32 They kissed for the first time, in the crowd

Li Yaya had never been in love before, so she didn't know how the relationship between two people in love would be different from the usual ones, so she could only continue to live as usual.

Fortunately, Jiang Yi had never talked about it and didn't understand it.

The two people are now in a state of feeling their way across the river.

It was just a little more awkward than usual. Yes, just a little more awkward and reserved. It was like a careful dance, with your heart pounding like thunder, yet you still had to pretend to walk calmly.

Just like - when walking side by side, we maintain a precise 20 cm vacuum zone, and occasionally the back of the hand touches it and bounces back as if it were an electric shock.

This awkwardness and restraint is essentially the cautious landing of two independent souls in a new emotional world, testing each other's boundaries with clumsy mapping.

Sometimes I can't bear the other person's burning gaze, but sometimes I am strong enough to hold up all expectations.

After a few ordinary days, the two of them became much more natural.

The most important day of the year has arrived - New Year's Eve.

Standing at the crack of the calendar, behind me lies a bag filled with memories, in front of me lies an unopened blind box. Tearing off the last page of the calendar is like peeling back a layer of cocoon, and everyone can share a piece of honey called "possibility."

Jiang Yi asked Li Yaya if they wanted to celebrate the New Year together?

Li Yaya shook her head helplessly. It was the busiest day in the store. Was it her who didn't need to work or was it him who didn't need to work.

Jiang Yi curled his lips, a little reluctant.

Well, at least they were working together.

December 31, 2012

Li Yaya arrived at the cake shop early that day. There were too many orders today, and she needed help. She had to cut the fruit, collect the trash, wipe the dough, and all the other trivial tasks.

I am so busy that I have no time to eat.

Finally, she made herself a small cake. Although it was not as exquisite as Sister Juan's, it was still made by her own hands. She wanted to bring it to eat with Jiang Yi.

Thinking of Jiang Yi's pout at that time, Li Yaya couldn't help but laugh while making the cake. Everyone was celebrating, so they wanted to celebrate too.

Seeing this, Sister Honghong and Sister Juan smiled at each other and knew that there was definitely something wrong with Li Yaya.

"Yaya, who are you going to eat this cake with?" The two people cautiously tested.

Li Yaya turned around and looked at the two women, who looked expectant but hesitant to speak. The nature of human beings is gossip. When two women get together, they will talk non-stop. When three women get together, it's a drama.

There was nothing to hide. Although Li Yaya was not the kind of person who would publicize it everywhere, since they asked sincerely, she would answer sincerely.

"With Jiang Yi, the guy who came to the store to look for me before. Do you still remember him? We are in a relationship."

"Ahhhhh——" The two people screamed instantly. They were happy for Li Yaya from the bottom of their hearts.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Rui Le, who was busy in the front hall, heard a scream from behind. Thinking something had happened, he rushed in with a confused look on his face.

After hearing what her two sisters said, she screamed again, "Ahhhhh——"

"See, sister, I said that boy was interested in Sister Yaya, and it turned out to be true."

Li Yaya looked at the three people in front of her and laughed happily.

Li Yaya is grateful that despite the hardships she's faced in life, she's met kind people along the way. The cake shop owner, the sisters, the bar manager, the landlady, and even the doctors and nurses who attended to Li Jianren during his hospital stay all warmed Li Yaya's heart with their kindness.

This is how the world is. There are always things worth remembering, and there are always things that make you reluctant to let go.

The cake was carefully packed, and the electric car drove through the brightly lit streets, as if the lights were especially bright today.

Going to see someone you like, even on the way to work, will make you feel particularly happy. This is the most realistic portrayal of Li Yaya's mood at this moment.

Stop at red light, go at green light, stop and go to see you.

It was still the back door. Jiang Yi had become accustomed to waiting here during this time period, waiting for Li Yaya's arrival.

Sometimes I smoke a cigarette, sometimes I kick stones, but I can never wait long.

Turning into the alley, they passed a speed bump. No matter how slowly they rode, Li Yaya's third-hand electric bike would make a soft sound in the night sky. Jiang Yi knew that Li Yaya had arrived.

With a "clang" sound, Jiang Yi knew that someone had arrived.

"What are you holding in your hand?" When the person came closer, Jiang Yi saw what Li Yaya was holding in her hand and asked curiously.

Li Yaya put the cake in her hand on the steps beside her and started to open it while speaking, "It's a cake. Many people came to the store to buy cakes today, saying that there is a sense of ritual for the holidays. Although I don't understand, I thought that since it's a holiday, and it's convenient, I just made one." Li Yaya said these words as lightly as possible. What if they didn't mean to celebrate the holiday at all? What if they felt they had too much to do? What if they said they had to go to work soon?

But there are not so many what-ifs in this world.

Jiang Yi immediately broke into a huge grin. "Douya, I'm so touched. What should I do? I haven't even prepared a gift for you."

Li Yaya looked up at Jiang Yi in bewilderment, "Ah? It's okay, this isn't a gift for you. I want to eat too."

Li Yaya is a person who is born without understanding of romance.

Jiang Yi sat on the other side of the cake. "But~" Jiang Yi looked at the cake thoughtfully. "Bean Sprout, the craftsmanship of the chef in your shop seems average. Look, the cake is not smooth at all."

"Do you understand it well?"

"I don't really understand it. I watched my mom learn it at home before, but she gave up because she couldn't smooth the surface." Jiang Yi spoke very logically, but Li Yaya had a blank expression on her face.

"Well, you're right, it's not smooth. Because I did it." It was hard to tell whether Li Yaya was angry or not from her tone, but it gave people a feeling of a forced smile.

Jiang Yi knew he was finished! He froze in place.

Help: What should I do if my girlfriend gets angry after just a few days of dating?

"Douya, I didn't know it was you who did it. I thought—" Jiang Yi explained in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Douya—"

"Do you want to light candles?" Li Yaya ignored Jiang Yi's apology because her mind was full of work after eating.

"Yes! But wait a minute." After saying that, Jiang Yi stood up and walked into the door. Half a minute later, he came out again, followed by a colleague.

Then he sat back down in his previous position, put candles on the cake, lit it with a lighter, carefully picked up the cake, shifted his hips a few times, and got closer to Li Yaya. Then he said to the colleague who followed behind him, "Okay, take the picture."

"What are you filming?"

"Tsk~ look at the camera."

Li Jianren was right. Li Yaya looked like her mother. She was very beautiful, with curved eyebrows and a gentle smile that brought a touch of elegance to her. Her eyes were like water, as graceful as a deer in the woods. Her manners were as clear as a mountain stream, and even the tips of her hair seemed to be brushed by the pine wind.

Just like what is written in the poem, "Her face is like lotus, her eyebrows are like willow leaves, and every frown and smile is a poem."

The photo is frozen at this moment.

Jiang Yihui held his phone and pondered carefully. Honestly, being in a relationship with Li Yaya always felt like getting a great deal. He didn't care. He was going to post on WeChat Moments.

Li Yaya divided the cake into two, giving one piece to herself and Jiang Yi, and gave another piece to the colleague who was taking the photo. She then asked him to bring the other piece to Huanhuan when he went in.

There were only two people left at the door.

Under the dim light, two people leaned against each other and ate cake.

"Does it look like the day we first met?" Jiang Yi said.

Li Yaya took a look, moved her butt a few steps to the side, and after keeping a distance from Jiang Yi, she spoke, "It's like that now. We weren't this close back then."

This is Li Yaya's unique dry humor.

They had their first conversation here. That day, Li Yaya was also sitting here, and there was also a cake. The only difference was that it was Li Yaya's birthday.

That day, she didn't seem to have made any special wishes, but God miraculously let her meet Jiang Yi.

Someone ate cake with her, blew out candles with her, and sang birthday songs to her.

Life's fate is like this; don't force it. The thread of fate never reveals its direction. From the front, it may appear a chaotic mess, but only when you turn it over can you see the complete pattern. Those seemingly accidental swirls eventually reveal their destined direction at some turning point.

Some people and some things, just let it go, they will come naturally when it is time.

After eating, I went back to work. Jiang Yi was still there, struggling with what to post on his Moments.

I typed and deleted and typed again over and over again, and in the end there was only a heart, a red heart.

It's love, her and her love.

Then he got up and went into the store.

It's time for him to take the stage.

Sing for a while, then take a break. The first song is Mayday's "Cheers". In the festive atmosphere, we also need to sing some songs that fit the occasion - cheers to the present and to the future.

At midnight, I will return to the stage and count down with everyone.

The clock struck midnight, and the noisy sounds in the bar gradually died down. Everyone looked at the stage together, and the countdown LED screen showed red and white Arabic numerals.

“10——” The countdown began.

“9——” The crowd was noisy.

"8——" The digitally changing music makes people's hearts beat fast.

"7——" The digitally changing music makes people's hearts beat fast.

“6——” 2013 is their 2013.

“5——” Every year thereafter, they would celebrate the New Year together.

“4——” He wanted to stand next to her.

“3——” He strode off the stage.

“2——” He walked through the crowd and appeared beside Li Yaya.

“1——” He kissed Li Yaya’s lips.

Li Yaya's eyes widened. Amidst the screams and music that filled the air, she couldn't make a sound.

They kissed for the first time, in front of a crowd.

2013 is here.