Beijing University’s winter break began on December 20.
After finals ended, light snow started to fall again over the capital.
Everywhere on campus were people hauling suitcases and mailing packages. Delivery points had all launched “winter break shipping discounts.” Little Fatty and Brother Shu came back drenched in sweat after mailing their parcels.
Since they both lived far away, they couldn’t bring everything with them. Packing it all into luggage was impossible, so they joined the others at the shipping center.
Ye Ran was the last in the dorm to leave. Little Fatty and Brother Shu had flights at ten the next morning.
As soon as he entered the dorm and saw Shen Shi’s neat, spotless bed, he paused. “Has Shen Shi already left?”
Shen Shi wasn’t a local, his home was in Haicheng.
He’d booked a flight for the morning after tomorrow, around the same time Ye Ran planned to leave campus.
“Ah, right,” Brother Shu slumped in his chair, suddenly recalling something. “I just saw him at the school gate, he got into a black car, and there was an older guy helping carry his luggage.”
Little Fatty said, “D*mn… that must’ve been his family’s car? His family’s really loaded, huh.”
You could tell Shen Shi came from money in every little detail. People on the forum had even dug into his background before, but only on the surface. No one really knew what his family actually did.
Ye Ran took out his phone and saw a message from Shen Shi sent half an hour ago:
— Something came up at home, I had to leave early.
He hesitated, then replied: [Okay. Safe travels.]
A second later, his phone buzzed again.
This time, it was from his childhood friend:
[Baby, my flight won’t land in Beijing until after nine the day after tomorrow. Don’t bother picking me up, let’s meet at your place instead.]
***
The car rolled smoothly along the asphalt road.
Outside the tinted windows, the city scenery flickered past. The sky was dim, dark blue tinged with gray, and light snow had begun to fall. Streetlights flicked on one by one, stretching toward the horizon like a glowing path.
The snow hadn’t fully melted yet. On the roadside, sanitation workers were sweeping, while the nearby middle school had just let out. Rhe chime of the dismissal bell echoed, and students in black-and-white uniforms poured out in a noisy wave, making the already-crowded road even narrower.
The car moved in fits and starts. Uncle Li glanced into the rearview mirror with a smile. “Little Shi, chatting with classmates?”
“Mm.”
In the back seat, Shen Shi put his phone down. The dim light brushed across his sharp profile. His voice was quiet. “Just letting a friend know.”
“Was it that Yu Ting classmate?”
“No.” The phone screen lit again. Shen Shi lowered his eyes, saw Ye Ran’s reply, and his expression softened noticeably; his tone grew gentler. “Another friend.”
The driver caught that subtle change through the mirror and withdrew his gaze, suddenly understanding.
…Oh. A girlfriend.
No—
Thinking of Shen Shi’s cold and aloof temperament since childhood, he silently amended:
…a girlfriend he hasn’t caught yet.
The car fell quiet again.
Before long, a new message from Yu Ting arrived.
[What’s going on? You’re leaving today?]
[Something came up at home.]
[Oh, I saw Uncle Li at the school gate earlier, thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. My brother’s coming to Beijing to visit, so I’ll be staying here a few extra days before going back to Haicheng.]
In about half a month, it would be New Year’s. Yu Ting’s eldest brother lived abroad and only came back at the end of the year with his wife and child.
Shen Shi raised an eyebrow. [A few days later?]
Yu Ting: [Yeah, seven or eight days.]
A few seconds later, Yu Ting added sharply: [Why? Out with it — don’t beat around the bush.]
Shen Shi: [Need a favor.]
Shen Shi: [Transfer — 500 yuan.]
Yu Ting: [No time.]
Yu Ting: [Transfer received — 500 yuan.]
Yu Ting: [Alright, big bro, I’m listening.]
***
On the morning of the 23rd, around ten o’clock, Ye Ran finished packing his backpack and checked the class WeChat group.
Brother Shu and Little Fatty were reminding him to cut the power and move the plants from the balcony to the floor. By the time everything was done, it was already 10:20.
In the art department group chat, several classmates were posting photos of the campus gate, a sea of people, jam-packed. Taxis couldn’t get in or out, and students dragging suitcases were struggling to push through the crowd.
— D*mn, all four grades are leaving at once. Haven’t caught a single car.
— I’m screwed, my train’s about to leave.
— Same, been waiting half an hour, no empty taxis at all.
Ye Ran frowned. He hadn’t expected it to be this hard to get a ride.
He locked the dorm door and turned around, only to see Yu Ting grinning at him with a bright white smile.
“Yu Ting?” Ye Ran blinked. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, came to meet a friend. You heading home today?” Yu Ting spotted the suitcase in Ye Ran’s hand and naturally reached over to grab it. “You’ve got so much stuff, here, let me help you.”
Ye Ran quickly shook his head. “No, no, it’s fine. I can handle it myself.”
He wasn’t carrying much, just one suitcase and a backpack. The backpack held smaller things, the suitcase his clothes.
Yu Ting dodged his hand, insisting cheerfully, “C’mon, we’re friends. Let me help, who knows, I might need to ask you for help sometime.”
Of course, this was part of the 500-yuan “service package,” and there was no way he’d let Ye Ran carry it himself.
Once he said that, Ye Ran didn’t know how to refuse anymore. He hesitated, then nodded. “…Thanks.”
“No problem,” Yu Ting replied with a grin.
They chatted as they went downstairs. When Ye Ran tried to take his luggage back, Yu Ting brushed him off with lines like, “Might as well send the Buddha all the way to heaven,” and “I’m stronger than you, don’t be polite.”
When they reached the school gate, Ye Ran realized the photos in the group chat had understated the situation.
The entrance to Beijing University was completely jammed, a line of students stretched endlessly down the road, waiting at the pickup point for empty taxis.
The sight gave Ye Ran a headache. He was about to line up too when Yu Ting stopped him.
“Don’t bother, I know where there’s an empty cab.”
They followed the queue all the way to the end, where across the street sat an empty taxi.
The driver had already refused rides from several students, but when he saw Yu Ting, he relaxed. “Oh, so this is who you were picking up? Come on, hop in, can’t stop too long here.”
“Got it.”
Yu Ting turned, loaded Ye Ran’s suitcase into the trunk, and when he saw Ye Ran still standing there looking puzzled, he smiled. “Alright, see you next year.”
“Wait,” Ye Ran finally realized. “You’re not getting in?”
“Why would I get in the car?” Yu Ting arched a brow at him, smiling with obvious meaning. “That one’s for you. Don’t thank me, if you’re gonna thank someone, thank that person.”
…That person?
Ye Ran froze for a second, then, under Yu Ting’s teasing gaze, slowly caught on.
He stammered, “Th—thanks to you too.”
Yu Ting grinned. “No need to be polite. I’ll still be in Beijing for a few more days, if you get bored, hit me up and we’ll hang out.”
“Okay,” Ye Ran said, lowering the car window. “See you next year!”
The car drove off toward the southern part of the city, a sharp contrast to the crowded chaos on the other side of campus.
Sitting in the car, Ye Ran glanced down at his phone and saw the latest message from his childhood friend:
[Yezi, I’m boarding now. See you tonight~]
After a moment’s thought, he opened another chat, one he’d been keeping in touch with these past few days.
[Ye Ran]: Thanks.
The reply came almost instantly.
[Shen Shi]: No problem.
[Shen Shi]: Let me know once you get home.
—
The car stopped outside a row of townhouses in the southern district.
Ye Ran got out, lugging his bags himself, and walked home.
The winter wind was biting cold.
The snow from the last few days hadn’t yet melted.
Along the street, a few aunties strolled with children, and some teenagers were taking photos before the snow disappeared. Universities across the country were all beginning their winter breaks, and the neighborhood was livelier than usual, faint laughter echoed from the nearby homes.
When Ye Ran opened the door, the house was utterly silent.
At the entryway lay a few scattered boxes of local specialties, probably left there by Father Ye during one of his hurried visits home.
Ye Ran stood quietly for a few seconds, then sighed.
He went upstairs first to put his suitcase away, then came back down to tidy up, gathering the food gifts, tossing out the expired and spoiled items in the fridge.
On the coffee table lay a handwritten note from his father.
Even after all these years, when it came to Ye Ran, his father still preferred to leave notes rather than make a phone call or send a text.
“Ranran, Dad’s on a business trip. There’s money for you in your room. I should be back before the New Year. Remember to lock the doors and windows when you’re home alone.”
Father Ye was a rough, hard-working man, constantly running around for work. Knowing how tired his father was, Ye Ran never troubled him with small things. His father, in turn, had long grown used to Ye Ran’s quiet independence and thoughtfulness.
Half an hour later, the house was neat again; trash taken out, old things replaced. Remembering that his childhood friend would be staying over that night, Ye Ran went to the nearby supermarket to buy some snacks and instant food.
By the time everything was ready, it was already six in the evening. Ye Ran got into the car and headed for the airport to pick him up.
On the way, he pulled out his phone and sent a text to his dad:
-Saw your note.
-Dad, make sure you get some rest.
—
The airport buzzed with noise and chatter.
In the bright, spotless hall, announcements echoed one after another.
Yu Ting sat on a chair, sent his location to his older brother, and began scrolling through his phone.
This time, his brother had flown back to China alone, mainly for business, though also to visit him.
Group messages kept popping up nonstop. Yu Ting skimmed them, uninterested, and switched everything to “Do Not Disturb.”
The high school class group was the liveliest, people were organizing a reunion, suggesting they all meet up in a few days.
Even the usual lurkers were chiming in.
After hesitating for a bit, Yu Ting opened Shen Shi’s profile and sent a message: [You going to the reunion?]
Shen Shi: [?]
Clearly, he hadn’t looked at the group.
Yu Ting explained: [Zhang Hao and the others are planning to meet up. Feiyang and them are coming back from overseas too. Probably just dinner or something.]
Shen Shi: [We’ll see.]
Closing the chat, Yu Ting went back to lazily watching videos.
Another plane landed. The digital board scrolled with flight info, London to Beijing, over eight thousand kilometers.
A crowd had already gathered at the arrival exit, some holding up name signs, others craning their necks from the back.
…
Yu Ting lowered his head for a few seconds, then raised it again, squinting uncertainly.
He was a little nearsighted, and wasn’t sure if his eyes were playing tricks on him but he thought he’d seen a familiar figure.
Familiar enough to make him uneasy.
Before he could take a closer look, the crowd at the exit suddenly surged forward as passengers streamed out.
The people waiting grew restless; those in front waved their signs, those behind pushed forward, and the air filled with the noise of unfamiliar names being shouted. Yu Ting, who had just stood up, sat right back down. No way he was squeezing into that chaos.
…Must’ve been a mistake.
He reassured himself silently.
After all, these days everyone’s wardrobes were about the same, maybe the outfit just looked familiar.
He twisted open a water bottle, took a sip to calm down—
—and then a bright, clear male voice rang out nearby: “Baby! I’m back!”
What the—so loud?!
He couldn’t help it; he turned toward the sound.
There, at the back of the crowd, a familiar figure stood smiling as he threw his arms around another boy who had just run out from the arrivals gate. The two hugged tightly, swaying together, both grinning from ear to ear like two happy little penguins.
Yu Ting: “…”
Yu Ting: “Pfft—cough, cough!”
He choked on his water and shot up from his chair as if on fire, rubbing his eyes for a clearer look—
Ye Ran was still wearing the same black down jacket from that morning, his hair a little mussed from the wind. The lines of his face were soft and distinct under the bright lights. And right now, he was being lifted and spun around by a boy about his height, smiling helplessly the whole time.
Yu Ting: “…”
Yu Ting: “…………”
What the—what the h*ll?!
He stood there utterly dumbfounded, half convinced the world had just turned upside down and sprouted green leaves all around him.
…Ye Ran?
“How is it actually you?!”
