NOVPUBIt was the first time only the six of them were performing on stage, an indescribable feeling of novelty surged in their hearts.
Xiao Ruawen quietly closed her eyes, recalling the roaring cheers on stage, she thoroughly enjoyed the sensation of singing under the public’s gaze, if only...
She glanced at the identical business van driving ahead of them, pushing some unrealistic thoughts to the back of her mind.
"From now on, every year at the cultural evening, we must perform together on stage!" Xiao Ruawen suddenly reached out, addressing everyone in the van.
"Anytime!" Lin Wanning blinked and was the first to place her hand on top.
"Anywhere!" Zhang Yiyi followed closely behind.
"Super detectives!" Xu Qingfan, Xia Xiaoxiao, and Wu Lingyu exchanged smiles and joined in.
"Serious investigation!" Finally, everyone shouted in unison.
"Woof woof!" Little White, perhaps in response to them, shook its head and barked twice after they finished.
Since Winnie the Pooh’s Tigger movie just happened to have a little white dog, they all looked at Little White and burst into youthful, unrestrained laughter.
"Hahaha..." If you want to buy sweet osmanthus along with wine, just buy sweet osmanthus with wine!
...
Soon, the car stopped in front of a high-end seafood restaurant, handing over the keys to the valet, they followed the hostess to a large private room.
"This star grouper steamed, king crab trio, dragon prawn fried rice..." Xu Qingfan followed Zhang Chunxue to the front tank to choose seafood dishes, of course, he was only there to see and learn, the actual ordering was still handled by Aunt Zhang.
Ordering dishes in a Huaxia dinner is an art, from the number of diners to the combination of meat and vegetables, it’s all meticulously considered, for instance, it’s best if the number of dishes is one or two more than the number of diners, and the meat to vegetable ratio should be within a range of 1:1.5.
Zhang Chunxue seemed intent on training him, often bringing him to various dinners or business meetings, also tirelessly explaining the underlying meanings behind each act and the subtext of many seemingly insignificant remarks.
Xu Qingfan naturally enjoyed this, after all, this knowledge was something neither his parents nor school could teach him, and he was waiting for the 4G era to strut his stuff!
After Zhang Chunxue paid with her card, they both headed back to the private room.
At the table, Lin Wanning, Zhang Yiyi, Xia Xiaoxiao, and Xiao Ruawen had left a seat open in the middle, both inviting Xu Qingfan.
"Brother Qing Fan, come sit here!"
"Brother Fan, there’s a spot here too!"
"Hiss~" He took a sharp breath.
[Damn, I knew I should have reserved a seat earlier!]
Facing the expectant looks of the girls, Xu Qingfan stood frozen in his place, unsure where to step.
The adults watched the scene amusedly, thinking how enjoyable it was to delve into kids’ drama.
"Xiao Fan, why aren’t you moving?" Zhang Chunxue smiled gently, patting Xu Qingfan’s shoulder.
"Hehe~ Xiao Fan, come take a seat, what are you doing standing at the door, is it that hard to choose?" Lin Jing enjoyed stirring the pot, cheekily egging him on.
"Stop rushing Xiao Fan, he might end up kneeling on a washboard when he gets home" Seeing Xu Qingfan flustered, Lin Qiaoshan felt as cool as having a Sprite in midsummer.
Eventually, it was Zhang Chunxue who couldn’t stand it anymore, she rubbed his head and sat down next to her daughter.
With no more choices to make, Xu Qingfan boldly stated, "I don’t know what you’re talking about!"
"Hahahaha..."
Once he sat beside Xia Xiaoxiao, the girl’s waiting pinch came late but arrived.
Xu Qingfan didn’t indulge her, appearing nonchalant as he stretched his hand onto Xia Xiaoxiao’s thigh in retaliation.
Because he wasn’t looking, his palm landed right on Xia Xiaoxiao’s knee, which she forcefully clamped down on while her free hand retreated fighting on Xu Qingfan’s waist.
"Pfft~" His left hand holding the tea cup shook, spilling some of the water.
"Brother Fan, what’s wrong?" Xiao Ruawen asked curiously.
"Nothing, nothing." Xu Qingfan turned his head and smiled back, while discreetly increasing the force to pull his right hand back which Xia Xiaoxiao had clamped.
Suddenly,
Xu Qingfan felt his hand touch something soft, while Xia Xiaoxiao incredulously widened her eyes.
"Hmm!"
"Xiao Xiao, what’s wrong, why is your face so red?" Lin Jing, hearing her daughter’s noise, watched her with puzzlement.
"Nothing... Mom, it’s nothing..." Xia Xiaoxiao felt her face grow even redder and pretended to accidentally drop her chopsticks, then bent down to pick them up.
Xu Qingfan seemed calm on the surface, but he was freaking out on the inside because he had realized what the soft lump he had just touched was, but it wasn’t his fault!
Xia Xiaoxiao, hiding under the table, felt both embarrassed and angry, watching Xu Qingfan with his door wide open but ultimately didn’t lay a hand on him, only pinching his thigh fiercely.
[Stinky dog, dead dog, pervert dog!] The girl simultaneously dealt with the shrimp as thick as her arm and cursed viciously in her heart.
She didn’t speak to Xu Qingfan throughout the meal, while a strange feeling welled up in her chest.
"Could you help us take a picture, please?" Xu Qingfan handed the camera to the receptionist at the front desk and quickly ran back to join the group.
He squatted in front, holding his little brother, with Little White also squatting next to him, the five girls behind him, and the adults standing casually further back.
"Cheese!"
It was almost eleven-thirty when they left the restaurant; Xiao Ruawen’s grandparents still wanted to go home to rest, and the New Year’s Eve countdown would only happen on their phones now.
"Bye, Brother Qing Fan!"
"Everyone, goodbye!"
Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi got into another van and couldn’t help but feel reluctant as they said their goodbyes.
"Call at midnight, remember to come out to the balcony!" Xu Qingfan waved at them from the car window as he said goodbye.
"Okay!" The car started, and the girl’s last note was drawn out long by the wind.
Xu Qingfan’s group drove in the opposite direction, dropping off Xiao Ruawen’s family first before heading back to Lianhua Courtyard shortly after.
Although they had already parted with Lin Wanning and her group, they were still in contact via cell phones. Seeing Xu Qingfan just chatting away on his phone and not apologizing to her, Xia Xiaoxiao grew more and more angry.
She quickly walked in front of Xu Qingfan, childishly stepping on his shoe, and then, leaving behind a vicious "hmm," she ran back up to the third floor.
Wu Lingyu blinked in confusion, clearly not understanding when Brother Fan had managed to make Xia Xiaoxiao angry again; she hurriedly ran after her, as it was not her first time playing the mediator between the two.
"Xiao Xiao, why are you walking so fast?"
"No... I need to use the restroom." Xia Xiaoxiao was afraid that the incident at the meal would be revealed to a third person.
"I see..."
Xu Qingfan looked down at his DIY dark gray shoes and shook his head with amusement.
[Teenage girls are always making a big deal out of nothing. She used to sleep in my arms when she was little!]
"It’s nothing; I just accidentally missed a step earlier. Going to take a shower now, we’ll talk on the phone around midnight." Xu Qingfan explained to Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi on the phone with a laugh.
"Okay, Brother Qing Fan, we’re going to take showers too!"
At eleven fifty-eight, Xu Qingfan, Wu Lingyu, and Xia Xiaoxiao arrived at the rooftop of Lianhua Courtyard.
"Ruan Wen, are you there?" Xia Xiaoxiao called Xiao Ruawen, the phone on speaker.
"I’m here, it’s so windy up here, and the moon is beautiful tonight!"
"Wanning received, Yiyi and I are here too!" Miles away at Bijui Garden, Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi were also standing on the top rooftop.
"You guys, what are you up to, being all mysterious?" The adults were clearly there too, as it was so late, and Lin Qiaoshan’s voice also came through the phone.
"Secret!" Before Xu Qingfan could respond, Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi said in unison.
The minute hand on the watch jumped to fifty-nine, Xu Qingfan handed two cellphones to Wu Lingyu to hold, then squatted down and lit the fuse at the last second.
"It’s starting, it’s starting!" Lin Wanning shouted excitedly.
"Ten, nine, eight..." Their watches were synchronized, and everyone counted down together over the phone during the last ten seconds.
"Three, two, one!"
On the last second of ’one,’ Xu Qingfan ignited the fireworks, and a huge missile shot straight into the sky.
The next second.
"Happy New Year!" Everyone shouted together.
The fireworks burst into the night sky, falling like stars.
Everyone gazed earnestly at the fleeting wonder before them, the magnificent colors reflected in their pupils, on their faces, their skin glowing slightly lighter in hue.
All while silently making the most heartfelt wishes and prayers, hoping their wishes would come true, and their aspirations fulfilled.
Goodbye 2008, hello 2009.
