Close heartbeat

There were more and more people in the temple. Shi Nannan and Shen Xuyang searched for Chen Xing and Wen Yu in the backyard for a long time but couldn't find them.

Shen Xuyang suddenly pulled Shi Nannan and said, "Don't look for them. It's almost midnight. Aren't you just waiting for the bell to ring?"

Shi Nannan glanced at the time and saw that there were indeed only a few minutes left.

She had been looking forward to the bell ringing ceremony for a long time and had wanted to join everyone, but they were now separated.

Shi Nannan didn't say anything, but Shen Xuyang could see the hesitation in her eyes at a glance.

Shen Xuyang naturally took Shi Nannan's hand and said, "Don't worry, Wen Yu will definitely protect Chen Xing. Maybe they are somewhere, but we just can't see them."

Shi Nannan knew that Shen Xuyang wanted her to feel at ease and do what she wanted.

She looked up at Shen Xuyang's reassuring eyes. He really understood her heart.

Shi Nannan finally compromised and said, "You're right. There are so many people here, they might be crowded somewhere. At least we have the same goal and are all doing the same thing."

Shen Xuyang suddenly smiled when he heard what Shi Nannan said. It was a faint smile, but very warm, unlike his usual self.

Shi Nannan was stunned for a moment and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Shen Xuyang raised the corner of his lips, his hand unconsciously raised, and replied in a very soft voice: "I didn't know you could say such profound words, you are worthy of being..."

Before Shen Xuyang could finish his words, he was inexplicably hit by Shi Nannan.

Shi Nannan said angrily, "Chen Xuyang! You're getting bolder and bolder! You stopped touching my head and pinched my face instead. Why do you always want to do something to me? Do you really think I'm easy to bully?"

Shen Xuyang couldn't control his impulse just now. It was rare to see Shi Nannan so serious, and he couldn't help but want to pinch her cute face.

Although Shen Xuyang was hit by Shi Nannan, he was still glad that he touched her chubby face. There was still some residual warmth on his hand, enough for him to savor it slowly.

Shen Xuyang didn't explain but just pulled Shi Nannan into the crowd. He was already very satisfied and it was time to fulfill her wish.

Before Shi Nannan could react, Shen Xuyang pulled her into the crowd. When she stood in front of the Wutong bell under the Wutong tree, she came to her senses.

Shi Nannan hadn't originally expected to touch the Wutong Bell, she just wanted to see the bell ringing, and it actually happened.

Not only did she see the Wutong Bell, but she also occupied an excellent position to ring the bell. It was simply perfect.

Shi Nannan completely forgot what just happened. She patted Shen Xuyang on the shoulder like a brother and praised him, "Shen Xuyang, how did we squeeze in just now? It's amazing."

Shen Xuyang was suddenly praised by Shi Nannan, and he couldn't bear it. After all, such a moment was something he had been longing for.

Shen Xuyang used his height advantage to find a gap that was overlooked by others. He pushed Shi Nannan to the best position and stood behind her.

He left more space for her and placed himself in the small and crowded crowd.

Even when she couldn't see, his hand hit the pillar and scratched the back of his hand in order to protect her.

Shen Xuyang put his injured hand behind his back. No matter how painful the wound was, it could not compare to her words of praise for him.

The severe winter undoubtedly aggravated his pain. Although the bleeding stopped quickly, it did not heal after all.

Shen Xuyang actually didn't care at all. All he could see was Shi Nannan's innocent smile in front of him.

"One minute left, the countdown begins." Shen Xuyang said lightly.

Shi Nannan held the top of the bell-beating wooden stick with both hands, and there were many people in front of her.

Shi Nannan turned to Shen Xuyang and said, "There's still room here. Do you want to ring the bell together?"

Shi Nannan herself didn't touch the bell wood much, but at this moment she just wanted to complete this ceremony with Shen Xuyang.

There were supposed to be four of them together, but they got separated from Chen Xing and Wen Yu.

Shi Nannan didn't want to leave any regrets, at least she still had Chen Xuyang by her side. Since they came together, they would stay together until the end.

How could Shen Xuyang refuse Shi Nannan's invitation? He stood behind Shi Nannan and put his arms around her.

His hand covered hers, just enough so that both of them were holding the top of the bell and would not let go.

Shi Nannan said a little embarrassedly: "I didn't ask you to hold my hand, it was too tight."

Shen Xuyang's magnetic voice sounded above Shi Nannan's head, "Be serious, the last ten seconds."

It was almost midnight, and in the last ten seconds, everyone present shouted out loudly together.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Happy New Year, Nan Nan."

Shi Nannan heard Shen Xuyang calling her name for the last time. She felt her heart beating faster and she even forgot to ring the bell in a trance. It was Shen Xuyang who held her hand and completed this final ceremony.

Did he just call her "Nannan"?

Shen Xuyang and Shi Nannan rang the bell three times, representing "blessings, wealth, and longevity" respectively, to dispel the evil spirits and bad luck of the past year and usher in new good luck and blessings.

As the bells rang, brilliant fireworks rose one after another in the dark night. The tourists around were shouting "Happy New Year" loudly, saying it to the people around them and to the person in their hearts.

After the bell-ringing ceremony, everyone rushed to the top of the mountain to watch the fireworks, and the crowd under the sycamore tree began to gather.

Shi Nannan was turned around by the crowded and swaying crowd, and accidentally fell on Shen Xuyang behind her.

Fortunately, Shen Xuyang had strong concentration. He leaned his back against the pillar in the corner and easily supported Shi Nannan's unbalanced body.

But she still underestimated the power of the crowd. Before Shi Nannan could gain a firm foothold, she was pushed by the people behind her to get closer to Shen Xuyang again.

As luck would have it, she actually kissed his Adam's apple.

Shen Xuyang held Shi Nannan's waist with both hands, and seemed to feel her warmth through her thick down jacket. Perhaps it was the heat in his body that spread to his whole body.

It stayed like that for about ten seconds before the huge crowd slowly dispersed.

Shi Nannan realized what she had done and jumped back in fright, almost falling to the ground.

Fortunately, Shen Xuyang was quick-witted and could always predict Shi Nannan's reckless and careless behavior in advance.

Shen Xuyang picked up Shi Nannan's heavy body and prevented her from falling to the ground. He was obviously relieved.

When will I stop worrying about her?

"Be careful. If you get hurt, I won't take care of you." Shen Xuyang said he didn't care, but he was very anxious in his heart.

Shi Nannan only felt her face burning hot, and the strength of his palm was transmitted to her whole body through her down jacket.

Shi Nannan shyly pushed Shen Xuyang away and kept a distance from him. She was afraid that he would discover her embarrassing appearance.

Shi Nannan spoke haltingly, not knowing how to express her feelings. "I...just now...we..."

Shi Nannan lowered her head and didn't dare to look into Shen Xuyang's eyes. Her fingertips rubbed her lips unconsciously, and she always felt that it was a little unreal.

In those brief ten seconds, she seemed to hear a pounding heartbeat. It was too close and she could no longer tell whose heart was beating so fast. It was as if it was right next to her ear, close yet blurry.

Shen Xuyang turned his head and teased Shi Nannan as usual.

"Why are you so shy all of a sudden? Are you shy?"

Where she couldn't see, he hid his red ears, and concealed the nervousness and excitement in his heart bit by bit.

It was obvious that he was the one who had other thoughts first, but why did he become so nervous and lose his composure when he was close to her?

Hadn't he always wanted her to know? Yet, he carefully hid the secret that he wanted the whole world to know but was afraid only of her discovering.

If she knew what he was thinking, would she still get along with him naturally as usual?

Shen Xuyang couldn't figure out whether to confess or not, but he was sure that he didn't want to see Shi Nannan staying away from him.

Maybe this is not the best time. He should wait a little longer until the day she completely forgives him, then he will have the courage to say those words to her.

Shi Nannan had long lost track of what was wrong with her. That indescribable feeling was gripping her heart and making her feel very uncomfortable.

Shi Nannan didn't want to continue to feel strange. The best way to break the deadlock was to either deny it or pretend that nothing had happened.

Shi Nannan raised her head and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? I'm fine."

Shen Xuyang was still worried that Shi Nannan would have a grudge against him because of this, but when he heard what Shi Nannan said.

He should be glad that she didn't take it to heart at all, and didn't even take such intimate behavior seriously.

Should I be sad that she has never thought about that matter in her heart, maybe just not towards him.

Shi Nannan forced herself to calm down from her embarrassing behavior just now, but why did Shen Xuyang remain silent?

Shi Nannan generously hit Shen Xuyang on the chest and asked, "Shen Xuyang, what are you thinking about? Why are you so hesitant? Do you still want to watch the fireworks?"

Shen Xuyang listened to Shi Nannan's calm words and came out of his lost mood.

He raised his head and took Shi Nannan's hand and walked towards the empty mountain top.

He ran with her without looking back, "Of course we have to go. How can we miss such beautiful fireworks?"

Maybe there won't be a next time.

Shi Nannan didn't quite understand Shen Xuyang's sudden depression and sudden excitement, she just felt that he seemed hurt.

She didn't know how to comfort him.

Why did this invisible and intangible thought always haunt her heart? She had never cared so much about anything before.

Shi Nannan never leaves worries overnight. Even if she feels sad and unhappy one second, she can automatically filter out the worries and forget those disturbing and unpleasant emotions the next second.

But after this experience of climbing the mountain with Shen Xuyang, she found that she could no longer ignore anything about him.

There were many things that made Shen Xuyang angry, and she wrote them all down in her diary when she couldn't remember them all. But how could she put pen to paper on this unclear feeling?

She seemed to be sick, with a disease whose source could not be found, but she knew that the antidote was him.