What?! All the fairies I topped up have come true?

"Whoosh—whoosh whoosh—"

Before the clock struck midnight, fireworks lit up the night sky, tearing a dazzling glittering barrier through the darkness.

A streak of light pierced the darkness, red, gold, purple, and silver bursting open overhead.

Then it fell softly, like countless stars being crushed and scattered across the earth.

The once quiet suburbs were instantly filled with roaring noise and bright lights, and even the cold wind was warmed by the intense heat.

Qin Yanan tilted her head back, her hair gently ruffled by the evening breeze.

The light from the fireworks fell on her face, flickering and making her eyes appear exceptionally bright.

She gazed at the dazzling light, as if using it to await an answer.

Lin Xiao's heartbeat quickened with each sharp bang as it soared into the sky.

He looked at the beautiful girl standing quietly beside him.

One moment he was gently smiling and accompanying the children in the orphanage, blushing as he pretended to be his girlfriend.

Standing beneath the fireworks, she shed all her reserve and pretense, revealing only her honesty and tenderness.

All those years of hardening up in solitude suddenly softened at this moment.

He never imagined that someone would follow him all the way to the remote orphanage because he was just an ordinary orphan.

They were even willing to stay and spend the New Year with a group of unfamiliar children.

Even disregarding societal norms, they bravely and proactively confess their feelings to themselves.

Lin Xiao's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

Before this, he had never imagined that Qin Yanan would be interested in him.

Although she often teased him, Lin Xiao never thought about it that way.

Unexpectedly, I was confessed to by Qin Yanan today.

He felt both moved and flustered.

For a moment, I didn't know how to respond to this passionate confession.

Fireworks lit up the sky, but he just stared blankly at the beautiful woman before him.

After a long while, the dazzling fireworks finally began to fade away.

Qin Yanan finally lowered her head again, her gaze falling on Lin Xiao's face.

Seeing Lin Xiao's hesitant expression, Qin Yanan smiled slightly and joked, "What's wrong? Do you already have a boyfriend?"

Lin Xiao, who had been in a daze because of Qin Yanan's confession, finally came to her senses upon hearing this.

Instinctively, he shook his head and said, "No, no, I'm just an orphan, who would want me?!"

Qin Yanan originally just wanted to find a topic to ease the atmosphere, but she did not expect Lin Xiao to say such a thing.

She had already investigated Lin Xiao and knew that he had been an orphan since childhood and had always had a hard life.

Only recently has something seemed to have happened, and things have changed.

At this moment, they heard Lin Xiao's words.

Qin Yanan's heart clenched suddenly.

She took a half step forward, her gaze in the night exceptionally serious, without a trace of jest.

"Lin Xiao, I won't allow you to talk about yourself like that."

The evening breeze, carrying the lingering smoke from the fireworks, brushed between the two of them.

Qin Yanan looked up, her eyes still gleaming, and said clearly and gently, word by word:

"You're not unwanted, nor are you ordinary."

You are kind, down-to-earth, and responsible; you always have others in your heart.

This is the kind of person Qin Yanan should like.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao felt a lump in his throat and was momentarily speechless.

In all his life, no one had ever told him so bluntly that he deserved to be liked.

The headmistress doted on him, and the children depended on him.

But that was gratitude, that was family affection.

But only Qin Yanan's words showed favoritism.

She was a dazzling, clean-cut girl from a wealthy family, and she earnestly told him.

"You are wonderful, I like you, and it has nothing to do with your background."

Seeing his stunned expression, Qin Yanan's heart melted completely, and she sighed softly, saying:

"Actually, what I said just now wasn't to force you to give me an answer immediately."

I just don't want to hide it anymore, and I don't want to miss out on my happiness because of a little bit of pride.

She paused, lowered her voice even further, and said cautiously, "You don't need to rush to respond to me, I can wait."

I'll wait until you're willing, until you feel at ease, until you... also fall in love with me.

Looking into her eyes, Lin Xiao could no longer suppress the emotions surging within him.

These years, I've endured hardships, loneliness, and hidden inferiority complexes all by myself.

Finally, at this moment, everything was gently illuminated by this beam of light.

He took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.

It happened the instant a firework rose into the sky.

He reached out and gently, yet firmly, grasped Qin Yanan's hand.

Qin Yanan's hand was slightly cool. When he grasped it, it trembled slightly, but she did not pull away.

"I didn't mean to reject you."

Lin Xiao's voice was low, but unusually serious.

"I just... never dared to think about it."

Qin Yanan looked up and met the light deep within his eyes.

That was a tenderness that had been suppressed for too long, finally daring to be revealed.

"Sister Ya Nan, I've never been in a relationship and I don't know anything about romance."

I don't have much money, my background is ordinary, and... there are many things you don't know.

But I assure you—

He held her hand tightly, his gaze clear and solemn, and said, "As long as you don't mind, I will try my best."

I will try my best to treat you well and give you a stable future.

Keep up the good work... don't let your courage today go to waste.

Qin Yanan stared at him blankly, her eyes suddenly welling up with tears.

The next second, she took a small half-step forward, her cheeks slightly flushed, but her smile was exceptionally bright.

"Silly boy, of course I don't mind."

"I don't mind anything."

"I only want you."

No sooner had he finished speaking than another string of fireworks shot into the sky.

Whoosh—Bang!

A shower of light poured down, enveloping the two figures in a gentle, radiant glow.

Lin Xiao looked at the girl in front of him, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of his chest.

At this moment, he was no longer the homeless orphan who spent the New Year alone in the cold wind.

This time, he had someone to protect.

And he also has... people who protect him.

As night deepened, two passionate hearts began to slowly draw closer.

Fireworks were still blooming sporadically in the sky, their light and shadow falling on the two people's faces, making them look incredibly gentle.

Two burning hearts gently leaned against each other at that moment.

Qin Yanan tilted her head slightly, her eyelashes trembling, and slowly closed her eyes amidst the dazzling lights.

A beautiful day, a lovely woman by my side.

Silence speaks louder than a thousand words.

Even though Lin Xiao had never been in a relationship before, she was overjoyed at this moment.

The slightly flushed cheeks, the trembling long eyelashes, and the slightly pursed lips before her were all waiting for him to take the initiative.

His heart was pounding like a drum, almost shattering his chest.

He hesitated for only a moment, then gambled with all the courage he had in his life.

His fingertips trembled slightly, but he still gently reached out and carefully embraced Qin Yanan.

Her body was soft and had a faint warmth to it.

Once you touch it, you can't bear to let go.

Fireworks fell softly from the sky, accompanied by a gentle evening breeze.

Lin Xiao lowered her head and gently, tenderly, kissed him.

There was no rush, no panic.

Only the pent-up emotions of a whole night and the loneliness of the first half of life remain.

The sudden happiness melted gently between my lips and teeth.

Qin Yanan closed her eyes, her body trembled slightly, and she tiptoed a little closer to him.

Scattered fireworks continued to bloom above their heads.

And in this busiest moment of the world, they found a quiet and tender time that belonged only to each other.

The kiss was short, yet it felt long.

When Lin Xiao finally gently released her, Qin Yanan's cheeks were flushed and her eyes were moist.

She still looked up at him, smiling softly and sweetly, and said, "Lin Xiao, Happy New Year."

Lin Xiao looked at her, his eyes filled with an unprecedented brightness and peace.

He spoke softly, his voice low and earnest:

Happy New Year, Ya Nan!