That evening, after returning home, Wen Yuan told Zhou Man that Pei Qingjian would be coming over to celebrate the New Year with them.
Zhou Man was pleasantly surprised. “Then I’ll tidy up the guest room in a bit—maybe the one closer to Xingchen’s room, so it’s convenient for them to find each other.”
“You still need to tidy it up?” Wen Yuan chuckled. “Xingchen already said they’ll stay in the same room.”
Zhou Man laughed as well. “A couple in the honeymoon phase—it’s normal they don’t want to sleep separately.”
“Exactly,” Wen Yuan agreed.
“But since he doesn’t want us to know yet, let’s just keep pretending we don’t.”
“Mm,” Zhou Man nodded. “I’ll ask Xingchen tomorrow what Xiao Pei likes to eat, and we can add a few of his favorite dishes to the New Year’s Eve dinner.”
“Sounds good.”
Sure enough, the next day, Lin Xingchen received a call from Zhou Man asking about Pei Qingjian’s preferences and habits.
“I figured if I asked him directly, he might feel shy, so I thought you’d know better since you’re close,” Zhou Man said gently.
Lin Xingchen, of course, knew. He listed a whole string of preferences without hesitation.
Zhou Man carefully wrote everything down, then asked, “About what time will you two be back? Around noon or in the afternoon?”
“Afternoon,” Lin Xingchen replied.
Even though he wanted to see his uncle sooner, he figured Pei Qingjian might feel awkward arriving too early, so afternoon was better.
“Alright.”
After a bit more conversation, Zhou Man hung up.
Lin Xingchen turned and told Pei Qingjian about it. “See? I told you they’d be happy to have you.”
Pei Qingjian felt a little shy, but even more so, he felt happy.
—He had spent too many New Years alone. Now, finally, he would be spending one with others.
“Then should we bring something for your uncle and aunt?” he asked.
“No need,” Lin Xingchen said. “I already bought gifts while we were traveling abroad.”
Pei Qingjian: !!!
“Why didn’t you tell me?!”
“I didn’t know back then you’d be coming to my house,” Lin Xingchen laughed, pulling him into a hug. “It’s fine—just say we bought them together.”
“That won’t do.” Thinking of it, Pei Qingjian immediately dragged him out to pick out additional gifts, asking for his advice.
Before long, the two days passed in a blur. Before Pei Qingjian could fully prepare himself, Lin Xingchen was already driving him toward his home.
Wen Yuan and Zhou Man had been waiting for them. Ning Yuan and Ning Rong were there as well.
“Is Xiao Pei really coming?” Ning Rong asked again. “I haven’t seen him since the wrap.”
“Xingchen said he would.”
Ning Rong lit up. “That’s great!”
“But are his family members busy or something? Why isn’t he spending New Year with them?”
“I’m not sure,” Zhou Man replied. “Xingchen didn’t say, and your brother-in-law didn’t ask.”
Ning Rong nodded and didn’t press further.
Around four in the afternoon, Lin Xingchen and Pei Qingjian finally arrived.
Zhou Man opened the door with a smile. “I just heard the noise—I guessed it must be you.”
“Hello, Auntie,” Pei Qingjian greeted politely.
Before coming, he had already made up his mind—this time, with so many people around, he absolutely could not slip up again and call her “aunt-in-law.”
But hearing him switch to “Auntie,” Zhou Man felt a bit unaccustomed.
She handed him a pair of slippers she had just bought and said, “It’s fine—you can call me what you did before.”
After all, if Lin Xingchen had brought him home, it clearly meant he was serious. So sooner or later, he would be calling her that anyway.
Pei Qingjian felt embarrassed. “I just misspoke before—please don’t mind it.”
Zhou Man smiled warmly. “Why would I? You and Xingchen are good friends, so it’s normal to follow how he addresses me.”
Pei Qingjian only felt that she was incredibly gentle.
He smiled at her and lowered his head to change into the slippers.
But as soon as he looked down, he realized—the slippers were the exact same style as Lin Xingchen’s.
Lin Xingchen noticed it too and was a bit surprised.
He glanced at Zhou Man.
She looked puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he replied.
He just thought she had really put thought into it—even down to such small details.
“Thank you, Auntie,” he said.
Zhou Man did not quite understand why he suddenly thanked her, but she never fussed over such things. “You’re welcome.”
After changing shoes, they walked into the living room.
Just then, Wen Yuan came downstairs and saw them.
“You’re finally here,” he said.
Pei Qingjian turned toward him—it was his first time meeting Wen Yuan.
Perhaps because nephews resemble their uncles, Lin Xingchen and Wen Yuan looked somewhat alike, though their temperaments were completely different.
Lin Xingchen carried the sharpness of youth in his twenties, while Wen Yuan had long since settled into a refined, elegant demeanor.
Dressed in a light sweater, he had a well-maintained figure, and even at his age, his features were striking. Looking at him, Pei Qingjian felt as though he were seeing Lin Xingchen decades into the future.
“Hello, Uncle,” he greeted politely.
“Hello.” Wen Yuan smiled at him. “I saw on Xingchen’s social media that you two went traveling recently?”
“Yes.” Pei Qingjian nodded. “We also brought back some local specialties.”
As he spoke, he handed over the bag of food he was carrying.
Zhou Man quickly took it. “Thank you.”
Lin Xingchen then handed over his gifts as well. “These are for you and my uncle.”
“This one too.” Pei Qingjian immediately handed over the gift in his hand as well.
Zhou Man chuckled. “You’re coming over, and you even brought gifts?”
Pei Qingjian smiled shyly, not saying anything.
Zhou Man didn’t press the matter and simply put the gifts aside.
Wen Yuan stepped forward warmly. “Sit down, why are you standing?”
“Just waiting for you,” Lin Xingchen said, pulling Pei Qingjian onto the sofa beside him.
Only then did Pei Qingjian have time to greet Ning Rong. “Sister, long time no see.”
Ning Rong smiled. “Mm, it has been a while.” She leaned closer. “Was Country N fun?”
“Pretty good,” Pei Qingjian replied.
Ning Rong began chatting with him about the trip.
To Pei Qingjian’s surprise, spending New Year at Lin Xingchen’s home wasn’t as awkward as he had imagined. Wen Yuan and Zhou Man were both gentle, Ning Rong kept up a steady conversation, and Ning Yuan, though quieter, would join in whenever the topic interested him. With Lin Xingchen sitting beside him the whole time, chatting along, Pei Qingjian barely noticed that it was already time for dinner.
The New Year’s Eve meal had been prepared by hired chefs—everyone had worked hard throughout the year, and Wen Yuan didn’t want Zhou Man to be overworked on this day. Zhou Man had asked Pei Qingjian about his tastes beforehand, so when the dishes were served, his favorites were placed right in front of him.
Pei Qingjian noticed the thoughtfulness and felt a warm glow in his heart.
He still sat next to Lin Xingchen, chatting as they ate. The food tasted excellent, but his mood was even better than the meal itself.
After dinner, Wen Yuan asked, “Do you want to watch the fireworks?”
Pei Qingjian nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, yes!”
Lin Xingchen agreed. “Sure.”
So everyone went out to the courtyard. Wen Yuan brought out the fireworks and placed them on the lawn for Lin Xingchen to light.
Lin Xingchen quickly set them off and ran back to Pei Qingjian.
Pei Qingjian laughed at him, only to be gently nudged by Lin Xingchen to watch the fireworks.
Golden fireworks blossomed like wintertime dreams, shimmering in the night sky.
Pei Qingjian quietly watched until he saw the familiar misty-blue fireworks, dazzling and unique, like the depths of Lin Xingchen’s ocean.
He turned to Lin Xingchen, who said, “Happy New Year.”
Pei Qingjian looked at him and suddenly felt an urge to kiss him.
But there were too many people around, and he didn’t dare.
“Happy New Year,” he said instead.
Fireworks continued to explode overhead, each one shining brilliantly, yet Pei Qingjian no longer cared for them. His eyes stayed fixed on Lin Xingchen. He thought to himself: this was the most lively and happiest New Year he had celebrated in years.
Looking at Lin Xingchen, he knew he would remember him forever, and remember this gentle, unforgettable night.
After the fireworks, they prepared to return to their room.
Before entering, Wen Yuan and Zhou Man handed out red envelopes to both of them.
Pei Qingjian felt shy and tried to refuse, but Lin Xingchen took it for him. “It’s fine. My uncle and aunt give me one every year, so just take it.”
“Yes, Xiao Pei, don’t be so polite,” Zhou Man said with a warm smile.
Pei Qingjian could only thank them. “Thank you, Uncle and Auntie.”
Once Wen Yuan and Zhou Man finished giving out their envelopes, Ning Rong and Ning Yuan handed over their gifts as well.
“This one’s for Xingchen, this one’s for Xiao Pei,” Ning Rong said, smiling. “Happy New Year!”
“Mm, Happy New Year,” Ning Yuan added.
Pei Qingjian was surprised. “I get one too?”
“Of course!” Ning Rong happily stuffed the gift into his arms.
Pei Qingjian was at a loss, so he looked at Lin Xingchen.
Lin Xingchen was also slightly surprised but, realizing they clearly wanted to give gifts, didn’t refuse.
“Thank you,” he said.
“You’re welcome,” Ning Yuan replied.
Lin Xingchen looked at him, thinking it was a pity Pei Qingjian hadn’t prepared gifts for them.
But Ning Yuan and Ning Rong clearly didn’t mind—they were happy once he accepted their gifts and then left cheerfully.
Pei Qingjian, holding his gifts, followed Lin Xingchen into his bedroom.
It was the room Lin Xingchen had lived in since childhood—spacious, neat, and orderly. Even if the owner wasn’t often home, it was clear someone maintained it.
Lin Xingchen placed his gifts on the small sofa, and Pei Qingjian put his own beside them.
“Your red envelope.” Lin Xingchen handed over the one he had just helped Pei Qingjian collect.
Pei Qingjian hesitated. “It must be huge.”
“The intention of elders can’t be refused,” Lin Xingchen said, placing Pei Qingjian’s hand over it.
As Pei Qingjian felt it, he realized the envelope contained a bank card!
“The PIN is my birthday,” Lin Xingchen explained. “All my uncle’s gifts used to use my birthday as the code. You’ll probably find it’s the same with this card.”
Pei Qingjian smiled, feeling delighted for him.
“Your uncle looks quite like you.”
“Of course, he’s my mom’s brother.”
“And his temper is good too.”
“Mm,” Lin Xingchen nodded. “See? You didn’t need to worry—they’re all very happy to have you here.”
Pei Qingjian smiled. “Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me all of a sudden?” Lin Xingchen asked curiously.
“Just…” Pei Qingjian felt shy. “I haven’t celebrated such a lively New Year in so long.”
Hearing this, Lin Xingchen’s heart stirred. He immediately thought of Pei Qingjian’s unreliable father and the mess of his family.
“Then from now on, you can spend New Year’s with me every year,” he said almost without hesitation. “You’ll be happy, they’ll be happy, I’ll be happy—everyone’s happy. So why not make it a tradition?”
Pei Qingjian: ???
He felt that wasn’t appropriate.
As a friend, going to a friend’s house for New Year once might be acceptable, but doing it every year? That just didn’t feel right. He was only a male friend, not a boyfriend.
Shaking his head, Pei Qingjian said, “Better not.”
Author’s note:
Lin Xingchen: ??? Why?
Lin Xingchen: I think this is a great idea! Who’s against it? No one’s against it!
Pei Qingjian: …Look at what you just said—does that even sound like what friends should do?!