It was February, 2521.
Deep winter, extreme cold.
Heavy snow was falling, white fluff filled the sky, like drifting goose feathers.
Lanterns twined together.
The night was cold and quiet.
From time to time, fully armed disinfection vehicles passed by on the damp and quiet road, honking and driving along the icy and slippery ground, while anti-skid chains clanked on the pavement.
White fog followed the disinfecting truck, rising into the sky like a giant dragon turning over.
On the balconies of the residential buildings beside the road, red lanterns hung.
New Year's had arrived.
In the midst of busyness and panic, with the help of continent-spanning walls and barbed wire, as well as the thousands of guards clad in isolation suits stationed atop the walls, humanity managed to welcome a rare peaceful New Year.
People hung up lanterns they didn't have time to hang last year.
