The children all loved the orange-shaped red bean paste buns. Auntie Chen organized a group photo, each child cradling their “orange” and grinning at the camera.

Fang Long also took out her phone and snapped quite a few photos.

She noticed her lens kept unconsciously seeking out a certain person’s figure.

Zhou Ya wasn’t someone who talked much. He only spoke more when he was somewhere familiar—like at home, like at the food stall.

And now, here.

He took the initiative to chat with the aunties about how things had been going, reminded the children not to be picky eaters, and talked with Wang Qi, asking her if the red bean buns tasted good…

This version of Zhou Ya felt utterly novel to Fang Long.

After lunch, as the children got ready for their nap, Zhou Ya prepared to head back. Before leaving, he handed every child a red envelope, saying, “Be good and grow up big in the new year.”

Little Hong was reluctant to see them go, and asked Fang Long, “Sister, will you come again next New Year?”

Fang Long nodded like she was pounding garlic. “I’ll come! And I don’t even need to wait for New Year—I’ll visit whenever I’m free!”

The other girls asked, “Really?”

“Yes,” Fang Long said, hooking her little finger, “pinky promise!”

The van drove toward the national highway. Passing through the county town’s main road, Zhou Ya asked Fang Long, “Since we’re rarely out this way, is there anywhere you want to go?”

“No—” Fang Long suddenly spotted something, and the words in her mouth instantly changed course. She pointed diagonally ahead, her tone turning eager. “Stop up there, stop there!”

“What is it?” Even as he asked, Zhou Ya was already slowing the car, turning the wheel to the right.

“They’ve opened a ‘Coco Fresh’ here! I want to buy a drink!”

“A Coco what?”

“Ugh, it’s a milk tea shop.”

Zhou Ya rolled his eyes. She really was still a kid.

The car pulled over and stopped. Fang Long impatiently unbuckled her seatbelt. Zhou Ya asked her, “Hey, do you have money on you?”

“Tch, of course I do.” Fang Long pushed the door open and got out. “Want me to bring you one?”

“No.” Zhou Ya killed the engine, muttering, “Too sweet and cloying, only you girls like that stuff.”

Fang Long ignored him and jogged to the milk tea shop entrance. She was about to order a pearl milk tea when the clerk pointed to a small poster and said, “We’re having a Valentine’s Day promotion today!”

The pink poster was printed with lots of hearts. Only then did Fang Long realize—today was both New Year’s Day and Valentine’s Day.

Zhou Ya hadn’t smoked at all while at the welfare home, and his nicotine craving was flaring up now. He’d just picked up his cigarette pack when he heard Fang Long calling him: “Zhou Ya! Come here quick!”

He tossed the pack aside in an instant, not even bothering to pull the car key, pushed the door open and jumped straight out, reaching Fang Long in a few strides, brow furrowed. “What happened?”

Fang Long didn’t answer him. The corner of her mouth curled up as she said to the clerk, “He’s here, he’s here, my boyfriend’s here—so we can join the promotion now, right?”

A buzzing sound went off in Zhou Ya’s head, followed by a sensation like an electric current running through him, numbing his entire tailbone.

He couldn’t believe what Fang Long had said five seconds ago. He wanted to confirm it, but he was like a mute—unable to get a single word out.

Fang Long, entirely focused on scoring the milk tea shop’s freebie, didn’t notice Zhou Ya’s odd reaction. Worried the clerk wouldn’t believe they were a couple, she reached over and loosely hooked her arm through his.

The clerk nodded at the handsome man and pretty woman in front of her. “You qualify! Two hot chocolates with pearls, buy one get one free!”

Zhou Ya came back to his senses and understood Fang Long’s intent.

He took a deep breath and didn’t call her out on it.

The two hot chocolates were ready quickly. Fang Long thanked the clerk and carried the two drinks back to the car.

Zhou Ya opened the car door but didn’t get in. He reached out, retrieved the cigarette pack he’d tossed at the front of the car, and without a word walked to the roadside tree and lit one.

He smoked it fast, and it was finished in no time.

Back in the car, the girl beside him chewed on her pearls, asking indistinctly, “You really won’t drink it?”

“Mm.” Having been through the cigarette smoke, Zhou Ya’s voice was hoarser than ever. He asked, knowing full well the answer, “What was that just now?”

“The Valentine’s promotion. Couples get buy-one-get-one hot chocolate today, plus free pearls.”

“How much does that save?”

“Ten yuan.” Fang Long sounded quite proud of herself.

“…” Zhou Ya was silent for a few seconds, then clicked his tongue and stepped on the gas. “Fine, you’re something else.”

That title of “boyfriend” had come cheap indeed.

“Don’t be so petty. Since there was a promotion, of course I couldn’t pass it up.”

Fang Long took another sip, glancing sideways at the expression on his face, and asked tentatively, “I borrowed your credibility to get across the bridge—are you upset?”

Zhou Ya answered quickly: “How would I dare?”

He didn’t continue the topic, driving toward the highway instead. “Don’t drink too much. If you’re bursting to pee, I can’t just find you a bathroom on the road.”

Fang Long glared at him. “It’s New Year’s Day. No talk of pee and poop allowed.”

Zhou Ya shot back, “I’m just an ordinary, completely ordinary mortal, not some immortal who never needs to pee or poop.”

The two of them bickered back and forth, nothing of real substance to it, but neither actually wanted to win.

The buildings on either side of the road grew lower and lower, the road bumpier, as they neared the edge of the county town.

Fang Long stopped their “war of words.” Her hot chocolate was already half gone.

She hiccupped, and suddenly remembered something, asking Zhou Ya, “This morning, what were you signing to that little girl?”

Zhou Ya thought back. “At first I told her that was her New Year’s gift. She signed thank you back, and I signed you’re welcome… that’s about it.”

“When did you learn sign language?”

“During the time I lived at the welfare home, there were several deaf-mute kids there. I wasn’t talking back then either, so we communicated by signing. Just picked it up bit by bit.”

“Oh… is sign language hard to learn?”

Zhou Ya said, “Depends on the person.”

Fang Long caught the teasing in his tone and laughed, exasperated. “I learn things fast, okay?”

Zhou Ya said seriously, “Then once the New Year’s over, go get your driver’s license.”

Fang Long froze. He’d actually managed to loop back to that topic from this morning?!

Her eyes darted around, and she asked, “If I get my license, will you teach me sign language?”

“Why do you suddenly want to learn sign language?”

“Next time I go to the welfare home, I’ll be able to talk with that little girl.” Fang Long felt a bit drowsy, shifting her sitting position to find a comfortable spot. “I promised Little Hong and the others I’d go see them again.”

“…Fine, you get your license, and I’ll teach you sign language.” Zhou Ya agreed.

The car had just left the county town when Fang Long fell asleep, still holding her cup of hot chocolate.

Worried she’d loosen her grip while deeply asleep, Zhou Ya reached over, gently slid the cup from her hand, and placed it in the cup holder.

The afternoon sun was soft and warm, lulling people into drowsiness. In the past, when Zhou Ya drove alone, he’d smoke non-stop to stay alert, but today he didn’t want to smoke in the car.

There wasn’t even a piece of gum within reach. He glanced at the drink, staring at the straw for a few seconds.

Finally, he cursed himself under his breath: “Have you lost your mind?”

Zhou Ya rubbed his brow, trying to clear his head.

Recalling Fang Long’s proposal from earlier, the corner of his mouth curved up.

The long road ahead was clear and unobstructed. Zhou Ya let go of the steering wheel with his right hand and, where she couldn’t see, made a sign toward her.

His index finger first tapped his own chest.

Then his thumb and index finger curled and touched his chin.

Finally, in the warm sunlight, he pointed across the space toward the person napping in the passenger seat.