Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“See, you can’t answer my question right away,” said Luosang gloomily. “So I wanted to leave, to let both of us calm down for a while. If I stay in my apartment in Xia City, you’ll move there, and you’ll make peace between us. Junting, we both need to think about our relationship.”

“Calm down? Will we break up?” Nian Junting asked fearfully.

“I’ll be waiting for your answer, and I believe that you won’t lie to me,” said Luosang in a gentle voice. “Goodbye.”

“…Goodbye.”

At New Year’s Eve, they even forgot to say “Happy New Year” to each other.

Luosang walked on the street with a heavy heart. Hearing the New Year’s countdown from someone’s TV, Luosang walked into the movie theater. Her phone rang again, and this time, it was Chi Shengxu.

“Sangsang, where are you? I just flew to Harbin. I think we can hang out together,” said Chi Shengxu.

Luosang paused for a while in surprise, then said, “Why are you suddenly here? Weren’t you in Beijing just now?”

“Yeah, I don’t want to be alone at New Year’s Eve, but the day after tomorrow, I need to be in the Northeast for work. Have you forgotten about that? Flying back to Xia City will take too long, so I came to see you. What a coincidence, you’re in the Northeast, too.” Chi Shengxu laughed. “Are you going for a premiere at midnight? Lots of great films will be released on New Year’s Day. I want to watch one, too. Buy me a ticket. I’ll be there soon.”

Luosang remembered that earlier this year, Chi Shengxu had asked her to bring him a pair of Uggs. She worried that Chi Shengxu was here specially for her, because if he was, she wouldn’t know what to do.

“Alright, be quick then. But I won’t wait for you. I’m going in now, as the movie is starting,” she said.

“Alright, I’ll be there in half an hour.”

“Also, cover your face, don’t let people recognize you,” Luosang reminded him. “I don’t want to be in photographs as your rumored girlfriend.”

“Haha, I don’t have the guts to be your rumored boyfriend.”

…

At half-past midnight, Chi Shengxu arrived at the theater. Luosang went to the entrance to pick him up and saw a man wearing a gauze mask, wool hat, down coat, and scarf. He had truly covered his entire body, only leaving his eyes exposed. He was holding a stuffed penguin, which looked charmingly naive. Luosang didn’t recognize him until he waved at her.

“Here, your New Year’s gift.” As Luosang came closer, Chi Shengxu threw the stuffed penguin to her and said, “Some fans gave me a pile of stuffed toys on the plane. I picked a cute one.”

Hearing that, Luosang sighed with relief. She didn’t want him to give her a stuffed toy specially as a gift. She believed him, because a star could indeed receive too many gifts.

“You’re giving your present to me. If your fans knew about this, their hearts would break.”

“I have so many stuffed toys. It’d be a waste to throw them away.” Chi Shengxu put his hands in his pockets and said, “Let’s go and watch the movie. It’s so chilly out here.”

Luosang nodded, then walked into the theater with him.

…

In Xia City, in the middle of the night, after watching the beautiful fireworks, Nian Xi walked out of her room with a teacup to get herself some water. When passing by the first floor, she gave a start when she saw Nian Junting sitting on a hassock on the balcony.

“Brother, it’s two o’clock in the morning. Why aren’t you sleeping? Why are you sitting here? Tomorrow morning, we’ll have to leave early for ancestor worship,” said Nian Xi impatiently.

“I’m thinking.” Nian Junting glanced at her, exhauted.

Nian Xi rolled her eyes and said, “About what? Tell me.”

“About my relationship. As someone in a failed relationship, are you able to give me answers?” Nian Junting doubted it.