Someone was knocking on the door…

Lin Zhi Hua was stunned for a moment. Who could be knocking?

Not many people knew he had moved to this neighborhood, and that knock… sounded a lot like Jiaojiao.

But hadn’t Jiaojiao gone out with Cheng Shuo and the others?

Lin Zhi Hua was somewhat confused. He stood up, and when he saw the young woman standing at the door through the screen, his eyes brightened.

He quickly opened the door, then smiled as he drew her in, covering her cheeks exposed to the cold air, his voice filled with amusement: “Where’s your key?”

He had given Xue Jiao a key to this house so she could come over anytime.

“I didn’t bring it when I went out,” Xue Jiao explained.

Her gaze fell on Lin Zhi Hua. For some reason, she felt the air around him was somewhat heavy.

“Didn’t you go out with your family?” Lin Zhi Hua asked, puzzled. He had exchanged messages with Xue Jiao early in the morning when she was preparing to leave.

He had even prepared himself for the possibility of not seeing Xue Jiao today…

Xue Jiao grinned, reaching out to hold Lin Zhi Hua’s hand: “Dad told me to come get you. Let’s go buy New Year goods together.”

Lin Zhi Hua was stunned. Together… to buy New Year goods?

The words seemed to run through his head several times, and then he nodded stiffly.

Xue Jiao’s lips curved slightly upward. She could feel the air pressure around the man beside her rising, the cold atmosphere beginning to warm.

“Alright…”

Lin Zhi Hua agreed, grabbed his phone and keys, and was pulled out the door by Xue Jiao.

Her steps were quick, dragging him along in front, while his gaze remained fixed on their tightly clasped hands. His previously serious expression gradually relaxed, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned upward.

When Lin Zhi Hua drove up to the entrance, another familiar car was already parked by the roadside.

Cheng Shuo rolled down the window and said coldly: “What took so long?”

Before he could reply, Xue Jiao stuck her head out and waved: “We weren’t slow at all! We were quite fast. Dad, you lead the way!”

Cheng Shuo couldn’t maintain his stern expression when facing Xue Jiao. He smiled and shook his head, starting the car.

Lin Zhi Hua followed in his vehicle.

They headed to the largest shopping district in the area, where it was difficult to drive in at this time. They parked early and then the group of five proceeded on foot.

The winter roads were very cold. Almost as soon as they got out of the car, Lin Zhi Hua turned to wrap a thick scarf around Xue Jiao and then held her gloved hand.

It was much the same with Cheng Shuo. Li Sitong cared more about her appearance than Xue Jiao and wasn’t dressed warmly, so Cheng Shuo tightly wrapped her hands.

Only Cheng Ming Ze rubbed his cold hands together, stuffed them into his pockets, and walked between the two couples.

Li Sitong couldn’t help but laugh: “Ming Ze, once you’re past your busy period, remember to find a girlfriend. Look, your sister is already ahead of you.”

Cheng Ming Ze reached up to pull his collar over half his face, his handsome features showing helplessness.

Why are single people so unappreciated these days?

The five of them walking together were all exceptionally good-looking. Setting aside Xue Jiao and Lin Zhi Hua, whose appearance made people want to take photos, Cheng Ming Ze was the male protagonist of this world, so his looks were naturally impeccable.

The parents who could produce these two children couldn’t be lacking either. Cheng Shuo was a refined, handsome middle-aged man, and Li Sitong, having done little over the years except take care of herself, might no longer be a young girl but remained beautiful and elegant.

After entering the supermarket, Li Sitong and Lin Zhi Hua discussed what food to buy…

“They all said they want hotpot for New Year’s Eve this year. Do you eat hotpot, Zhi Hua?”

“Yes,” Lin Zhi Hua nodded. “Just let me know what vegetables you need. I have a friend with a farm specifically for growing vegetables, ecologically clean.”

“Really?!” Li Sitong’s voice was delighted. “Won’t it trouble your friend?”

Lin Zhi Hua shook his head and smiled: “Not at all. I’ll give you a phone number later. Just call and say what vegetables you want and how much. It’s best to call a day in advance though, as it’s a bit far. They’ll prepare fresh produce in the morning and deliver it.”

The farm really did belong to a friend, but the owner didn’t care much about it, so Lin Zhi Hua negotiated to buy it. The paperwork was still being processed, so it couldn’t be counted as his yet, but soon it would belong to him, making it convenient for both families to eat whatever they wanted.

He needed to nourish Xue Jiao’s body, so naturally, he had to be selective about ingredients.

Once the paperwork for the farm was complete, he could grow all the vegetables Xue Jiao liked.

“Do they have poultry?” Li Sitong couldn’t help but feel excited. Although she didn’t cook much, she was very knowledgeable about market produce.

Lin Zhi Hua nodded: “They have everything—chicken, duck, fish, beef, lamb—though the beef needs a bit of waiting.”

“That’s fine!” Li Sitong was delighted.

Lin Zhi Hua continued: “I’ll stew a black chicken tomorrow morning and bring it over tomorrow evening?”

“That would be wonderful!”

Xue Jiao turned her head, looking at Lin Zhi Hua who seemed like a family “chef,” and couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing.

As soon as she laughed out loud, Lin Zhi Hua turned to look at her with exasperated affection.

Cheng Shuo, walking on Li Sitong’s other side, spoke up after they had finished discussing the food: “Since we’ve settled on the food, let’s go buy couplets and lanterns.”

The Cheng family had always been rather traditional. Although Cheng Shuo’s educational philosophy was relatively liberal, he felt there was no need to forget ancestral traditions in pursuit of new things.

So in past years, the Cheng family’s New Year celebrations had been traditional but also joyful.

Since couplets didn’t require much selection, Cheng Shuo and Cheng Ming Ze picked out their favorites.

However, most of the ones they chose were about family happiness, as Cheng Shuo valued family highly.

Lin Zhi Hua had nothing to contribute here, as he had never bought or hung such things before.

Xue Jiao tugged at his hand, and Lin Zhi Hua turned to see the little girl blinking as she said: “Zhi Hua, let’s pick a set for your place too.”

Lin Zhi Hua was slightly taken aback, reflexively responding: “That’s not necessary.”

Cheng Shuo, who had been looking at couplets ahead of them, turned back with a frown: “What do you mean not necessary? How can an empty house be appropriate!”

Lin Zhi Hua: “…”

The corner of his mouth turned up slightly: “Alright, let’s buy a set.”

“Handsome, you newlyweds could use this one!” A sales assistant beside them couldn’t help saying. There were many customers during the New Year period, but this group was so attractive that she couldn’t help paying more attention to them and offering recommendations.

Xue Jiao blushed and said embarrassedly: “We’re not married yet… Let’s get this one!”

She picked up one that read “May all your wishes come true.”

Lin Zhi Hua turned his head and lowered his voice: “What should I do? I want the newlywed one…”

Xue Jiao glared at him and reached out to pinch his waist hard.

In the end, they still chose “May all your wishes come true,” and then squeezed together to discuss which lantern to pick.

“I think this one is nice! It suits you.”

“But that one is nice too. I think it looks really good.”

“No, that one’s a bit small, it would look too tiny when hung up.”

The two engaged in their meaningless debate. Lin Zhi Hua turned his head to look at the little girl beside him, her face half-hidden in her clothes, as she looked up, still trying to determine which lantern was better.

For some reason, Lin Zhi Hua couldn’t help feeling a tightness in his throat, while the corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably.

When he was with Xue Jiao, every day felt unprecedentedly happy, but with each new day, he discovered it could be even happier, to the point where Lin Zhi Hua began to look forward to the future and tomorrow.

And once a person begins to anticipate tomorrow, it’s as if a lamp has been lit in their heart, illuminating the path ahead. He began to possess happiness and joy he had never dared to imagine before.

Sometimes Lin Zhi Hua would imagine himself without Xue Jiao, but could only think of four words—a decaying tree.

On this day, Lin Zhi Hua was like any ordinary young man, holding hands with the girl he liked, the two of them discussing whether to buy this or that, chattering away with smiles that never faded.

Lin Zhi Hua and Cheng Ming Ze each carried two large bags of goods to the parking area and then drove to have a meal together before heading home.

The next day was New Year’s Eve. In the morning, Cheng Shuo and Cheng Ming Ze stayed home to put up couplets and hang lanterns, while Xue Jiao went to Lin Zhi Hua’s place to help him.

By noon, she returned home for lunch, and he went to meet his parents.

At three in the afternoon, Lin Zhi Hua returned and headed straight to the Cheng family with chicken soup, beginning to help Li Sitong prepare dinner.

This was their fourth New Year together. The new year arrived amid the sound of firecrackers and fireworks. As the ancient saying goes, “In the sound of firecrackers, a year passes.” For older people, a new year meant growing a bit older.

But for young people, a new year meant another year of striving.

Those still chasing dreams continued their pursuit in the new year, step by step, bravely moving forward.

In the new year, Xue Jiao received red envelopes from her family and also received a heart-shaped one folded by Lin Zhi Hua.

Starting from the previous year, every New Year, Lin Zhi Hua would personally fold a heart for her as a red envelope.

Xue Jiao treasured these “lucky money” envelopes, storing them in a metal box.

If all went well, she and Lin Zhi Hua would have several decades together. One heart each year—she hoped that in their old age, she could embrace a box containing dozens of hearts as she departed.

Just like their love, which could continue endlessly, long-lasting, and unbroken.

——

The pressure wasn’t too great at the beginning of this year. In early January, she and Lin Zhi Hua began going out, watching movies, and dating. When Lin Corporation resumed work, Xue Jiao followed Lin Zhi Hua to the company and continued writing her thesis.

By the time school was about to start, the thesis was essentially complete.

Chu Sheng hoped everyone could meet up before the thesis was published, and Xue Jiao and the others had no objections. Only Zhang Han… had been somewhat hesitant.

Xue Jiao was a bit confused. She felt that Zhang Han was deliberately avoiding them, or rather, deliberately avoiding one particular person among them.

She noticed that whenever Yang Zhan spoke in the group chat, Zhang Han would remain silent.

But when Zhang Han spoke, Yang Zhan would immediately reply, as if paying special attention, always able to catch her every appearance.

Xue Jiao was puzzled…

These two people… what was going on with them?

Because of this strange situation, the group didn’t manage to meet when the thesis was published.

The thesis was published five days before the start of school when the New Year atmosphere was still strong and the weather in Beijing remained too cold to venture outside.

Xue Jiao didn’t pay much attention to the thesis publication, as Teacher Jin had helped get it published. The first author of the thesis was Chu Sheng, though he had always been unwilling and had recommended Zhang Han. But Zhang Han’s senior had said that Chu Sheng had organized the project and the original idea had come from him, so the first authorship should belong to Chu Sheng.

They all agreed with this assessment, and Xue Jiao strongly supported it.

Having completed the project, she put it to the back of her mind. With school about to start, Lin Zhi Hua was being particularly clingy.

Xue Jiao didn’t constantly follow the thesis publication, so she was unaware that on February 18, when the thesis was published, the scientific community was in an uproar.

The thesis was like an earthquake, shaking the entire scientific world.