Fireworks can bloom for me?

"Why would I need a red envelope? I'm not married and I don't have a job, where would I get the money?"

At this moment, the aunt suddenly spoke up, laughing and scolding the two children.

The voice, carrying the smoke and warmth of the fire, felt coolly piercing Jin Bao'er's heart.

The uncle then realized what was happening and quickly pulled the two children over.

"Come, come, Grandpa will give these to you."

The farce ended when the two interrupted each other.

Jin Bao'er found a quiet corner to sit down.

My hands were tucked around the fire, but my fingertips felt no warmth.

He stared at the crackling firewood in the fire.

Ashes fell onto his trouser leg, but he didn't move.

Too suffocating.

When I was little, I only felt physical pain; after being beaten, I would cry and then it would be over.

Now, however, there is a dense, oppressive atmosphere, like being wrapped in a wet quilt, making even breathing difficult.

His aunt's playful scolding, his uncle's embarrassment, and the red envelope dangling in the child's hand all became thorns in his heart.

Just then, my phone vibrated, and a message from Zhao Yuheng popped up.

Jin Bao'er grasped at a piece of driftwood, her fingertips flying across the screen to unlock it.

Heng Ge: What are you doing?

Jin Bao'er: Warming herself by the fire.

He raised his hand and took a picture.

The camera shows relatives gathered around a bonfire.

The child's hand holding the red envelope was partially visible, the potatoes in the fire were bulging, and the aroma of cooking filled the frame.

He suddenly realized that Heng-ge had been pampered since childhood.

They probably have never tried squatting by a fire, waiting for a charred potato, and then dipping it in chili peppers to taste its sweetness.

Heng Ge: Are there many people?

Jin Bao'er: Many.

Zhao Yuheng: Do you have a red envelope?

Jin Bao'er's fingertips froze, and her heart clenched.

He thought he had hidden the half of the red envelope well, but he still managed to see it.

My eyes instantly welled up with tears.

He quickly lowered his head and buried his face in his knees.

She rubbed her reddened eyes with her fingertips, afraid that her relatives across the way would notice.

The next second, a red envelope popped up, and the number 666 was particularly eye-catching.

The red envelope icon flickered on the screen, like a lantern hanging above a door in the twelfth lunar month, so red it was almost burning hot, making his nose sting.

It turns out that to possess the world, all you need is Zhao Yuheng.

Soon, a video call request popped up.

Jin Bao'er was so frightened that her hand trembled, and her phone almost slipped into the fire.

He hurriedly stood up, clutching his phone, and ran towards the old locust tree outside the courtyard.

While running, he didn't forget to wipe his eyes hard with his sleeve until he could no longer see the redness in his eyes before pressing the call button.

"Brother Heng."

His voice was still a little muffled.

"Take it, or I'll get angry."

Zhao Yuheng appeared on the screen, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and looking sleepy.

He had clearly just woken up from a nap; even his voice was a little hoarse and languid.

"But……"

His knuckles turned white as he gripped the phone, wanting to say he couldn't accept it, wanting to say that he had already troubled him enough.

"But then again, I'll book a plane ticket right now and fly over there to beat you up, you believe me?"

Zhao Yuheng frowned, but his eyes weren't really fierce; instead, they held a hint of helpless softness.

Jin Bao'er pursed her lips and didn't argue anymore.

"All right."

Why are you so far away?

Zhao Yuheng's brows furrowed even more.

"Come closer, let me see."

Jin Bao'er subconsciously moved her phone back further, afraid that he would see her still reddened eyes.

"Okay, Heng-ge, thank you. I'm going to help my aunt cook now. I'll talk to you again tonight."

He hung up immediately after saying that.

With your fingertips touching the screen, you can still feel Zhao Yuheng's gaze as he was captured in the final frame.

He leaned against the old locust tree, and his nose began to sting again.

At school, Zhao Yuheng brought him breakfast every day and shielded him from trouble. He only felt at ease and never cried.

But on this New Year's Eve filled with perfunctory attitudes and disdain, a simple question, "Do you have a red envelope?" was enough to break him down.

Is he really too spoiled?

Jin Bao'er opened the red envelope, hesitated for two seconds, and finally clicked to accept it.

He secretly thought to himself, if he couldn't spend his money as his lover, then he would spend it as his brother.

Family members should naturally be inseparable.

Thinking this way, the awkwardness in my heart eased a little.

It seems that this way, the affection that dares not be spoken can be quietly hidden inside the shell of "family affection".

When Jinbaoer got home that evening, she lay in bed.

The sounds of the Spring Festival Gala, my aunt cracking sunflower seeds, and my uncle coughing mingled together in the living room, making it impossible for anyone to sleep.

Zhao Yuheng sent a message: Don't go to bed early tonight.

Jin Bao'er: Why?

Zhao Yuheng: Today is New Year's Eve, you have to spend the New Year with me.

Jin Bao'er: Okay.

He always listens to what Heng Ge says.

He'd be willing to stay up all night to celebrate the New Year, or even just run out to buy candy right now.

The sounds in the living room suddenly subsided, replaced by the uncle's vicious curses.

"It was clearly those two who taught the child to say those things today, and you're even standing up for that jinx? Are you out of your mind?"

Am I sick?

Aunt's voice rose, filled with suppressed grievance.

"Why should they get all the benefits?"

"They were the ones who collected his parents' compensation money!"

"You took the money and dumped the people on us, and now you won't even give us a red envelope. What right do you have to blame me?"

"Don't fucking mention compensation!"

My uncle slammed his hand on the coffee table, making the teacups rattle loudly.

"We brought him back, and we haven't seen a single penny. We've been supporting a freeloader for nothing! You must be crazy!"

"Liu Dawei!"

My aunt's voice was choked with sobs.

"His money covered your medical expenses, your children's tuition fees—didn't he pay for all of that?"

"You call him a jinx every day, have you lost your conscience?"

"My legs are cursed because of him!"

"He ruined this family!"

My uncle roared, his face turning red and his neck thick, and slammed his cane hard on the ground with a dull thud.

Then came the sound of clothes being thrown around.

"Just seeing him makes me angry!"

My aunt's cries mixed with curses came over.

Jin Bao'er covered her head with the blanket, biting her lip tightly, not daring to make a sound.

He could feel the bed shaking, and his heart was pounding.

Her fingers gripped the corner of the blanket, creating deep wrinkles.

He knew his aunt was pitiful.

When she was young, her grandparents broke up her marriage. She thought it would be a good day when she married her uncle, but unexpectedly, her uncle broke his leg and the family fell into decline.

Despite her scolding, his aunt still washed his clothes clean and brought him a hot meal.

But her resentment was also real.

My uncle's dislike for me is also true.

He hated himself too.

I hate myself for not being able to become independent sooner.

She hated herself for being able to survive on her aunt's care, and dared not utter a single word of rebuttal.

He could only tell himself this over and over again.

I'll endure a few more years, graduate from university, and earn money by writing novels. I'll definitely pay back everything I owe my aunt.

Jin Bao'er took out her phone and opened the writing app.

The light from the screen reflected on his face, becoming his only solace.

The words of the beautiful woman in red makeup still echoed in my ears.

He wrote stroke by stroke, pouring his grievances and hopes for the future into the words.

He thought that one day, he would be able to use his pen to escape this suffocating place.

When the last word was typed, the phone screen displayed 00:00.

Suddenly, the first firework exploded outside the window.

Jin Bao'er suddenly threw off the covers and ran to the window.

Fireworks exploded across the night sky, red, yellow, and blue, illuminating the dark sky like a shower of stars.

He looked at the dazzling scene and felt a lump in his throat.

I thought to myself: I wish my life could be this bright.

Just then, the phone rang.

It was a ringtone that Zhao Yuheng sang especially for him—"This City Has Lost You".

The melody was exceptionally clear amidst the explosions of fireworks.

Look out the window.

Zhao Yuheng's voice came through the receiver, slightly hoarse from the wind.

Jin Bao'er was stunned; the sound of the fireworks was too loud for him to hear clearly.

"Heng-ge, what did you say?"

Happy New Year, my darling!

Zhao Yuheng's voice suddenly rose, his deep voice carrying a hint of smokiness, hitting him directly in the ears.

Jin Bao'er suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked at the open space by the highway not far away.

There were more than a dozen large fireworks displayed there, and a familiar figure was bending down to light them.

It's Liu Yu!

One after another, fireworks shot into the night sky, more magnificent and dazzling than those set off by every household in the village.

The light from the fireworks shone on Jin Bao'er's face, making his tears glisten.

"Is it pretty?"

Zhao Yuheng's voice deepened again, carrying a hint of cautious gentleness.

"I asked Liu Yu to go and set it up in advance. I was afraid you wouldn't see it, so I specially chose the open space closest to your house."

Jin Bao'er looked at the fireworks filling the sky, opened her mouth, but couldn't make a sound.

Only tears streamed down my cheeks.

He recalled the grievances he felt by the campfire during the day.

I recalled the arguments between my aunt and uncle.

I remember feeling helpless as I clutched the corner of the blanket.

Looking at the dazzling sight before me, my heart felt filled with something, a bittersweet mix of emotions.

It turns out that there really are people who can turn their New Year into an tangible romance.

It turns out that his life has become more vibrant because of this person.