Together Again Next Year

Since they hadn't returned particularly early, it wasn't long before New Year's Eve arrived. Just like last year, the three of them had dinner together, but this year, they truly felt like a family, and even Aunt Yu seemed to reflect on it with some sentiment. After watching a bit of the Spring Festival Gala, Aunt Yu playfully remarked, wondering when she might see Yu Shuman perform on the stage.

Qin Ran quickly interjected, "The Spring Festival Gala isn't that great. If you perform, you'll have to sing those songs everyone knows, and if you don't sing them perfectly, you'll get criticized. Performing a comedy sketch wouldn't work either since Shuman doesn't have the comedic chops for it. Plus, the preparation is exhausting—you have to start rehearsing months in advance, and the worst part is missing out on New Year's Eve dinner with the family."

Aunt Yu, hearing this—especially the part about missing New Year's dinner—immediately dropped the idea of seeing her niece on the Spring Festival Gala.

"No, no, dinner is too important."

Yu Shuman smiled wryly. "What are you two going on about? I've only been in the industry for a little over a year, how could I possibly make it to the Spring Gala? You two are dreaming."

Aunt Yu and Qin Ran were surprisingly united on this front. Qin Ran, feeling indignant, responded, "What's wrong with that? Shuman already has tons of fans. Maybe one day, she'll be a superstar, and appearing on the Spring Gala will be doing them a favor!"

Aunt Yu nodded in agreement. "Exactly! My friends have been asking if they could get an autograph from you. They all know you're a big star now! If you do make it to the Spring Gala, my friends would be so jealous! But missing New Year's dinner? That's a dealbreaker."

After chatting for a while, Aunt Yu, feeling tired, went to bed early.

Once they were sure Aunt Yu had fallen asleep, Qin Ran grabbed Yu Shuman's hand and snuck out of the house. They went to the small garage and wheeled out Yu Shuman's bicycle, which had been freshly cleaned in preparation for the night.

"Shuman, we really need to get you to learn how to drive. Remember when we talked about how it could give you some extra credit? But now you're about to graduate, and you still haven't taken the driving test."

"I just haven't had time."

Yu Shuman pushed the bike out and was ready to hop on, but Qin Ran insisted, "Let me do it!"

Yu Shuman eyed her suspiciously. "You sure?"

Qin Ran, frustrated, said, "I can do it! I've been working out all year!" Last year, when Yu Shuman teased her for being too weak to ride, Qin Ran was determined to prove her wrong. She'd even set up a home gym and had been training hard for this moment.

Seeing Qin Ran so determined, Yu Shuman didn't argue and sat on the back seat. Her long legs touched the ground as Qin Ran mounted the bike and, with a wobbly start, began pedaling. The first few meters were shaky, and Yu Shuman didn't dare lift her feet off the ground.

It was a bit scary at first, with the bike swaying unsteadily, but after a while, Qin Ran steadied herself, and Yu Shuman finally lifted her feet.

Qin Ran had definitely improved, pedaling smoothly as she carried Yu Shuman out of the neighborhood. Yu Shuman, sitting on the back, directed her on which turns to take. But after about a kilometer, Qin Ran got a call from their bodyguard, asking if everything was okay.

"We're just going on a date, sis. Go to bed early."

Without waiting for the bodyguard's response to this New Year's serving of "dog food," Qin Ran hung up. She rode with Yu Shuman for quite a while, but something felt off. Even though it had been a year, she vaguely remembered the route from last year, and this didn't seem right.

After a bit longer, Yu Shuman suddenly said, "We're here." She jumped off the bike, using the rear seat to push herself forward as she dismounted, causing Qin Ran to wobble and shout before managing to stop the bike. They were on a bridge, with the river below rushing towards the horizon.

Qin Ran was confused. "Shuman, where are we?"

If Yu Shuman hadn't directed her here, Qin Ran might have thought someone was trying to kill her for her fortune. Yu Shuman winked at her and led her to the edge of the bridge, leaning against the cold stone railing.

It was a cold winter night, and the wind was biting, howling across the bridge. Luckily, they were bundled up in scarves, hats, and layers of clothing, so they weren't blown into disarray by the freezing wind.

"There are too many people over there. The view is better here," Yu Shuman said, glancing at her phone. Noticing the time, she pulled Qin Ran close, directing her gaze to the brightly lit area in the distance. There were no people on the bridge, just the occasional car speeding by on the roadway, the sound of the engines loud in the stillness.

As the countdown approached, Yu Shuman began counting down: "Ten, nine, eight…"

It was just like last year, except this time, instead of hearing other people's voices, Qin Ran only heard Yu Shuman's beside her. She quickly joined in: "Five, four, three, two, one!"

In the distance, countless fireworks shot into the sky. They were too far to hear the excited cheers of the crowd, but the sight of the explosions lighting up the night was enough. The occasional pop of the fireworks still echoed through the air, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Amidst the fireworks, Yu Shuman's voice rose above the rest, loud and clear, "Qin Ran! Happy New Year! Let's spend every New Year together from now on!"

Her voice was swept away by the cold wind, lost to the river below. But for Qin Ran, it was something she'd keep in her heart forever. As Yu Shuman turned to her, Qin Ran mirrored her, calling out, "Yu Shuman! Happy New Year! Let's always celebrate together!"

The words had barely left her mouth when Yu Shuman pulled her into a kiss. Qin Ran's eyes widened before closing as their lips met in the chilly night air, the world around them falling away. They held each other close on the deserted bridge, their kiss a silent testament to their love.

Here, under the dim streetlights, wrapped in thick winter coats, no one would recognize them. Only the occasional car that sped by might capture a fleeting image of them on a dashboard camera. But within fifteen days, any evidence of their kiss on that New Year's Eve would disappear.

For now, only the night, the fireworks, the flowing river below, and the two of them knew what had transpired. After what felt like an eternity, they broke apart, Yu Shuman licking her lips with a grin, her boldness leaving Qin Ran breathless. "I just wanted to do this, that's why I brought you here."

"If we'd gone to a crowded place like last year, you'd have chickened out and run away."

Yu Shuman knew Qin Ran too well. Indeed, last year, Qin Ran had been too nervous even to whisper, "I like you," in such a busy place. Let alone kiss her in front of so many people. If Yu Shuman had been recognized, her career would have been over.

But now, as Qin Ran stood there, dazed, she realized that this was perfect. Being alone with Yu Shuman felt infinitely better than standing among a crowd of strangers wishing each other "Happy New Year." She much preferred these quiet, intimate moments with her.

Afterward, though, there wasn't much left to do. The two of them stood on the bridge like idiots for a while, laughing when the cold wind became too much. They didn't mind; in their youth, it was moments like these—doing silly, impulsive things—that made them happiest. They might look back and think it was foolish, but right now, it was perfect.

On the way back, Qin Ran insisted on riding the bike again, especially since they were heading downhill. After struggling up the hill earlier, she wanted to enjoy the smooth ride back.

Yu Shuman didn't argue, sitting behind her and wrapping her arms around Qin Ran's waist as they coasted downhill.

The wind rushed past them, Qin Ran's scarf billowing into Yu Shuman's face. She gently pushed the scarf aside, hearing Qin Ran's joyful exclamations from the front. A smile spread across Yu Shuman's face. She felt incredibly content. Being with Qin Ran was her greatest fortune.

Qin Ran had always been her lucky star—from the very beginning, nothing had changed.

The only difference now was that Qin Ran was running out of energy. After the downhill ride, Qin Ran managed to pedal a little farther, but biking in the cold winter night was exhausting. Honestly, Yu Shuman was amazed that Qin Ran had made it to the bridge at all.

By the end, Qin Ran was clearly worn out. Her breathing became labored, and she was riding the bike in wobbly "S" patterns. Yu Shuman planted her feet on the ground to stop the bike.

With Yu Shuman no longer helping balance, Qin Ran came to a full stop, pouting as she turned to look at her. "Shuman, what are you doing? We're almost home!"

—At the rate Qin Ran was going, they weren't going to make it home anytime soon.

Yu Shuman couldn't suppress her smile. "You're tired. Let me take over."

Yu Shuman discovered another trait in Qin Ran: stubbornness. Like a mule, really. While that comparison might not sound cute, on Qin Ran, it was adorable. Qin Ran, still pouting, insisted, "I'm fine!" even though she was sweating under her hat.

"Alright, alright. But I want to ride for a bit too. I haven't exercised properly these past few days," Yu Shuman coaxed, finally managing to convince Qin Ran to switch places.