Chapter 48 Why aren't the New Year's fireworks the same as his...?
"We're not having hot pot today," Xie Xingzhi said, looking at her. "How about we go for Western food?"
"Why are we going out for Western food?" Yu Kui asked blankly. "Let's just grab something to eat."
“I want to eat steak,” Xie Xingzhi said matter-of-factly, “and it’s the New Year, shouldn’t we celebrate?”
Yu Kui touched the tip of her nose. "Okay, where do you want to eat?"
“It’s near the city center,” Xie Xingzhi said. “Let’s go, let’s get a ride.”
The two took a bus to a Western restaurant. Every table in the restaurant was decorated with bright red roses, and Xie Xingzhi specially chose a seat by the window.
Yu Kui sat opposite him, feeling out of place in the atmosphere; perhaps a different dress would suit her better.
"What are you thinking about?" Xie Xingzhi glanced at her.
"I wasn't thinking about anything," Yu Kui said without even blinking, "Let's order quickly."
"You order first."
Seeing this, Yu Kui ordered three dishes she wanted to eat, as well as drinks.
Xie Xingzhi looked at the menu, ordered for himself, and then added a dessert for Yu Kui.
Yu Kui glanced at him.
"What's wrong? Don't you want dessert?" Xie Xingzhi asked.
"How could that be?" Yu Kui shook her head and said sincerely, "Thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?" Xie Xingzhi said, "It's just a small matter."
Yu Kui calmed down, looking at the misty snow scene outside the window and listening to the romantic music in the restaurant, feeling exceptionally peaceful.
After dinner, Xie Xingzhi glanced at the time and suggested going to see a movie.
“Let’s go to the museum,” Yu Kui said. “I haven’t been to any museums in City B yet.”
Xie Xingzhi searched the museum's official WeChat account and found that reservations were required in advance. "There aren't enough spots available this afternoon."
Yu Kui thought for a moment and said, "How about we go to the library to read books?"
"No," Xie Xingzhi immediately objected. "No reading today."
Yu Kui couldn't think of anywhere else to go, so she said, "How about we go to the woodworking shop? What do you think?"
Xie Xingzhi searched for the address and agreed to her suggestion. The two arrived at the woodworking shop by car. There weren't many people inside, and the shop assistants politely welcomed them in.
"What kind of artwork would you two like?" The shop assistant showed them a catalog and pointed to the displays in the store. "How about cartoon characters?"
Yu Kui looked at the works on display and said, "I'll make a candy house. What do you want to make?"
Xie Xingzhi was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Give me the tools, and I'll come up with the design myself."
"Okay, okay," the shop assistant, who had also encountered people like Xie Xingzhi before, immediately said, "Please wait a moment, I'll go get the tools right away."
"What kind of thing do you want to make?" Yu Kui asked Xie Xingzhi.
Xie Xingzhi curled the corners of his lips. "Are you curious?"
"I'm curious, I hope it doesn't turn out to be a strange hybrid."
"I'll show you later," Xie Xingzhi said, keeping everyone in suspense, "I won't tell you now."
Yu Kui: "..."
After receiving the wood and tools, Yu Kui and Xie Xingzhi began to make their own. They divided the wood into pieces, assembled it, and painted it. Several hours passed in the blink of an eye.
When Yu Kui finished the last step and looked up, it was already dark outside. She rubbed her sore arms, looked at the colorful candy house in front of her with satisfaction, got up, chose a gift box, and wrapped the candy house.
"Are you done?" she asked Xie Xingzhi, looking down at the boy who was holding a palm-sized wooden puppet with delicate features and a handsome prince-like appearance.
"Alright." Xie Xingzhi showed her the finished product. "How is it?"
“It’s good.” Yu Kui asked, “Why did you decide to create this kind of work? It’s a bit unlike you.”
"Why doesn't it look like me?" Xie Xingzhi raised his chin, his narrow eyes looking at her quietly. "This is a work of art."
Yu Kui: "..."
Xie Xingzhi walked to the counter, asked the clerk for paper, pen, and a box, and soon walked over to Yu Kui with the bag. "What are you standing there for? Let's go."
“Oh.” Yu Kui quickly stood up and explained what she had said earlier: “When I said you were not like him, I meant that compared to the prince, you are more like a knight who has overcome all obstacles. You are more capable than him.”
"I know." Xie Xingzhi's eyes showed a hint of a smile. "I'm not angry with you."
The two walked to the city center, where the square was full of people and fireworks were already blooming overhead.
Yu Kui looked up at the dazzling starlight and cheered along with the crowd, "Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year!"
She is easily influenced by the emotions around her, and a smile appears in her eyes and brows.
Xie Xingzhi stood beside her, watching her hop around like a rabbit, and sighed softly, "So happy?"
"Aren't you happy?" Yu Kui's eyes sparkled. "I'm very happy today."
“I’m happy too,” Xie Xingzhi said, “happier than every day before.”
Yu Kui blinked, meeting his deep, starry eyes, as if she had fallen into an endless vortex, making her heart pound with fear.
“You…” She instinctively stepped back, but Xie Xingzhi gently pressed her shoulder down. “There are people behind you.”
Yu Kui lowered her eyelashes. "Thank you."
"Hmm." Xie Xingzhi released his hand, lowered his eyes to look at the dark sky, as if waiting for the fireworks to begin.
Yu Kui looked at his profile. His features were still the same as before, but whether it was because the streetlights were too bright or the cheers around him were too jubilant, he stood out so brightly in the bustling crowd.
The fireworks were still dazzling, but Yu Kui's mood was different from before.
She clutched the gift bag in her hand, unsure whether she should give the gift to him.
When she first decided to build the candy shop, her initial idea was to give it to Xie Xingzhi, hoping that his future life would be full of happiness.
"What are you looking at me for?" Xie Xingzhi turned around. "Am I more beautiful than fireworks?"
"Look at you, what's wrong with you?" Yu Kui couldn't help but retort.
"Alright, alright, look around as much as you want." Xie Xingzhi's smile was very obvious. "Anyway, I'm just standing here."
"Boring." Yu Kui looked away. "I'd rather watch fireworks than look at you."
Xie Xingzhi: "..."
The fireworks display didn't end until the early hours of the morning, by which time it was already very cold outside, and people gradually left.
“Let’s go,” Xie Xingzhi said, “Let’s go back to school first.”
Yu Kui nodded, and the two walked out one after the other.
"I had a pretty fulfilling day," she chattered on the way. "The woodworking workshop was a lot of fun, and the fireworks were beautiful too."
"Isn't Western food good?" Xie Xingzhi stopped in his tracks.
"Western food is quite delicious, but next time I go, I'll probably wear a dress and put on makeup."
"Why make such a big fuss?" Xie Xingzhi said, "Western food is no different from hot pot."
Yu Kui: "Don't you think Western restaurants are romantic?"
Xie Xingzhi gave her a deep look, "You actually think that way."
“It’s because of the environment,” Yu Kui said immediately. “I didn’t mean anything else.”
"That's what I meant too, why are you getting so worked up?"
Yu Kui: "..."
After returning to the school gate by car, Yu Kui hesitated for a few seconds, then called out to Xie Xingzhi, "Here, take this."
She handed the gift bag to the boy and said softly, "Happy New Year, I wish you all the best and a long life."
Xie Xingzhi was stunned for a moment, then reached out and took the gift. "Wishing me a long and healthy life, it's a very special blessing. I thought I was already in my seventies or eighties."
Yu Kui: "..." This was her most sincere blessing.
"Here you go," Xie Xingzhi handed the puppet to her, "Happy New Year to you too, I wish you health, happiness, and freedom."
Yu Kui accepted the gift, glanced at him, and smiled, "Thank you."
"It's too late, let's go back to the dorm first."
"Goodbye." Yu Kui waved.
"Goodbye." Xie Xingzhi stood there, watching her walk into the school gate before turning and leaving.
Yu Kui pushed open the door, and her three roommates all turned around to look at her. "Finally back."
Yu Kui froze. "You guys aren't asleep yet?"
"How can we sleep when you haven't come back?" Shu Jia stood up, staring at the gift bag for a moment. "Did he give this to you?"
Yu Kui nodded, and Shu Jia turned to look at Xu Siyue and Zhang Jing, "I told you, she'd get confessed to tonight, why didn't you believe me? Give me a hundred bucks!"
Xu Siyue ignored her and asked Yu Kui, "Did you find someone tonight?"
Yu Kui: "..."
"No," Yu Kui glared at the three of them, "You're betting on me?"
"You lost! You lost!" Zhang Jing jumped up from her chair and said impatiently to Shu Jia, "She's still single, give her the money!"
"This is impossible!" Shu Jia exclaimed in disbelief. "Such a good opportunity, and he didn't even confess? Is he even a man?"
Yu Kui took a deep breath. "I've told you so many times, we're just friends."
"Friends who spend New Year's Day together and exchange gifts?"
Yu Kui: "..."
"If you're still single, has he confessed his feelings to you?"
"No." Yu Kui shook the gift bag. "They gave me a puppet."
"Take it out and let me see it?"
Yu Kui took out the packaging box, untied the ribbon on it, and the wooden puppet inside was incredibly exquisite, like the sleeping Little Prince.
"It's so beautiful," Xu Siyue exclaimed. "Did he make it himself?"
“Yes,” Yu Kui said, “I was right there at the time.”
“He’s so skillful,” Shu Jia said, cupping her face in her hands. “If you didn’t like him, I would have really pursued him.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Kui thought about it seriously for a moment and said softly, "If you can bring him happiness and walk with him, I think that's a good idea."
“Just kidding,” Shu Jia said, “He won’t even add me on WeChat. I’m not going to throw myself at him. There’s no man in this world I would throw myself at.”
Yu Kui: "..."
"The puppet is quite beautiful, but it has some flaws," Zhang Jing said after taking a closer look. "Don't you guys think it's a bit too big?"
Yu Kui said, "It's normal for him to have some flaws since it's his first time doing carpentry."
"Look at you, you're taking his side again," Shu Jia said disapprovingly.
Yu Kui: "..."
"Anyway, you just won't let us say anything bad about him."
“He is my friend,” Yu Kui said, “so naturally I’m on his side.”
Aren't we your friends?
Yu Kui: "You too."
"Then why are they different?"
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