Chapter 148: Fireworks

After receiving her mother's tacit approval, Jiang Zhiyao felt the very air was sweet.

I already don't lack for anything!

She tried hard to suppress the corners of her upturned mouth, but she simply couldn't hold it back.

I'm acting on orders! Carrying on my mother's will—how could I just stand still?

She dragged a small stool over, sat down at the front door, pulled out her phone, and sent a message to Jiang Linyuan:

"What are you out doing? Why aren't you back yet so late?"

Right now, she especially wanted to see him. Even if they didn't say a single word, and she just watched him like an idiot, it would still make her happy!

"Went out to restock. Private transaction. Can't be seen in the light."

The moment this guy opened his mouth, he ruined the mood.

Jiang Zhiyao guessed he must have gone to buy something.

She just didn't know what.

"What did you buy? Out this late?"

She asked again.

"I went to buy fireworks. The big kind."

Jiang Linyuan snapped a few photos and sent them back.

"Picked up a few sparklers on the side. Speaking of sparklers, you know, those things light up in an instant and shoot out this hot stuff..."

"Making another dirty joke?"

"No idea what you mean. I'm just describing it normally."

Jiang Zhiyao chatted with him, one comment here and there, feeling as if he was right there beside her.

"When are you coming back?"

"Soon. On my way back now."

"Drive carefully. I won't bother you. Call me when you're back."

After getting her answer, Jiang Zhiyao returned to her room and began thinking seriously—what should she say when she saw Jiang Linyuan?

Should she just come out and say it, or be more subtle?

A lot of ideas swirled in her head, but once she calmed down...

She couldn't help but ask herself: Mom was just an obstacle stopping her from liking him—but did he like her?

Or rather, did he like her more than others?

Could he give up those so-called friends for her?

Jiang Zhiyao tossed and turned on the bed, grabbing at her hair in frustration.

In the end, it all came down to one word: fight. If she won, she'd take her place. If she lost... well, there wasn't really any loss. They could still go on like before.

No, no, no! How could she be thinking about failure before she'd even started!

Just as Jiang Zhiyao was lost in her chaotic thoughts, her phone buzzed. It was Jiang Linyuan calling.

"You're back?"

"Yeah. Come out quick. I just lit a firework. It's really pretty. They don't even let you set these off in the city!"

"Come out! Hurry, hurry!"

Jiang Linyuan's voice was low, laced with excitement.

"Setting off fireworks this late? Aren't you afraid someone will beat you to death?"

Jiang Zhiyao said this with her mouth, but she slowly got up, threw on a cotton jacket, and walked out the door.

Pushing open the door, the pitch-black night met her eyes.

"Come on, come on! I just lit it!"

Jiang Linyuan ran toward Jiang Zhiyao, his tone brimming with excitement.

"What's so great about it?"

Jiang Zhiyao pouted, but her gaze had already landed on the center of the yard.

The moment she finished speaking, a streak of fire trailed a yellow arc into the sky and burst open with a bang against the night.

The sparks cascaded down like scattered specks of starlight falling.

Under the darkness, one firework after another exploded like a blazing tree of silver flowers, illuminating her pupils.

"Pretty, right?"

Jiang Linyuan turned his head to look at Jiang Zhiyao, his eyes bright.

"Pretty."

Jiang Zhiyao said.

"Worth it. Getting a bang out of this before New Year's Eve."

Jiang Linyuan said with satisfaction.

"Haji Yao, from now on, you can go brag about it. Other people's fireworks are only for New Year's Eve, but this one? This firework was just for you!"

"Hehe, aren't you moved?"

Jiang Zhiyao looked at his smiling face, then took off her own coat and draped it over him.

"You ran all the way out here and didn't even think to wear a thicker jacket."

Jiang Linyuan froze for a moment.

This Haji Yao wasn't acting right.

Jiang Zhiyao didn't seem to care. She turned her head back to watch the blooming fireworks.

A tiny, glowing speck of light fell from the sky. Without thinking, she reached out her hand to catch it.

But the light had already dimmed halfway down, turning to ash.

"What's up? Gone dumb?"

Jiang Linyuan slapped Jiang Zhiyao's outstretched hand.

She grabbed his hand, gripping it tightly.

"Why'd you hit me?"

"Seeing you reach out like a little dog begging for food, I couldn't help but grab it."

Jiang Linyuan said.

"If I'm a little dog, then you're a little dog too."

Jiang Zhiyao didn't care at all. She leaned closer to Jiang Linyuan.

Jiang Linyuan didn't dare move.

What was going on? Why wasn't this Haji Yao acting all haughty?

"Come on, let's get inside. The fireworks are over. Don't freeze to death."

Jiang Linyuan said, pushing Jiang Zhiyao lightly and nudging her toward the house.

But Jiang Zhiyao just held his hand, not moving.

The night sky was clear, without a single cloud. Only the moon and stars adorned each other—a rare sight in the city.

Lifting her head, she saw the star-and-moon-lit canopy. She looked at Jiang Linyuan and smiled softly.

"Jiang Linyuan, thank you for always being with me."

"Not at all, it's—"

Before he could finish, his lips were pressed shut.

Jiang Zhiyao raised her index finger and gently pressed it against his lips.

"It's so cold out. Talk less."

Thump, thump.

Even though the fireworks had stopped, the beautiful sound of their bursting still echoed in her ears.

Her cheeks were burning hot. Her heart was pounding violently.

Jiang Zhiyao confirmed it once again.

This throb in her chest, this fear of being abandoned, this desperate urge to chase after him—this wasn't the mere accumulation of time spent together.

It was affection. She liked him.

The fireworks had stopped. The moonlight remained.

"Damn it! Who the hell is setting off fireworks in the middle of the night?! It's not even New Year's Eve yet!"

In the village, dogs barked and people's curses rose and fell.

The lights in the house ahead flicked on, and someone stormed out in a fury.

Jiang Linyuan and Jiang Zhiyao exchanged a glance. Like thieves caught in the act, they didn't dare show their faces and scrambled back into the house.

If they didn't run now, their HP would drain as fast as the fireworks.

"Jiang Linyuan, tomorrow morning, you're confessing on your own."

"Damn it, you were watching too!"

"I never said I wouldn't go with you?"

All you have to do is take one step forward, and I'll follow you.

But you've already walked right up to my side. So now... I have no choice but to trap you here.