December 30th, evening.
Qian Fei and Li Yifei took a taxi to the National Theatre to watch Da Peng’s stand-up comedy How Do We Survive? As they entered the venue, some young girls nearby chattered in voices just loud enough to be overheard but still within the range of whispers.
"Look, look! Are those two celebrity guests invited by Da Peng? I just saw the host from Liaoning TV with the long face—could they be hosts too?"
"Probably not, I don’t recognize them!"
"But they’re so good-looking! Especially the guy—he must be some new star, he’s so handsome! I want to ask for his autograph!"
Qian Fei noticed Li Yifei pretending not to hear a thing, yet he straightened his posture even more, his steps becoming increasingly exaggerated, like a male model strutting down a runway.
She couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, "Would it kill you not to act like this? Can you survive without showing off?"
Li Yifei shot her a sidelong glance. "Have you ever been mistaken for a celebrity before?"
Qian Fei shook her head.
"Your young master here used to get chased for autographs all the time—people said I looked like Won Bin," he said, clicking his tongue at her. "So you see, you’ve benefited so much just by being around me. Standing next to me even makes you look prettier than usual, enough to fool people with bad eyesight into thinking you’re a star!"
Qian Fei rolled her eyes at him, speechless.
This guy’s narcissism was beyond cure.
●︶3︶●
From the moment the show started, Qian Fei was completely engrossed, no longer caring whether Li Yifei or Liu Yifei was sitting beside her.
Li Yifei realized all her attention was fixed on the man with black-framed glasses spouting nonsense on stage.
He felt a little wounded. He was usually the unwavering center of attention in any girl’s eyes—how could this silly girl ignore him so thoroughly? If he had brought any other girl, their eyes would’ve been glued to him the entire time, admiring him like a flawless work of art or their ultimate idol.
But soon, he stopped dwelling on it.
Because when he saw the silly girl burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling with delight, he suddenly found the guy on stage genuinely funny too.
So he laughed along with her, from start to finish.
He quietly noticed that her laughter—no, not just her laughter, but her entire being, her every emotion—was incredibly infectious, pulling those around her into the same mood.
Before, he had always thought of her as a bland, unremarkable person, a pushover with no temper or edges, a professional doormat who seemed to assume she was at fault whenever someone got mad at her. In his world, people like her were the ones he despised the most. He believed that to live was to have personality, to be bold, to have unshakable principles and just the right amount of affectation—that was what made someone magnetic, unforgettable, the kind of person others secretly envied and yearned to be close to despite their complaints.
But unexpectedly, as he got to know her better, the very traits he once looked down on now struck him as a different kind of charm and allure.He laughed along with her, thinking as he did how well-suited this tomboy was to be a buddy—more resilient and easier to tease than most guys, quick with her hands and feet, and a great cook to boot. There was just one downside: she absolutely refused to believe he was a rich second-generation heir.
He wondered what expression she’d wear when she finally learned he really was a rich second-gen.
Would it be like in those TV dramas, where she’d tearfully slap him and say, “You lied to me! What do you take me for?”?
He shuddered at the thought.
He was sure she wouldn’t react like that. He’d seen it clearly before—whenever Gui Lili acted all cutesy, she’d secretly cringe on the side. She couldn’t stand those overly girly antics.
So how would she react?
As he pondered, he realized he was actually looking forward to seeing her reaction in that moment.
●︶3︶●
When the performance ended, Qian Fei squeezed her way to the front to take a photo with Da Peng. On the taxi ride home, she stared at the photo on her phone with a look of pure satisfaction.
Li Yifei, sitting beside her, said sourly, “Hopeless fangirl, beyond saving!”
Qian Fei retorted, “He’s a talented guy playing a loser, unlike you—a loser pretending to be a talented guy!”
Li Yifei shot her a sidelong glance. “Qian Fei, are you trying to repay kindness with ingratitude? Who got you the tickets tonight?”
Qian Fei ignored him and suddenly called out to the driver, “Stop here, please!”
Li Yifei glanced outside. “Why stop here?” They were at a supermarket still some distance from home.
After paying the fare, Qian Fei dragged Li Yifei out of the cab. “I’m feeling pumped tonight. Let’s grab some drinks! Neither of us has work tomorrow, so it’s fine if we get wasted!”
Li Yifei let himself be pulled into the supermarket. “Sister Qian, you’re getting manlier by the day! Now you’re the one initiating drinking sessions!”
They hauled a case of beer back home.
Turning on the TV, they found several channels airing New Year’s Eve galas. Spreading a mat on the living room floor, they sat cross-legged, drinking beer and watching the shows. The atmosphere was fantastic—harmonious, joyful, and downright blissful.
Qian Fei suddenly turned to Li Yifei and said, “Li Yifei, thanks for the New Year’s gift! I’m really happy! I have a feeling this whole next year is going to be great!”
Li Yifei raised an eyebrow. “Don’t mention it, no big deal!” He took a sip of beer, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully and licking his lips.
Qian Fei thought it was downright sinful how such a handsome face could pair those teasing movements and expressions.
She shivered. “What are you doing, winking and biting your lips like that? Trying to seduce someone?”
Li Yifei smirked, one corner of his mouth quirking up. “Shouldn’t you be honoring your promise and changing your surname to mine?”
Qian Fei blinked, remembering the bet they’d made earlier—if he really got the tickets, she’d change her surname.
“My exact words were: ‘If you can actually get the tickets, I’ll change my surname!’” Qian Fei rolled her eyes. “I said ‘change my surname,’ not ‘change it to yours!’”
Li Yifei arched an eyebrow, eyeing her. “Playing word games, huh? Qian Fei, you’re such a shameless cheat!”
Qian Fei wiggled her shoulders smugly. “That’s your own fault for reading too much into it. Blame yourself!”
Li Yifei grinned menacingly. “Well, even if you’re not taking my surname, you’re still changing it! So choose—what surname do you want?”
Qian Fei blinked. “How about… my dad’s surname?”
Li Yifei paused. “Isn’t your current surname your dad’s?”Qian Fei blinked her eyes brightly and nodded, "Mm-hmm!"
Li Yifei stroked his chin, "You took your mom's surname?"
Qian Fei slammed the table, "Li Yifei, watch your mouth!"
Li Yifei thought for a moment and rephrased, "You follow your maternal parent's surname?"
Qian Fei nodded proudly, "Didn't expect that, did you!"
Li Yifei paused, his face full of sympathy, "Your parents got divorced, didn't they? Poor kid!"
Qian Fei glared at him fiercely, "Your parents are the divorced ones! My mom and dad were doing just fine when she was alive!"
Li Yifei looked puzzled, "Then why take your mom's... your maternal parent's surname? Does your family have another child, one surname each?"
Qian Fei patted her chest, "I'm the excellent only child born under the one-child policy, red through and through!"
Li Yifei couldn't stand her smugness and kicked her, "What's the deal? Stop beating around the bush and spit it out!"
Qian Fei staggered from the kick, "Li Yifei, are you tired of living? You dare kick me now!" She kicked back, took a sip of beer, and made a constipated face as if struggling to speak.
"Li Yifei, let me ask you something," she suddenly changed the subject, "Have you ever been troubled by your name? You share it with that nationally famous beautiful actress!"
Li Yifei snorted disdainfully, "There was a time it drove me crazy! When that woman got popular from some TV drama, everyone around me joked about my name. And since I've been handsome since childhood, they'd say if I jumped from the second floor wrapped in a white sheet, I'd look more like an immortal sister than her!" He took a sip of beer, clenched his fist, and gritted his teeth, "I trained my fists so hard back then—whoever laughed at me got punched!" Looking at Qian Fei, his expression shifted as he pretentiously added, "Oh right, I earned a nickname back then—Pretty Boy Iron Fist King. You can ask around at Renmin University High School, everyone knows it!"
Qian Fei snorted.
This guy never missed a chance to brag.
Seeing her skeptical expression, Li Yifei asked unhappily, "What, you don't believe me?"
Qian Fei quickly shook her head, "No no no, I just feel sorry for you!"
Li Yifei rolled his eyes, "Ugh, tell me, what did I ever do to deserve this? When I was born and named, who knew who Liu Yifei was? Should've had the old man patent my name—anyone named Yifei would've had to change it!"
Qian Fei said, "Then why not just change your name?"
Li Yifei lifted his chin, "Why should I change? Let me tell you, picking this name was a huge effort! The old man specially hired a master to pick an auspicious date and name me! Said 'Yi Shi Yi Fei'—don't take things too seriously, destined for greatness!"
Qian Fei scoffed, "If that's the meaning, why not just change it to Li Yishi then!"
Li Yifei froze, "Huh, good point!" After a pause, he realized Qian Fei had derailed him and slammed his beer can on the table, "Wait, weren't we talking about your name? How'd it turn to me?"
Qian Fei shrunk her shoulders, "I just wanted to find some common ground. Think about how many good names get ruined in this world!"Li Yifei narrowed his eyes and gave her a sidelong glance before suddenly clapping his hands excitedly. "Qian Fei, don't tell me your dad's surname is Su!"
Qian Fei's expression instantly collapsed as she groaned, "Li Yifei, why do you have to be so sharp right now?!"
Li Yifei's eyes widened. "No way, seriously? Your dad’s really surnamed Su? Then if you went by his surname, wouldn’t you be... a sanitary pad?!"
He burst into laughter, slamming the table.
Qian Fei’s head throbbed from his cackling. In a fit of anger, she kicked at him. "What’s so funny?! What right do you have to laugh at me?! You’ve got a girly name yourself! Would it kill you to show some sympathy?!"
Li Yifei dodged her foot but couldn’t stop laughing.
Qian Fei sighed heavily. "What was I supposed to do?! When I was named, I never imagined my glorious future would be ruined by a sanitary pad! I was born with my dad’s surname, but ever since that brand came out, my misery began! You have no idea how much ridicule and humiliation I’ve endured because of my name! So before college entrance exams, I heroically made the biggest stand of my life—I demanded to take my mom’s surname, or else I wouldn’t take the exams! I refused to keep being laughed at in college! You have no clue how much effort, hardship, and sweat I poured into changing my name! My name is soaked in blood and tears, you get that?!"
Li Yifei wiped fake tears and feigned sympathy. "I get it, I get it! Your bitterness is like licking bitter melon!"
Qian Fei rolled her eyes hard, took a long swig of her drink, and grumbled, "But after changing to my mom’s surname, things didn’t get much better. I feel like I can’t save money anymore! ‘Qian Fei, Qian Fei’—it sounds like ‘money flies, money owed.’ With people calling me that all the time, no wonder my cash disappears! Seriously, why did my mom have to marry a guy surnamed Su? Why did my dad have to marry a woman surnamed Qian? And why did they have to name me Fei?!"
Li Yifei started howling with laughter again, pounding the table.
"Then why didn’t you change ‘Fei’ when you changed your surname?" he asked between laughs.
Qian Fei gritted her teeth. "My old man is just like yours—he said my name was divined by a fortune-teller, that my five elements were balanced, and that I had to be called Fei. He absolutely refused to let me change it! But ‘Fei’ has the grass radical—what does that have to do with the five elements? Am I missing grass in my destiny or something?"
Li Yifei spat out his drink. "Sis, I beg you, please don’t throw around the word ‘grass’ so casually—thank you!" He wiped his mouth, barely containing his laughter. "If you ask me, you’re just missing a brain cell!"
Qian Fei kicked at him again. "And you’re missing a moral compass!"
This time, Li Yifei caught her ankle mid-kick. "I’ve told you before—stop acting like a brute. Can’t you take my wise advice to heart?"
He lifted her ankle, making her lose balance and topple backward.
Her loose sleep pants slid down from her ankle to her knee.
Li Yifei squinted and clicked his tongue. "Didn’t expect you to be so fair and smooth. Shouldn’t a testosterone-packed brute like you be covered in leg hair?" He smirked, eyeing her calf.Qian Fei's ears burned as she sat up abruptly, yanking her foot back. "Get lost! Even flirting with a guy—you're worse than a beast!"
Li Yifei shook with laughter.
Once he'd had his fill of amusement, he scooted closer with his beer can, slinging an arm over Qian Fei's shoulders. "You know how all those refined, cultured types love giving their homes fancy names? Like 'Such-and-Such Residence' or 'So-and-So Pavilion'—sounds classy and high-end! Hey, what should we name our place?"
Qian Fei shoved his paw away and shot him a sidelong glance. "Young Master Li, I think you're overestimating your role here. This is my home— mine ! What does naming it have to do with you?"
Li Yifei took a satisfied swig of beer and continued shamelessly, undeterred. "I mean, I do contribute to the atmosphere! Look, your name's Fei, mine's Fei—how about we call our place 'Fantasy Fei Fei'? 'Fantasy Fei Fei'—yeah! Not bad, not bad at all!"
Qian Fei watched his self-satisfied grin and snorted coldly. "I think you're the one lost in fantasy!"
●︶3︶●
On the second-to-last day of the year, the two of them sat on the floor. The TV was on, filled with countless celebrities singing and dancing, while they bickered over beers amidst the performances.
Eventually, both of them got a little drunk.
In a daze, Qian Fei murmured, "Li Yifei, thank you. Thanks for making sure I wasn’t alone for my first New Year after the breakup."
Equally dazed, Li Yifei replied, "Qian Fei, you idiot, today’s only the 30th. December has 31 days—New Year’s isn’t until the day after tomorrow!"
Qian Fei let out an "Oh." She really had lost track of time.
Then she sighed. Tomorrow, Li Yifei would probably spend New Year’s Eve with his girlfriend.
Seemed like she’d still be ringing in the last day of the year alone after all.
With a wistful sigh, she wobbled to her feet, swaying slightly as she headed to her room to sleep.
Just as she reached the door, she heard his voice behind her: "Auntie Qian, make me eggplant stir-fry with pork tomorrow night, okay? I’ll come back early—we’ll eat together and watch the news."
Qian Fei pressed her forehead against the door and smiled. She wouldn’t be alone after all.
Suddenly, she realized this was the warmest winter she’d ever spent in Beijing.
Author’s Note: Thank you, lovely readers, for your generous support with the thunder and bombs—truly grateful, bowing deeply >3<
I bet you’re all sick of me yelling "Leave comments! Shower me with flowers!" every day, but what can I say? This dumb donkey of an author has OCD—if I don’t shout it out, my heart aches TT So, beauties, how about dropping a comment? Ninth Bro’s giving out points, plus throwing winks and flashing thighs!!!
OpenNovel