Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 76. In the Wind

February 14, 1999, Sunday. Gao Xinglang waited at the entrance to his residential quarter for two or three minutes before seeing Guan Xuchen jogging over to him. Noticing that Guan Xuchen's hair seemed to be a bit damp, he asked curiously, "Soupy, it's so cold today—why are you all sweaty?"

"Lang, it's not sweat..." Guan Xuchen explained, a little embarrassed, "I took a shower and washed my hair before I came over. I was afraid you'd wait too long, so I didn't dry my hair completely..."

"Why take a shower so early?" Gao Xinglang was even more puzzled, but he didn't press further. Instead, he smiled and said, "Come on, let's go catch the bus."

The two then headed to the bus stop to go to the Lunar New Year Fair.

Chatting on the bus, Gao Xinglang asked, "By the way, Soupy—is it still noisy around your place today?"

"Yeah. The construction crew on the Inner Ring Road started work at around seven this morning, and the family upstairs is tearing down their chimney today. I'm so fed up!" Guan Xuchen grumbled, then said helplessly, "That's why I wanted to go to the Lunar New Year Fair with you this afternoon. But you're not free then..."

"The holiday just started yesterday, and New Year's Eve is in two days. Mom wants me to help clean the house..." Gao Xinglang also looked helpless. He then grinned and added, "Actually, the Lunar New Year Fair's nicer at night anyway—more beautiful, too."

"Hmm, that's true," A smile returned to Guan Xuchen's face. He then said, looking relieved, "Lucky our building will not be demolished. If I moved to the northern suburbs, it'd be difficult to go to the Lunar New Year Fair with you."

"Yeah, so I'm really glad you don't have to move." Gao Xinglang said with a smile, then reassured Guan, "As for the noise—don't think too much about it. The more you dwell on it, the more annoyed you'll get. If it gets too loud at your place, just come to my house to study, okay?"

"Thank you, Lang," Guan Xuchen replied with a smile.

About half an hour later, they arrived at the Lunar New Year Fair on Xihu Road. This year was the Year of the Rabbit, so a huge rabbit-shaped light decoration stood in front of the archway at the entrance.

Staring at the cute rabbit light, Guan Xuchen said thoughtfully, "We came to the Lunar New Year Fair the year before, but not last year. I can't believe two years have passed so fast."

"We didn't come to the Lunar New Year Fair last year, but we both went to Shaoguan." Gao Xinglang said with a smile, adding, "And there's plenty of time ahead. We can come every year from now on."

The two walked into the Lunar New Year Fair, chatting as they wandered around. As in previous years, the road through the Fair was under traffic control, with no vehicles allowed, and in their place were stalls temporarily put up with bamboo and wood. In fact, the things at the Fair were pretty much the same every year—mostly seasonal flowers, plants and handicrafts.

But Guan Xuchen felt this year was a bit special. Because the first time he visited the Lunar New Year Fair with Gao Xinglang, the year before last, it was in the afternoon, while this time they came here in the evening. He thought the Lunar New Year Fair in the evening looked extraordinarily beautiful under the rendering of the lights. He remembered that when he was a child, he also went to the Lunar New Year Fair with his parents in the evening and had a great time. But in recent years, the whole family rarely went to the Fair together anymore. His father would take advantage of the relatively small crowd at the Fair during the day to take him for a walk, and buy a peach branch, a pot of tangerine and a pot of daffodils to take home. His mother, on the other hand, preferred going to the Fair with her female friends in the evening and would buy a few bouquets of flowers to take home by the way.