I wish Zhang Jiye a peaceful and prosperous life.

Xu Chuwan glanced at the calendar when she went to school today—it was December 31st.

The last day of the year.

After checking the calendar, Xu Chuwan changed her clothes and left the room to wash up.

After washing up, Xu Chuwan went to the dining table and sat down to eat breakfast.

Jiang Yan looked somewhat troubled. After a moment of silence between mother and daughter, Jiang Yan spoke first: "Well... Wanwan, Mom has something to do tonight, so I might not be able to spend New Year's Eve with you. Here's some money for you. You can go out with your classmates to celebrate New Year's Eve after school, okay?"

Xu Chuwan could understand, because Jiang Yan's company always had overtime work on New Year's Eve every year, and her father did the same.

Xu Chuwan nodded and said to Jiang Yan, "Okay, Mom."

This time, Jiang Yan didn't give Xu Chuwan cash, but transferred 100 yuan to her via WeChat.

After Jiang Yan transferred the money to Xu Chuwan, she smiled at her sensible daughter and said, "Our Chuwan is so sensible."

Xu Chuwan smiled at Jiang Yan as well.

Xu Chuwan quickly finished eating, packed her schoolbag in her room, and went downstairs to the bus stop as usual.

As usual, I would run into Zhang Jiye on the bus.

As Xu Chuwan got into the car, she glanced back and saw Zhang Jiye.

Before Zhang Jiye could call her, Xu Chuwan walked to the back and sat down next to him.

Zhang Jiye immediately asked Xu Chuwan, "Are you free tonight?"

Xu Chuwan nodded and said, "Yes."

Zhang Jiyue said, "Shall we celebrate New Year's Eve together tonight? Lin Nianyu and Cheng Junming are going too. You can also invite Shen Yan and the other two."

Xu Chuwan considered it for a moment and said, "Okay."

Zhang Jiye smiled and said, "I'm really looking forward to spending New Year's Eve with Teacher Xu tonight."

Xu Chuwan smiled and said, "Yes, I'm looking forward to it too."

What I'm looking forward to is spending New Year's Eve with the boy I like.

Because I can spend New Year's Eve with you, I don't feel so lonely at night.

After a long day of classes, school is finally over.

Chen Yu said to the whole class, "I wish you all a happy New Year's Eve! I hope you all make progress in your studies in the new year!"

The students said to Chen Yu in unison, "Thank you, teacher."

As soon as they left the school, Shen Yan hugged Xu Chuwan and said, "Chuanwan, I'm so looking forward to it! Spending New Year's Eve with you!"

Xu Chuwan smiled and said to Shen Yan, "I'm also looking forward to spending New Year's Eve with you."

Xu Chuwan turned her head and, not seeing Su Ruan and Xia Yi, asked, "Where are Su Ruan and Xia Yi? Why didn't they come?"

Shen Yan felt disgusted whenever she mentioned the two of them: "Two backstabbing sisters."

Xu Chuwan asked, "What's wrong?"

Shen Yan said to Xu Chuwan, "You don't know that they've been talking about us behind our backs."

Xu Chuwan asked, "What did they say about me?"

Shen Yan said to Xu Chuwan, "Don't even mention it. Just because you and Zhang Jiye had tutoring together on the weekend, they said behind your back that you and Zhang Jiye were dating. I heard it, and they even said, 'What does it have to do with me?' They were talking about me to others."

Xu Chuwan said, "Oh? Is that so?"

Shen Yan said, "Wanwan, you must tell the teacher about this! You can't tolerate it anymore."

Xu Chuwan wasn't used to telling the teacher, so she said, "I think we should just pretend this never happened."

Shen Yan sighed. How could this person have such a good temper?

Shen Yan said, "Then I'll tell the teacher."

Xu Chuwan nodded: "Okay."

Cheng Junming had been eavesdropping on their conversation. When Shen Yan turned around and saw Cheng Junming listening to her and Xu Chuwan, she rolled her eyes at him and said, "A grown man like you eavesdropping on girls' conversation? Don't you have any shame?"

"..."

Cheng Junming touched his nose somewhat embarrassedly and said, "The problem is that you two were talking so loudly that I couldn't hear what you were saying. I was just curious about what you two were talking about."

"..."

Shen Yan pinched Cheng Junming's ear and said, "Try eavesdropping on me and Wanwan's conversation again next time."

Cheng Junming said, "Hey, hey, I was wrong, I'll never do it again. Don't pinch my ear, Shen Yan... it hurts! Let go of me!"

"..."

Xu Chuwan thought the two of them were like a pair of clowns and couldn't help but laugh.

After a while, Shen Yan finally let go of Cheng Junming's ear.

Cheng Junming immediately ran towards his brother Zhang, but his brother Zhang was also there laughing.

Cheng Junming rubbed his "poor" ear and complained to Zhang Jiye, "Chen Yan pinched me so hard! And you're still laughing! Stop laughing! Do you hear me, Zhang Jiye!"

Zhang Jiye gave his brother some face, but still said without any mercy, "Who told some people to be so annoying, eavesdropping on girls talking?"

"..."

That seems to be true.

Cheng Junming did not refute it.

The five of them went home first, and planned to go to Jianghu Park together after finishing their homework, since almost everyone in the city would spend New Year's Eve by the lake in Jianghu Park every year. So they chose to spend New Year's Eve at Jianghu Park.

At 11:30, the five of them met at the school gate and took a taxi to Jianghu Park.

Cheng Junming had already rented a tent, and they could see the campfire while sitting inside.

As soon as Cheng Junming arrived at Jianghu Park, he found the tent he had rented in advance. After finding the tent, he sat down and said, "How about we have a snowball fight together during the winter vacation?"

Zhang Jiye raised an eyebrow and said, "Are you sure? Someone's face will be covered in snow in a bit, don't go crying somewhere later."

"..."

Cheng Junming said, "That was when I was a child! Who would cry now?!"

Lin Nianyu was equally merciless, saying, "Who was it that I covered in snow from head to toe last year? Back then, that person wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide in."

"..."

Upon hearing Cheng Junming's numerous "dirts," Shen Yan couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Cheng Junming, I used to think you had a lot of 'dirts,' but I didn't expect you to actually have so many."

"..."

Cheng Junming was speechless.

There are ten seconds left until midnight.

Nine seconds left...

Eight seconds left...

Seven seconds left...

Six seconds left...

Five seconds left...

Four seconds left...

The five people counted down in unison: "Three—two—one."

A bonfire was lit by the lake, and some people were setting off fireworks. The fireworks burst into the air, turning into colorful streaks before disappearing.

Cheng Junming said, "Wishing everyone a happy new year!"

Zhang Jiye said, "You believe such rumors? Only a child would believe such rumors."

"..."

The local rumor is that you can make a wish under the fireworks during New Year's Eve, and there is a 99% chance that your wish will come true.

Some people may believe such rumors.

Cheng Junming said with dissatisfaction, "It's better to allow it than not to."

Zhang Jiye said, "Okay, okay."

Xu Chuwan closed her eyes and made a wish—first, that her parents and friends be healthy; second, that Zhang Jiye live a peaceful and prosperous life, and that Chang'an be filled with joy.

Zhang Jiye saw that Xu Chuwan had closed her eyes, clearly making a wish, and couldn't help but tease her, "What did you wish for?"

Xu Chuwan said earnestly, "The old man didn't say that wishes can't be spoken out, because if you do, they won't come true."

Zhang Jiye said, "Alright, alright, I won't force you to say it."

Zhang Jiye had just quietly made a wish—that his parents and friends would be healthy. And also—that the gods would bless Xu Chuwan so that everything would go smoothly for her, and that she would have no worries.

They played for a while, then took a taxi home together.

Xu Chuwan decided not to take a taxi home, but to take the bus instead, saying, "I won't take the bus, you guys take it. I'm really not used to taking taxis."

Shen Yan gave in to her and said, "Alright then, Wanwan, remember to be careful when you take the bus home alone!"

Xu Chuwan nodded and went to the bus stop to wait for the bus.

Zhang Jiye felt it was unsafe for a girl to take the bus alone at night, so instead of taking a taxi with them, he went to the bus stop and chose to accompany Xu Chuwan on the bus home.

Xu Chuwan looked up and saw Zhang Jiye. She paused for a moment, then said, "Why didn't you take a taxi with them?"

Zhang Jiye sat down next to Xu Chuwan, touched his neck, and lied, saying, "I'm not used to taking taxis either, so I thought we could take the bus together and keep each other company."

Xu Chuwan responded with an "Oh".

The bus arrived, and Zhang Jiye and Xu Chuwan boarded it together. When Xu Chuwan arrived at her stop, Zhang Jiye said to her, "Can you send me a message when you get home? I'll send you a message when I get home too."

Xu Chuwan nodded and said, "Okay, um... be careful on your way home."

Zhang Jiye smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm a grown man, what could possibly happen to me at night?"

Xu Chuwan said, "Then... goodbye."

Zhang Jiye said, "Goodbye, Teacher Xu! By the way, Teacher Zhang wishes you a trouble-free new year!"

Upon hearing his blessing, Xu Chuwan smiled and said, "Then I will accept Teacher Zhang's blessing."

After Xu Chuwan finished speaking, she got out of the car and left.

When Xu Chuwan got home, she turned on her phone and sent a message to the person whose contact name was "zjy":

I'm home, Teacher Zhang.

After sending the message, Xu Chuwan took a shower.

When Zhang Jiye got home, he saw the message and then looked at the way the girl addressed him, "Teacher Zhang." A wide smile spread across his face as he replied:

I'm home now, Teacher Xu.

After Xu Chuwan finished showering, she saw Zhang Jiyue's reply, and her heart started racing. She then sent a message:

good evening.

Zhang Jiyue had actually been waiting for Xu Chuwan's message, and seeing this "Goodnight" made him feel content. He replied with a message in return.

Okay, goodnight.

After seeing Zhang Jiye's reply, Xu Chuwan turned off her phone, took out her diary, and began to write:

I had a lot of fun today.

I'm always home alone for New Year's Eve, but this year is different.

I spent New Year's Eve with my best friends, and also with the person I like.

Zhang Jiye, I wish you a peaceful and prosperous life.

After writing all this, Xu Chuwan closed her diary and went to bed.