Chapter 295: Such a Beautiful New Year’s Eve
Hearing this, Lin Tian was instantly choked up.
Indeed, back in the early days of their acquaintance, when Grandpa Gan’s café hadn’t finished construction, Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu practiced every day at Lin Tian’s home.
In such an old house, if it hadn’t been specially treated, let’s just say the sound insulation was less than ideal—more like nonexistent.
Under these conditions, one could only imagine that the only folks who wouldn’t hear them would be those apathetic passersby from those “little films” about train gropers!
After all, those were the characters who could get drenched without batting an eye, leaving the viewers questioning their sanity—“Are you even human!?”
Thus, it’s easy to guess how much trouble Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu had caused their neighbors in the past.
Lin Tian thought Gan Yan Yu had long forgotten about that or simply never realized it.
Who knew it had stuck in her mind all this time?
Deciding to spill it all now during the New Year was quite a bold move!
“Alright, I’ll change my clothes, and I’ll be there shortly.”
As Lin Tian spoke, he noticed Gan Yan Yu hadn’t stopped rummaging through her bag.
Seems like there was more than just the everyday items they were giving the neighbors.
“What else did you buy?” he asked.
“New Year goods.”
“For me?”
“For us.”
Gan Yan Yu blinked her eyes.
Lin Tian was taken aback.
Us?
From earlier, Lin Tian had found it odd that Gan Yan Yu hadn’t gone home to buy New Year goods with her family but had instead dressed up to show up before him.
Shouldn’t someone heading home for the New Year be busier than this?
Could it be she had new plans?
Lin Tian asked, “Aren’t you going home for New Year’s? What’s the plan of getting supplies here?”
“Well, I’m not staying until after the New Year. Sure, I might linger a bit after New Year’s Eve, but it won’t be long.”
“Oh, I really liked this little pig gift bag! Just remember, you can’t eat all the snacks yourself. Save some for me!”
Gan Yan Yu pulled out a gigantic red tote bag, earnestly reminding Lin Tian like she was handing over something monumental.
“.”
Alright.
Just a simple case of a brainless moment.
Usually, she wouldn’t buy too much, only treating herself to good food as a reward for her effort in practicing.
But now that the New Year was here, she seized the excuse to stockpile snacks at Lin Tian’s place.
“Eat up! Gain a few pounds after the New Year and you’ll be a good girl!”
Lin Tian returned to his room and changed.
It was the same signature simple-colored top with a sporty jacket.
He figured if he was visiting neighbors, he should at least look like a normal person.
Even though he’d lived in this neighborhood for years, his reclusive nature meant he had few friends in school, let alone connections with neighbors.
Getting to know Grandpa Gan was already a miracle in itself—purely due to Grandpa Gan’s initiative and Lin Tian’s lack of aversion.
Tomorrow, Gan Yan Yu would be leaving, and this might be the last day he could share the New Year experience with her.
So Lin Tian resolved to treat it right.
“.”
However, when Lin Tian stepped out of the living room, he found Gan Yan Yu with her arms crossed, tilting her head as she stared at him.
Her little mouth suddenly puffed up.
She didn’t seem very happy.
“Lin Tian, when you look at us standing together, what do you think others would say we are?”
Standing together?
Lin Tian moved beside Gan Yan Yu.
He glanced at his own dashing self.
Then he looked at Gan Yan Yu, who was wearing a red cheongsam, embodying classic Chinese beauty.
Perfect match.
Honestly, it was a match made in heaven.
Didn’t it look just like newlyweds at first glance?
“Our outfits don’t match at all!”
Seeing Lin Tian dawdle, Gan Yan Yu voiced her dissatisfaction.
She dressed all festive and adorable, while Lin Tian kept it so simple.
“If strangers saw us, they’d think you were my big brother taking me out for New Year goods!”
“Then call me ‘bro’?”
Lin Tian blurted out unexpectedly.
He suspected that Gan Yan Yu enjoyed role-playing, so he just started imagining scenarios.
If only he could hear Gan Yan Yu call him “big brother” while celebrating New Year’s Eve, he couldn’t even begin to fathom how awesome that would feel.
Yet, Gan Yan Yu stared at him, falling silent.
Don’t go silent now.
Lin Tian already felt awkward enough to want to vanish.
“It’s just for delivering things to the neighbors; no need to be so formal, right?” Lin Tian changed the topic.
“Relationships are important, you know! First impressions matter.”
Gan Yan Yu said this while pushing Lin Tian towards his room.
“Change again, change again!”
Minutes later.
Lin Tian emerged from the bedroom again, this time wearing a red, plush hoodie.
Still vibrant in Chinese New Year’s red.
It was something he had bought online but deemed too flashy before, so he hardly wore it.
Since Gan Yan Yu insisted on finding something that matched her, this was the only acceptable color for the season.
“Hey.”
However, after seeing Lin Tian, Gan Yan Yu lit up with joy.
“Looking good, Lin Tian!”
Gan Yan Yu dashed over and tugged on Lin Tian’s arm, leading him to the full-length mirror.
Seeing their reflections, Lin Tian was stunned.
Not gonna lie, it actually looked good.
While the outfit alone seemed mediocre, standing next to Gan Yan Yu—thanks to their similar colors—made their faces just have that couple vibe. They surprisingly matched quite well.
This match didn’t carry other meanings.
Just from an aesthetic perspective, it felt perfect.
Lin Tian remembered thinking this outfit was so lame when he wore it alone.
It was like how he always thought thinner people were much cuter in “little films,” giving off a purer vibe.
People might love the purity in those films but prefer more robust characters in serious films.
Yet, witnessing the actions in those films, Lin Tian realized the thin characters felt painfully devoid of substance, while the bulkier ones matched the films’ male leads, giving off palpable satisfaction.
“Right? Right?”
Gan Yan Yu’s eyes sparkled.
“Yup, yup,”
Lin Tian chuckled helplessly, still unsure why Gan Yan Yu was so keen on this clothing debate.
Ever since some time back.
Lin Tian felt like part of his memories had been frozen.
He vaguely recalled that Gan Yan Yu didn’t actually have that many clothes, and she rarely wore dresses.
In the early days, she often wore the bare minimum with her school uniform.
“.”
Well, since the outfit wasn’t the problem, time to get moving.
The two set off.
They grabbed a giant bag of goodies, ready to start their rounds on the fifth floor.
There was a method to this delivery.
Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu lived on the sixth floor, the top floor.
Theoretically, those affected would be their immediate neighbors, the two apartments on either side, plus the folks directly below them.
A scientific approach would be to deliver to those five units, giving an easy ten households total for the two of them.
Beyond that, the influence would be minimal, considering they rarely practiced at odd hours.
However, Gan Yan Yu felt differently.
“Since we’re delivering, we shouldn’t pick and choose.”
She decided they would visit all the neighbors on the fifth and sixth floors!
Spreading the cheer evenly!
Delivering a little extra to those most deeply affected next door!
Thus, they began their mission.
Lin Tian assumed this would feel like a nightmare social event, thanks to age gaps and the overall absurdity of the situation.
But to his surprise.
As they knocked on doors one by one, the majority of those who opened up were elderly, along with some young couples and university students renting nearby since how cheap the rent was.
Once the doors swung open, they were greeted by a stable-looking young man and a girl with an angelic smile.
“Hello! We’re from 603!”
“I’m sorry for any past disturbances!”
“We hope our music didn’t trouble you too much!”
“Happy New Year!”
The vibrant young woman cheerfully infected every door they opened.
As people processed this charming image, they let their guards down almost instantly.
In their eyes, the pair mirrored Santa Claus, extracting assorted goodies from their red bag, sharing warm wishes.
Many exclaimed, “Oh, so you’re the ones with the piano and the cello!” “You didn’t disturb at all, it sounded lovely!” “Wow, didn’t expect two such adorable kids!”
Others mixed joy with confusion, “Oh, you didn’t disturb us!” “Though we heard the music, it was rare.” “We can’t accept this!”
Eventually, due to Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu’s strong insistence, the goodies were reluctantly accepted.
Throughout this journey, Lin Tian was most surprised by the neighbors’ reactions after they received the gifts.
Almost everyone, when Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu were about to leave, called out, “Wait a minute!”
Then they rushed back inside.
Upon returning, some brought milk, others brought fruits.
One kindly old lady even stuffed a red envelope into Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu’s hands.
“Thank you, kids—Happy New Year!”
“.”
Despite Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu’s protests, they couldn’t escape the warmth of the people.
They accepted various gifts, just like how their New Year goods gratefully wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“It’s New Year’s, after all, share the love!” an aunt said with a grin.
When Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu finally delivered everything, the contents of their bag hadn’t shrunk at all.
Instead, they were brimming with the neighbors’ New Year blessings.
“.”
Standing in the hallway, holding the red envelope from the old lady, Lin Tian felt a little dazed.
Since childhood, he knew that during the New Year, kids received lucky money from their elders.
But over the years, aside from Grandpa Gan, this was the first time Lin Tian received a red envelope.
“Actually, people are friendlier than you’d think, right?”
Gan Yan Yu leaned against the railing, chuckling softly.
“.”
Lin Tian fell into thought.
It’s true.
Previously, he had been too closed off, always envisioning social encounters as a hassle, assuming the worst about everyone he met.
But in reality, the world still held plenty of warmth, didn’t it?
Lin Tian never anticipated that doing something so simple with Gan Yan Yu would lead to an experience so moving.
The two lugged the goodies back to their room.
In previous years, that empty, lonely rental where only Lin Tian had resided would suddenly be packed with milk, fruits, snacks, and all sorts of New Year goods, overflowing with warmth from the neighbors.
All of this was thanks to Gan Yan Yu.
Indeed, it seemed that changing one’s environment could be so simple.
It was just that he had never taken that first step to try.
As he pondered this, he said, “Teacher Gan.”
Lin Tian slowly began, “What if tomorrow—”
“Shh—”
The next second, Gan Yan Yu pressed a finger against Lin Tian’s lips.
With a frown that revealed her inner conflict, she said, “Don’t, Lin Tian. I’m afraid that if I let my guard down now…”
“.”
Lin Tian understood.
Gan Yan Yu was certainly torn between her family and the commitment she made.
In the end, she had taken Lin Tian’s advice and picked family.
That choice alone was already painful enough.
If Lin Tian said anything further, it would only add to her internal struggle.
Since he had initiated this suggestion, bringing it up again now would be rather inconsiderate.
“Alright.”
Lin Tian nodded.
He wasn’t going to say another word.
After all, initially, he had suggested this for her own good.
And Gan Yan Yu, being so conflicted, must have clashed with her family multiple times before finally settling on this.
If Lin Tian were to change his mind now, it might seem selfish.
Let this wonderful moment stay just like this for today.
New Year’s Eve.
Lin Tian woke up alone from his bed, already eleven in the morning!
He checked his phone—nothing.
Of course, the usual first contact, Gan Yan Yu, must have been with her family now?
Lin Tian felt a mix of emotions but slowly forced a smile.
What should he do today?
Maybe watch some videos of silly mice?
Lin Tian sank into the couch, turned on his computer, and streamed a hardcore series.
Then, he popped open a beer from the fridge and savored a gulp.
—Refreshing!
On such a fine day, this was how life should be enjoyed.
And so, he sat on the sofa, relishing in the joy of this peaceful afternoon.
Time slipped by unnoticed until later in the evening.
Slowly, messages began to arrive on his phone.
“Happy New Year’s Eve, Teacher Lin Tian!”
He Zhi Chen had sent his blessings.
“Happy New Year’s Eve! ☀️☀️”
Su Ran texted him.
“Happy New Year! 👍” Wei Xiao Xiao surprisingly included herself.
“Firecracker blasts mark the end of the old year; the new one won’t come unless the old goes. New Year blessings bubble over; love runs deep where bonds grow wide. The stars twinkle tonight, and joy knows no rest, dear friend, Happy New Year!”
This was none other than the foolish Xu Yong, who copied and pasted to annoy him.
Lin Tian remembered last year, Xu Yong had sent:
“May your ‘little cow’ get bigger on the first day.”
“May your ‘little cow’ get bigger on the second day.”
“May your ‘little cow’ get bigger on the third day.”
Then it continued with a text made entirely of characters representing a huge schlong.
Grossed out, Lin Tian had promptly given Xu Yong a beating when school resumed.
Xu Yong had taken it quite unfairly, remarking, “Who the hell sends stuff like that among good brothers? Only those who aren’t close send ‘Happy New Year’ over WeChat!”
“Hey, I just thought I’d send it to you since you spend New Year alone, didn’t want to sound too sentimental, so I spiced it up?”
After hearing his reasoning, Lin Tian had beaten him up even more.
But speaking of which.
This year, he’d actually met a lot of people, huh? In past years, he wouldn’t have seen any of this; usually, it was just Xu Yong who’d bother with him.
Lin Tian opened his Moments.
It was even more boisterous there.
Scrolling through, there were pictures of lavish feasts, family reunion snapshots, jiaozi-making scenes, and some gambling scenes that looked like they were ready to explode in frustration.
Among the most eye-catching posts was one from Christine Nanaly.
She posted a family photo in front of a grand European-style villa, with over twenty people in the frame.
They stood in front of the villa, all foreign faces, with the young men shining brightly, each shown off next to their own cellos.
Whoa, this is the power of a cello aristocrat family?
Lin Tian spotted a blonde woman next to Nanaly, probably her mother.
Not gonna lie, Lin Tian had to admit the lady still held her charm.
“.”
After savoring his friends’ posts and pictures for a while.
Lin Tian set his phone down and looked up.
Surrounding him was the eerie quiet of an empty rental.
For a moment, Lin Tian fell into silence, then stood up.
“Ding-dong—”
Just then, his phone rang again.
Figured it was another mass New Year’s blessing, but nope—it was Gan Yan Yu.
“If you have nothing to do tonight, why not go stroll around the clock tower? I heard there will be fireworks!”
This girl still remembered him even while celebrating the New Year with her family.
Lin Tian couldn’t help but smile wryly.
Since he had nothing else to do, why not?
As he changed clothes in his room, he spotted his red hoodie on the bed.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally picked it up.
The clock tower was situated by the river in Qingzhou, right next to the pedestrian street.
It had always been the landmark of Qingzhou.
When Lin Tian arrived at the riverside, the place was bustling.
Households of all ages strolled along the riverside—elderly being supported and little kids waddling with excitement.
There were young couples and newlyweds, everyone walking in groups.
Even the vendors selling toy trinkets seemed to be accompanied by families.
“Bam!”
Suddenly, a kid bumped right into Lin Tian.
“Ah!!”
Immediately, an aunt rushed over, grabbing the child and apologizing to Lin Tian.
“Sorry! Did he hurt you?”
Then, she suddenly scolded the kid,
“Pipi! What’s wrong with you?! Why aren’t you watching where you’re going?!”
“I-I didn’t see—there was someone here!” the child explained, looking all pitiful.
“It’s fine,”
Lin Tian waved them off, not wanting to linger too long on it, and walked on.
As he strolled, he began to reflect.
Was he so out of place now that even passersby regarded him as invisible?
Well, it made sense; everyone was out celebrating with loved ones, while he was wandering alone.
—Maybe he shouldn’t be out here at all?
This thought flashed through Lin Tian’s mind.
“.”
Staring at the lakeside shimmering in the moonlight.
In that instant, Lin Tian suddenly became aware.
He could no longer regard such moments calmly like before.
Once upon a time, whether at school, in the community, or on any holiday, he could live his solitary life without a worry.
After all, he had always been alone—living alone, day after day, year after year—what was the big deal?
Until a few months ago, when someone burst into his life.
Her arrival had unsettled Lin Tian’s heart so dramatically.
He thought he could endure it all.
If only she had never come.
“.”
Time to head home.
Lin Tian mused.
Now he didn’t even feel the urge to watch the fireworks.
He turned around.
“Lin Tian!”
Suddenly, a cheerful female voice rang out.
Lin Tian spun around quickly.
Wearing a red cheongsam, with her long black hair cascading down her shoulders, she stood out from the crowd, so bright—only the two of them in this sea of vibrant red!
Gan Yan Yu made her way through the crowd with a lighthearted gait, directly to Lin Tian!
Then, without hesitation,
the girl jumped and hugged Lin Tian around his neck.
“Happy New Year’s Eve, Teacher Lin!”
“.?”
Lin Tian stared, dumbfounded at Gan Yan Yu. If not for her hugging him tight at that moment, he might have thought he was hallucinating.
“Ta-da—”
Gan Yan Yu released him and, like a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat, produced a cake from behind her back.
“Happy Birthday!”
“But today isn’t my birthday!”
“I didn’t get to celebrate your last birthday with you, so I’m making it up now!”
Gan Yan Yu raised the cake high, which had a rather clumsy cartoonish head of a boy on it.
“I spent a whole afternoon learning at the bakery to make this myself!”
An entire afternoon?
Lin Tian was astonished.
This meant Gan Yan Yu hadn’t returned home at all.
“Aren’t you supposed to celebrate New Year’s with your family?” Lin Tian quickly asked.
“Yup, I’m with them now,”
Gan Yan Yu said, maintaining eye contact with Lin Tian as she smiled gently.
“Not—”
Lin Tian’s head was spinning.
So peculiar!
So very peculiar!!
Was this what it was about??
He had sensed something was off from the start.
But after seeing Gan Yan Yu now, that feeling of oddness peaked.
Lin Tian rubbed his forehead and asked, “Didn’t you mention you’d be discussing things with your parents…?”
“Acting.”
Gan Yan Yu answered resolutely.
“Huh?!”
“Weren’t you the one who asked me to practice my acting?”
She had a mischievous smile curling on her lips,
“Total acting success!”
“This time I played a good girl caught between my boyfriend and my parents—wanting to avoid hurting my boyfriend yet not wanting to disappoint my loving parents!”
“And look—you even believed me, so I doubt you can criticize my acting this time, huh?”
“.”
Lin Tian stood there dumbfounded.
“So what about the two discussions with your parents you mentioned?”
“Didn’t happen even once.”
“You said they wanted you to go back for New Year’s.”
“That part was true, but I turned them down.”
Gan Yan Yu whispered, “If I hadn’t acted that way, how would you agree to let me skip my family for New Year’s with you?”
Lin Tian was speechless.
It was true.
Thinking back, Lin Tian had only suggested not going because he wanted her to return home, and that was when she mentioned, “I need to see my family first.”
She had it all planned from that moment, huh?
But Lin Tian had one more question.
If it was decided then to “act,” didn’t it come too quickly?
Shouldn’t he have at least taken some time to consider before saying something?
“Boom—”
Just then, fireworks exploded.
In the night sky above the river, little stars opened up like umbrellas, bursting into brilliant colors.
This was truly stunning.
Lin Tian stared, entranced.
“Because the instant you said you wouldn’t be going with me, I never once considered heading back home.”
Lin Tian turned back around.
“I only wanted to spend New Year’s Eve with you.”
Gan Yan Yu leaned slightly forward, whispering into Lin Tian’s ear,
“Big Brother—”
(End of Chapter)
