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New Year’s Eve had been a dreadful affair ever since the passing of Cheng Xiaoshi’s parents. The traditional family gathering and celebrating together had vanished from one day to the other.
The first time around, there had been many people honouring their lost loved ones during the earthquake, yes. It had been both a curse and blessing in one, as it felt like he was breaking open his barely healed scars yet again. It was nice knowing though that he wasn’t alone in his grieving.
And it was nice that Qiao Ling didn’t really give him any time to mope around. If she had been strong enough back then, she’d have kicked open the door. Instead, she simply rang the bell and announced, Cheng Xiaoshi would be celebrating with her and her family. Since he practically belonged to them anyway, so there would be no discussion and what was he even waiting for, they had much to do.
Now, nearly two decades later, Cheng Xiaoshi wasn’t sure if the then tiny Qiao Ling had done that on purpose to distract him or if she had simply always been that bossy. He probably would never know, and he preferred it that way. Those had been darker times with less joy and fun.
If he thought more about it, it was a bit ridiculous calling his younger self (and his childhood) that. But it was the truth. It hadn’t been easy to adjust to a life without his parents and despite Qiao Ling making sure he wasn’t alone for too long;he still had felt lonely and utterly alone on this whole wide planet.
“What are you dreaming about? Chop, chop, get a move on!”
Think of the devil. Quickly, Cheng Xiaoshi ducked his head, instinctively evading the hand that nearly hit him flat on the back of his head. By now, he knew all her moves – didn’t mean he always managed to get away as masterfully as just now.
“Oi, oi, I’m on it, no need to get so violent!”
“You leave me no choice if you’re all dokey-dokey over there.”
The bickering had become their normal. And for all his complaining about Qiao Ling, he was happy she was with them. And that New Year’s Eve had become their own tradition, spent together at the photo shop, just the three of them: Qiao Ling, Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi. Their little family.
Lu Guang was currently expertly cutting spring onions, earning a (seldom) thumbs-up from Qiao Ling. “Those look good, just as we need them!”
“Say, Qiao Ling, why is that Lu Guang and I have to do all the chopping and cutting and you’re just prancing through the kitchen?” He narrowed his eyes until they were no more than slits, suspiciously eyeing the young woman. It was true. Her (undoubtedly new) dress was also still in pristine condition, while they had had to put on aprons to avoid any blobs of undefined vegetable juice on their clothes.
“Easy! One of us must keep an eye on you and make sure we’re in time. You see, as the most responsible of us three, it’s only logical that I am the one with responsibility and supervising the two of you.”
“Ugh, that’s not fair! I want to do that as well instead of nipping my fingers.”
“You wouldn’t,” Lu Guang intercepted before Qiao Ling could, “if you’d actually focus on your task.”
---
In the end, it took them longer than intended to prepare all their food. If one had asked Cheng Xiaoshi, then it was only because Qiao Ling was too lazy to help.
They gathered around the table and Cheng Xiaoshi just put the last finishing touches to the plates put out for his parents (as he did every year). He made sure only the best pieces of each dish made their way to them, going as far as fighting with Lu Guang over an especially pretty spring roll.
Only then could he enjoy his own meal.
“Do we have to watch the gala?” Lu Guang lamented (just as he had last year and the year before that).
“Of course, don’t be so dismissive of traditions, Lu Guang,” Qiao Ling scolded him and already switched the TV on. “It’s just how we have always done it. And I heard, they have something nice planned for this year.”
“They always say this,” Cheng Xhiaoshi murmured and quickly put a dumpling in his mouth to avoid repeating it louder. “Wooooow, doshn nish,” he praised Lu Guang with his mouth still full, probably spitting all over the table.
---
Just as they went on to dessert, Cheng Xiaoshi sighed from a nostalgic thought. Qiao Ling looked up from her nian gao.
“What is it?” Despite her trying, there was still worry on her face and Cheng Xiaoshi felt bad. He didn’t want to ruin the good mood now. It didn’t matter that he had just thought about his mother who had loved nian gao while his father wasn’t a big fan (but still ate one each New Year’s Eve because his wife made him). It wasn’t fair to bring all that up now while he was sitting here with his friends. He knew he could speak his mind with them, they wouldn’t mind but… it didn’t feel right, not with the worry on Qiao Ling’s face and Lu Guang’s attempt to hide his.
“You know when we were kids… I miss getting red envelopes. And the money. It’s just not fair it’s only for the kids. Qiao Ling, please gift me some—”
“Is that your only worry? I need to earn my money just as well and I won’t spend it on someone like you just because you’re moaning and complaining all the time!”
It had worked. The atmosphere cleared despite Qiao Ling’s outburst, but it didn’t matter. She had bitten right on his little bait. Something told Cheng Xiaoshi he hadn’t fooled neither of them but they all played along and that was everything they counted.
Soon enough, they were laughing and singing along with the performers on the TV while they kept drinking and celebrating.
Life was good and Cheng Xiaoshi wouldn’t give away his new family for all the money in the world.