Jiang Cheng stared at the workbook in front of him. The gaokao was coming up soon, wasn't it?

They'd be leaving soon, wouldn't they?

They'd be separating soon, wouldn't they?

All those unanswered questions about their future were approaching, weren't they?

Jiang Cheng was woken by the crackling of firecrackers early on the morning of the 30th. Firecracker sounds had been a daily occurrence since the 12th month began. The steel factory didn't ban fireworks, so people set them off from morning till night - a string when waking up, another string after breakfast, again after lunch and dinner, and even more when they were bored.

But today's explosions were especially noisy, set off right outside his apartment window by his upstairs neighbor dangling strings of crackers on a bamboo pole. The bed practically shook beneath Jiang Cheng - another second and the building would have collapsed.

"Aiya!" Jiang Cheng sighed and flipped over.  

Gu Fei sat up beside him, staring blankly for a moment before getting out of bed. "Brother Cheng."

"Mm..." Jiang Cheng murmured from under the covers.

"I'm going to the shop first. Er Miao is probably already there," he explained while getting dressed. "I need to go start on the food. Come over and eat breakfast when you get up."

"Okay," Jiang Cheng rolled over. "I'll come help make dumplings later."

"Keep Er Miao company," Gu Fei said as he hopped back into bed to kiss Jiang Cheng's forehead. "You haven't really played with her lately. She asked about you yesterday."

"What did she ask?"

"Just, Brother Cheng," Gu Fei replied, buckling his pants.

"...That's it?" Jiang Cheng was surprised.  

"Yeah, it was a lot for her to say anything at all," Gu Fei nodded. "She doesn't talk to me much either, just occasionally. I feel like she never fully learned to speak before...this is good progress."

"You're right," Jiang Cheng sighed.

"Rest a bit longer, it's only eight now," Gu Fei said, pecking his forehead again. "Remember to bring a textbook when you come, top student."

When top student Jiang Cheng arrived at Gu Fei's family shop on his bike, he happened to catch the neighbors setting off strings of firecrackers. He had just parked his bike when explosions erupted behind him, plunging him into chaos.

Then a blur of red burst out of the alley between Gu Fei's shop and the community clinic, whistling loudly as it shot into the smoke.

"Er Miao!" Jiang Cheng called out.

Gu Miao was dressed especially festively today - red down jacket, green leggings, red boots, and a long white scarf trailing behind her. As soon as she plunged into the firecrackers, Jiang Cheng lost sight of her, only catching glimpses of red flickering in the smoke. A few seconds later, Gu Miao emerged, beaming.

"Er Miao!" Jiang Cheng stretched out his arms to stop her.  

Gu Miao slammed on the brakes, twisting her skateboard sideways to stop in front of him. Grinning, she snapped her fingers and gave a thumbs up.

"Happy New Year," Jiang Cheng returned the gestures.

Gu Miao hopped off her skateboard, kicking it up to catch it before leading him inside.

The cotton curtains did nothing to block the smell of gunpowder wafting in. The shop reeked of the scents of New Year.

Gu Fei came in from the back with a bowl of flour on his hands. "Dumpling time?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"No, just made the dough," Gu Fei ripped off a piece and handed it to an expectant Gu Miao, then gestured at the food warmer. "Have some buns first. There's also milk and soy milk."

"Okay," Jiang Cheng nodded, taking out two buns. "Why make these today? No customers right?"

"Just for you. No time to make anything else," Gu Fei smiled. "Pick your own milk."

"When is your mom coming?"

"Soon," Gu Fei glanced at the clock. "Li Yan and Liu Fan are coming this afternoon."  

"This afternoon?" Jiang Cheng was surprised. "Aren't they eating dumplings at home?"

"Too crowded at their places, all the kids running around," Gu Fei explained, then froze as he looked outside, expression darkening.  

Jiang Cheng quickly followed his gaze. Gu Fei's mother was at the door, next to...the ponytailed man from before.

Still ponytailed, still wearing sunglasses.

Another overcast, snow-flurry day, and he had shades covering half his face...Jiang Cheng wanted to offer him a walking stick.

"Come in," Gu Fei's mother said. "This is my son, Gu Fei. You haven't met, right? That's my niece, Gu Miao, and his classmate, Jiang Cheng."

"Happy New Year, Auntie," Jiang Cheng greeted her and nodded at the man. Calling him 'uncle' felt wrong - he was young, but 'bro' seemed presumptuous, so Jiang Cheng stayed silent.

"What's going on?" Gu Fei asked, dusting off his hands.

Jiang Cheng watched him, ready to intervene if he got violent. Still, it was New Year's. Gu Fei's mother and this ponytailed man had clearly dressed up to meet. Fighting now would be inappropriate.  

"Just having a meal together," Gu Fei's mother pulled him to the back room, whispering, "Don't throw a temper."  

"He hit you last time, didn't he?" Gu Fei asked loudly, clearly not planning to give any face.

"It wasn't him..." his mother insisted softly.

The rest was inaudible after they left for the back.  

Awkward silence descended on the shop.

The ponytailed man stood just inside the entrance. Jiang Cheng and Gu Miao waited at the counter, Gu Miao hugging her skateboard and dough, fixing the stranger with her impressively aloof stare.  

Jiang Cheng's brain was fried from studying recently. He couldn't think of anything to say.

"I didn't hit her," the ponytailed man spoke up. "It was her ex. I got justice for her."

"Oh," Jiang Cheng responded, still at a loss for words.

Silence fell again until Gu Fei and his mother returned.

"We have to get busy," Gu Fei's mother waved them over. The ponytailed man followed her to the back.

"Get busy with what?" Jiang Cheng wondered aloud.  

"Cooking. My mom brought a chef to make dinner," Gu Fei explained, then laughed. "I can't even get mad anymore."

"He's a chef?"

"Mm," Gu Fei smiled wryly. "Let him make his food then, whatever."  

"Not bad. Better than you distractedly cooking while checking your phone," Jiang Cheng squeezed his hand.

"Yeah, I really can't be bothered anymore," Gu Fei agreed. "It's fine."

"More people makes New Year's livelier," Jiang Cheng suggested. "Let's go set off firecrackers!"

"Good idea!" Gu Fei clapped his floured hands together. "Er Miao!"

Gu Miao turned to him and he bent down. "Want to light fireworks?"

She nodded enthusiastically.  

Gu Fei had bought plenty of firecrackers and fireworks, packed into two boxes under the counter. They grabbed a bag and headed out.

Many families had started New Year's dinner by now. The firecrackers on the street were nearly deafening.  

They'd wanted to find a less smoky spot for setting off fireworks, but after one street realized nowhere was smoke-free now. Jiang Cheng dropped the bag on the ground. "Here is fine!"

As Gu Fei laid out the fireworks, Gu Miao zipped excited circles around them on her skateboard.  

When the colorful flames burst forth, she gave a loud whistle.

"Beautiful, right?" Gu Fei yelled over the noise.  

"Gorgeous!" Jiang Cheng shouted back at him. "Why are you yelling? These are fireworks, not firecrackers!"

It was oddly quieter now without the constant popping. Gu Fei's voice rang out clearly.

"I don't know!" he continued shouting. "I just felt like yelling!"

"Then yell!" Jiang Cheng tilted his head back. "Ah——!"

"Ah——!" Gu Fei echoed, head tipped back.