Chapter 431 - 210: Shen Yuan Decides to Confess on New Year’s Eve

Chapter 431: Chapter 210: Shen Yuan Decides to Confess on New Year’s Eve

They merged into the crowd at the mall entrance, and the warm indoor air instantly enveloped them, chasing away the last trace of the outdoor chill.

Huge banners advertising holiday sales hung from the ceiling of the massive atrium, and life-sized, red-and-gold decorative gift boxes already flanked the entrance.

The frame of a tall, artificial Christmas tree stood in the central area, with staff busily wrapping it in string lights and hanging ornaments.

Just as they were all admiring the Christmas decorations,

Yang Ze smacked his lips and said something that completely ruined the mood. "Yeah, it’s nice to look at, but what does it have to do with us? Christmas Eve, Christmas Day—it doesn’t matter. For us third-year grunts, it’s just another school day, isn’t it? We won’t get a single damn day off."

He rubbed his hands, which were still a little red from the cold. "I’d be over the moon if the school gave us any long break at all. Christmas? That’s for the first and second-years to enjoy."

The words were like a bucket of cold water dumped right on Shen Yuan’s heart, which had just started to glow with warmth from the festive atmosphere and his own budding anticipation.

’Just a moment ago, I was planning it all out... on that night filled with lights, presents, and romance, under the Christmas tree...’

’How would I even say it...?’

’Christmas?’

Yang Ze’s words rang in his head like an alarm bell.

’Oh, right!’

He was jolted back to reality.

’Christmas is next Saturday, and that’s a regular school day! There’s no way third-years would get the day off!’

’Forget a day off—even getting to leave early would be a pipe dream!’

’Knowing our luck, Old Zhou would probably schedule an all-day exam...’

’No matter how beautiful or lively the mall was, the most they could do... was maybe catch a hurried glimpse of the lit-up window displays on the way home from school?’

’So much for a fairytale atmosphere under the sparkling lights! So much for a warm, romantic moment alone?!’

’Oh no, wait—by the time we get out of school, the mall will have already turned off its lights!’

That idea he’d had just moments ago—the Christmas confession, illuminated by string lights and seen through a fairytale filter...

"PFFFT—"

Shen Yuan could almost hear the sound of that soap bubble in his mind being mercilessly popped by Yang Ze’s words.

POP!

Gone.

That idea, which had just begun to form and was tinged with a hazy sense of hope, vanished before he could even finish painting the full picture in his mind.

It was like smoke scattered by a cold wind, or a piece of styrofoam accidentally crushed near the mall entrance.

A sharp sense of absurdity and dejection seized him.

Shen Yuan subconsciously rubbed the back of his neck and averted his eyes, trying to awkwardly cover up the dazed look on his face, as if he’d just been poleaxed.

Just as that wave of disappointment was spreading, as his cold fingertips touched his skin and the very warmth from the heaters seemed to turn chilly, a more concrete, more realistic date flashed into his mind like a bolt of lightning cutting through the gloom.

’No day off for Christmas? That’s right, there’s no such thing as Christmas for a third-year grunt.’

’But what about *after* Christmas?’

’The week after next! New Year’s Day!’

Shen Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. Then, as if it had been injected with fresh fuel, it began to hammer against his ribs.

’We get a break for New Year’s! A three-day break!’

’And the night before New Year’s Day is New Year’s Eve!’

’New Year’s Eve!’

’That night, so full of the ritual of renewal!’

’The night the city is set ablaze with even more spectacular lights!’

’There will be crowds in the square for the countdown, fireworks might fill the night sky, the malls will be open until the wee hours...’

’Most importantly, we’ll be on break! We’ll be free!’

’Time that’s truly our own!’

’A New Year’s Eve confession...’

’During the final countdown?’

’Amidst the dazzling lights and the roar of the crowd?’

’Or maybe in a quiet moment as the old year turns to new, with just the two of us, side by side?’

Countless possibilities bloomed in his mind, infinitely more exciting than the Christmas window displays he could only glance at but never truly be a part of!

The frustration that had sent him crashing to rock bottom was replaced by a surge of very real excitement.

Though the traces of defeat from Yang Ze’s reality check hadn’t yet faded from his face, the corners of his mouth had already begun to unconsciously creep upward.

A nearly stubborn light reignited in Shen Yuan’s eyes.

’New Year’s Day... New Year’s Eve... That’s the one!’