“Is this considered the start of winter?”
Yang Shuli rubbed her hands together and looked at Xu Nian beside her.
The two of them were out to eat, but in today’s terms, it was a date.
“I’d say so. After all, Start of Winter has already passed some time ago, and isn’t the end of this month Christmas?” Xu Nian asked Yang Shuli in return.
“Christmas?” Yang Shuli held her head. “The one where you eat peace apples?”
“Is food all you can think of?” Xu Nian wasn’t surprised at all. “It’s also the day when you hang socks on the wall and wait for Santa Claus to stuff things inside.”
“Ah, I know that too, but I’ve never tried it.” Yang Shuli rubbed her hands. “Just one sock, how much can it hold?”
“It really can’t hold much, and with modern houses, there’s no chimney for Santa Claus to go down.” As Xu Nian spoke, he tightened the scarf around Yang Shuli’s neck.
Children always like to hop and skip, and at times like this, the scarf usually turns into something like a cape and starts fluttering in the wind.
“Lao Xu, have you ever been Santa Claus before?”
Yang Shuli widened her eyes and stared at Xu Nian. Of course, their hands were still linked.
“Why do you think that?” Xu Nian asked with a smile, looking at Yang Shuli.
“Because I always feel like you’re the kind of person who grants others’ wishes.” Yang Shuli patted her belly. “Little belly, little belly, don’t you think so?”
It seemed he was amused by Yang Shuli’s actions. Xu Nian reached out with his other hand and deliberately stroked his non-existent beard. “So, little friend, what wish do you need me to fulfill?”
“I want Xu Nian to be with me.”
“That one won’t work.”
Yang Shuli’s face immediately fell, and she started thrashing her arms.
“Why not? You’re not an authentic Santa Claus at all.”
“Other Santas grant any wish, so why can’t you?”
“I’m a more practical Santa Claus. I only give physical gifts.” Xu Nian wagged his finger.
“Then you’re a pretty lousy Santa Claus.”
Yang Shuli turned her head away, then turned back after a moment.
“Then I want to eat something now. Can this Santa make that happen?”
“Of course I can, but you know that the wish you’re making now is a Christmas wish. If it’s granted, it’ll have to wait until Christmas.” Xu Nian couldn’t help teasing Yang Shuli.
“Then I won’t make a wish. I want to eat roasted sweet potatoes right now.”
Roasted sweet potato stalls by the street would randomly appear when it got cold.
You could smell the fragrance before even getting close.
It seemed she could already faintly smell the sweetness.
“Then let’s go eat roasted sweet potatoes.”
Xu Nian indulged Yang Shuli and, holding her hand, walked over.
The smaller ones were eight yuan, the larger ones twelve. The price seemed quite normal.
“If the sweet potatoes before roasting could sell for two yuan each, I’d be impressed.” Yang Shuli muttered quietly to Xu Nian.
“That’s not true, there’s some labor cost involved.”
The twelve-yuan large sweet potato was packed in two layers of plastic bags.
Then Yang Shuli saw the boss break the sweet potato in half, and even thoughtfully include a spoon for her.
“You know, I’ve never seen this in the north. Where do you get a spoon with roasted sweet potatoes? It feels a bit condescending.”
Yang Shuli looked at the sweet potato in her hand and pouted.
“Actually, roasted sweet potatoes down south are basically always like this.” Xu Nian wasn’t surprised.
“From your tone, have you been to the north before?”
“Yes, I even stayed there for over a decade.”
“You’re only in your teens yourself, aren’t you?!”
“But aren’t roasted sweet potatoes supposed to be eaten with the caramelized skin? What’s the point of using a spoon to just scoop out the inside?”
Yang Shuli squeezed the obviously too-soft plastic spoon.
“And breaking it in half? Do you think I can’t eat that much? How dare you underestimate me.”
Xu Nian just chuckled and patted Yang Shuli’s head.
“Lao Xu, can we really not be together now?”
Xu Nian didn’t know why Yang Shuli’s thought process was so strange.
“No.”
“But you like me, and I like you. Why can’t we be together?” Yang Shuli grabbed Xu Nian’s sleeve, a bit stubborn.
“Think about it. Niu Lang and Zhi Nü also like each other, but why can’t they be together?” Xu Nian’s voice was always patient and gentle.
“But there’s no difficulty separating us, is there?” Yang Shuli tilted her head and passed the sweet potato between her hands; it seemed a bit hot.
“There is, you just haven’t noticed.”
“You’re talking like an old man again.” Yang Shuli poked Xu Nian.
“Am I?”
“You are.”
Yang Shuli felt inexplicably a bit angry. “Then what are we now? You’re openly in love with me, and I’m secretly in love with you?”
“Who would say their secret love out loud?” Xu Nian laughed softly.
“Then where are two people who like each other but can’t be together?” Xiao Yang was very serious.
So Xu Nian started coaxing Xiao Yang.
“What’s the difference between us now and being together? It’s just a title. In reality, you’re experiencing just as much.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Yang Shuli was coaxed.
Actually, the boss wasn’t wrong. After Yang Shuli finished eating half of the roasted sweet potato, she couldn’t eat anymore.
“Too rich.”
Saying so, she held out the remaining sweet potato to Xu Nian.
Xu Nian was about to take it when he suddenly sensed something.
“Hold on.” He reached out and took out his phone; someone was calling him.
“Who is it?”
Yang Shuli stood on tiptoe to see, but couldn’t reach.
“My mom.” Xu Nian’s expression rarely showed conflict.
He knew he shouldn’t hang up this call, but unfortunately, he had nothing to talk about with his parents in this life.
Since his growth didn’t require anyone’s help, it seemed the words his parents spoke in his ear had become far fewer.
He didn’t know how to get along with his parents either; he couldn’t find the right attitude.
In his long life, the days his parents accompanied him didn’t account for much.
Moreover, compared to those who loved him, he was more accustomed to living with those who hated him. It could be said he was at a loss.
“Hello.” The voice on the other end even sounded a bit surprised. “Son, is that you?”
“It’s me.” Xu Nian held back for a long time and managed to say, “Is something the matter?”
“Mom is asking, are you coming home this winter break?”
“Not coming back. There’s something I need to do.” Xu Nian said.
“Still not coming back… Is it something serious? Do you need Mom and Dad’s help or anything?”
Xu Nian was about to reply when he saw Yang Shuli next to him reaching out her hand, as if asking for something.