All generals and soldiers went back home. Only Xiao Qingyu and Zhang Jinya were in the courtyard.

Zhang Jinya was an orphan and didn"t find New Year special since he had followed around Childe Wushuang since he was little. As for Xiao Qingyu, he had been alone too and never celebrated New Year. Nor was it possible for him to suddenly celebrate it on the whim.

Therefore, his pavilion house appeared bleak, without any joy of the New Year"s Eve.

When Fang Junqian walked in, this was what he saw. After knowing the reason, he got more speechless and could do thing but go to the kitchen to cook.

Xiao Qingyu didn"t know Duke Fang could cook and teased in a slow voice, “How lucky I am to be able to watch Duke Fang"s gorgeous figure in cooking!”

Duke Fang couldn"t help rolling eyes, “Do you think everyone has the luck to let me cook for him like you?”

A man should stay away from kitchen. But if it was for him, why not wash the hand and make food?

Xiao Qingyu, “Are you coming specially to make me New Year"s dinner on this year?”

Fang Junqian was aggrieved, “Qingyu has a stone heart. On this big day, could you bear to leave me alone in the commander"s tent?”

Xiao Qingyu smiled and stopped talking. He knew he would be the one to suffer if thick-skinned Duke Fang continued.

Sometimes silence was a tactic.

Hence, the house was quiet again.

There was only sound of stir fry in the kitchen and the whistling and cracking of fireworks outside…

Xiao Qingyu sat in the wheelchair, gazing quietly at Fang Junqian who was busy in the kitchen. Fang Junqian suddenly looked back and gave him a deep glance.

Their eyes met in the air, and both of them were stilled!

Xiao didn"t expect him to turn around suddenly; Fang didn"t expect that he was gazing at him intently.

Time became quiet at this moment…

In a while, the two looked away at the same time.

Silence…

Only a faint sweet air was flowing quietly in the house…

When the dishes were served, Zhang Jinya was starving and inwardly complained about Duke Fang: If he hadn"t made much ado, he and Childe would have finished dinner and gone to bed!

Thanks for Childe, Zhang Jinya had the honor to have a taste of the New Year dinner made by Duke Fang personally.

However, our little buddy Zhang Jinya didn"t feel the honor at all. After Childe began to eat, he randomly picked up something and criticized wildly, “Nothing special!”

Fang Junqian smiled, “You don"t like it?”

Zhang Jinya snorted, “Bad cooking skills. To be improved.”

Duke Fang half smiled, “Have it or leave it. I didn"t invite you.”

“You! —” Little Zhang blushed in shame, “Childe, look at him! …”

Xiao Qingyu quietly ate, “I"ll stand neutral.”

Duke Fang burst into laughing at once! Xiao Qingyu remained the same calm and serious when he told a joke. It was surprisingly hilarious!

“Qingyu, as soon as it reaches nine o"clock at night, people come out on the street to usher in the New Year. Let"s get out too.”

“Me?” Xiao Qingyu hesitated.

“Exactly! Haven"t you celebrated New Year"s Eve like this?”

“No…” Xiao Qingyu"s voice remained peaceful, with sorrow flowing away quietly like water and vanis.h.i.+ng to nothing, “It"s the first time I have New Year"s dinner…”

The bitterness began to spread in his heart… Fang Junqian forced a smile, “That"s good. Then every year I"ll cook for you on New Year"s Eve.”

“Fang Junqian, it"d be really nice if this lasted…” He said so, slowly. Fang Junqian looked at him and met his clear eyes. At a time, Fang Junqian almost believed he was watching the starry sky.

“Yes…” Fang Junqian seemed bewildered, “We"ll be like this forever… I promise…”

He told him so on that year"s New Year"s Eve.

However, peerless like them, they couldn"t escape from the conspiracies of fate. Or probably it was that saying: An oath was useless…

Before Duke Fang took Childe out, Zhang Jinya also strongly demanded to hang out for the night but was immediately rejected by Duke Fang!

“You little kid just go to bed early! Sleep early and grow up quicker! Otherwise, no girl will want to marry you.”

The threat made little Zhang speechless!

Having dealt with the boy, Duke Fang, satisfied and overjoyed, took Childe Wushuang out of the courtyard.

The streets were teemed with lanterns in shapes of fish, dragon and lit up by fireworks in all kinds of colors. People shouldered their ways and displayed faces in happiness and joy for the festival.

Xiao Qingyu and Fang Junqian soon disappeared in the bustling crowd…