Sorry for the sudden hiatus, life got me. I’m uploading all the supposed-updates in one go this time~
Ji Linqiu didn’t notice the unusually quiet Jiang Wang behind him as he continued admiring the new clothes alongside his mother.
Earlier, when Peng Xingwang was bouncing around, overjoyed about the outfit, Ji had been amused at how easily kids could be pleased.
Yet, in this moment, he found himself feeling that same simple joy.
He has new clothes from his mom, too.
It’s so nice to celebrate the New Year.
Ji Linqiu could tell that his mother’s words of annoyance weren’t empty threats.
To outsiders, his family seemed approachable, but in reality, each of them was as stubborn as the other.
“If you’d been like this before, things would’ve been so much better,” he murmured. “I always wanted to ask — did every call have to start with nagging me about marriage?”
Chen Danhong coughed, a little awkward, defending herself, “If you’re still unmarried at thirty, people will think there’s something abnormal with you.”
This idea of “abnormal” was like an unshakable stigma that lingered in small towns and rural villages, something everyone sought to avoid.
Ji Linqiu turned to look at her, equal parts exasperated and amused.
“So you just go along with whatever people say?”
Chen Danhong winced, quickly lifting the jacket as if for cover. “Just try it on. Isn’t it nice?”
He took the jacket, still looking at her, and calmly asked again:
“Mom, doesn’t it annoy you when people poke their noses into our business?”
He didn’t press the topic further, instead trying on the jacket in front of the mirror. It fit perfectly at the shoulders and waist.
Chen Danhong stood frozen for a moment, then quickly praised how good it looked on him, adding how the color set off his complexion.
Ji Linqiu adjusted the hem and collar, then turned, opening his arms to give his mother a hug.
He gently patted her back, his voice low and steady.
“Happy New Year, Mom.”
As the clock hit midnight on New Year’s Eve, firecrackers started going off as early as four in the morning, echoing like a mountain exploding.
Jiang Wang had stayed up until two watching TV and now buried himself in his blanket, trying to ignore it and continue sleeping.
By 6 AM, the morning light crept through the curtains, and the sounds of footsteps and movement began to fill the hallway and stairwell.
He pulled the covers over his head and managed to sleep until nine.
After putting up Spring Festival couplets and “Fu” characters with his sister, Ji Linqiu went upstairs to wake him, knocking on the door before entering to find a bundled-up ball under the covers.
Ji Linqiu chuckled, sitting on the edge of the bed and tapping the “rice cake ball” with his knuckles.
“Time to get up. It’s New Year’s.”
The rice cake ball squirmed.
“It’s still early, let me sleep a bit more.”
Just then, several strings of red firecrackers went off in the neighbor’s courtyard, booming as if to blow the roof off.
Jiang Wang: …
He was about to get up, but couldn’t resist playing with Ji Linqiu, so he burrowed his head even further under the blanket.
The next second, the blanket was pulled back at one corner, and Ji Linqiu leaned halfway in to look at him.
“Getting up or not?”
Jiang Wang opened his eyes to see Ji Linqiu’s face close up, dimly lit in the reddish glow.
“Be careful, or I’ll kiss you.” His voice was slightly hoarse. “Are you this close on purpose?”
Ji Linqiu ran a cold hand along Jiang Wang’s neck and replied softly, “Just don’t kiss me under the blanket, or all you’ll have to remember is a sweat smell.”
“True.”
Today was a bright and festive day, and by tradition, everyone would take a full bath and dress in new clothes before enjoying the reunion meal.
The aroma of steamed glutinous rice cakes filled the air, mingling with the scent of glossy, fragrant cured chicken and duck. A long, pan-fried fish lay on the table, its mouth stuffed with a red paper flower, with strict instructions to leave every bone intact.
Jiang Wang picked up his chopsticks and took in the spread of red, green, and tiny chili peppers without any reaction, giving a thumbs-up with genuine admiration. “Smells delicious!”
Ji Linqiu casually poured him a glass of water, which Jiang Wang accepted with a squint and a smile.
Fireworks could be heard in the distance, fired off in broad daylight. Despite the bright skies, their vivid purple and blue patterns remained unseen, only their loud whistles and pops echoing in the air.
Watching the scene, Jiang Wang turned to the window and murmured, “I haven’t seen fireworks in years.”
Ji Guoshen, overhearing, asked in surprise, “Hongcheng doesn’t allow firecrackers anymore?”
“No,” he shook his head, smiling, “I used to be running a business in other places and couldn’t come back.”
“Linqiu, tonight, take Boss Jiang out to see more fireworks.” Ji Linqiu’s mother, who had heard from Ji Changxia about how Boss Jiang had made it possible for Linqiu to come home for New Year’s, was grateful. “We haven’t been the best hosts, so thank you for bearing with us.”
“Oh, please, you’re being too polite.”
As night fell and the New Year’s Eve gala was halfway through, the TV program’s dialogue was barely audible over the noise.
The village, wary of wildfire risk, had set up several large, open spaces specifically for fireworks. Ji Linqiu had scouted a spot, and he and Jiang Wang made their way up to a quiet hill, avoiding the crowds.
With loud crackles and booms behind them, they climbed swiftly. Over ten magnificent fireworks had already exploded, bursting into colorful blossoms across the night sky.
From their vantage point, they could see distant cities glimmering in gold and silver.
Jiang Wang, wearing fewer layers, felt the cold seep through his pant legs like a web. He pulled out a pack of Baisha cigarettes and lit one for himself.
Ji Linqiu watched the vibrant display of fireworks in the sky and gave a small, casual smile. “Weren’t you trying to quit?”
Jiang Wang turned to him. “How did you know?”
“I noticed that for the past few months, you’ve rarely smoked — only a token one when hosting guests. So, what made you want to quit?” Ji Linqiu raised his brows.
‘Because I wanted to see you happy.’
Jiang Wang didn’t explain, just smiled and continued to gaze at the sparkling mountain sky.
“It’s a little cold.”
“I’m cold, too.” Ji Linqiu pulled his jacket tighter and leaned against the railing. “I didn’t wear the one Mom made. I was afraid it would snag on thorn branches.”
“Come on, Brother Wang, let me have a drag, too.”
Jiang didn’t hand him the cigarette.
Instead, he took a deep drag himself, smiling softly. “Do you know that when you smoke my cigarette, it’s almost like you’re kissing me?”
Ji Linqiu blinked slowly.
Then he reached out, grasped the cigarette from Jiang Wang’s lips with his fingertips, and took a slow, provocative puff.
“Like this?”
Jiang Wang took the cigarette back, cupping Ji Linqiu’s nape in one hand and kissed him.
They were both kissing for the first time, so at first, their lips merely brushed, but then, like they’d tasted oxygen, they kissed with more fervor.
More fireworks shrieked into the sky–
Then exploding with a synchronized boom.
Greedy and unrestrained, Jiang Wang’s tongue traced his lips and teeth, lost in the rush. He wasn’t sure if his eyes were even open; all he knew was his craving for every breath, every heartbeat.
Somewhere along the way, their fingers had entwined.
Winter winds whistled as they swirled up from the valley, but the air between them was warm and charged.
“Be with me,” Jiang Wang murmured, pressing soft kisses to his skin. “Please?”
As if proving himself with each kiss, he didn’t let Ji Linqiu catch his breath, holding his wrist and waist tightly, leaning in to kiss his brows, his eyes.
“Linqiu, let’s be together, please?”
He had never imagined he would get to kiss him.
To use his warmth to drive away Ji Linqiu’s coldness, even the buttons of their collars seemed to catch and brush.
Ji Linqiu had been a radiant light from his youth, an unreachable mystery he hadn’t dared to touch.
But now, here they were, so close.
It felt like their hearts were pressed together, sharing in their fiery, uninhibited resonance.
For the first time, Jiang Wang felt that kissing was like becoming a part of someone else’s very being.
He hadn’t realized how much they both longed for closeness until they kissed.
Then, gently, he murmured into Ji Linqiu’s ear, as if each syllable had to be perfect.
“I love you so much.”
Ji Linqiu whimpered softly, then caught a quick breath – only to be drawn back into a deep kiss.
“You…” His voice was hoarse, his eyes glazed and damp, “You didn’t even give me a chance to respond.”
Finally pausing, Jiang Wang tucked Ji Linqiu’s loose hair behind his ear and pressed the back of his hand to Ji Linqiu’s cheek.
“You’re burning up.” He laughed softly. “Still cold?”
Ji Linqiu also laughed, just as another firework burst high above them, illuminating the night with countless silvery branches.
“Not anymore.” He looked back, his eyes equally alight. “I love you too.”
They stayed up there for who knows how long, eventually holding hands as they walked back down, releasing each other’s grip only when they neared the lights of home.
On their way back, the path was the same as before—unmarked, filled with wild stones and patches of unmelted snow.
Yet, somehow, it felt broader and smoother.
Neither of them said a word as they walked hand in hand toward home.
It felt like their hearts were pressed against one another, warmth radiating through their skin.
When they arrived, Jiang Wang had just greeted the family in the living room watching the Spring Festival Gala when Ji Linqiu tugged him upstairs.
“Hey— Zhao Benshan’s skit is about to start! Come and watch with us!” Ji Linqiu’s mom called out, “What are you two doing up there?”
Ji Changxia, much more relaxed now, grinned as she chewed a big slice of apple. “Hey, Brother Jiang! Come over for some fruit!”
“I’m just giving him a little gift. We’ll be right back down,” Ji Linqiu replied nonchalantly. “You all go ahead and watch.”
Jiang Wang, led all the way to the study, saw Ji Linqiu shut the door with a backward swing of his hand. He spread his arms wide with a grin.
“Come, give your boyfriend a hug.”
Ji Linqiu stifled a laugh and walked over to let Jiang pull him close, showering him with little kisses, before reaching into his desk drawer for an ink pen.
He rolled his sleeve up, folding it all the way to his elbow.
“Come on, let’s make your wish come true.”
It took a moment for Jiang Wang to catch on before Ji Linqiu took his right hand, guiding it to write, stroke by careful stroke, on his bare forearm:
“Jiang Wang.”
Jiang Wang remembered, almost dazedly, how he once mentioned to Ji Linqiu that he liked writing his name on the cover of a book — how he longed to claim something as his own.
He stared for a few seconds, taken aback.
“You’re left-handed?”
Ji Linqiu sighed dramatically. “You just figured that out?”
“What if the name washes off?” Jiang Wang asked, sounding almost childlike with concern, “It won’t last for two days.”
But he quickly shook his head.
“No tattoos, you look best with fair, clean skin.”
“It won’t wash off.” Ji Linqiu leaned in close to whisper by his ear, his voice low and intimate. “The ink will seep in little by little.”
Ji Linqiu had never spoken such unrestrained words of love before, and even felt an electric current running down his spine.
“It’ll seep into my skin, through my bones and blood, flowing along my arteries until it rests by my heart.”
“The longer you love me, the deeper the letters will etch themselves.”
