Another new year had arrived.
Dali had invited her early on to go to the temple fair together on the third day of the first lunar month. The annual temple fair in Fan City would last for half a month and was always the liveliest event of the entire festival season.
Song Shiyue studied at home right up until the final day before Spring Festival. Only when the Lunar New Year was almost upon them did Zhao Siqian drag her out to buy New Year goods and soak in the bright red festive atmosphere on the streets.
On New Year’s Eve, fireworks exploded endlessly outside, mixed with the occasional sharp crack of firecrackers. Naughty children were running around and shouting downstairs in the compound. In the living room, the CCTV Spring Festival Gala was playing on the television; the host was holding the microphone delivering the opening remarks. Everywhere was warm, noisy, and brimming with the spirit of celebrating the big New Year.
The tea table was covered with plates of fruit, nuts, and snacks. The family of three sat together on the sofa, following their yearly tradition of seeing the New Year in together.
Song Shiyue curled up in the corner, hugging her phone and reading the chat in Dali’s group, occasionally glancing up at the TV.
Zhao Siqian and Song Qing cracked melon seeds while commenting on this year’s Gala program.
“This year’s lineup feels even worse than previous years. The skits keep recycling the same old clichés. The singing and dancing are getting harder and harder to understand — it’s all just a bunch of very young kids performing now.”
“Nowadays, everything is made for the young people to watch. Even though we don’t understand it, the young ones like it. Just point at anyone on screen, and they’ll all know who it is,” Song Qing said.
The two of them immediately turned their gazes toward the only “young person” present in the room. Song Shiyue put down her phone and clarified, “I don’t know them either.”
Not long after she spoke, the next segment began. Zhu Xingyan appeared on the big screen wearing a red-and-white suit with an earpiece. Even in the close-up shots pushed by the Spring Festival Gala cameras, his features remained flawless. A captivating drumbeat intro started, and it was his singing-and-dancing performance.
The short few-minute segment ended. The boy, sweat dampening his brows, looked into the camera and took his final bow. Only then did Zhao Siqian seem to react. She let out a small “eh” and commented, “This boy is actually pretty good. He dances really nicely.”
Song Qing stared a little longer, then turned to Song Shiyue with a smile. “That’s your classmate, Yueyue.”
“Really?” Zhao Siqian immediately reached for her reading glasses on the tea table and put them on. Unfortunately, the person on screen had already finished and left the stage. She took the glasses off again with visible regret.
“I always hear you two talking about him, but I never looked closely. Just now I glanced a few times, and he does seem like a very good-looking boy.”
“Yueyue has his signed photo at home. Why don’t you take a proper look?” Song Qing teased. Zhao Siqian suddenly became interested and leaned over with an extremely focused expression.
Song Shiyue was slightly speechless.
She had often heard Song Qing joke in the past that her mother used to be a huge face-judger when she was young. The only reason the two of them got together back then was because he had an exceptionally nice-looking face.
Song Shiyue never believed it. First, she didn’t believe her father was ever a handsome guy in his youth. Second, she didn’t believe her mother judged by looks.
Now it seemed everything had traceable origins.
Zhao Siqian actually told her to go get the signed photo so she could see it properly. Song Shiyue had no choice but to get up, go to her room, and dig through the box for the movie promotional still that Zhu Xingyan had given her earlier. As she held it, she couldn’t help feeling a slight daze again. Even though she didn’t want to admit it, the emotion creeping over her right now was unmistakably a sense of loss.
Song Shiyue walked back out and handed the photo to Zhao Siqian. She put on her reading glasses, examined it carefully for quite a while, and finally nodded in agreement. “Mm… he really is a beautiful boy.”
“Are there lots of people in your class who like him?” For once, she actually felt like teasing her daughter.
Song Shiyue gave a very light nod. Her voice came out unconsciously low and muffled. “It’s just the usual liking that ordinary people have for big celebrities.”
“Oh? None of the liking between classmates?”
“Mom, do you know about stars? They look like they’re right above our heads, very close, but in reality they’re billions of light-years away from us. To us, Zhu Xingyan is that kind of star.” Song Shiyue said this with a perfectly serious face. The two adults were caught off guard for a moment. The air went briefly quiet. Zhao Siqian was the first to recover.
“I was just joking. Why are you being so serious?” She stuffed the signed photo back into her daughter’s hand and muttered, “He even gave you a signed photo, didn’t he? If this star was really that far away, would he still give you guys any chance to get close?”
Song Shiyue didn’t want to argue with her anymore. She sighed inwardly. Just then her phone vibrated. Dali and the others had sent early New Year blessings. As she looked down to check, a new message suddenly popped into view. A glowing star icon appeared before her eyes.
「Star」: 【Happy New Year】
She froze for a long time, almost suspecting it was her own illusion. Song Shiyue stared fixedly at the message and slowly blinked.
Her sluggish heartbeat gradually returned to normal.
It really was him.
On this quiet, ordinary New Year’s Eve, he had suddenly sent her a greeting.
The joy arrived quietly and lingered. A smile unconsciously curved Song Shiyue’s lips. Just as she was about to reply, her mind suddenly recalled that not long ago, he had still been performing on the Spring Festival Gala stage.
She couldn’t help frowning as she stared at the profile picture opposite her.
Could this be… an account hack?
「Moon」: 【Happy New Year】
Song Shiyue sent it as usual.
She bit her lip and thought for a while, but still couldn’t resist sending another message.
「Moon」: 【Are you really you?】
Backstage at the Spring Festival Gala, the interview had just ended.
In the post-performance interview earlier, the host had asked, “Will you send New Year blessings to your family and friends during Spring Festival?”
He had answered “yes.” Later, during the segment where he sent blessings to the audience, after reading out the prepared greeting, Zhu Xingyan suddenly felt an empty spot in his chest.
He thought of her, and then realized he hadn’t yet wished her a happy new year.
He had originally thought that sending a simple, ordinary greeting would naturally receive a polite, courteous reply in return.
Given her personality, she would never overstep.
But now, looking at the question she had sent, Zhu Xingyan stared at his phone. Unconsciously, the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.
「Star」: 【Why are you asking that?】
In the backstage rest area, busy staff occasionally passed by. The boy leaned against a corner where two full racks of performance costumes hung, naturally shielding his figure.
People came and went nearby, but few noticed the big star whose face had just turned red-hot on national television.
In this stolen moment of free time, he slowly typed and chatted with her.
The moment Song Shiyue saw that reply, she knew for sure it was really him.
An inexplicable feeling — the smooth, perfectly matched signal between them.
Belated embarrassment surged up. She habitually pressed her lips together and explained.
「Moon」: 【I just saw your performance on the Gala earlier, so I thought you should still be busy right now and wouldn’t have time to use your phone】
「Moon」: 【Sorry, it was my misunderstanding】
「Star」: 【The interview just finished. I’m secretly playing for a bit behind my manager’s back】
「Star」: 【Is crossing the year fun at your place?】
When Song Shiyue saw his reply, she couldn’t help smiling again. She could almost picture him hiding alone backstage at the Gala playing on his phone. The corners of her eyes and brows were full of laughter as she slowly typed back to him.
「Moon」: 【It’s okay. On New Year’s Eve our family always watches the Spring Festival Gala together to see in the new year】
She thought for a moment and added more.
「Moon」: 【My mom said you dance really well】
Zhu Xingyan reached up and rubbed the back of his ear, feeling his skin grow a little hot. The light from the phone screen illuminated his brows and eyes. The corners of his mouth curved into an embarrassed arc despite himself.
「Star」: 【Please thank Auntie for me】
The conversation seemed about to end there.
Song Shiyue wasn’t sure whether she should keep it going. While she hesitated, a new message arrived from the other side.
「Star」: 【So, are you planning to go anywhere during Spring Festival?】
Zhu Xingyan was simply thinking that his manager Liu Yan hadn’t come looking for him yet, so there was still a little time. Chatting for a couple more sentences wouldn’t hurt anything.
Next time… who knew when that would be. He couldn’t keep finding excuses to indulge himself like this.
Besides, she would soon be facing the college entrance exam. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
「Moon」: 【On the third day of the first lunar month, Dali invited me to go to the temple fair together. Nothing else really】
「Moon」: 【By the way, have you ever been to the temple fair in Fan City? It’s super lively】
「Star」: 【I went when I was very little. I have some faint memories】
「Star」: 【My grandparents took me. Last year when I saw the photos you posted, it reminded me of my childhood】
Song Shiyue’s mind instantly flashed back to that sudden like he had given her post.
So that was why he had liked her update — because of the temple fair.
She felt embarrassed for having misunderstood his intention, but she still braced herself and continued the conversation.
「Moon」: 【If you get the chance next time, you should come check it out again. It’s a lot livelier now than before】
「Star」: 【Okay】
Right after Zhu Xingyan sent the message, ripples spread uncontrollably across the surface of his heart. Some unrealistic fantasy surged into his mind. The self-control he had always prided himself on began to loosen faintly. Just as private desire was about to break free from its cage, a voice snapped his reason back into place.
“Xiao Yan, we’re about to take the group photo!” It was his manager Liu Yan calling him.
He quickly turned off his phone and stood up. He stepped out from the dim corner into the bright lights. The world felt as though it had crossed a dividing line. The brief utopia he had immersed himself in vanished behind him, and reality stood firmly in front.
He tried hard to listen to the staff’s instructions and push everything from moments ago out of his mind. Yet the girl’s face grew clearer and clearer. Faintly, in the midst of winter, he caught the fragrance of gardenia flowers.
The third day of the first lunar month — the grand spectacle of the temple fair.
The day before, Song Shiyue had confirmed plans with Dali. By coincidence, Zhou Zongbai also sent her an invitation — and even more coincidentally, it was also to go to the temple fair together.
【I already made plans with a friend】
Song Shiyue felt awkward and politely declined. But the other party smoothly followed up, open and generous.
【Perfect timing — I also invited another friend. If you don’t mind, why don’t the four of us go together? The more people, the livelier it is】
【You know this friend too — it’s Li Xun, the one we met at the training base before】
With the suggestion already phrased this way, Song Shiyue felt she had no real reason left to refuse.
She asked Dali for her opinion. To her surprise, Dali — who usually would have objected — actually agreed. Her exact words were: “We’re graduating soon anyway. I doubt he can stir up any real trouble.”
“…………” Song Shiyue helplessly pressed her forehead and could only give a subtle warning.
“When we meet, please, for the love of everything, don’t say anything weird. In dramas, the self-deluded female side character always ends up becoming a joke.”
She added gently, “I don’t want to become a joke.”
Dali: “…Relax, I know where to draw the line!”
On the day they met, Dali behaved far more normally than expected. On the surface she was flawless — smiling brightly and greeting both boys. The four of them walked side by side through the temple fair, and the atmosphere was unusually harmonious.
Li Xun had a warm, talkative personality with an easy, likable familiarity. He clicked instantly with Dali. The two of them quickly became chummy and soon invited the group to go ahead and buy some of that famous, always-crowded stinky tofu from the secret-recipe stall.
Song Shiyue didn’t eat spicy food and politely declined. Zhou Zongbai also refused, saying it wasn’t to his taste. The two of them found a spot to wait.
Zhou Zongbai’s sharp eyes spotted a sugar-water shop at the end of the street.
They walked over together. The festival streets were packed and crowded. Acrobats shouted as they passed through, parting the crowd to either side. Someone bumped Song Shiyue hard from behind. She stumbled backward heavily and her shoulder knocked into a red lantern hanging from a nearby stall.
Zhou Zongbai reacted quickly, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward him. The two suddenly stood very close. Song Shiyue looked up in panic and murmured a thank-you. At the same moment, the boy lowered his gaze, concern clear as he checked on her.
In the bustling, prosperous street filled with fiery red everywhere, not far away, a young girl stood shoulder to shoulder with a tall boy beside her. In the middle of the crowd, their eyes met. The scene was beautiful, like a painting.
Zhu Xingyan stood at the corner of the alley, watching as the boy let go of her arm and gently patted her hair with genuine worry in his eyes. She tilted her face up and gave him a small smile.