New Year’s Eve

“Qingkong, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have made you watch that. I didn’t mean to make you remember those things…” Lin Wanzhao let out a long, shaky breath, feeling completely at a loss.

To be honest, on the surface, Yu Qingkong always seemed like any other normal person—there were no signs of anything unusual. Even if Lin Wanzhao had sensed something before, she only thought it might be a small secret, like a past breakup that still stung. Or perhaps her family life wasn’t great, much like her own. She had never imagined it was something so harrowing.

“It’s fine. Just let me lean on you for a bit.”

“Mhm?”

“Just for a bit,” Yu Qingkong murmured. Her breathing was shallow, her voice barely a whisper.

Lin Wanzhao nodded, her hand gently patting Yu’s back as if soothing an infant. Her gaze softened into something incredibly tender. “Okay.”

“Mhm.” Yu Qingkong opened her eyes, staring blankly at the railing behind Lin. “I have a request.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t tell anyone.”

“I won’t. You can trust me,” Lin Wanzhao promised softly.

“Mhm.” Yu Qingkong lifted her head from Lin’s shoulder. “Are you sleepy, CEO Lin?”

“Are you?” Lin didn’t answer directly. She was tired, but if Yu needed to talk more, she would stay up all night.

“A little,” Yu Qingkong nodded, checking her phone. “It’s almost midnight.”

“It is late. Go get some sleep,” Lin said, then suddenly remembered something. “By the way, how is your sleep quality lately? I’ve noticed your dark circles. Do you just not sleep enough, or do you sleep poorly?”

“I actually go to bed quite early. Compared to most people my age, I’m probably an early bird,” Yu replied.

“Sleeping a lot doesn’t mean you’re sleeping well…” Lin studied her. “Like me—I stay up late and sleep less, but my deep sleep duration is high, so I stay energized.”

Yu Qingkong thought for a moment. “For me… I dream a lot. And I wake up frequently.”

Her dreams were a chaotic mess. Sometimes it was childhood memories; sometimes it was a horror theme park or being chased. Once, she dreamed she was frantically loading a gun, but the bullets kept falling out, one by one, until she spiraled into a breakdown because she couldn’t make it work.

“That won’t do. From now on, soak your feet before bed, drink some warm milk, and listen to some soothing light music. I’ll send you a playlist later; try it out.” Lin walked her to her door and looked at her sideways.

“Thank you, CEO Lin.” Yu Qingkong gripped the doorknob. “I’m going in then.”

“Okay.”

“You should sleep early too, get your energy back.” Yu Qingkong forced a smile. “Since we’re here, let’s wake up early tomorrow. We can walk around and go to that beach you mentioned to catch crabs.”

Previously, seeing Yu smile like that would have made Lin happy. But now, it only made her heart ache. She realized that this “sunny” disposition was likely a necessary mask. Still, Lin smiled back. “Alright. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow. Goodnight.” Yu waved slightly and closed the door.

But just as Lin turned to leave, the door popped open again. “By the way.”

“What is it?”

“It’s almost midnight. I forgot to say—Happy New Year.” Yu checked her phone.

Lin’s lips curved upward. “Happy New Year.”

“Today,” Yu looked up at her, “was actually quite happy. I got some good photos, dinner was great… even if the afternoon was… slept away.”

“Really?” Lin felt a surge of relief.

“Mhm. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

This time, the door stayed closed.

Lying in bed, Yu Qingkong felt strange. She felt lighter, yet there was a lingering unease. It was the vulnerability of having bared her deepest secrets to someone else. Even Lu Xiaoxiao and Liu Ting only knew that Pei Chengming had died of a heart attack during an attempted assault; they didn’t know the grim details.

Yet, despite the discomfort, she felt a trace of warmth.

Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Lin Wanzhao—a shared playlist titled “For Sleeping.” Yu plugged in her headphones, let the music wash over her, and for once, drifted off into a deep sleep.

**********************************

The next morning, Yu Qingkong woke up and realized it was already 9:00 AM.

She sighed, washed up, and headed downstairs. She heard a chaotic clattering coming from the kitchen. She grabbed a bottle of water and walked toward the noise.

Inside, Lin Wanzhao was wearing an apron, one hand braced on the counter and the other holding her phone.

“And then? How do I do it?”

“Fine, I’ll try… but are you sure eating this actually helps calm the nerves?”

“Qi Jianfeng, I’m telling you, if this doesn’t work, I’m telling that girl next door that her pet frog was actually killed by your basketball.”

Yu Qingkong’s grip on her water bottle tightened as she listened.

Lin hung up and grabbed a kitchen knife. Thud! Thud! Thud! She hacked at the ingredients with a stubborn intensity that made Yu fear for the cutting board’s structural integrity. Based on the sheer violence of the chopping, Yu could tell Lin’s knife skills were non-existent.

After watching for a moment, Yu finally spoke up. “CEO Lin.”

Lin Wanzhao froze. She dropped the knife and immediately started fumbling with her apron strings. Too late. Yu was already beside her. Lin was dressed elegantly, but her apron featured a giant, bug-eyed Ultraman.

“That apron is… quite a choice,” Yu said, suppressing a smile.

“This…” Lin cleared her throat. “It’s Keke’s. I would never buy something like this.”

“Mhm.” Yu looked at the counter. A rice cooker was bubbling with porridge, and the item Lin had been murdering was a lotus root.

“Did you make this specifically for me?”

“I did. Well? Are you moved? I’m usually too lazy to cook for myself.” Lin smiled, tossing the uneven lotus slices into a bowl of water.

“How did I deserve…” Yu began, looking at her.

“Yu Qingkong,” Lin dropped the knife, stepped closer, and pressed her index finger against Yu’s lips. “You are forbidden from saying that ever again.”

Yu looked down at Lin’s hand, then into those captivating eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. She cleared her throat and set her water aside. “Is there anything I can help with?”

Lin looked at the difficult lotus root and wanted to say yes, but her pride won out. “No, I’ve got it. Go wait outside, watch TV or something. I’ll be quick…”

But because she was talking and looking at Yu instead of the blade, she slipped. The knife sliced her finger. Immediately, blood welled up.

“I told you I should do it,” Yu said, stepping forward and taking the knife from her.

“It’s a learning curve! It’s awkward now, but it’ll be better next time,” Lin smiled through the sting. “Besides, as long as it’s not my right hand, it’s fine.”

Hearing that, a flash of their recent intimacy flickered through Yu’s mind.

Yu grabbed Lin’s left hand and frowned at the cut. “It’s shallow. A band-aid will fix it. But leave the rest to me—I’m much more familiar with the kitchen. Besides, I’m hungry. It’ll be faster if I do it.”

Lin had no choice but to concede. “Alright.”

Lin stood aside with her band-aid, watching Yu work. She felt a sudden wave of envy toward Yu’s former roommate. To live with her, sleep in the same room, see her every day… it wasn’t just envy; it was bordering on jealousy.

Thinking aloud, Lin said, “I really hope my future partner is like you—classy in the parlor and skilled in the kitchen. I hope they aren’t a total disaster like me.”

Yu’s knife paused. “Like me?”

Lin picked up a glass bowl and stepped into Yu’s personal space, looking her in the eye. “That was a compliment. What, are you unhappy that I’m praising you?”

Yu looked into those beautiful eyes and changed the subject. “Do you want the lotus root stir-fried, or as a cold salad, or…?”

“I’ll eat whatever you make. I’ll go dish out the porridge.” Lin gave her a radiant smile and went to unplug the rice cooker.

Yu turned on the stove, glanced at Lin’s back, and said nothing, returning to her cooking. Lin watched her for a bit and smiled. Yu seemed much more energetic today.

************************************

In the afternoon, after washing their clothes, they left the villa, bought some tools, and drove to the seaside.

The sun was a bit harsh, but it didn’t dampen their spirits. On the beach, Lin Wanzhao gave a wicked grin. “I shall be the king of this beach today.”

Yu fiddled with a small bucket, squinting at the horizon. “Don’t count your chickens, CEO Lin.”

“Heh,” Lin shook her head. “Nothing I, Lin Aotian, set my mind to has ever failed.”

Yu glanced at her. “I, Yu Liangchen, am not convinced.”

“Then let’s have a contest?” Lin arched an eyebrow. “In the next hour and a half, let’s see who catches more. The loser has to unconditionally obey any request from the winner for the next week. What do you say?”

“You’re serious?”

“Dead serious.”

“Fine,” Yu said, confident in her skills. “Let’s begin.”

By 5:30 PM, the beach was stunning—streaks of orange and red painted the sky, and the sand glowed gold. Yu’s bucket was nearly full of crabs and shells.

“CEO Lin, time’s up!”

“Oh…” Lin’s voice sounded a bit deflated.

Lin walked over, her hair windswept and looking like a painting. “So, what’s the score?” Yu asked.

Lin coughed and hid her bucket behind her back. “And you?”

“I got five crabs, a pile of clams, and a fish. Not bad. You?”

“Me?” Lin licked her lips and coughed again. Suddenly, she pointed to the horizon. “Look! A Thousand-Hand Guan Yin!”

Yu turned to look. There was nothing but waves. When she turned back, her bucket was empty except for a single dead fish floating belly-up.

Meanwhile, Lin’s bucket was suddenly full of everything Yu had caught.

“Phew, I’m exhausted,” Lin said, faking a wipe of sweat. “That was hard work.”

“CEO Lin, you can’t do that! That’s cheating!” Yu tossed the dead fish back into the ocean and marched toward her. “Those are my crabs! Give them back!”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t steal your crabs!” Lin turned and started running.

“If you don’t give them back, I’ll take them by force!” Yu gave chase.

“You’re a rogue!” Lin yelled back, laughing as she ran.

“You’re the one being unreasonable!” Yu caught up in three strides and grabbed Lin’s shoulder, half-exasperated and half-laughing.

“You’re slandering me!” Lin struggled, but her foot caught in the sand. She stumbled, her bucket flying out of her hand, crabs scuttling away.

In an instant, Yu stepped forward and caught her by the waist. Lin instinctively threw her arms around Yu’s neck, her soft body pressing flush against her.

In the silence that followed, Lin realized her heart was racing—and Yu’s was just as fast. Why is it beating so fast…? Lin looked deep into her eyes.

The distance was far too small. Only a thin layer of fabric separated them, and their breath mingled in the cool evening air. Yu’s palm against Lin’s back grew hot; her breathing turned heavy.

“Thank you,” Lin whispered, her lashes fluttering as she looked at Yu’s lips. She looked back up into Yu’s eyes.

“The sand is soft, but you still need to be careful…” Yu’s grip loosened slightly, and she turned her head away, though beads of sweat lined her brow. “The crabs are gone. There goes our dinner.”

“Mhm.” Lin watched her for a moment, then looked at the escaping crabs. She smiled playfully and brushed Yu’s shoulder. “So… what should we do instead?”

Yu turned back to her, her voice sounding a bit raspy. “What do you suggest?”

Lin leaned in until they were firmly pressed together. She rested her hands on Yu’s waist and whispered into her ear with cat-like eyes: “Do you want me to pay you back… with my body?”