Time flew when you looked at the world through a telescope.
Pu Yu had been keeping the time in mind, but out here in the wilderness, she had trouble judging it.
"Do you have a phone, Yuan Su?" she asked suddenly.
Yuan Su stood with his hands in his pockets, gazing up at the river of stars. At her question, he turned his head. "What for?"
"I... I want to call a friend."
Pu Yu told a lie, her eyes involuntarily drifting to the side.
Yuan Su raised an eyebrow, seemingly seeing through her guilty expression, but he did not call her out. He pulled an old Nokia from his pocket and handed it to her. "The battery's almost dead."
"That's fine! It'll only take a moment!"
Pu Yu took the phone, but instead of dialing, she simply lit up the screen.
23:58.
23:59.
One last minute remained.
The last minute of the year.
The wind was bitterly cold, yet her palm was slightly sweaty.
Pu Yu watched the numbers on the phone screen change from "23:59" to "00:00," her heart pounding along with the ticking seconds.
The lively crackle of firecrackers drifted over from the distant town.
The new year had arrived.
"Yuan Su, give me your hand."
Pu Yu spoke suddenly, her voice a little nervous.
Yuan Su did not know why, but he held out his left hand as she asked.
The boy's hand was broad, with long fingers and well-defined knuckles. A few faint scratches from repairing appliances were still visible on its back.
In the cold wind, the girl's cool fingertips touched his wrist. With her head bowed, her expression focused and reverent, she tied the red cord around his wrist.
Yuan Su's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
"My mom left this to me." Pu Yu