The New Year was approaching. Qin Fang and Xing Yan didn't go out anymore. During the day, they would go shopping in the city or clean the house with Si Tu. In the evening, they would have dinner together, and afterwards everyone would do their own thing. Occasionally, they would all sit in the living room and watch a movie together.

Zhou Siming was rarely at home, and when he did come back, it was always very late. In Han Xiaogong's words, he was being crushed to death by making money and paying off debts. Han Xiaogong had actually offered to pay him back more than once, but was scolded back by Zhou Siming each time.

This person really didn't want them to interfere in his affairs, whether it was Han Xiaogong, Xing Yan, or even Si Tu. He didn't need anyone's help at all and would never accept it.

On the 28th of the last lunar month, a sunny day, Si Tu asked them to take down the curtains in their rooms to wash them all together. This task wasn't very suitable for him due to the dust. Xing Yan pushed the washing machine into the yard, connected the water pipe, and took over the task.

Qin Fang originally wanted to lend a hand, but Xing Yan didn't need his help and wouldn't let him touch it. So Qin Fang took a guitar, sat on the edge of the flower bed, and sang while playing.

"Look how sweet they are," Han Xiaogong chuckled and asked Gong Qi, "Was he like this when he was pursuing you?"

Gong Qi quickly shook her head and said with a smile, "It's so different, not like this at all."

"So you two were destined to be regretful," Han Xiaogong shrugged, "A BE story."

Gong Qi waved her hand and said, "We couldn't have become a story anyway."

When Qin Fang wanted to pursue Gong Qi, he really admired her, feeling that her temperament and the feeling she gave people were very comfortable.

Looking back at those things later, Qin Fang had clearly misjudged and been tricked by her. But after interacting with her these past few days, Qin Fang ultimately couldn't bring himself to dislike her.

Interactions between people are very interesting. Although their positions are set, once things have passed, they've passed. When you turn the page, it's over.

Plus, with Han Xiaogong always mediating between them, the atmosphere these past few days had been very harmonious. That episode between Qin Fang and Gong Qi could even be joked about. Gong Qi herself would use it to mock herself, saying she had acted like a green tea and white lotus.

But the relationship between Gong Qi and Si Tu was also very strange. They didn't seem like lovers. They were more like old friends than lovers, yet sometimes they appeared more intimate than friends.

Qin Fang couldn't see through any of the people in this house. Right now, he could only clearly see himself.

"Play some harmonica when you're done washing," Qin Fang said to Xing Yan, "It's very handsome."

"Okay." Xing Yan had already put the second batch in. Once the washing machine was spinning on its own, it would be fine. After saying that, he went into the room to get the harmonica.

When he came out again, Qin Fang patted the spot next to him, indicating for Xing Yan to sit there. Xing Yan sat down beside him and rubbed the harmonica back and forth on his pants a couple of times.

Seeing his action, Qin Fang smiled, "Not very particular, huh? Want me to get you a wet wipe?"

Xing Yan shook his head, "No need. What do you want to hear?"

Qin Fang said, "Play what you usually play, anything is fine."

So Xing Yan played an old tune he often played before, which Qin Fang really liked. Han Xiaogong stood at the door and took a couple of photos of them. This CP was super popular now, with girls hanging out at the bottom of his Weibo every day begging for their appearance.

Later, Si Tu went upstairs and started playing the piano to the tune of Xing Yan's harmonica. Qin Fang also strummed the guitar strings beside them. The three instruments flowed together slowly, sounding very enjoyable.

Originally, this would have been a very good day - quiet, with beautiful light-speckled images to recall.

When someone pushed open the iron gate, Gong Qi was wiping the door with a rag. She was lightly pressing against the door with one hand raised, wiping the upper position. The door was forcefully pushed open from the outside. Caught off guard, she was hit and stumbled back several steps.

Qin Fang's guitar was the first to stop. He looked at the people coming in from outside. The attitude they came with was basically written all over their faces. From their aura alone, they didn't bring any goodwill.

Xing Yan also looked over, then stopped playing the harmonica and placed it on the cement edge beside him.

The one leading the way in was a short man, very dark-skinned, dressed very casually, looking like an ordinary student. He laughed, "How lively."

Xing Yan stood up and asked him, "Something the matter?"

"Indeed there is," the other party didn't mince words and stepped inside.

Xing Yan said, "If you have something to say, say it."

There were seven or eight people following the man in. The short man leaned against the washing machine with his elbow propped on top, looking at Xing Yan and Qin Fang, and said, "It's almost New Year's. If we don't settle accounts before the year ends, we won't be able to celebrate New Year's."

Actually, even without him saying it, they could guess what they were here for. Qin Fang signaled to Gong Qi with his eyes, telling her to go inside. Gong Qi, clutching the arm she had just bumped, went in with her head lowered.

"Pretty," a fat man in the back commented.

Xing Yan glanced at the fat man, then said to the short man in the lead, "Settle your accounts with whoever you have them with."

"Can't find the person, right?" The short man tilted his head and glanced at the small building. "We're here to find someone today. Your brother is too good at hiding."

"The person isn't here. Go look outside," Xing Yan said.

The other party was obviously dissatisfied with Xing Yan's words. He shook his head and said, "Little brother, don't dismiss us like you would a puppy. I said, if we don't settle accounts, we can't celebrate New Year's."

Inside the living room, Gong Qi was clearly a bit worried. Han Xiaogong said, "It's not the first time they've come. Don't panic."

Gong Qi said in a low voice, "There are many of them. If a fight breaks out, we'll definitely be at a disadvantage."

"That is true," Han Xiaogong glanced outside, then turned his head back. "Except for those two outside, the rest have no fighting ability. The one upstairs is fragile. You and I, showing our faces at a time like this, would only add trouble and be of no use."

Gong Qi frowned, "Then what do we do?"

Han Xiaogong said, "It's fine, don't panic. If you're scared, go upstairs."

Gong Qi shook her head lightly and sat beside him, glancing outside from time to time.

Outside, Qin Fang was standing next to Xing Yan, saying something to the other party. Qin Fang was still holding the guitar, probably preparing to use it if a fight broke out. Qin Fang's expression was also very unpleasant. The other party had likely said something offensive.

Xing Yan's expression was calm. He had no expression at all. To those who knew him, this demeanor was fine, but to the other party, it probably looked very punchable.

Since so many people had directly come over, today wasn't a day that could be resolved just by talking. So there was no way to reach a conclusion by talking outside. That group of people started walking inside, seemingly at an impasse.

Qin Fang and Xing Yan made their move at the same time. Qin Fang struck someone's head with the guitar in his hand, while Xing Yan gripped a medium-sized shovel that Si Tu usually used for loosening soil, his jaw set in a tense line.

It was chaotic outside, but in fact, the main purpose of the other group's arrival wasn't to start a physical fight. However, since Xing Yan and Qin Fang had taken action, they couldn't just stand there and not fight back, so it eventually turned into a mess outside.

Xing Yan, holding the shovel in his hand, struck whoever came at him. Someone's shoulder started gushing blood. Qin Fang pulled Xing Yan and quickly said something to him.

Blood is a color that really ignites people's eyes. Once blood is drawn, the nature of the situation changes. Perhaps the other party originally didn't intend to do much, just wanting to cause some trouble and smash a few things, but seeing blood meant they had to get serious.

Someone took a rock from the flowerbed and smashed it down towards Xing Yan's head. With people in front of him, Xing Yan had nowhere to dodge and could only take it head-on.

Qin Fang turned around and saw it, letting out a shout as he kicked the person in the ribs. Then someone came at Qin Fang, holding something to strike the back of his neck. Xing Yan quickly reached out to cover Qin Fang's neck, and the opponent's blow landed on Xing Yan's hand instead.

Qin Fang abruptly turned his head, his eyes burning, and lunged at that person.

It was too chaotic. Xing Yan and Qin Fang were surrounded by the crowd, barely able to take care of themselves while still trying to protect each other. Han Xiaogong sighed, stood up from the sofa, and went to open the door.

Almost at the same time, a large vase was thrown from the upstairs window, shattering on the ground with a sudden, crisp sound that made everyone's movements pause for a moment.

Han Xiaogong stood at the door and said, "Settle the debt."

Si Tu came down from upstairs and walked straight out, saying in a gentle voice, "Tell me how much is owed."

Han Xiaogong said, "I'll handle it."

"You're all rich, huh?" The short man spat on the ground, his eyes still red from the excitement of the fight.

Han Xiaogong took out his phone and glanced at him, "Give me the card number."

"It's not just about settling the debt anymore," the man pulled over the person Xing Yan had struck with the shovel and pointed to his shoulder, "How do you settle this?"

Han Xiaogong said, "You tell me how to settle it."

The other party demanded a hundred thousand.

Han Xiaogong said, "Three thousand."

The other party laughed, seemingly unwilling to negotiate further.

Han Xiaogong nodded, "Up to you, really, up to you. If you feel that won't satisfy your anger, then keep fighting. Even if someone dies, you won't get a cent. Our two fighters can probably take out four or five of you, so it's worth it. We won't give you a single cent."

The other party still didn't speak. Si Tu asked again, "How much is owed?"

They had originally come for money, and money was the endpoint of everything. Bringing up an injured person was just a means to demand more money. Zhou Siming hadn't borrowed that much in the beginning, but with interest accumulating, it had grown to over two hundred thousand.

Qin Fang took out his phone, but Han Xiaogong stopped him with his arm, "No need for you to pay."

Xing Yan told Qin Fang to put his phone back, and led him into the building. Gong Qi asked them with concern, "Are you two alright? Are you injured?"

"We're fine," Xing Yan told her, "Help me buy some medicine later."

Gong Qi nodded, "Okay."

They hadn't been back for a long time, and a lot of the medicine had expired.

In the room, Qin Fang looked at Xing Yan's hand. The back of his hand, originally very white, was now red and swollen. Qin Fang gently squeezed it and asked, "Is the bone okay?"

Xing Yan shook his head, "It's fine."

"I really should get some kind of talisman. Wherever I go, there's a fight..." Qin Fang frowned, holding Xing Yan's hand, reluctant to let go.

Xing Yan looked at him and said, "Sorry for getting you involved."

"Nonsense," Qin Fang's brows furrowed even more, "What kind of bullshit are you saying?"

Outside, Han Xiaogong had paid the money, and the chaotic situation finally dispersed. Si Tu and Gong Qi went out together to buy a lot of medicine. When they returned, Si Tu asked Xing Yan if he needed to go to the hospital for a check-up.

Xing Yan said it wasn't necessary.

Si Tu then asked Qin Fang, "Are you injured anywhere?"

Qin Fang shook his head.

When Si Tu spoke again, there was a hint of a bitter smile. He said, "In the past, Yan and Siming often got into fights like this for no reason and would come back with light to moderate injuries. If people came to the house to make trouble, they would fight like this in the yard, and Xiaogong and I couldn't help."

Han Xiaogong, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, laughed and said, "Actually, I was really scared back then."

Si Tu said, "I was scared too. I was afraid they would lose the fight, and also afraid that if they fought too hard, something bad would happen."

Han Xiaogong said, "I wasn't like that. I was very selfish. I was only afraid they would lose the fight and those people would rush in."

Si Tu smiled and said, "Xiaogong is timid."

Qin Fang couldn't stop worrying about Xing Yan's hand. After all, when Xing Yan's hand was covering his neck, Qin Fang heard the sound of bones when the metal object struck down, and that sound nearly drove him crazy at the time.

But Xing Yan kept saying he was fine and that he knew his limits. Qin Fang's heart was already in knots, and what Si Tu and Han Xiaogong said made his heart clench even tighter, as if someone had grabbed and squeezed it.

He had heard these things before, during meals in the past. But at that time, it felt more like listening to a past story, thinking that Xing Yan and the others had a tough childhood.

However, hearing it again now, Qin Fang only felt it was cruel and heartbreaking. He couldn't bear it and was also angry.

Qin Fang kept looking at Xing Yan's hand, his face gloomy, his brows never relaxing.

"You two should go," Xing Yan said to Si Tu and Han Xiaogong.

Si Tu put a pile of medicine aside and asked, "Do you need any help?"

"No need." Using the back of his uninjured hand, Xing Yan waved them away and sighed, "Can't you see? My boyfriend is worried about me."