On the deep winter night, even the frames of the streetlights were coated in a thin layer of ice. Thick snow blanketed the landscaped strips, and a single kick to a tree trunk would shake all the snow from its branches.
Tonight was different from other nights, much livelier.
Rows of trees along the streets were covered in colored lights, their multicolored bulbs twinkling softly. Ribbons linked the trees at regular intervals, with little glowing lights hanging from them.
The staff had cleaned outside every shop, replaced the entrance mats, and even changed into new uniforms.
In the largest square downtown, police officers and patrol cars had been stationed around the broadest open area, with officers maintaining order throughout.
Fireworks bloomed one after another overhead. Rockets shot into the sky and burst, followed immediately by the next.
Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple, along with shifting shades of gold and silver, blossomed one after another against the black sky.
Besides the visitors enjoying themselves, the square was full of little stalls: carts with candied fruit skewers neatly stuck into foam boards, fluffy cotton candy slowly taking shape in the vendors' hands, and all kinds of brightly colored bouquets strung with little lights.
Mo Chengzhou held Yan Wen's hand tightly, his other arm around Yan Wen's shoulders in a protective embrace. They found an open spot with a good view and watched the fireworks.
Yan Wen took off his gloves, leaving them hanging around his neck by their cord, then pulled out his phone and called Qi Shu Yu, who was far away overseas.
The phone rang for a while before the call was answered. On the screen, Qi Shu Yu stood on a balcony with his back against the railing. The high-rises and snow-covered trees of varying heights