"I want to live in your heart, you have a gravity greater than Earth..." Wang Muman and He Lele met at a KTV in Sucheng to sing. It was less crowded and safer during the day. To Wang Muman's surprise, He Lele's singing was quite sweet; she had previously assumed He Lele was tone-deaf and didn't sing.
The two sang for three hours until their voices were hoarse. Afterward, they went to an all-you-can-eat hot pot and barbecue restaurant. Seeing He Lele piling up more food, Wang Muman stopped her in time.
"We won't be able to finish it, and it will go to waste," Wang Muman said, pulling He Lele back to their table to start grilling. Throughout the meal, Wang Muman served He Lele, doing most of the work and eating less, which left He Lele stuffed.
"There's still some left, help me, my stomach can't take any more!" He Lele patted her belly. "I feel like the meat can't even go down my esophagus."
Looking at her, Wang Muman felt sympathetic. Fortunately, she could still eat some of the leftovers. The yogurt there was quite good, and she could add toppings, so she made a few trips to get several cups of yogurt.
After eating, they browsed an accessories store. Wang Muman took the opportunity to call her brother to pick her up. While waiting, Wang Muman spotted a very beautiful bracelet, fell in love with it at first sight, bought it, and put it on her wrist.
As they were parting ways, He Lele pleaded, "You really aren't going to live with me?" She looked at Wang Muman with longing eyes.
Wang Muman shook her head. "My brother is already coming to pick me up. You should go home quickly and send me a message when you get there." Wang Muman knew her home was very close and felt at ease.
It was almost ten o'clock when Wang Muman returned home. After organizing her purchases, she sat at her desk, looking out at the world. The lights were bright, and the roads were filled with cars. Despite the late hour, people were still busy. She wondered if her father was still working or if he had already slept. It was too late to disturb him. With the New Year approaching, he should be returning soon.
"Manman, we need to buy some New Year's goods later and decorate the house. We have to get into the festive spirit!" Wang Mujin told Wang Muman during breakfast.
Wang Muman nodded. They should have been buying things already. She imagined how lively it would be on the streets. "We also need to do a thorough cleaning. When is Father coming back?" she finally asked.
"He'll be back around New Year's Eve. It's like this every year, so don't worry. Father has a home, and he will come back."
Wang Muman looked at the pancake in her hand, lost in thought. Yes, he returned every year on New Year's Eve, not even a day earlier. After the holiday, he would leave again, seemingly never taking any real time off.
After breakfast, they rested for a while, then bundled up warmly and went out, greeting Aunt Shen, who was already up.
Although it was early and Wutong Town was a bit remote, the streets were already bustling with people. Today was the day for shopping for New Year's goods. The two went to a supermarket called Jiayi and bought some red chilies, red lanterns, couplets, and "Fu" characters, as well as fruits and candies. Since Wang Muman had few relatives, only her uncle's family on her father's side, they didn't interact much except for exchanging New Year's greetings. Thus, there weren't many places to visit.
Wang Muman also picked up some snacks. Her own supply was low, and she had been craving them. Yesterday, when she went out with Lele, they only bought some accessories at the jewelry store.
As Wang Mujin was leaving, he saw an old man selling tanghulu and asked Wang Muman, "Do you want some tanghulu?"