Batman, Night Owl, Zorro, Frank from Death Race…

The girls were guessing excitedly about who Yuan Xiu was dressed as. Lu Manman sat alone by the bar, pretending to casually eat a small pastry, but she was just as anxious as the others.

At this rate, someone would definitely guess it!

She was tempted to check if her guess was correct, but felt guilty. If she really got it right, and there was a kiss involved…

Breathe… Don’t think about it.

If it wasn’t her, someone else would eventually guess it.

Lu Manman put down her pastry and looked over at Yuan Xiu. He and Ren Xiang were chatting at the bar, each holding a glass of golden beer.

He had a pair of charming eyes, with a half-smile, and lifted his glass to finish it in one gulp.

Suddenly, a girl dressed in a Lolita outfit shouted, “Ah! I know! I know who it is!”

Lu Manman sprang to her feet, clutching the lace edge of her clothing tightly.

“It’s the male lead from V for Vendetta!”

Lu Manman sighed with relief, feeling as though all her strength had been drained. Her legs felt like they were trembling as she sat down.

The girl looked hopefully at Yuan Xiu, who calmly murmured, “No.”

Disappointed sighs filled the air: “It’s too difficult.”

“Can’t figure it out.”

“So you think a kiss from the captain is so easy to get?”

Lu Manman rubbed her hands, feeling a thin layer of sweat forming on her palms.

Cheng Yu walked over to Lu Manman, nudging her with his elbow and whispering, “Aren’t you going to give it a try?”

“I… I don’t know.”

Cheng Yu smirked mischievously, “Nonsense. Your whole face is practically screaming, ‘I know the answer but I’m too shy to say it.’”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Don’t make it too obvious.”

Lu Manman touched her face with the back of her icy hand and realized just how hot she felt.

“I do know the answer,” she said, “but…”

“Here, here! Lu Manman knows the answer!”

Before Lu Manman could react, Cheng Yu had already grabbed her hand and was waving it around, shouting loudly, “We have the correct answer here!”

Lu Manman’s face flushed bright red, and she desperately tried to pull her hand back. “Hey, stop it!”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Lu Manman.

“Does M4 know the answer?”

“Quick, tell us! We’re so curious!”

Lu Manman looked at Yuan Xiu, who was gently swaying his beer glass with the pale yellow liquid inside.

Ren Xiang scoffed dismissively. Pretending to be aloof, but he was probably thrilled inside.

Lu Manman felt like she was being pushed into a corner and, with a hoarse voice, resignedly said, “I guess it’s the Phantom from The Phantom of the Opera.”

Yuan Xiu’s hand, holding the beer glass, suddenly came to a halt.

Seeing Yuan Xiu’s face start to flush red, Ren Xiang thought, “That’s it. M4 is indeed this guy’s soulmate. Even such an obscure preference can be guessed by her.”

“So is it the correct answer or not?”

“Captain, say something.”

“Not speaking means you’re confirming it, right?”

Yuan Xiu’s lips curled into a slight smile. By not answering, he was indeed confirming it.

“Ahhh, M4 guessed right!”

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!”

“Are we going to get a kiss…?”

“With tongue and all…”

Lu Manman sat back down on the high stool, so nervous she didn’t know where to put her hands. Her mouth was dry, and she grabbed Cheng Yu’s cup next to her and took a big gulp.

Splash—

She almost spat it out.

“It’s alcohol,” she realized.

Cheng Yu picked up his wine glass and shook it. “Get a grip. It’s just a kiss.”

She turned to Yuan Xiu and shouted, “Captain, you have to keep your word! Our Missy is waiting for your kiss.”

Lu Manman quickly tugged at Cheng Yu. “He didn’t say anything yet.”

Yuan Xiu finally stood up, adjusted his collar, and then strode purposefully towards Lu Manman.

“Oh my god!”

Lu Manman quickly jumped down from the high stool and bolted away.

Laughter erupted from the boys and girls behind her.

“M4 actually ran away.”

“When have we ever seen her so scared?”

“Come on, Missy, show the spirit you had during the competition! Don’t back down, go for it!”

---

Lu Manman ran out of the villa in one breath and reached the corridor. The windows were bright and clean, and the night sky occasionally revealed twinkling stars.

She looked back and saw Yuan Xiu had followed her. She quickly hid behind a stone pillar.

Hiding.

“Why are you running? I’m not going to eat you right away.”

Yuan Xiu’s tone was slightly teasing, and he seemed to be in a good mood.

Lu Manman peered out from behind the marble pillar and tilted her head to look at him. “Why did you come out?”

“If I didn’t come out, would they let me off?” Yuan Xiu casually leapt over the railing and sat on it.

Lu Manman emerged from behind the pillar, walked over to him, and awkwardly explained, “Don’t get the wrong idea. I didn’t answer because of that.”

She had been pushed into a corner earlier, and even if she knew the answer, she hadn’t intended to reveal it.

Yuan Xiu countered, “Because of what?”

Lu Manman looked at the tip of her black high heels and whispered, “About the whole tongue thing.”

Yuan Xiu, unable to resist, reached out and pinched her fluffy little devil ears. Seeing her flushed face, he suddenly felt a fleeting, mischievous urge to see what she might taste like.

It was a momentary impulse, a bit playful.

Lu Manman also climbed over the railing and sat beside Yuan Xiu. “I knew Ren Xiang was just joking.”

“Then why run?”

“They were making a fuss, and it was really awkward. I didn’t want any rumors spreading.”

“Fair enough.”

“You dressed as the Phantom from The Phantom of the Opera today.”

“Yeah.”

Lu Manman glanced at Yuan Xiu. Under the cool moonlight, the silver mask adhered to half of his face, which made her think of the Phantom’s solitary monologues under the moon.

“Why did you want to dress as the Phantom?”

“Afraid of being too handsome.”

“……”

Such a simple and unadorned reason. Lu Manman realized she shouldn’t expect any more profound answers from him.

It was probably just a coincidence. She had mentioned on Today USA two years ago that her favorite male star was Ramen, who played the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera. Yuan Xiu surely wouldn’t remember such old trivia.

Yuan Xiu looked up at the night sky and murmured, “Have you submitted the application for forming a professional team?”

At the mention of this, Lu Manman’s mood sank again. “No, I’ve run into some problems.”

“Tell me about it.”

Lu Manman shared Cheng Yu’s comments and her concerns with Yuan Xiu.

“Anyway, that’s the situation. She’s doing it for my own good and doesn’t want to see me fail. After all, a million isn’t a small amount.”

“Then you should be congratulated,” Yuan Xiu said with a smile.

“Congratulations for what?” Lu Manman asked, puzzled.

“Your friend doesn’t seem so plastic after all. At such a crucial moment, she’s still considering your long-term interests. If it were someone else, they might be tempted by a foolish person with too much money willing to invest in a gamble, thinking it could make them famous quickly. It would be hard not to be swayed.”

“I was really angry at the time, but she truly meant well,” Lu Manman said, pressing her lips together. “But I don’t want to give up.”

“So, have you figured out what you really want to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Forming a professional team—what’s the real goal?” Yuan Xiu explained, “Almost all professional teams in China have just one objective: money. The so-called passion, enthusiasm, and patriotism are just dreams that the members pursue on this foundation.”

Lu Manman listened silently.

“So, no professional team exists purely for some intangible dream. After all, the team members need to eat, and investors want to see returns.”

Lu Manman’s toes tapped against the corridor wall. “My original intention wasn’t to make money.”

“So, think carefully about why you want to form a professional team. Once you’re clear on that, talk to her again. I don’t think she wants to make things difficult for you, just that she hopes you can have a clearer direction.”

Lu Manman nodded firmly. “I understand now. Thank you, Yuan Xiu!”

Yuan Xiu couldn’t help but ruffle her hair, a smile spreading across his face. “Little devil, aren’t you cold dressed like this?”

“Just a little,” Lu Manman replied.

Yuan Xiu generously and gentlemanly took off his coat and draped it over her.

The coat still carried the warmth of his body, making it especially comforting.

It was the last day of December, and the capital’s temperature had dropped below freezing. Before Lu Manman could even fasten the coat and say thank you, it was suddenly pulled back from her.

Yuan Xiu sneezed several times, hurriedly putting the coat back on himself, his teeth chattering. “It’s so freaking cold.”

Lu Manman stared at him, his nose reddened, and gave him a playful slap on the back, laughing heartily. “You can’t stay handsome for more than three seconds, Yuan Dog.”

Yuan Xiu moved closer to her, their legs pressed tightly together. He put his arm around her like a good buddy, rubbing her arm and creating warmth through their contact.

“This way, neither of us will be cold.”

Lu Manman’s smile lingered at the corners of her mouth. She looked up and saw his chin lifted, his lips curling slightly.

Suddenly, a burst of fireworks seemed to explode in his eyes, sparks flying everywhere.

---

The empty street was abruptly pierced by the ringtone of a phone, but it didn’t disturb the couple at the corner, lost in their world of love, locked in an embrace and kissing.

Xia Tian hurriedly silenced the call.

She leaned against the wall, covering her mouth, and cast a furtive glance at the couple, as if she were a thief.

Zhou Yan seemed to sense something and slightly turned his head in her direction, but his attention was quickly redirected as the girl in front of him grasped his neck, passionately kissing him with fervor.

Xia Tian was sure he saw her.

He saw her but pretended not to.

She turned away and walked alone through the winter night, feeling the cold seep through her entire being.

Ahead, the plaza was ablaze with bursts of fireworks, lighting up half the night sky. The sounds of joy and laughter came from afar, creating a stark contrast to her deep sadness, separating them into two different worlds.

It was the first time in her life she had mustered the courage to defy her mother and go after Zhou Yan to reconcile. She was fearless and only wanted to be with him, but she hadn’t anticipated stumbling upon that scene downstairs.

He was kissing another girl.

Recalling Zhou Yan’s recent indifference, Xia Tian wondered if they had been together for a while already.

She had been dating him for just over three months, and they had only held hands, while he seemed so close with that girl…

Thinking about the scene from earlier felt like a fishbone piercing her heart, causing sharp pain.

Her phone vibrated again, this time with a call from Ren Xiang.

She sat down on a bench at the edge of the street and answered the call.

“You must have been in a bad spot to answer the phone earlier. I heard from Lu Manman that you went home. It’s a pity because the party here is quite fun… Anyway, with the New Year coming up, I just wanted to wish you a Happy New Year.”

Ren Xiang rambled on, but there was no response from the other end.

“Did I talk too much?” He suddenly seemed unsure. “I’ll stop bothering you then. Bye.”

She spoke suddenly, her voice barely audible.

“Ren Xiang.”

“Yes, yes!”

There was a pause before he added, “I mean… I’m here.”

“I’m at the central plaza, alone…”

Ren Xiang’s eyes widened suddenly, feeling a surge of relief.

“I… I’ll come right over. Don’t move, just wait for me.”