Be My Girlfriend, Be My Girlfriend (4K)

Only forty minutes left until the New Year.

Shen Nian's fireworks had already been partially set off by Shen Yue. He hadn't bought many to begin with, so now there were only a few small fireworks left, like double-bang firecrackers.

Too lazy to buy them herself, but rushing over to play as soon as someone else bought them—his older sister was exactly that kind of creature.

A regular Creature Sister.

In the future, when he had kids, he'd take them to visit their dearest auntie every time there was a holiday.

"Baby, let's go check out Auntie's room, okay? Go find Auntie to play with you."

Shen Nian found an empty firework box, inserted a double-bang firecracker into it, and turned around just as Xia Yanchun ran over holding a lit incense stick.

It was best to play it safe with these explosive fireworks. If the fuse was the green kind, it was fine, but if it was the white kind, it would burn out in an instant.

When playing with matchcrackers as a kid, people always liked to hold them in their hands for a while before throwing them. The more arrogant ones would even time it for an airburst. Xia Yanchun had been blown up by one once; her entire palm was covered in a layer of gray ash, tingling and slightly painful. Thankfully, it was just a matchcracker, otherwise she didn't even want to imagine what would have happened.

If it had been one of those torpedo fireworks, her hand would have blossomed into pieces.

No matter what kind of fireworks they were, one had to be very careful.

"Coward, still using incense." Shen Nian bared his teeth, ignoring her, and lit it directly with a lighter.

The fuse burned rapidly with a whoosh, but it took two seconds before it shot out, turned in the air, and finally exploded with a bang.

"You!" Xia Yanchun puffed out her cheeks and kicked him.

"My pants are clean!"

"Kicking you, kicking you!"

"..."

Speechless, folks.

Xia Yanchun grabbed a few double-bang firecrackers and ran to the side to set them off herself, ignoring Shen Nian. After finishing those, she grabbed a shooting firework and shot it around, having a great time all by herself.

Only after finishing Shen Nian's share did she bear to bring out her own, squatting at the door of her house to play with them.

She dared to use a lighter for sparklers. The sparks were scattered like stars, and holding them in her hands was neither hot nor painful.

The gentle firelight reflected softly in Xia Yanchun's eyes.

"So pretty," Shen Nian smiled, squatting in front of her.

"I think so too. It's been a long time since I played with these."

"Hiss!"

Shen Nian was asking for trouble. Out of curiosity, he pinched the burning point with his fingers, just like pinching a candle during a power outage in the past.

Although the popping sparks had no temperature, the burning point was still very hot and hurt a bit. He pinched it, but the sparkler was still burning.

"Are you okay?"

"It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt."

"Then your skin must be too thick."

Seeing Shen Nian rubbing his fingers, Xia Yanchun finished speaking and curiously gave it a pinch as well.

"Hiss..."

Shen Nian: "...?"

Wow, so temperamental, gotta love it.

Chunbao was acting a bit silly, and Shen Nian watched with amusement. He rummaged through the plastic bag next to him and took out two jet-style fireworks, also called sparklers, but these things had a lot of destructive power.

This was real fire-breathing, the kind that could set a tissue on fire.

Shen Nian lit the two sticks, waved them in the air, and then aimed them at the concrete ground, leaving pitch-black marks behind.

He wrote the character 'Xia' (Summer).

"Don't dirty my concrete floor."

"You should have silently lit one and written the character 'Shen'. You really don't have a single romantic cell in your body."

"Tch, who wants to be ambiguous with you? You're like a pig."

"Damn it, I'll punch you."

Shen Nian pushed his fist against Xia Yanchun's arm. Xia Yanchun was already squatting, and with this push, she lost her balance and fell to the ground.

!

Xia Yanchun turned a little red.

She had just taken a shower, and these were clean pants!

"Hahahaha!"

Shen Nian had already run five meters away. At this distance, Xia Yanchun wouldn't be able to catch up to him even if she ran to death.

How despicable could he be? The more Xia Yanchun thought about it, the angrier she got. She patted her butt, took her fireworks, and ran a bit further away, ignoring Shen Nian.

Whenever the guy next door came close, she would wave her fireworks to drive him away, not letting him get near.

However, fireworks always burn out eventually. Having bought only a little, in no time she was down to her last one.

The firework burned rapidly, and Shen Nian also rapidly approached.

"Oh, someone's angry, so mad."

"Get lost."

"Fine, I'll get lost."

Shen Nian turned and went back into the house. When he came out again, he had a string of ten-thousand-bang firecrackers in his hand.

Shen Shi followed behind and brought out a ladder. The firecrackers were unpacked and wrapped around the ladder like a twisting snake, just waiting to be lit at the stroke of midnight.

"Make way, Xiaochun."

Xia Herui also brought out his firecrackers. At midnight, everyone would light the firecrackers at their doors; it was considered a tradition, and the entire street would be filled with the pungent smell of fireworks.

Smart people had already run back inside their houses, and Xia Yanchun had always been very smart.

Xia Yanchun glanced at her phone—it was already fifty-eight past the hour!

It was almost the New Year!

It was almost the New Year!

She and Wen Zhining hid behind the main gate together, waiting to light the fuse at midnight, and then they would close the door as soon as Xia Herui ran in, to prevent the firecrackers from flying into the house.

She could vaguely hear Shen Nian's voice, and Xia Yanchun peeked out half of her face.

"I'll light it, you can't outrun me."

"Hey, you brat."

"Go back, go back, just don't lock me outside later." Shen Nian shooed Shen Shi back into the house, still clutching the lighter in his hand.

He... he was actually going to light the firecrackers...

These strings of firecrackers exploded extremely fast and were super scary; she didn't even dare to look at them.

Shen Nian had really grown up so fast. In the blink of an eye, he had grown from a little kid who wasn't even as tall as she was into an adult who could do many things.

In a few more years, he would even become the head of a household, its backbone, calling the shots...

So impressive.

"Bang! Bang bang!"

The firecrackers exploded unexpectedly. Xia Yanchun didn't see Shen Nian light his; she was first startled by her own family's firecrackers. Once Xia Herui ran back inside, the front door was immediately shut tight.

After a moment, they heard the dense, continuous sound of firecrackers from next door.

Was Shen Nian scared by the firecrackers on this side? Was he hit by any flying firecrackers?

Xia Yanchun wrung her fingers. She didn't dare to open the door to look, and besides, Shen Nian, having lit the firecrackers, must have run home immediately.

Only after the crackling explosion sounds faded did Xia Yanchun open the door a crack. The smell of gunpowder outside was very strong, choking her uncomfortably.

"Don't go out yet. There might be some that haven't burned out; they could explode the moment you walk over," Wen Zhining tugged at Xia Yanchun's clothes.

"Oh..." Xia Yanchun nodded.

After a while, they finally opened the door to go out and check the situation.

There were still many explosions sounding not far away. A series of brilliant colors flashed overhead, dropping countless tiny specks of dust. Inside and outside the street, the ground was covered with firecracker paper, and not a single car passed by on the street anymore.

Everyone had parked their cars indoors or far away to ensure they wouldn't be hit by fireworks, making the road unusually empty.

"It's the New Year! Happy New Year, Xiaochun!"

"Mhm, Happy New Year! Wishing you health this year!"

"Xiaochun, do me a favor and move the chairs outside."

"Coming, coming."

Xia Yanchun was full of energy, moving two chairs in one breath, even though these low wooden chairs were quite heavy.

The New Year tradition for the two families was playing cards, and it was for money. In the past, it was ten cents a card, but now it was a dollar a card. It was entirely possible to lose around a hundred bucks in a night.

When playing cards, it didn't matter who you were; if you lost, you had to pay up.

They would play all night long, then pay their respects to the ancestors in front of the house in the morning, get a good seven or eight hours of beauty sleep, and continue playing in the afternoon.

She brought the chairs out, and Shen Shi and Chen Minyue walked out together, beaming with joy, their sleeves already rolled up.

"Cards, cards, I'm definitely winning two hundred bucks today."

"Bring it on!"

"Hurry up and deal, hurry up and deal."

Both dads were extremely excited.

For the older generation, having a happy New Year was more important than anything else.

Xia Yanchun stood to the side with her hands in her pockets, watching the four parents sit in a circle, pick up the cards, shuffle, deal, and then carefully arrange their hands, terrified that the person next to them might catch a glimpse. She felt completely relaxed.

Shen Yue and Shen Nian were also standing by, wandering around and peeking at everyone's cards. Whenever they saw someone with a garbage hand, they would frown and ponder how to play it.

Life... was so cozy.

Another year had begun.

Shen Nian did a lap and saw that his dad's four-five-six-seven-eight straight was missing an eight, his ten-J-Q-K-A was missing a K, he couldn't even scrape together five cards of the same suit, and his highest pair was a pair of Jacks. He smiled in resignation.

He didn't know who was going to win, but he knew exactly who was going to lose.

Shen Nian patted his dad on the shoulder, hoping his own luck +5 could help him out.

After one round, Shen Shi unsurprisingly lost. He slapped his thigh in frustration, wondering why he had such smooth sailing this year but failed so miserably at cards.

Chen Minyue was the winner, happily collecting her money. When she saw Xia Yanchun, she suddenly remembered something.

"Oh my, Xiaochun, Happy New Year! Here is your red envelope!"

She pulled a beautifully designed red envelope from her pocket.

"Thank you, Auntie. Wishing you and Uncle good health every year!"

"Shen Nian, Auntie has a red envelope for you too!" Wen Zhining covered her mouth; she had almost forgotten while getting caught up in the game.

Playing cards was truly addictive.

"Thank you, Auntie. Wishing you and Uncle good health every year!" Shen Nian copied Xia Yanchun's words verbatim.

"Copying what I said. Couldn't you say something like wishing them wealth and prosperity, or good luck and great fortune?"

"So what, so what? If you don't like it, deal with it."

"You're asking for a beating!"

Xia Yanchun pulled up her pant leg and tried to kick Shen Nian, but Shen Nian ran faster than a bull.

Watching her daughter run around everywhere with Shen Nian, Wen Zhining didn't know what to say.

How could their relationship be so good? It would actually be fine if they started dating; she wouldn't have to worry about her daughter making bad friends.

Date away, Auntie has no objections!

...

Xia Yanchun chased Shen Nian into the house. As soon as they reached the stairs, Shen Nian stopped running and stood there waiting for Xia Yanchun to catch up.

Consequently, Xia Yanchun's slipper kicked right onto Shen Nian's pant leg, leaving a dirty shoeprint.

"My pants are all dirty now."

Shen Nian smiled and opened the red envelope he had just received. Inside were exactly five red bills.

This year's red envelope was bigger than in previous years. Could it be that knowing he got high scores on his exams, these relatives had secretly added a little extra?

Xia Yanchun didn't even need to open hers; it was definitely five hundred too. A five hundred red envelope was the maximum limit between their two families—not too much, not too little, just right.

"Want to go to my room to watch the fireworks?" Shen Nian stuffed the money into his pocket. The family was outside playing cards, so no one was keeping an eye on them. Now was their alone time.

"...Mhm." Xia Yanchun lowered her little head.

Today was the beginning of the year, the early morning of the first day of the New Year.

It was already a new year!

Before they even reached the third floor, her little face had flushed red.

On the third floor, the balcony window was open. Today's winter breeze seemed to carry a hint of joy, blowing gently and stirring the ends of the young girl's hair.

Exhaling a puff of white mist, Xia Yanchun adjusted her collar, wrapping herself up tightly. She glanced sideways at Shen Nian, her ears feeling hot.

"Ahem, how much did you get in red envelopes this year?"

"Over three thousand..."

"Hello, let's split it evenly."

"Get out of here."

Xia Yanchun curled her lips, blew a breath onto the railing, and placed both hands on it. She took a step to the side, getting even closer to Shen Nian.

"Hehe, your hands must be freezing. Let me warm them up for you." Shen Nian's hand had already appeared on the back of Xia Yanchun's hand, covering it so that his palm pressed against the back of her hand, as if trying to wrap up her entire hand.

The young girl's hand was small, soft, and cool, but now it was starting to get warm.

Downstairs they were playing cards, while upstairs romance was brewing. It was so thrilling. If the people downstairs just took two steps outside and looked up, nothing could be hidden anymore.

Shen Nian felt a subtle mix of emotions, no longer caring whether the neighbors across the street would see. His Adam's apple bobbed as he gently rubbed against Xia Yanchun's soft, obedient little face, planting a muffled kiss on it.

"Chunbao... Happy New Year."

"Mhm, Happy New Year to you too."

Xia Yanchun blinked her pretty almond eyes, meeting Shen Nian's gaze before hastily looking away.

"...Chunbao."

Shen Nian nuzzled beside her, his voice faint, gentle, and sweet, taking root and sprouting in Xia Yanchun's heart, blooming into a little flower.

"Let's date?"

"..." Xia Yanchun buried half her face in her collar, her small hand nervously smoothing her hair.

Date, date...

"...I want to hear something nice," Xia Yanchun held it in for a moment before muttering this sentence.

"Hiss..." Shen Nian rubbed his chin. Did he have to say some cheesy romantic lines?

It was normal to say sweet nothings during a confession, things like 'love you forever,' 'together till our hair turns white,' vows of eternal love, blah blah blah, but why did he feel a bit awkward?

Last time at the sports meet, he tried to be romantic with the 'sunshine-colored eyeshadow' and even got scolded by Xia Yanchun for it.

Shen Nian pondered and cleared his throat.

"Xia Yanchun, I like you... um... just like you like Peanut Dashao, uh, just like mice love rice..."

Xia Yanchun: "..."

What kind of elementary school essay was this? Who would believe that this guy could get full marks on his Chinese essays and score over 140 in total for his Chinese exams?

"No matter what you say today, you have to be my girlfriend..." Seeing Xia Yanchun stay silent, Shen Nian was getting genuinely nervous.

Xia Yanchun twirled her hair and leaned against Shen Nian's shoulder.

Fated rivals couldn't be girlfriends, but right now, they were the best in the world.

"Mhm, I'll be your girlfriend, I'll be your girlfriend."

Shen Nian relaxed completely, circling behind Xia Yanchun and hugging her, resting his head on top of hers, like two little penguins.

Smelling the fragrance of the young girl's hair, Shen Nian couldn't stop blushing. Even for him, after that confession just now, he couldn't help but feel shy... Rivals, rivals, they had finally achieved a happy ending after all.

He muttered to himself in his heart, already starting to think about what 'first dating anniversary' gift to give Xia Yanchun on New Year's Day next year.

After standing quietly for a while holding the little person in his arms, Shen Nian suddenly spoke.

"Damn, I actually became the secret husband of the top sweet school beauty of Cinan No. 2 High School. This is too thrilling!"

"Don't make it awkward."

"Chunbao, Chunbao... I like you."

"..."

Xia Yanchun turned around to face Shen Nian, suddenly throwing herself into his arms again. She drew circles on the jacket over his chest with her finger, whispering with her pink lips.

"I like you too..."

Like mice love rice.

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