The winter camp was technically their last collective activity before the college entrance exam battle, so everyone was excited – except for Huang Mao who was weak, helpless, and pitiful, watching them chat enthusiastically with longing eyes. He couldn’t understand why Fat Hu and Xing Wu could go while he couldn’t. It was simply inhumane!

The excitement continued until midnight when Xing Wu checked the time and said to Qing Ye, “Isn’t your phone ringing inside?”

Qing Ye looked up, “No, my phone is with me.”

Xing Wu gave her a meaningful look, and she quickly caught on, pretending to pat her pockets before saying, “Oh, I might have left my phone inside.”

Just as she stepped through the back door, a dark figure suddenly emerged and cornered her against the doorframe. He bent down and sealed her lips with an all-encompassing kiss that felt like a storm. In the dim light, his deep features made Qing Ye’s heart race. Amidst the confusion, she could hear wild cheering from outside as Xing Wu murmured against her lips, “Happy New Year.”

Qing Ye glanced at the clock on the wall – exactly midnight. This was her first time crossing into the new year with a kiss, and she suddenly felt as if she’d been dropped into a pot of honey. Rising on her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, “Happy New Year.”

Xing Wu’s eyes glimmered mysteriously in the darkness, his voice carrying an alluring magnetism, “What’s your New Year’s wish?”

Qing Ye chuckled to herself, burying her face in the crook of his neck, “I hope we can spend next New Year together too.”

They held each other tightly, suddenly falling into silence. After a while, Xing Wu tightened his embrace, his warm breath falling on her ear as he said, “Alright, no matter which corner of the world you’re in this time next year, I’ll be with you to welcome the new year.”

Qing Ye looked at him excitedly, just staring at him, unable to speak.

She suddenly choked up and said, “I’ve always felt that this was probably the worst year of my life, but you made everything different, Xing Wu. Were you sent by heaven to save me?”

He pulled her into his embrace and said firmly, “No, you were.”

Outside, Lang Dai kept calling, “Brother Wu, Qing Ye, it’s New Year’s, what are you doing?”

Xing Wu and Qing Ye went outside, where everyone raised their glasses together. Huang Mao stared at them with a knowing smile, earning a glare from Qing Ye.

Fat Hu raised his glass cheerfully and said with his stutter, “I, I wish ev-everyone, as long as there’s life, there’s ho-hope. Even if we all go our separate ways after graduation, we’ll still be young at heart when we re-return. We won’t say goodbye!”

Huang Mao immediately wiped tears from his eyes and cursed, “What’s wrong with you, fatty? This isn’t a graduation speech, why are you being so emotional?”

Everyone raised their glasses and shouted in unison, “We won’t say goodbye!”

Qing Ye felt her blood boiling with emotion. Although she hadn’t known these people as long as her former classmates, perhaps being in adverse circumstances made her feel things more deeply. Their genuine simplicity and lovable nature brought her a different kind of joy, making every day at the shabby Zha Zha Pavilion colorful. She suddenly felt a sense of camaraderie with them.

Thinking back to her first day at Zha Zha Pavilion when she saw these alternative-looking youth, she thought she could never get along with them. From her initial divine contempt to gradually letting down those barriers and becoming one of them, she realized how resilient her adaptability was. Of course, it was mainly because they were all such lovable people.

The celebration finally ended amid collective scolding from the neighborhood, led by Aunt Zhao.

On New Year’s Day, Qing Ye was busy. She woke up early to tackle the three-day holiday study assignments. By the time Xing Wu got up, she had already completed three test papers, leaving him amazed.

By evening, Qing Ye had finished everything and started packing. Xing Wu lounged on the bed watching her pack facial cleanser, towels, electric toothbrush, facial creams, and various other items scattered on the bed. Growing confused, he kindly reminded her, “It’s just one night, you don’t need to bring so much.”

Qing Ye took out her bag, emptied the books, and told him, “These are all necessities, I need to bring them.”

Then she looked up puzzled, “Why aren’t you packing?”

Xing Wu crossed his arms casually and said, “I’m already packed.”

Qing Ye, seeing that he hadn’t moved all afternoon, asked, “Where are your packed things?”

Xing Wu pointed to himself, “Just need to bring myself. I’m a grown man – why would I move the whole house for one night out?”

Qing Ye laughed. The sunset streamed through the window – the houses at Zha Zha Pavilion were all low, mostly just two-story buildings, so you could see the setting sun melting into the earth with just a glance up. This was Qing Ye’s favorite time of day, with the rosy clouds filling the sky, delighting both heart and eye.

Moreover, someone was wearing a hoodie with teddy bear prints today. Qing Ye couldn’t keep her eyes off him all afternoon.

Usually, Xing Wu’s style was clean-cut and fashionable. Today, perhaps because they weren’t going out, he’d dug out this peculiar teddy bear hoodie from somewhere, creating a striking contrast with his usual demeanor that was oddly endearing.

Now with the sunset’s glow falling on him, his flawless features and lazy posture gave him an anime boy vibe.

Qing Ye dropped what she was holding and suddenly jumped in front of him, tugging at the teddy bear print on his chest, asking, “Where did this come from?”

Xing Wu pulled her into his arms, “From middle school.”

She laughed, “You can still wear middle school clothes?”

“Used it as basketball wear back then, fits just right now.”

Xing Wu looked down at her eyes curved like crescents, her pure and gentle face so close, and finally couldn’t resist. He held her and turned over, kissing her deeply.

The bed was too narrow – with one turn, Qing Ye was already at the edge, half suspended in air, feeling like she might fall at any moment. She instinctively hugged Xing Wu, the position awkward until he finally showed some conscience, his warm palm supporting her waist, taking all her suspended weight.

When Qing Ye raised her arms to hug him, her sweater rode up revealing a strip of waist. His calloused fingers slid across her delicate skin, sending tingling sensations through her body. The boy before her had upturned eyes full of spring warmth, the sunset’s glow falling on his refined profile, turning even his thick eyelashes golden. At this moment, Qing Ye wondered if such good looks were reasonable in a place like Zha Zha Pavilion.

If she went abroad later, could she take him with her?

Curled in his arms, weakened by his kisses, her thoughts wandered. However, Xing Wu suddenly lifted his head, staring at something on the floor by the bed. Qing Ye, cheeks flushed, watched as he slowly got up from her and picked up a red box from the ground.

Qing Ye blinked and turned her head. When she saw what Xing Wu was holding, the previous intimate mood instantly vanished. She suddenly sprang up, jumped off the bed, and snatched the box of Durex that had fallen out sometime earlier, awkwardly twitching her eye corner, “Um… if I said these belonged to someone else, would you believe me?”

Qing Ye saw disbelief in Xing Wu’s eyes. Never mind him – even she felt guilty saying it. Who would reasonably carry condoms in a girl’s belongings? It didn’t make sense!

The key was that these weren’t hers, but she couldn’t just expose Fang Lei – after all, these were a girl’s private matters, and it wouldn’t be ethical to just tell others. But how to explain this box of Durex?

Then she saw Xing Wu silently walk to the window and light a cigarette, occasionally glancing at her. Qing Ye stood in the room feeling like she might explode on the spot. What kind of messed-up situation was this?

Xing Wu probably thought she’d bought these herself, planning to do something with him.

At that moment, Qing Ye felt she needed to find a hole to crawl into immediately. She couldn’t look Xing Wu in the eyes anymore, so without another word, she pulled up the curtain between their beds, blocking his unnerving gaze. Then, holding this hot potato, she was truly troubled!

Subjectively, Qing Ye felt she couldn’t take them to winter camp – wouldn’t that be aiding and abetting? But if things got heated and Fang Lei still wanted to go all the way, wouldn’t not bringing protection also be irresponsible?

After much thought, Qing Ye tossed the items into her bag. What a mess!

That entire evening, Qing Ye was too embarrassed to talk to Xing Wu, even eating at different times to avoid his meaningful glances that made her heart flutter.

The next morning at seven-forty, they left home on schedule. Xing Wu wore all-black sportswear and carried a black backpack, which puzzled Qing Ye – she’d never seen him properly carry a backpack before, and he looked quite handsome like this.

She touched his bag, “Didn’t you say you weren’t bringing anything? What’s so heavy?”

“Laptop.”

“Why are you bringing a laptop?”

Xing Wu glanced at her, took her bag, and slung it over his shoulder, avoiding the question and asking, “Did you bring them?”

Qing Ye asked bewildered, “Bring what?”

“The condoms.”

After a night, Qing Ye had forgotten about it and never expected Xing Wu to bring it up again. Her face instantly turned red to her ears. How should she answer? If she said she brought them, wouldn’t Xing Wu think she signed up for winter camp with impure motives?

Qing Ye wanted to scream and sprint away at top speed, but in reality, she could only lower her head as far as possible and repeat, “Those aren’t mine, really, I’m just holding them for someone else.”

“Oh…” Xing Wu dragged out this “oh” for a very long time.

To Qing Ye’s ears, it carried multiple meanings. Does someone else need help carrying these? Keep making excuses!

Qing Ye’s mental state had exploded – she was completely unable to explain herself, feeling like even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn’t clear her name.

Then they saw Fat Hu and Shi Min waiting at the intersection. Fat Hu concernedly asked, “Qing-Qing Ye, why is your fa-face so red?”

“…” You’re the one who’s Qing-Qing Ye, your whole family is Fan Fan Tong.

Qing Ye grabbed Shi Min and quickly moved away from these two.