Gu Fei clinked glasses with Jiang Cheng: "May Brother Cheng succeed in all endeavors this year."

"Smooth sailing," Jiang Cheng saw out of the corner of his eye that those two were still immersed, and said softly, "Boyfriend."

Gu Fei laughed and drank a mouthful, then reached out to clink Gu Miao's beer can: "Er Miao grow up fast."

"Er Miao aim high every day." Jiang Cheng also clinked her beer can.

It was only after they started eating that Gu Fei's mom and Ponytail finally snapped out of it, but they had already forgotten about the ritual toasting. They just started eating along with everyone else.

Gu Fei and Jiang Cheng didn't talk much throughout the meal, but it wasn't awkward, because there was a sweet pair of lovers flirting with each other as they ate.

Other than flirting, Gu Fei's mom would prop her chin in her hand and listen to Ponytail boast.

His boasting wasn't too outrageous though, mainly just on the theme of taking over his boss's shop today. Jiang Cheng kept wanting to remind him - did you even ask if your boss wants to sell... But their auras were too powerful, others could barely get a word in edgewise.  

Ponytail's cooking was pretty decent, smelled great and tasted good too. Gu Miao ate with gusto, one bite after another, washing it down with beer, having a grand old time.

The lovers across from them probably didn't eat their fill, Jiang Cheng barely saw them use their chopsticks.

"We're going out for a stroll," Gu Fei's mom stood up after they were mostly done eating, "to soak in the new year atmosphere."

"Mm," Gu Fei replied.

"Have fun," Jiang Cheng said.

"Thank you." Gu Fei's mom pulled Ponytail out. Soon the sound of a motorcycle driving off could be heard.

Jiang Cheng leaned back in his chair and stretched out his legs, watching Gu Miao still bowing her head busily eating.

Gu Fei lit a cigarette beside him: "Want one?"

"In a bit," Jiang Cheng said, "Let me eat a little more."

"The cooking's pretty decent," Gu Fei said.

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng scooped some soup, "This guy...how's he compare to previous ones?"

"Don't know," Gu Fei frowned, "There were some who seemed more reliable before, but ended up the same."

"Then..." Jiang Cheng looked at him.

"As long as he doesn't touch the shop's money," Gu Fei leaned back, "I can't be bothered to care, we're adults now."

"Mm," Jiang Cheng swirled the wine bottle, pouring wine for Gu Fei as he thought, "He drove after drinking just now, didn't he?"

"Pfft," Gu Fei laughed, "Brother Cheng, you're so...he only had a little."

"When Li Yan and them come over this afternoon, you guys drink, just ride bikes if you go out," Jiang Cheng said, "You had more than a little."

"We're not going out, nowhere to go," Gu Fei said, "We'll just laze here watching TV and chatting, sometimes cards."

"Old people's lives," Jiang Cheng said.

"Yeah," Gu Fei nodded, "Young people's lives are all spent in bed with you."

Jiang Cheng shot him a look: "Watch what you say."

"In bed, in bed, in bed, in bed," Gu Fei said, "Get in bed, get in bed, get in bed."

"Go to sleep," Jiang Cheng said.

After Gu Miao gnawed the last rib clean, they cleared the table.

Washing dishes is a huge pain. When Jiang Cheng washed them for the first time today, he was in a good mood and Gu Fei put music on his phone next to him. Swaying to the beat, he breezed through washing them.

Now every household was eating dinner, and the firecrackers outside had died down a little. He came out of the kitchen and stood in the backyard, listening to the distant pops.

He never paid New Year's much mind before. Hearing such noisy firecrackers, he used to find it irritating, making him jumpy. But this was the first time he could listen to such a din with equanimity, and even feel the vitality bursting out from this rundown steel factory area because of the New Year.

"It's snowing! Good thing we came early!" Liu Fan's voice came from the shop.

Jiang Cheng looked up. The falling snowflakes were still light and swirling in the wind, landing cool and tiny on his face before swiftly melting away.  

He turned and went into the shop, where Liu Fan, Li Yan and Luo Yu had just come in and were taking off their coats.

"Jiang Cheng! Happy New Year!" Luo Yu greeted.

"Happy New Year." Jiang Cheng smiled.

"Thought you'd be studying today too," Li Yan said, "Da Fei said you've been studying nonstop from morning to night."

"Going back to keep studying in a bit," Jiang Cheng said.

"...Play for a while before going back," Li Yan said, "We brought a bunch of new year's goods, want to try some?"

"Really can't eat anymore now," Jiang Cheng rubbed his stomach, "Just stuffed myself."

"Jiang Cheng, bro brought something for you," Liu Fan came over holding up a large plastic bag, "Chen Jie got this, his friend is interning at First High School and got their study materials for seniors."

"Holy crap," Gu Fei laughed, "You guys are too much."

"A bunch of guys who never even went to college looking at the class valedictorian with envy," Li Yan laughed and sat down, taking out a very bulging red envelope and stuffing it into Gu Miao's pocket. "New year's money from us older brothers. Keep it for yourself, don't give it to your brother."

When Jiang Cheng took this heavy plastic bag, he felt a little hard to describe. For a long time, he could only say: "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Liu Fan replied.  

After saying that, everyone laughed. Luo Yu sighed and said, "Don't be so formal, we can't even keep the conversation going."

The group slumped onto the chairs in the store and started chatting.

Jiang Cheng took out some materials to look through. They were all the test papers that First High School had issued recently, as well as some materials teachers had found, some of which overlapped with No. 4 High, and many that he hadn't seen before.

Li Yan and the others would find review materials for him, which was something Jiang Cheng had never thought of before. Even this group that fooled around all day was mobilized, it was really amazing.  

But because of this, he suddenly felt a lot of pressure.

He glanced at Gu Fei, who was sitting opposite listening to the others chatter, how much expectation did Gu Fei have of him?

When Li Yan suggested playing cards, Jiang Cheng decided to go back and study.

"Once the dumplings are cooked, I'll call you over to eat," Gu Fei walked out of the store with him, "Do you want me to take you home? Or pick you up later?"

"Even Gu Miao doesn't need you to pick her up and drop her off," Jiang Cheng laughed.

"Picking up and dropping off is just an excuse," Gu Fei yawned lazily. "I just want to see you more."

These words made him want to just go over and hug Gu Fei tightly and kiss him over and over again right on the street.

Want to see you more.  

He felt the same way. When he was reviewing, his peripheral vision would always have Gu Fei's figure. Even when he was in the zone, a word from Gu Fei could pull him right back.

Want to see you, hear you talk.

What he especially couldn't stand was that this kind of time spent together day and night was decreasing along with the countdown to the gaokao, that kind of panicky feeling just from thinking about it even exceeded the impending gaokao.