Damn it, I'm surrounded by childhood sweethearts

Just while watching the fireworks, she occasionally glanced at Xu Qingfan out of the corner of her eye.

After Xu Qingfan noticed it, he rubbed her head, and the two exchanged smiles.

Xiao Ruawen was also watching Xu Qingfan, and when she saw them smiling at each other, she inexplicably felt a twinge of jealousy inside.

She remembered Xu Qingfan's words not long ago, "I'd like to date Ruan Wen, but look at how disdainful she looks."

Everyone else thought Xu Qingfan was joking, though he didn't really believe so, and she felt that Brother Chou Fan genuinely meant it, just said in a joking tone.

Xiao Ruawen started overthinking in her mind.

[Could Brother Fan really want to date me...]

Before she could overthink for long, Brother Chou Fan turned around and smiled at Lin Wanning again.

Xiao Ruawen: ...

[Brother Chou Fan, the heartless Casanova, only a fool would date you!!!]

Seven or eight minutes later, the last firework faded away in the sky, and darkness resumed its reign.

There were only a few minutes left until the New Year.

Xu Qingfan ran over and lit all the remaining fireworks at once, transforming the night sky into a canvas, with a vibrant splatter of colors blooming upon it.

Everyone took out their phones to check the time, which was 11:58:02 at night.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, the hands of the clock moved slowly, leaving only thirty seconds.

"Let's all count down together for the last ten seconds!" Xu Qingfan said to everyone.

"Okay!"

"Ten, nine, eight, seven... three, two, one!"

"Happy New Year!"

The fireworks froze at their most beautiful moment, and perhaps years later, you've forgotten how they looked or their colors, but it doesn't matter, because you definitely remember everyone's smiling faces that day.

"Everyone look at the camera!" Xu Qingfan raised his phone to take a picture.

"Here we go!"

"Yeah!"

The sky painted with fireworks, a sleepless night welcomes the Year of the Dragon.

2012, famously rumored as the year of the apocalypse, but it was also the tenth year since Xu Qingfan's rebirth.

...

After all the fireworks were set off, everyone dispersed.

Xu Qingfan poured water over the still-glowing embers, making a sizzling sound.

"It's too late, let's clean up the trash tomorrow, so we can rest early." Zhang Chunxue yawned and pulled the still cleaning-minded Li Mei Juan.

"Yes, Auntie, I'll clean up tomorrow morning, otherwise after a bath, I'd have to wash again." Xu Qingfan said, with Lin Wanning on his back, smiling.

"I'm worried about attracting mice, so let's leave it for tomorrow then." Following the host's lead, Li Mei Juan, who initially wanted to clean up, relented.

"There are only six rooms in the house, how are we supposed to sleep tonight?" Xiao Ruawen asked.

Xu Qingfan thought for a moment: "My mom will see who can squeeze in with whom, you two can share a room, and I'll take one by myself."

With so many people, Lin Wanning wanted to say she'd sleep with Brother Qingfan, but couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Then Ah Ping can squeeze in with me and the little one, all the beds seem pretty big, actually, they can fit four people." Lin Jing invited.

"Alright." Xu Qingfan agreed since it wasn't suitable for Yao Jiping to still sleep with him now that he's grown.

After sorting out the room arrangements, everyone headed into the house in pairs and trios, and the once lively scene became quickly deserted.

Xu Qingfan carried Lin Wanning to a downstairs room, so she wouldn't have to go up and down stairs the next day.

"Goodnight everyone!"

"Goodnight, Brother Fan!"

"Goodnight."

After exchanging goodnights, his mom and the girls went straight to the second floor, suggesting the other bedroom on the first floor was for Xu Qingfan.

Xu Qingfan brought a stool for Lin Wanning so she could sit and brush her teeth, then fetched hot water for her to wash her face and wipe her feet, serving her attentively, leaving Wen Wanqing standing at the bathroom door quite stunned.

"I finally understand why Wanning keeps mentioning you. Xiao Fan, you're pampering her too much," Wen Wanqing said, somewhat amused.

Lin Wanning playfully shot her mom a look, signaling her not to meddle!

"I've been taking care of Wanning like a sister since she was little, it's a habit." Xu Qingfan replied casually.

This is a deep sibling bond, not a romantic feeling between a man and a woman, basically a look of clear conscience.

"Alright, looks like I'm just a surplus mom, I won't be in your way, I'll go to the bathroom outside." After shaking her head and giving her daughter a playful glance, Wen Wanqing turned and left.

Once her mom left, Lin Wanning immediately spread her arms for a hug.

After pouring the water, Xu Qingfan turned back to hug her, "Do you need to go to the bathroom?"

Lin Wanning tilted her head, feeling for a moment, then nodded, "Yes."

"Then hold on tight to me." Xu Qingfan supported her butt with one hand and opened the toilet lid with the other.

He thoughtfully wiped the seat clean with a tissue before setting her down.

"I'll step outside first, call me when you're done, Wanning." Xu Qingfan pinched her cheek, feeling how nice it still was.

"Mm!" Although she didn't consider Brother Qingfan an outsider, Lin Wanning would still feel shy if he heard the sounds while she was in the bathroom.

Xu Qingfan closed the door and left. After playing on his phone for a moment outside, he soon heard Lin Wanning calling.

"Brother Qingfan, I'm done!"

Xu Qingfan returned to pick Lin Wanning up, and Wen Wanqing was still outside and hadn't come back.

As he carried her to bed, Lin Wanning wrapped her arms around Xu Qingfan's neck, pulling him down with her.

The girl revealed her signature light smile, then slightly lifted her head to give Xu Qingfan a small peck on the lips.

Xu Qingfan merely playfully tapped her head, and Lin Wanning let go of his neck, looking a bit aggrieved.

As a reward, Xu Qingfan also gave her a light peck on the lips, "You haven't brushed your teeth, your lips are greasy."

"I don't mind, ducky!" Lin Wanning immediately opened her eyes wide and said.

Xu Qingfan helplessly poked her forehead, "Auntie will be back soon, do you want to get caught?"

"No way, mom takes a long time to freshen up, ducky!" Lin Wanning pouted, naively saying.

But the next second, Wen Wanqing appeared at the door.

"All done, Xiao Fan, you've worked hard." She thanked with a smile after seeing Xu Qingfan chatting with her daughter on the bed.

Xu Qingfan glanced at Lin Wanning, then turned to Auntie and said, "No problem, I'll go brush my teeth and wash up as well. Good night, Auntie, Wanning, Wanning."

"Mm, good night, Xiao Fan."

"Good night, Brother Qingfan!"

...

Returning to his room, Xu Qingfan was glad that he was now a seasoned person, no longer the boy he used to be, not easily tempted by Lin Wanning's little tricks.

He picked up the toothbrush and towel to go wash up, and while looking at himself in the mirror, he couldn't help but recall Xiao Ruawen's stunned expression earlier, lately always carrying a slight smile.

Always using the same trick on Xiao Ruawen, Xu Qingfan still felt a twinge of guilt.

But it couldn't work without tricks either. Heart-to-heart exchanges sound easy but are also actually easy to do. Besides, he's handsome.

However, the premise is that you need to treat others with a true heart, not divide your heart into five parts, and have a fifth of your sincerity for everyone.

Little tricks can make Xiao Ruawen feel a flutter, but to conquer her with that alone is just a pipe dream.

His relationship with Xiao Ruawen was tense, lacking a catalyst, something to break all the bonds in a moment of rashness.

Like the hero saving the damsel scenario often in dramas, it's a kind of catalyst.

But how many hero-saving-damsel situations are there in modern society? Even if it happened, Xiao Ruawen would likely fight back, solving it with a few punches and kicks.

And if he deliberately created such a scenario, there's always a day he'd be discovered, then the girl would only feel he was a fraud, leaving him heartbroken.

The only thing Xu Qingfan could do now was wait.

But no need to rush, he's only in first year of high school, there's seven years until college graduation.

Xu Qingfan even thought it wouldn't take seven years; he could have Xiao Ruawen on his side before high school ended, his confidence as stubborn as a dog's nose.

"Just when Ruan Wen discovers that I'm actually still with Wanning Yiyi and Xiaoyu..."

Xu Qingfan could already foresee how the first emotional showdown would unfold.

...