long silence, Jiang Ci spoke very softly, his voice unusually clear against the backdrop of the noise outside the window:

"Happy New Year, Xie Qingyan."

Xie Qingyan looked into his eyes, which were filled with starlight and tenderness, and smiled:

Happy New Year, Jiang Ci.

Midnight has passed, and the new year has begun.