抖荫

The New Year’s Eve dinner was just served, and the Spring Festival Gala was only starting to play on TV.

Song Xingye had only watched two programs before he put down his bowl and chopsticks, yawned, and then complained.

Of course, before that, he said to Song Qingyou, “If Qingyou goes to the party, I definitely won’t be sleepy.”

Song Qingyou smiled but didn’t reply.

As a “hot” celebrity in the past two years, it wasn’t that the Spring Festival Gala production team hadn’t approached her before, but she had always rejected them. The reason was that her family members weren’t in good health and she had to stay at home to accompany them.

As for the real reason, it was naturally because the program director had asked her to sing on stage.

It was not that there were no artistes in the industry who were good at singing and acting.

The problem was that Song Qingyou wasn’t very good at singing.

Even if the director had said that the singers who had gone on stage in the past few years were not professional singers, she was not prepared to go onstage.

There were specialties in every field, so it was better for her to focus on acting.

After dinner, Lin Xuyang took the initiative to clean up the kitchen.

Song Qingyou was about to lie down on the sofa when her phone rang.

The screen lit up, and the caller ID was Jiang Yi.

She glanced at Song Xingye and saw that the latter was focused on watching the skit, so she picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Sis…Auntie, I’m Jiang Yi…”

Jiang Yi’s voice was very, very low, and the background was very noisy.

Song Qingyou listened for a long time before she could hear that they were quarreling.

“What happened on your side?” she asked.

“It’s little uncle…”

The child’s voice was a little choked.

Song Qingyou didn’t hear him clearly, so she got up and walked out.

“What’s wrong with Little Uncle? Yiyi, there’s no hurry. Tell me slowly.”

“Little Uncle was bullied.” Jiang Yi lowered his voice even further. “They, they’re all surrounding Little Uncle. Are they going to hit Little Uncle? Sister, come and help Little Uncle…”

Jiang Yi didn’t explain it clearly and didn’t explain the cause and effect.

But Song Qingyou thought of the other son Jiang Quan brought back and felt that something was wrong.

“Don’t worry, Yiyi. 1’11 be there right away.”

“Can you send me your location?”

Jiang Yi’s phone was prepared by Fang Yan. When she exchanged contact information with Jiang Yi, she had taught him how to send a location.

“Alright, then come quickly.”

After the call with Jiang Yi was cut off, Song Qingyou called Jiang Zhihan several times, but no one picked up.

Helpless, she had no choice but to contact Fang Yan.

“I have Ms. Jiang’s number here. I can help you contact her.” Fang Yan said, “Don’t worry, Ms. Jiang will definitely know what to do… Do you need me to drive you there later?”

The Miss Jiang he was talking about was a collateral relative of the Jiang family and had a good relationship with Jiang Zhihan.

“No need.” Song Qingyou knew that Fang Yan was on leave today, and she was already apologetic when she called him, so she naturally wouldn’t trouble him.

When Jiang Yi sent the location, Song Qingyou bid farewell to Song Xingye and left in a hurry.

When the car was about to reach the destination, Fang Yan sent a message saying that they hadn’t made a move yet at the Jiang family dinner. Jiang Zhihan knew that she had called.

Not long after Song Qingyou received the message, she received a call from Jiang Zhihan.

Originally, she had many things to say and many questions to ask.

But when she heard the other party call her ‘Qingyou’, Song Qingyou suddenly lost interest in understanding the whole situation.

She parked the car at the foot of the mountain where the Jiang family’s old residence was located and said, “I’m at the foot of the mountain now. I’m here to pick you up to watch the fireworks.”

“You’re not allowed to refuse,” she added after a pause.

“Yes.”

Jiang Zhihan responded and quickly hung up the phone.

A few minutes later, Song Qingyou saw him from the car.

Under the night sky, the entire mountain was lit up.

Jiang Zhihan ran down in a suit and leather shoes, and it was difficult not to attract attention.

Song Qingyou rolled down the car window and waved at him, “Jiang Zhihan!”

To be honest, this was the first time she had seen Jiang Zhihan so anxious.

Even though he was trying his best to adjust himself when he was approaching, his breathing was rapid, and his forehead was covered in sweat, it was obvious that he had rushed all the way here.

Jiang Zhihan looked much more alive than the first time they met. Even though he was still expressionless, he looked like he had walked from a snowy mountain to the human world.

Song Qingyou was a little curious about what he looked like when he was young.

As she thought about it, she handed over a few tissues.

“There’s no need to be in such a hurry. I won’t leave until I pick you up.”

Jiang Zhihan took a deep breath, “I don’t want you to wait.”

He took the tissue.

Song Qingyou wanted to retract her hand, but he caught her off guard.

“You-”

“Mmmm-”

The words that she had not said were swallowed by his mouth.

Jiang Zhihan didn’t stop until half of Song Qingyou’s body was almost out of the car window.

Looking at the person in front of him, he took a few deep breaths and suppressed the desire in his heart. Then, he said calmly, “1’11 drive?”

Song Qingyou snorted and retreated back into the car. “I’m the one who came to pick you up to watch the fireworks. Of course I should be driving!”

She fastened her seatbelt again and signaled with her eyes, “Get in the car quickly.”

She looked impatient.

Jiang Zhihan couldn’t help but smile.

Song Qingyou looked away and focused on driving.

Actually, it was a sudden idea for her to go and watch the fireworks.

However, there was a river in the east of Beijing. There was an island in the middle of the widest section of the river. Every year during the New Year, fireworks would be set off on the island.

Counting the time, it should be about time for the fireworks.

Unfortunately, the two of them arrived too late. The place near the river was crowded, shoulder-to-shoulder. Not to mention cars, even people could not squeeze in.

Song Qingyou looked at the river from afar and decisively chose to look for a higher ground.

That was the top floor of a nearby hotel.

The hotel was under the Jiangyuan Corporation. As long as Jiang Zhihan showed his face, the hotel would definitely agree.

Therefore, before the fireworks started, the two of them found the best viewing spot.

When the fireworks rose into the night sky, the noise by the river was drowned out.

At night, the east wind blows thousands of flowers and trees, and the stars fall like rain.

Song Qingyou loved fireworks, so she couldn’t take her eyes off them.

She suddenly remembered the time when she didn’t know that Jiang Zhihan was Zhizhi. They hadn’t met each other many times and weren’t familiar with each other, but she brought Jiang Yi to set off fireworks.

Also, Jiang Zhihan set off fireworks on her birthday.

It was as dazzling as the lights of thousands of houses. Those moments were even brighter than the galaxy.

Song Qingyou turned to look at the person beside her, and her eyes met his green eyes again.

Jiang Zhihan reached out and held her hand. The corners of his mouth curled up into a warm smile.

Song Qingyou’s heart raced, and when she came back to her senses, her mind was already filled with fireworks.

—If you slowly raise your hand to the sky, and then suddenly spread your fingers, congratulations, you have just set off a firework for yourself, up to two ata time, but you know, if you slowly stretch your hand over, hold me, then there are thousands of fireworks in my heart.

(Excerpted from “Celebrate Me” by Rilke)