new year
As the Lunar New Year approaches, the South Island is free from the harshness of winter, only experiencing warm breezes baked by the sun.
Liang An and Ling Xiao walked side by side on the beach outside the apartment, the fine sand beneath their feet as soft as freshly sifted flour. The setting sun painted the sky an orange-pink hue, and the waves gently lapped against the shoreline, making a rhythmic and gentle lapping sound.
Since his "kiss" with Ling Xiao, Liang An's body has gradually returned to normal. The black bracelet on his left wrist has become almost invisible, like an ordinary decoration. The dark gold plot indicator on the bracelet's groove has shrunk to 50% and then remained motionless. In contrast, the amber-colored life bar seems to be growing stronger with each passing day.
Ling Xiao had somehow learned how to take care of people. Every morning he would prepare warm honey water and insist that Liang An drink it; he studied nutritional recipes and clumsily but earnestly learned to cook; he would quietly prepare fruit while Liang An was reading, and he would put a coat on him when the sea breeze turned cool at night.
And in countless beautiful moments, without warning... I'll kiss him—in the steamy bathroom, under the dim lamplight in the study, on the soft carpet in the bedroom, and in the gentle evening breeze on the balcony...
With Ling Xiao's meticulous care and companionship, the persistent dull pain gradually disappeared, and the body seemed to respond to this healing.
As Liang An thought of this, a faint blush crept onto the tips of her ears, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up, revealing a sweet smile. Her eyes shimmered with barely concealed joy.
"There's less than a week until Chinese New Year." Ling Xiao's voice rang in my ears, tinged with a hint of probing. "This year... I plan not to spend Chinese New Year with either my parents."
Liang An turned to look at Ling Xiao. His profile looked particularly soft in the setting sun, and his eyelashes cast small shadows on his eyelids.
"Why?" Liang An asked softly.
Ling Xiao stopped and turned to face Liang An: "I want to spend the New Year with you. Is that alright?"
The sea breeze ruffled the wisps of hair on Ling Xiao's forehead. Liang An saw the expectation in his eyes. "Is it because of me that you decided to spend the New Year on the South Island?"
Ling Xiao stepped forward and grasped Liang An's hand: "It's not just for you, but also for myself. My parents have their own lives now. Although they try their best to consider my feelings, it's just not the same New Year atmosphere as before. The older I get, the more out of place I feel."
Ling Xiao paused for a moment, then continued, "These past few years, I've always dreaded the New Year. My dad or my mom, they're always putting on a show, afraid of hurting me. This love is too heavy. I'm like someone standing outside a glass window, watching a heartwarming stage play that has nothing to do with me. My dad and mom, their love for me is real, but it's also true that after they separated, I have no home anymore. I don't want, and I don't wish for either my parents or me to carry such a heavy burden during the New Year."
He gently cupped Liang An's face in his hands, his voice as tender as moonlight. "But this year, everything is different. Because of you, I'm looking forward to the New Year again. I look forward to writing our own New Year's Day together. We don't have to follow other people's customs, nor do we have to strive for superficial perfection. We can put up the Spring Festival couplets we choose and cook the dishes we love, according to our own wishes. Being with you is what I imagine my home to be like."
His voice lowered, "Liang An, would you like to stay up with me on New Year's Eve and create our own little traditions and festive atmosphere?"
Liang An stepped forward and hugged Ling Xiao, resting her chin on his shoulder, and whispered firmly in his ear, "I do."
This is the first New Year after Liang An's parents passed away. He is so lucky to have met Ling Xiao and rediscover the original form of "home".
South Island, this warm island, is so special to them.
Here, they went from friends to lovers. Countless times they held hands, hugged, and... kissed. South Island witnessed their first love in its entirety—naive, passionate, and pure.
"Time flies so fast," Liang An sighed, gazing at the distant view where the sea and sky met. "Winter break is almost over."
Ling Xiao was silent for a moment, then tightened his arms around Liang An and pressed himself close: "We will spend many more holidays and many New Years together."
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On New Year's Eve, Liang An and Ling Xiao got up very early, quickly ate breakfast, and went out together to the largest local market for New Year's goods.
The market was bustling with people, red lanterns hung from the eaves, and Spring Festival couplets and the character "福" (good fortune) covered the ground.
Standing in this sea of red, Liang An felt dizzy and disoriented. The red and bustling scene was so chaotic that he couldn't tell which way was which.
Ling Xiao naturally took his wrist and led him through the bustling crowd. "Be careful not to get separated," he said with a smile, his voice blending into the noisy background.
The vendors' shouts, mixed with the soft rhythm of the local dialect, were: "Rice cake—rising higher every step of the way!" "The character '福' (fortune) upside down, good luck arrives!" The air was filled with the aroma of roasted nuts and seeds, the sweet fragrance of fresh flowers, and the faint salty smell of seafood. Everything was full, vibrant, and full of life.
They stopped at the stall where people were writing Spring Festival couplets. The old gentleman wielded his brush with swift, flowing strokes. "Young man, would you like one?"
Ling Xiao looked at Liang An, his eyes reflecting the surrounding red halo: "What should we write?"
Liang An's heart skipped a beat. After thinking for a moment, she whispered, "Peace and joy." The words landed on the red paper, the ink still wet, gleaming in the sunlight like a small, solemn promise.
While buying live fish, water splashed onto Liang An's hand, leaving it icy cold. Ling Xiao smiled and naturally wiped it dry with a tissue. The old woman selling fruit insisted on giving them two large, golden mangoes: "Try the sweetness of our Southern Island! May your New Year be sweet and joyful!"
Their hands gradually filled with bags—heavy groceries, light "Fu" characters (symbols of good fortune), and a pot of kumquats, signifying "great luck." Like two fledglings carrying mud to build their nest, they slowly filled the outline of their "home" with tangible warmth.
As they left the market, the sunlight was just right, still carrying a touch of the soft morning air. Ling Xiao handed Liang An the lightest bag, filled with paper-cut window decorations and colorful lanterns, while he carried the heavier items. He turned around, his smile clean and bright: "Going home."
A few sporadic firecrackers crackled and popped in the distance, filling the New Year's air. Liang An gripped the bag in his hand tightly; it seemed to contain not only New Year's goods, but also their sincere and fervent anticipation for their first complete New Year's Eve together.
Back at the apartment, the two got busy.
While putting up the Spring Festival couplets, Liang An was in charge of straightening them, while Ling Xiao climbed onto a chair to paste them. Sunlight streamed through the French windows, gilding Ling Xiao's focused profile. Liang An looked up at him from below, suddenly wishing time could stand still at this moment.
"A little higher on the left... That's it!"
With red paper and black characters neatly pasted on the door, this temporary dwelling suddenly took on the appearance of a "home".
Preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner is a joyful yet chaotic affair.
Ling Xiao was in charge of preparing the seafood, while Liang An prepared the vegetables and seasonings. Steam rose from the kitchen, and chicken soup simmered on the stove, bubbling away. They bumped into each other occasionally, exchanging smiles, the air filled with the sweet aroma of coconut and the freshness of seafood.
Dinner was more plentiful than expected—steamed fish, boiled shrimp, garlic scallops, black pepper beef tenderloin, sweet and sour pork ribs, garlic abalone, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a pot of steaming coconut chicken soup.
"Happy New Year." Ling Xiao raised the glass of juice.
"Happy New Year." Liang An smiled and clinked glasses with him.
Halfway through the New Year's Eve dinner, Ling Xiao's phone rang. He wiped his hands and winked at Liang An: "It's a video call from my parents."
The screen connected, splitting into two images. On the left was Ling Xiao's father, in what appeared to be a study, dressed in a casual sweater; on the right was his mother, with the balcony of a warm seaside hotel visible behind them. They both spoke almost simultaneously: "Son, Happy New Year!"
Ling Xiao smiled and pulled Liang An to his side: "Dad, Mom, this is Liang An."
Liang An greeted them somewhat nervously. Both of them on the screen smiled warmly.
"It's Xiao An! I've heard Xiao Xiao mention him several times." Ling Xiao's mother's voice was gentle. "What a handsome young man! Happy New Year!"
Ling Xiao's father nodded: "The two of you are cooking for yourselves? Not bad. It looks like a feast."
The conversation in the video was natural and friendly. Ling Xiao's parents didn't ask too many questions, only reminding him to be careful and jokingly telling him not to burn down the kitchen.
"Have a good holiday, you two." Before hanging up, Lingxiao's mother said, "Happy New Year, both of you."
"Happy New Year!" Ling Xiao's father said. "By the way, I transferred some lucky money. Have a happy and fun-filled New Year!"
After hanging up the video call, Liang An said to Ling Xiao, "Your parents are easy to get along with." His expression was somewhat melancholy, a silent remembrance of his deceased parents.
Ling Xiao put down her phone, walked to Liang An's side, and gently wrapped her arms around his waist: "You still have me. We will become each other's family."
Liang An nodded and placed a light kiss on Ling Xiao's lips.
After dinner, they snuggled on the sofa to watch the Spring Festival Gala. The skits weren't particularly funny, and the song and dance numbers were a bit noisy, but they huddled together, commenting on the program and sharing a bowl of washed fruit. Ling Xiao's fingers occasionally brushed against Liang An's, the warmth passing between them, and neither of them moved away.
As midnight approached, the countdown began on television. They went out onto the balcony; the sea breeze was gentle, and the night sky was deep and clear.
"Five, four, three, two, one—Happy New Year!"
Fireworks suddenly burst forth on the distant coastline, their dazzling light illuminating the sea. Cheers erupted from the buildings; the new year had truly arrived.
Back inside, Ling Xiao suddenly produced two red envelopes as if by magic: "New Year's money, one for each of you."
Liang An opened the bulging red envelope, which contained not only money but also a handwritten card. It read: "May my beloved enjoy longevity, peace, and joy!" It was signed Ling Xiao.
"What is your New Year's wish?" Ling Xiao asked.
Looking out the window at the lingering glow of the fireworks, Liang An whispered, "I hope... every year from now on, you'll be by my side, helping us build our little home together..."
Ling Xiao held his hand: "Every year from now on, I will work hard to help you realize this wish."
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