Every house bathed in the shining sun, as old talismans are replaced with new peach wood charms.
In the midst of several days of swirling snowfall, Lunar New Year arrived as scheduled.
Alone, Jiang Chen turned on the television and cooked a table full of dishes for himself.
This New Year was as solitary as ever, yet it seemed to surpass the usual festivities.
Since morning, messages from all corners of the world streamed in ceaselessly.
Hong Xiaoyu, aunts and uncles, Tie Jun, Fu Zili, Luo Peng, Bai Zheli, Li Shao, Liang Zhenlun, Shi Qianxi, Xu Siyi, the staff of Xiaoyao Studio, Luo Li'er... even including Pei Yunxi, all sent their New Year's wishes via WeChat.
The television, as always for decades, showed the Spring Festival Gala. Jiang Chen had prepared two bottles of beer for himself, eating and drinking alone, contentedly.
"Pop pop pop..."
Downstairs, some family's child was playing with firecrackers.
