Wearing a thick padded coat, Ye Xingmian couldn’t help but breathe out a soft puff of warm air and rub her little hands together.
It was really cold, but it would warm up soon. The cold wouldn’t last much longer; spring was nearly here.
Season changes were seldom a gradual warming; instead, it alternated between hot and cold, until one day it no longer turned cold—that was when spring truly arrived.
But they were still in the depths of winter, far from the season change. Even so, the streets were already filled with festive decorations.
Since that night, Ye Xingmian felt as if the pressure on her shoulders had lightened considerably; at least her relationship with Liu Yinuo had finally become much more normal.
And today was Chinese New Year’s Eve.
The sun had already set, and the city’s neon lights were glowing. Liu Yinuo wanted to bring her out for a stroll.
Still, it was really cold.
If you left your hands outside for even a little while, they would freeze bright red. Even with gloves on, you couldn’t keep them out for too long.
Ye Xingmian felt like a fat penguin, her face wrapped up in a thick scarf.
“Um… where are we going?”
People were coming and going all around.
Ye Xingmian couldn’t help but tighten her grip on Liu Yinuo’s hand. Liu Yinuo’s parents had originally wanted to tag along too, but she had refused, so this time it was just the two of them.
Liu Yinuo had brought plenty of money; even if they didn’t go back at night, it would probably be fine.
“To the lake.”
Liu Yinuo, walking ahead, simply said so.
This city did indeed have a big lake, with a big bridge connecting its two banks. But the place Liu Yinuo was taking her was close to the suburbs.
She had thought that in such a remote area, there would be fewer people, but unexpectedly, it was even more crowded.
Vendors were hawking their goods everywhere—barbecue, candied hawthorn skewers, stalls for all sorts of little games, and many parents with children in tow. It was brimming with lively excitement.
“It’s the annual fair, which happens once a year. I wanted to bring you here to have a look.”
Liu Yinuo turned her head and smiled at her.
Ye Xingmian was taken aback. She had never heard that there was such a place.
The buildings on both sides of the street looked quite old, adorned with festive red lanterns and all sorts of colorful ribbon decorations.
“So, do you like it?”
“Mm-hmm…”
“Hold my hand tight. Don’t get separated from me later.”
“I’m not a little kid anymore…”
She muttered softly like that, but still tightened her grip a little. After all, if she really got separated and Liu Yinuo had to search for her, that would be quite a hassle, wouldn’t it?
This main road led to the lakeside, where there was a small beach. Vendors were selling fish lanterns and kites, along with various prepared aquatic products.
“Hey, miss, sweet candied hawthorn skewers! Want a couple?”
Liu Yinuo suddenly stopped in her tracks. Ye Xingmian, following behind her, also paused and looked in the direction of the vendor’s call together with her.
This… was she going to buy candied hawthorn skewers?
“Do you want some?”
Liu Yinuo suddenly turned around and stared straight at her.
“Huh? I… I don’t need any.”
She refused almost instinctively, but in the bottom of her heart, there was a tiny little bit of expectation. Even if she felt embarrassed, she might still get to eat something…
However, Liu Yinuo simply nodded thoughtfully.
“Mm.”
Then she led Ye Xingmian to the stall.
“Boss, one candied hawthorn skewer.”
“Just one? What about this young lady beside you? Doesn’t she want one?”
“She said she doesn’t want one.”
“Alright, here you go, miss. Take care.”
In the end, she really only bought one.
But that was only natural, right? After all, she had refused herself. Feeling disappointed about it would be too melodramatic. And there was no need for that.
She just felt a little surprised.
Huh? Halfway there, Liu Yinuo suddenly stopped again.
Ye Xingmian couldn’t help but turn to look at her and saw her frowning slightly, not looking too happy.
“It doesn’t taste good.”
She said.
“Huh?”
“Do you want it? I only took half a bite. It would be a shame to throw it away.”
“Me… me?”
Ye Xingmian was stunned, looking at the candied hawthorn skewer in Liu Yinuo’s hand with just one bite taken from it.
“I really only took half a bite. You won’t mind, will you?”
The crystal-clear sugar coating gleamed with a golden glow under the lights.
“How… how could I!”
Almost instinctively, she wanted to defend herself, but unexpectedly, Liu Yinuo had a triumphant smile on her face.
“If you don’t, then take it. You have to eat all of it, no wasting, including the part I bit.”
She suddenly leaned close to Ye Xingmian’s ear. That voice was simply unfair.
“There might still be a little of my saliva on it. You won’t mind, right?”
“Wh… what?!”
When had she ever been teased like this?
Ye Xingmian’s face instantly turned bright red.
So much so that when she took the skewer, it felt like holding a hot potato in her hand—she couldn’t eat it, and she couldn’t not eat it.
“What, not taking a bite? In a little while, it might even melt, you know? Even though the weather is pretty cold now.”
Why had Liu Yinuo suddenly become so mischievous?
But that wasn’t something Ye Xingmian should be considering right now. She lowered her head slightly, looking flustered.
The first candied hawthorn—half of it—was the one Liu Yinuo had just bitten.
According to her, there was still a trace of her… saliva on it.
Did this… did this count as an indirect kiss?
Ye Xingmian’s heart was in turmoil. She felt like Liu Yinuo was hinting at something, but she didn’t dare think in that direction.
But… she definitely couldn’t not eat it, right? After all, it was Liu Yinuo’s request…
As if facing some difficult challenge, Ye Xingmian mustered her courage and ate the topmost one.
It was sweet, with a little sourness.
It tasted great, so how could Liu Yinuo not like it?
Had she simply put on this little act just to see her flustered?
Ye Xingmian mustered her courage to raise her head and saw Liu Yinuo giggling. As expected, right?
But she couldn’t be angry; after all, she couldn’t muster any anger.
She was just very nervous and a bit embarrassed. Ye Xingmian silently hung her head.
“What’s wrong? You’re not angry, are you?”
A warm little hand suddenly landed on her head. Ye Xingmian couldn’t help but startle.
“…No… it’s just…”
“Just?”
“No, it’s nothing…”
How could Liu Yinuo not know what she was thinking?
Seeing the trace of disappointment on Ye Xingmian’s face, she already understood everything.
But she couldn’t find words to comfort her, and the smile on her face froze.
So they continued walking. Ye Xingmian ate the whole candied hawthorn skewer clean, but the sickly sweet treat couldn’t cover the bitterness rising in her heart.
Liu Yinuo then spotted a stall with paper nets for scooping fish. Couples were playing all around it, and she brought Ye Xingmian over to join the fun.
She let Ye Xingmian go first, while she watched from the side.
However, Ye Xingmian was clumsy and didn’t catch a single one. Liu Yinuo couldn’t help but laugh, which made Ye Xingmian feel very discouraged. Then it was Liu Yinuo’s turn.
But Liu Yinuo wasn’t any better. Several attempts all ended in failure. In the end, she lost everything and even earned a laugh from Ye Xingmian.
It was that kind of smile—”I don’t dare say it, but you know what I’m laughing at.”
Fortunately, there were many people around who were just like them; those who actually scooped up fish were in the minority. So they continued wandering around.
Before they knew it, the time was nearly the middle of the night.