Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, Christmas had arrived once again.
This year felt much the same as the last—peaceful, uneventful. Aside from everyone being a year older, nothing seemed to have changed. People looked up at the snow crystals glittering under the streetlights, quietly placing their hopes on the year to come.
No matter how turbulent the world outside might be, no matter how this country shifted or reformed, life in this city remained tranquil as ever.
With New Year's just around the corner, festive decorations had already filled every street and alley.
Snowflakes drifted gently in the air. Winter didn't seem so cold anymore—it felt soft, almost warm.
"Here, this is for you!"
At ten in the morning, as soon as he stepped out of campus, Tang Li found Gu Yu standing in the snow, a little box in her hands, flakes clinging to her hair.
Tang Li stared at the ribbon-tied package, then at the girl scratching her head nervously. After a pause, he finally accepted it—though he didn't open it right away.
"…What is it?"
"Dummy, it's Christmas! And—happy birthday! Hmph, you didn't even tell me. I had to dig around to find out it's your birthday today."
Gu Yu stepped back, her boots crunching on the snow, her laughter filling the air.
Tang Li shook the little box, then shook his head with a sigh. He stepped closer, but before he could speak, Gu Yu had already lifted her camera, snapping his expression in that moment.
"Let's go. Where to today?"
Tang Li didn't pry into the gift. Just hearing the sound told him it must be more photographs.
It wasn't that he disliked them. In fact, every time Gu Yu gave him photos, there was this feeling—as if the world had chosen to focus only on him. They were exquisite, full of weight.
But, like a diner served the same delicacy every day, even the most stunning dishes lost their novelty.
"Hehe, it's your birthday. All you need to do is play, and I'll make sure it's a good day."
Tang Li followed quietly, sometimes watching Gu Yu crouch and snap photos, sometimes lost in thought. Christmas—his birthday. He couldn't help remembering how he'd spent the last one.
—Ji Yu had turned down his invitation to celebrate.
Gu Yu sensed his low mood and tried to change the subject.
"Tang Li, do you know my birthday?"
Tang Li's stride faltered. Then, with a soft chuckle, he tucked the gift into his coat pocket, hands in his pockets. "Of course. October third."
"Exactly! And every year, my birthday gets swallowed up by the long holiday. My parents always plan trips instead of celebrating me. So annoying."
She spotted a streetlamp glowing faintly even in daylight, snowflakes glittering in its beam. Raising her camera, she captured it with delight.
Tang Li watched her run about, snapping away, all while chattering about birthdays.
He turned away. Couples passed them by, hands intertwined, laughter spilling white clouds into the winter air.
Soon, Gu Yu tired from the cold and chose a lakeside café. They ordered snacks and sat, soaking in the soft afternoon light.
"You think I should switch to photography as my major? My friends say I spend so much time with a camera, I might as well study it seriously."
Tang Li nodded. "You should. At this point, it's more than a hobby. It looks like your way of life."
Gu Yu pouted as she deleted unsatisfying shots. When their food arrived, she suddenly remembered she'd been neglecting Tang Li. To make up for it, she started a playful game of feeding him bites.
Crrrk—
The screech of a chair dragging across the floor interrupted them. Both turned their heads, and froze.
A figure they hadn't expected to see stood nearby.
"One cappuccino, and a brownie, please."
Yu Yuan brushed snow from his shoulders, flashing his trademark charming smile at the waitress.
"…You're… Yu Yuan, right?!"
Gu Yu squinted, then finally recalled his name.
"Hm? Oh—Tang Li, Gu Yu. What a coincidence. Merry Christmas."
His tone was polite, his gaze straightforward—no hint of following them on purpose.
Soon, their table of two became a table of three. Yu Yuan pulled up a chair and joined them without hesitation. Tang Li didn't object.
The wind outside softened. Yu Yuan launched into stories of Tang Li's embarrassing moments back in Yuyang, making Gu Yu laugh. Tang Li, however, fixed him with a steady look until Yu Yuan finally shut his mouth.
"…Dates with Tang Li are always this quiet? You've got to bring the energy—this guy could go all day without a word."
Yu Yuan leaned toward Gu Yu and muttered. Tang Li heard it clearly, gave a small smile, and kicked him under the table.
"What, I'm boring? And you? Christmas Day and you're not with your girlfriend—just here to play third wheel?"
Gu Yu laughed, nudged the plate of snacks toward Tang Li, and said sweetly:
"My boyfriend has spoken. Could you maybe… give us some space?"
"Tch. So what if you have a boyfriend?" Yu Yuan crossed his arms but eventually dragged his chair back to his own table.
The couple returned to their quiet chatter. Yu Yuan, unfazed, cut his brownie elegantly, stealing glances at the couples around them.
"Come on, open my gift. I worked really hard on it. If you wait until later, you won't understand without me explaining."
"…Who opens gifts in front of the giver?"
"My selfish wish—to hear you praise me."
Snatching back the little box, Gu Yu opened it herself and tipped it over. Photographs spilled across the table.
Most were digital prints, almost all featuring her and Tang Li together—though she dominated the frame in nearly every one. But then she pulled out a few rare film shots, sliding them in front of him.
Pointing to the one clear figure in focus, she smiled.
"You know what's the most romantic thing for a photographer?"
Tang Li lowered his head. The grainy film photo showed only him.
"It's using film to capture the one thing you love most."
And that was him.