My girlfriend was reborn.

Chapter 179 New Year's Eve (Part 2)

Hot pot and barbecue are often said to be the best choices for team building meals.

On the one hand, almost no one dislikes eating meat, and even if you don't eat meat, you can still cook vegetables in hot pot and barbecue.

On the other hand, this cooking method is very simple. Just throw the ingredients in, cook them, and add some dipping sauce or seasoning powder to eat.

Even if you're worried about it not being cooked through, overcooking it is also a way to eat it.

"Wait, Su Hong, are you sure the lettuce you just ate was cooked?"

Watching Su Hong pick up a piece of lettuce with her chopsticks, dip it twice in the boiling pot, and then eat it, Yang Hongye raised an eyebrow.

"Lettuce is called lettuce because it can be eaten raw."

Su Hong explained in a serious tone.

"And we don't have to go to school tomorrow, so it doesn't matter if we get an upset stomach."

His words elicited a burst of laughter.

Two pots of soup, one red and one white, were simmering in two induction cookers, but as people started eating, the white soup gradually turned a light red.

"Shouldn't we let the director say a few words?"

Jiang Rui raised the glass containing Sprite.

"Great."

Others responded.

Seeing this, Yang Hongye didn't hesitate and picked up her drink cup.

"Well, first of all, I want to thank everyone for their hard work during this time."

She looked around at everyone.

After filming the short film, they immediately began shooting the remaining scenes, preparing to produce a film of about ninety minutes in length to participate in the College Student Film Festival.

Fortunately, with previous experience and Zhou Heming and Lu Qian's natural acting skills that required almost no repetition, their filming went very smoothly. They finally finished filming the content before New Year's Day, and all that was left was editing during the winter break.

"Then, thank you to Zhou Heming and Lu Bai for their performances, and for the script support."

Yang Hongye looked towards Zhou Heming's direction.

Lu Qian had been struggling in the spicy broth since the beginning, while Zhou Heming ate a little from both sides, and Cheng Shuangjiang mainly ate from the clear broth broth.

The three people each had distinct tastes.

"Finally, I hope our film will be a success, and that everyone can appreciate this story!"

She took a big gulp of Sprite.

The crowd cheered and clinked glasses to drink.

The projector was playing New Year's Eve gala music, from crosstalk to song and dance, but everyone just treated it as background music.

After dinner, Su Hong and the others who hadn't been able to help earlier took charge of washing the dishes, Gu Yingying and Yang Hongye wiped the coffee table, and Lu Qian put the snack gift bag on it.

"The projector here seems to have a karaoke function. Want to come and sing?"

Lu Qian was studying the remote control.

Will it disturb the neighbors?

Zhou Heming glanced out the window.

immediately.

He then heard a song that sounded like wailing coming from outside the window, from some villa.

"That's also an option."

Zhou Heming glanced at Cheng Shuangjiang beside him.

"You guys can sing."

She nestled close to Zhou Heming.

Lu Qian quickly started preparing for singing, finding a microphone in the TV cabinet and switching the projector to KTV mode.

Su Hong and the others returned after Lu Qian finished adjusting the equipment. Upon seeing the microphone, Jiang Rui immediately picked it up.

"I'd like to request a song. Let me sing 'Ten Years' and show you my singing skills."

You wouldn't guess he's such a karaoke enthusiast.

Zhou Heming doesn't actually have any particular fondness for karaoke or singing. He listens more to instrumental music, and the songs he knows are all a bit outdated. Since he usually goes to karaoke with his uncle and his colleagues, Zhou Heming's playlist is heavily tainted, consisting of songs that young people from decades ago would like. He hasn't heard a single song from those recent singing variety shows.

The playlist of Zhou Jianjun and the other funeral home staff wasn't filled with Jay Chou or Xu Song.

It has to be from the era of Teresa Teng, Wu Bai, Beyond, and Emil Chau.

Thinking back to his junior high school graduation reunion, when his classmates went to karaoke, Zhou Heming would always make an excuse to run away beforehand to work at a funeral home.

However, listening to familiar people sing doesn't seem so awkward anymore.

It has to be said that Jiang Rui does have some singing ability, or rather, a natural flair when singing comes from being outgoing.

After him, Lu Qian requested "The Sea of ​​Stars," and quickly demonstrated her talent.

As expected of a professional actress, her voice has been trained. Therefore, even though she is not a professionally trained singer, Lu Qian is enough to win the crown in the Ningjiang University Campus Top Ten Singers Competition.

After Lu Qian finished singing, Gu Yingying was also led by Yang Hongye, and the two sang a love song duet, "Confession Balloon".

Su Hong followed suit, showcasing her singing voice, which was all emotion and devoid of any technique, with a song called "The Lone Warrior".

He'd definitely be a natural in elementary school singing competitions.

Du Ruo is also not a fan of singing, so she just acts as the atmosphere-maker on the side.

After Su Hong finished singing, Lu Qian picked up the microphone from the coffee table and handed it to Zhou Heming.

"How about Ah He sings a song too? Let's have a love duet."

Zhou Heming scratched his head and picked up the microphone.

"I only know a few old songs."

He thought for a moment and then used the remote control to flip through the duet song list.

"Today You're Marrying Me," uh, that seems a bit too explicit.

"Coral Sea"? No, the meaning of this song is not suitable.

"The Loyal Heart of Iron"... Forget it, this song is probably older than everyone's parents.

While pondering, Zhou Heming came across a song that seemed alright.

"How about this one? Do you know it?"

He chose a very simple song, "The Summer Breeze".

I thought it would be more fitting since both of our birthdays are in the summer.

"Yes, yes, let's get started quickly."

Lu Qian immediately urged Zhou Heming.

As the intro began, Zhou Heming stared nervously at the screen and spoke.

Come to think of it, this seems to be the first time he has sung in front of Lu Qian and Cheng Shuangjiang.

Fortunately, Lu Qian herself was an excellent singer, and she immediately sang a duet with Zhou Heming. As everyone knows, the hardest part of singing in public is the first line. If you sing off-key on the first line in front of a crowd, that one act of extroversion is enough to make you an introvert for life.

The two sang a duet, and during the interlude, Lu Qian came to Zhou Heming's side and handed the microphone to Cheng Shuangjiang.

Cheng Shuangjiang was a little taken aback, but she quickly picked up the microphone and began to sing along with the lyrics on the screen.

As a piano prodigy, she naturally has a good sense of music. Although she doesn't have Lu Qian's outstanding singing skills, Cheng Shuangjiang's timbre is very good, even somewhat similar to the original singer, with a cool and sweet tone.

Zhou Heming looked at her with a unique sense of novelty.

It seemed to be the first time Cheng Shuangjiang had sung so formally in front of Zhou Heming.

Looking at Cheng Shuangjiang singing intently under the colorful projection screen, Zhou Heming was momentarily dazed.

Until the girl with the ponytail looked at him with a sweet smile.

"It's your turn."

She reminded him through the microphone.

Zhou Heming quickly followed along with the lyrics.

Beside him, Jiang Rui looked like he had bumped into something, and even excitedly picked up his phone and turned on the flashlight to use as a glow stick at the concert.

Finished a song.

Lu Qian led the applause.

"There's no need for such a grand applause."

Zhou Heming scratched his head and handed the microphone to Su Hong, who reached out her hand.

"This is the first time that Ahe and Shuangjiang have sung a love song duet, which is commendable!"

Lu Qian smiled.

It seems she's also quite adept at imbuing everything with meaning.

The atmosphere was heated up, and Su Hong pulled Du Ruo up, asking him to sing a song as well.

"I'm not very good at singing, so I'll just pick a song randomly."

Du Ruo, under the watchful eyes of others, reluctantly chose a song: Xu Wei's "Blue Lotus".

"I didn't expect that Du Ruo, who said she couldn't sing, would choose such an old song."

Zhou Heming sighed.

This song is older than them.

However, as the intro began, the lyrics changed color, and Du Ruo uttered some rather strange lyrics.

"Hakimi oh North and South Green Beans, Ashihayakunaru~"

"???"

Several people looked at Du Ruo.

But he sang the whole song in a serious tone, using gibberish lyrics.

After listening, Zhou Heming could only recall phrases like "Hakimi, North and South, Green Beans" in his mind, and he had completely forgotten what the original lyrics of the song were like.

What are you singing?

Yang Hongye asked suspiciously.

"This is the most popular Hakimi music right now."

Du Ruo explained earnestly.

He even took out his phone and played a clip of the "original song" from a video website for everyone.

"Very...unique?"

Lu Qian carefully considered the adjectives.

Although she often hears similar tunes while scrolling through short videos, she was still a little taken aback when someone actually sang them so confidently in real life.

"These words perfectly capture the excellence of the melody, don't they? Hahahaha."

Jiang Rui also tried to find a way to make amends.

"It's...it's quite interesting." Even Gu Yingying clenched her little fists, showing her support for Du Ruo.

Seeing that everyone seemed a little confused by the joke, yet was desperately trying to give themselves emotional support, Du Ruo quietly put down the microphone.

The expression on his face conveyed a sense of "I'm never doing abstract art again."

Only Su Hong patted him on the shoulder.

"It's okay, it's already pretty good that you can sing it at all."

"Hearing your words of comfort only makes me feel worse!"

Du Ruo said she became withdrawn.

Everyone continued singing, and after a few songs, Du Ruo regained his spirits and even sang "The Melancholy of That Day." It seems that even after experiencing setbacks, his passion for abstract art will never disappear.

Zhou Heming discovered that towards the end, there weren't many new songs; instead, some classic old songs were being sung over and over again.

He recalled a time when he and his uncle came out of a karaoke bar and he asked them curiously why they were singing such old songs from decades ago.

One uncle's answer left a deep impression on Zhou Heming.

He said that he used to follow trends when he was a teenager, but now that he is in his forties, the things he likes seem tacky. It's not that he's gotten old or changed, but that he still loves the things he liked when he was a teenager.

It's like that uncle who likes to play Red Alert on the old computer at the funeral home when he has nothing to do.

Zhou Heming had never heard of this game before.

But this uncle seems to have been playing for over twenty years. More than twenty years ago, when he was a teenager, he was probably just as crazy about this game as he is now.

Compared to games and movies, which tend to become outdated due to technological advancements and are less appealing to young people, music and songs clearly have a longer lifespan.

Even if you don't understand Cantonese, many people can hum a few lines when the melody of "Glorious Years" plays.

As for classical music, it has transcended thousands of years and remains popular.

Around midnight, Zhou Heming checked his phone.

Then, after exchanging a glance with Lu Qian, he stood up and took out the shopping bag he had brought earlier.

"Actually, I have a little surprise for everyone."

Zhou Heming opened the shopping bag.

Inside were colorful miniature fireworks.

“I had inquired before and found out that it’s okay to set off these kinds of fireworks here on New Year’s Day, so I want to set off fireworks with everyone during the New Year’s Eve.”

Zhou Heming looked at Cheng Shuangjiang and said.

"Ah He really likes fireworks."

She smiled.

"Yay! I haven't set off fireworks in years."

Su Hong immediately stood up.

As a resident of the capital, he would probably have to go to the neighboring province, which is both so close and so far, to experience setting off fireworks.

"Let's just put them in the yard; it shouldn't bother anyone else."

Yang Hongye made the suggestion, and although her expression still seemed calm, her tone was already showing a hint of eagerness.

"Okay, let's get everything set up now, so we can set it off at midnight."

Lu Qian pointed to the courtyard.

The group changed into coats and carried fireworks into the courtyard.

The winter nights in Ningjiang are cold and bleak. The sky, covered with dark clouds, seems to be weeping, and neither the stars nor the moon can be seen.

The faint sounds of karaoke and board game commotion from the neighboring villa drifted over, becoming the only melody on this desolate winter night.

Zhou Heming exhaled a puff of white breath and looked up at the night sky.

"It seems the forecast is for light snow tonight."

Cheng Shuangjiang said from the side.

"If it snows tonight, then we can watch Ningjiang's first snow together."

Lu Qian continued.

"Yes."

Zhou Heming took out a lighter he had found in the villa and tested it.

In the cold wind, the firelight flickered, as if it might go out at any moment.

Several people rubbed their hands together, forming a circle, waiting for midnight.

At the 58-minute mark, Zhou Heming lit the sparklers in everyone's hands.

Under the dim streetlights of the villa, tiny sparks lit up the desolate courtyard, illuminating everyone's faces.

"It's fun!"

Su Hong and Du Ruo twirled their magic wands as if they were waving magic wands, as if they wanted to shout "Avada Kedavra!"

Yang Hongye and Gu Yingying watched the burning sparks carefully, afraid that they would be extinguished in the wind.

Jiang Rui waved twice and looked at the fireworks.

As for Zhou Heming and the others.

Lu Qian took out her camera, called the two over, and took a slightly blurry group photo by the light of the streetlights and the sparkler.

At this time.

Someone's phone alarm went off.

It's midnight.

Zhou Heming and the others hurriedly lit the fireworks.

Accompanied by a series of sharp whistling sounds, the fireworks rose into the sky, exploding with dazzling, multicolored brilliance.

"Light up the long night."

Zhou Heming looked up at the somewhat simple yet brighter fireworks than the sky and murmured.

then.

Behind her, Su Hong took a step forward, made a megaphone shape with her hand, and shouted towards the fireworks.

"May the movie be a success in the new year!"

Seeing this, Du Ruo was not to be outdone and shouted back.

"May you win five gold medals in ten consecutive years in the new year!"

"No, you only wished for this?"

Su Hong scoffed.

But no one joined in the teasing.

Jiang Rui also shouted out loud.

"May everyone be happy in the new year!"

A simple and unpretentious wish.

Yang Hongye, holding Gu Yingying's hand, also shouted loudly towards the night sky.

"I hope everyone's wishes come true in the new year!"

"I hope I can muster up courage in the new year!"

Let's make a wish.

Lu Qian pulled Cheng Shuangjiang along.

Cheng Shuangjiang nodded.

Another firework exploded, and the girl's voice rang out.

"I hope that in the new year, Ahe and we can be happy!"

The girl with the ponytail finished speaking, slightly out of breath, but her eyes were shining.

"This wish is a bit of a waste, because we would be happy even without making a wish."

Lu Qian smiled, and then shouted loudly at the fireworks.

"I hope that in the new year, Ahe and we will be extremely happy!"

"Ah Qian, you're the same, you wasted your wish."

Cheng Shuangjiang took her hand and said softly.

"Through language, we can do things better than they already are; this is called 'words become law'."

Lu Qian explained that she didn't know where she had learned the newly composed idioms, and then looked at Zhou Heming.

"Ah He, you make a wish too, the fireworks will be over soon!"

She nudged Zhou Heming.

The boy took a step forward.

The last firework, like a spark in the wilderness, rose into the night sky.

Then, amidst a dazzling array of colors, it exploded into pieces.

The boy's voice echoed in that space.

"I hope everyone's wishes come true in the new year."

The whole world fell silent.

Perhaps the fireworks were too loud, because the people singing and playing board games next door were peeking out to look, and maybe they were making their own wishes too.

"Can this really happen? I've never heard of making a wish while watching fireworks."

Rubbing her nose, Du Ruo asked curiously.

"It's possible."

Zhou Heming nodded and pointed to the sky.

"Because fireworks are shooting stars flying in reverse, if you make a wish upon a shooting star, it will certainly come true."

next moment.

He felt a slight chill in his fingertips.

Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be glistening snowflakes.

Look up.

In the sky, which seemed to be weeping, fine, powdery snowflakes drifted down.

"Ah He, it's snowing."

Behind him, the girl's voice drifted leisurely.

"This is Ningjiang's first snowfall of the year."

*
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The next update might be a follow-up to the last one~
(End of this chapter)