Dazzling

The Winter Camp essentially marked their final collective activity before plunging into the gauntlet of the college entrance exams, so everyone was buzzing with excitement—except for Huang Mao, who stood alone looking small, helpless, and pitiful. He watched them chattering animatedly, utterly baffled as to why Pang Hu and Xing Wu could go while he couldn't. It felt downright inhumane!

The revelry lasted until midnight. Xing Wu checked the time, stood up, and said to Qing Ye, "Is your phone ringing inside?"

Qing Ye looked up. "No, I have it on me."

Xing Wu shot her a meaningful glance, and she quickly caught on, pretending to pat her pockets. After Xing Wu went inside, she also stood up. "Seems like I left my phone in there."

Just as she stepped through the back door, a dark figure suddenly emerged, trapping her in the cramped corner by the door. He leaned down, sealing her lips with a torrential kiss. The suddenness of it was like a storm. In the half-light, his sharp features made Qing Ye's heart race wildly. Amid the confusion, she only heard wild cheers from outside the door. Xing Wu murmured against her lips, "Happy New Year."

Qing Ye glanced at the clock on the wall—exactly midnight. This was the first time in her life she'd ever welcomed the New Year with a kiss. Suddenly, it felt as if she'd been tossed into a vat of honey. She rose on her toes, looping her arms around his neck. "Happy New Year."

Xing Wu's eyes glimmered hazily in the dark, his voice laced with a magnetic allure. "Any New Year's wishes?"

Qing Ye chuckled to herself, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "I hope I can spend next New Year's with you too."

They held each other tightly, both falling into a sudden silence. After a long moment, Xing Wu tightened his embrace, his warm breath brushing her ear as he said, "Okay. No matter where in the world you are this time next year, I'll definitely celebrate it with you."

Qing Ye gazed at him, moved beyond words, just staring.

She choked up slightly and couldn't help saying, "I've always thought this year was probably the worst of my life. But you've made everything different, Xing Wu. Are you heaven-sent to save me?"

He pulled her firmly into his arms. "No, you are."

Outside, Lang Dai kept shouting, "Brother Wu, Qing Ye, it's New Year's! What are you guys doing?"

Xing Wu and Qing Ye rejoined the group. Everyone raised their glasses together. Huang Mao stared at them with a knowing smirk, and Qing Ye shot him a glare.

Pang Hu lifted his cup cheerfully. "I—I wish ev-everyone, as long as we're alive, hope never dies! Even af-after graduation, when we all go our sep-separate ways, may we return st-still young at heart! Let's not say goodbye!"

Huang Mao immediately rubbed tears from his eyes and scolded, "Dammit, Pang Hu, are you crazy? This isn't your graduation speech—why so sentimental?"

Everyone raised their glasses in unison, shouting, "Let's not say goodbye!"

Qing Ye felt a surge of passion in her heart. Though she hadn't known these people as long as her former classmates, adversity perhaps made feelings run deeper. Their sincerity, simplicity, and warmth had brought her a unique kind of joy, turning the dreary Zhazha Pavilion vibrant and colorful every day. Suddenly, she felt a sense of camaraderie with them, like comrades-in-arms.Recalling her first day at Zhazha Pavilion when she saw those Slam-cut youths, Qing Ye never imagined she could ever blend in with them. To some extent, from her initial Divine contempt to gradually letting go of that barrier and actually getting along with them, she felt her adaptability was truly tenacious. Of course, this was mainly because they were all lovely people.

The final conclusion came when the neighbors in the compound, led by Aunt Zhao's family, collectively ended the day with loud complaints.

On New Year's Day, Qing Ye was very busy. She woke up early in the morning to tackle her three-day holiday study tasks. By the time Xing Wu got up, she had already finished three test papers, which made him click his tongue in amazement.

By evening, Qing Ye had completed everything and started packing. Xing Wu leaned halfway against the bed, watching her pack. Cleanser, towels, electric toothbrush, facial creams—all sorts of messy things were tossed onto the bed. The more Xing Wu watched, the more confused he became. He kindly reminded her, "It's just one night. You don't need to bring so much stuff."

Qing Ye took out her bag, emptied the books inside, and told him, "These are all necessities. I have to bring them."

Then she inexplicably looked up and asked, "Why aren't you packing?"

Xing Wu crossed his arms and said calmly, "I'm already packed."

Qing Ye, having seen him not move all afternoon, asked, "Where are your packed things?"

Xing Wu pointed at himself. "Just bringing myself is enough. Do I, a grown man, need to move my entire home for one night out?"

Qing Ye laughed. The evening sun spilled through the window. The houses in Zhazha Pavilion were all quite low, at most small two-story buildings built by the residents themselves, so with a lift of her eyes, she could see the distant sunset sinking into the earth. This was Qing Ye's favorite time of day every day—the sky filled with rosy clouds, a delightful sight.

Moreover, someone today was actually wearing a hoodie printed with a little bear pattern. In fact, the entire afternoon, Qing Ye couldn't keep her eyes off him.

Usually, Xing Wu's dressing style was simple, sharp, and quite stylish. Perhaps because he didn't need to go out today, he had dug out this unusually styled bear hoodie from somewhere, creating a stark contrast with his usual demeanor that was oddly endearing.

At this moment, the lingering sunset glow fell on him—his flawless outline and that lazy posture inexplicably gave off the vibe of a manga boy.

Qing Ye dropped what she was holding, suddenly jumped in front of him, tugged at the bear pattern on his hoodie, and asked, "Where did this hoodie come from?"

Xing Wu pulled her into his embrace. "From middle school."

She laughed and said, "And it still fits from middle school?"

"Used to wear it for basketball back then. Fits perfectly now.Xing Wu looked down at her eyes curved like crescent moons, her pure and beautiful face so close. In the end, he couldn't resist. Holding her, he turned over, kissing her from shallow to deep.

The bed was too narrow. With that turn, Qing Ye was already pressed to the edge, half of her body suspended in the air, as if she might fall off at any moment. Instinctively, she held onto Xing Wu, though the position was awkward. Finally, showing some conscience, he placed his warm hand on her waist, taking on all the suspended weight of her body.When Qing Ye raised her arms to embrace him, her sweater rode up to reveal a slender waist. His calloused fingers brushed against her delicate skin, sending shivers through her body that made her tremble. The boy before her had upturned eyes brimming with desire, the warm sunset glow casting upon his handsome profile, turning his thick lashes golden. Yet all Qing Ye could think was: How could someone this good-looking exist in a dump like Zhazha Pavilion?

If she went abroad later, could she pack him up and take him along?

Nestled in his arms and softened by his kisses, Qing Ye’s thoughts were in disarray. But then Xing Wu suddenly lifted his head, his gaze fixed on the floor beside the bed. Her cheeks flushed, Qing Ye watched as he slowly rose from her, stepped off the bed, and picked up a small red box from the ground.

Qing Ye blinked and turned her head. The moment she saw what Xing Wu was holding, all the lingering passion vanished without a trace. She sprang up, leaped off the bed, and snatched the box of Durex that had somehow fallen out. Awkwardly twitching the corner of her eye, she stammered, "Um... if I said this belongs to someone else, would you believe me?"

It was clear from Xing Wu’s expression that he didn’t believe her at all. Frankly, even Qing Ye herself felt guilty saying it—what kind of girl casually carried a box of condoms? It just didn’t make sense!

The problem was, it really wasn’t hers. Yet she couldn’t just throw Fang Lei under the bus—that would be a breach of privacy and utterly unethical. But how was she supposed to explain this box of condoms?

Then she saw Xing Wu walk silently to the window, light a cigarette, and glance at her with an ambiguous look. Standing in the room, Qing Ye felt like she was about to explode on the spot. What the hell was this mess?

Would Xing Wu think she’d gone out and bought these herself, planning to get intimate with him?

Instantly, Qing Ye was so embarrassed she wished she could burrow into a hole right then and there. She couldn’t bear to meet Xing Wu’s eyes anymore, so without another word, she yanked the curtain between their beds shut, blocking his unsettling gaze. Clutching the incriminating box, she felt utterly vexed.

Subjectively, Qing Ye felt she shouldn’t bring it to the Winter Camp—wasn’t that enabling wrongdoing? But if Fang Lei ended up in a heated moment and decided to take things further, wouldn’t it also be enabling harm if she didn’t provide protection?

Torn between these thoughts, Qing Ye tossed the box into her bag. What a ridiculous situation!

For the rest of the evening, Qing Ye was too embarrassed to speak to Xing Wu. She even avoided him during meals, afraid of encountering his ambiguous stare that sent her heart racing.

The next morning at 7:40, they set out on time. Xing Wu was dressed in black athletic wear and carried a black backpack. Qing Ye was puzzled—she’d never seen him seriously wear a backpack before, and she had to admit, he looked pretty handsome like that.

She tapped his bag and asked, "Didn’t you say you weren’t bringing anything? What’s in here that’s so heavy?"

"My laptop."

"Why are you bringing a laptop?"

Xing Wu shot her a glance, then took her bag and slung it over his shoulder. Evading her question, he asked, "Did you bring it?"

Qing Ye replied blankly, "Bring what?"

"The condoms."After a night had passed, Qing Ye had already forgotten about that matter and never expected Xing Wu to bring it up again. Qing Ye's face instantly flushed red to the tips of her ears. How was she supposed to answer? If she said she had brought it, would Xing Wu think she had impure motives for asking him to sign up for the Winter Camp?

At that moment, Qing Ye just wanted to let out a loud scream and put as much distance as possible between herself and this person with a hundred-meter sprint. But in reality, all she could do was lower her head as far as possible and repeat, "That wasn't mine, really. I was just helping someone else pack it."

"Oh..." Xing Wu dragged out that "oh" with an exaggerated tone.

To Qing Ye's ears, it sounded like: What kind of heavy stuff is it that requires someone else's help to pack? You're totally making that up!

Qing Ye's composure had completely shattered by now. She felt utterly unable to defend herself, as if even jumping into the Yellow River couldn't wash her clean.

Then she spotted Pang Hu and Shi Min waiting for them at the intersection. Pang Hu even asked with concern, "Qing Qing Ye, why is your face so, so red?"

"..." It's you who's Qing Qing Ye! Your whole family is Fan Fan Tong!

Qing Ye immediately grabbed Shi Min's arm and quickly distanced herself from those two.