Can following the rules be called rebirth?

Chapter 313, Section 311: A Different Kind of Favor
"Mr. Zhou, we'll head back now."

As dusk settled, the city lights across the lake spread across the sky like shattered diamonds.

The nearby West Lake is a deep, dark green, reflecting the shimmering light and creating a sparkling effect.

Baochu Pagoda stands gracefully atop Baoshi Mountain, its entire body radiating a warm, white glow.

"Today is a bit special, so we won't take up your New Year's Eve time."

As the host, Dai Ying arranged accommodation for Zhou Mingyuan and his group in a meticulously renovated villa-style guesthouse located on Beishan Street, which offered the best view.

Dai Ying stood downstairs in the evening breeze, smiling and waving goodbye to the guests who had come from afar.

"Celebrating New Year's Eve in Hangzhou is really fun!"

"The Broken Bridge gets really crowded every year, but the atmosphere is really great."

"The area around Lakeside Yintai is also lively, with a beautiful light show. If you ask me, you could also go to the foot of Baoshi Mountain to watch the fireworks, but be warned, it'll be very crowded."

The satisfied partner even enthusiastically recommended great places to spend New Year's Eve.

While making recommendations, one must also be discerning and not blindly follow Zhou Mingyuan's lead.

Emotional intelligence, it's all about emotional intelligence.

Rooms around West Lake are extremely valuable.

The room was small, but extremely elegant.

The room features hardwood floors, plain cotton and linen bedding, a small rattan coffee table by the window, and an incredibly comfortable armchair.

The most delightful feature is the double-pane wooden lattice window. Pushing open the window, the night view of West Lake and the crisp, cool air rush in, as if framing the beautiful scenery as a dynamic mural.

It's clear that Dai Ying chose the safest method when booking the room.

Three people, one room each.

After settling their luggage and resting briefly, only two people remained to go out.

"Eh?"

Stepping out of the guesthouse, there were noticeably more pedestrians on Beishan Street, mostly young faces like theirs, walking hand in hand, smiling.

The tiny LED strips wrapped around the trees lit up one after another, casting light and shadow on the mottled wall, like old times dancing in the New Year.

Du Jianuo took Zhou Mingyuan's arm and asked curiously, "Where's Sister He Min?"

"She said she wasn't feeling well and wanted to rest in her room for a while."

Of course, Dai Ying isn't the only one with high emotional intelligence.

At this highly ceremonial New Year's Eve, He Min once again relinquished a corner of the world.

Why are you looking at your phone the whole time?

Hangzhou and Jiangcheng are completely different.

The streets weren't wide, but they possessed an indescribable cleanliness and gentleness.

The city on the river is bustling, carrying the surging spirit of a great river.

Here, everything seems to slow down, even the wind carries a lingering, unspoken tenderness.

Du Jianuo gently shook the man's hand, turned her head, and met Zhou Mingyuan's smiling eyes.

"Dai Ying is indeed an interesting person."

"what's wrong?"

"Look, she just sent a message, and she even did our homework. She told us where to eat and where to have fun celebrating the New Year."

Zhou Mingyuan's lips curled into a smile, and he tightened his grip on the girl's fingers even more.

"Come on, let me take you to try some real Hangzhou cuisine, not the kind of cheap, touristy stuff you find in scenic spots."

Zhou Mingyuan waved and hailed a car.

The car made several turns and eventually entered a small alley near the lake.

A restaurant called "Nongtangli" has an inconspicuous storefront, but inside it is bustling with people chatting in the soft, gentle tones of locals.

The nose is filled with a rich aroma.

"Please come in, both of you."

A waitress wearing an apron greeted them and handed them a laminated menu.

"Hangzhou-style braised duck, stewed pork and bamboo shoots, stir-fried shrimp, and a plate of wine-infused scallions."

Zhou Mingyuan took the menu with a familiar air about him.

While waiting for the food to be served, Du Jianuo held a cup of hot tea, sipping it slowly, a smile spreading across her face.

She glanced around from time to time, her mind racing with thoughts.

The next table was occupied by a large family, young and old, sitting around, laughing and chatting noisily.

The surrounding tables were filled with young couples, all excitedly discussing their New Year's Eve activities.

Thinking about this, it seems like this is the first time I've ever done this.
On this day full of ritual, I stayed close to Zhou Mingyuan.

She herself hadn't expected this exceptional preferential treatment.

In fact, Du Jianuo was well aware of the several female confidantes around Zhou Mingyuan.

Zhong Yujun, the junior student at school who always wore her hair in a high ponytail, was definitely the boss's dream girl.

Gu Caiwei, a finance girl from the neighboring school, has captivatingly beautiful eyes. Even Du Jianuo herself has to admit that the Creator is 100% biased towards her.

There's also Gu Caiwei's best friend, Li Zhi.

Although Du Jianuo had little contact with this short-haired girl, others might not know, but Du Jianuo knew everything about her.

The boss treats her very differently.

None of these three spent New Year's Eve with Zhou Mingyuan!

Du Jianuo turned her gaze again, watching Zhou Mingyuan's fingers fly across the keyboard as he frantically replied to messages on his phone, and couldn't help but ask.

"You weren't in Jiangcheng for New Year's Eve, isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

A profound question, delivered in a seemingly calm tone.

The senior's question actually had a hint of testing in it.

It was obvious that Zhou Mingyuan was chatting with them right now.

On New Year's Eve, a day brimming with meaning, girls have a ton of joy and happiness to share.

"What's wrong?"

Zhou Mingyuan raised his head, his face calm.

"Uh, it's nothing."

Du Jianuo obediently changed the subject.

Think about it too.

Some things are better left unsaid!

Even if Zhou Mingyuan stayed in Jiangcheng on New Year's Eve, could he possibly be in two places at once?
How can everyone possibly have companionship?
Du Jianuo silently bit her lip, thinking for a long time, but still couldn't come up with a solution.

However, looking at it from another perspective, this can be considered a unique form of favoritism.

Recalling Zhou Mingyuan's words, the girl blushed.

All relationships are fluid.

Whether it's a romantic relationship or a working relationship, it should be judged by actions, not by names.

It turns out there's really no need to define intimate relationships in various ways.

On New Year's Eve, he was all alone by his side; wasn't that a blatant act of favoritism?
The dishes were served quickly.

The braised duck has a bright red and oily appearance, firm meat, a salty-sweet flavor, and a rich soy sauce aroma, making it truly unique.

The braised pork and bamboo shoot soup is served in a clay pot, the soup is milky white, and it is bubbling and steaming.

And you know what? One bite, and the delicious flavor instantly enveloped my taste buds.

The salted pork is rich and mellow, the fresh pork is tender and smooth, and the winter bamboo shoots are crisp and sweet. The flavors blend perfectly in the soup, and a warm current flows through your body, dispelling all the dampness and cold.

"Delicious! Delicious!"

Du Jianuo scooped up a spoonful of soup and squinted her eyes happily.

"Try this clover again. People say it's been sautéed in wine and it's very fragrant."

Zhou Mingyuan picked up a piece of wine-infused scallion and put it in her bowl.

The local dishes of Hangzhou may look simple and unpretentious, but they are incredibly flavorful.

"Sister Dai chose a really great location!"

Du Jianuo mumbled as she chewed on the delicious braised duck.

"The taste is completely different from that of the fancy restaurants in tourist areas."

"of course."

Having eaten and drunk their fill, feeling warm and cozy, the two once again blended into the crowds along the lakeside.

The closer you get to the attraction, the denser the crowds become, almost to the point of being shoulder to shoulder.

The plane trees along the way had all fallen leaves, their branches adorned with countless twinkling lights, transforming them into magical, glowing trees. In the distance, a countdown display flickered on a giant electronic screen in the shopping district, creating a festive atmosphere.

Young people wore all sorts of glowing headbands and waved glow sticks.

The little child sits on his father's shoulders, holding a shiny windmill in his hand.

The young couple nestled together, whispering and laughing, their every move radiating happiness.

The New Year's Eve was both lively and sweet.

"Cold?"

The senior's hand trembled slightly, and Zhou Mingyuan lowered his head to ask.

"No, it gets hot after walking around for a while."

As soon as Du Jianuo finished speaking, a gust of wind carrying a damp and cold air rushed towards her, making her shiver involuntarily.

It just rained, so the temperature in Hangzhou isn't very warm right now.

Zhou Mingyuan smiled, stopped, unbuttoned his coat, and then opened the lapel to wrap Du Jianuo up inside.

"."

Du Jianuo instantly lost her balance, her cheek pressed against his chest, and she could almost feel the man's steady and powerful heartbeat.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her firmly in his embrace.

Surrounded by a bustling crowd, with all sorts of sounds surging in like a tide, the two of them merged into one, miraculously possessing a tranquil world.

Really.
Du Jianuo blushed instantly.

Despite having unlocked countless positions before, public displays of affection still made the senior blush and her heart race.

She stared blankly for several seconds before reaching out to wrap her arms around Zhou Mingyuan's waist.

Even through the thick clothing, I could still feel the warmth and affection.

Du Jianuo looked up and gazed out over the man's broad shoulders.

The lakeside night view is dazzling with lights, and there are countless happy faces.

At this moment, the world is vast, and the crowds are surging.

The world is so small that it consists of only him and his embrace.

"Look over there."

Zhou Mingyuan gestured with his lips, indicating that she should look at the fountain.

"Sister Dai said that there will be an extra New Year's Eve special performance of the musical fountain tonight."

Sure enough, when the clock struck 11 p.m., the familiar melody rang out on the shore of West Lake, and the musical fountain appeared as scheduled.

The water jets transformed into well-trained dancers, swaying gracefully to the rhythm of the music, a blend of soothing and exhilarating.

Happy New Year 2015!

Colorful light and shadow danced among the water droplets, projecting huge New Year's words onto the water screen.

Like most of the audience, Du Jianuo stood not far away, engrossed in watching.

The water glistened in her bright eyes, as if a thousand stars had fallen into them.

"This time, we can't say that other people's scenery is better."

The senior student stood on tiptoe and spoke loudly in Zhou Mingyuan's ear.

"why?"

"Because Hangzhou is absolutely gorgeous on New Year's Eve!"

"Um"

Zhou Mingyuan held her tightly, remaining noncommittal.

"That's right, Hangzhou has its own unique flavor."

"You have your own unique flavor."

"."

This almost whispered remark was quickly drowned out by the fountain music and the cheers of the crowd.

Du Jianuo secretly smiled, hugged the man's arm tightly, and absorbed his reassuring aura.

The musical fountain show ended at its climax.

The water column slowly receded, and the lake returned to calm, but the crowd's anticipation was like a bowstring stretched to its limit, ready to burst forth.

The Chinese New Year is almost here.

The countdown rehearsal has begun.

Scattered counting sounds rose and fell among the crowd.

"Let's go up up and watch the fireworks too."

Zhou Mingyuan suddenly grabbed Du Jianuo's hand and led her away from the densest crowd on the main road, walking along Hubin Road towards Liugongyuan.

The tour guide really did a lot of work.

Finally, the two stopped on a small platform near the Sixth Park.

The terrain here is slightly higher, with few trees obstructing the view, offering an unobstructed vista.

"The fireworks mainly start from the Baoshi Mountain area, which is where you can see the most complete and clearest view."

"Good~"

Looking into the man's exceptionally bright eyes, Du Jianuo's heart melted completely.

She reached out and tidied his hair.

Time was ticking away, drawing ever closer to the moment everyone was eagerly anticipating.

Everyone in the square looked up, holding their breath and staring intently in the direction of Gem Mountain, their hands tightly gripping their phones, screens lit up, ready to capture the New Year's Eve moment.

The whispers ceased, and even the lake breeze seemed to slow its pace.

"five!"

"Four!"

"three!"

"two!"

"one!!!"

"Happy New Year!!!"

The hours, minutes, and seconds synchronized on the electronic screen toward the finish line, and a tremendous sound wave erupted like a long-accumulated volcano.

"boom!!!"

As if the only sound in the world, countless dazzling golden lights, with sharp and joyful whistles, tore through the heavy night above Gem Mountain and exploded with a bang at the highest point.

The light was dazzling, instantly illuminating half the sky and the dark, jade-like surface of West Lake below, making it shine brilliantly and clearly.

The darkness escaped the scene.

"Wow!!!"

An even more enthusiastic cheer erupted at the same time, sweeping across the entire West Lake shoreline and soaring into the sky.

Immediately afterwards, countless fireworks of all shapes and colors rushed into the sky, scattering their light across the night.

The thumping sounds were incessant, so dense they resembled the rhythm of celebratory drums.

Light and shadow flickered across Du Jianuo's face, her eyes wide open, reflecting everything within them.

She was completely overwhelmed by this traditional, grand, powerful, and beautiful ceremony. Her mouth was slightly open, and she forgot about the cold, the crowd, and even her breathing, immersing herself wholeheartedly in this symphony of light and fire that welcomed the New Year.

Zhou Mingyuan, however, did not watch the fireworks.

From the moment the fireworks went off, his gaze was fixed on Du Jianuo's face.

Against the backdrop of dazzling colors, her profile was bathed in a halo of light, and her long eyelashes seemed to shimmer with starlight.

Another cluster of fireworks, like golden waves of wheat, tumbled and bloomed in the sky, making the girl's face as bright as the morning glow.

He lowered his head, leaned close to his senior's ear, and amidst the roaring sounds and blessings, raised his voice and shouted loudly.

"Happy New Year!"

Du Jianuo was brought back to her senses by his shout and turned around as well.

Her smile bloomed like the most dazzling fireworks, without reservation.

His eyes, filled with the glow of fireworks, shone brightly, reflecting only his image.

Without any hesitation, she stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck, and shouted loudly in his ear with an incredibly joyful and excited voice.

"Happy New Year!!!"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Mingyuan had already cupped her face in his hands.

Then he leaned down and, amidst the cascading fireworks and starry sky, kissed her lips deeply.

(End of this chapter)