On Chinese New Year's Eve, the shop at Xidan Intersection had closed early. Feng Jingliang leaned against a street sign, smoking, having called in a favor for a dessert chef to hurriedly come.
"Oh, at this time you're not watching the Spring Festival Gala?"
Feng Jingliang flicked his cigarette butt into the trash bin, and said indifferently, "Ran into someone troublesome, who's fussing about wanting to eat apricot-yellow apricot dry."
The chef chuckled, "Then you wait, I'll fire up the oven, it'll be quick."
The shop retained the decor of a bygone dynasty. Feng Jingliang stepped inside with long strides, glanced around casually, and was greeted by a faint scent of apricots. As he ate, would she taste of apricots all evening? Feng Jingliang thought with a smile.
Text messages popped up on the phone.
All from Wu Min.
"Happy New Year"
"Where are you celebrating the New Year, are you with Li Shuo"
"Marry me, and you won't have to go abroad to hide from them"
