At ten o'clock in the evening, it was time for the employees at the One Encounter milk tea shop to get off work. They left one after another, leaving only Yan Heng and the store manager behind.
In the back room, Yan Heng wiped down all the glass cups with a clean cloth.
The manager, looking a bit sloppy and casual, said to Yan Heng, "Got any plans for New Year's Eve? I've got a way to make some money, want in?"
Yan Heng shook his head. "I have plans."
"Oh? Which fugitive have you set your sights on now? Didn't that recent one from the south already get caught?" the manager teased. "You're probably the first student I've ever met who makes bounty money by catching fugitives."
Yan Heng's eyes suddenly softened. He cleared his throat lightly and said, "Yaya asked me to go to her house for New Year's Eve."
"So it's an invitation from a beauty! Meeting the parents so soon, no wonder! You're just like your dad, looking all cold and aloof, but actually a hopeless romantic." The manager's teasing grew louder. "How has Zhu Jianjun not noticed your wolfish ambitions toward his precious daughter?"
Yan Heng shot him a cold, sidelong glance and said nothing.
When New Year's Eve arrived, Yan Heng woke up bright and early. He put on his best clothes and even used the men's facial cleanser the manager had forced upon him, washing his face meticulously.
He paced back and forth in his living room for an hour before riding his somewhat worn-out bicycle from the West District to the South District. He bought a few things at a small supermarket in the South District, and then wandered around Zhu Yaya's residential complex for a long time, carrying the heavy items.
Taking several deep breaths, he finally mustered up the courage to go upstairs to Zhu Yaya's apartment.
Zhu Yaya opened the door and immediately threw a question at him, "Yan Heng, why did you just come up now? I saw you wandering around downstairs this whole time."
Yan Heng remained silent at this.
Zhao Jing didn't hear what Zhu Yaya said. "Yaya, don't block the doorway, let Yan Heng come in!"
Yan Heng had brought a box of milk and several bags of fruit.
The manager had told him, "When you go to the girl's house for New Year's Eve dinner, remember to bring some gifts to show your sincerity."
Yan Heng said a bit stiffly, "Hello, Auntie, this is just a little something from me."
Zhao Jing smiled and gestured for him to put the things down. "You didn't have to bring gifts just to come over. You're too polite."
"Yeah, exactly." Zhu Yaya rummaged enthusiastically through the plastic bags of fruit and found boxed watermelon and other fruits.
Hearing the conversation in the living room, Zhu Jianjun didn't even put down his knife before walking cheerfully out of the kitchen to greet Yan Heng.
Zhu Yaya said, "...Dad, put down the knife in your hand. People who don't know any better would think you're here to rob us. Don't scare Senior Yan Heng away."
Yan Heng sat rather stiffly on the sofa, his hands placed properly on his knees, his back straight. His usually stoic face even wore a smile, though the curve of it remained completely unchanged.
Looking at his rigid, formal posture, Zhu Yaya wanted to laugh.
It was clearly his second time coming to her house, so why was he still so nervous?
Not minding the awkwardness, Zhao Jing sat on the sofa to the side and pulled Yan Heng into a conversation. Thus, Zhu Yaya had the privilege of witnessing what a truly awkward chat looked like—
"How did you do on your final exams? First place again? I heard from Yabao that your grades are exceptionally good!"
"Mhm."
"How have you been lately?"
"Not bad."
"What are you doing during the winter break?"
"Working part-time."
...
Finally, Ms. Zhao really couldn't keep the conversation going anymore. She made an excuse about going to the kitchen to help Zhu Jianjun and told Zhu Yaya to entertain Yan Heng.
Zhu Yaya covered her mouth and laughed. "Look at that, even someone as chatty as my mom couldn't keep a conversation going with you."
"Am I... am I really boring?" Yan Heng's expression was a bit unnatural.
"Not at all!" Zhu Yaya propped her chin on one hand and said with a smile, "You're just stoic on the outside but warm on the inside. It's very cute. Besides, my mom dislikes smooth talkers even more. Being like this will only make her feel that you're very reliable. However, if you don't want to smile, don't force yourself to. In our house, there aren't that many rules. Just be casual, like how we normally act around each other."
"Okay." Yan Heng looked into her eyes and nodded.
"Our balcony windows haven't been wiped yet. Come help me clean them!" Zhu Yaya wanted to use another task to distract him.
Yan Heng agreed.
Yan Heng was tall, so wiping windows was a breeze for him. His movements were surprisingly swift. The glass windows that would have taken Zhu Yaya a whole morning to clean were finished by Yan Heng in no time. Not only was he fast, but he also wiped them spotlessly clean.
She felt like Yan Heng was an all-rounder who could do absolutely anything.
Truly amazing!
When they lived together in the future, she would just leave the window cleaning to him.
As soon as this thought popped up, Zhu Yaya startled herself. She stole a few glances at Yan Heng's profile and felt her face burning up a little.
Pfft, what on earth was she thinking!
To build up the New Year's atmosphere, Zhu Yaya had also bought a few small red lanterns online, wanting to hang them from the ceiling.
She tipped her head back, looked at the high ceiling, and called out Yan Heng's name.
Without a word, Yan Heng took the small lanterns from her hands.
"There are also the couplets." After Yan Heng hung up the small lanterns, Zhu Yaya skipped over with a cheeky smile, holding a pair of spring couplets.
"Alright." Yan Heng got right to it.
"Yabao, why are you always making Yan Heng do these things? Yan Heng, put that down and let your Uncle Zhu do it." Zhao Jing glared at Zhu Yaya.
"S-Senior Yan isn't an outsider anyway," Zhu Yaya said playfully.
"It's fine." Hearing Zhu Yaya's reply, Yan Heng's hand trembled slightly before he continued getting ready to paste the couplets at the doorway.
Zhu Yaya held the clear tape, cutting it into small rectangles with scissors by his side to make it easier for Yan Heng to paste the couplets.
"Yan Heng." Watching his brisk movements, Zhu Yaya felt a bit eager to try. "I want to paste some too."
The couplets on both sides had already been pasted by Yan Heng; only the horizontal scroll was left.
"Okay." Yan Heng had just been about to stick the horizontal scroll with the tape applied, but upon hearing Zhu Yaya say this, he immediately pulled his hand back and carefully handed the scroll to her.
Zhu Yaya took the scroll, tilted her small head up, and looked at the middle of the doorframe's crossbeam, pouting.
All Yan Heng had to do to paste this scroll was reach out his hand, but she, Zhu Yaya, was nowhere near as tall as Yan Heng!
Zhu Yaya was just about to go back inside to grab a stool when she was suddenly lifted up, both feet leaving the ground. Caught off guard, Zhu Yaya let out a yelp.
It was Yan Heng who had lifted her up.
"Yan Heng?" Zhu Yaya was still shaken, worried she might fall.
But Yan Heng's hold was very steady, without a single tremble. Slowly, the fear in Zhu Yaya's heart began to subside.
"Paste the scroll," he said simply.
"Never mind, just put me down! I'm afraid you'll get tired."
"You're not heavy."
These words made Zhu Yaya's heart burst with joy.
She cleared her throat. "Then I'm going to paste it!"
"Mhm."
