Chapter Nineteen: New Year's Eve

We didn't notice Chen Weiqi bringing gasoline until he was right next to us. I panicked and ran out of Chu Zhen's arms.

"Pretty fast~" Chu Zhen picked up the oil can and started refueling.

"Did I disturb you?"

"That's not the case."

"Your clothes." Chen Weiqi went back to the car, got the clothes, and handed them to me.

"Thank you. Where's Yan Yan?"

"She has to go to work!"

"Oh~"

What a straight man! Do you think I'm just short of a down jacket? I just wanted to give him an opportunity. Oh well, at least I know where Yan Yan lives now.

"Lin Dang, what do you mean? Why aren't you back so late at night, and you even had Chen Weiqi come over this morning!" As soon as I answered Huang Yanyan's call, I heard her angry tone.

"What's wrong? I let you see your idol first thing in the morning, why are you blaming me!"

"I thought it was you coming back, and you opened the door in your pajamas. My image is completely ruined!"

"Okay, maybe your crush likes this most authentic side of you. Go to work, sweetie~"

"By the way, were you alright last night? Why did you need to get your clothes? Did something happen?"

"It's alright, I'll tell you when we get back!"

After filling up the gas tank, Chen Weiqi went back. Chu Zhen and I, having just gone through what had happened, were a little lost and sat in the car without saying a word. Chu Zhen didn't say anything either, but turned on the music, "Lemon Tree," a song I like. I enjoy listening to both the Chinese and English versions. Suddenly, I realized that Chu Zhen and I were becoming more and more similar.

In the following days, we stopped following them, afraid of alerting them. Besides, it was close to the Lunar New Year. My home is in City B, which is right next to City A. While everyone else was going home for the New Year, my dear parents chose to go on vacation to Hainan. Their reason was that I had reached the age of independence, and they should also have their own lives. So, they resolutely abandoned me, their third wheel.

“I’ll come and keep you company after I go home for New Year’s Eve dinner. My parents don’t mind, but my grandparents are home. You know, they’re the ones who love me the most.” Huang Yanyan is already on holiday. Her home is in City A, and she’s not in a hurry to pack. Lately, she’s been keeping me company at home watching TV series every day.

"It's okay, I can manage on my own. You stay home and keep the elderly company!"

"Why don't you come home with me for the Chinese New Year? You know all my family members anyway."

"Alright, just go home and celebrate the New Year in peace, don't worry about me!"

Even though it's a rented room, Yan Yan and I still decorated it up to give it a New Year's feel. I also bought some candy and cold dishes. Even if you're alone, you can still have a wonderful time!

On New Year's Eve evening, Huang Yanyan finally returned home after being urged by a phone call from home, leaving me alone. Looking at the brightly lit house full of red ornaments, it was quite cozy.

I took out my phone, snapped a picture, posted it on WeChat Moments, and captioned it, "Happy New Year!"

I had just sat down to eat when someone knocked on the door.

"Happy New Year!" Chu Zhen appeared in front of me holding a bottle of red wine.

"What brings you here!"

"I'll spend the New Year with you!"

How did you know I was here alone?

"Your WeChat Moments post is from here, so I know you didn't go home for the Chinese New Year."

Since that incident in the countryside, there has been a subtle change between Chu Zhen and me. He is no longer so sarcastic towards me, and I no longer go against him at every turn. We also keep in touch frequently.

"Is this all you're going to eat?" Chu Zhen asked, noticing the cold dishes on the table.

"Yes, look, there's fish, meat, and vegetables!"

"Is there anything steaming hot? Is there any food in the refrigerator?"

"Yes, tomatoes, green vegetables, and eggs. We don't usually cook. Oh, and there are dumplings in the freezer."

"You two girls are really amazing, living such a wonderful life."

Indeed, compared to Chu Zhen's life, we were simply wasting our time.

"Let's go to the supermarket to buy some groceries and cook a big meal tonight! Chinese New Year should have a sense of ritual. How can you do this to do justice to the holiday that we've waited 365 days for!"

The supermarket was unusually quiet. There was a long queue when I came yesterday, but now apart from a few cashiers, there were hardly any customers.

What do you like to eat?

"I'm not a picky eater."

"Okay, then I'll buy what I need." Chu Zhen took some meat from the fresh produce section, then some vegetables from the vegetable section, then some milk and bread, and picked out some snacks from the snack section. In no time, the car was full.

"Let me do it!" When we got to the cashier, I quickly stepped forward as Chu Zhen was about to pay.

Chu Zhen didn't say anything, just glanced at me, so I didn't argue with him anymore. But when I heard the cashier say the price, I was glad I hadn't argued with him. This car full of stuff cost over two thousand, and I really didn't know if he had picked the most expensive items.

"Can you help me wash the vegetables? You know how, right?" After we got home, Chu Zhen put on an apron and went into the kitchen, and I followed behind to help.

This scene gave me the illusion that we were a newlywed couple, preparing for our first New Year's Eve dinner together in our cozy little house.

Chu Zhen is truly a treasure of a man. In no time at all, he had steamed sea bass, braised pork, pork rib soup, and some sashimi. Now I understand where those two thousand came from.

"The Spring Festival Gala has been going on for a while now~" Although we complain about the Spring Festival Gala every year, it seems like something is missing on New Year's Eve without it.

"Cheers, wishing you academic success in the new year!" Chu Zhen raised his glass, but this blessing sounded a bit too much like that of an elder!

"Thank you. I wish you great success in your career, and hope you find your other half in the new year!"

"It should grant your wish!" Chu Zhen smiled and took a sip of red wine.

"Chu Zhen, did you work in a restaurant when you were in Colombia?" I took a bite of the fish; it was even more delicious than the ones in restaurants.

"No!"

"Don't many people wash dishes while studying abroad? Didn't you do that?"

"There aren't that many dishes to wash. It's just that there are times when I really crave Chinese food. At those times, I'll search for recipes online, buy the ingredients, and cook them myself. So I'm not bad at cooking."

"Looks like I'll have to go abroad too. Maybe I can learn a skill that way."

"It's enough if one person in the family can cook; there's no need for everyone to be able to cook," Chu Zhen said between bites. Her seemingly casual remark made my heart pound. Was she hinting at something?

Over one meal, we discussed everything from Columbia University to the Teachers College, from Zhao Zhongxiang to Zhu Jun and Kang Hui, from our childhood to the present...

Unexpectedly, we had a lot to talk about. As we chatted, fireworks started going off outside. I rushed to the window. Our floor was on the 28th floor, and the fireworks seemed to be blooming right in front of us. This was the first time I had ever seen fireworks up close.