When the clock’s hands both pointed to twelve, it announced the end of the old year and the arrival of the new one.
Lin Xinyuan didn’t have many friends—just a handful coming and going.
Still, her phone’s notification sound kept ringing intermittently for several minutes before finally quieting down.
After replying one by one to her friends’ New Year wishes, Lin Xinyuan continued scrolling through her screen, only to find some messages from unfamiliar profile pictures.
Thankfully, she had made notes before, so the names sparked faint memories—they were some high school classmates she was on decent terms with.
But since their relationship was never that close and they hadn’t met for a long time, she only responded out of courtesy, copying and pasting generic blessings, assuming the others did the same.
After replying to every message, Lin Xinyuan sank into deep thought…
Half an hour passed, yet that damn yellow-haired guy still hadn’t responded…
The girl’s heart ached with disappointment she couldn’t suppress.
Watching time slowly tick by, she grew restless, typing and deleting messages repeatedly, but never sending them.
Lin Xinyuan really wanted to contact Qin Nanfeng, but didn’t want to appear too eager.
That awkward feeling weighed on her chest, making it sting with bitterness…
However, just as she was hesitating whether to reach out, a knock came at the door.
Listening closely…
It sounded like her second cousin.
After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Xinyuan threw off her covers and got out of bed to open the door.
“Cousin? Is… is there something you need?”
Her voice was soft and weak as she peeked out from behind the door.
Others might have found this action a bit coy or affected, but for her, it was perfectly natural—matching her timid personality, making her all the more endearing.
Outside, Tang Chengmin’s expression shifted awkwardly the moment he saw her, scratching his head and darting his eyes around nervously, avoiding direct eye contact with the girl.
“Oh… um… I saw your light was still on, so I thought I’d check in.”
A little cousin in pajamas like this… you’d never guess she used to be a boy.
But she really is cute…
Wonder who’ll get lucky someday…
Lin Xinyuan noticed Tang Chengmin’s strange gaze and frowned, glancing around, puzzled by the look’s meaning but not dwelling on it.
“Is that so…” she murmured, lowering her head, then quickly looked up at Tang Chengmin.
“So… cousin, would you like to come in?”
Her words were polite, but she had no real intention of letting him in.
Luckily, Tang Chengmin didn’t have such plans either.
“No, no!” Tang Chengmin hurriedly declined.
After all, men and women maintain proper boundaries, and even siblings shouldn’t casually enter a girl’s room.
“Right…”
“Oh, by the way, Xiaoyuan, Grandpa asked me to see if you want to go up the mountain tomorrow?” Tang Chengmin suddenly remembered and spoke again.
“Go up the mountain?” Lin Xinyuan was a little confused, questioning.
Zhannan City lies along the coast, mostly composed of plateaus and plains, with only small hills and no real mountains.
So locally, “the mountain” usually means some wild, sparsely populated area.
“Yes, are you going or not? It’s boring staying home anyway.”
“Uh…” Lin Xinyuan pondered briefly, a little swayed by her cousin’s words, and finally agreed, “Okay…”
“Good. Then get up early tomorrow. Otherwise, I’ll just come wake you myself.”
“…”
Lin Xinyuan nodded, giving Tang Chengmin a faint smile. “Is there anything else, cousin?”
Tang Chengmin was caught off guard by her smile, stunned for a moment, then felt a little embarrassed.
“No… um… Happy New Year, little cousin!”
“Happy New Year to you too…”
After watching her cousin leave, Lin Xinyuan closed the door and turned off the room light, leaving only the bedside lamp on.
The countryside night was frighteningly dark.
People went to bed early, with none of the neon lights or street food stalls of the Downtown.
She lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Though it was New Year’s Day, there was no festive atmosphere.
For most people, the so-called first day of the new year probably meant nothing more than posting on their Circle of Friends, and that alone counted as a ritual.
Of course, some were like her—quiet, invisible, as if they never existed at all…
But this year was different.
She had her mother now… her cousin… her grandparents…
Unconsciously, she realized she had a family.
She had friends.
A faint smile tugged at Lin Xinyuan’s lips, a little happiness stirring in her heart.
But then she thought of Qin Nanfeng, and the smile faded again.
She pressed her lips, glancing at her phone once more.
Still no message…
It was already 1:30 a.m…
He must be asleep by now, right?
Well… it made sense.
That guy was so busy, working at the company in the city.
Probably only stopped by to see her because he had business in Zhannan…
Thinking this made Lin Xinyuan inexplicably sad.
Her fists clenched tightly, then loosened, then tightened again…
Though she understood, she still felt a little upset that Qin Nanfeng had broken his promise.
He said they would play games tonight!
Breaking the appointment was one thing…
But not even sending a message…
Tch… forget it if you don’t want to…
Like I care!
Just as Lin Xinyuan was lost in her thoughts, her phone suddenly rang, the sound piercingly loud in the quiet night and vast room.
Startled, she quickly looked at the screen, her expression betraying the excitement she tried to hide.
The moment she answered, Qin Nanfeng’s teasing voice came through.
“I bet you’re cursing me right now, huh? Xiaoyuan?”
All her frustration and disappointment instantly vanished.
A delighted curve formed on her lips as she feigned composure and muttered softly, “I’m not that petty… Don’t think everyone’s as small-minded as you!”
“Fine, I’m small-minded.”
This time, Qin Nanfeng didn’t bother to snap back.
His face wore a smile, and the background clearly showed he was still at that hotel from before.
“I had something come up today, sorry… I forgot to tell you.”
This was the first time Lin Xinyuan had ever heard Qin Nanfeng apologize.
She looked surprised, as if seeing an alien, but inwardly felt satisfied…
“You actually apologized?”
Qin Nanfeng blinked, raising an eyebrow. “Got a problem with that?”
“Big problem!”
“Like what?”
“Don’t know! It’s just weird, not like you at all.” Lin Xinyuan felt bold and playful. “Tell me! Are you really Qin Nanfeng or not?”
Usually, Qin Nanfeng would have teased her mercilessly by now, but this time, unexpectedly, he stayed silent.
“Yes. Enough of that—I’m going to wash up and sleep. We can play the game tomorrow.”
“Hmph…”
Seeing Qin Nanfeng “back down,” the girl felt a prideful satisfaction, unaware that he simply didn’t want to argue and was letting her have this small victory.
Silly…
Qin Nanfeng chuckled deeply, shaking his head, instinctively reaching for a cigarette—then realizing he was out.
He stopped and stared straight at the girl on the screen.
A moment of silence passed between them, the atmosphere peaceful and quiet…
The girl’s room was dimly lit, the faint light illuminating her delicate features clearly.
Bathed in the soft glow, she turned her face slightly, seemingly aware of Qin Nanfeng’s burning gaze, but shyly avoiding his eyes.
Her fair, slender neck was exposed, and her beautiful profile appeared ethereal, wrapped in a hazy allure—especially enchanting…
Like a painting come to life, ready to vanish at any moment, untouchable even by a single cloud…
Suddenly, Qin Nanfeng felt an inexplicable sharp pain in his chest, his heart spasming violently as a wave of suffocating agony surged over him…
But his strong self-control kept him from crying out.
His body tensed, holding the pain in without showing a sign of weakness.
Thankfully, the strange pain soon faded as if it never existed.
Qin Nanfeng convinced himself it was just exhaustion—a warning from his body.
He breathed a quiet sigh of relief…
After a while, the playful expression on his face gradually faded, replaced by a gentle warmth.
“Xiaoyuan?”
“What now…”
“Happy New Year!”
“Eh?”