On the evening of December 30th, Qian Fei and Li Yifei took a taxi to the National Theatre of China to watch Da Peng’s stand-up comedy show “How Do We Survive?” As they entered, some young girls nearby were whispering loudly enough to be overheard.
“Look, look! Aren’t those two celebrity guests invited by Da Peng? I just saw that long-faced host from Liaoning TV. Could they be hosts too?”
“I don’t think so. I can’t tell who they are!”
“But they both look so good! Especially the guy. He must be some new celebrity. He’s so handsome! I want to ask for his autograph!”
Qian Fei noticed Li Yifei’s expression, pretending not to have heard anything, yet standing straighter and walking more like a male model with each step, becoming increasingly affected.
She couldn’t help but whisper, “Will you die if you don’t put on an act? Can’t you survive without showing off?”
Li Yifei glanced at her sideways, “Have you ever been mistaken like this before?”
Qian Fei shook her head.
“Young Master here used to be chased for autographs all the time, with people saying I was some Won Bin,” he looked at her and clicked his tongue twice. “So you see, hanging out with me has its perks! Just standing next to me makes you look prettier than usual, making people with poor eyesight mistake you for a celebrity!”
Qian Fei rolled her eyes at him, speechless.
This guy’s narcissism was beyond cure.
From the moment the show started, Qian Fei entered an excited state, no longer caring whether Li Yifei or Liu Yifei was sitting next to her.
Li Yifei noticed that all her attention was focused on the man with black-framed glasses talking nonsense on the stage in front of them.
He felt a bit hurt. He was usually the unchanging focus of girls’ attention in daily life. How could this silly girl ignore him so completely? If he had brought any other girl, their eyes would have been glued to him the entire time, as if admiring a perfect work of art or their most beloved idol.
But gradually, he stopped feeling jealous.
Because when he saw the silly girl laughing heartily, her eyes sparkling, he suddenly felt that the performance of the man on stage was indeed quite interesting.
So he started laughing along with her, from beginning to end.
He secretly discovered that her laughter – no, not just her laughter, but her entire being, her various emotions – was very contagious, capable of influencing the mood of those around her to match hers.
In the past, he had always thought this silly girl was quite bland and tasteless, a pushover without temper or edge, a professional martyr who always seemed to think it was her fault whenever someone got angry with her. In his life trajectory, these were the kind of people he despised the most. He believed that to live is to have personality, to be flamboyant, to have untouchable principles and appropriate sentimentality. Only then does a person have charm, only then do they leave a strong first impression, and only then are they unforgettable, making others simultaneously grumble, envy, and want to get closer.
But unexpectedly, as he gradually got to know her better, those qualities he used to look down on now seemed to him like a different kind of charm and infectiousness.
As he laughed along with her hearty laughter, he thought about how suitable this tomboy was to be a brother. Even better than actual men to bully and take advantage of, hardworking, and a good cook too. There was just one downside – she stubbornly refused to believe he was a rich second-generation.
He wondered what her expression would be like when she eventually found out he was a rich second-generation.
Would it be like in TV dramas, with tears in her eyes, slapping him and saying, “You lied to me! What did you take me for?”
He shuddered.
He was sure her reaction wouldn’t be like that. He had observed closely how she used to shiver secretly whenever Gui Lili acted coquettishly. She couldn’t stand those girlish tactics.
So how would she react?
As he pondered, he realized he was quite looking forward to seeing her reaction at that moment.
When the performance ended, Qian Fei squeezed into the front to take a photo with Da Peng. On the taxi ride home, she held her phone, looking at the photo with great satisfaction.
Li Yifei said sourly from the side, “Silly girl loves losers, hopeless!”
Qian Fei objected, “He’s an inspirational talent playing a loser, unlike you, a loser pretending to be an inspirational talent!”
Li Yifei glanced at her, “Qian Fei, are you planning to repay kindness with ingratitude? Who got you the tickets for tonight?”
Qian Fei ignored him, looked out the window, and called out, “Driver, please stop here!”
Li Yifei also glanced outside, “Why are we stopping here?” They were at a supermarket still some distance from home.
Qian Fei paid and dragged Li Yifei out of the car, “I’m feeling a bit excited tonight, let’s get some alcohol to drink! We both don’t have work tomorrow anyway, so it doesn’t matter if we get drunk!”
Li Yifei was pulled into the supermarket, “Sister Qian, you’re becoming more and more manly! Now you’re even taking the initiative to drink!”
They carried a case of beer home.
Turning on the TV, several channels were broadcasting New Year’s Eve shows. They spread out a mat in the living room, sat on the floor, watched the programs, and drank beer. The atmosphere was great, simply harmonious, satisfying, and happy.
Qian Fei suddenly turned her head, looking at Li Yifei, and said, “Li Yifei, thank you for the New Year’s gift! I feel really happy! I have a feeling I’ll be happy for the whole of next year!”
Li Yifei raised an eyebrow, “Don’t mention it, it’s nothing!” He took a sip of beer, narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, and licked his lips.
Qian Fei felt that such a teasing action and expression on such a handsome face was simply sinful.
She shuddered, “What are you doing, winking and biting your lips, trying to seduce someone?”
Li Yifei smirked, raising one corner of his mouth, “Shouldn’t you fulfill your promise and change your surname to mine now?”
Qian Fei was stunned for a moment, remembering that she had previously made a bet with him that if he really could get the show tickets, she would change her surname.
“What I said was: if you really could get the tickets, I’d change my surname!” Qian Fei rolled her eyes, “I said I’d change my surname, I didn’t say I’d change it to yours!”
Li Yifei raised his eyebrows and glanced at her, “Playing word games, are we? Qian Fei, you’re quite the scoundrel!”
Qian Fei swayed her shoulders provocatively, “It’s your unclear consciousness, overthinking things. Who can you blame!”
Li Yifei grinned fiercely, “Anyway if you’re not changing to my surname, you still have to change your surname! Choose, what surname you want to change to?”
Qian Fei blinked, “Well, how about changing to my father’s surname?”
Li Yifei paused, “Isn’t your current surname your father’s?”
Qian Fei blinked her eyes, making them look bright and lively, and nodded, “Mm-hmm!”
Li Yifei stroked his chin, “You took your mother’s surname?”
Qian Fei slapped the table, “Li Yifei, watch how you speak!”
Li Yifei thought for a moment and rephrased, “You took your esteemed mother’s surname?”
Qian Fei nodded proudly, “Surprised, aren’t you?”
Li Yifei was silent for a moment, then said with a face full of sympathy, “Did your father divorce your mother? Poor child!”
Qian Fei glared at him hard, “You’re the one who’s divorced! My parents were living well together when my mother was alive!”
Li Yifei looked puzzled, “Then why did you take your mother’s… your esteemed mother’s surname? Does your family have another child, each with a different surname?”
Qian Fei patted her chest, “I’m a model only child, born under the one-child policy!”
Li Yifei couldn’t stand her airs and kicked her with his foot, “What’s going on? Stop keeping us in suspense, tell us quickly!”
Qian Fei swayed from his kick, “Li Yifei, are you tired of living? You dare to kick me!” She kicked him back, took a sip of beer, and her face showed an expression of constipation-like difficulty in speaking.
“Li Yifei, let me ask you a question,” she suddenly changed the subject, “Have you ever been troubled by your name? You share a name with a nationally famous beautiful girl!”
Li Yifei sneered, “Wasn’t I annoyed to death for a while! When that woman became famous for some TV drama, everyone around me joked about my name. Young Master here has been handsome since childhood, so they said if I wrapped myself in a white sheet and jumped from the second floor, I’d look even more like a celestial sister than her!” He took a sip of beer, clenched his fist, and said through gritted teeth, “Back then, I trained my fists so hard, they were rock solid. Whoever made fun of me got a beating!” He looked at Qian Fei, his expression changing to a show-off one, “Oh right, I had a nickname back then, ‘Iron Fist King of Pretty Boys’. You can ask around at Renmin University High School if you have time, everyone there knows about it!”
Qian Fei snorted.
This guy never missed a chance to brag and show off.
Li Yifei, seeing her indifferent expression, asked unhappily, “What, you don’t believe what I’m saying?”
Qian Fei quickly shook her head, “No, no, no, I just feel sorry for you!”
Li Yifei rolled his eyes at her, “Sigh, tell me who Young Master has offended? When I was named at birth, who knew who Liu Yifei was? If I had known, I would have asked the old man to patent my name. Anyone else named Yifei would be infringing and would have to change their name!”
Qian Fei said, “Then why do you insist on being called Yifei? Just change your name and be done with it!”
Li Yifei raised his chin, “Why should I change my name? Let me tell you, Young Master’s name took a lot of effort! My old man specially invited a name expert to choose an auspicious day and calculate it! It means ‘right and wrong’, don’t care too much about things, and you’ll surely achieve great things in the future!”
Qian Fei exclaimed, “Ha! If that’s the meaning, why don’t you change it to Li Yishi (李亦是, meaning ‘also right’)?”
Li Yifei paused, “That’s true!” After a moment, he realized he had been led astray by Qian Fei. He slammed his beer can on the table, “No, weren’t we talking about your name just now? How did it end up on me?”
Qian Fei shrugged, “I just wanted to create some empathy. Look how many good names in this world have been ruined!”
Li Yifei narrowed his eyes and glanced at her sideways, suddenly clapping his hands and asking excitedly, “Qian Fei, your father’s surname isn’t Su, is it?”
Qian Fei’s expression instantly fell, and she wailed, “Li Yifei, why are you so smart at a time like this?”
Li Yifei’s eyes widened, “Damn, it can’t be, your father’s surname is Su? If you took your father’s surname, wouldn’t you be… Sanitary Napkin?!”
He pounded the table, roaring with laughter.
Qian Fei’s head throbbed from his laughter. In a fit of anger, she kicked him, “What are you laughing at? What right do you have to laugh at me? Didn’t you end up with a woman’s name too? Would it kill you to empathize with me a bit!”
Li Yifei dodged her foot to the side, still unable to stop laughing.
Qian Fei sighed deeply: “What choice did I have? When I was named, I didn’t expect my illustrious name would be ruined by sanitary napkins! When I was born, I took my father’s surname, but as soon as that sanitary napkin hit the market, my misery began! You can’t imagine how much mockery and humiliation I endured because of my name! So before I took the college entrance exam, I made the bravest and most unyielding decision of my life – I demanded to take my mother’s surname, or I wouldn’t take the exam! I didn’t want to be laughed at in college too! You have no idea how much effort and hardship, how much sweat I put into changing my name! Do you understand that my name is soaked in my blood and tears?”
Li Yifei wiped his tears and pretended to sympathize, “I understand, I understand! The bitterness in your heart is like your tongue has tasted Coptis!”
Qian Fei glared at him hard, heaved a long sigh, took a swig of beer, and said, “But you know, after taking my mother’s surname, things weren’t great either. I felt like I couldn’t save any money! ‘Money flies, money flies, bills due, bills due’ – if the money wasn’t flying away, it was owed out! Being called that every day, damn, it would be weird if I could hold onto any cash! It’s not like you can blame my mom for specifically finding someone surnamed Su, or my dad for marrying someone surnamed Qian, or both of them for insisting on naming me Fei!”
Li Yifei started pounding the table and laughing uncontrollably again.
“Then why didn’t you change the ‘Fei’ character when you changed your surname?” he asked between laughs.
Qian Fei said resentfully, “My old man is like yours, saying my name was also calculated and prayed for by someone. Said I was lacking something in the Five Elements, so I had to be called Fei, and absolutely wouldn’t let me change it! But isn’t ‘Fei’ a grass-radical character? What does it have to do with any of the Five Elements? Am I lacking in grass in the Five Elements?”
Li Yifei spurted out a mouthful of beer, “Sister, I sincerely beg you not to use the grass radical so casually in the future, thank you!” He wiped his mouth, holding back laughter, “In my opinion, you’re lacking in wits in the Five Elements!”
Qian Fei kicked at him fiercely again, “I think you’re lacking in virtue in the Five Elements!”
This kick was intercepted by Li Yifei, who grabbed her ankle, “I’ve told you before, stop acting like a big shot. Can you take my golden advice to heart?”
He lifted Qian Fei’s ankle, causing her to lose balance and fall backward.
Her loose pajama pants slid down from her ankle to her knee.
Li Yifei narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue twice, “I didn’t expect you to be so fair and delicate. Shouldn’t a masculine tomboy like you be covered in leg hair?” He said while glancing at Qian Fei’s calves.
Qian Fei’s ears grew hot. She sat up and yanked her foot back forcefully, “Get lost! You even flirt with tomboys, you’re worse than a beast!”
Li Yifei shook with laughter.
After laughing enough, he moved closer with his beer can, draping an arm over Qian Fei’s neck, and said, “You know how those celebrities and literati love to name their residences, like ‘Something Something Residence’ or ‘Something Something Pavilion’, sounds very classy and high-end! Hey, what do you think we should name our place?”
Qian Fei shrugged off his arm and glanced at him sideways, “Young Master Li, aren’t you overthinking? This is my home, my home! What does naming it have to do with you?”
Li Yifei took a satisfying gulp of beer and continued shamelessly, “Well, I’ve contributed to its popularity, haven’t I? Look, you’re called Fei, I’m called Fei (non-homophonous in Chinese), why don’t we call our place ‘Xiang Ru Fei Fei’ (想入菲非, a play on the idiom 想入非非, meaning ‘to indulge in wild fantasies’)! Xiang Ru Fei Fei, hmm! Not bad, not bad!”
Qian Fei looked at his self-indulgent manner and snorted coldly, “I think you’re the one indulging in wild fantasies!”
On the second-to-last day of the year, they sat on the floor. The TV was on, with countless celebrities singing and dancing. Amidst the celebrities’ performances, they drank beer and bickered.
In the end, they both got a bit drunk.
In her haze, Qian Fei said, “Li Yifei, thank you for not letting me spend my first New Year after the breakup all alone!”
In his haze, Li Yifei said, “Qian Fei, are you stupid? Today’s only the 30th, December still has a 31st, and the day after tomorrow is New Year’s!”
Qian Fei let out an “Oh.” She had lost track of time.
She sighed again. Tomorrow, Li Yifei would probably spend New Year’s Eve with his girlfriend.
It seemed that on the last day of this year, she would still be alone after all.
She stood up with a sigh, swaying as she prepared to go back to her room to sleep.
As she reached her bedroom door, she suddenly heard him say from behind, “Sister Qian, make me some fried pork with eggplant strips tomorrow night. I’ll come back early, and we can eat dinner and watch the news broadcast together!”
Qian Fei leaned her head against the door and smiled. She wouldn’t be alone after all.
She suddenly felt that this winter was the warmest she had experienced in all her years in Beijing.