Chapter 44
night
Lin Li and her father returned home in a car driven by an acquaintance.
On the other side
Tong Yao had just finished washing up and sat down on the sofa with a book in her hand.
Tong's mother came over with some floral water and garlic, and gently massaged her ankle: "What kind of bug bit you? Your foot is swollen like a radish." She examined it carefully, "Didn't I tell you to study at home?"
Tong Yao turned a page of her book without looking up: "I didn't go anywhere, just... I got bitten by bedbugs..."
Before she could finish speaking, Tong's mother, as if she had discovered something amazing, pointed to the red spots on her neck and exclaimed, "These bedbugs bite necks?!"
He then reached for the garlic and began rubbing it on her neck.
Tong Yao quickly got up and moved away: "Mom, it will be fine in a couple of days. I just took a shower and I don't want to smell like garlic."
Back in her room, Tong Yao closed the door and couldn't help but laugh.
It was indeed bitten by a "bedbug"—a "bedbug" named Lin Li.
-
Time flies, and the end of the year is just around the corner.
At the entrance of the residential area, Lin Li gazed at the red lanterns swaying on the branches, the air thick with a faint smell of gunpowder.
The new year is coming soon.
A private car slowly pulled over to the side of the road. Lin's mother got out of the car and, seeing him, instructed, "Quick, get the things from the trunk!"
Lin Li responded and left, the room filled with New Year's goods prepared by her mother and sister.
After everyone got out of the car, brother-in-law Chen Xiao leaned out of the driver's seat and said, "Mom, you guys go up first, I'll find a place to park."
The older sister, Lin Qian, walked ahead carrying her little nephew. The little guy nestled on his mother's shoulder, his bright black eyes curiously looking around.
Lin Li followed behind, unable to resist teasing him: "Call him Uncle! Uncle!"
Lin Qian laughed and said, "It's only been six months, it's too early to talk about it."
"I was just teasing him." As soon as Lin Li finished speaking, his little nephew opened his mouth, and he was full of anticipation. But the little guy just spat out a saliva bubble and laughed happily.
Lin Li naturally took out a tissue and gently wiped away his drool.
"I was just about to ask you to get some paper," the older sister said, somewhat surprised. "I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful."
Lin Li threw the crumpled paper into the trash can and smiled sheepishly.
When they got home, Lin's father, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, poked his head out of the kitchen: "Oh! Whose precious little darling is here?" He glanced behind Lin Li, "Where's Chen Xiao?"
"I'm going to park the car. I'll be up in a bit." Lin Qian put her son on the sofa.
Lin Li put away the New Year's goods and then hugged her little nephew. Seeing this, her sister teased, "You like him so much? Take him to your room to play, he'll probably be asleep soon."
Lin Li happily carried the little one to her bed.
Watching the little bundle of flesh wriggling on the bed, he suddenly remembered something, picked up his phone, and made a video call.
The camera quickly lit up, showing Tong Yao standing outside, raising an eyebrow at him: "What?"
Lin Li first asked about her foot, and was relieved to hear that the swelling had gone down. Then he scooped up his little nephew, who was crawling around on the bed, with one hand and held him on his lap: "Let me show you, my nephew."
The little guy was a bit confused. He stared at Tong Yao on the screen for two seconds, then suddenly clapped his hands happily and shouted "Wow!" as he tried to grab the phone.
Lin Li quickly held his phone up high. His nephew couldn't reach it, so he twisted his body and climbed off his lap.
"This child is a bit naughty," he explained awkwardly.
Tong Yao smiled and said, "It's quite cute." Then she asked, "Is your hand better?"
Lin Li's eyes darted around, and she drawled, "No—good—"
“Okay,” Tong Yao said, a half-smile playing on her lips. “I’ll give you a proper ‘massage’ when school starts.”
Lin Li immediately changed her tune: "Alright, alright! If you don't believe me, I'll check you now!" She then made a move to lift her clothes.
The video call ended abruptly.
[Pretentious]: Get lost.
Lin Li touched his nose in frustration—his trick had been seen through.
After lunch
My sister put my nephew to sleep in Lin Li's room.
Lin Li sat to the side, watching this heartwarming scene, her heart softening. Only when the little one's breathing became long and even did the siblings quietly slip away.
My parents went out to play mahjong, and my brother-in-law is catching up on sleep in the guest room; driving is tiring. Only my brother and I are left in the living room.
Lin Qian sat down on the sofa and glanced over: "How are things between you and that girl now?"
Lin Li was speechless. Why did you still remember this?
"Well... that's how it is," he said vaguely.
"How far have we progressed?" the older sister pressed.
Lin Li pursed her lips, not daring to answer. Was she supposed to say they held hands, hugged, and... kissed?
Seeing his expression, Lin Qian's brows furrowed and her face darkened. The next second, she slapped Lin Li on the back with considerable force.
"You're all still young, you must be careful!" Her voice was stern and left no room for argument. "Did you hear me? You absolutely mustn't do anything you shouldn't!"
Lin Li's face flushed, and she got up, wanting to escape the conversation.
"Why are you running?" Lin Qian grabbed his wrist, her eyes sharp. "Feeling guilty?"
She looked at her younger brother, her eyes filled with disappointment and worry. She hesitated, then finally lowered her voice and solemnly warned him:
"Lin Li, you're only sixteen! There are some responsibilities you can't afford to bear! I'm warning you, you absolutely... you absolutely must pay attention to safety measures!"
Lin Li's face instantly turned bright red, like a boiling kettle: "You... what nonsense are you talking about! How old are we? How could this be!"
Oh dear! How embarrassing!
He couldn't take it anymore, so he broke free from his sister's hand, opened the door, and rushed out without looking back.
After wandering around outside for a while, the cold wind finally eased Lin Li's irritation and embarrassment. Just as she reached the entrance of a primary school supermarket, she saw a familiar figure carrying a large basket of fireworks, walking with difficulty.
"Tang Yue?" Lin Li called out.
Tang Yue looked up at the sound of his voice, saw it was him, and breathed a sigh of relief: "Lin Li? Perfect timing, quickly help me carry this, it's so heavy."
Lin Li stepped forward and took the basket of colorful fireworks, asking curiously, "Are you buying so many to set up a stall?"
"Why set up a stall? Just have fun by yourself." Tang Yue shook her aching arms.
Just then, a little boy popped out from behind her.
Carrying a heavy plastic bag filled with all sorts of firecrackers and snap pops, he excitedly shouted, "Brother Lin Li!"
Lin Li smiled and patted the boy's head: "It's Tang Xing, huh? Buying so many cannons, are you planning to bomb the school to the ground?"
This is Tang Yue's half-brother, who has just turned eight. Although Tang Yue's parents divorced early and she lives with her mother, she has an unusually good relationship with her brother, who is much younger than her, and often brings Tang Xing to play with them.
"Brother Lin Li, do you have a lighter?" Tang Xing asked, looking up at him expectantly.
Tang Yue also realized: "Oh right, a lighter! If you have one, we won't buy one. We can go to the open space by the river to set off fireworks together!"
Lin Li helplessly spread his hands: "I don't smoke, where would I get a lighter?" He glanced at the supermarket, "Let's buy one now, it's on me."
Before long, the three of them, fully equipped, headed towards the nearby riverbank. The open space was wide and far from residential buildings, and was the unofficial "fireworks and firecrackers setting-off point" for the local children.
Winter days are short and dusk has fallen. Tang Xing eagerly unpacked the package, while Lin Li lit the fuse with the newly bought lighter.
With a hiss, the fuse, sparking, shortened rapidly.
"Tang Xing, step back!" Tang Yue quickly pulled her overly excited younger brother back.
The next second, "whoosh—pop!" a bright light shot into the sky, exploding into a dazzling golden chrysanthemum, instantly illuminating the three people's upturned faces and reflecting the slowly flowing river.
"Wow! So beautiful!" Tang Xing clapped his hands and jumped up.
Lin Li looked at the dissipating sparks in the sky and felt a little nostalgic. In two years, fireworks will no longer be allowed in the city.
"Want to set off a few too?" Lin Li handed her a "lightning flower".
Tang Yue took it and carefully lit it. The slender metal rod immediately emitted a hissing white spark, like holding a tiny galaxy. She waved the sparks, drawing circles in the air, her smile bright.
On this evening filled with the sounds of firecrackers and the lively atmosphere of family life, Lin Li, having temporarily escaped her family's "interrogation," was immersed in simple joy.
However, he didn't know that not far away, his brother-in-law Chen Xiao, who had been following him out,
I happened to witness the scene of "two women and one man" happily setting off fireworks by the river—in the twilight, Tang Yue was waving her sparklers and laughing happily, and standing with Lin Li, they looked...exceptionally harmonious.
Chen Xiao stroked his chin thoughtfully, then turned and walked towards home without disturbing him. He muttered to himself, "Qianqian asked me to talk to him, it seems... this situation is a bit more complicated than I thought."
"Want to light it?" Tang Yue looked at the largest "Manjianghong" firework tube, a little intimidated, and stuffed the lighter she had just bought into Lin Li's hand.
Lin Li pulled her hand back and shoved the lighter back, saying awkwardly, "You should light it, I... I'm a little afraid of the noise."
The fireworks were so powerful that he didn't dare to light them.
Tang Xing watched the two of them pushing and shoving each other, and curled his lip in disdain. While his sister and brother Lin Li were still "being modest," he swiftly pulled out a burning sparkler, rushed forward, and precisely placed a tiny spark on the fuse of the "Man Jiang Hong" (a type of Chinese wine)!
"Sizzle—"
"Tang Xing!!" the two exclaimed simultaneously.
Lin Li reacted extremely quickly, grabbing the little boy by the collar and pulling him back several steps. Almost simultaneously—
"Bang!!"
"Bang! Bang!"
The firework tubes standing on the ground emitted a deep, powerful bang, causing the ground to tremble slightly.
Immediately afterwards, fireballs enveloped in light roared and shot into the dark blue night sky, reaching their highest point—
"Bang—smack!"
A huge blue flower burst open with a roar, its light radiating outwards and illuminating almost half the sky.
"Wow!!" Tang Xing jumped up excitedly, and Tang Yue also looked up, her face full of amazement.
So beautiful! Lin Li's first thought was: Tong Yao must see this too!
He almost instinctively pulled out his phone and quickly dialed Tong Yao's video call. His heart was inexplicably racing.
The call was answered almost instantly.
However, what came from the other end of the screen was the same sound of fireworks going off and the noise of people.
"Lin Li? You're watching the fireworks too?" Tong Yao's voice came with a hint of surprise and amusement.
They both paused for a moment, then, as if by telepathy, they flipped their phone cameras and pointed them at the dazzling night sky in front of them.
Across the screen, two different night skies are simultaneously illuminated by the same dazzling light.
"Look! Fireworks!" they exclaimed almost in unison, then burst into laughter.
Lin Li's "Man Jiang Hong" is magnificent, while Tong Yao's "Huo Shu Yin Hua" is long and delicate.
Different lights and shadows flickered on their young faces, as if through this small screen, the two people had crossed space and stood side by side, sharing the same New Year's romance and excitement.
Seeing Lin Li smiling intently at her phone screen, Tang Yue tactfully pulled Tang Xing back, who was about to join in, and pointed in the direction of home.
Tang Xing's face was full of confusion. He lowered his voice and asked, "Sister, shouldn't we wait for Brother Lin Li to go back together?"
Tang Yue glanced back at Lin Li, who was still engrossed in the video call, and a teasing smile curved her lips. She pulled her younger brother along as they walked, saying, "Why are we waiting for him? He'll probably be grinning like an idiot for a while after he finishes his call. Let's not disturb him."
"Huh? Why are you grinning like that?" Eight-year-old Tang Xing clearly didn't understand the deeper meaning behind his sister's words.
His attention quickly shifted, and he tugged at Tang Yue's sleeve, asking expectantly, "Then... Sister, who has the lighter now?"
"All you ever think about is this!" Tang Yue chuckled, ruffling his hair and pulling out the brand-new lighter from her pocket, waving it in front of him.
"Here it is! But I'm warning you," she said, her smile fading and her face hardening, "You're not allowed to secretly take it home to set off firecrackers, understand? If I find out, I won't be taking you out next time."
"Okay!" Tang Xing readily agreed, but his eyes were still glued to the lighter, and he was secretly plotting something.
The siblings gradually disappeared along the riverbank, leaving behind the boy who was grinning foolishly at his phone.
_
After an unknown amount of time, the last glimmer of light from the fireworks faded into the night, and complete silence fell. A faint smell of gunpowder lingered in the air, and in the distance, the sounds of families calling their children home for dinner could be heard.
The festive atmosphere of the New Year hasn't dissipated; it's just temporarily quiet. It will become lively again once midnight arrives.
The wind by the river grew colder. Lin Li rubbed his hands together and, with Tong Yao's tacit understanding, turned the camera back, their faces reflected on the screen once again.
The silence after the brilliance makes certain emotions even clearer.
Lin Li stared at Tong Yao's face on the screen, her complexion appearing exceptionally serene and pale in the night. His sister's admonitions from the afternoon had long since vanished from his mind. A surge of emotion welled up within him, and his voice softened unconsciously, carrying a soft, dependent tone:
"I miss you." He paused, his eyes filled with expectation, and softly asked, "Do you miss me?"
On the other end of the phone, Tong Yao was clearly stunned.
Her long eyelashes trembled, and her gaze seemed to shift slightly for a moment. She didn't answer, and the next second, the video call abruptly ended.
The screen suddenly went black, revealing Lin Li's somewhat bewildered face.
Before he could even feel a surge of disappointment, his phone beeped crisply.
Pretending to be serious: See you when school starts.
Three simple words, no answer, yet it seemed to say everything. That awkward yet subtle way of responding, unique to Tong Yao, made Lin Li's heart, which had just been hanging in suspense, fall back to reality with a thud.
She likes me!
Okay, see you when school starts.
He put his phone back in his pocket, put his hands in his pockets, stepped on the red paper scraps scattered on the ground, hummed a song, and skipped home.
"You love me, I love you..."
Lin Li opened the door with a smile, humming a song, but the song stopped abruptly the next moment.
The brother-in-law pulled Lin Li into the stairwell, his face serious.
Lin Li blinked blankly. What's wrong?
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