They were so close—so close that they could hear each other’s breath.
It felt as though, if he only lowered his face just a little, he could kiss her lips.
Jiang Xiao merely imagined that scene, then, without a change in expression, reined in his thoughts and averted his gaze from her face.
A person’s endurance always has its limits, and yet, the one beside him, with that pure and adorable face, kept doing things that could make a demon out of him, tempting him to commit a crime.
Fortunately, judging by her reaction, she clearly longed to be liked by someone as well.
Just this fact alone gave him enough confidence to keep pursuing her.
Those shameless desires, so eager to be noticed, calmed down a little.
As long as there was hope, there was no need to be so desperate.
Song Qiuyu’s heart was in chaos.
The gathering was over, and what awaited her next was facing the mistakes of her youth, as well as Jiang Xiao’s unwavering affection.
Their relationship.
Her plan had gone terribly wrong!
She had intended to reveal her true identity and make Jiang Xiao lose all hope in both Song Qiuyu and Shen Xi, but Jiang Xiao had gotten ahead of her.
The thought of being alone with him soon filled her with unease.
But some things really did need to be faced.
She had to make her position clear—they could only be brothers, friends, or roommates.
Even if Jiang Xiao wanted to stab her to death, she’d accept it!
So be it.
“Ah, right, since you two just joined the Drama Club, you might not know this—our Drama Club has a tradition!” The President grinned as he slapped Song Qiuyu and Jiang Xiao on the shoulders, each slap heavier than the last.
He was trying to draw the attention of the two younger students back to himself.
As a senior, he felt his presence was far too weak—pretty sad, really.
“Tradition?”
Song Qiuyu was taken aback and was the first to respond to the President.
“Yeah! On the last day of every year, our Drama Club goes to the highest place in South Wind City to complete a ritual!” The President crossed his arms before his chest and spoke with great solemnity.
“Even though it’s raining today, we still have to go. Let’s go, the other members have already headed over.”
“Should we call Lin An to join us?” Xie Zhuran chimed in.
“Of course we should!”
Song Qiuyu replied instantly: “Lin An’s a member of the Drama Club too, he has to go. Worst case, bring Xia Qi along as well.”
“Makes sense!” Xie Zhuran agreed.
“By the way, did you all bring umbrellas?” the President suddenly asked.
He seemed a little embarrassed as he spoke.
“President, did you forget your umbrella? I happen to have an extra one.” Song Qiuyu reacted immediately, taking a Backup Umbrella out of her backpack.
The President was stunned for a moment. Huh? You can bring extra umbrellas?
Of course, Song Qiuyu wouldn’t tell the President that, in order to take better care of Jiang Xiao, besides reminding him to bring his own umbrella, she also carried an extra Backup Umbrella in her backpack—just in case.
Carrying one umbrella or two—either way, they’re umbrellas.
It’s not like umbrellas are heavy.
Jiang Xiao quietly glanced at the umbrella he’d already prepared in advance, his lips moving slightly.
The President scratched his head, a little embarrassed as he accepted the umbrella from his junior, then suddenly felt an unfriendly gaze on him. He turned and saw it was coming from Jiang Xiao’s direction, but oddly enough, Jiang Xiao wasn’t looking at him at all.
Was it just his imagination?
Still, he couldn’t help feeling a bit jealous.
He had a strong hunch that this Backup Umbrella was probably meant for Jiang Xiao.
The President felt a little sour.
After handing the Backup Umbrella to the President, Song Qiuyu turned and raised her small hand high above her head, waving gently to call Lin An and Xia Qi over.
Yet, the person beside her spoke up faster.
“Lin An, the Drama Club still has the New Year’s Eve Ritual—bring Xia Qi along with you!”
“Huh?”
Song Qiuyu stared wide-eyed at Jiang Xiao, surprised.
“Let’s go.”
Jiang Xiao ruffled her fluffy hair, not saying anything more, then turned to look at his younger brother and sister.
He saw that Jiang Li had already opened her own umbrella, holding Jiang Yu’s hand, ready to join them as they set out.
They were only seventeen-year-old high schoolers, but somehow, their backs looked a bit grown-up already.
This made Jiang Xiao feel something stir in his heart.
During those three years he spent drowning in the pain of losing Xi’er, it seemed his little sister had grown up too quickly.
But she wasn’t the only one who had been affected.
Jiang Yu, too, and… their parents, their grandparents…
He realized he hadn’t really looked at their faces for three years.
This winter break, he needed to really see them.
Thinking of this, he remembered what his sister had said before—about bringing his girlfriend home for the family to meet.
Suddenly, an idea took root in his heart.
There was still more than half a month left until winter break.
There should be enough time.
“I said let’s go! Why are you still daydreaming?”
Song Qiuyu noticed Jiang Xiao was feeling low, so she quietly reached out to hold his finger, moved closer, and spoke to him.
Jiang Xiao lowered his eyes and looked at Song Qiuyu’s smiling, beautiful face.
His scattered thoughts gathered together, and he gripped her finger in return.
Then, acting as though nothing had happened, he held the umbrella and walked into the rain with her, occasionally glancing sideways to steal a look at that bright profile beneath the neon lights.
It was something he’d imagined countless times over the past six years, and now, at this moment, it seemed so easy to obtain—yet, in reality, it was still so far away.
Their budding love, right now, was like a secret wrongdoing that couldn’t see the light.
If it ever blossomed, self-righteous heroes would surely step forward to stop them.
Like a Little Monster, whose very existence is a mistake, destined to be defeated by Ultraman.
So, no matter how he thought about it, Jiang Xiao couldn’t find a reason to let go of Xi’er.
In this lifetime, he was determined to have her.
After all, she was the one who pulled him into all of this.
This winter break, he had to bring her home.
The boy’s resolve grew firmer, while the girl remained confused. Feeling the burning heat from his fingertips, she found herself at a loss.
Time ticked away.
There were only ten minutes left until 2026.
All of South Wind City was celebrating New Year’s Eve in the rainy night.
Lovers walked through the rain, and a giant countdown sparkled in the night, bright and dazzling.
At this moment, the entire Drama Club of Nanxi had reached the highest hill in South Wind City.
“Come on, only ten minutes left! Let’s let out all the worries and stress from this year!” The President raised his camera, aiming it at all the members standing on the slope, and laughed out loud.
The wind and rain wore away at his voice, but every word, every syllable, still reached everyone’s ears clearly, stirring their hearts.
“So this is the New Year’s Eve Ritual they were talking about?” Jiang Li looked at the President of the Drama Club with a confused expression.
The Drama Club’s long-standing tradition was to run to the top of the hill on New Year’s Eve and shout like a bunch of prairie dogs.
That can’t be right.
Did her brother really study anything proper at this university? The whole club seemed a little strange.
Especially that guy with white hair—Xie Zhuran.
“Little sister, you and Jiang Yu aren’t in the Drama Club, so just watch from the side. No need to force yourselves to join in!”
Xie Zhuran said, thinking he was being especially thoughtful.
Jiang Li didn’t ignore him; instead, she smiled politely, nodded gently, and showed she’d heard him.
That single polite smile was like a Cupid suddenly popping into existence and, whoosh, shooting an arrow straight through Xie Zhuran’s heart.
Jiang Li smiled at me.
Could it be…?
Xie Zhuran clutched his chest.
From the side, a lazy voice commented on his inner drama:
“Idiot.”
Naturally, it could only be Lin An who said that.
“Big sis, that brother is so weird.” Even Jiang Yu noticed, pouting as he spoke to his sister.
Jiang Li simply smiled, patted his head, then looked up at her own brother and Qiuyu-ge, her brows knitting together.
Everyone in the Drama Club was yelling and shouting. Xia Qi and Sang Tian had joined in too.
Only those two—her brother and Qiuyu-ge—stood quietly, each burdened by heavy thoughts, not knowing what was on the other’s mind.
Brother, you and Qiuyu-ge, in the end…