The sound of snow falling
The atmosphere of December is gradually getting stronger. Red lanterns are hung on the streetlights, and festive paper-cut window decorations are pasted on the doors of shops. The senior students of Beicheng No.1 High School are still making their final sprint, but other grades have already begun their holidays.
After finishing his last exam, Qin Zhou practically skipped out of the school gate, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and rushed eagerly toward Qi Shuo, who was waiting at the entrance.
"We're free!" the boy cheered, pulling open the passenger door and jumping in, bringing with him a breath of fresh air and boundless energy. Sister Jin, sitting in the back seat, patted him on the shoulder with a laugh: "How old are you? Still so impulsive."
Qi Shuo glanced at Sister Jin's smiling face in the rearview mirror, and the corners of his mouth also turned up slightly. The car smoothly merged into the traffic; the next destination was Beicheng University.
At the school gate, Lin Ye was already waiting with his simple luggage. Seeing the familiar car, he waved, opened the door, and got into the back seat.
Just as he turned to put down his luggage, his gaze seemed to inadvertently sweep over the few sycamore trees not far from the school gate, their leaves all gone and their branches strong and sturdy.
Under the tree, a slender figure stood quietly—it was Ning Wan. She was wearing a long, off-white down jacket and a thick scarf that almost covered half her face, but Lin Ye recognized her at a glance.
She seemed to be looking this way, or rather, towards the driver's seat. Her gaze was distant and indistinct, but Lin Ye could sense the complex emotions within it—hesitation, lingering affection, and perhaps even a hint of... cowardice.
Qi Shuo didn't notice that gaze. After Lin Ye was settled, he started the car and drove away.
In the rearview mirror, the imposing gate of Beicheng University and the few bare sycamore trees quickly receded and shrank, eventually disappearing around the street corner.
"Is Brother Xiao Jue working overtime again?" Lin Ye asked, breaking the silence in the car.
"Yes, they said the law firm is busy at the end of the year and they can't get away, so they asked me to pick you up," Qi Shuo replied, his voice steady.
Lin Ye said "Oh" and didn't ask any more questions, but just turned his gaze to the street scene rushing past the window.
He knew what Xiao Jue had been busy with lately, and the heaviness of that "overtime work" made him feel a little depressed. He secretly glanced at Qi Shuo, who was driving, in the rearview mirror.
Qi Shuo's profile was sharply defined, and he stared intently ahead, seemingly with a calm anticipation for the upcoming New Year's reunion.
Lin Ye recalled the lonely figure under the tree earlier and sighed softly in his heart.
Some secrets are like stones at the bottom of the water; the more people who know them, the more turbulent the undercurrents become.
Preparing for the New Year is a major event before the holiday. On the weekend, Sister Jin waved her hand and pulled Qi Shuo, Qin Zhou, and of course, Xiao Jue and Lin Ye, who were specially called in to be "laborers," and the five of them headed to the New Year's market in a grand procession.
The market was bustling with activity. Bright red couplets, lanterns, and Chinese knots, along with all sorts of dried fruits, nuts, candies, pastries, chicken, duck, fish, meat, vegetables, and fruits filled the air with the aroma of various foods and the vibrant atmosphere of everyday life.
Sister Jin was the general manager, enthusiastically moving between the various stalls, picking and choosing, and haggling over prices. Qin Zhou, like an energetic monkey, looked around and touched everything, occasionally offering some "unprofessional" opinions, which Sister Jin would laugh and scold, shooing him away.
Qi Shuo and Xiao Jue were both quiet, mainly responsible for carrying and moving things, silently and reliably following behind. Lin Ye was more attentive, helping Sister Jin remember prices and check expiration dates.
Just like last year, Xiao Jue was once again given the responsibility of being the "strongest porter," and his hands were soon filled with bags of all sizes. The difference this year was that Lin Ye was there to help, and the two of them shared the load, so it wasn't too strenuous.
Xiao Jue looked somewhat tired, with faint dark circles under his eyes, but he tried his best to hide it in the bustling market. He occasionally chatted and laughed with Sister Jin, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
After buying the food and necessities, Sister Jin turned and walked into a boutique that specializes in young women's clothing and accessories. This surprised Qin Zhou somewhat.
"Sister Jin, are you buying more clothes? Who are you buying them for?" Qin Zhou asked curiously, peeking out.
Jin Jie was carefully selecting a light pink down jacket with a fluffy hood when she heard this. Without even looking up, she said, "It's not for me. It's for a friend's daughter... She's sick, and it's been tough for her. It's almost Chinese New Year, so I'm buying her some new clothes and things to add some festive cheer."
Her voice was natural, with her usual crispness, and there was nothing unusual about it.
Xiao Jue was looking at the thermal socks on the shelf next to him. When he heard this, his fingers curled up almost imperceptibly, but he didn't look up or say anything. He just stood there silently, as if the hustle and bustle around him was separated from him by a layer of glass.
Lin Ye stood diagonally behind him, his gaze shifting back and forth between Sister Jin's profile as she carefully selected clothes and Xiao Jue's instantly stiffened back, his mind perfectly clear.
He lowered his eyes and didn't say anything. He just silently stepped forward and helped Sister Jin take the clothes she had chosen.
From clothes and shoes to scarves and gloves, and even some hair accessories, thermos cups, and plush toys for girls, Sister Jin was very careful in her selection. She even asked the shop assistant for their opinion and chose soft, warm, and brightly colored styles.
When it was time to pay, there was another huge bag.
By the time we had loaded all the New Year's goods into the car and returned to our home in the old town, it was already dark.
After carrying their things upstairs and tidying them up, Sister Jin invited them to stay for dinner, but Xiao Jue said he had to go back to the law firm to take care of some things, so Lin Ye naturally followed.
"Okay, then you go ahead with your work, be careful on the road." Sister Jin didn't linger. She saw them to the door, then suddenly turned around and brought over several brand-new shopping bags, the same ones she had bought at the women's clothing store that afternoon. "Here, take these."
Xiao Jue stared at the bag handed to him, stunned, and didn't reach out.
"This is for that child." Sister Jin's voice softened a little, but her tone left no room for argument. "It's almost New Year's, so wear something new, use something new, and you'll be in a better mood. Here you go!"
Xiao Jue's Adam's apple bobbed. He looked into Sister Jin's all-knowing yet gentle and understanding eyes, his lips moved, but in the end he said nothing and silently accepted the heavy bags.
The bag still carried the warmth of the mall's heating system, which pressed against his palm, yet it felt somewhat hot to him.
"What...is her name?" Sister Jin asked softly, as if afraid of disturbing something.
“…Qingran.” Xiao Jue uttered two words, his voice somewhat hoarse.
"Green grass rising gently... Did you pick it?" Sister Jin asked.
Xiao Jue nodded.
Sister Jin smiled, a smile that contained many complex emotions, but ultimately turned into understanding and a touch of pity: "Yes, the name is good, and the meaning is good too."
As she spoke, she pulled a thick, tightly sealed red envelope from her pocket and stuffed it into Xiao Jue's other hand without saying a word. "This is New Year's money for Qingran. You give it to her for me. Take it. It's not for you, it's for the child."
Xiao Jue's fingers clenched the red envelope tightly, the edges digging into his palm. He wanted to refuse, to say no, but under Sister Jin's knowing yet firm gaze, all the words stuck in his throat.
He finally took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and whispered, "...Thank you, Sister Jin."
"No need to thank me, it's nothing." Sister Jin patted his arm, as if to pat away the unseen weight on his shoulder. "Remember to bring Lin Ye over to stay during the New Year holidays, it'll be lively. Go back now, it's cold."
Xiao Jue and Lin Ye carried large and small bags downstairs. Only after the car started and drove out of the residential area did Xiao Jue's tense back relax slightly.
He glanced at Lin Ye, who was silent in the passenger seat, and then at the brand-new clothes and the thick red envelope in the back seat. His heart felt like it was being choked by something bittersweet, yet warm, and it throbbed with pain.
When Sister Jin found out, she didn't press him for details or blame him. Instead, she expressed her support and concern in the simplest and most direct way. This profound kindness almost overwhelmed him.
He didn't notice that after their car left, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the stairwell.
It was Qi Shuo. He had originally gone downstairs to throw out the trash, but he overheard the rest of the conversation. He stood at the top of the stairs, watching the car's taillights disappear into the night, the trash bag in his hand lingering for a long time.
Sister Jin bought clothes for a sick girl and even gave her a red envelope.
The name Xiao Jue chose was "Qing Ran".
When did Xiao Jue have a "friend's child" who needed this kind of care?
Why had he never mentioned it before? A series of questions arose in his mind, but he neither chased after her to ask nor immediately went back to ask Sister Jin.
He simply stood there, his brows slightly furrowed, gazing thoughtfully at the empty stairwell entrance.
Finally, he silently turned around, threw the trash into the bin, and went upstairs.
The hospital wards are always filled with the smell of disinfectant, making it difficult for the festive atmosphere outside to penetrate.
The caregiver was playing with building blocks with Qingran. The colorful plastic blocks were half-built, crooked and twisted, like a castle that could collapse at any moment.
Qingran was very focused, trying hard to pick up a triangular block with her little hands, but her hands trembled slightly and she failed several times.
Her face gradually tightened, her mouth pursed in grievance, and her eyes began to redden.
"Whoosh..." Without warning, she suddenly waved her hand, completely knocking down the "castle" that had been painstakingly built up. The building blocks scattered all over the floor, and a few rolled to Xiao Jue's feet as he entered the room.
The caregiver quickly comforted her, "Ranran, don't cry, we're not playing anymore, we..."
Before she could finish speaking, large tears were already falling from Qingran's eyes. It wasn't a loud wail, but a silent, extremely aggrieved sob. Her little body trembled, a heartbreaking sight.
Xiao Jue's heart tightened, and he quickly walked over, waving to signal the caregiver to rest first.
He crouched down, not looking at the mess of building blocks on the ground, but instead stretched out his arms and gently pulled the crying girl into his embrace.
Qingran immediately buried her face in his neck like a little animal that had found a sustenance, and her warm tears quickly soaked his collar.
Xiao Jue didn't say anything, but gently patted her back with one hand, and stroked her hair with the other, humming soft, soothing syllables out of tune.
After a while, the sobbing in her arms gradually subsided, turning into soft whimpers.
Xiao Jue loosened his grip on her slightly, gently wiping away the tears on her face with his fingertips. His voice was so gentle it could melt water: "Baby, don't cry. Look, what good things your brother brought back for you?"
He gestured for Lin Ye to bring the shopping bags over. Lin Ye silently carried the bags to the bedside and opened them one by one.
A pink down jacket, a beige sweater, coral fleece pajamas printed with bunnies, a fluffy hat and gloves, and a sparkly hair clip, along with a plush bunny doll holding a carrot...
Xiao Jue picked up the pink down jacket and unfolded it in front of Qing Ran: "Look, new clothes, do you like them? And there's a little bunny too." He then picked up the doll and waved it in front of Qing Ran.
Qingran's attention was drawn to the clothes. She blinked her tear-filled eyes, looked at the clothes, then at the doll, and carefully reached out her little hand to touch the doll's soft ears and then touched the smooth fabric of the down jacket.
Finally, she stopped crying and smiled, her lips curving upwards. Although the curve was small, it was like the first ray of sunshine breaking through the gloom, instantly illuminating her pale face.
She nodded, uttering a mumbled syllable: "...like...it."
Xiao Jue's heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, finally settled down a little. He breathed a sigh of relief, gave Lin Ye a grateful look, and then patiently accompanied Qing Ran as she "inspected" the New Year's gifts one by one.
Qingran seemed to particularly like the plush rabbit and the sparkly hair clip, holding them in her hands and looking at them again and again.
Lin Ye stood a little further away, watching Xiao Jue squatting by the bedside, coaxing Qing Ran with unprecedented patience and gentleness, watching Qing Ran's pure joy at the small, novel gift, and watching this rare heartwarming scene in the cold hospital room.
His gaze fell on Xiao Jue's profile, which, even when he smiled, could not hide his weariness, and on his focused expression as he carefully concealed his heavy thoughts, yet at this moment he only wanted to make the person in front of him smile.
He slowly, almost imperceptibly, closed his eyes, silently suppressing the heavy sigh in his chest.
When I opened my eyes again, all that remained was a calm, night-like darkness.
He knew how fragile this warmth was, like a soap bubble, bursting at the slightest touch.
He knew how heavy the burden on Xiao Jue's shoulders was; the deep-seated secrets and weight were gradually wearing him down.
He also knew that some lines, once crossed, could never be turned back.
For example, the growing clarity in his own heart about the longing and tenderness he was destined to never express.
He could only stand there, watching, guarding, handing him things when he needed them, remaining silent when he was exhausted, and becoming a silent shadow, a way out, when he might not be able to hold on any longer.
Just like now, as he looked at Xiao Jue's eyes, which brightened slightly because of Qing Ran's smile, the secret, bittersweet flutter in his heart could only turn into a deeper silence and a heavy sigh that only he could hear.
The night outside the window completely enveloped the city, and the lights in the distance lit up one after another, heralding the arrival of the new year.
In the warm light of the hospital room, the girl hugged her newly acquired doll and finally drifted off to sleep.
Xiao Jue sat by the bed, holding her hand, watching over her as she fell asleep. Lin Ye gently closed the door, temporarily shutting out the weariness and dim light in the room.
The New Year is approaching, but the snow that will fall on everyone's heart seems to have not yet truly arrived.
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