A torrent of cold wind poured over her. The weather was frigid, but it was the end of the year, and as far as the eye could see, there were dense crowds of people and streams of cars. Yet, at this moment, standing in the wind, Jiang Du felt unusually calm.

Wei Qingyue turned his head and glanced at her. They were half a meter apart, but that single glance landed right in her heart. Only then did Jiang Du remember she should probably say something. She opened her mouth, but the boy had already spoken first:

“You're still as meddlesome as ever.”

Jiang Du instantly deflated. She lowered her head, the tip of her shoe kicking at a small, non-existent stone.

“Let's go, I'll walk you to the bus.” Wei Qingyue wrapped his scarf a little tighter, glancing left and right as if trying to determine the direction.

The two walked toward the bus stop. Jiang Du wore an old wool hat that generated static, causing strands of her hair to cling to her face. She really wanted to tell Wei Qingyue she could take the bus by herself, but she didn't say it. Instead, she quietly followed behind him, as if he were a signpost.

Wei Qingyue turned around with a chuckle, his expression elusive. He said, “You're following behind me like a captive.”

Captive? When Jiang Du heard that word, her heart was instantly and inexplicably overwhelmed by it. 'I am your captive, Wei Qingyue.' She felt a gray, heavy feeling in her heart, almost wanting to burst into tears. 'I was so worried about you, I was truly afraid your father would hit you again,' she thought. 'How can you still joke with me so heartlessly?'

At this thought, her eyes felt as if they were being corroded by her mood. Jiang Du's lips trembled a few times, but she said nothing.

“Do you have any coins?” Seeing she was silent, Wei Qingyue asked.

Jiang Du finally looked up. “Yes, I have a bunch of coins. Do you need them for the bus?” Thinking Wei Qingyue had no change, she took off her gloves and started digging through the pocket of her down jacket.

Wei Qingyue smiled. “On Christmas, why didn't you pick something? I was all ready to pay for it for you.”

Jiang Du's movements slowly halted. She said with some effort, “I already explained, I don't like celebrating Christmas.”

“Is that so? I forgot,” he said, waving his hand. “I don't need any coins, you can stop looking. I was just asking if you had change for the bus.”

Jiang Du had no choice but to put the coins back.

As they reached the bus stop, Wei Qingyue suddenly said, “Just now, you didn't need to get me out of that.” His voice was deep and heavy, like winter clouds. “Once Wei Zhendong decides on something, he doesn't care about reasons.”

A heavy feeling clogged Jiang Du's chest. “I don't understand.”

“What is it you don't understand?”

“I don't understand hitting someone without a reason. You...” Jiang Du hesitated. “Can you go to your grandparents on your mom or dad's side?”

“My legal guardian is Wei Zhendong. He doesn't like me, and it's not like anyone else is particularly fond of me. I can't be bothered to trouble others.” Wei Qingyue let out a heavy puff of white mist, his hands stuffed in his pockets, his messy hair falling across his eyebrows.

“Today, I originally turned down Zhang Xiaoqiang. I don't usually go to these kinds of lively gatherings. But Wei Zhendong wanted to take me to a dinner party, and I didn't want to go, so I came over here.” Wei Qingyue's lips twisted into a self-deprecating smile. “Who knew I'd still run into him on the street. He must want to whip me to death with his belt.”

It wasn't as if Wei Zhendong had never used a belt. When he hit him, he would grab whatever was at hand.

As he said this, Wei Qingyue's tone was nonchalant, as if he were gossiping about someone else. Jiang Du really wanted to say, 'Why don't you come to my house?' The moment she realized she was having such an absurd yet genuine thought, she startled herself.

But this sort of thing was so embarrassing, yet Wei Qingyue had told her so casually. Perhaps it was simply because she had already seen him at his lowest, so to some extent, they could share this secret.

Jiang Du's throat felt bitter. She chose her words carefully, “Well, once you get into university, you can stay far away from him. And after you get a job, you can get away from your father completely.”

“My mom just left yesterday,” Wei Qingyue said with a smile, looking very relaxed. “I hadn't seen her in nearly three years.”

Hearing this, Jiang Du's spirits lifted as well. “You must have really missed your mom. You finally got to see her.”

“I didn't.” Wei Qingyue's tone was clipped. “I was happy she came because it gave me a chance to talk to her face-to-face about going abroad. I might need her help with some things in the early stages. You're surprised, aren't you?” He raised an eyebrow. “I don't even miss my own mother. I just need to ask her for something. It's that simple a relationship.”

...

Jiang Du's expression stiffened bit by bit. She shook her head vaguely, not even sure what she was trying to convey with the gesture.

But Wei Qingyue suddenly gave her a faint smile. “You're very good to me. More considerate than my own parents.”

Huh? Jiang Du's entire face froze at his words. 'Which organ was for breathing again?'

“Don't look at me like that. When someone is good to another person, it could be familial affection, friendship, or love.” When Wei Qingyue said the word 'love', his expression turned subtle for an instant, a look of disdain. “Or it could be that they're just naturally kindhearted. You're that type of person, aren't you, Jiang Du?”

His words made her quite embarrassed. Jiang Du fiddled with her scarf and said softly, “I'm not that kindhearted.”

“That incident at Limin Lane, back then, I thought you were very stupid, overestimating yourself. How could a girl be so meddlesome? To be honest, you left a terrible impression on me.” Wei Qingyue seemed to have opened the floodgates, speaking to her while swallowing the cold air, neither making a move to leave nor asking which bus she took, just standing there breathing out white mist.

The bus she was waiting for, its green sign flashing at the front, slowly pulled up to the stop. Jiang Du just stared at it without moving. It was very cold, and her face ached from the wind.

This Wei Qingyue, the way he spoke was just... Jiang Du buried half her face in her scarf, revealing only a pair of glistening eyes that looked as if they wanted to say something but held back.

“I have a terrible temper, and I'm not good at appreciating other people's kindness. Don't be surprised. If you were classmates with me for a few years like Zhang Xiaoqiang, you'd know.” As he spoke, Wei Qingyue reached out, pulled her, and pushed her directly onto the bus. He followed her on, and the doors slowly closed behind him.

He pulled a wallet from his padded jacket, found a few coins, and dropped them in the fare box. Then, without hesitation, he tugged Jiang Du by the sleeve toward the empty seats in the back row.

Everything happened so fast that Jiang Du couldn't react. By the time she came to her senses, Wei Qingyue was already seated by the window.

She pulled her scarf down and said in a panic, “Are you taking this bus? Why did you pull me on?”

“Aren't you the one taking this bus?” Wei Qingyue asked in return. “I'll see you part of the way. It's getting dark, and it's not safe for you to go home alone.”

So that was why. But how did he know? Jiang Du blinked. The corner of Wei Qingyue's mouth twitched. “I guessed you were taking this one. Am I right?”

She gave a shy nod, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and said, “But you'll get home late this way.”

“I'm not in a rush. Rushing home to get a beating?” Wei Qingyue mocked himself. The bus braked suddenly, and Jiang Du, who was still standing, pitched forward over the seat. Wei Qingyue's reflexes were quick, and he grabbed her arm firmly. He smiled. “Sit down.”

Jiang Du shot him an embarrassed glance, lowered her eyes, and sat down.

The lights inside the bus were dim. The glass reflected the boy's blurry figure. Wei Qingyue looked out the window, then turned back to look at her. “It's not terrible now.”

Jiang Du let out a confused, “Hm?”

He was continuing what he'd said before they boarded the bus. Only after Wei Qingyue explained did Jiang Du understand. She nervously fiddled with her scarf, and her “Hm?” became a flat note.

Passengers got on and off, but they remained the only two in the back row. For a time, without words, the world became very quiet. Neon lights swept past the window, momentarily illuminating their eyes.

The lights flickered on and off, like that moment between sleep and wakefulness. Every second was more precious than sunlight. Jiang Du's hand clutched her scarf tightly. This was the closest she had ever been to Wei Qingyue.

When her stop was approaching, she reluctantly steadied herself on the seatback and stood up. “I should get off now.”

The moment the doors opened, a current of cold air rushed in, enveloping her.

“Are you,” Jiang Du coughed lightly, “going to take the bus from the opposite side of the street?”

“No, I'll take a cab back.”

Wei Qingyue looked at her and smiled. “Is there something else you want to say to me?”

Jiang Du's mind was a chaotic mess. She shook her head, then nodded. “If your father hits you, can you call the police?”

Wei Qingyue only smiled. The twilight was too deep, so Jiang Du couldn't tell what that smile meant.

“Go on home. This is as far as I'll take you,” he said.

Jiang Du suddenly felt a strong urge to cry. With her head down, she wanted to ask if he was going abroad soon, but she didn't dare. It felt as if the event wouldn't happen as long as she didn't say the words. She nodded. “Okay.”

“Oh, right. Happy New Year.” Wei Qingyue's voice was as gentle as spring cherry blossoms. He rarely spoke with such a tone—it was soft, suddenly blooming beside Jiang Du's ear.

Jiang Du couldn't help but look up. Her eyes were already filled with tears, but she managed to force a smile. “Happy New Year.”

She had wanted to watch him get a cab, but she couldn't stay a second longer. The moment she turned, tears began to fall in streams. Jiang Du no longer tried to hold them back. The world blurred and sharpened in turns. She thought she heard a car door close behind her, and yet it was as if she'd heard nothing at all.

At this moment, it felt as if she were the only person walking the earth. A forest of lights twinkled ahead. Her only wish was for Wei Qingyue to find happiness soon, and to be happy forever.