Happy New Year

After the weather turned cold, the village nights became excessively quiet, with a chilly wind swirling and brushing against people's faces. But today, with the New Year's feast underway, children were running and laughing from time to time, and occasionally the sound of children crying could be heard. In addition, firecrackers would suddenly explode in some corner of the village from time to time. Thus, the cold wind, sulfur, and laughter swept into people's hearts. Unfortunately, Zhou Lexing had no mind to appreciate the New Year's atmosphere at the moment.

He could hear footsteps behind him clearly, and in a daze, he could even hear soft breathing behind him.

Gu Jiansheng never intended to hide his whereabouts, nor did he ever consider giving up the opportunity to confront him directly.

Zhou Lexing wiped his face and finally stopped at the corner.

The footsteps behind him paused, and after a moment, they hesitantly walked to his side.

Aren't you going home?

Gu Jiansheng still kept his voice down and slowly raised his eyes to look at Zhou Lexing.

Gu Jiansheng's appearance is undoubtedly a major advantage.

When he looks up at people, whatever he's thinking, the angle he presents at least carries a pitiful air.

Zhou Lexing didn't know if others would be affected by this glance, but he knew that he was never able to withstand this move.

"Return." Zhou Lexing should have been sparing with his words.

The more you say, the more mistakes you make.

Before he has sorted out his own emotions, he should avoid letting his outward emotions affect another person.

But when Zhou Lexing looked down and met Gu Jiansheng's gaze, he knew he was finished.

"You should go home too." Zhou Lexing looked at the innocent Gu Jiansheng, his words tinged with a hint of gritted teeth. "Go back to your home where you've hidden yourself away so well, without leaving me a single word. Make me guess, search, and ask! It would be best if we never saw each other again for the rest of our lives!"

One of the male protagonists in a melodramatic novel naturally has no shortage of emotionally turbulent love stories, and there's no need for him, the buffoon, to participate in them.

Every single minute and second of those three years in this world was real, precise, and independent of human will.

Zhou Lexing truly lived through those three years, never missing a single second of the anxious self-blame and indescribable sadness during the search process.

Why be curious about the boundaries of the world?

Why bother verifying the truth or falsehood of the world?

Why choose to go to a coastal city after the busy farming season?

But why couldn't you leave even a single word? Why make him guess, ask, and search, without leaving any information in his world? And why haven't you come back or contacted him in the past three years?

Each question was enough for Zhou Lexing to dissect and examine himself thoroughly, then hastily put everything back together, only to find himself unrecognizable due to repeated self-examination.

Gu Jiansheng froze.

This was the first time he had ever seen Zhou Lexing get angry at him.

This anger contained sadness and grievance, yet it was also accompanied by careful restraint. She even consciously avoided physical contact with him, for fear of hurting him.

All of Gu Jiansheng's schemes and ulterior motives seemed to become hypocritical and laughable the moment Zhou Lexing's emotions collapsed.

Even Gu Jiansheng felt he was too cruel at that moment, but when that person’s gaze fell wholeheartedly on him, he felt a pleasurable tremor mixed with a stinging and tingling sensation.

This long-awaited attention was undoubtedly the redemption that Gu Jiansheng had longed for.

“I…” Gu Jiansheng forced himself to lower his eyes and avoid Zhou Lexing’s gaze.

This action not only suppressed the possessiveness revealed in his eyes, but also made him look even more pitiful and timid.

Zhou Lexing let out a silent sigh and turned his head: "Don't mind what I said, go back and rest."

After he finished speaking, he turned to leave, but Gu Jiansheng stopped him.

"I'm sorry, but I don't want you to get involved with the Gu family. They... are not good people."

Gu Jiansheng had prepared a lot for today, even rehearsing his words in his mind again and again, hoping to find some joy in the otherwise tedious and agonizing daily life by guessing Zhou Lexing's attitude.

He is so despicable.

But this despicable behavior had unknowingly been etched into his heart.

Gu Jiansheng slightly raised his eyes.

He was yearning for Zhou Lexing's pity.

Those emotions that he once loathed, when revealed in Zhou Lexing's eyes, became a sweet rain that brought him joy and jubilation.

"……What's the meaning?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Lexing almost instantly conjured up countless scenarios of abusing, ostracizing, and making things difficult for younger generations.

If Gu Jiansheng has to complete all the plot points, is it still possible to avoid the countless difficulties and intricate details in the novel designed to showcase He Huaizhi's strength?

Where is He Huaizhi?

For some reason, these words struck a chord with Gu Jiansheng.

His brow furrowed, and his gaze at Zhou Lexing, though in the dim light, still held a menacing quality. But when Zhou Lexing tried to look closer, he lowered his head again.

"I don't know..." Gu Jiansheng's hand, which had been lightly touching Zhou Lexing's arm, turned and finally gripped Zhou Lexing tightly. "Are you worried about him?"

Zhou Lexing was speechless: "Why should I worry about him? Wasn't it him who took you away?"

Gu Jiansheng readily agreed: "Yes, he took me to the Gu family and then disappeared."

Zhou Lexing was stunned: "Gone? He hasn't appeared in front of you for three years?"

Gu Jiansheng nodded seriously: "Yes. I'm trapped in the Gu family and I want him to help me, but I can't find him, and he hasn't come to see me either."

Zhou Lexing opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Gu Jiansheng looked at his expression and blinked: "Don't you believe me?"

Zhou Lexing: "No, that's not it."

He has a lot to say but no complaints, afraid that if he opens his mouth, he'll swear a lot.

What's wrong with this world?! Why force Gu Jiansheng onto a predetermined fate while abandoning the other male lead?

What does this mean? How is this any different from locking someone inside without giving them the key? Are you forcing them to bang on the door?

Upon hearing this, Zhou Lexing's mind went blank: "Then you, these three years..."

He wanted to ask Gu Jiansheng how he had been these past three years, but the answer was obvious.

While an outsider can rationally judge that this already terrible plot is merely meant to highlight the strength and wisdom of the other male lead, in reality, it deprives Gu Jiansheng, who is already in dire straits, of a powerful ally. It's hard to imagine how someone with his gentle and kind nature could have survived such a predicament.

Sure enough, Gu Jiansheng pursed his lips, revealing an obvious look of grievance, and Zhou Lexing felt his heart was about to break.

"Can I tell you about it slowly later?" Only a gradual and subtle approach can achieve the best results.

Gu Jiansheng knew he was wicked, but his place in Zhou Lexing's heart was far too tempting.

He was only mean to Zhou Lexing this once.

Gu Jiansheng repeated the thought to himself, and then saw Zhou Lexing nod slightly. This small gesture easily put his mind at ease.

Zhou Lexing looked at him for a while, and neither of them spoke for a moment.

Gu Jiansheng was enjoying the sense of peace that came with this moment of relief when he saw Zhou Lexing take a step toward him and embrace him with his strong arms.

"..."

The embrace was warm, so warm that Gu Jiansheng's eyes welled up with tears, and he couldn't say a word. He had only one thought in his mind: to hug her back tightly.

He had never felt so grateful to be alive.

It's good to be alive.

.

"Didn't you always look forward to Jian Sheng coming back?" Zhou Yuanxiang asked Zhou Shusheng to hang the clothes out to dry in the yard. She said this casually, glancing back at Zhou Lexing, but quickly turned away, realizing it was too much for her eyes.

That smile... it looks so irritating!

“You don’t need to stay home today, so go check on Jian Sheng and see if there’s anything you can help with. He’s coming back alone, so he probably hasn’t prepared a lot of things yet…” Zhou Yuanxiang said, as she went over to straighten out Zhou Shusheng’s wrinkled clothes and let him hang them up to dry.

"I know! I'll bring him some food!"

When Zhou Yuanxiang heard Zhou Lexing's words, she casually responded, but then she sensed something was wrong and turned around to see him trying to take away the whole chicken that was to be offered to their ancestors today. She quickly stopped him.

"You're going to have to empty your pockets! Just bring those few bags of snacks you bought outside! When it's time to eat, bring Jian Sheng over! You think he'll go hungry?!"

Zhou Yuanxiang was speechless.

Has this son really been out in the world before?

Why are you so silly?

Could it be that you were out in the cold wind all night and got chilled out?

Zhou Lexing readily agreed, turned around and started to walk out with bags of snacks, but was stopped by Zhou Yuanxiang again.

"Well, once we get there, if Jian Sheng is alright, ask him how his mother is doing? Is she going back to the village? But I'm not saying I want her to come back. This isn't a good place anyway; it's best for her to enjoy her life outside..."

Zhou Lexing immediately noticed his mother's hesitant mood. He guessed that Aunt Lan's matter had been swirling in her mind for many years. However, the feelings of their generation were always reserved and restrained, even when facing longtime friends.

"I know! Let me ask. If Aunt Lan comes back, I can go to the station to pick her up."

This time, Zhou Lexing successfully left home.

Happy New Year!

"Is Lexing visiting relatives?"

"Oh dear, Zhou Li really gave us a hard time last night! You didn't see it, he even had the nerve to say the wrong thing! If the village chief weren't unwell, we definitely wouldn't have let him off the hook! Who does he think he is? When we were all working on the construction, he was still wearing open-crotch pants and wetting the bed!"

"Exactly! They really don't know how to respect their elders at all."

Zhou Lexing greeted people along the way and overheard a lot of gossip before arriving at the Gu family's house.

The Gu family's door was wide open.

This was somewhat unexpected for Zhou Lexing.

Have you had breakfast?

Gu Jiansheng leaned against the door frame and greeted him. He was wearing a brown cotton coat, and probably quite a few layers underneath, which made his thin figure look a bit rounder and more endearing.

"I've eaten. What about you?" Zhou Lexing carried the things into the house. When he turned around and saw Gu Jiansheng following him in, he handed the things to him. As their fingertips touched, he felt the coolness of Gu Jiansheng's palm.

He unexpectedly opened his hand and covered Gu Jiansheng's hand; it was indeed icy cold.

Are you cold?

Gu Jiansheng first nodded, then shook his head, answering each of his questions earnestly: "I've had breakfast, so I don't feel cold."