The streets of Shanghai at night weren't so different from Yudu's. Both cities—like Hong Kong—took on a cyberpunk glow after dark. But on Christmas night, the difference was in the people. Even though it was already seven o'clock, the streets weren't crowded with couples. Outside of the scenic spots, the busy, noisy city pressed down on its people, leaving the air strangely heavy.
"Cough… cough…"
Under the falling snow, Gu Yu couldn't help but cough a few times. The smile stayed on her face, but she sighed helplessly.
"This year went by so fast. It feels like we just started, and now it's already New Year's Eve. After that, it'll be the Lunar New Year. So troublesome… Tang Li, are you going home for the New Year?"
"Of course I am. I've been here in Shanghai for a whole year. My grandparents must be nagging by now. You're staying here, right?"
Hand in hand, they walked across the pedestrian bridge, surrounded by passersby carrying wrapped gifts and roses.
Gu Yu shook her head with a bitter smile. "No. My dad's dragging me back to my hometown. Small county town, you know… I'll be stuck celebrating with all my aunts and uncles."
"That's nice, though. Lively, festive."
"Nice? You don't know what it's like. Sure, it's lively. But the uncles just love to lecture me about everything I do, and the aunts are busy worrying about other people's kids while ignoring their own. It's unbearable."
Tang Li hadn't expected such a strong reaction to his casual comment. But as she ranted, his own mind drifted.
His family's New Year celebrations had grown quieter and quieter over the years. Ever since moving to the city, New Year's Eve dinner rarely had more than six people. The rest of the relatives… they stayed back in that little town. His parents were too busy to visit, and no one wanted to travel so far.
He hadn't thought much about noisy, crowded reunions in years. The festive spirit had faded so much that sometimes his family even traveled during New Year. But Gu Yu's complaints stirred something. Memories flashed of childhood winters in that little town, where dozens of relatives crowded into one house to celebrate together.
Maybe… maybe New Year was meant to be noisy. Even if it meant enduring a bit of nagging, it had to be better than sitting quietly in a high-rise apartment.
A strange heaviness settled in his chest.
"...Ahh."
Tang Li exhaled deeply, almost in relief. A faint smile lifted his lips, his eyes soft with nostalgia. When Gu Yu turned to him curiously, he brushed the snow from her shoulders and said with a laugh, "This year, I think I'll go back to my happy hometown."
"Tang Li?"
He didn't answer. Lost in memories, he left her to walk ahead toward the subway. Gu Yu understood—he was thinking of home. She didn't press further.
By the time Tang Li shook himself out of his reverie, she was already snapping another candid photo of him. He stood clear in the center of her frame, the crowd around him blurred into streaks of motion.
"It's late," he said naturally. "I'll walk you back."
To him, this snowy Christmas night was just another winter evening.
"Finally! I've been trying to get you to the Bund for ages, and you never wanted to go. Happy now? Satisfied with the view?" Gu Yu teased.
"Of course. Scenery like this is best saved for special days."
His cheerful tone and bright smile made her heart lighter. She hugged him tightly, grinning. "Then I won't take you to any more beautiful spots. I'll save them as surprises, just for you."
Tang Li chuckled. "What, you own all the sights now?"
The city sparkled with people and lights below, the air thick with laughter and music. Above, the snowflakes floated like falling stars. Two lovers shared warmth and simple promises beneath the night sky.
Tang Li unwound his scarf, wrapping it snugly around both their necks. A gesture of warmth, but also of meaning.
The night ended quietly. But when the dawn came, things would begin to change.
Christmas, New Year's, Lunar New Year… one by one, the holidays passed.
In that month, Gu Yu took her first step toward becoming a professional photographer. She proudly earned her very first certification, even if it was only the beginner level. Every day she sent Tang Li photos from her hometown, along with complaints about her relatives' endless lectures.
Meanwhile, Tang Li's own hometown in Yuzhou was buried in snow. The family reunion was livelier than he had imagined. Word spread quickly among relatives that the Tang family had returned, and soon dozens of kin crowded into his grandfather's house for a true New Year's gathering.
What he hadn't expected was the gossip.
"Oh, the Ji family came back this year too, to pay respects at the old house."
"Really? That's rare. Their old house collapsed recently, didn't it? Guess they had to come back and take a look. Those three women… life hasn't been easy for them. Good thing the two younger ones are old enough to marry now."
"Three women? I thought they had a son and a daughter."
"No, no. I spoke with them myself. Three women. My eyes aren't so bad I can't tell the difference."
Sitting among the crowd, Tang Li froze.
Surname Ji.
Three women.
One son, one daughter…
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Excitement?
Worry?
Nervousness?
…Fear?
He stared up at the faded ceiling, dark eyes wide as snow swirled outside, settling into frost.
This year… was he going back to Yuzhou?