As if it had eyes, the thing shot under Daniel's feet and then exploded.
Daniel said, "Thrilling, I'll have one too."
William pulled Ellie's sleeve and said, "Stand back a bit."
Ellie followed him and stepped back.
Daniel and Chloe were having a great time playing.
"What's this?" Ellie picked up a cylindrical firecracker and asked.
"It's the kind that can burst into a lot of golden flowers, want to try?"
"Sure."
William watched her light the fuse.
Crackling golden flowers burst out, colorful and bright.
The five of them played with firecrackers for a long time, then lit the fireworks.
Dazzling white light shot up into the sky, exploding in an instant.
Fireworks bloomed like trees of silver and flowers of gold, a spectacle of purples and reds.
After the brief splendor, only a faint golden light streaked across the sky.
Daniel glanced at his phone and said, "Family, family, there's one minute left for the New Year."
"There are five seconds left!"
"Five."
"Four."
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
Almost in unison, the five of them said, "Happy New Year!"
Looking up, there were fireworks and dazzling lights; beside them were the heart-stirring youth and friends. Ellie looked at William and said, "Happy New Year, William."
"Happy New Year, Little Teacher, not just this year, but for many years to come."
Ellie's heart seemed to be branded by the last four words. She curled her lips and smiled at William.
She was smiling, but felt a bit of sourness in her nose.
William looked at her sweet and soft smile and really wanted to reach out and hug her.
"William."
"I'm here, Little Teacher."
It seemed that every time she called his name, he would say I'm here.
Ellie said, "You've worked hard these days."
She saw William's efforts, how he would do problems until late at night, and dark circles formed under his eyes.
"I'm not tired, but Little Teacher has to accompany me."
Ellie looked at him and said, "You've improved a lot, you're great, great."
"It's all thanks to Little Teacher."
Ellie knew that she only provided some methods and materials, and all the efforts were made by him. She spoke softly, "It's your own effort."
But without her, he wouldn't have changed from that state.
Without her step-by-step guidance, without her not giving up on him, there would be no progress.
Daniel opened the class group and saw the message from Mr. Johnson.
[Mr. Johnson]: Happy New Year @all members.
Below was a uniform screen of Happy New Year.
[Mr. Johnson]: Here's a New Year's gift for everyone.
[Mr. Johnson]: Final exam scores summary docx.
These two messages made the class group explode.
[Adrian]: A real "New Year's gift".
[Lucas]: A package for getting beaten at home, worth having.
[Yang Songyue]: Not looking, going to sleep, afraid of getting beaten.
[Theodore]: Family, I'll check it out first.
"It's thrilling, Mr. Johnson posted the grades in the group." Daniel said.
William opened his phone and noticed the head next to him. Before he could click on the score sheet, Daniel shouted, "William is in the top ten!"
William opened the score sheet and saw his rank just at tenth place.
556 points.
"Great, William."
William glanced at the scores of each subject, which had already improved a lot.
But it's still not enough.
Ellie reached out her hand, and he lowered his head, and Ellie rubbed his head.
He heard her warm voice: "Little William has made a lot of progress and deserves praise."
William laughed, "The revolution has not yet succeeded, still need to work hard."
Listening to her call him Little William, he felt an inexplicable itch in his heart.
Like a little hook scratching at the tip of his heart.
Since entering his senior year, Daniel had also started to study seriously.
He glanced at his score, close to 400 points, and then looked at Mason's score, over 450 points.
Mason said, "We can still aim for a second-tier university."
Daniel instantly regained his motivation, and he said, "Take me to study with you. William studies too crazily. I can't keep up, and I'll die if I study like that."
"Okay."
...
"Go for a late-night snack?" Daniel said.
"Let's go!" Chloe said.
After two in the morning, almost all the shops were closed, only the food stalls were still lit.
"Ladies first, you order."
Ellie and Chloe ordered a few dishes, and then handed the menu back.
Chloe said, "Have a drink?"
Daniel said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah."
Mason glanced at him: "Don't get drunk again and hug the utility pole..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Daniel covered Mason's mouth, and he said to the group, "He's talking nonsense."
William ordered a box of beer, and then ordered a cup of hot milk for Ellie.
All his actions fell into Chloe's eyes.
Chloe could see that he was a very attentive person.
Most importantly, he was very good to Ellie.
The dishes were served quickly.
William opened the bottle and then leaned over to ask Ellie, "Do you hate the smell of alcohol?"
Ellie sniffed the bottle and said, "I don't hate it."
The five glasses clinked together.
"Happy New Year!" The five of them almost said in unison.
Ellie kept eating, watching the four of them drink and play games.
William put the peeled shrimp in Ellie's bowl.
This scene also fell into Chloe's eyes.
If Ellie hadn't gotten sick, maybe the two could be very, very good together.
After a few drinks, Daniel's face turned red.
Chloe said, "Is he drunk?"
"Not drunk, just blushes when he drinks." Daniel said, still pouring alcohol into his glass.
In the end.
Only Daniel drank himself under the table.
Mason's hand rested on the back of his neck, gently pinching it, and he finished the rest of the wine in Daniel's glass.
Chloe held her glass, looking at Daniel lying on the table, and couldn't help but laugh.
Mason said, "That's his drinking limit."
Daniel suddenly raised his head: "I'm not drunk." After saying that, he lay down again.
The group had dinner, and Coco was eating the little fish that William bought for her beside them.
After four in the morning.
Mason carried the drunk Daniel out.
William didn't drink much, and his eyes were still clear. He looked at Chloe and said, "We'll see you home."
Chloe said, "No need, I can take a taxi by myself. You just need to take Ellie home."
Although she said that, William and Ellie still watched her get into the taxi.
Chloe waved to the group: "Goodbye."
Ellie waved to her with a smile: "Goodbye."
Mason said, "William, I'll take him back. You and Ellie take it slow on the road."
"Okay."
William looked at Ellie and said, "Let's go, let's go home too."
"Okay."
William suddenly stopped, lowered his head, and approached.
Ellie looked at the suddenly approaching face and forgot to breathe for a moment.
William arranged her scarf and said, "Alright, let's go."
"Okay."
Ellie looked at the young man walking beside her, a little bit dazed.
When the two walked together, many times she wanted to confess her illness.
Before, she didn't know how to start.
Now, she can't.