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In fact, there's not much to prepare for a New Year's shrine visit; for most people, money and the gods in the shrine will naturally come.
Beichuan Huili understood this principle.
It's just that—
Beichuan Huili glanced at her deflated purse, helpless with her paltry finances.
Mom always handed the money over to Beichuan Si, who was older than Beichuan Huili.
Beichuan Si usually had that brooding, silent demeanor, and Beichuan Huili was already quite afraid of her brother, so getting money from him was virtually impossible.
But—
She still really wanted, really wanted it, ahh—she really wanted New Year's money!
"I originally wanted to buy a few new clothes," Beichuan Huili intended to sigh, but recalling the saying that "happiness slips away with a sigh," she patted her cheeks to cheer herself up.
Speaking of which, why did Mr. Temple suddenly think of going for a New Year's visit?
Thinking about this, she wrapped herself more tightly in her thin coat, rubbed her hands, hunched her body, and pitter-pattered downstairs.
Before reaching the living room, she was called by Beichuan Si.
"It's a bit late, but Happy New Year."
Beichuan Si casually handed a red envelope to Beichuan Huili, calmly offering his well wishes.
Huh?
"Can I really accept this?" Beichuan Huili looked genuinely surprised. She had been muttering about New Year's money upstairs, and unexpectedly, Beichuan Si handed it to her as soon as she came down.
Moreover, the solid feel of it wasn't like a few coins or a measly one or two thousand yen.
"This is for you, use it however you like," Beichuan Si nodded.
He didn't really understand Japanese customs, but he knew the power of money was infinite.
At least he figured that a girl like Beichuan Huili would have things she wanted to buy, clothes she desired. How he was before wasn't his concern, but giving New Year's money was necessary.
Seeing Beichuan Huili's excited expression, he felt his action was perfectly fine.
Beichuan Si withdrew his gaze after a brief survey and walked toward the living room—
Beichuan Huili naturally felt the coldness in Beichuan Si's eyes; the excitement of receiving New Year's money immediately subsided, leaving her a bit uneasy.
Had Beichuan Si's character changed so drastically in these few days? Could this be another pretense like the few months after Dad passed away?
Just thinking about it, Beichuan Huili's face instinctively changed.
If it's really like that...
Beichuan Huili bit her lip, clutching the red envelope tightly, and finally—
"Mr., Mr. Temple!" Beichuan Huili held onto the money pouch with both hands, lowered her head, and handed it back to Beichuan Si.
"..." Beichuan Si.
Beichuan Si's gaze remained as calm and clear as before; in response to Beichuan Huili's action, he merely tilted his head and asked,
"Is it not enough?"
Hmm?
Beichuan Huili's pale face instantly turned red; she knew Beichuan Si misunderstood, and appeared at a loss,
"No, it's not that! It's... it's just that... seeing Mr. Temple always working hard, I can't lag behind, that is to say... that is to say..."
Her voice grew quieter toward the end.
Slam...
Beichuan Si draped his down jacket over Beichuan Huili.
"No need to explain now; you go wash up and change, breakfast is ready, and we'll head out afterward."
Beichuan Si's voice still sounded hard, but Beichuan Huili unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
She had quietly noticed earlier that Beichuan Si deliberately went over to the living room sofa to fetch the down jacket for her.
Phew—
Watching Beichuan Si's busy figure, Beichuan Huili breathed into her red, chilly hands and stomped her feet.
Still so cold!
That "warm current flowing from the heart" described in novels didn't appear at all!
Beichuan Huili hurriedly headed to the washroom.
...
After a simple breakfast of toast and milk, Beichuan Si and Beichuan Huili stepped onto the frozen, crackling ground, heading toward the shrine.
Snow had fallen the previous night, and the houses on both sides were completely covered in white layers.
Snowplows piled the thick snow to the sides of the road, clearing a path for walking.
The icy cold air whistled overhead, making people bury their necks in their collars.
A pair like Beichuan Si and Beichuan Huili heading to the shrine weren't uncommon; not everyone could find the time to visit the shrine on January 1st.
However, regardless of the crowd, Beichuan Si intended to take Beichuan Huili for the New Year's visit.
"If it's too cold, why not go back and add a pair of pants?" Beichuan Si patiently advised, turning back.
He couldn't understand why Beichuan Huili was only wearing a skirt and tights in such cold weather.
Although the tights looked quite thick, Beichuan Si didn't feel they kept her warm enough.
"No need, Mr. Temple, see, there are a few girls ahead dressed like me too."
Indeed, following Beichuan Huili's indication, Beichuan Si saw a few girls walking ahead, chatting and laughing together, all wearing short skirts and either tights or stockings.
It's just that...
After watching for a while, the three girls noticeably felt Beichuan Si's gaze and turned around to approach them.
"Mr., Mr. Temple," Beichuan Huili tugged at Beichuan Si's hand nervously.
"Don't worry, it seems they're acquaintances."
Sensing the familiar, teasing look in the lead girl's eyes, Beichuan Si's heart stirred.
Could they be someone Beichuan Si knew in school?
But seeing their posture...
Beichuan Si took a steady breath and looked up unhurriedly.
By now, the three girls were in front of him.
These were indeed acquaintances of Beichuan Si, the leading long-haired girl named Hoshino Nana was even someone he had a hopeless crush on in his first year of high school. However, after Hoshino Nana used various reasons to call him out for bullying, Beichuan Si avoided her entirely.
At this moment, seeing Beichuan Si acting indifferent, Hoshino Nana instinctively quickened her pace, and a heavy nasal tone followed suit.
"Beichuan, did the winter break make you forget everyone? You didn't rush over when you saw me?"
Beichuan Si's current indifferent demeanor, feeling like a completely different person, particularly annoyed her.
In response to her hostile look, Beichuan Si merely furrowed his brows and calmly asked,
"Who are you?"
This person's voice didn't even spark a memory in Beichuan Si; he thought she wasn't someone who brought valuable information to his phone, and he didn't even feel like responding.
"Who am I? I'm Hoshino Nana, does that ring a bell now?"
Hearing Beichuan Si's question, Hoshino Nana pushed her way through, unable to believe Beichuan Si dared to speak to her like this.
"Not much of an impression," Beichuan Si calmly shook his head.
Seeing Beichuan Si act this way, Hoshino Nana's expression changed, about to unleash her anger when she saw Beichuan Huili hiding behind him.
Beichuan Huili was wearing a navy blue skirt and had a beige woman's coat over it, looking both cute and a bit innocent.
"Well, Beichuan, I wondered why you got so bold; turns out, this despicable guy found a new flame."
The girl's inexplicable emotion flared up, and Hoshino Nana reached out her hand to grab Beichuan Huili's face.
But who knew her hand would be caught firmly in mid-air by Beichuan Si.
SLAP!!!
A slap landed on Hoshino Nana's face.
Not only did it leave Hoshino Nana and her clique dumbfounded, but even Beichuan Huili widened her eyes.
"You hit me?… Blood… I…" Hoshino Nana gaped, blood oozing from her mouth.
She was so furious, she couldn't even speak clearly.
Was she really hit?
By the wimp she used to toy with and insult, Beichuan Si?
"Instinctive reaction," Beichuan Si released Hoshino Nana's hand, his voice icy.
He lifted his head, and the coldness in his eyes not only stunned Hoshino Nana but even made the two girls behind her question whether they'd been mistaken.
Could the introverted Beichuan Si at school possibly be this person? It seemed implausible.
"I have no impression of Miss Hoshino. Plus, you made a move on my sister as soon as we met, isn't that a bit rude?"
"You confessed to me before!!!" In response to Beichuan Si's indifferent attitude, Hoshino Nana outright screamed.
Why did she feel inexplicably taken advantage of?
"Did Miss Hoshino accept my confession?" Beichuan Si replied unfazed.
"Why would I agree to someone as pathetic as you?" Hoshino Nana retorted, both angry and frustrated.
"Then I must thank Miss Hoshino for sparing me, a naive young boy."
Beichuan Si leisurely led Beichuan Huili past Hoshino Nana.
That poised calmness left Hoshino and her friends dumbfounded.
Was this person really Beichuan Si?
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