Lan Hui had been closely tracking the progress of the package delivery lately.
After returning home, she had prepared quite a few items for Peng Kai.
All were specialties from their hometown.
Sausages, Lap Mei, Board Duck, and Air-dried Chicken made by her mother.
Peng Kai was spending the New Year alone in S City, feeling truly lonely. Since she couldn’t be with him, she was determined that he wouldn’t lack food.
Peng Kai received the package on the twenty-ninth day of the lunar year.
By then, many deliveries had already stopped, but he personally drove to the courier station to pick it up.
A full box, nearly twenty kilograms in total, left Peng Kai deeply touched.
In previous years, when he was with Gu Shinan, he was always the one busy preparing everything during the New Year.
After they broke up, his roommate went home for the holiday, leaving him alone.
All these years, only Yue Fu had been constantly thinking of him.
At this moment, Peng Kai missed Yue Fu terribly, wishing he could instantly appear by her side.
However, he forced down that wild impulse. It was the twenty-ninth today; only four days left before he could see her.
Lan Hui saw the delivery status showing signed for and immediately called Peng Kai.
Peng Kai was just about to call her and answered as soon as he saw her number.
“Fu Fu.”
Hearing her boyfriend’s low, magnetic voice over the phone, Lan Hui couldn’t help but smile and spoke cheerfully, “Kai-ge, I saw the package was signed for. You’ve already got it, right?”
“Mm, got it. Such a big box. Fu Fu, you’re so thoughtful.”
Lan Hui beamed proudly.
“All made by my mom. Sausages and Lap Mei are easy — just clean and boil them. The Air-dried Chicken and Board Duck are simple too; just steam for an hour, and they’re ready. These dishes are a blessing for beginners.”
Peng Kai listened as his girlfriend chattered on nonstop. His heart melted into tenderness. “I know, I can cook. Fu Fu, don’t worry, I won’t go hungry.”
He actually knew how to make some simple home dishes but was usually too busy with work. After Fu Fu moved in, she basically did all the cooking.
Besides boiling dumplings in the morning, he rarely set foot in the kitchen.
That was why she worried he might have no New Year’s Eve dinner.
Lan Hui laughed, “Good that you won’t starve. I’m off to play cards now. My besties are waiting; we’re one short.”
Peng Kai chuckled, “Alright, go ahead. Do you have enough money? Want me to send you a Red Envelope?”
“No need, we play small stakes — one yuan per round. Even after playing all night, I’ll only lose about twenty. Just for fun.”
“Got it.” Peng Kai nodded.
On New Year’s Eve, Lan Hui was dragged out of bed early by Ms. Zhang.
“Mom, can’t I sleep a little longer?” Lan Hui barely opened her eyes.
“No way. We have a lot to buy today.” Ms. Zhang urged, “Hurry up. After shopping, we have to paste couplets and cook the New Year’s Eve dinner, or there won’t be time.”
“All right, I’m up.” Lan Hui could only comply. Once a year, her mom was the boss.
The three of them were busy until four-thirty in the afternoon. At last, amid the sound of firecrackers, they began their New Year’s Eve dinner.
Lan Hui took several photos to send to Peng Kai, letting him feel the festive joy.
“Kai-ge, next year I’ll bring you home to meet my parents. Don’t be nervous then.”
Peng Kai smiled at her message. “Don’t worry, I’ll do my best. But enough talk, you should eat now.”
“What about your New Year’s Eve dinner? Send me a photo?” Lan Hui asked.
Peng Kai snapped a picture of a big pot in the kitchen. “Still cooking. Probably another half hour before dinner.”
“Okay, remember to take photos while eating. I’m going to pay New Year’s greetings to my parents. Hehe.”
Peng Kai asked, “You’re grown up, but do you still get Ya Sui Qian?”
“Of course. With my parents, I’m always a Bao Bao.”
Peng Kai laughed and sent her 1314 yuan. “You’re a treasure to me too. Here’s your Red Envelope.”
He had thought about sending 5200 yuan but knew that with her personality, she’d definitely refuse that much. 1314 wasn’t much, but its meaning was perfect — one life, one world.
***
After greeting her parents and receiving two hundred yuan in Red Envelopes, Lan Hui saw Peng Kai’s and smiled brightly.
She sent 520 yuan back: “Kai-ge, you have a Red Envelope too.”
Peng Kai’s smile widened as he saw the 520, but he refused to accept it. “I got your heart. Keep the Red Envelope for yourself. Consider it as me paying you.”
Lan Hui knew exactly what he meant. “I have to accept it since you sent it. It’s only fair.”
Peng Kai said, “I’m a man, I don’t take Red Envelopes.”
Lan Hui said, “You sent 1314, I sent 520. Together it’s 1314520 — a lifetime of love between us. Please accept it. It’s a good meaning.”
Peng Kai was speechless. “Alright, I’ll accept it.”
Only then did Lan Hui smile.
Peng Kai: “Fu Fu, I miss you so much. Three more days until I see you.”
Lan Hui: “Only three days. It’ll be quick.”
Peng Kai: “Not quick. Time drags like years.”
Lan Hui couldn’t help but laugh. “Stop being dramatic. Go watch your pot so it doesn’t burn. No dinner if it burns on New Year’s Eve.”
“Don’t worry. I’m standing right by it.”
***
On the afternoon of the second day of the New Year, Lan Hui was playing cards with her girlfriends when Peng Kai called.
She quickly got someone to cover for her and moved to a quiet place to answer.
On the other end came Peng Kai’s gentle voice: “Fu Fu, what are you doing?”
Lan Hui smiled, “Hehe, playing cards.”
Suddenly, a mechanical female voice from the airport speaker came through. She was shocked. “Kai-ge, are you at the airport?”
Peng Kai nodded. “Mm, just got off the plane.”
“Ah? Where did you go?” Lan Hui was confused.
“I missed you so much I bought a ticket today to pick you up. Tomorrow we’ll go back to S City together,” Peng Kai said. “It’s early in the Spring Festival. Round-trip tickets are cheap — just about a thousand yuan for two.”
Lan Hui didn’t know what to say but couldn’t deny she was a bit happy.
Peng Kai added, “Fu Fu, don’t worry, I’m not trying to disturb you. I’ll stay in a hotel near the airport tonight, waiting for you to join me tomorrow.”
Lan Hui didn’t feel disturbed. “Kai-ge, you should take the bus to the city center now. I’m going home to pack and head to C City to find you. Since you came all this way, I’ll take you out to explore tonight.”
Peng Kai was surprised. “Fu Fu, is it okay for you to come out now? What about your uncle and aunt?”
“I don’t care if you wander around or not; you’ll be back next year anyway.”
Lan Hui said, “It’s fine. I told my parents I’m going early to wait for the flight, in case of delays. They won’t think much. I’m only leaving half a day earlier than planned. They’ll understand. Kai-ge, let’s agree on this — you take the bus to Chuntian Road, and we meet there.”
“Okay.” Peng Kai was visibly excited.
“Kai-ge, my bus ride to the city will take about three hours. If you’re tired, find a hotel to rest first.”
Peng Kai checked the time. It was already past three in the afternoon. By the time she got to the city, it would be around seven or eight in the evening.
“I’m not tired. I slept on the plane. I’ll go straight to the bus station to wait for you. Since you’ll get to the city so late, I’m worried about you going alone to Chuntian Road.”
“But… you’ll have to wait over three hours at the bus station.”
“No problem. It takes me over an hour to get there by bus as well. I’ll only wait two hours at the station. Not hard. Just thinking about seeing you soon makes me happy.”
Lan Hui laughed, “Alright, it’s settled then. I’ll go pack and head out soon.”
“Be safe.” Peng Kai’s handsome face brightened like melting spring snow as many passersby glanced at him.
Back at home, Lan Hui told her parents about leaving early. Though a little disappointed, they helped her pack enthusiastically. Lan Baba personally rode his electric bike to take her to the town bus station.
After a bumpy three-hour ride, Lan Hui finally arrived at Chengdong Bus Station in the city around eight at night.
She pulled her suitcase out and called Peng Kai as she walked.
Peng Kai was still inside the station and answered immediately with a low, urgent voice: “Fu Fu, have you arrived?”
“Mm, just walking outside now.” Lan Hui looked around, eager to see her boyfriend at once.
Peng Kai spotted her first in the crowd. She was beautiful, standing out wherever she went.