Happy New Year
Lin Jingshang looked up and met Xie Dang's calm yet reassuring gaze, and all the trepidation in his heart turned into joy.
"It's a deal then!" He laughed and waved to Xie Dang.
"I'm off now! See you after the New Year!"
See you after the New Year.
The door closed gently.
Xie Dang's gaze fell on the two pots of money trees placed side by side, then shifted to the azure sky outside the window, and the corners of his mouth curved upwards.
Lin Jingshang's hometown is a small southern city with a slow pace of life. The festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year is particularly strong here, with lanterns and decorations adorning the streets and the air filled with the aroma of food.
Back home, surrounded by his parents' warm greetings and the lively atmosphere of relatives and friends, Lin Jingshang was quickly overwhelmed by the familiar warmth.
The daytime schedule was packed with activities: visiting relatives and friends, buying New Year's goods, and helping to prepare a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner.
In the stillness of the night, Lin Jingshang lay on the bed he had slept in since childhood, gazing at the unfamiliar starry sky outside the window. His thoughts would involuntarily drift to the person who might still be working overtime.
His contact with Xie Dang was not interrupted by distance; it was usually Lin Jingshang who initiated it.
He would take pictures of the sausages drying on his balcony, the dishes his mother cooked, or familiar scenes from the corners of the small town, and send them to Xie Dang.
[Lin Jingshang]: My mom's steamed pork with rice flour is absolutely delicious. (Attached photo: Steamed pork with rice flour)
【Xie Dang】: The color is rich and the meat appears to be quite tender.
[Lin Jingshang]: Went to the flower market today, it was packed with people. (Attached photo: The bustling flower market)
[Xie Dang]: Population density exceeds the standard, please pay attention to safety.
[Lin Jingshang]: It's starting to get colder here too, thankfully I brought a scarf. (Attached photo: a corner of a selfie with a beige scarf wrapped around my neck)
[Xie Dang]: Yes, the heat preservation effect meets the standard.
Xie Dang's reply was consistent with his usual style—calm and objective—but Lin Jingshang could read something different in it. Xie Dang had been carefully reading every picture and every sentence he shared.
Sometimes, Xie Dang would also send messages on his own initiative.
[Xie Dang]: The first phase of the project has been delivered.
[Xie Dang]: Your string of pearls is growing well.
Sometimes it's a night view outside the office window.
---
On New Year's Eve, Lin Jingshang helped his parents put up Spring Festival couplets and prepare the New Year's Eve dinner, keeping them very busy. The TV was on, playing the New Year's Eve program, and an enticing aroma wafted from the kitchen, filling the house with the lively atmosphere of family reunion.
Beneath this bustling scene, Lin Jingshang harbored a deep sense of anticipation.
He glanced at his phone every now and then, keeping track of the time.
In the evening, the family sat around the dining table, enjoying a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner while watching the Spring Festival Gala, their laughter never ceasing.
As midnight approached, firecrackers went off one after another outside, and dazzling fireworks illuminated the night sky.
Lin Jingshang's heartbeat quickened along with the countdown.
He excused himself to go to the restroom, took his phone, and returned to his room.
It was exactly midnight.
His phone screen lit up right on time; it was a video call request from Xie Dang.
Lin Jingshang took a deep breath and pressed the answer button.
On the other end of the screen, Xie Dang's face appeared.
He seemed to be in his office, with the familiar bookshelf and the two potted string plants side by side in the background, and he looked somewhat tired.
Lin Jingshang looked at the person on the screen and unconsciously softened his voice: "Xie Dang, Happy New Year's Eve."
"Happy Lunar New Year's Eve," Xie Dang's voice came through the receiver.
"Have you had your New Year's Eve dinner yet?"
"Yeah, I just finished eating and I'm watching the Spring Festival Gala."
Lin Jingshang turned the camera out the window and filmed the fireworks that were rising sporadically in the night sky of the small town.
"We've started setting off firecrackers here, can you hear them over there?"
"I can hear some of it, but it's not too noisy."
"Are you... still working overtime?" Lin Jingshang asked.
"It's almost finished," Xie Dang replied.
"Don't overwork yourself," Lin Jingshang advised.
"Mm." Xie Dang responded, his gaze falling on Lin Jingshang's face on the screen. "You too, get some rest."
The New Year's bells seemed to have rung, and the sound of firecrackers became even more frequent.
"Another year has passed." Lin Jingshang looked at Xie Dang's calm expression on the screen and said softly.
"Hmm." Xie Dang looked at him. "Happy New Year, Lin Jingshang."
Happy New Year, Xie Dang.
The video call didn't last long. After hanging up, Lin Jingshang's anxiety caused by the distance completely disappeared.
The Spring Festival holiday has passed in the blink of an eye.
Lin Jingshang boarded the high-speed train for his return journey with a full load of luggage.
During the three-hour drive, he spent most of the time looking out the window at the scenery, wondering if Xie Dang would come to pick him up.
He had previously given a vague mention of an approximate arrival time, without specifying anything.
The train slowly pulled into the station, and Lin Jingshang dragged his heavy suitcase out of the carriage with the flow of people.
The platform was bustling with people and filled with noise.
He walked forward, subconsciously searching for that familiar figure among the crowd waiting to pick up people.
I didn't see it.
Lin Jingshang was somewhat disappointed, but quickly felt relieved.
Xie Dang is so busy, and he didn't even say he would come to pick me up, so what am I waiting for?
He shook his head, pulled his suitcase, and prepared to take the subway.
I had only taken a few steps when my phone rang. It was Xie Dang.
"Hello?"
"Exit, Section C." The background noise was somewhat loud.
Lin Jingshang paused, his heart skipping a beat for no apparent reason: "...You're here?"
"Mm," Xie Dang replied, "I see you."
Lin Jingshang subconsciously looked up and, sure enough, saw that tall figure outside the railing of the C-section passage.
Xie Dang, wearing a long black coat, still stood out in the bustling crowd.
He was holding his phone, his gaze passing through the crowd and landing on Lin Jingshang.
Lin Jingshang pulled his suitcase and quickened his pace to walk over.
"Why are you here?" He walked up to Xie Dang and looked at him with an undisguised smile on his face.
"It's on my way." Xie Dang took the obviously overweight suitcase from his hand without changing his expression and weighed it in his hand.
What did you bring?
Lin Jingshang smiled sheepishly: "My mom stuffed all sorts of food into my mouth, it's a bit heavy."
"Okay." Xie Dang pulled his suitcase and turned to walk towards the parking lot.
"The car is over there."
Lin Jingshang followed behind him, watching him effortlessly drag the suitcase that even he found difficult.
After getting into the car, Lin Jingshang fastened his seatbelt and secretly glanced at Xie Dang.
He seemed to have lost a little weight in the few days I hadn't seen him, but he looked to be in good spirits.
"Are all the projects finished?" Lin Jingshang asked.
"Hmm, how's your hometown?"
"It's great, the festive atmosphere is strong, but we ate too much."
Lin Jingshang leaned back in his chair, relaxing, and began to ramble on about the fun things that happened during his vacation: his relatives' kids, the gathering with his childhood friends, and the hot springs he couldn't go to with Xie Dang...
Xie Dang occasionally responded, indicating that he was listening.
The car pulled up in front of Lin Jingshang's apartment building.
Xie Dang parked the car and helped him take the heavy suitcase down.
"Thank you for picking me up," Lin Jingshang said again.
"You're welcome." Xie Dang looked at him. "Working tomorrow?"
"Okay, I'll rest for a day and officially start work the day after tomorrow."
Xie Dang nodded: "Okay, I'll be going now."
"etc."
Lin Jingshang called out to him, turned around, took out something wrapped in oil paper from the side pocket of his suitcase, and handed it to him.
"This is cured pork that my mom made herself. It tastes really good. Why don't you take it and try it?"
Xie Dang was silent for two seconds before reaching out to take it.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome." Lin Jingshang smiled. "Then...see you at the company the day after tomorrow?"
"Okay." Xie Dang nodded, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment. "See you at the company."
Watching Xie Dang's car drive away, Lin Jingshang dragged his suitcase upstairs. Opening the door, the room, unoccupied for several days, felt a little chilly, but his heart was warmed.
He took out his phone and sent a message to Xie Dang.
[Lin Jingshang]: I'm home.
[Xie Dang]: Hmm.
A little while later, another message came in.
[Xie Dang]: How do you eat cured pork?
Lin Jingshang couldn't help but laugh out loud when he saw the message. He could almost picture Xie Dang staring intently at the bag of cured meat, seriously considering a cooking plan.
[Lin Jingshang]: You can steam it or stir-fry it with garlic sprouts! I'll send you the recipe later!
[Xie Dang]: Okay.
After putting down his phone, Lin Jingshang began packing his luggage.
On the first day back at work, colleagues shared local specialties from their hometowns and exchanged stories of their holiday experiences, filling the office with lively conversation.
Lin Jingshang shared the local specialties he brought with his familiar colleagues, and naturally saved some for Xie Dang as well. It was homemade dried sweet potato, sweet but not greasy.
He walked to the door of the president's office. The door was open, and Xie Dang was already inside working on documents.
Lin Jingshang knocked on the door frame: "Xie Dang."
Xie Dang looked up: "You're back?"
"Hmm." Lin Jingshang walked in and placed the paper bag containing dried sweet potatoes on his desk.
"Try this, it's homemade."
Xie Dang glanced at the paper bag and nodded: "Thank you."
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