Knowing that Chen Yuanxing didn't understand, Xiao Qiqi explained, "Here, we make dumplings on New Year's Eve and eat them at midnight and on the morning of the Lunar New Year. That's how we welcome the new year."
Making dumplings together as a family and chatting is the happiest thing. Dad rolls out the dumpling wrappers, while Xiao Qiqi and Mom fill them. Xiao Qiqi happily makes many different kinds, creating very pretty dumplings. Chen Yuanxing, itching to try, clamors to learn. Xiao Qiqi knows his nature, so how could she allow it? She slaps him away and tells him to watch TV. Before the Spring Festival Gala even starts, they're showing some festive news. The announcers' flat voices go on and on about which leader visited a poor family for the New Year, or who ate dumplings somewhere—it's quite a lively scene. Xiao's mother, making dumplings and watching TV, sighs, "These leaders are really pitiful; they can't even reunite with their families for the New Year."
Xiao Qiqi immediately noticed the news about a female leader spending the Lunar New Year kindly with orphans at an orphanage, and said, "Yes, they are pitiful too, but it's just a show. Who would want to spend the Lunar New Year at home instead of with their husband and children, but instead be with orphans, smiling so kindly and gently? They must be feeling really resentful inside."
Chen Yuanxing was lying on the sofa, staring blankly at the TV screen. Xiao Qiqi glanced at his face and saw his brows furrowed like mountains. She found it strange, as he rarely looked like this. She quickly wiped her hands and went to his side. "Hey, what are you daydreaming about?"
Chen Yuanxing's brows furrowed, and his lips pressed tightly together. "It's nothing."
"Are you homesick?" Xiao Qiqi saw that he looked really bad, so she pulled him along. "Come on, let's go upstairs and call your parents."
"I'm not going!" Chen Yuanxing refused curtly, his voice loud enough to attract the attention of Xiao's parents. Feeling a little embarrassed, he stood up and said, "Uncle and Aunt, I'll go upstairs for a bit."
Xiao Qiqi noticed that his back was not moving as swiftly as usual, and she was a little worried. Her mother said, "There aren't many dumplings. Your father and I will finish making them in a little while. Go upstairs and check on Xiao Chen. It's the New Year, and he might feel uncomfortable not being with his parents."
Xiao Qiqi washed her hands and went upstairs. Her room light was on, and Xiao Qiqi knew that he had stayed in her room again.
Chen Yuanxing lay on Xiao Qiqi's bed, his legs propped up, his head resting on his hands, staring blankly at the ceiling. Xiao Qiqi walked over, looked at his face, and asked indifferently, "What's wrong with you?"
"Hmm." Chen Yuanxing hummed through his nose, his voice slightly nasal.
Xiao Qiqi touched his forehead, "Did your cold get worse this morning? You looked sullen after eating."
Chen Yuanxing pulled his hand away, grabbed Xiao Qiqi's hand, and forced a smile. "Qiqi, seeing how happy you are makes me very happy too."
"Huh, is this what happiness looks like?" Xiao Qiqi pulled her hand away and tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You're only cute when you smile, you're just a little kid, why are you pretending to be mature!"
Chen Yuanxing couldn't help but laugh when she pulled at the corner of his mouth. "Aren't you going to help make dumplings?"
"I'm not covering it anymore. My mom asked me to come and make sure you call home."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yuanxing's face darkened again. He pulled the blanket over his face and grumbled, "I feel uncomfortable, I won't hit you!"
“I’ll get you some medicine later if you feel unwell. You still need to call. You’ve been away from home for more than half a year, and you didn’t even go back for the New Year. What will your parents think?” Xiao Qiqi stubbornly pulled the blanket off his head. “Come on, be a good boy and listen to me. I’ll give you a present.”
Chen Yuanxing sat up, his eyes darting around, and asked with a grin, "What gift? I'm not so easily satisfied!"
Xiao Qiqi wrinkled her nose at the frivolity in his tone, took his phone and shoved it into his hand, "Hurry up and make a call, why are you throwing a tantrum during the New Year?"
Chen Yuanxing sighed, "My parents are definitely not home. My aunt answers the phone."
Although Xiao Qiqi didn't entirely believe him, she still pushed him, "Then let's give it a try. Maybe you'll be home. What's the point of not being home for the New Year if you're not with your family?"
Looking into Xiao Qiqi's bright, expectant eyes, and recalling the harmonious atmosphere of the Xiao family, Chen Yuanxing couldn't help but feel a pang of hope. He called home, only to find his aunt was there again. Hearing Chen Yuanxing's voice, his aunt was both happy and scolding. Chen Yuanxing coaxed her for a while before she calmed down a bit. She then inquired whether he had suffered any hardship, where he was staying, and whether he was eating and dressing well. Hearing his aunt's concerned voice, Chen Yuanxing felt a pang of sadness. Every year he spent the New Year with his aunt; this year, she was alone. His mother, as usual, had gone to "visit" her, and his father naturally had a ton of social engagements and entertainment; he'd apparently gone to watch the Spring Festival Gala that night.
Chen Yuanxing hung up the phone, feeling even more melancholy. Xiao Qiqi knew from his phone call that his parents weren't home and that he would be a little awkward, so she showed him photos from her middle school days and told him funny stories from the past. Chen Yuanxing was a very easygoing person, and soon he opened up and listened with great interest to Xiao Qiqi's interesting stories. Before he knew it, Xiao Qiqi was sitting in his lap. Xiao Qiqi's throat was dry from talking, and seeing his eyes brighten again, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I'll go get some water, and I'll get you some water and medicine while I'm at it. You should take some, so you don't really get sick. It's cold and damp here, unlike the dry north; it's easy to catch a cold here."
Chen Yuanxing knew she had talked too much, so he let her go. He thought about his family for a while, but as in previous years, he was a hundred times happier and more comfortable than at home. Why think about them? He quickly put it aside. Once his mind was free from family troubles, he inevitably started thinking about other things. Thinking about Xiao Qiqi's cute and pretty appearance these past two days, he felt a surge of desire and immediately made up his mind, waiting for Xiao Qiqi to come upstairs.
Thirty-five, Chinese New Year (Part Four)
Xiao Qiqi drank some water, glanced at the increasingly vulgar Spring Festival Gala, and, finding it utterly boring, poured some water and brought Chen Yuanxing some cold medicine upstairs. Seeing Chen Yuanxing snuggled back into her blanket, Xiao Qiqi assumed he was truly unwell, quickly pulled back the covers, and touched his head. "You don't have a fever? Are you really feeling unwell?"
Chen Yuanxing groaned twice, then deliberately spoke in an extremely low voice, "Qiqi, am I really sick? I feel so awful."
Xiao Qiqi thought he was really unwell, so she gently fed him water and tried to give him his medicine, but he nestled in her arms and refused to eat, saying stubbornly, "I won't eat unless you feed me the same way I feed you your medicine."
Xiao Qiqi felt a little guilty, her memory incomplete but she had some guesses, "...How did you feed me the medicine?"
Chen Yuanxing grinned mischievously, cupped Xiao Qiqi's face, and kissed her deeply. Xiao Qiqi stammered a few times and tried to push him away, but she couldn't budge him. She could only cooperate and enjoy the taste of sunshine between his lips and teeth. The two of them released each other, panting. Xiao Qiqi remembered his prank in the park that morning, so she punched his back and said, "You bad boy, you're not allowed to kiss me in public anymore."
Chen Yuanxing chuckled and pulled Xiao Qiqi into his lap. "Okay, then let's kiss inside." He paused before adding, "You haven't fed me my medicine yet. I always fed you like this before."
"What?"
"Is that so?" Chen Yuanxing tried to kiss her again, but Xiao Qiqi already knew he was being mischievous, so she dodged and pushed his lips away. "I don't want to, you're faking being sick."
"Ugh, my head really hurts, I must be sick." Chen Yuanxing seized on Xiao Qiqi's weakness and used this trick again without restraint.
Unable to resist his persistent advances, Xiao Qiqi had no choice but to feed him the pills mouth-to-mouth as he requested. Afterward, she felt a little embarrassed and giggled. Chen Yuanxing, pleased with his successful scheme, held the soft, fragrant body of the woman in his arms. Seeing Xiao Qiqi's bright, charming, and fair face, he felt a little giddy. Naturally, his hands and feet were not idle, and he began to grope Xiao Qiqi's body.
Xiao Qiqi knew his weakness and wasn't about to give in. She struggled to run away, but Chen Yuanxing was determined this time. His face was gentle, but his hands and feet wouldn't give way. He pulled Xiao Qiqi into the soft bed, kicked off the blankets to cover them both, used his legs to hold Xiao Qiqi's fidgeting feet in place, put one arm around her waist and the other under her neck, holding her tightly in his arms. He said gently, "Sister, the Spring Festival Gala isn't very good. Let's talk for a while, and then go out to set off fireworks at midnight, okay?"
Seeing that he was only holding her and not taking any further action, Xiao Qiqi felt a little relieved and said, "How can we talk sitting down like this? What if my parents come up and see us?"
“I saw you locked the door, hehe. Even if they come up, they have to knock. It’s so cold in your house. My hands and feet get cold after sitting for a while. I’m sick, so it’s warm and comfortable to talk to you while I’m wrapped in the blanket.”
Xiao Qiqi was annoyed. She locked the door because she was afraid that he would touch her and be seen by her parents who came up unintentionally. But he took it as a matter of course. Knowing his temper, she knew that it would not be easy to get away now. She could only coax him to be happy. So she said, "Okay, let's talk. Don't move around."
"Okay, don't move around." Chen Yuanxing said, taking off Xiao Qiqi's coat. "It's so uncomfortable to lie down wearing so many clothes." Xiao Qiqi also felt uncomfortable lying down wearing so many clothes, so she let him take off his coat and put on the sweater underneath. Chen Yuanxing also took off his coat, and the two of them lay down and talked.
"Sister, do you know what I asked for in front of your ancestors today?"
Xiao Qiqi blushed, and even without being asked, she could roughly guess, "...How would I know?"
"Hehe, I told them I wanted to be your son-in-law and spend my life with you, and they were very happy and agreed." Chen Yuanxing slowly slipped his hand under Xiao Qiqi's sweater and stroked her soft skin.
Touched, Xiao Qiqi forgot about his hand and said, "...Chen Yuanxing, don't do this."
"Hmm, how is it?" The slightly cool fingers touched the warm skin, causing Xiao Qiqi to tremble slightly.
"Let's be together, don't talk about the future... okay?" Xiao Qiqi's fear had been there since day one. Being with him for even a day felt like a luxury, let alone marriage for a lifetime.
“Yes, I know.” Chen Yuanxing’s hand slowly moved upwards. “Sister, that’s your idea. One day you will be like me, fearless, and we will face the future together.”
Xiao Qiqi remembered what her mother had said: dating is a matter between two people, but marriage is a matter between two families. In the past, she might have been moved by Chen Yuanxing and dared to take responsibility for their future without fear. But today, she was no longer the pure and fearless girl she once was. Having made mistakes and had concerns, how could she dare to talk about the future? "Yuanxing, wouldn't it be better if we didn't talk about this?"
Chen Yuanxing knew she was scared, so he didn't force her. He was determined to seduce her little by little and devour her bit by bit. Seeing Xiao Qiqi's brows furrow again, he couldn't help but lower his head and kiss her brow. "Sister, smile." Xiao Qiqi felt guilty for his tenderness and couldn't help but bow down. She smiled weakly. Seeing her like this, Chen Yuanxing boldly reached his hand upwards.
Xiao Qiqi gasped and glared at him. Chen Yuanxing, knowing the reason, became even more smug, his fingers kneading her soft breasts with even greater brazenness. A wicked smile played on his lips. Seeing his eyes darken, Xiao Qiqi knew things were about to turn bad and tried to push his hands away, but he wouldn't let go. He used his leg to forcefully lay Xiao Qiqi flat on the bed, pinning her legs down with one. His gaze was incredibly gentle, but his actions were even more unrestrained. One hand held her flailing hands still, while the other lifted her sweater, revealing two snow-white breasts. The two erect nipples were exceptionally red and luscious. For the first time, Chen Yuanxing's lips reached out and kissed the trembling, soft flesh, tinged with crimson.
Xiao Qiqi trembled all over, feeling both anxious and angry. She knew he had never been well, yet she was still deceived by his sweet words. She felt as if the blood in her body was being sucked and stirred up by him, making her feel extremely uncomfortable. At this moment, Chen Yuanxing had already let go of her hand. She pushed him weakly, "Chen Yuanxing, let go, stop making trouble, my parents are downstairs."
Chen Yuanxing continued his actions, gently sucking on the soft flesh with his lips and teeth, while his other hand slowly moved downwards.
"Ah, no." Xiao Qiqi was too ashamed to speak. Although it wasn't the first time, she was still so nervous, angry, scared, and ashamed. Her hands and feet were exhausted by his wild kisses and pinches. "I... my parents will... hear... Chen..."
“Sister…” Chen Yuanxing looked up, his deep eyes burning with intense passion, his hoarse voice even more enigmatic, “I’m actually scared too.”
Xiao Qiqi frantically pushed away his hand that was reaching into her pants, "Then, then let go!"
"I won't let go!" Chen Yuanxing smiled even more seductively and kissed her lips. "I want you." His voice was gentle, but his tone was extremely firm. "Sister, I'm going crazy..." His voice gradually lowered.
Xiao Qiqi trembled, clutching the blanket tightly, afraid to struggle too much for fear of being heard downstairs. She felt a burning heat and discomfort from his caresses, and overwhelmed with shame, she felt him unbutton her jeans. In her last struggle, she cried out, "Ugh... I... I don't want to..."
Chen Yuanxing stopped talking, simply threw off the blanket, and quickly took off his own clothes, then pulled off Xiao Qiqi's trousers and woolen pants. As their passion intensified and their desire reached its peak, whether it was due to the stimulation or because passion naturally led to this, Xiao Qiqi did not resist, fight, or even cry as fiercely as before. Instead, she closed her eyes, slowly loosened her grip on his arm, and grabbed the corner of the blanket again.
This was the first time Chen Yuanxing had seen those long, straight, beautiful legs so closely, legs he had explored countless times in the darkness. They were so perfect, the porcelain-white skin possessing a fatal allure under the light. The small piece of fabric between the legs outlined a seductive curve, and Chen Yuanxing's trembling fingers slowly touched them...
The blanket covered their burning bodies again. Chen Yuanxing pressed down on Xiao Qiqi and kissed her deeply. Xiao Qiqi slowly responded, no longer bound by distance, resistance, fear, or the future, letting her emotions erupt as primal desire. She didn't know if it was right or wrong, or if the future held thorns or sunshine.
Xiao Qiqi wrapped her arms around his strong arms, biting his lips with her teeth, and slowly raised her legs to hook around his waist. Chen Yuanxing suppressed his last impulse, groping his burgeoning desire towards that mysterious area. Xiao Qiqi felt his hardness moving and bumping between her thighs, and finally reached out her hand to gently grasp that familiar hardness, guiding it into her body.
The world turned upside down in that instant, their bodies merging so simply. Their first intimacy, filled with excitement and embarrassment at having to hide it from their parents downstairs, only fueled a wilder passion within them. Their first time ended quickly; Chen Yuanxing kissed Xiao Qiqi fiercely, gripping her hair, as if trying to merge his entire body into her softness. Xiao Qiqi's legs were tightly wrapped around his waist, their two still-burning bodies pressed together.
After holding him like that for a long time, Xiao Qiqi finally pushed Chen Yuanxing away, cleaned herself with some paper, and hurriedly dressed, not daring to look at Chen Yuanxing, who was still lying on the bed panting. Chen Yuanxing, however, enjoyed watching Xiao Qiqi get dressed. Seeing her flushed face, Xiao Qiqi felt even more embarrassed by his gaze and said irritably, "What are you looking at! Haven't you ever seen a beautiful woman before!" After saying that, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself, raising her eyes to look directly at Chen Yuanxing. Chen Yuanxing was also looking at her. He reached out his hand, and Xiao Qiqi snuggled up to him, letting him hold her in his arms.
Their kisses were no longer a violent storm, but a gentle, tender drizzle. Xiao Qiqi helped Chen Yuanxing get dressed, and for the first time, she looked directly at the guy who had tried to do naughty things countless times. Her face flushed red, and she spat out a "Pah!" Chen Yuanxing chuckled sullenly, his smug smile making Xiao Qiqi even more uncomfortable.
"You're faking illness to fool me!" Xiao Qiqi even put on Chen Yuanxing's socks and tickled his soles. "You big bad wolf!"
Chen Yuanxing jumped away, sat on the bed, reached out and hugged Xiao Qiqi, looked up at her seriously for a long time, and suddenly said, "Sister, from today onwards you are mine."
Xiao Qiqi was stirred by his gentle words and cupped his face, saying, "Silly boy." She lowered her eyes sadly, "Sister... is not a good woman, not before, and never will be."
"No!" Chen Yuanxing rested his head on her lower abdomen and rubbed his face against hers. "I think you are the most beautiful, the cutest, and the purest fairy in the world. I feel so happy to receive your care and love. Really, so happy."
"That's not how it is, I owe you so much..." Xiao Qiqi was a little anxious. Was she really so lucky to have such happiness?
“You don’t owe me anything. Everything I did was of my own free will. Sister, don’t you really know that I love you?” Chen Yuanxing kept his head resting on her lower abdomen. “Before, I didn’t care. From now on, I want you to be happy. To laugh happily like this, to hold me like this, and to be together like this for the rest of our lives.”
How long is a lifetime? Xiao Qiqi didn't know, but her heart had already been slowly opened by this persistent boy. Even though she still harbored reservations, even feelings of inferiority and fear, she no longer wanted to discern the truth. Happiness was near, and even if it was short, she wanted to grasp this last bit. No matter what the future held, she had experienced it firsthand.
Thirty-six, Warm Spring
At midnight, as the New Year's bells rang, Xiao Qiqi and Chen Yuanxing went downstairs. Their mother had cooked dumplings. Xiao Qiqi picked out all the dumplings she had made, which looked plump and round, and gave them to Chen Yuanxing, saying solicitously, "Look, I gave you all the ones with the most filling."
Chen Yuanxing nodded with emotion. Xiao's mother couldn't stand it and tapped Xiao Qiqi's head with her chopsticks: "Why do you always tease Xiao Chen? The dumplings you made are just for show, they're all shiny on the surface."
Chen Yuanxing took a bite, and sure enough, what looked like a plump piece was actually a carefully rounded one. Xiao Qiqi, seeing Chen Yuanxing being teased, felt even better and winked mischievously at him. Who told him to act so well-behaved in front of outsiders, but secretly be such a wolf in sheep's clothing!
After eating dumplings, Xiao Qiqi and Chen Yuanxing found the same old tacky faces on TV, pretentiously ringing bells and singing. Bored, they went to the street to watch fireworks. The deafening sound of firecrackers was incessant, and the dazzling fireworks were breathtaking. The streets were filled with jubilant people, and even their laughter seemed sweetened by honey, lingering and melodious.
Chen Yuanxing put his arm around Xiao Qiqi's shoulder, and the two stood side by side on the stone bridge. The neon lights on the bridge reflected on the somewhat dark river in the night, creating ripples. Some people were even rowing boats with lanterns on their shoulders, drifting on the river. Chen Yuanxing said, "Qiqi, your hometown is so beautiful. I will always remember this night."
Xiao Qiqi smiled but didn't say anything. Instead, she leaned her head against his chest, listening to his young and strong heartbeat, and said in her heart, "I will remember that too," just remember.
"Shall we come back to our family home for Chinese New Year every year from now on?"
"It's my home, not our home," Xiao Qiqi corrected earnestly.
"You stingy guy, isn't your house my house too?" Chen Yuanxing said contentedly. "We've been family for a long time."
Xiao Qiqi looked at his angular face and the breathtaking beauty of the fireworks bursting above his head, but in an instant the world returned to the darkness of the night. She couldn't help but push him away, "Who's family with you?" and ran away.
Chen Yuanxing paused, watching her retreating figure and muttered, "She was fine just now, why is she angry now?"
When Xiao Qiqi got home that night, she was listless. She had been clamoring to stay up with her father until dawn, but her father firmly refused and soon sent her upstairs to sleep. Chen Yuanxing followed her in right after she entered the room.
Seeing his cautious expression, Xiao Qiqi thought that she was just feeling sentimental and afraid of the future, but what good would it do to think about the future today? Thinking this, she laughed and playfully scolded Chen Yuanxing, "Go back to your room and go to sleep!"
Seeing her smiling face, Chen Yuanxing breathed a sigh of relief and reached out to pinch her small nose. "It's good that you're not angry. I'm most afraid of you getting angry." He had thought for a long time that Xiao Qiqi was still angry about that matter.
"I'm not angry, I'm just thinking that another year has passed and I'm a year older." Xiao Qiqi pouted. "I miss my childhood so much. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, I would take my lucky money and go to the street to buy firecrackers to play with. I felt that was the happiest thing in my life. But I don't feel that way anymore."
"So you're upset because you didn't get any New Year's money? How about I give you a gift?" Chen Yuanxing smiled slightly, his expression exuding a charmingly wicked and affectionate aura.
"Ah!" Xiao Qiqi quickly jumped away, and Da Da opened the door: "Go back to sleep, I'm so sleepy."
Chen Yuanxing hung his head helplessly and walked towards the door. Xiao Qiqi was afraid that he would cause trouble again and refused to leave. She was a little surprised to see him being so obedient, but the surprise was only for a moment. The next moment, Chen Yuanxing had already quickly closed the door, picked up Xiao Qiqi and rushed to the bedside, pressing down his tall body.
"It's freezing! Sister, sleep with me." Chen Yuanxing's smile was particularly wicked. Xiao Qiqi pushed his face away and said helplessly, "Xingxing, stop fooling around. My parents will see us."
"I'll get up earlier tomorrow." Chen Yuanxing pouted, frowned like a child, and looked at Xiao Qiqi pitifully. "Sister... Sister, I'm cold. If you don't warm me up, I'll definitely catch a cold tomorrow."
Xiao Qiqi knew that he was never a good sleeper. In the north, with central heating, it was fine for him to lie around without a blanket. But in this temperature at home, even the healthiest person couldn't stand not being covered by a blanket. However, she still cared about her parents and ultimately refused to agree.
Chen Yuanxing wouldn't listen to Xiao Qiqi. He quickly took off his clothes and crawled into bed. Xiao Qiqi stood by the bed with her cheeks puffed out. When he threw out a pair of black underwear, her face couldn't help but turn red. Chen Yuanxing smiled wickedly and said, "Sister, I'll warm the bed for you. Come in quickly."
Xiao Qiqi couldn't say, "Then you sleep here, and I'll sleep in my brother's room."