It was obvious that Mu Yang's family was also watching TV; the sound of their TV could be heard through the phone, indicating they were also watching the Spring Festival Gala.
Happy New Year -- I want to ask you this question at this time: Can you be with me?
Yan Shu remained silent, hearing the countdown from the other end of the phone blend together with the countdown on her own television.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven..."
Mu Yang likes Yan Shu, but does Yan Shu like Mu Yang? She asked herself this question.
"Muyang..."
"Six, five, four, three..." It gradually became noisy outside the window; people had already gone outside to set off firecrackers.
"I..." Yan Shu bit her lip, "I..."
"Two, one, zero! Happy New Year!"
"Dong--" The deep New Year's bell rang, and a burst of firecrackers sounded outside the window. Fireworks from all directions converged, brightening the entire night. The world awoke in an instant, and the world became noisy.
"I'm going to set off fireworks!" Yan Shu shouted into the phone. "Goodbye!"
After hanging up the phone, she was in a daze for a long time until her father pulled her to set off one after setting off a string of firecrackers: "Don't you usually like them?"
Stepping onto the balcony, the fireworks rising in the night sky were exceptionally beautiful. They ascended, burst into bloom, and then vanished. Each colorful firework was like a fleeting moment of brilliance, bursting forth in an instant, and then fading away.
Yan Shu tilted her head back and tried her best to put on a smile.
"How cowardly I am," she cursed herself inwardly.
The days when I used to set off fireworks with Mu Yang, Xiao Wei, and Yang Sen are like these fireworks—they're probably gone forever.
On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, smoke billowed from the front of the temple.
What should I wish for this year?
After lighting incense and squeezing into the crowd that kept pouring into the hall, Yan Shu stood in front of the Buddha and asked herself this question.
She knelt down, praying for the health and safety of her family and friends. Oh, and praying that A-Dai would get her visa smoothly. And… she turned to Mu Yang beside her; he was making a wish with his eyes closed. His handsome profile and earnest expression made Yan Shu's heart skip a beat. That's all. May the Bodhisattva protect her.
Yan Shu bowed, left the palace, placed the incense in the incense burner, and turned around. Mu Yang was standing to the side waiting for her, but he didn't say anything.
“Muyang…”
"Hurry up. Your uncle and aunt have already gone ahead." Mu Yang turned around and walked ahead.
That's how it is. From the very beginning of today, Mu Yang has been avoiding her gaze, not even glancing at her. He walks with her as usual, but it feels like he's just completing a task. Thinking of this, her heart tightens. What is this feeling?
Mu Yang walked ahead, and she followed slowly behind. There were many people coming to offer incense on the first day of the Lunar New Year, shoulder to shoulder, but she could still spot Mu Yang's figure at a glance in the crowded throng, and so she followed him.
"Make a decision for yourself in the new year," Adai's words echoed in my mind. They could never go back to the way things were, could they? On the road to adulthood, something called "time" pushes them in their respective directions, and when they look back, they are already worlds apart.
Suddenly, she felt a bump from behind, and a child ran past her, saying, "Sorry, sister! Hahahaha." A few more children followed, their parents trailing behind helplessly. How carefree! Yan Shu couldn't help but laugh. When she looked up again, she realized Mu Yang was gone.
Mu Yang is gone! She was startled and her eyes scanned the crowd, desperately searching for Mu Yang's figure.
No, not this one; no, not this one either!
She started running through the crowd, trying to catch up with Mu Yang.
But I can't catch up!
She ran to the release pond, but Mu Yang was still nowhere to be seen, nor were her father and mother.
She squatted down, feeling frustrated, thinking: no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't catch up with Mu Yang's pace.
"What are you doing?" She suddenly looked up. Mu Yang was standing beside her, looking at her helplessly.
"Putting everything else aside, do you like him or not?" Adai asked.
"I saw you running so fast, you wouldn't hear me when I called you."
She doesn't know what liking someone means; she doesn't understand it yet.
"There are so many people, I'm really afraid something will happen to you, you idiot."
But she knew how she felt at that moment: she didn't want to lose Muyang.
"Can't you stand up? You must be very tired from running."
Yes, she didn't want to lose Mu Yang. Her heart would flutter at his smile, she would crave the warmth of his hands, she would be captivated by his earnest expression, and she would feel inferior because of his excellence…
She didn't want to lose Mu Yang. If this feeling was what liking someone meant, then she liked Mu Yang.
"I didn't run this fast during the 800-meter test."
When did it begin? Was it when he was a young pianist? Or when Mu Yang tutored him? Perhaps it was that promise they made with pinkies in high school? Or…
"There's nothing I can do." Mu Yang sighed. "I owe you." He extended his hand, and Yan Shu extended hers as well, and they clasped hands.
Yes, Yan Shu likes Mu Yang.
“Mu Yang…” she gritted her teeth, “Does my answer to the question you asked me a few days ago still hold any weight?”
Mu Yang didn't speak, he just looked at her intently.
Yan Shu took a deep breath, feeling her heart pounding in her chest: "I... also like Mu Yang." Her face flushed red as she waited for Mu Yang's reaction.
Mu Yang just stared at her without saying a word. Yan Shu started to panic. Could it be...? Suddenly, Mu Yang hugged Yan Shu tightly: "This is the biggest red envelope I've received this year."
"Wow..." Startled by Mu Yang, Yan Shu suddenly realized where she was and shouted, "Let go! People are watching!"
"No," Mu Yang said lazily, "Let us watch to our hearts' content."
"Sigh." Standing at a distance, Yan Shu's mother sighed and said apologetically to Mu Yang's mother, "Our Xiao Shu is sorry to you all, she has ruined Mu Yang."
Mu Yang's mother laughed and said, "No way. Xiao Shu is quite cute. It would be a shame if she were with our son." Most importantly, she wouldn't have to see her son's weird face anymore—really, especially during the New Year.
"Hmph." Mu Yang's father snorted coldly; how come he didn't see it?
This prompted Yan Shu's father, who was standing to the side, to quickly apologize: "I'm sorry. My silly son... Sigh, we're so sorry, Lao Mu, please forgive him."
Xiao Shu, he thought to himself, you're quite capable.
6
"Oh, Yan Shu is here." Yan Shu had just arrived at the art studio entrance when she bumped into Mu Yang's classmate. She could only smile. When did she become "Yan Shu's little sister"?
"It's best not to go in yet, isn't it?"
"Why?"
“Muyang and the professor are discussing some serious academic issues, so you shouldn’t go in. Why don’t you come with me to the entrance of that building to look at the ‘pretty girls’?” He waved his sketchbook. This classmate of Muyang always liked to go out and look at “pretty girls” when he encountered design blocks, supposedly to inspire his creativity.
"No, let's not go," Yan Shu said with a smile. "I'll just wait here."
The weather was getting hotter and hotter, and after this summer vacation, she would be a senior in college. Suddenly, she felt the pressure of reality creeping in, and a little lost. Her new notebook was in her bag; she felt it was time to do something about her dreams, but she found herself unable to put pen to paper. Yan Shu looked at the architecture building behind her and sighed. Mu Yang was in a five-year program, so she could take her time. Besides, Mu Yang's grades were good; he didn't have these unnecessary worries of hers.
"Well, that's how it is." A professor-looking man stepped forward. "Think about it."
"I will. Thank you." Mu Yang smiled and walked out. After seeing the professor off, he turned around and saw Yan Shu.
"Mu Yang." Yan Shu waved. Today, Mu Yang was wearing a V-neck navy blue sweater and a pair of modified cargo pants. The sunlight reflected off him, and he really looked handsome. Yan Shu blushed at her sudden thought.
"You've arrived." Mu Yang smiled and walked over. "Let's go."
"This piece of music is quite fun," Yan Shu said with a smile as she walked down the street, holding Mu Yang's hand, and heard the music coming from the shops.
“Long, long ago,” Mu Yang listened for a while and then said its name. “It’s very simple, I’ll teach you next time.”
"Okay!" Yan Shu, who was just happy, suddenly remembered something and said dejectedly, "I don't even dare to go to your house anymore. I'm scared when I see your dad's expression..." She really seemed to be the "root of all evil".
Seeing Yan Shu's aggrieved expression, Mu Yang chuckled and said, "He's very busy; you might not be able to see him."
"Yeah, I'm just lucky. I always run into them every time I go."
Mu Yang smiled but said nothing. Pushing open the door of "Whatever," the owner greeted him with the same warm smile: "Mu Yang and Xiao Shu, would you like the same thing?"
Mu Yang nodded, and Yan Shu said "Mm," before walking towards the table where Xiao Wei was sitting. A large pile of documents was spread out on it.
"You're here?" Xiao Wei looked up from the documents, glanced at them, and continued sitting down with her things.
"Xiao Wei, you seem very busy." Sitting down next to Xiao Wei, Yan Shu looked at the documents piled up on the table and couldn't help but sigh. Thinking about how she had nothing to do all day, she felt really decadent.
“Yes,” Xiao Wei looked up and said with a smile, “The two of you are perfect, all lovey-dovey and affectionate.”
Yan Shu's face flushed instantly, but Mu Yang remained calm and composed: "Yes! Jealous? Yang Sen has been waiting for this."
Xiao Wei's face fell instantly: "Don't mention him to me!" Then she buried herself in her homework again.
"Oh? Xiaowei, are you planning to take the postgraduate entrance exam?" She seemed so serious; it would be a shame if Xiaowei didn't. Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Yan Shu changed the subject.
"I'll decide on my future direction after working for a while, and I might go back to school. However, I'll try to work and study at the same time. What about you?"
"I...I'm not quite sure." It's great that Xiao Wei has decided on a direction; she's always so decisive, and she always seems so dazzling. After all, some people are just born to be the protagonist. "I'll be a senior next year, and I don't know what to do..."
"What are you upset about? You can just marry Mu Yang if all else fails."
"Xiao Wei--" Yan Shu called out. How could you say that? It was her dream, after all, but reality seemed to be a long way off.
Mu Yang smiled and said, "I don't object." However, he had longer-term plans, but he didn't know how to tell her. Seeing Yan Shu's troubled expression, he patted her hand and said gently, "Take it slow."
Yan Shu looked up and smiled gratefully. Yes, take it slow. How many people can truly realize their dreams? Most people are just trying their best.
"Hey, you two, stop it again. In front of me, this 'lone wolf'... sigh!"
"No way—" Ever since her affair with Mu Yang became public, Xiao Wei has been making sarcastic remarks every now and then, and so has Yang Sen. They really made some bad friends.
"What is it?" Just then, Yang Sen walked in, sat down next to Mu Yang, and asked curiously.
Almost simultaneously, Xiao Wei packed her things, stood up, said "I'm leaving now," and walked out of the store. Her speed was astonishing.
"Damn it," Yang Sen couldn't help but curse.
"Yang Sen--" Yan Shu looked at Yang Sen's unpleasant expression and asked cautiously, "What exactly happened between you and Xiao Wei? Why do you always act like this whenever she sees you..." It seems that things haven't gotten better since the winter break ended, and every time it's a "king meeting king" situation.
“What else could it be? It was just that Lunar New Year’s Eve during winter break,” he scratched his head, “that I kissed her.”
"What! And then... that's it?" Yan Shu asked cautiously, still in shock.
Then?--