The gaudy colored lights swayed, casting their glow into those clear and clever almond-shaped eyes. As she looked over with her earnest gaze, they unexpectedly carried a hint of allure.

Sun Xi lowered his head as if to kiss her again, but Yu Jiuqi suddenly remembered something, turned her head to dodge, and reached out to push his face aside.

She didn’t quite control her strength, resulting in a crisp slap that was neither too loud nor too soft.

He stopped with his head tilted to the side: “If you won’t let me kiss you, fine, but did you have to slap me?”

“I didn’t slap you.” Xiao Jiu nervously glanced up at the ceiling of the small private room. “There are surveillance cameras here.”

“I had them removed.”

“What?”

“I had the surveillance cameras removed a couple days ago.” He looked back at her. “This room isn’t open for business.”

Yu Jiuqi nodded without much surprise. At such close distance, she scrutinized Sun Xi with curiosity.

The intense emotions from that exchange just now—which couldn’t quite be categorized as a showdown, an argument, or a reconciliation—hadn’t completely dissipated yet. She was still somewhat dazed, though not because she had blurted out that long-suppressed sentence first. She didn’t want to compete with Sun Xi over winning or losing in this matter. Rather, it was his final decision that seemed to have been planned in advance, yet she couldn’t figure out when it had started.

Just a few days ago, he had been determined to leave.

In the nine years since Sun Xi had been driven out of his hometown in disgrace, he had never returned even once. But Xiao Jiu knew very clearly that it wasn’t because he didn’t dare to come back, but because he was unwilling and didn’t want to.

More than his hometown not accepting him, perhaps he himself rejected his hometown, Shi City, and even the entire Northeast region.

There were almost no traces of the Northeast on him. Even during that year they were in love in Beijing, when Yu Jiuqi clung to him daily with her irremediable Northeast accent and eating habits—she had nearly influenced her entire dormitory—Sun Xi had barely spoken any Northeast dialect and showed little interest in Northeast culture or restaurants.

He had never admitted it, but Xiao Jiu knew he was deliberately cutting off all his roots, like a floating piece of duckweed drifting in the air, going wherever the wind took him, self-sufficient.

However, Xiao Jiu had once asked him if he truly had no interest in the Northeast anymore. At the time, he was lying askew on the bed in their Beijing home. After thinking about it, he said not entirely—there was one thing he had been thinking about for a long time.

Xiao Jiu was curious and asked what it was. He said, “You really want to know?” Xiao Jiu said yes, hurry up and tell me. Sun Xi sighed as if extremely helpless, then grabbed a corner of the blanket and suddenly rolled over, covering Xiao Jiu underneath it, pressing her down beneath him. With a hoarse voice, he leaned close to her ear and shamelessly said he quite liked Northeast women.

At the time, Xiao Jiu wanted to kick him off the bed, but she just couldn’t muster the strength.

“What are you thinking about?”

That familiar husky voice came to her ear again.

The colored lights were still rotating. Her neck tingled with fine itches and tingles. Xiao Jiu couldn’t help but place her hand on the back of his head, pressing against those coarse, stiff short hairs. He was susceptible to this, letting out a muffled grunt. His hands followed suit, deftly exploring inside her clothes, but Yu Jiuqi suddenly grabbed him and pressed down.

Sun Xi looked up at her with clouded eyes: “There really aren’t any surveillance cameras. I told Lin Hui that no one is allowed in this room except you and me.”

Xiao Jiu knew what he was thinking: “It’s still awkward.”

He studied her: “Should I go turn off the lights?”

Xiao Jiu was still trapped in the corner of the sofa by him, her head resting against the back of the sofa. She looked at him with pursed lips and a conflicted expression, meaning that wasn’t what she meant.

Sun Xi, at times like these, often had no bottom line or decorum. Like a beast that had lost its mind, he would become shameless once fixated, but deep in his bones he was also extremely goal-oriented. When pushed to the edge, he could come up with any excuse or tactic. Seeing that Xiao Jiu wouldn’t give in, he threw caution to the wind.

He actually asked: “Do you know what day it is today?”

Yu Jiuqi understood: “So what?”

“Shouldn’t we celebrate it?”

“Like this?”

“Then how do you want to celebrate?”

“I’m hungry. I want to eat.”

“Eat later.”

“Eat first.”

He looked at her unwillingly, struggled for a while before compromising, then pressed against her and kissed her for a while. First, he negotiated in her ear, saying that baby should go back to the hotel with him tonight. Without waiting for her agreement, he said viciously, “Wait until tonight,” then straightened out the black shirt he had messed up, once again appearing calm and composed.

Today was December 31st, New Year’s Eve.

Xiao Jiu followed him out of the small private room, one after the other. At a not-too-distant distance, she watched him in his impeccable attire discussing some work matters with Lin Hui. He stood in the spacious hall decorated in blue-purple tones, with the electronic advertising screen for Le Sheng Huang’s New Year’s Day top-up promotion behind him. The prominent countdown on it showed that there were less than five hours left until 2024.

Yu Jiuqi quickly reflected and suddenly felt emotional. It seemed that every year on this day, as long as she was with him, her life would undergo tremendous changes.

She hoped this time would be a good one.

They didn’t get to eat Korean barbecue. The New Year’s Eve customer flow surged dramatically, and the barbecue restaurant was packed with over a dozen tables waiting ahead of them. Xiao Jiu searched for nearby restaurants in the car for a while and made two phone calls, then asked Sun Xi beside her if iron pot stew would work.

Sun Xi said fine. Seeing Xiao Jiu still hesitating and wanting to say something, he asked what was wrong. Xiao Jiu said, “You can’t get mad when I tell you, okay?” Sun Xi said just tell me. Xiao Jiu forced a smile at him and said that restaurant only had one private room left, all the open seating was full, it’s not like she deliberately booked it.

“Am I really that petty?” He unbuckled his seatbelt.

“No, Brother Sun is the most magnanimous.” Lying through her teeth.

“Hurry up and order it. Get out of the car.”

Xiao Jiu obediently agreed.

“Eat quickly, then leave after we’re done.” He added.

Although Yu Jiuqi couldn’t be called a celebrity in this small city, she had fairly broad connections and knew quite a few people. Every time she went out to eat, she would run into some familiar faces. She also loved greeting people, never felt awkward about socializing, and could chat with anyone she encountered without missing a beat.

She had a premonition that she would run into acquaintances, but she didn’t avoid walking in together with Sun Xi. As they walked toward the private room inside, passing through the open seating area, as expected, she was recognized.

“Xiao Jiu!”

She looked toward the voice—it was her colleague Wang Huan.

Wang Huan’s family of three and both sets of parents were eating together. Xiao Jiu knew the whole family, so she went over to greet them and played with the child for a while. The child was just over a year old and giggled non-stop at Xiao Jiu. Wang Huan found it amusing and said she wanted to take a couple of photos to post on social media. Xiao Jiu didn’t refuse, bent down to hug the child and made a heart shape with her hands. When she looked up, she saw Sun Xi standing in the corridor waiting.

“Go on, your handsome guy is waiting anxiously.” Wang Huan had seen Sun Xi from afar in the county town and had heard about their situation. Guessing their relationship, she teased.

Xiao Jiu said nothing and left with a smile.

As soon as they entered the private room, Yu Jiuqi didn’t ask Sun Xi’s opinion and directly scanned the code to order. She knew asking would be pointless—he had never had any preferences for iron pot stew, he’d just eat his fill and be done with it. She only asked if he wanted to drink some alcohol, and said they could call for a designated driver later.

Sun Xi took her phone and scrolled through the restaurant’s drink menu. Being picky, he said how come Northeast restaurants still only have these few brands, same with Le Sheng Huang—the beverage suppliers are extremely limited and not cheap, many brands from other regions can’t even get in. Drinks have the biggest profit margin, they should find ways to expand the variety.

Xiao Jiu, hearing him launch into business talk, suddenly felt transported back to their days in Beijing.

Yet before her eyes was the typical Northeast rustic decor with garlic and dried chili peppers hanging on the walls. Outside the window, tree branches were still covered with a layer of snow. He was sitting right here in Shi City, truly and tangibly beside her, discussing with her whether to get Yanjing or Tsingtao beer, two bottles or four. It felt somewhat illusory.

Illusory, yet beautiful.

It made her want to hold onto this moment, stretch it out, make it solid, turn it into an everyday occurrence that didn’t require deliberate cherishing.

But this wasn’t easy.

At this moment, they had both admitted it—admitted they couldn’t escape the complex chains of destiny binding them. But this wasn’t because they were weak and powerless. Those chains didn’t only contain hostility and resentment; they were also entangled with immense gratitude, undeniable love, blood ties, and family.

People have no way to live as isolated islands, and two isolated islands cannot form a city. They had tried; they had failed.

So when Sun Xi said he would stay, Xiao Jiu breathed a sigh of relief.

But after thinking about it the whole way, she still wasn’t certain what his plan actually was. She had a guess about it but didn’t know if it was accurate.

After the server layered all the dishes they ordered into the iron pot, added the soup and seasonings, lit the fire, and started the countdown, during the waiting period Xiao Jiu was about to chat with him when Sun Xi said he was going out for a cigarette first. But after a very long time, he still hadn’t returned. Soon after, she heard loud greetings from next door, and it seemed to include Sun Xi’s voice.

When he came back, he explained on his own: “I just ran into an acquaintance.”

Xiao Jiu thought it was Xu Tian from the government, but he said no, though she also knew this person. Looking at Xiao Jiu, he said directly: “Brother Dacheng.”

“Brother Dacheng?”

Xiao Jiu couldn’t help being shocked. Brother Dacheng was Yu Kaixuan’s mortal enemy, Yuan Xuan’s biological father. Although Yuan Xuan had managed to save his life that year, he was still paralyzed and unable to care for himself to this day. Although Brother Dacheng later divorced and remarried, having three sons in one go, and even though life had improved and grudges had passed, it still wouldn’t be enough for him to become friends with Sun Xi.

Sun Xi explained: “We’re definitely not friends. He just heard I took over Le Sheng Huang and came to say hello.”

Xiao Jiu guessed something and verified: “Did he mention Wendu Shuihui?”

“Mm, he asked me how my relationship with Boss Yu downstairs was going.” He tilted his head to look at Xiao Jiu. “He said that Brother Er Kai is very stubborn and not easy to deal with. He even added me on WeChat and wants to give me some VIP cards for Yunfu Hot Springs.”

“He’s fought with my dad his whole life. His Yunfu Hot Springs has used every trick to catch up with Wendu Shuihui, even trying to win you over. Unbelievable.”

Sun Xi smiled: “The enemy of my enemy, right? Plus we’re on different floors of the same building.”

“So are you an enemy?”

“What do you think?”

“Sun Xi, if you dare…”

Sun Xi moved closer, leaning in, watching her with interest: “What then?”

Xiao Jiu knew he was teasing her, so she glared at him: “You’re no match for Brother Er Kai. If it really comes to a fight, my dad could devour you.”

“How would he devour me?”

“Anyway, he’s wanted to take over those two floors upstairs for a long time.”

A gleam of sharpness flashed in Sun Xi’s eyes. At that moment, the countdown alarm rang. He turned it off and opened the lid. A whole pot of steaming, fragrant stew was bubbling and rolling tremulously. The steam rose up onto their faces. Sun Xi took the iron ladle and simply stirred it around.

Very naturally, he continued: “What does he want those two floors upstairs for?”

Xiao Jiu picked up one of the steamed buns from the top: “Movie theaters and an amusement area, plus making the guest room section independent.”

Sun Xi poured two glasses of beer and handed her one. They clinked glasses, didn’t say anything special, and after taking a sip, he made his position clear calmly through the rising steam.

“I’ve never hated him.”

Xiao Jiu froze and looked at him.

“About what happened back then, I know, actually I owe a lot to him.”

Xiao Jiu put down the half-eaten bun. Her heart suddenly felt uncomfortable. She understood what Sun Xi was saying.

After that accident nine years ago, although Xu Tian had stepped forward to help them smooth things over, besides paying the medical expenses, Brother Dacheng also demanded a huge compensation payment. To avoid having the two young people face criminal charges and to settle privately, Yu Kaixuan took out almost all his savings, sold an apartment, and agreed to it.

Not only that, on the final day of mediation at the police station, Brother Dacheng suddenly went back on his word, saying although that boy was driven out of Shi City by you people, don’t forget there were two other punks present at the time who also saw that it was actually your daughter who hit the person—this matter can’t end like this. Yu Kaixuan asked what do you want. Brother Dacheng, still holding onto the old grudge and wanting to humiliate Yu Kaixuan, said you kneel down for me, kowtow a few times, call me grandpa a few times.

Yu Jiuqi had never told her father that she had been hiding right outside that mediation room door at the time. She had heard everything.

She heard her father give up the thing he valued most in his life—face and dignity—to protect her. To some extent, that was something more important to him than his own life.

He was willing to give up his life for me, a child he had picked up.

The fifteen-year-old Xiao Jiu at the time covered her mouth, crouched down, and buried her head forcefully, just so she could control herself from wailing out loud. She felt so guilty, so heartbroken, so frightened, yet so moved.

That was a very important scene in Yu Jiuqi’s growth experience. From that moment on, she unconsciously began using all her strength to become worthy of her father’s love and sacrifice.

At this moment, sitting with Sun Xi in the iron pot stew private room, Xiao Jiu suddenly doubted whether she had achieved that.

“Your phone keeps vibrating.”

Sun Xi’s reminder brought her back to her senses. Xiao Jiu picked up her phone from the side and looked at it—the family group chat was crackling with messages.

On New Year’s Eve, everyone had scattered to go out and have fun. Yu Kaixuan took the lead in posting photos in the group. He and Meng Huihong were accompanying Third Uncle eating hot pot at home. Wen Wen and Young Master Xiao Fu, who had just returned from a business trip abroad, were at the dance hall, each with a cocktail. Ge Fan and Xiao Zhuang and their group were eating barbecue with beer bottles covering the table. Zhu Duomei posted a selfie, and the background looked like a bar. Finally, Yu Kaixuan tagged Xiao Jiu and sent two voice messages.

Xiao Jiu clicked on the voice messages. Brother Er Kai’s voice rang out: “Xiao Jiu, where are you?”

He also said: “I just saw Wang Huan’s social media post. Are you eating dinner with her family?”

Yu Jiuqi didn’t reply. From the corner of her eye, she unconsciously glanced at the person beside her.

Sun Xi, picking at his food, said calmly: “No need to deny it.”

Xiao Jiu looked at him, suddenly thinking of her earlier guess. She understood something and instantly felt both frustrated and sad.

Sun Xi looked back at her and didn’t hide it anymore, stating his plan directly: “If we want to stay, we can’t clash head-on. Let’s endure for now and take it slow.”

Xiao Jiu had been thinking the same thing. She repeated: “Take it slow?”

“Mm.”

The phone vibrated again, still a voice message from Yu Kaixuan.

“Xiao Jiu, on a day like today, don’t hang around with other people’s families. Come back. Your Third Uncle says he wants to play mahjong. We’re missing one person. Hurry up!”

Her finger hovered above the screen, not coming down for a long time.

After a stalemate for a while, she heard a low voice beside her say: “I’m fine with it.”

Only then did Xiao Jiu reply to her dad, saying okay.

After finishing their meal, Sun Xi called a designated driver. The two of them sat in the back seat. Sun Xi held her hand, rubbing and kneading it, silent the whole way.

The car stopped outside Yu Kaixuan’s residential community. Xiao Jiu was about to open the door and get out when Sun Xi forcefully grabbed her and pulled her back. Xiao Jiu turned around and met those bright black eyes.

Sun Xi had his jaw set tight, his brow pressed down, his gaze straightforwardly and fiercely locked on her, like a wolf unwilling to let go. His eyes circled around her face, light and heavy, and finally, as if threatening her, stared into her eyes, paused for a while, then released his hand.

Though he didn’t say a word or do anything, Xiao Jiu felt drained of all her energy by him.

People are enthusiastic about using various rituals to celebrate the new year, simply wanting to shed the burdens of the old year, reset to zero, and set out again full of hope.

But for people who had long been trapped in the shadows of the past, this beautiful and simple wish wasn’t so easy to realize.

Even making this wish lacked confidence.

At the moment when 2024 was about to arrive, in different corners of Shi City, several people whose fates and destinies were tightly intertwined all fell into inexplicable sorrow.

Wen Wen swayed onto the dance floor and, in perfect coordination with Young Master Xiao Fu, performed a Latin dance she was good at. But at the moment the music ended, after that exhilaration, looking at the gorgeous lights and stage before her, she suddenly felt as if falling into an abyss, feeling she didn’t deserve any of this, wondering why she was still alive.

Yu Kaixuan accompanied his family playing mahjong. Seeing his younger brother across from him, already nearly fifty years old, unable to even distinguish the one-nine tiles, he yelled at him, then immediately regretted it. Following that came enormous heartache and shame. He went to the kitchen and downed a glass of baijiu in one gulp to suppress it.

And Yu Jiuqi, seeing her dad secretly drinking and wiping away tears, quietly left, hid in the bathroom, pretended she didn’t know anything, collected her emotions, put on a smile, and then came back beaming, making a fuss about dad having to pay up for losing, not a cent less, WeChat transfer.

Zhu Duomei came out of the bar alone carrying her chain purse. The man she’d been on a date with chased after her, making a fuss about taking her home. Zhu Duomei swung her bag at his head hard, cursed him out, and walked alone swaying down the noisy bar street. She pulled out her phone wanting to find someone to continue the party, scrolling through contacts, and stopped at Meng Huihong’s contact information. She stood there and cried for a while.

Meng Huihong’s phone rang. She hoped it would be her daughter, but it was just a spam advertisement call.

Ge Fan and Xiao Zhuang and their group got completely drunk at the barbecue restaurant. Xiao Zhuang suddenly remembered something and asked Ge Fan why they were originally going to eat iron pot stew but suddenly didn’t go in when they got to the door. Ge Fan said what’s so good about that crappy place, then thought about Wang Huan’s social media post, the voice messages in the family group from Yu Kaixuan, and that familiar black Audi he’d seen at the iron pot stew entrance, and fell into a long silence.

Old Mrs. Sun woke up from a nap, sitting in the empty, decrepit hospital room, looking at the thick darkness outside the window. She didn’t know what she thought of, but discovered she was crying.

Sun Tingting was celebrating New Year’s with a group of friends at Le Sheng Huang. Seeing her brother had come back alone, she wanted to call him to join them. When she pushed open the door to private room 411, she was confronted with a face so desolate it was frightening. For the rest of that night, she had no more mood for anything.

Sun Xi didn’t go back to the hotel in the end. He sat alone in Le Sheng Huang’s private room 411. He didn’t turn on the disco ball lights, only turned on a ceiling light, lay back on the sofa looking up, staring at the white wall before him.

He held in his hand that blue bouncy ball that Third Uncle had been chasing, which had inexplicably bounced into his hands. He threw it at the wall, it bounced back, and he caught it steadily.

Threw it forcefully again, bounced back, caught it.

Threw it hard, caught it.

Threw, caught.

Took pleasure in it repeatedly, yet found it utterly boring.

Until he heard the momentum of massive countdowns, cheering sounds, and celebrating sounds coming simultaneously from all the private rooms in the KTV, he finally stopped.

At the moment when 2024 officially arrived, Sun Xi took out his phone and sent two messages to Yu Jiuqi that he had thought about long ago.

He sent: [Happy New Year.]

She replied: [Happy New Year.]

He sent again: [I love you.]

After waiting for a while, he received a reply.

[I love you too.]

Fortunately, there was still love.