"Okay!"
Tao Qiyue nodded heavily.
Kongming lanterns, also known as wishing lanterns, carried the beautiful wishes of the person lighting them.
The two bought two Kongming lanterns from a vendor. Tao Qiyue went off to the side alone, wrote a few characters on the lantern before lighting it and watching it ascend.
As the Kongming lantern rose, a faint smile appeared on Tao Qiyue's lips.
She suddenly thought of something and turned to look at Chen Jinzhao, who was not far away, and saw him talking on the phone.
If nothing unexpected happened, he was probably talking to Yu Mengzhi.
Not long after, Chen Jinzhao lit his Kongming lantern and personally sent it into the night sky.
Tao Qiyue secretly took a picture of the moment, finding it more and more pleasing to her eyes.
"This year is a bit different from previous years..." she sighed.
In previous years, she would often spend festivals with her family. This year, however, she was a guest in a foreign land, but she felt no loss.
Days like these seemed quite good too.
On the other side.
After making a wish, Chen Jinzhao lit his Kongming lantern and sent it soaring. He watched as it merged with thousands of other lanterns before looking away. Tao Qiyue also walked up to him at this moment, smiling and asking, "Hey, what did you wish for?"
"Of course, if you don't want to say, then don't."
Looking at Tao Qiyue's smiling face, Chen Jinzhao said with a faint smile, "I hope everyone around me is safe and sound. What about you?"
Tao Qiyue pursed her lips and smiled, "I'm a bit selfish, I won't tell you yet."
"Haha, perhaps it's more likely to come true if you don't say it," Chen Jinzhao teased, then looked up at the Kongming lanterns in the night sky, while Tao Qiyue's gaze was fixed on his profile.
At this moment.
There seemed to be light in Tao Qiyue's eyes.
She made a wish, that Chen Jinzhao would be safe. Just as she said, she was a selfish person.
"Grandpa will be angry if he finds out, right?" Tao Qiyue thought to herself.
The two stood in the center of the square. Not far away were Jiang Donghui and Wu Lingyun. It was evident that the two seemed to be having a spat.
Wu Lingyun always disliked Jiang Donghui, while Jiang Donghui still clung to Wu Lingyun like a sticky plaster. Seeing this, Chen Jinzhao smiled and said, "Qiyue, do you think Jiang Donghui and my cousin have any chance of a good outcome?"
Tao Qiyue pondered for a moment and then said, "Most likely not."
"Lingyun has her own ideas, and Jiang Donghui only has Lingyun in his eyes. This creates a situation of one-sided effort. Who would cherish something that is too easily obtained?"
Chen Jinzhao fell silent.
As he looked away, he suddenly asked, "Don't you think Lingyun has been a bit off these past few days?"
Tao Qiyue was taken aback, then turned to look at Chen Jinzhao.
After realizing Chen Jinzhao wasn't joking, Tao Qiyue looked at Wu Lingyun again, "Actually, I also feel like she's a bit off. In my impression, she's a very patient girl. Even if she doesn't like Jiang Donghui, she wouldn't show expressions of dislike and disgust."
"Indeed, she's been a bit abnormal these past few days."
"What's wrong with her?"
Chen Jinzhao took a deep breath and shook his head, "I'm not sure either. I'll ask her clearly when I have time. I have a feeling it's not that simple."
Tao Qiyue hummed in agreement.
The two engaged in an in-depth discussion and then talked about attending the banquet at the Ji family tomorrow.
"Be careful then. If anything feels wrong, contact me. I'll immediately contact people in Ninghai to help," Tao Qiyue didn't plan to accompany Chen Jinzhao to the Ji family, as staying outside would allow her to help Chen Jinzhao more effectively.
Chen Jinzhao agreed, "Okay, thank you for your trouble."
Time ticked by, and it was nearing midnight.
After twelve o'clock, it would be a new year.
More and more people were gathering in the square, all waiting for the fireworks display organized by the local authorities. At this moment, Wu Lingyun and Jiang Donghui had also returned to their side. As more people gathered, the space to stand became smaller and smaller.
In the jostling crowd, Tao Qiyue and Chen Jinzhao moved closer and closer.
Until finally—
The two were almost pressed against each other.
Tao Qiyue's face showed a strange expression. Chen Jinzhao instinctively raised his hand to shield her within his embrace. This action even stunned Tao Qiyue.
Chen Jinzhao coughed and said, "Are you alright? I saw you being squeezed by quite a few people."
"I'm fine," Tao Qiyue replied softly.
As she spoke, she couldn't help but exhale warm breath towards Chen Jinzhao's ear, making his ear feel itchy.
The two faces were less than twenty centimeters apart. Tao Qiyue had never observed Chen Jinzhao at such close range before; this was the first time.
Chen Jinzhao sensed Tao Qiyue's gaze and immediately looked up into the distance to avoid an awkward atmosphere.
At this moment.
The crowd began to stir. Only ten seconds remained until midnight.
"Look quickly."
"The fireworks are about to start."
Chen Jinzhao reminded Tao Qiyue, and they both looked up at the night sky, indeed seeing beautiful fireworks blooming in the night sky, illuminating everyone's faces.
"It's a new year again," Chen Jinzhao sighed.
"Chen Jinzhao!"
Tao Qiyue suddenly called out. Chen Jinzhao instinctively turned to look at Tao Qiyue, "What is it?"
In that instant, Chen Jinzhao realized something was wrong.
But his mind was in a mess, and he didn't know how to react. While Chen Jinzhao's thoughts were in disarray, Tao Qiyue, with unexpected speed, kissed him on the lips. Chen Jinzhao stood there stunned. Tao Qiyue smiled and said, "Happy New Year, Chen Jinzhao."
Looking at the dazed Chen Jinzhao, Tao Qiyue said softly, "May you go through a thousand trials and tribulations, and return as a youth!"
"You just..." Chen Jinzhao began.
Tao Qiyue smiled charmingly, "Just consider it my prank, don't take it to heart."
How could Chen Jinzhao not take it to heart?
What had happened could not be unseen. Every action taken would leave a mark.
After a brief moment of confusion, Chen Jinzhao stared into Tao Qiyue's eyes and asked, "Why did you do that?"
Tao Qiyue hadn't expected Chen Jinzhao to ask directly. After thinking for a moment, she said frankly, "Because I like you. Is that reason enough?"
"Then you should know that I and Mengzhi..." Chen Jinzhao said.
A hint of dejection appeared on Tao Qiyue's face. She said with a sense of loss, "I know, that's why I never did anything too outrageous, except for this time. In that case, I'm a really, really bad woman."
Chen Jinzhao's expression was dazed.
Even now, he remembered the first time he met Tao Qiyue privately. On that day, Tao Qiyue wore a simple and elegant white dress and only black canvas shoes. From that moment on, Chen Jinzhao knew that Tao Qiyue was a girl with a pure heart.
How had she become like this now?
"You're not a bad girl. Perhaps I'm too bad at maintaining distance," Chen Jinzhao said with a sense of guilt.
Without another word, Tao Qiyue suddenly hugged Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao's body stiffened. Tao Qiyue rested her head on his shoulder and murmured, "I think I've gone mad. I know what I'm doing is wrong, but I can't control myself. Do you know, only one sentence can describe my current state."
"Watching the sky at dusk, my heart follows the clouds; whether I walk or sit, I think of you."