The streetlights gleamed brightly, unlike the dimness that pervaded the alleyway.
"Give me your bag, I'm leaving now. See you tomorrow."
I looked at him gently, my gaze soft, and he returned the look in kind.
He handed me my bag.
"Be careful on your way home," he said, his voice cool but carrying a trace of warmth.
I smiled and nodded.
"Alright."
I turned and walked ahead.
Chu Qingci didn't leave, but instead stood a distance away, watching as my figure gradually blurred, fading completely from his view before he turned and began walking home.
His tall silhouette was stretched long by the streetlights.
Late autumn, early winter—time had passed and a season had slipped away unnoticed.
During this period, I often visited Chu Qingci's home, and the shadows of that alleyway slowly began to fade. There had been a time when I could only cross it with Chu Qingci by my side.
Later, I started to try on my own and found that I could pass it alone.
During these visits, I'd also seen Chu Qingci's foster father a few times at the entrance of his home.
But the sense of fear I had toward that man never quite dissipated.
Time, like spring water, flowed eastward slowly, ceaselessly.
Then, the Chinese New Year holiday arrived.
Today was New Year's Eve. In the afternoon, I sent Chu Qingci a message.
"Do you want to come out and watch fireworks tonight?"
Before he could reply, I turned off my phone.
Lying on the bed, I closed my eyes, and my mind drifted to thoughts of our past life.
Had we set off fireworks then, too? I couldn't quite remember clearly.
Not only had I lost the memory of that summer in 2019, but it seemed like many of the memories around that time had also become hazy.
When had my memory begun to falter?
Vague fragments from the past life flickered in my mind.
The images seemed to stop abruptly when Chu Qingci moved to his new home.
Lost in thought, I felt tired and unexpectedly fell asleep.
When my mother knocked on my door at six in the evening to call me for dinner, I groggily woke up.
I got up and washed my face, and that's when I came fully to my senses.
I suddenly remembered the message I had sent to Chu Qingci, but had not yet received a reply.
I walked back to my room, picked up my phone, and saw his response.
Chu Qingci: "Okay."
I unlocked the screen and sent him the time and place.
"Let's meet at 9:30 p.m. on Wangbei Road." After sending the message, I put the phone down and went to join my parents for the New Year's Eve dinner.
Our family's dinner was early, and it ended quickly.
We were going to watch fireworks later, so there was little appetite left.
After picking at some of my favorite dishes, I told my parents,
"I'm done eating."
They saw how little I had eaten and said,
"Eat more this year, you haven't even had any yuanxiao! Have one before you leave."
My mother said gently.
I nodded and followed her advice, taking a yuanxiao and eating it slowly.
To be honest, I preferred dumplings to yuanxiao, but since the tradition in the south was to eat yuanxiao during the New Year, I had no choice but to follow custom.
Once I finished the yuanxiao, my parents spoke again.
"You've grown another year older. From now on, listen well and study hard, okay?"
My mother's voice was tender, and my father, who was usually not very talkative, also spoke up.
"Jia Jia, your mother and I hope you'll have peace and happiness every year, year after year."
They both handed me red envelopes, slipping them into my hands.
I smiled softly at them.
"Thank you, Mom and Dad. I understand."
I suddenly remembered my plans with Chu Qingci to go out and watch fireworks, so I mentioned it to my parents.
"Mom and Dad, I'm going out with a friend to watch fireworks tonight."
They nodded in agreement.
Since it was still early after dinner, I returned to my room to rest for a while and also fixed myself up a little.
About two hours later, I was ready to leave.
Before I headed out, my parents gave their usual reminders.
"Jia Jia, be safe outside. You can stay out later tonight, but be home by midnight."
They had always been lenient with me.
I nodded, saying,
"Okay. I'll come back after the fireworks." I gently closed the door behind me and left.
When I got downstairs, I opened my phone.
As soon as I did, I saw a new message from Chu Qingci.
"Okay."
The time was now 7:10 p.m.
I slowed my pace and walked toward Wangbei Road.
The neon lights along the street flickered constantly, and children played joyfully in the alleys, already setting off fireworks.
Amid the clamor and hustle, I felt an indescribable sense of peaceful contentment.
The streets were less congested than usual, and perhaps all the busy rush and turmoil was simply to ensure that families could gather and celebrate the New Year together, with calm and joy at the dinner table.
In the distance, fireworks had begun to shoot up in bursts. Seeing the sight, I unconsciously slowed my steps.
By the time I was nearing Wangbei Station, a tall and slender figure stood there, holding something in his hands.
I walked toward him.
When I reached his back, I gently tapped his shoulder.