As the year-end approached, Ji An was on holiday.
The usually gray streets were adorned with red decorations, and passersby carrying large bags of New Year’s goods frequently walked by him.
Not far away, a child playing with friends accidentally bumped into him.
“Careful,” Ji An said, steadying the child who was about to fall.
The child beamed brightly, “Thank you, Brother.”
Ji An smiled warmly, watching the child run off, but his smile froze and then vanished when he saw someone standing under a tree in the distance.
The person approached him, still wearing that expressionless face.
“Brother.”
You Fu’s wardrobe, apart from the blue and white school uniform, consisted only of black, white, and gray clothes. He rarely wore white, and his dull colors gave him an unshakable aura of gloom.
Coupled with his perpetually stern face, Ji An thought that anyone knowledgeable would consider him unlucky.
“Hmm,” Ji An responded, “Did you need something from me?”
“Shopping for New Year’s goods.”
“Let’s go.”
Their New Year was always quiet, a stark contrast to the bustling streets outside, devoid of laughter and joy.
Ji An merely followed the habits from his childhood at his grandparents’ place, putting up couplets, setting out offerings, and eating the New Year’s Eve dinner while watching the Spring Festival Gala.
It was dull.
As a child, he used to look forward to his parents’ arrival, but as he grew up, that anticipation faded away.
For New Year’s goods, they only bought ingredients for the New Year’s Eve dinner and items needed for offerings.
While wandering around the supermarket, Ji An mischievously slipped a small ornament into You Fu’s pocket, hoping the alarm would go off at the exit, embarrassing You Fu on the spot.
He waited eagerly, but when they checked out, You Fu took out the ornament and paid for it, clearly aware of Ji An’s prank.
Ji An thought it was no fun.
After dinner, You Fu washed the dishes and tidied up.
A new design assistant at Ji An’s company sent him a red envelope, wishing him a happy New Year.
He accepted it and politely sent back a red envelope, joining Xun Yi and others in the work group chat to snatch red envelopes and spam with emojis.
You Fu heated a cup of milk for him and placed it on the table.
The clock struck midnight, marking the New Year.
Ji An picked up the cup of milk, but as soon as his hand touched the cup, the heat made him instinctively pull back.
Crash!
The cup hit the carpet without breaking, but the scalding milk spilled all over Ji An’s right foot.
“Ah…” Ji An couldn’t help but cry out in pain.
Hearing the commotion, You Fu came out of the bathroom, his face still wet.
Ji An, annoyed, said, “What are you looking at? Get me a basin of cold water.”
You Fu, unfazed, went to the bathroom to fetch a basin of cold water, squatted in front of Ji An, and placed his reddened foot into the basin.
The burning pain on his foot made Ji An think how unlucky it was to have something like this happen on the first day of the New Year, right at midnight.
The older generation said that if something bad happened on the first day of the New Year, the whole year would be unlucky.
As a child, he didn’t believe it, but now, having experienced so much, Ji An was somewhat superstitious about it.
He blamed You Fu for the mishap: “If I have a bad year, it’s your fault.”
You Fu looked up, puzzled: “Why?”
“Because the milk you heated was too hot.”
“Alright.” You Fu didn’t argue, and after soaking his foot, he carefully applied ointment from the first aid kit.
You Fu’s cool fingertips, with the ointment, touched the top of his foot, dispelling the burning sensation and bringing some comfort.
Ji An looked at his beautifully shaped eyes, the thin double eyelids partially covered by long eyelashes, giving him a deep look.
Ji An pinched a piece of flesh on his cheek, squeezing hard: “Does it hurt?”
“No.”
Ji An increased the pressure: “How about now?”
You Fu nodded: “It hurts.”
Ji An grabbed his chin, leaned in close, and with a mischievous tone said, “For the whole year ahead, be unlucky with me.”
A barely noticeable smile flickered in You Fu’s eyes: “Okay.”
Boom!
The sound of fireworks exploding came from the window.
Both turned to look outside.
Ji An remarked with curiosity, “Who would be so bold to set off fireworks in the city center? Are they tired of living?”
Fireworks were banned in City C, so this was a rare opportunity to see them. Ji An, leaning on You Fu’s back, staggered to his feet and limped towards the balcony, afraid he’d miss it if he was too late.
You Fu stepped forward to stand beside him.
Ji An unceremoniously draped his arm over You Fu’s neck, using him for support as they walked to the balcony.
On the balcony, the large, blooming fireworks reflected in his eyes. He remembered how, during his childhood New Year, every household would set off fireworks.
Back then, they were too poor to buy large fireworks, only a small box of sparklers, which he treasured, lighting one each day. He used to think that when he grew up and earned money, he would buy lots of fireworks and set them off to his heart’s content.
He did earn money, but unfortunately, City C banned fireworks.
Many people, like Ji An, were on their balconies watching these rare fireworks.
Ji An pointed at the sneaky figure setting off fireworks below and said to You Fu, “You should go set off fireworks for me too.”
You Fu stood slightly to the side, blocking the cool wind blowing their way: “If you want to see them, I’ll see if I can get some fireworks.”
Ji An chuckled, giving his shoulder a firm pat: “Forget it, if you get caught, I’ll have to bail you out at the police station.”
Just as he finished speaking, the sound of a police siren wailed in the distance.
The figure below, seeing the police car approaching, took off running.
Ji An turned his head and laughed for a long time: “What did I say?”
At that moment, his features were gentle, lacking the usual hostility, and his smile overlapped with the person in You Fu’s memory. Unconsciously, You Fu’s eyes curved, his voice soft: “Happy New Year, Brother.”
……
In the countryside, Ji An’s hometown.
His grandparents kept placing food on the table, afraid of neglecting their rarely visiting eldest grandson.
Ji An smiled, “That’s enough, I can’t finish it all.”
“Nonsense, eat more, you’ve gotten thin.” His grandmother glanced outside the yard at You Fu, who was scattering corn for the chickens, and pulled out a few small packages from her pocket, handing them to Ji An with a mysterious air, “Hide these and eat them secretly, they’re good stuff from your aunt, don’t let him see.”
Ji An saw they were packets of donkey-hide gelatin cake. He opened one and put it in his mouth. It was a bit sweet, with a slight bitterness he didn’t like, so he put the rest back in the package.
His grandfather showed Ji An a picture of a child on his old phone: “Look, this is the chubby boy born to your uncle’s aunt’s third cousin’s daughter-in-law, isn’t he adorable?”
Ji An wasn’t fond of children, so he responded perfunctorily, “Very cute.”
His grandmother, exasperated, tapped his hand: “You’re thirty, why haven’t you found someone so your grandpa and I can have great-grandchildren?”
Ji An replied, “I’m only twenty-eight, how am I thirty?”
His grandfather interjected, “You’re twenty-nine in the traditional age count, round it up and you’re thirty.”
Ji An thought to himself, why not round it down to zero?
“I’m busy with work, I don’t have time to find someone.”
“Nonsense, with your looks, there must be girls at your company interested in you. Is it because of that…” His grandmother lowered her voice, winking, “Is it because of that burden, the girls are scared off?”
Ji An’s face showed disdain: “He’s not influential enough to affect my dating life.”
His grandfather said, “Then why aren’t you finding someone? In the old days, people your age had several kids already.”
Ji An sighed, “The Qing Dynasty is long gone.”
His grandmother asked, “Is it because you haven’t found the right one? Your aunt mentioned a girl recently, a college graduate, just finished school. She’s pretty, well-behaved, and looks like she’d be a good mother. She’s been doing housework every morning at home, very sensible. You should meet her tomorrow.”
After being nagged for so long, Ji An’s head hurt, so he excused himself to the bathroom to escape their verbal barrage.
Every time he came home, they would pressure him about marriage and children, asking why he wasn’t dating.
Why else? He didn’t want to.
Love seemed boring just thinking about it.
Ji An went to the yard and saw You Fu, having finished feeding the chickens, squatting in the corner playing with the family’s little mutt.
Whenever he brought You Fu to the countryside, You Fu would spend most of his time in the yard playing with the dog. Besides the little mutt, no one in the family welcomed him.
Ji An remembered the first time he brought him to the countryside. Ji An went out to meet old friends and drank until the early morning. When he returned, he found the frail You Fu, wearing only a thick sweater, curled up alone outside the gate, shivering from the cold, his face pale with a bluish tint. Only the little mutt snuggled against him, whimpering, trying to keep him warm.
The northern winter nights were bone-chilling. If Ji An hadn’t come back that night, You Fu would likely have frozen to death outside.
At that time, Ji An was drunk and not thinking clearly. In a fit of madness, he picked You Fu up from the ground and started banging on the door.
His grandparents, startled, got out of bed and asked what was wrong.
Ji An shouted, “What trouble are you causing me every day? If something happens to him, how will I get the money?!”
They argued loudly, waking the neighbors who cursed them for disturbing the peace.
“I can’t even have a peaceful New Year! I’m leaving, okay?” In a fit of anger, Ji An ignored his grandparents’ attempts to stop him, wrapped You Fu tightly in his coat, and led him through the dimly lit mountain path to a hotel in town.
Throughout the journey, You Fu didn’t utter a word, holding onto his hand tightly.
The little mutt followed closely behind.
The next day, Ji An caught a cold from the cold, and when he woke up, he saw a child in his arms and a little dog by the bed. He regretted it deeply, thinking how expensive it was to stay in a hotel and how annoying the child was.
He pinched You Fu’s face to wake him up, speaking harshly: “Hey, my cold and the money spent are all thanks to you. As punishment, your living expenses for this month will be deducted by the hotel fee.”
You Fu just nodded.
But from then on, his grandparents never drove You Fu away again and didn’t cause Ji An any more trouble.
“Even if you don’t like it, you have to eat it.” Ji An stuffed the half-eaten donkey-hide gelatin cake into You Fu’s mouth, then shoved the remaining packets into his pocket, patting his head with mock sympathy, “You’re really pitiful, after all these years, only the dog likes you.”
You Fu petted the little mutt’s head, his eyelashes casting a shadow under his eyes: “I’m used to it.”