Qi Chengyue thought to herself, 'Perhaps blood was indeed thicker than water.'

"His performance in the company has always been good, he has talent that I can admire. Personally, I've never interacted with him much. No conflict there, so why would I dislike him?" Qi Chengzhi crossed his legs and leisurely sipped his tea.

Qi Zhongxun heard his nephew's compliment and thought, 'There are few people that Qi Chengzhi admires and to think that Jian Yi would be one of them...'

"Since you're his superior, I trust that you'd have a certain degree of understanding of the man. You really think well of him?" Qi Zhongxun asked, leaning forward expectantly.

Qi Chengzhi slowly sipped his tea. Those raven black eyes laid on Qi Zhongxun, a slight nod. "He's a good candidate."

At a corner, Qi Chengyue jumped with unrestrained glee. "Dad, I told you. My taste has standards."

"Alright. You go ahead and discuss with Jian Yi to see when are his parents free. We can set up a date and talk about the wedding at Dynasty Restaurant. We don't want to overlook his parents," Qi Zhongxun said to his daughter.

"What's there to discuss? You can set the date. His parents are salaried workers, they can just take a day off. It's not like they have important fuctions to attend and jam-packed schedules like you," Qi Chengyue spoke dismissively.

"Have you forgotten all that Chengzhi just said?" Qi Zhongxun glared at his daughter. "Your words may be tolerated by us but please keep that attitude when you're meeting Jian Yi's parents. If you're can't bring yourself to respect them, don't date their only son! If Jian Yi knew of your snobbery, what would he think?"

"Okay, okay." Qi Chengyue pouted unhappily.

…

…

Jian Yi was driving home when he passed by a store selling healthcare products. He turned into the corner abruptly and parked the car by the street. Moments later, he exited the store with four bags of products and deposited them in the back of the car.

The dumplings were ready. Yu Qianyin was in the process of collecting the wrapped dumplings when the doorbell rang. Her daughter had gone to wash her hands, so Yu Qianyin called out, "Song Yu, see who is it."

Song Yu murmured her assent and headed for the door. The door swung open to reveal Jian Yi carrying multiple plastic bags in his arms. At this point, Song Yu regretted her decision and decided to undo her mistake by closing the door.

Sensing the girl's intention, Jian Yi quickly blocked the door with his shoulder. "Song Song, are you going to hang me out to dry forever? Are we not even friends anymore? I'm here today just to see uncle and auntie."

"Who's that?" Yu Qianyin was carrying a tray of dumplings into the kitchen and caught sight of Jian Yi standing outside. After all, the kitchen was right beside the main door.

"Auntie, I was on my way home and thought I'd stop by to see you." Jian Yi looked across Song Yu's shoulders to greet the elder woman.

"Don't dither at the doorway, come on in." Yu Qianyin hurriedly placed the dumplings in the kitchen and head back out. "Song Yu, let Jian Yi in. Why are you blocking the door?"

"It's alright, auntie. I was just dropping by to give you these." Jian Yi set the bags down by the door.

Yu Qianyin saw the products and huffed, "You're always buying us such expensive stuff!"

"It's not that expensive," Jian Yi said to her, "I'll take my leave first."

"You traveled so far. Why don't you come in and sit a while?" Yu Qianyin squeezed past Song Yu and intended to invite the man in.

"I can't. I need to head back to see my parents." Jian Yi smiled.

"Oh, it's the New Year's Eve. Okay, I shouldn't keep you from your parents," the elder woman said, then a thought struck her, "Jian Yi, one moment please."

Yu Qianyin ran into the kitchen and took out two bags. "You take these back to your home. One is Tieguanyin tea gifted by someone, the other is a set of ceramic knives. The knives may not be practical but they are finely-crafted. You can use them as decorative pieces if you like."

"Auntie, this…" Jian Yi wanted to decline the gifts but the elder woman's glower made him think twice. "You can gift us things but we can't return the gesture? These gifts are meant for your parents, so don't you worry."

"Alright, I will take them then." Jian Yi graciously accepted the gifts with a courteous smile.

Now that the exchange was over, Yu Qianyin urged her daughter, "Song Yu, walk Jian Yi out would you?"

Trapped under her mother's supervision, Song Yu bit her lip and walked out of the house begrudgingly.

Song Yu followed Jian Yi up to the apartment lobby door and said to him in an impassive tone, "See you." She then turned around and headed for the stairs.

Her departure was halted by a hand gripping her arm, forcing her to look back.

"Song Song, sometimes I think you still have feelings for me. Why else would you hate me so much? Why hurt me like this if you've really moved on?"

Song Yu dislodged her arm from his grip, her voice dripping with ridicule. "You think my treatment toward you is because I hate you and not because I don't care for you?"

Jian Yi pursed his lips. His warm breath was visible in the cold air.

"You got together with Qi Chengzhi? He announced to his family today that he has a girlfriend now." Jian Yi's throat tightened as he said it aloud. He scrutinized Song Yu's face, looking for a reaction.

Her face was still as lovely as before but her eyes no longer had the familiar tenderness when she looked at him. Instead, it had evolved into distrust — and perhaps a hint of disgust, though he would never admit it — as if he was a stranger.

Song Yu was mildly surprised at his admission. 'Qi Chengzhi told his family?'

Warmth crept into her chest and nestled there, to think that he had announced their relationship to his family without any hesitation. She was somewhat nervous about revealing their dalliance to the Qi family and her own parents. However, now that she was being acknowledged as Qi Chengzhi's girlfriend by his family, it felt pretty good.

Song Yu maintained an unperturbed expression despite the creeping warmth in her body. Jian Yi could not decipher her.

"Qi Chengzhi was just toying with you. He was never serious with you. Now that he's gotten a girlfriend and announced it to the family, you ought to know better." He stared intensely into her eyes. "Did you forget? When your family filed for bankruptcy, how the Qi family immediately called off your engagement."

"Their family only cares about money. They will never accept you." Jian Yi was agitated. He did not want Song Yu to be corrupted by Qi Chengzhi as she had been one of the best parts of his life.

Moreover, he could not bear to see Song Yu with anyone but himself.

"Qi Chengzhi may be with you now but he went behind your back and found another lady of equal social standing. Please don't be fooled by him." Noticing her look of indifference and that his words falling on deaf ears, he grabbed her arm and said anxiously, "Are you only willing to believe me when he walks down the aisle with another woman?"

"Song Yu, I don't want to see you hurt."

Those words prickled Song Yu. Jian Yi was the last person she wanted to hear that line from. She snatched her arm back and gave him a sardonic smile. "Congratulations on getting into the Qi family."

From his recounts, did he expect her to not pick up on the fact that he had entered the Qi's family house and met the Qi family?

At this line, Jian Yi paled and lost his bravado.

Song Yu let out a harsh laugh and turned her back to him. On the way up, she heard Jian Yi shout, "Song Song, I'm doing what's best for you. I would never hurt you!"

Song Yu's steps did not falter. When she was back inside the house, her mother who was busy preparing New Year's Eve dinner walked out of the kitchen. "Saw Jian Yi out?"

"Mhmm." Song Yu nodded with no emotion on her face.

"Jian Yi, that child…" Yu Qianyin started, then she seemed to have second thoughts. Though in the end, she could not help herself but say, "Fate didn't want the two of you together but you shouldn't hate him. He has helped our family a lot. Even if you can't be lovers, you should be his friend. He came all the way to our house today with gifts and all you could give him is that long face of yours? Have you forgotten about all the good he brought us?"

"I'd rather not be friends with some of such bad character," Song Yu replied softly.

Firecrackers were going off outside and the ruckus made it hard to carry out a conversation. "Sorry, I didn't catch that," her mother said.

"Nothing." Song Yu shook her head and walked away.

…

…

After finishing the New Year's Eve dinner, the Song family gathered in front of the television and watched the Spring Festival Gala.

Since the family's bankruptcy, their New Year's celebrations have been less festive.

The Yu family had cut ties with Yu Qianyin. They feared that her family would come to them and beg for monetary assistance.

Hence, it had been a few years since Yu Qianyin saw her parents and siblings.

The sound of firecrackers and fireworks outside was unrelenting. Rolls of firecrackers were lit and the unexpected loud explosions startled everyone, overpowering the sound of the television. In retaliation, Yu Qianyin raised the volume of the television to an unhealthy level.

Song Yu was watching the Spring Festival Gala while texting Ruan Danchen. A call came in and cut into her texting.

Qi Chengzhi's name flashed on the phone screen. Song Yu imperceptibly glanced at her mother who was sitting beside her. Yu Qianyin was fully entranced by the product advertisement playing on the television. Song Yu took her chance and sneakily slipped away to her own room to take the call.

One hand on her left ear to block out all the noises, the other holding her phone to her right ear, she answered the call. Before she had a chance to speak, Qi Chengzhi's familiar voice reverberated. "I'm downstairs."

'He came over this morning. Why is he here again?'

Song Yu checked the time, it was already nearing midnight.

Song Yu knew that going downstairs to meet him was her only option, so she said to the phone, "I'll meet you downstairs." She threw on her down jacket, grabbed her phone and keys, then quietly snuck out of the apartment.

She scanned for Qi Chengzhi's Range Rover around the apartment block but could not find it. She figured it was because of New Year's Eve and the firecrackers that all the parking lots were occupied. Qi Chengzhi probably did not manage to drive his car in.

Song Yu walked out of the apartment compound and spotted the Range Rover parked at the side of the corner building.

Qi Chengzhi was dressed in a casual V-neck black-and-white-striped sweater and a navy blue woolen coat, a departure from his usual formal attire. Clad in khaki trousers that accentuated his long legs, he was leaning against the back of the Range Rover with his legs crossed.

A cigarette between his leather-gloved fingers, he occasionally took a drag. The white smoke quickly disappeared, chased away by the cold winter winds.

Song Yu slowed her footsteps down, mesmerized by the man before her.

He was very different from Jian Yi. Qi Chengzhi emanated an air of nobility that could not be emulated.

Looking at him from afar, she felt a sense of calm wash over her; though as she approached him, she started to feel nervous. When had this become an issue?

She never knew that the sight of a man quietly smoking would fill her with such contentment.

Her approach was perceived by Qi Chengzhi and he turned to look at her with tenderness in his eyes.

Butterflies flitted around in her stomach and her heart started to race.

Qi Chengzhi stood up straight as Song Yu walked up to him. His body towered over hers as if shielding her from the winds.

Song Yu lifted her head. Until then, she did not dare to look straight into his eyes so her vision lingered at his chin.

"Why didn't you wait in the car?" she asked. She had only been outdoors for a moment but the howling winds had reddened her cheeks and messed up her hair.

Song Yu blamed herself for rushing out, she should have tied her hair up in retrospect.

While she was thinking this, it did not occur to her that when a woman was worried about her appearance in front of a man, it meant that the man had a foothold in her heart.

Qi Chengzhi's gloved fingers combed through her hair. She could smell the leather as he helped tame her disheveled locks.

When he was done, he opened the backseat door. "Hop in."

Odd that she was being ushered into the backseat.

As she was settling down into the backseat, the opposing door opened and in came Qi Chengzhi.

Suddenly, the backseat felt too small for the two of them. The interior of the car was brightly lit — a contrast from the street they had been standing on. Song Yu found herself internally panicking at the situation, unsure as to what she should do.

The windblown scent of Qi Chengzhi's cologne filled the space. Song Yu's previously frozen face was heating up by every passing second.

"Why are you here? Aren't you spending New Year's at home?"

Qi Chengzhi slowly removed the gloves, revealing a pair of unblemished hands. "I wanted to spend New Year's with you."

He tossed away the leather gloves and reached for Song Yu's cold hands. Using his own body heat, he warmed the small hands clasped between his palms.

Within moments, Song Yu could feel blood flow return to her fingers.

The man who was supposed to be at the Qi house for New Year's had abandoned his family and came to find her instead.

According to the traditions of the Spring Festival, it was customary to stay up until midnight to welcome the new year. This tradition was primarily carried out together with one's family, yet, here he was.

Song Yu's heart had not calmed down. Gathering her courage, she raised her head and looked at his clean-shaven and elegant face. She was met with a pair of focused, black eyes.

The whole time that she was staring at his delicate hands, he was looking at her with such intensity.

Song Yu felt her heart skip a beat, a full-blown blush was forming on her cheeks. "Wait here for a moment, I'll be right back."

"Hold up." Qi Chengzhi's low voice echoed. He took his leather gloves and made her wear them.

The gloves were fitted for hands much bigger than Song Yu's. Her fingers filled only two-thirds of the space.

The leather gloves still had the warmth of Qi Chengzhi's hands.

With her hands protected from the weather, Song Yu jogged back to the apartment block.

At her house entrance, she stowed the leather gloves into her jacket pockets.

When she entered her home, she saw her mother in the kitchen cooking dumplings. Hearing the front door close, Yu Qianyin turned around and spotted Song Yu walking in. "Where did you go?"

"I went downstairs to watch the fireworks." Still wearing her down jacket, she walked into the kitchen and said to her mother, "I'll take over. You go ahead and watch the Spring Festival Gala with dad."

"It's fine, I've already started cooking. Go and accompany your dad." Yu Qianyin was periodically stirring the water to ensure the dumplings did not stick to the pot.

Song Yu took the ladle and steered her mother out from the kitchen. "I'm not very interested in the program. You go watch and relax. We'll eat the dumplings after midnight."

"Okay, okay. No need to push." Yu Qianyin chuckled and shook her head, returning to the living room.

Song Yu took out two containers of different sizes — a large one to hold the dumplings and a smaller one for the vinegar.

She filled the large container with cooked dumplings and grabbed two pairs of chopsticks. Without saying a word, she left the house.

Song Yu entered the car. When Qi Chengzhi saw the freshly-cooked dumplings in her arms, he thought to himself, 'No wonder she took so long.'

"Wait." Song Yu leaned forward to the front seat and switched on the radio. She did not need to search for a particular frequency as every station was streaming the Spring Festival Gala.

She sat back down. The host was counting down the seconds to the new year.

On the final count, Song Yu opened the large container. It was a new year.

"You made these yourself?" Qi Chengzhi took a dumpling with his chopsticks.

"My mom prepared the fillings and we wrapped them together." Song Yu picked a dumpling and smiled. "The ones that are unevenly wrapped like this one is probably my handiwork."

Qi Chengzhi silently put down his chosen fat dumpling and took the one Song Yu picked. He dipped the distorted dumpling in some vinegar and ate it.

Outside the car, fireworks lit up the night sky. The colorful display of lights filtered into the car and cast a hazy shadow on Qi Chengzhi's face.

They sat in the cramped backseat eating warm dumplings. Accompanied by the sounds of celebration through the radio, it was a heartwarming scene.

He ate the dumplings in one bite, not the least worried about burning his tongue. Even so, Qi Chengzhi looked as graceful as ever.

…

…

Back at home, the countdown had ended but Song Yu's promised dumplings still were not delivered. Yu Qianyin hollered, "Song Yu, are the dumplings ready?"

When a minute passed and there was no reply, Yu Qianyin got up and muttered, "This child."

She entered the kitchen and Song Yu was nowhere to be seen. The batch of cooked dumplings had disappeared too, while the uncooked dumplings remained where they were when she left.

"This brat, she said she was going to cook the dumplings and where did she go?" Yu Qianyin said in an annoyed tone and started the stove.

…

…

They finished the dumplings just as the Spring Festival Gala ended.

Qi Chengzhi placed the emptied containers in the passenger seat and switched off the radio.

The loud and festive performances broadcasted by the radio had stifled any romantic notions but then, awkwardness filled the air again.

As he sat back down, a splash of color exploded in the sky and reflected in Song Yu's face, enhancing her delicate facial features.

"That… I'll head home now. Drive safe," Song Yu uttered and turned to leave. His attention on her was making her anxious. However, Qi Chengzhi quickly grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her into his embrace.

"I haven't wished you, Happy Spring Festival," he whispered into her ear. His lips trailed along the shell of her ear.

Feeling his hot breath on her ear and neck, she clutched at his chest as her heart pounded in abandonment.

"Happy... Oh…" she did not manage to finish her sentence as he kissed her into silence.

Qi Chengzhi's arms encircled her firmly. A sudden flip and she was on her back on the leather back seats. He continued to kiss her forcefully, his body tucked between her legs.

One hand maneuvered its way past her down jacket and underneath her sweater. His palm was warm against her skin. As the palm moved upward, Song Yu inhaled sharply, flattening her belly but puffing up her chest.