Xie Ning, panting slightly, reached for Zhuang Yan’s sleeve, as if he wanted to make sure that the person in front of him was real and not an illusion.
Zhuang Yan directly grabbed his hand and pulled him into his arms, putting his hand in his own pocket at the same time. “Why are you wearing so little? You didn’t even put on a scarf; aren’t you cold?”
In Zhuang Yan’s pocket, there was still residual warmth from his hand being in there earlier. Xie Ning slowly recovered his senses, saying, “I-I...was in a rush when I came down…”
“Don’t be in such a rush next time. If you slipped and fell, my heart would hurt.” Zhuang Yan couldn’t help but scratch the tip of his nose. “I’m here, and I won’t run. Come down slowly. I’ll wait for you.”
Xie Ning repeated his words dumbly. “...You’ll wait?”
Zhuang Yan nodded. “Yeah. I’ll wait until you come down. If you didn’t come out, I would have waited until the next morning.
Xie Ning became anxious. “If you’re like this...What if I didn’t see the message, or was too concentrated on drawing, or if I slept already, then wouldn’t you have…”
Zhuang Yan pretended to be at a loss, and asked, “In that case, I could only wait until tomorrow morning.”
Xie Ning blurted, “That won’t do!”
Zhuang Yan’s eyes were smiling. “Then tell me, what should I do?”
Xie Ning’s heart was unbelievably soft at the moment, so even though Zhuang Yan was clearly teasing him, he still obediently replied, “You can...come in directly, and tell the security guard that you’re looking for me.”
Xie Ning’s appearance and actions made Zhuang Yan’s heart almost melt. “Then our progress would be too fast.”
“What?” Xie Ning didn’t understand, and asked blankly.
Zhuang Yan said softly, “It’s too early to meet your parents.”
Xie Ning: “...”
Zhuang Yan let out a small smile. He saw how Xie Ning’s nose tip and ear tips were red from the cold, and couldn’t help but feel a little distressed.
He took off his own coat and threw it towards Xie Ning. “Wear this, don’t catch a cold in the middle of the night.”
“Then what about you?” Xie Ning shook his head and asked, “You’ve waited here for so long that you must be colder than me. I don’t need it.”
Zhuang Yan said, “It’s fine. I didn’t wait for too long, and I’m in good health, so this little bit of snow and wind won’t be able to freeze me.”
Xie Ning didn’t say anything. He could feel the chill on Zhuang Yan’s body, and there were snowflakes piled up on his shoulders…
Obviously he didn’t just wait for a little bit, like he said.
After being blown by the cold wind for a long while, Xie Ning’s mind finally became clear. “Let’s go in first and then talk.”
It was too stupid to stand in front of the entrance and face the wind and snow.
“Go in?” Zhuang Yan laughed. “You’re really going to just take me to see your parents like this?”
It wasn’t clear if Xie Ning’s face was red from the cold or from embarrassment. “It’s just...just going inside and sitting, since it’s too cold outside.”
Zhuang Yan unexpectedly shook his head and said, “Not today.”
Xie Ning: “Ah?”
Zhuang Yan said, “It’s too quick. I’m not ready yet, and I didn’t even bring a gift.”
“Plus, I’m going to spirit you away today.” Zhuang Yan looked at him with a smile. “How about it, NingNing the child, are you willing to be abducted by me?”
Xie Ning’s lips shivered twice, and he said quietly, “...I’m willing.”
Zhuang Yan raised his eyebrows slightly and said, in high spirits, “NingNing, I’m realizing that when it’s around this time, you’re really easy to persuade and willing to do whatever is asked of you.”
Xie Ning: “...”
Zhuang Yan, seeing how he hadn’t put on the coat yet, directly shook open his clothes and wrapped him in the coat. “Were you moved by me?”
Xie Ning was suddenly surrounded by Zhuang Yan’s breath, and before he could even speak, half of his body went soft.
Zhuang Yan continued to say, “Then aren’t you too easily moved? I haven’t even done anything yet. In the future, when I actually do something, then wouldn’t you…”
He purposely paused, and Xie Ning curiously looked over. “?”
Zhuang Yan smiled and replied, “Then wouldn’t you be so moved that you’d give your heart to me?”
Xie Ning was being teased so heavily that it felt like there was steam coming out of his body. He was also still wearing Zhuang Yan’s coat, so he could only change the topic. “Stop talking, it’s too cold here...where are you going to abduct me to?”
“I’m taking you somewhere to step into the new year with me.” Zhuang Yan smiled and pulled him all the way to the garage. When the two of them got into the car, he turned on the heater and adjusted the temperature to its highest.
He then let out a small breath and complained, “I’ve finally abducted you. It was so cold I thought I was gonna die.”
Xie Ning smiled, embarrassed. “Didn’t you just say it wasn’t cold…”
“How could you believe everything I say?” Zhuang Yan said helplessly.
Xie Ning seriously replied, “I only believe it if you’re the one saying it.”
Zhuang Yan was originally going to give him a lecture about not trusting others so easily, but after hearing what he just said, the vexation in his heart disappeared, and he only wanted to hug Xie Ning and give him kisses.
“You’ll believe anything I say?” he asked while he started the car.
Xie Ning mumbled, “Things that are too outrageous...I don’t believe those.”
Then that means the words that aren’t too outrageous are the ones he believes in.
Zhuang Yan smiled in his heart. He then thought, Back then, was that how Xu Qing...coaxed and lied to steal him away?
On such a happy day, Zhuang Yan didn’t want to bring up unhappy things, so he didn’t think about it anymore. He smiled slightly and asked Xie Ning, “Have you gone out to step into the new year before?”
Xie Ning shook his head. “I used to just celebrate the new year at home.”
Zhuang Yan said, “I thought so. Today I’ll take you to have some good fun.”
Xie Ning was quite curious as to where Zhuang Yan was going to take them and looked out the window, but only saw darkness.
On New Year’s Eve, other than a couple of shopping plazas that still had their lights on, all other shops were closed.
When they arrived at the destination, Xie Ning wanted to give the coat back to Zhuang Yan.
Zhuang Yan smiled helplessly and found a leather jacket from the backseat to wear. “I have clothes on the car.”
Xie Ning nodded.
He glanced to the side and noticed that Zhuang Yan seemed to have brought them to a shopping mall. But right now, the mall’s front doors were closed, so Zhuang Yan took him to the fourth floor using a direct elevator.
It was a movie theater.
The movie theater was having a midnight showing. Although there weren’t many people, the lights were still on.
Xie Ning asked, “You brought me here to watch a movie to step into New Year’s?”
Zhuang Yan shook his head and smiled. “I might as well take you to my house if we were to watch a movie. The equipment is better and there’d be no one to bother us.”
Xie Ning curiously asked, “Then how do you...want to step into the new year?”
Zhuang Yan purposely left him wanting more. “Guess?”
Xie Ning couldn’t guess, and shook his head, confused. “I don’t know.”
Zhuang Yan smiled mysteriously. “Don’t be in a hurry. Follow me and you’ll know.”
After saying this, he very naturally held Xie Ning’s hand. Xie Ning was startled, but didn’t take his hand back.
His fingertips were cold, but his palm was hot.
The movie theater was on the topmost floor of the shopping mall, and there was a door separating it from the rest of the mall. When it was time for the mall’s employees to get off work, they would lock that door.
Zhuang Yan brought Xie Ning in front of that door, mysteriously took out a key from his pocket, opened the door a bit, and pulled Xie Ning into the mall.
Xie Ning was surprised. “Why do you have a key?”
Zhuang Yan lifted his eyebrows, and asked in return, “Guess?”
“...” Xie Ning pressed his lips together and said, “I won’t guess.”
Zhuang Yan didn’t want to tease him anymore, and explained, “My friend’s family opened this shopping mall. I purposely used our connection and asked him to leave a door open for me.”
Xie Ning: “Oh.”
The mall was empty and there was no one there. The lights weren’t turned on yet, so there was only darkness wherever they looked, and Xie Ning shrank back a bit.
Zhuang Yan gripped his hand tightly. “If you’re scared, hold onto me.”
Xie Ning was stubborn. “...I’m not afraid.”
“Yes yes yes, you’re not afraid, and you’re not trembling.” Zhuang Yan coaxed him as he would a child. “...Be careful, there’s a step here.”
He didn’t finish speaking yet when Xie Ning’s foot met the air, and his body lurched to the side, almost falling.
Zhuang Yan’s hands were fast and grabbed his waist, pulling him towards his chest. “How are you…”
Xie Ning was shocked and surprised by what just happened, and subconsciously wrapped his hands around Zhuang Yan’s shoulders. He stabilized himself before saying, “I-I wasn’t paying attention.”
Zhuang Yan chuckled and took out his phone, opening the flashlight app that came with it. He tossed his phone to Xie Ning and said, “Take this. I was dumb as well to forget to turn on a light for you.”
Xie Ning dutifully caught his phone and could finally see the path in front of him clearly.
This mall looked familiar, but before Xie Ning could remember where he’d seen it before, the two of them arrived at their destination.
Xie Ning looked at the claw machines in front of them and paused for a long while before saying, “This is…”
This floor of the mall had floor-to-ceiling windows, and the claw machines were placed in front of these windows. The faint moonlight shone through the glass and poured onto Xie Ning and Zhuang Yan.
Zhuang Yan, seeing how Xie Ning was in a daze, couldn’t resist and reached out a hand to squeeze his cheeks.
“This is where we first met.”
Xie Ning was completely, entirely stunned.
His eyes slowly widened and stared at Zhuang Yan. It took him a long while before he could say something, “I don’t remember there being so many claw machines.”
Zhuang Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “That’s the only thing you have to say?”
Xie Ning shook his head.
Looking at the row of claw machines, he remembered the rabbit plushie he had placed next to his bed. His heart felt sweet, like it had eaten honey.
This night was too beautiful.
In a plaza not far away, there seemed to be people setting off fireworks. Looking out from the floor-to-ceiling windows, the flashing sparks traveling past were visible.
The moonlight’s afterglow landed on Zhuang Yan’s face and outlined his mouth curving upwards, slightly smiling appearance.
Perfect, handsome, and gentle.
It made people look at him and couldn’t help but be moved.
Xie Ning quietly touched his own chest, wanting his heart to not beat so quickly.
Zhuang Yan pulled him to stand in front of a claw machine and explained, “I suggested to my friend that there weren’t enough claw machines in this shopping mall. It seems like he was quite humble and accepted opinions.”
Xie Ning mumbled, “There are more now…”
Zhuang Yan, on the side, exchanged a lot of coins at the machine. He grabbed a handful and shoved it towards Xie Ning.
“This time let’s catch them together,” he said. “I don’t believe that I can’t catch even one, after tonight.”
Xie Ning took the coins, and said after a while, “I’ll watch you catch them.”
Zhuang Yan’s skill when it came to catching plushies was still not very good. Xie Ning watched him put in dozens of coins, but he was still unable to grab anything.
Xie Ning couldn’t help himself and said, “Should I take a turn?”
Zhuang Yan turned his head to glance at him and felt like he had lost some face in front of him.
For some reason, he didn’t want him to take over. “No, I must catch one with my own hands!”
He didn’t believe that a simple claw machine could be very hard.
So, Xie Ning watched him throw down a handful of coins again, to no avail.
“...” Xie Ning thought he might as well point him in the right direction. “Don’t be in a hurry. The claw is still moving, so wait until it stops moving before pressing the button.”
Zhuang Yan listened to him and waited for a while until the claw stopped moving before pressing the button.
--It came up empty.
Zhuang Yan frowned impatiently, and Xie Ning continued to say, “You have to notice the plushie’s position. Plushies that are lying down horizontally are the easiest to grab, but vertical plushies are the hardest to get.”
This time, Zhuang Yan picked a plushie that was at the corner of the machine and lying horizontally, and before Xie Ning said anything, pressed the button.
The plushie was picked up, but before it reached the hole, it fell back down.
Zhuang Yan: “...”
Xie Ning comforted him, saying, “At least you’re improving and can grab it now.”
Zhuang Yan resisted his urge to kick the claw machine and quietly cursed at it, “What the hell is this.”
Xie Ning covered his mouth and smiled. “Try to grab plushies that are near the hole. It’s easier to catch, since the ones that are too far away fall easily.”
This time, Zhuang Yan wasn’t in a hurry. He lightly asked Xie Ning, “Do you have any other tips?”
“Also…” Xie Ning thought about it, and said, “I remember that you can press the button on this claw machine twice. The first time it’s pressed, it’s to lower the claw, and the second time is to retract the claw. You can try to automatically retract the claw instead.”
Zhuang Yan furrowed his eyebrows. “Why is it so complicated to catch a plushie?”
Xie Ning: “...It’s still mainly based on luck.”
Zhuang Yan felt like he’d always had good luck, but none of it was spent on claw machines.
They had almost finished using up the hundred coins that were exchanged, but a plushie was still not caught.
The best attempt was when a plushie was grabbed, fell onto the edge of the hole, and landed outside of the hole with a pa.
Zhuang Yan stared at the claw machine for a long time. “I don’t think I’m the one with a problem, I think it’s the claw machine.”
Xie Ning held back a laugh before saying, “Then let’s switch to a different claw machine?”
Zhuang Yan was silent. He felt like the result would be the same even if they switched to a different machine.
But he couldn’t admit defeat.
In Zhuang Yan’s dictionary, the word “defeat” doesn’t exist!
He glanced at the time on his phone. There was still ten minutes before midnight.
There were less than ten coins left.
……
The last coin.
Zhuang Yan’s face looked cold, and he was thinking that if he didn’t catch a plushie at all, then he would find Qi Rui and sue him.
What kind of broken machine was in his family’s shopping mall?
Before he tried catching a plushie again, he turned towards Xie Ning and said, “Give me a hug.”
Xie Ning was confused. “Ah?”
Zhuang Yan, very seriously, said, “This is metaphysics. If you give me a hug, maybe my luck will come.”
Xie Ning was a bit speechless. “...How come you even believe in this?”
But he still obediently reached his arms out and gave Zhuang Yan a light hug.
Xie Ning was already ready to exchange more coins, but unexpectedly, Zhuang Yan didn’t put too much thought into the process this time and pressed randomly, and…
...Caught one?
Xie Ning blankly stared at the plushie in the claws that trembled all the way and finally, successfully fell into the hole.
Zhuang Yan let out a breath of relief, bent down, and took the plushie out.
“Here.” He handed it to Xie Ning. “Although it’s a little ugly, it’s still for you.”
This was probably the only plushie that Zhuang Yan had ever caught by himself.
“New Year’s present.” Zhuang Yan furrowed his brows, and said critically, “I guess it’s considered okay.”
Xie Ning froze for a second, and looked down at the plushie.
It was a rabbit, but a different style than the one last time.
This one had rounder ears, and was cuter and more softer-looking than the last one.
He only now realized that Zhuang Yan was only aiming for the rabbits in the claw machine.
No matter how difficult the position it was in, he never gave up or switched to a different target.
Xie Ning couldn’t help it and bit his lip.
He reached into his pocket and took out a copper coin.
He put this copper coin, from a dumpling, into Zhuang Yan’s palm. “New Year’s present.”
Zhuang Yan lifted his eyebrows. “What is this?”
Xie Ning said softly, “It’s good fortune.”
A bell seemed to start ringing in the distance.
Zhuang Yan stared at Xie Ning, closed his hand around the copper coin, and let out a smile.
In an instant, fireworks exploded in the sky.
00:00.
A new year had arrived.
Zhuang Yan lowered his head and gently kissed Xie Ning’s lips.
----------------------------------
Author’s Note: ZhuangZhuang: I swear, I’ll never catch another plushie in this lifetime!
NingNing: ...I don’t know what to say, so I’ll wish everyone a Happy New Year in advance.
Ask yourself three times a day:
Was NingNing cute enough today?
Was ZhuangZhuang flirted with today?
Was the content today sweet enough?
If it’s sweet enough, can the author receive your sweet comments? QAQ
Translator's Notes:
step into the new year - basically celebrating the new year as it turns midnight, but festivities don't just end at midnight, so i didn't want to use that phrase! hehe
qi rui - it says yan xi in the raws, but i'm pretty sure qi rui's family is the one that owns this shopping mall...?
Xie Ning, panting slightly, reached for Zhuang Yan’s sleeve, as if he wanted to make sure that the person in front of him was real and not an illusion.
Zhuang Yan directly grabbed his hand and pulled him into his arms, putting his hand in his own pocket at the same time. “Why are you wearing so little? You didn’t even put on a scarf; aren’t you cold?”
In Zhuang Yan’s pocket, there was still residual warmth from his hand being in there earlier. Xie Ning slowly recovered his senses, saying, “I-I...was in a rush when I came down…”
“Don’t be in such a rush next time. If you slipped and fell, my heart would hurt.” Zhuang Yan couldn’t help but scratch the tip of his nose. “I’m here, and I won’t run. Come down slowly. I’ll wait for you.”
Xie Ning repeated his words dumbly. “...You’ll wait?”
Zhuang Yan nodded. “Yeah. I’ll wait until you come down. If you didn’t come out, I would have waited until the next morning.
Xie Ning became anxious. “If you’re like this...What if I didn’t see the message, or was too concentrated on drawing, or if I slept already, then wouldn’t you have…”
Zhuang Yan pretended to be at a loss, and asked, “In that case, I could only wait until tomorrow morning.”
Xie Ning blurted, “That won’t do!”
Zhuang Yan’s eyes were smiling. “Then tell me, what should I do?”
Xie Ning’s heart was unbelievably soft at the moment, so even though Zhuang Yan was clearly teasing him, he still obediently replied, “You can...come in directly, and tell the security guard that you’re looking for me.”
Xie Ning’s appearance and actions made Zhuang Yan’s heart almost melt. “Then our progress would be too fast.”
“What?” Xie Ning didn’t understand, and asked blankly.
Zhuang Yan said softly, “It’s too early to meet your parents.”
Xie Ning: “...”
Zhuang Yan let out a small smile. He saw how Xie Ning’s nose tip and ear tips were red from the cold, and couldn’t help but feel a little distressed.
He took off his own coat and threw it towards Xie Ning. “Wear this, don’t catch a cold in the middle of the night.”
“Then what about you?” Xie Ning shook his head and asked, “You’ve waited here for so long that you must be colder than me. I don’t need it.”
Zhuang Yan said, “It’s fine. I didn’t wait for too long, and I’m in good health, so this little bit of snow and wind won’t be able to freeze me.”
Xie Ning didn’t say anything. He could feel the chill on Zhuang Yan’s body, and there were snowflakes piled up on his shoulders…
Obviously he didn’t just wait for a little bit, like he said.
After being blown by the cold wind for a long while, Xie Ning’s mind finally became clear. “Let’s go in first and then talk.”
It was too stupid to stand in front of the entrance and face the wind and snow.
“Go in?” Zhuang Yan laughed. “You’re really going to just take me to see your parents like this?”
It wasn’t clear if Xie Ning’s face was red from the cold or from embarrassment. “It’s just...just going inside and sitting, since it’s too cold outside.”
Zhuang Yan unexpectedly shook his head and said, “Not today.”
Xie Ning: “Ah?”
Zhuang Yan said, “It’s too quick. I’m not ready yet, and I didn’t even bring a gift.”
“Plus, I’m going to spirit you away today.” Zhuang Yan looked at him with a smile. “How about it, NingNing the child, are you willing to be abducted by me?”
Xie Ning’s lips shivered twice, and he said quietly, “...I’m willing.”
Zhuang Yan raised his eyebrows slightly and said, in high spirits, “NingNing, I’m realizing that when it’s around this time, you’re really easy to persuade and willing to do whatever is asked of you.”
Xie Ning: “...”
Zhuang Yan, seeing how he hadn’t put on the coat yet, directly shook open his clothes and wrapped him in the coat. “Were you moved by me?”
Xie Ning was suddenly surrounded by Zhuang Yan’s breath, and before he could even speak, half of his body went soft.
Zhuang Yan continued to say, “Then aren’t you too easily moved? I haven’t even done anything yet. In the future, when I actually do something, then wouldn’t you…”
He purposely paused, and Xie Ning curiously looked over. “?”
Zhuang Yan smiled and replied, “Then wouldn’t you be so moved that you’d give your heart to me?”
Xie Ning was being teased so heavily that it felt like there was steam coming out of his body. He was also still wearing Zhuang Yan’s coat, so he could only change the topic. “Stop talking, it’s too cold here...where are you going to abduct me to?”
“I’m taking you somewhere to step into the new year with me.” Zhuang Yan smiled and pulled him all the way to the garage. When the two of them got into the car, he turned on the heater and adjusted the temperature to its highest.
He then let out a small breath and complained, “I’ve finally abducted you. It was so cold I thought I was gonna die.”
Xie Ning smiled, embarrassed. “Didn’t you just say it wasn’t cold…”
“How could you believe everything I say?” Zhuang Yan said helplessly.
Xie Ning seriously replied, “I only believe it if you’re the one saying it.”
Zhuang Yan was originally going to give him a lecture about not trusting others so easily, but after hearing what he just said, the vexation in his heart disappeared, and he only wanted to hug Xie Ning and give him kisses.
“You’ll believe anything I say?” he asked while he started the car.
Xie Ning mumbled, “Things that are too outrageous...I don’t believe those.”
Then that means the words that aren’t too outrageous are the ones he believes in.
Zhuang Yan smiled in his heart. He then thought, Back then, was that how Xu Qing...coaxed and lied to steal him away?
On such a happy day, Zhuang Yan didn’t want to bring up unhappy things, so he didn’t think about it anymore. He smiled slightly and asked Xie Ning, “Have you gone out to step into the new year before?”
Xie Ning shook his head. “I used to just celebrate the new year at home.”
Zhuang Yan said, “I thought so. Today I’ll take you to have some good fun.”
Xie Ning was quite curious as to where Zhuang Yan was going to take them and looked out the window, but only saw darkness.
On New Year’s Eve, other than a couple of shopping plazas that still had their lights on, all other shops were closed.
When they arrived at the destination, Xie Ning wanted to give the coat back to Zhuang Yan.
Zhuang Yan smiled helplessly and found a leather jacket from the backseat to wear. “I have clothes on the car.”
Xie Ning nodded.
He glanced to the side and noticed that Zhuang Yan seemed to have brought them to a shopping mall. But right now, the mall’s front doors were closed, so Zhuang Yan took him to the fourth floor using a direct elevator.
It was a movie theater.
The movie theater was having a midnight showing. Although there weren’t many people, the lights were still on.
Xie Ning asked, “You brought me here to watch a movie to step into New Year’s?”
Zhuang Yan shook his head and smiled. “I might as well take you to my house if we were to watch a movie. The equipment is better and there’d be no one to bother us.”
Xie Ning curiously asked, “Then how do you...want to step into the new year?”
Zhuang Yan purposely left him wanting more. “Guess?”
Xie Ning couldn’t guess, and shook his head, confused. “I don’t know.”
Zhuang Yan smiled mysteriously. “Don’t be in a hurry. Follow me and you’ll know.”
After saying this, he very naturally held Xie Ning’s hand. Xie Ning was startled, but didn’t take his hand back.
His fingertips were cold, but his palm was hot.
The movie theater was on the topmost floor of the shopping mall, and there was a door separating it from the rest of the mall. When it was time for the mall’s employees to get off work, they would lock that door.
Zhuang Yan brought Xie Ning in front of that door, mysteriously took out a key from his pocket, opened the door a bit, and pulled Xie Ning into the mall.
Xie Ning was surprised. “Why do you have a key?”
Zhuang Yan lifted his eyebrows, and asked in return, “Guess?”
“...” Xie Ning pressed his lips together and said, “I won’t guess.”
Zhuang Yan didn’t want to tease him anymore, and explained, “My friend’s family opened this shopping mall. I purposely used our connection and asked him to leave a door open for me.”
Xie Ning: “Oh.”
The mall was empty and there was no one there. The lights weren’t turned on yet, so there was only darkness wherever they looked, and Xie Ning shrank back a bit.
Zhuang Yan gripped his hand tightly. “If you’re scared, hold onto me.”
Xie Ning was stubborn. “...I’m not afraid.”
“Yes yes yes, you’re not afraid, and you’re not trembling.” Zhuang Yan coaxed him as he would a child. “...Be careful, there’s a step here.”
He didn’t finish speaking yet when Xie Ning’s foot met the air, and his body lurched to the side, almost falling.
Zhuang Yan’s hands were fast and grabbed his waist, pulling him towards his chest. “How are you…”
Xie Ning was shocked and surprised by what just happened, and subconsciously wrapped his hands around Zhuang Yan’s shoulders. He stabilized himself before saying, “I-I wasn’t paying attention.”
Zhuang Yan chuckled and took out his phone, opening the flashlight app that came with it. He tossed his phone to Xie Ning and said, “Take this. I was dumb as well to forget to turn on a light for you.”
Xie Ning dutifully caught his phone and could finally see the path in front of him clearly.
This mall looked familiar, but before Xie Ning could remember where he’d seen it before, the two of them arrived at their destination.
Xie Ning looked at the claw machines in front of them and paused for a long while before saying, “This is…”
This floor of the mall had floor-to-ceiling windows, and the claw machines were placed in front of these windows. The faint moonlight shone through the glass and poured onto Xie Ning and Zhuang Yan.
Zhuang Yan, seeing how Xie Ning was in a daze, couldn’t resist and reached out a hand to squeeze his cheeks.
“This is where we first met.”
Xie Ning was completely, entirely stunned.
His eyes slowly widened and stared at Zhuang Yan. It took him a long while before he could say something, “I don’t remember there being so many claw machines.”
Zhuang Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “That’s the only thing you have to say?”
Xie Ning shook his head.
Looking at the row of claw machines, he remembered the rabbit plushie he had placed next to his bed. His heart felt sweet, like it had eaten honey.
This night was too beautiful.
In a plaza not far away, there seemed to be people setting off fireworks. Looking out from the floor-to-ceiling windows, the flashing sparks traveling past were visible.
The moonlight’s afterglow landed on Zhuang Yan’s face and outlined his mouth curving upwards, slightly smiling appearance.
Perfect, handsome, and gentle.
It made people look at him and couldn’t help but be moved.
Xie Ning quietly touched his own chest, wanting his heart to not beat so quickly.
Zhuang Yan pulled him to stand in front of a claw machine and explained, “I suggested to my friend that there weren’t enough claw machines in this shopping mall. It seems like he was quite humble and accepted opinions.”
Xie Ning mumbled, “There are more now…”
Zhuang Yan, on the side, exchanged a lot of coins at the machine. He grabbed a handful and shoved it towards Xie Ning.
“This time let’s catch them together,” he said. “I don’t believe that I can’t catch even one, after tonight.”
Xie Ning took the coins, and said after a while, “I’ll watch you catch them.”
Zhuang Yan’s skill when it came to catching plushies was still not very good. Xie Ning watched him put in dozens of coins, but he was still unable to grab anything.
Xie Ning couldn’t help himself and said, “Should I take a turn?”
Zhuang Yan turned his head to glance at him and felt like he had lost some face in front of him.
For some reason, he didn’t want him to take over. “No, I must catch one with my own hands!”
He didn’t believe that a simple claw machine could be very hard.
So, Xie Ning watched him throw down a handful of coins again, to no avail.
“...” Xie Ning thought he might as well point him in the right direction. “Don’t be in a hurry. The claw is still moving, so wait until it stops moving before pressing the button.”
Zhuang Yan listened to him and waited for a while until the claw stopped moving before pressing the button.
--It came up empty.
Zhuang Yan frowned impatiently, and Xie Ning continued to say, “You have to notice the plushie’s position. Plushies that are lying down horizontally are the easiest to grab, but vertical plushies are the hardest to get.”
This time, Zhuang Yan picked a plushie that was at the corner of the machine and lying horizontally, and before Xie Ning said anything, pressed the button.
The plushie was picked up, but before it reached the hole, it fell back down.
Zhuang Yan: “...”
Xie Ning comforted him, saying, “At least you’re improving and can grab it now.”
Zhuang Yan resisted his urge to kick the claw machine and quietly cursed at it, “What the hell is this.”
Xie Ning covered his mouth and smiled. “Try to grab plushies that are near the hole. It’s easier to catch, since the ones that are too far away fall easily.”
This time, Zhuang Yan wasn’t in a hurry. He lightly asked Xie Ning, “Do you have any other tips?”
“Also…” Xie Ning thought about it, and said, “I remember that you can press the button on this claw machine twice. The first time it’s pressed, it’s to lower the claw, and the second time is to retract the claw. You can try to automatically retract the claw instead.”
Zhuang Yan furrowed his eyebrows. “Why is it so complicated to catch a plushie?”
Xie Ning: “...It’s still mainly based on luck.”
Zhuang Yan felt like he’d always had good luck, but none of it was spent on claw machines.
They had almost finished using up the hundred coins that were exchanged, but a plushie was still not caught.
The best attempt was when a plushie was grabbed, fell onto the edge of the hole, and landed outside of the hole with a pa.
Zhuang Yan stared at the claw machine for a long time. “I don’t think I’m the one with a problem, I think it’s the claw machine.”
Xie Ning held back a laugh before saying, “Then let’s switch to a different claw machine?”
Zhuang Yan was silent. He felt like the result would be the same even if they switched to a different machine.
But he couldn’t admit defeat.
In Zhuang Yan’s dictionary, the word “defeat” doesn’t exist!
He glanced at the time on his phone. There was still ten minutes before midnight.
There were less than ten coins left.
……
The last coin.
Zhuang Yan’s face looked cold, and he was thinking that if he didn’t catch a plushie at all, then he would find Qi Rui and sue him.
What kind of broken machine was in his family’s shopping mall?
Before he tried catching a plushie again, he turned towards Xie Ning and said, “Give me a hug.”
Xie Ning was confused. “Ah?”
Zhuang Yan, very seriously, said, “This is metaphysics. If you give me a hug, maybe my luck will come.”
Xie Ning was a bit speechless. “...How come you even believe in this?”
But he still obediently reached his arms out and gave Zhuang Yan a light hug.
Xie Ning was already ready to exchange more coins, but unexpectedly, Zhuang Yan didn’t put too much thought into the process this time and pressed randomly, and…
...Caught one?
Xie Ning blankly stared at the plushie in the claws that trembled all the way and finally, successfully fell into the hole.
Zhuang Yan let out a breath of relief, bent down, and took the plushie out.
“Here.” He handed it to Xie Ning. “Although it’s a little ugly, it’s still for you.”
This was probably the only plushie that Zhuang Yan had ever caught by himself.
“New Year’s present.” Zhuang Yan furrowed his brows, and said critically, “I guess it’s considered okay.”
Xie Ning froze for a second, and looked down at the plushie.
It was a rabbit, but a different style than the one last time.
This one had rounder ears, and was cuter and more softer-looking than the last one.
He only now realized that Zhuang Yan was only aiming for the rabbits in the claw machine.
No matter how difficult the position it was in, he never gave up or switched to a different target.
Xie Ning couldn’t help it and bit his lip.
He reached into his pocket and took out a copper coin.
He put this copper coin, from a dumpling, into Zhuang Yan’s palm. “New Year’s present.”
Zhuang Yan lifted his eyebrows. “What is this?”
Xie Ning said softly, “It’s good fortune.”
A bell seemed to start ringing in the distance.
Zhuang Yan stared at Xie Ning, closed his hand around the copper coin, and let out a smile.
In an instant, fireworks exploded in the sky.
00:00.
A new year had arrived.
Zhuang Yan lowered his head and gently kissed Xie Ning’s lips.
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Author’s Note: ZhuangZhuang: I swear, I’ll never catch another plushie in this lifetime!
NingNing: ...I don’t know what to say, so I’ll wish everyone a Happy New Year in advance.
Ask yourself three times a day:
Was NingNing cute enough today?
Was ZhuangZhuang flirted with today?
Was the content today sweet enough?
If it’s sweet enough, can the author receive your sweet comments? QAQ
Translator's Notes:
step into the new year - basically celebrating the new year as it turns midnight, but festivities don't just end at midnight, so i didn't want to use that phrase! hehe
qi rui - it says yan xi in the raws, but i'm pretty sure qi rui's family is the one that owns this shopping mall...?
