Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The small townâs ski resort was high above sea level, and the sunlight was even more dazzling. When it shone indoors, everything lit up with a faint golden layer.
The fireplace was blazing brightly, and sparks were dancing and crackling.
The dining room was on the first floor. It was a small living room with only four tables. It was called a hotel, but it was more like a guesthouse. There were a few European oil paintings, flowers, and candlesticks. It was all very romantic.
Duan Linbai held a knife and a fork and lowered his head to cut the meat, but his eyes were fixed on Huai Sheng the whole time.
Before Huai Sheng ate, he apologized to Buddha. â⦠Amitabha, I have sinnedâ¦â
Duan Linbai let out a light snort.?Heâs deceiving himself.
Fu Chen helped Huai Sheng cut the meat and poured him some milk. The degree of attention made Song Fengwan feel inferior.
âThank you, Third Uncle.â This was the first time Huai Sheng was using a knife and fork, so he wasnât used to it. He imitated their way of holding the knife and fork, but his actions were jerky and awkward.
âMy first time using a knife and fork was like this too. Take it slowly.â Fu Chen dipped the sliced bacon in sauce and placed it on his plate.
âOh.â
He was just comforting Huai Sheng in disguise. He was a sensitive person.
Song Fengwan kept sizing Fu Chen up when a thought suddenly popped up in her mind.?If we have a child, he will definitely be a good father in the future.
The moment the thought of marriage and having children popped up in her mind, Song Fengwanâs face flushed red, and she hurriedly lowered her head to eat.?What nonsense am I thinking?
âWanwan, you and Huai Sheng will practice skiing in the afternoon. Weâll go to the town to celebrate New Yearâs at night.â Fu Chen told her about the following arrangements.
âOkay.â Song Fengwanâs voice was soft, and she didnât dare look at him.
***
The time to practice skiing in the afternoon was very short, so they practiced some basic movements. Song Fengwan had learned this before, so her practice went fairly smoothly. This was Huai Shengâs first time, so it was inevitable that it was strenuous for him.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Fu Chen and Duan Linbai were sitting in the room, looking out the window.
There were no other tourists there, and the snowfield was open. After they were taught the basics, they had to figure it out themselves.
Fu Chen was drinking hot tea and had a geometric patterned blanket on his knees. His gaze was on Song Fengwan.
âLittle Sister-in-Law learns fast. Her actions are already very standard,â Duan Linbai said with a smile.
âYes, I taught her.â
Duan Linbai was stunned.?How shameless.
âBy the way, why is the Jing family involved in the Song family matter?â
âHuh?â Fu Chen looked at him.
âStop pretending with me. You want to mess with Song Jingren, right? Just the Yan family alone can crush him. Why are you dragging the Jing family into this when you are also pressuring him?â
âIt has nothing to do with me.â Fu Chen lowered his head and drank his tea.
âIt has nothing to do with you? I thought that brat was trying to please Sister-in-Law in advanceâ¦â
âItâs related to the Qiao family.â
Duan Linbai was speechless. âDoes the Qiao familyâs connections run across the north and the south? There are people in Beijing and Nanjiang? Since the Jing family personally stepped in, Song Jingren is now famous in the entire Beijing circle.
âEveryone is looking up how he offended the Jing family.â
Fu Chen rubbed the cup without saying a word.
âIn that case, the Qiao family is really too low-key. Theyâre familiar with your family and even know the Jing family. I heard that Little Sister-in-Lawâs uncle is also a ruthless person.â
âThird Fu, what are you going to do in the future? If they find out about the two of you, you wonât live long.â
Fu Chen raised an eyebrow at him. âDo you know how many people die here every year?â
Duan Linbai was stunned and smiled awkwardly.?I was just speaking casually. Is he really going to silence me?
***
At sunset, the four of them walked along the mountain path to the small town. The setting sun dyed the horizon a warm orange color and outlined the distant snow mountains, bringing about a beautiful sight.
The snow on the mountain path reflected a rose-colored glow.
The dense pine forest followed the mountain path down. Occasionally, heavy snow would fall from the branches, startling the winter sparrows.
The four of them were wearing thick windproof coats, hats, scarves, and even goggles. When they had first gone out, it had been very cold. After walking for a while, their body didnât feel cold anymore.
When they reached the town, the sky was already dark. The four of them found a restaurant to eat at. In order to welcome the New Year, the town had unique activities, and almost everyone rushed to the streets.
Even though it was late at night, the lights outside were still shining.
When they walked out of the restaurant, it was around 10 at night. The street was crowded, so they could only follow the crowd.
On the way, many people were holding guitars and singing, and many people were dancing around them. At this point, there were more young people, especially young couples. They held hands or hugged and kissed without any reservations.
Song Fengwan lowered her head, feeling a little embarrassed.
Fu Chen grabbed her hand. âThere are many people.â
Song Fengwan nodded.
âLinbai, take care of Huai Sheng,â Fu Chen said to Duan Linbai, who was following behind.
Duan Linbai was stunned.?This is f*cking different from what he said before leaving.
Fu Chen had said that when they went out for New Yearâs, he would invite him out. He had thought that he would have an encounter with a beautiful woman overseas and that he might meet his destined woman.
What the hell is with him asking me to take care of a monk?
Am I the kidâs babysitter?
Besides, if Iâm taking care of a child, how can any beauty dare to hit on me?
But Duan Linbai had no choice. He reached out to hold Huai Shengâs hand. âLetâs go.â
âUncle Duan, I want to peeâ¦â
Duan Linbai opened his mouth, speechless.
A million curses ran through his heartâ¦
âFu Chen, Iâll take him to find a restroom.â Duan Linbai notified Fu Chen before the four of them went their separate ways.
***
There were a lot of people on the street. Fu Chen held Song Fengwanâs hand and walked and stopped aimlessly until Fu Chenâs phone rang.
âHeyââ
Because it was too noisy outside, Fu Chen had to raise the volume of the call.
âWhere are you? Why is it so noisy?â
Song Fengwan was close to him, and the volume of his phone was very loud. Even if Song Fengwan didnât want to hear it, she could hear everything.
The womanâs voice was full of smiles and charm.
âIâm overseas.â
âWho are you with?â
âA friend,â Fu Chen blurted out.
Song Fengwan bit her lip.?Iâm just his friend?
Indeed, men are all pigs.?She moved her fingers, trying to break free. Fu Chen frowned, but he tightened his grip on her hand.
âI called you to see if youâre taking care of yourself.â
âI know.â
âHappy New Year, Fu Chen.â The womanâs voice was gentle and beautiful as she called him Fu Chen sweetly, her tone especially intimate.
âHappy New Year.â Fu Chenâs tone was rarely pleasant.
He hung up and tilted his head to look at the person staring at her feet. âAre you jealous?â
Song Fengwan pouted. âWhoâs jealous?â
âAre you unhappy that I said youâre my friend?â Fu Chen looked down at her and couldnât help reaching out to pinch her face. âWhy didnât I realize before that you were a jealous person?â
âIâm not.â Song Fengwanâs face burned as he pinched it. She turned around to leaveâ¦
Fu Chen grabbed her arm and hugged her from behind.
He hugged her tightly and pressed his face against hers. Song Fengwan wanted to break free, but Fu Chen tightened his grip and rubbed his face against hers gently.
âThatâs my older sister.
âIf I introduce you to her as my girlfriendâ¦
âDo you want to meet my parents in advance?â
Fu Chenâs voice blew against her ear intimately. His exhaled breath was white, but it made her feel unusually hot.
âI donât.â Song Fengwanâs heart raced as he hugged her tightly. She felt strangely suffocated. âLet go of me quickly. People will see us.â
âNo one here knows us. What are you afraid of?â Fu Chen chuckled.
Little did they know that Duan Linbai and Huai Sheng, who were not far away, were staring at them.
âLittle monk, see no evil.â Duan Linbai reached out to cover Huai Shengâs eyes. âLetâs go. Iâll take you somewhere else to play.â
***
Fu Chen led Song Fengwan around again until the crowd suddenly became excited.
Fu Chen lowered his eyes to look at his watch. It turned out that the countdown had already started.
There werenât many people in the town. There were thousands of them on the streets, and there were all kinds of excited shouts around them. Many couples were already hugging each otherâ¦
The atmosphere was too good. Song Fengwan was also very excited, and she followed the crowd and started counting downâ¦
Ten, nine, eightâ¦
⦠three, two, one.
When the last second ended, the crowd burst into cheers, and the thick night sky was instantly torn apart by fireworks.
The sky was full of colorful lights shining as bright as stars. They dyed Song Fengwanâs eyes into all kinds of colors. She stared at the sky excitedly and looked at Fu Chen excitedly from time to time.
âThird Brother! Happy New Year!â Song Fengwan smiled at him, her beautiful phoenix-like eyes glowing.
âLook at thatâ¦â She pointed at the golden fireworks that suddenly bloomed in the sky. âItâs so beautiful!â
Fu Chen suddenly walked in front of her and blocked her view.
âHuh?â Song Fengwan was stunned.
Fu Chen reached out to pull off her thick scarf, revealing a small face red from excitement.
While she was stunned, Fu Chen was already bending down and kissing herâ¦
Song Fengwan blinked. The fireworks in front of her eyes lit up into an even more gorgeous color in her heart.
His breathing was a little heavy as he leaned his forehead against hers. âWanwan, Happy New Year.â
Song Fengwan pursed her lipsâ¦
âConsider me in the new year.â His voice was very low.
The two squeezed through the crowd. From time to time, someone would push her. But he wrapped her in his embrace and protected her tightly.
Song Fengwan looked at him, her breathing a little quickâ¦
Before she could answer, Fu Chen lowered his head.
â¦
Meanwhile, 100 meters away, Duan Linbai and the little monk Huai Sheng looked at each other and said Happy New Year.
Duan Linbai narrowed his eyes and couldnât help criticizing him silently.?The fireworks are making this bratâs head practically reflect light.
Itâs really damn bright.