Christmas was followed by New Year’s.

Per the official holiday schedule, businesses got three days off — the first, second, and third. Because the fourth was a Sunday, some universities extended it to a four-day break.

On the afternoon of December thirty-first, after one class, Xu Ye rode his scooter back to the dorm in a hurry, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed straight for Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He and Chen Qingqing had agreed the night before — they were going out to see in the new year together.

He got off at the subway station nearest the Conservatory, but instead of going straight to campus, he stopped at a shopping mall nearby.

Inside, he took out his phone and called Qin Zhiwei.

“Yo, Zhiwei. Where are you?”

“Ground floor, right outside the bubble tea shop.”

“I’m here. Come out front.”

“On my way.”

Xu Ye had arranged with Qin Zhiwei the previous night to come along today. But Qin Zhiwei lived closer, and had shown up more than half an hour early.

He didn’t wait long. Qin Zhiwei came jogging over.

The peacock was decked out today. New clothes, new shoes — all of it. From the moment he got close, Xu Ye caught a faint whiff of cologne.

“You dumb dog. You put on cologne?”

“Just a tiny bit.”

“Well, look at Zhiwei. Fully prepared.”

Qin Zhiwei scratched his head, grinning bashfully. “Just want to make a good impression, you know.”

Then, quickly changing the subject: “Does your girlfriend know you’re here today? We heading over now, or…?”

“No rush. I’m picking out a New Year’s gift for her first.”

“New Year’s gift — damn, I forgot.” Qin Zhiwei asked immediately, “What are you thinking of getting?”

“We’ll see. I haven’t decided.”

Xu Ye walked further into the mall. The ground floor was almost entirely brand boutiques and counters. After a lap around, he stopped in at a Tissot store, glanced across the display case, and cut straight to it. “Hi. Do you carry any watches suitable for a couple?”

“Sir, what’s your budget?”

“Around ten thousand.”

“Then take a look at this pair. White dial, minimalist, looks good on both men and women. This one’s synthetic sapphire crystal glass…”

“Are the two identical?”

“Slightly different — the biggest difference is the dial diameter.”

“How much?”

“Twelve thousand.”

Xu Ye nodded. “I’ll take that one. Resize the strap for me — take out the extra links. My girlfriend’s wrist is very thin.”

“No problem.”

Watching Xu Ye buy a pair of watches for over ten thousand yuan in a couple of sentences, Qin Zhiwei realized in that moment that Xu Ye really was no longer the person he used to be.

Qin Zhiwei stood by while Xu Ye calmly scanned the QR code to pay, waited as the clerk removed the extra links and re-packaged the watches, and only asked — softly — once the bag had been handed over: “Xu Ye. How much have you actually made since starting college?”

“Well — put it this way, I’m actually pretty deep in debt right now.”

“You’re in debt?”

“It’s fine. So what are you thinking of getting Shen Xinyi?”

Qin Zhiwei’s face fell. “I… I haven’t figured it out.”

Xu Ye could see the shape of the problem. He slung the shopping bag over one arm and dropped the other over Qin Zhiwei’s shoulders, grinning. “You’re looking at me drop twelve grand on a pair of watches, thinking about how much cash you’ve got, and now you’re worried whatever you buy is going to feel cheap next to what Shen Xinyi’s used to — right?”

“No.”

“Tell your big brother the truth.”

“You’re a big boss now. How am I supposed to compete.”

Xu Ye let go of him, took out his phone, and transferred five thousand yuan to him. “Here’s a bit of money. Use it to get her something. But — you and Shen Xinyi have only known each other a little while. I wouldn’t recommend copying me and going for something this expensive. There’s actually a reason I went this big.”

“What reason?”

Xu Ye obviously wasn’t going to tell him: if my future mother-in-law can hand me five million yuan, then a ten-thousand-yuan pair of couple watches is basically pocket change.

“You don’t need to know. Just — when I first met Qingqing, I was eating on her tab, spending on her tab. Even this phone in my hand, she bought me. Don’t compare yourself to me. If you show up with something too expensive it might actually be pressure for Shen Xinyi. You’re not even properly together yet.”

Qin Zhiwei’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out, saw the five thousand from Xu Ye, and his eyes went wide. “Damn. That’s a lot. Do I have to pay it back?”

“You can pay in labor. Work for me for free the rest of your life.”

“Screw you!”

Qin Zhiwei knew he was being teased. They’d known each other long enough to read one another instantly — often to finish each other’s thoughts.

“So what should I get her?”

“How about an instant camera?”

“An instant camera?”

“Yeah. Girls love photos. Instant cameras aren’t that pricey either. You give her one, and every time she takes a photo from now on, or every time she looks at one of those pictures — she’ll think of you.”

Qin Zhiwei practically lit up. “That — that’s the one.”

He grabbed Xu Ye by the arm and physically dragged him off to go buy the camera.

By the time they got out of the mall, the sun was almost down. They half-ran to the girls’ dorm; Xu Ye messaged Chen Qingqing, and she and her three roommates all came down from upstairs within minutes.

All four had done their makeup before heading out. Each one prettier than the last.

Chen Qingqing was in a long white dress today, with a light-blue wool overcoat over the top, her long hair loose at her back. The whole effect was poised and sweet — clean, unforced, warm.

Xu Ye stepped forward. “You look gorgeous tonight.”

It wasn’t the first time he’d said it in front of other people, but Chen Qingqing still couldn’t help feeling embarrassed by it.

Qin Zhiwei sighed quietly to himself. If only I had half the nerve Xu Ye has.

Zhang Ruowei laughed. “Xu Ye, I’m sick of hearing you say that one. Can you come up with anything else?”

He replied without missing a beat. “You aren’t as pretty as my Qingqing.”

“Xu Ye!”

“What? You want to hit me?”

“Come out from behind Qingqing if you’ve got the guts.”

“You were the one talking about me behind my back.”

“When did I talk about you behind your back?”

“When you’re a single dog and you can’t spare the time to go find yourself a man, but you do have the time to teach them how to date.”

“It’s not that I can’t find one. It’s that I don’t want to.”

“Single dog.”

“Trashy player.”

“…”

“All right, all right.” Chen Qingqing finally couldn’t take it. She turned, clamped her hand over Xu Ye’s mouth with an air of visible exasperation, then said to the others: “It’s about to be dark. Let’s go.”

The six of them caught a ride to Shanghai Happy Valley. Tonight was the night they’d see in the new year there.

Closing out 2014.

Ready to welcome 2015.

(End of Chapter 169)