New Year's Greetings

Around two in the afternoon, the landline at home rang. First, it was his father. He said, "Yan Yan, Dad's busy and doesn't have time to spend the New Year with you. Have fun on your own."

Then came his mother's call. "Yan Yan, are you having a good New Year? If you need anything, tell your dad to buy it for you. I have good news for you—Mom's pregnant. Next year, you'll have a little brother or sister."

How had he responded before? He had smashed everything in the house, flown into a furious rage, cursed the man to drink himself to death during the New Year, and cursed the woman to die in the hospital as an elderly mother. He had spat out every vicious insult he could think of, yet no one heard his anger. If curses worked, that man and woman would have died long ago.

Now, Su Yan merely held the War God in silence and turned on his computer. QQ kept flashing as online friends from all over the country sent him New Year's greetings, chatting and joking amid the lively bustle.

Night fell, and Zhang Wei called. Su Yan changed clothes and rushed out. On Chinese New Year's Eve, thousands of homes glowed with warm, harmonious lights. Su Yan went to a nightclub, a good place to numb the nerves.

New Year's Greetings

Zhang Wei did not particularly like overly noisy places, but a friend had invited him. His parents were abroad for the New Year, and since he had nothing to do alone anyway, he came here with his friend.

It was noisy, lively, and packed shoulder to shoulder.

Completely different from sitting quietly at home alone and watching the Spring Festival Gala.

Zhang Wei thought of Su Yan almost immediately. He had originally wanted to discuss where they should go that night with Su Yan at noon, but the restaurant had been too busy. By the time he got out, Su Yan had already left.

Holding a glass of iced beer, Zhang Wei glanced toward the entrance from time to time.

Su Yan seemed to be in a hurry. He was panting heavily when he came in, as though he had just finished a long run.

Su Yan's hair was messy. He wore a short jacket, with his long legs wrapped in jeans, looking entirely different from his usual plain and tidy appearance.

"You got here fast. What do you want to drink?"

Su Yan smiled. "Iced beer is enough."

"Oh? You don't need something with stronger alcohol?"

Su Yan pointed at his head. "This is already drunk beyond all reason."

Zhang Wei narrowed his eyes, staring at Su Yan's curved brows and smiling eyes. Perhaps Su Yan really was drunk. Even his gaze had changed, misty and watery, like damp vapor evaporated by alcohol. His smile was especially unfamiliar, nothing like the Su Yan Zhang Wei knew.

Before Zhang Wei could figure out what exactly was different, Su Yan had already drained the large glass of iced beer in one gulp and set it down heavily on the bar with an unusually loud clack. Su Yan lowered his head, his bangs slightly covering his eyes. He did not move, as though the strong drink had suddenly stunned him silly. The bartender kindly said, "The restroom is on the right."

Su Yan suddenly raised his head, swept the hair from his forehead aside with his right hand, and let out a soft breath. He flashed Zhang Wei his white teeth and grinned. "I'm going dancing." He swiftly took off his jacket with both hands and tossed it into the crook of Zhang Wei's arm.

Zhang Wei caught the jacket and silently watched the sixteen-year-old boy disappear into the dance floor. He had not even had time to introduce his friends.

A pure white shirt and fitted jeans would not have made anyone look twice on the street.

But when the young man danced with agile movements, his limbs swaying as flashing lights swept over him, that brief flicker of brilliance reflected clearly in the eyes of those who noticed.

Zhang Wei's eyes widened slightly as his gaze unconsciously chased that familiar figure through the dance floor.

In an inconspicuous corner, someone raised a phone in surprise and opened the camera.

Su Yan felt as though he had been born for a place like this. He did not need alcohol or drugs. As long as he stepped into the deafening music, he became numb, drunk, dazed, and unable to control the sweat he poured out.

This was paradise. Talk loudly, laugh loudly—no one cared about you.

Let it out. Go wild. Pull strangers close for lingering, passionate kisses. As long as he was happy.

His sexy body swayed with flexibility, an intoxicated smile on his face, while his eyes were utterly empty. He could not even tell whether the person pressed close against him in a heated dance was round or flat.

Shouts, screams, whistles—all of it drowned in the throbbing music. Su Yan's shirt had long since become disheveled, three buttons having vanished without a trace. His open collar revealed his collarbones and firm chest. A woman's sharp nails scraped across his arm, and her fiery red lips pressed hotly against his face. Their two equally empty pairs of eyes could not meet, yet his hands controlled the woman's chaotic dancing.

The phone kept taking pictures, sending them one by one to a distant place.

Liang Kui sat with his grandfather, grandmother, father, and mother watching the Spring Festival Gala, looking as though he wanted to cry but had no tears. Tonight, he should have been out partying with friends he had not seen in half a year, but now he was trapped at home and was not even allowed to use the computer.

Liang Kui stared gloomily at the television, peeling an orange and stuffing the segments into his mouth one by one. Right now, only food and text messages could offset his boredom.

His phone rang again, signaling a new message.

Liang Kui hurriedly opened it. It was a message from his cousin. Liang Kui assumed it would be another auspicious New Year's greeting, but when he pressed it open, the MMS loaded slowly. Liang Kui froze, unable to make out who it was for a long while.

Cousin: I saw that good student named Su Yan at a bar. What a surprise.

This is Su Yan? Liang Kui's eyes widened, and he tossed the orange aside.

More and more photos followed, Su Yan from every angle: flamboyant, sexy, mischievous, dancing alone, and kissing someone passionately at close range.

No matter which Su Yan it was, none of them was the Su Yan Liang Kui knew.