Chapter 109 She wanted to kiss those pale, soft lips.

My body, which had been stuffy and hot from the air conditioning in the Korean restaurant, cooled down after walking around outside in the cold wind.

Shi Miao deliberately touched the back of Jiang Yingxu's hand with her cool fingers.

Jiang Yingxu was clearly looking at other people, but his attention seemed to be fixed on her. He easily pinched her fingertips with his other hand and warmed them in his palm.

"cold?"

He turned to look at her, his brows furrowing slightly as his gaze swept over her open coat.

"Shall I zip it up for you?"

Shi Miao nodded.

Jiang Yingxu then lowered his head, hooked the silver zipper, and with a hiss, pulled it down to Shi Miao's chin.

This cat doesn't like clothes that are too restrictive.

The hoodie was loose, and the sweater had a wide neckline, revealing the snow-white skin of her neck.

Jiang Yingxu didn't pull it too high, leaving enough space so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable.

A group of people leisurely whiled away the time, and when it was almost 11 o'clock, close to the start of the light show, they finally turned around and headed back to the square.

As Shi Miao passed a thicket of bushes, she suddenly stopped and looked into the depths of the bushes where the light could not reach.

At the same time, Zou Yuanyuan, who was in front, also exclaimed, "I think I heard a cat meowing."

"Cat? Where?"

Shh, shh, don't talk, I think I heard you too.

The high school students surrounded the bushes, and when they shone their flashlights inside, they saw a small, orange figure hiding in the depths in fear.

"There really is a cat!"

"It's so tiny, and it's crying so pitifully. Why isn't its mother around?"

"There's a highway right next to it, shouldn't we move this cat to a different spot? It could easily run off and get hit."

The kitten's cry is very sharp.

It doesn't have much of a clear meaning.

To Shi Miao, it sounded like she was trembling with fear and calling for her mother.

Shi Miao couldn't stand their bizarre cat-like meows anymore—it was as if you had such a high-speed machine entering China and you'd remember the principles I gave you.

She said, "Stop calling, I'll do it."

Amidst the bewildered yet expectant gazes of the crowd, Shi Miao crouched down and meowed at the bushes.

The kittens inside stopped meowing for a moment.

Shi Miao meowed softly a few more times, and soon, a small, orange ball of fur stumbled out of the bushes, barely the size of a palm, its fur matted and looking pitiful.

Afraid of scaring it away, Ren Ze whispered, "Damn, you have such amazing abilities."

"Wow, wow, is this the kind of cat language you learn online?"

"With its fur all knotted up like this, it must have been separated from its mother for a while."

"It would be best to adopt them. The weather is so cold, kittens without their mothers won't survive for long."

The people looked at each other, asking one another whether they would raise the child or not.

Some looked hesitant, worried that their families wouldn't agree.

Some waved their hands, saying they were allergic to cat fur.

Zou Yuanyuan stared at the small orange ball of fur. "I'll take it. I've always wanted to have a cat."

She took off the scarf around her neck, carefully approached, and placed the shivering kitten inside the warm scarf.

The kitten let out a tiny meow.

Zou Yuanyuan made a decision and stopped hesitating. "It's too small. I need to take it to the vet to get checked out. So we won't go see the light show."

Yan Zhaozhou took out his phone. "I know a pet hospital nearby. I'll go with you."

The two hailed a taxi on the roadside and left.

The others discussed the kitten and praised Shi Miao for actually managing to call it out, and they walked noisily towards the square.

Jiang Yingxu noticed Shi Miao's distraction. "What's wrong?"

Shi Miao: "...No."

I was wondering, is this the little orange cat that was supposed to appear in the story, on the way Yan Zhaozhou took Zou Yuanyuan home?

Regardless of whether it was true or not, the plot changed, but the little orange cat still appeared.

It gave her an indescribable sense of unease.

Watching a spectacle is an instinct ingrained in human nature.

The huge square was almost completely packed with people; as far as the eye could see, there was a sea of ​​heads.

Especially as the light show approached its start time, more and more people crowded into the square, with many coming from the periphery carrying balloons that floated and collided in the air.

In the blink of an eye, the group of people gathered together were scattered by the surging crowd.

Jiang Yingxu took Shi Miao's wrist and, taking advantage of his height, quickly spotted a decorative flower bed and pulled her towards it.

Skyscrapers lit up with colorful lights, and bright, flickering lasers shone from their rooftops.

There were also swarms of drones buzzing as they took off, forming different patterns in the night sky.

Everyone raised their phones, pointing the cameras at the dazzling lights, and cheered with excitement.

Jiang Yingxu protected Shi Miao as they walked through the crowd, like fish swimming against the current, until they finally reached the flower bed.

He braced his arm against the edge of the arched flower bed, creating a small, uncrowded space. Despite the bustling crowd around him, his arm remained firm and unmoved.

The changing light sources of the light show shone on Jiang Yingxu's profile, outlining the curves of his deep-set brows, high nose bridge, and pale lips.

Jiang Yingxu watched the light show for a few seconds, then turned his head and met Shi Miao's gaze, which was filled with a daze.

He smiled faintly. "Didn't you come to see the light show? Why are you looking at me?"

An overly noisy environment.

He needed to lean close, almost pressing his thin lips to her ear, so that Shi Miao could hear him without shouting.

Perhaps it's due to environmental factors.

His deep, clear voice was slightly husky, as if it had a hidden meaning, yet also seemed like a casual remark.

“Ningcheng has been preparing a light show in the square for the New Year’s Eve celebrations for the past few years, and the show is different every year.”

"The lights were meticulously designed long in advance, with each beam having its own constant trajectory, but every year there are always some unexpected events."

As they were talking, a laser beam flickered, went out briefly for a few seconds, and then lit up again.

Jiang Yingxu said casually, "Every accident is different, just like mistakes will never repeat themselves."

"..."

Shi Miao paused for a moment.

My previously restless heart seemed to have found a stable anchor and suddenly settled down.

Yes.

Things are different now.

Jiang Yingxu is no longer the cold-hearted, aloof, and self-centered villain in the story.

He has her, friends, and teachers.

He will not go down that path again.

Shi Miao breathed a sigh of relief, feeling relaxed, and only then did she have the mind to watch the dazzling light show. Her eyes reflected the changing colors of the lights, making them exceptionally bright.

Jiang Yingxu gazed at her quietly, a slight smile playing on his lips.

The light show lasted for about twenty minutes. As the drone formation slowly descended, the nearby high-rise buildings lit up with a final countdown.

The huge pixel numbers are jumping around.

The crowd shouted enthusiastically.

"five!"

"Four!"

"three!"

Infected by the atmosphere, Shi Miao raised her hand and grabbed Jiang Yingxu's arm that was supporting her side. She turned to look at him and met his gentle, deep black eyes.

"two!"

She was slightly lost in thought, and instinctively called out to him, "Jiang Yingxu."

"one!"

"Happy New Year--"

Amidst a thunderous roar of cheers, colorful ribbons burst open in the sky, and many people let go, allowing the beautiful balloons of various shapes to float into the sky with the wind.

The boy leaned slightly forward, bent his arm, and held his hand up in front of Shi Miao.

Spread your fingers.

A thin, shiny necklace with a golden cat's head hanging from it slipped from his finger, swaying gently in mid-air and refracting fragments of light.

"New Year's gift".

The cat head pendant is incredibly lifelike, and there's also a cat body pendant that can be pulled out and fastened in.

Shi Miao stared at the sparkling necklace for a few seconds, but her gaze was uncontrollably drawn to Jiang Yingxu behind the swaying pendant.

His brows relaxed, and his gaze was hot and intense.

The deep emotions in his eyes were not clear, but the tenderness and respect he conveyed were undeniable.

He spoke of New Year's gifts, a slight smile playing on his thin lips.

The cold wind ruffled the hair on his forehead, and behind him rose a sky full of colorful balloons.

Shi Miao's heart pounded, unsure whether it was from the cheers of the crowd or the person in front of her.

Those once confused and bewildered emotions, at this moment, suddenly burst forth like the sun breaking through the clouds, clearly and passionately demonstrating their presence.

Why do I feel inexplicably flustered when he touches my face? Why do I always think of that phrase, "my lover"? Why does my heart race when I get close to him?

The very first moment of the new year.

This carefree little cat has, for the first time, a secret that only it knows—

She wanted to lean in and kiss those pale, soft lips.