Extra 1: New Year’s Eve

“Xu Lin, you’re back. Why are you so… late…”

Pu Sha heard someone come in and assumed it was Xu Lin. He turned around with a smile, but the smile froze on his face when he saw who it was, and his voice trailed off.

Xu Lin was back, but he wasn’t alone.

Behind him stood Ji Jinxuan.

Xu Lin took the bag of groceries from Ji Jinxuan and set it on the table, speaking casually. “I bought some pork and celery. Is that okay?”

Pu Sha was stunned, staring blankly at Ji Jinxuan.

“Teacher?” Xu Lin called again when he didn’t get a response.

Pu Sha flinched. Then he noticed the ring on Xu Lin’s left hand. He looked at Ji Jinxuan’s finger.

They were wearing matching rings.

There was no mistaking what that meant.

This morning when Xu Lin left, they hadn’t been wearing them. In just a few hours, something had clearly changed.

Pu Sha coughed, not wanting to ask Xu Lin in front of Ji Jinxuan. He shelved the question for now. He walked over to Xu Lin and helped take the groceries out of the bag. “This is plenty.”

No one mentioned Ji Jinxuan’s sudden arrival.

Xu Lin glanced around. That man who was always clinging to Pu Sha—Ji Hongyun—was nowhere to be seen.

Back when Ji Jinxuan had been searching for Xu Lin, he’d surrounded Pu Sha’s school with his people and had stayed here for over half a year. Ji Hongyun and Ji Jinxuan had never gotten along. If the two of them ran into each other now, with all the history between them, there would probably be trouble.

The three of them were alone in the room. Feeling awkward, Pu Sha said, “You two go out. I can handle this myself.”

Xu Lin said, “Let me help.”

“No, no.”

Pu Sha pushed Xu Lin out of the kitchen. Xu Lin had no choice. He glanced at Ji Jinxuan, who had been silent the whole time, and knew Pu Sha was just uncomfortable. He tilted his head toward the door, signaling Ji Jinxuan to follow him outside.

Ji Jinxuan went with him into the yard.

The cold air hit them as they stepped out, and Xu Lin shivered. The barbecue grill was already set up in the quiet yard. Xu Lin pointed at it and said, “Xiaopang and the others went to buy more ingredients. We’re having a barbecue here tonight.”

He paused, then added, “And there’ll be fireworks.”

“We’ll probably drink a lot. You don’t have to join in if you don’t want to.”

When he didn’t get a response, Xu Lin turned around. Ji Jinxuan had been watching him the whole time, ever since they’d walked in. He hadn’t said a word. There was a barely concealed nervousness in his expression.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Xu Lin asked.

“…” Ji Jinxuan’s voice was hesitant. “Is this really happening?”

Xu Lin knew what he meant but pretended not to. “What do you mean?”

“Is it really okay for me to stay… to spend New Year’s here?”

“Of course,” Xu Lin said. “Your brother can, so why can’t you?”

They fell silent again. Xu Lin fiddled with the grill rack and asked quietly, “Is that all you wanted to ask?”

Ji Jinxuan walked over to him, stopping by his side. The biting wind was blocked by Ji Jinxuan’s frame, and Xu Lin felt a little warmer.

He looked up and met Ji Jinxuan’s eyes.

“Do you really want me to stay by your side?” Ji Jinxuan asked. “Now and in the future?”

“What if I said no?” Xu Lin said. Ji Jinxuan tensed up immediately, and Xu Lin continued, “What would you do?”

Ji Jinxuan pressed his lips together. “I only want Xu Lin.”

He’d said those words before. No matter how many people there are in this world, I only want one Xu Lin.

Xu Lin held his gaze, then smiled slightly. He rubbed his arms and said, “I’m a little cold.”

Ji Jinxuan started to pull him inside, but Xu Lin added, “Put the scarf on me.”

Ji Jinxuan was stunned for a moment, then a smile spread across his face.

When Little Fatty and the others arrived with a load of ingredients, their noisy chatter died the moment they saw Ji Jinxuan in the yard. He was standing with Xu Lin, who was wearing a black cashmere scarf, the two of them leaning against the flower wall, seemingly in conversation.

Little Fatty had a problem with Ji Jinxuan. He’d shown up at the school, caused a scene, then stayed at Pu Sha’s for half a year. And when Xiaopang had played a little prank on him, it had made Xu Lin angry.

Why couldn’t this Dan City man stay in Dan City?

“What’s he doing here?” Little Fatty demanded.

“I asked him to come,” Xu Lin said. “He’s spending New Year’s with us.”

Everyone exchanged looks. Silence fell.

After dark, Ji Hongyun came back. He’d been out shopping and returned with bags of gifts, handing them out to Pu Sha’s students in the yard. Little Fatty and the others were delighted.

Pu Sha introduced him as just a friend. Unlike Ji Jinxuan, Ji Hongyun had never done anything to upset them. And now with such generous gifts, they couldn’t stop praising him.

After making his rounds, Ji Hongyun finally noticed his younger brother in the yard. The two of them faced off in silence.

The atmosphere was strange. When they stood together, the resemblance was uncanny—similar height, similar build, even similar faces.

“You two must be brothers. You look so much alike,” someone remarked.

“No.”

“No.”

They answered in unison.

“Right… well, the world is full of wonders.”

Everyone gathered around. Little Fatty manned the grill while the others ate and chatted. They’d all grown up together, so the mood quickly warmed up.

Xu Lin sat next to Ji Jinxuan, who barely ate all night, only drinking a little. Xu Lin thought for a moment, then took a few dumplings from his own bowl and put them in Ji Jinxuan’s. “Have some.”

Ji Jinxuan didn’t know that Xu Lin was aware he couldn’t taste anything. Xu Lin didn’t plan to tell him. There was no nutritional supplement here, and even if he couldn’t taste the food, he still needed to eat.

Ji Jinxuan didn’t refuse. He ate all the dumplings Xu Lin had given him and said, “Delicious.”

Xu Lin smiled.

A low, sardonic laugh came from beside them. Xu Lin turned. Ji Hongyun was drinking, not looking their way, but a smirk lingered on his lips.

Pu Sha tugged his sleeve, frowning.

Ji Hongyun immediately composed himself. Ji Jinxuan ignored him completely. 

After several rounds of drinks, the group was in their usual state—thoroughly drunk.

Little Fatty slurred his way through the countdown. Fireworks exploded at midnight, lighting up the sky. Everyone gathered in the yard, looking up in silence.

In the brilliant colors of the fireworks, Ji Jinxuan turned to look at Xu Lin. Xu Lin was gazing at the sky, his face lit and shadowed in turn. Around his neck was Ji Jinxuan’s scarf.

It felt like another lifetime.

This time, they weren’t separated by a fence.

As Xu Lin watched the fireworks, a sudden warmth enveloped his hand. He didn’t move, didn’t look down. He just blinked, then slowly closed his fingers around the hand that had reached for his.

Fingers interlaced.

“Happy New Year, Xu Lin,” Ji Jinxuan said softly.

Little Fatty and Shitou were raising their glasses and singing along with the fireworks. Little Fatty tried to drag Xu Lin over to join them. He turned and saw the two of them sitting close, hands intertwined.

He rubbed his eyes, thinking it was just the alcohol playing tricks on him. When he looked again, their hands were still clasped. And then he spotted the rings.

“!”

He whipped his head around, unable to look at them anymore.

Shitou noticed his strange expression. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Little Fatty’s face twitched. “I’d rather see a ghost…”

Later that night, Little Fatty, his face dark, helped the drunk guests home, waved goodbye to Pu Sha, and fled without looking back.

Pu Sha’s house didn’t have many rooms. The only thing in the living room was a couch, too cold to sleep on. Ji Hongyun would stay with Pu Sha. And Xu Lin let Ji Jinxuan into his room.

The fold-out bed was small—fine for one person, but tight for two adults.

“I’ll sleep on the floor,” Ji Jinxuan said.

Xu Lin laid out a blanket on the floor. They said goodnight and each lay down.

Outside, the wind howled. Xu Lin turned over under his blanket.

In the dark room, he looked toward Ji Jinxuan on the floor. He could only make out a vague shape. Ji Jinxuan’s breathing was steady.

“Asleep?” Xu Lin whispered.

To his surprise, Ji Jinxuan answered right away. “No.” His voice was wide awake.

Xu Lin didn’t say anything more, as if he’d just asked out of curiosity.

Half an hour later, Xu Lin said, “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Ji Jinxuan was silent for a long moment. Xu Lin was about to close his eyes, thinking he’d finally fallen asleep, when Ji Jinxuan’s voice came again. “I’m afraid to fall asleep.”

Xu Lin pulled the blanket up to his nose, his eyes wide open in the dark.

“I’m afraid this is a dream. That if I fall asleep, I’ll wake up, and nothing will be left.”

“Xu Lin,” Ji Jinxuan said, his voice rough.

“What?”

“I’m sorry.” He said it over and over, as if once wasn’t enough. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“I know.” Xu Lin closed his eyes. “It’s okay. I forgive you.”

Ji Jinxuan sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. His voice was barely a whisper. “Can I hold your hand?”

Xu Lin’s lashes fluttered. He stretched his left hand out from under the blanket.

His fingers were immediately enveloped in the warmth of Ji Jinxuan’s palm.

“Sleep,” Xu Lin said.

A soft, warm pressure brushed against his fingers, a fleeting touch of breath.

Xu Lin pulled his hand back under the blanket, burrowing deeper.

“Goodnight, Xu Lin,” Ji Jinxuan said. “See you tomorrow.”

The next morning, Pu Sha got up early to make breakfast. He passed Xu Lin’s room and, after a moment’s thought, quietly opened the door to check on them.

Through the gap, he saw them—and quickly covered his mouth, silently closing the door and tiptoeing away.

Inside, the fold-out bed was empty. On the floor, Xu Lin was curled up in Ji Jinxuan’s arms, the two of them facing each other under the same blanket, peacefully asleep.

Pu Sha walked into the yard and stretched.

The warm morning sun fell on him.

He smiled, his eyes curving. “Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day today.”