Xiao Chen's heart was tormented, like a raging fire roasting him, scalding his skin and making his whole body itchy.
Until the impulse took over, a voice of reason suddenly broke in.
Telling him to stop.
He grabbed her arm, his lips against her ear, holding the back of her head, and whispered to her softly, "Na Na..."
This voice almost took everything away from her.
Yu Na looked up, poking his chin with her fingertips: "Hmm?"
Xiao Chen leaned his forehead against hers, his voice like electricity, numb and tingly, reaching her whole body. He couldn't hold back after all, leaned in, and kissed the tip of her nose, "I got my revenge."
"What?"
"Go wait in the living room, be good."
Yu Na didn't know what was going on with him. Clinging to his neck, she shook her head, "No, I want to be with you."
Xiao Chen laughed helplessly, "Listen to me, dinner will be ready soon."
She whined, "I don't want to."
He had no choice but to let her stay here.
Xiao Chen turned on the kitchen lights again, bright enough to be a little glaring. The bright light spilled down, calming them both considerably.
He took a deep breath.
Yu Na was completely unaware of Xiao Chen's mental process. Standing to the side, she asked, "Can I help with anything?"
Xiao Chen: "You're already helping me the most by not helping."
He rinsed that tomato again, then put it on the cutting board.
Xiao Chen resumed his usual casual manner. When Yu Na wasn't looking, he flicked some water from his wet hands onto her face.
"Xiao Chen!"
Xiao Chen was extremely annoying, "Come hit me if you dare!"
"......"
Yu Na stayed stubbornly in the kitchen and refused to leave.
Not only did she refuse to leave, she also teased him from time to time, tickling his chin, poking his cheeks, and kissing his lips.
As a result of her disruptions, two simple dishes took over an hour to make.
After eating, Xiao Chen put the bowls in the dishwasher and tidied up the kitchen a bit.
Yu Na took this opportunity to take a shower.
After Xiao Chen finished cleaning up, he went to Yu Na's room.
The originally unremarkable house now had a strong sense of life because of her decorations.
She was seriously enjoying her current life.
There was an aromatherapy scent diffuser on the vanity, emitting a faint fruity aroma.
She had put a new calendar on the bedside table with various memorial dates related to him circled with a highlighter.
Reunion day.
First hot pot dinner.
Trip to the seaside.
Anniversary.
And so on.
Although he didn't live here, traces of him were everywhere.
Xiao Chen felt a stir in his heart. He also noticed a small Christmas tree by the window. Small but exquisite and beautiful, with strings of lights hanging on it.
Christmas was coming.
After her shower, Yu Na came into the room wearing fluffy pajamas.
Xiao Chen turned around and opened his arms, pulling her tightly into his embrace. He greedily inhaled the scent of her shower gel and gently asked, "What shower gel did you use? It smells so nice."
"Uh... just some random one I bought online," Yu Na asked, "Do you want me to buy you a bottle too if you like it?"
Xiao Chen laughed, "No need."
It was getting late.
After her shower, Yu Na went to bed.
Xiao Chen pulled the quilt up over her, "Go to sleep."
Yu Na didn't close her eyes, "Are you leaving?"
Xiao Chen sat on the edge of her bed, stroking her head, "I'll leave after you fall asleep."
She smiled foolishly, "Okay."
Yu Na didn't want to sleep at first, but she was tired after the long day, and her eyelids grew increasingly heavy.
Eventually she slowly closed her eyes.
Only after making sure she was fully asleep did Xiao Chen get up to leave.
Before leaving, he helped tuck the quilt snugly around her again. He bent down and gently kissed her forehead.
Then he turned off the lights and left Huating Yihao.
...
The next day was Christmas Eve.
As usual, Xiao Chen waited for her downstairs to pick her up on the way to work.
At Beimen, Yu Na thought she would give him the present tonight. Holding the hot drink, she got out of the car, "I'll go in first."
Xiao Chen nodded, "Okay."
Teasingly, she asked, "You'll come tonight, right~?"
Xiao Chen said, "As long as I'm not on a business trip, even if I don't have time at night, I'll make time to pick you up."
Hearing this, Yu Na leaned in and planted a sweet kiss on his cheek.
When she got to the office, Yu Na saw her desk piled high with greeting cards.
The other teachers' desks were the same.
Yu Na was startled. She went to her desk and flipped through them carefully—
"Teacher Yu, Merry Christmas Eve~!"
"Teacher Yu, Merry Christmas, hope you assign less homework for us~!"
"Merry Christmas, Teacher!"
"Happy holidays Teacher Yu, be happy every day and get prettier and prettier~"
"..."
There were many cards piled on the desk. She looked through them one by one, eyes curving happily. She thought this must be the charm of life, the best reward for working hard.
The atmosphere at school that day was a little different from usual, especially in the evening.
Before the evening self-study session, Yu Na left the faculty dining hall. On her way to the classroom, she had to pass the playground and happened to catch Song Yan standing with a girl from another class.
Song Yan and the girl stood facing each other, both holding gifts behind their backs.
Girl: "I'll count to three!"
Song Yan: "Okay."
Girl: "One, two, three!"
They both revealed their gifts at the same time, then smiled knowingly at each other.
But the next second—
The girl happened to turn her head and saw Yu Na walking over.
"Song Yan, it's your homeroom teacher!!"
Song Yan: "Fuck! Quick, run! I'll handle this!"
Yu Na: "......"
She was just passing by.
The beautiful bubble of youth was popped by Yu Na, but she didn't say anything.
Song Yan was scared half to death. He hurried over to Yu Na, "Teacher Yu!"
Yu Na: "What?"
Song Yan explained anxiously, "We're really not dating, don't tell my dad no matter what, he'll kill me."
Yu Na: "......"
Song Yan said, "Really, it was just a stupid bet we made, and then—"
Yu Na interrupted him, "Alright alright," Although she understood, she still had to give him a token warning: "I understand you guys, but I advise you to think about this stuff after the gaokao. You've improved a lot recently, don't get distracted and break your momentum."
Song Yan relaxed, "Got it!"
But in the classroom, the Christmas atmosphere was even stronger.
Yu Na noticed many students had small gifts on their desks.
Especially Qiao Rui's desk, which was piled high with so many gifts there was almost no room left.
When Qiao Rui returned from the canteen and saw this "scene", he scratched his head narcissistically and pretended to be troubled: "Tsk, so many gifts, how can I study?"
"......"
That day, the school was full of the secrets of youth everywhere. Yu Na felt a little regretful.
She didn't get to experience any of this during her own youth.
That evening, Xiao Chen was still waiting for her outside Beimen. Through the car window he saw Yu Na walking over holding a bunch of greeting cards.
After she got in the car, Xiao Chen asked, "What are you holding?"
She bragged, "It's Christmas Eve today, cards from my students. I'm going to keep them when I get home."
Xiao Chen started the car and asked, "Oh? It's Christmas Eve today?"
"......Yes." Yu Na's heart sank. "You didn't know?"
"I didn't, I forgot."
"......Oh."
Yu Na pouted. He actually didn't know. And she had prepared a gift for him.
Oh well, it was just a holiday. She didn't celebrate much before either.
But being in a relationship made her especially attentive to these occasions.
When they arrived at Huating Yihao, Xiao Chen parked the car.
Yu Na took out the gift from her bag and handed it to him, "Happy holidays."
Xiao Chen accepted it with a completely calm expression, "Thanks."
Thanks?!
Just thanks??
Xiao Chen chuckled to himself and said, "Go on up, don't stay up too late."
"Mmhmm." Yu Na opened the car door to get out, but her footsteps suddenly stopped. She was very unhappy. Before getting out of the car, she turned back again, "I'm leaving! Meanie!"
Xiao Chen's expression was unchanged. He smiled gently, "Good night."
This time Yu Na ignored him. Hugging the pile of cards from her students, she got out without looking back.
Sitting in the car, Xiao Chen watched her leaving figure. Before entering the building, she angrily stamped her foot.
He couldn't help laughing out loud, then took out his phone to find her WeChat contact. He typed in the message box—
【The gift is under the Christmas tree】
【Did you really think I forgot?】
【Silly girl】
And hit send.
