A/N: The Spring Festival Gala (春晚) is an annual show that is broadcasted on China Central Television (CCTV) on the night before the Spring Festival (also known as Chinese New Year). The show is about four hours long and serves as a countdown to the new year. Performers, which includes dancers, singers, and even famous actors and actresses, practice for weeks before the show to ensure a perfect performance. The show is different and exciting every year, and almost every Chinese citizen tunes in to watch it.

"D-date?"

"Hanging out at the arcade all day and eating lunch together, I think that counts as a date. I mean, you are my girlfriend."

"I... You..."

I smiled and tapped my fingertips on the steering wheel as I turned into Gui Gui's apartment complex. I quickly found an empty spot and parked my car. Right as I stepped out onto the ground, a voice called out, "Wang Zi!"

I turned my head toward the direction of the voice and saw Gui Gui standing at the entrance of her apartment building. She was wearing an oversized red sweater over white leggings and tan knee-high leather boots. Her makeup was light, and her hair was in a messy, but stylish bun. One word could be used to describe her look: cute.

Gui Gui held onto the strap of her small, white purse as she walked toward me. When she was near, she stopped and stood in place. She glanced at the ground and slightly swayed back and forth, almost as if she was waiting for a response.

"Do I look okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, you look fine," I simply replied.

A small smile surfaced on her face. She then pointed to my car and said, "Let's get going then."

She walked over to the passenger side, and I followed. I opened the door and gestured for her to enter. She nodded and sat down without a fuss.

No teasing and no feeling of embarrassment or uneasiness. That's a first. Maybe it's because it's New Year's Eve, so she doesn't want to quarrel with me.

I closed the door and hurried to the driver side and entered. I turned to look at Gui Gui. She had placed her purse in her lap and had already buckled her seatbelt, eagerly waiting for me to drive. I quickly buckled my seatbelt and started the ignition.

After I backed out of the parking spot and we left her apartment complex, Gui Gui immediately turned to me and asked, "So, where are we going to have dinner? I hope it isn't too fancy because I didn't dress up..."

I glanced at her and replied, "It's okay. We're not going anywhere too fancy."

"Really? That's good," Gui Gui said, letting out a sigh of relief. "The place that we're going to, what is it called?"

"It's called 'Prince's Home'."

"'Prince's Home'?" she asked. She leaned back onto her seat and pondered. "Prince's Home... Prince... Wait, y-your home! We're going to your place?!"

"Yeah."

"But... But..." she sputtered.

I glanced at her again. She bit her lip and looked at her feet as her hands tightly gripped onto her purse. Her eagerness from just a moment ago had disappeared and was replaced with nervousness and anxiety.

"New Year Eve's dinner is supposed to be eaten at home with family," I explained. "But instead of family, I... I have you. I just thought that it would be nice to have dinner at my place, rather than go to a restaurant. I don't think that many restaurants are open today anyway. We can also watch the Spring Festival Gala together afterwards, I mean, if that's all right with you."

“Oh. I... Um, sure."

"Really? You don't mind?"

"No, I don't mind. Having a home-cooked meal for New Year's Eve would be a lot better than just eating at a restaurant. And watching the Spring Festival Gala with someone is a lot better than watching it alone."

I looked at Gui Gui once more. The worry in her face had gone away, but she was still grasping onto her purse. Her fingers nervously played with the purse strap as she looked out the window.

"Are you nervous because this is your first time going to a guy's place alone?" I asked.

She turned to me and replied, "I'm not nervous."

As she looked at me, I eyed her purse and then switched my gaze back to her face. She noticed and immediately let go of the strap.

"I-I've been to Chen Feng's place with just him before. But... But this is different."

"Different? How?"

"Because it's your place..."

"So what?"

"I... You... W-we're going to your place, and you're my boyfriend, and we're going to be alone... It's just... I..."

Could it be that she thinks that I'll...

I let out a laugh.

"Why are you laughing?" she asked.

"Gui, I won't do anything to you. I'm not as bad as you think I am."

"Y-you promise?"

"Yes, I promise. And even if we were actually dating, I wouldn't do anything to you."

Gui Gui's tense shoulders fell as she turned back to sit properly in her seat.

"I'm so dumb. We're... We're not even really dating. What is there for me to worry about?" she mumbled.

She turned to look out the window and stared as the sky got darker. Light from street lamps flashed on her face as we went through traffic. Maybe it was because I had just taken a glimpse of her, but like the street lamps, there seemed to be small twinkle of loneliness in her eyes.

"Hot pot?!"

I nodded as Gui Gui smiled widely in excitement. Her eyes longingly gazed at the table covered with plates of meats and vegetables. She quickly sat down at the table and the pot. As I took my seat, she lifted the pot lid, releasing the delicious aroma of ginger, scallions, wolfberries, and mushrooms.

"You made this broth yourself?" she asked.

"Of course," I replied. "Do you think I would need a chef to prepare something this simple?"

"How could I forget Mr. Wang Zi has the best cooking skills ever?" she said with a hint of sarcasm.

I smirked and replied, "Thanks for the compliment."

She just stuck out her tongue in response.

After a short moment of silence as we waited for the pot to boil, Gui Gui added, "But truthfully, your cooking skills are pretty good. And thanks for not making the broth spicy. Otherwise, you would be eating with a panting dog rather than a ghost."

Then it hit me.

"I forgot to get drinks. I knew I forgot something," I said, cursing at myself. I quickly stood up from my seat and said, "When it boils, you can start without me. I'm going to go and get some drinks from the convenience store down the street. Is there anything specific that you want?"

"Anything is fine," she said as she eyed the pot.

I grabbed my keys and ran towards the door. As I opened the door to leave, I heard a voice from the dining room say, "Wang Zi, hurry or I'll eat everything!"

"Eat everything, and you're dead!"

Gui Gui looked at me as I sat down and began eating. I glanced at her and turned my attention toward the pot, but her gaze was unmoving.

"I know I'm handsome, but you don't have to stare," I said.

"You got me water?" she asked as she pointed at the water bottles I placed in front of her.

"Yeah. You said anything was fine, and eating hot pot can be dehydrating, so I just got you some water."

"Then why did you get yourself some beers?" she asked, this time pointing at the cans next to me.

"Hot pot tastes better with some alcohol."

"Then why didn't you give me a can?"

I let out a laugh and said, "Gui, look at your small self. With your alcohol tolerance, I don't think you would be able to handle just one can."

"Humph!" she said, wrinkling her nose at me. She held out her hand and added, "Give me a can."

I raised my brow and asked, "Are you sure?"

She eagerly nodded her head, waiting for me to respond. Reluctantly, I took a can and gave it to her. 

"If you get drunk after that one can, don't get mad when I say, 'I told you so.'"

"This isn't my first time drinking," she insisted as she opened the can. "Don't doubt my alcohol tolerance."

I chuckled as I took a bite of food.

Sure, Gui Gui. Sure...

As the Spring Festival Gala played on the TV, I looked at the clock at the corner of the screen to check the time, and it was 11:48 PM. I turned to look at Gui Gui, who was dozing off next to me. The combination of a lot of food and a can of beer must have made her sleepy.

"Good alcohol tolerance, huh?" I chuckled.

Gui Gui's head was leaned back as she slept. She wiggled for a bit to get in a better position, but she was resting in the same awkward seated position as before.

You'll wake up with a stiff neck that way, Gui...

I sighed as I stood up and went toward her. Not wanting to wake her up, I gently placed a hand behind her back and behind her head to slightly lift her up. Holding my breath, I slowly laid her down. When I drew my hands away, I noticed how close I was to her, close enough to carefully examine her face.

Her thin eyebrows, her long eyelashes, her small nose, her rosy cheeks, and her lips... As my eyes traced over her features, my hand instinctively moved near her cheek.

Suddenly, Gui Gui adjusted her head on the arm of the sofa, causing a few strands of hair to fall on her face. My fingers carefully swept the strands to the side, hoping to not wake her. As I rose to stand straight, Gui Gui unexpectedly moved her legs and hit mine, knocking me off balance. I automatically closed my eyes and placed my hands on the sofa cushions in an attempt to prevent myself from falling on her. For a moment, I froze in darkness. When I opened my eyes, I realized what was happening.

My hands were holding myself up and I hadn't fallen on Gui Gui, but my lips... My lips were lightly touching hers.

I immediately pushed myself up onto my feet and took a step back. My heart started beating faster and faster as I panicked in my head. I touched my lips as I tried to process what had just occurred.

I... I kissed Gui Gui. I mean, it was an accident and our lips weren't exactly pressed together, but there was definitely contact. That counts as a kiss... Right? A kiss. My first kiss.

Unsure of what to do, I nervously looked down at Gui Gui. She must have felt something because she began stirring in her sleep, and she opened her eyes soon afterwards.

"Wang Zi," she said while rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Why are you standing near me?"

"I... I..." I sputtered, desperately searching for the best excuse that I could think of. "It-It's getting close to midnight. I thought you wanted to see the countdown, so I was going to wake you up."

"Oh," she uttered and turned her attention to the TV. She quickly sat up and pointed to the screen saying, "Only a few more minutes until the countdown!"

I sat down next to Gui Gui and glanced at her as her eyes were glued to the screen. She seemed to not have noticed that something was amiss. I let out a deep breath in relief and stared blankly at the TV.

When the countdown began, she jumped up and down and excitedly pointed at the TV. I silently watched her smile and her lips count along. Each number almost sounded like lyrics to a song, a nice and soothing melody. All I saw was her cute image and all I heard was her sweet voice. I was mesmerized.

"Wang Zi, happy new year!" Gui Gui turned and exclaimed, knocking me back to reality.

"H-happy new year, Gui."

She smiled and said, "I'm going to call my parents and wish them a happy new year."

"Okay. I should call my parents too."

Gui Gui fished her phone out of her purse and went to a corner of the room. She looked out the window near her as she dialed and waited for her parents to pick up.

The Spring Festival Gala continued to blare on the TV, so I shut it off and headed toward the kitchen. I took my phone and dialed my father, but there was no answer, as always. I dialed once again, but still no answer. Rather than redialing, I instead called my mother. She picked up right after the first ring, but before I could say a single word, I was hit with a million from the other side.

"Finally decided to call me, huh? Qiu Sheng Yi, I am your mother, not some stranger. I was so worried when you told me that you were going all the way to Hangzhou. And then my good son of mine decides to not call for about six months. How would I know if you were eating well, sleeping well, and doing well in school? Do you know how worried I felt?!"

"Mom, I'm sorry. I should have called back right after arriving and getting a new phone number. I'm sorry."

I heard a sigh on the other line.

"Sheng Yi, I miss you."

"I miss you too, Mom. Happy new year."

"Happy new year to you too. Is it cold in Hangzhou right now? Are you dressed warm enough? I wish I could be celebrating New Year's with you. You must feel so lonely without any family with you."

I briefly smiled and answered, "It's cold, but I'm okay. And I'm spending New Year's with a friend."

"A friend? What kind of friend? A boy or a girl?"

"A girl," I replied, and I suddenly felt a bad feeling creep up on me.

"A girl?!" my mom said. "What's her name? What does she look like? Where is she from? Is she your classmate? Is she your girlfriend? Do you like her?"

I knew this was coming.

"She is a classmate of mine," I said.

"What's her name? Show me a picture of her. Let me see if she is a good match for you or not."

"Mom..." I groaned. "

"Qiu Sheng Yi, I am not getting any younger! I want a daughter-in-law soon!"

"Mom, I've haven't even graduated yet. How am I supposed to care for a wife when I don't even have a job yet?"

"You'll have a job when you're working at your father's company after you graduate. You'll be too busy to find a girlfriend when you're working for your father. How long do you expect me to wait, Qiu Sheng Yi?!"

As my mom nagged on and on, I sighed and turned to lean back on the kitchen counter. My eyes wandered around, and Gui Gui entered my field of vision in the distance. I saw her trace her finger on the window glass as she happily chatted away.

"Sheng Yi, if there is someone you like or are interested in, go and pursue her. I don't care if she is from a rich family or not. I just want you to find someone who makes you happy. Okay?"

I saw Gui Gui laugh, and I let out a smile.

"Okay, Mom. I will."