Chapter 23

"Those who lie will swallow thousands of needles."

The girl was lying on the boy's back, her face pressed against the back of his neck, softly speaking.

Although they were close, the boy couldn't hear clearly, but he nodded and smiled. The girl hated his lukewarm smile because it felt like he was just brushing her off.

She jumped off his back and glanced at him before walking towards the nearby light.

The boy didn't say anything, standing under the twinkling Christmas tree, watching the girl slowly disappear into the backlight. A rush of warmth slid down his inexperienced cheeks.

...

"Dad, I can handle it myself. You can go back."

"Why? Are you driving me away?"

Yun Kun drove his daughter for an hour to the villa south of the 4th Ring Road. This three-story villa, nestled among mountains and by the sea, was a vacation or summer getaway for the Yun family and usually remained unoccupied.

"This place is strange with all these young people."

"What does it matter? I play everything you young people play! Besides, I have something to investigate..."

"What?"

"Hehe, nothing~"

Yun Kun almost let it slip. His purpose for coming here, of course, was not to play.

"It's up to you..."

Jocelyn York knew that saying more was pointless. Her dad was as stubborn as a bull.

Originally, this Christmas gathering was not her idea. If it weren't for a phone call from William Wei, she would have forgotten that today was Christmas because in the West, Christmas is only Jesus' birthday, while here, it has become an excuse for couples to show affection...

"Jia'er, look here~!"

"Hmm?"

She followed her dad's voice and saw a huge piece of plastic wrapping something, standing at the main entrance of the villa.

"Unwrap it!"

At Yun Kun's command, a few of his men surrounded it and unwrapped it.

A three-meter tall fir tree, once it is decorated with lights and bells, becomes the real deal Christmas tree.

Jocelyn looked up. There was a time when she had dreamt of being confessed under a Christmas tree by her beloved prince...

"Jocelyn~ Woah~ So big!"

William Wei rode his bicycle and stopped in front of her. He was the first one to arrive... why did I say "again"? Because he always did. When he was a student, during picnics, hiking trips, camping, if someone arrived first, there was no need to think, it was always him.

"Hey!"

"Heh! Kun-ge is here too?"

For William Wei, Yun's father was an old friend, and their address to each other was casual because he had often gone to their house for meals in the past.

William Wei had known Jocelyn York even before Samson Nan, maybe in middle school? Elementary school? Or even earlier, so early that he couldn't remember...

"Long time no see, you little rascal. You're getting impolite, huh!"

"Hehe, it makes you seem younger, doesn't it~"

"That's not false! Haha!"

...

Jocelyn York watched from the side. When was the last time she heard such absurd conversations? Time passed in a blur, and she remembered the scenes of her dad kicking William Wei out every time he came to their house, dirty and holding a football. It made her inexplicably laugh.

"What are you laughing at?"

William Wei turned his head to look at her.

"Nothing~"

"You're being weird..."

He snorted and, seeing that she didn't say anything, said again:

"Jocelyn"

"Hmm?"

"Good luck~"

With his back turned to her, he said softly.

Jocelyn York had no time to think about the meaning in his words because the person appeared in her line of sight.

"Am I late?"

Samson Nan walked over, with Raina Nan and Bell Tong behind him.

Raina Nan looked beautiful, wearing a checkered scarf. It was evident that she had put some effort into her appearance, even though she claimed to not care about such gatherings.

"Samson Nan, you're alright. Both wives are here~"

"You shameless teacher! You're the small wife. Your whole family is the small wife!"Bell Tong started swearing at William Wei outside of school, there was no distinction between teachers and students.

"Bell Tong is so fierce~ Are you the boss, are you the main wife?"

"You!"

"What about me?"

"You, you rascal!"

Bell Tong finally realized that compared to the likes of William Wei, Samson Nan's level of rascality was nothing.

"Wei Gege, even jokes should have their limits..."

Raina Nan couldn't bear to see her close friend being teased like this.

"Hehe, just joking, just joking~"

William Wei apologized with a smile. At least he wouldn't make these jokes with Raina Nan because in his eyes, she wasn't someone who enjoyed joking around.

"And..."

Raina Nan hadn't finished speaking.

"I am not your little wife! Hmph!"

With puffed cheeks, she glared at him.

"Huh? Oh, okay, hehe"

He paused for a moment, then started to smile. Samson Nan, this younger sister of his, was becoming more and more interesting.

"You must be Samson Nan, right?"

"Yes, Uncle Yun"

Samson Nan had only met Uncle Yun a few times, but she immediately recognized him.

"It's only been a few years and you've become even more handsome~ Haha"

"Hehe, you flatter me, hasn't Luo Jia also become more beautiful?"

It was appropriate to occasionally compliment the elders.

"Of course! My daughter..."

"Dad!"

Luo Jia quickly interrupted her father. If he continued talking like that, he would eventually say something about the last time she wet the bed as a child.

"Hehe, alright, you young people chat~"

After Uncle Yun finished speaking, he walked away.

"Luo Jia"

"Yes?"

Jocelyn York trembled when he suddenly called her like that.

"Aren't you cold?"

"Huh?"

The temperature today was close to freezing, with snowflakes potentially falling at any moment, yet she was only wearing a thin dress.

"No, I'm not cold"

"Is that so? Your body seems to be fine~"

He said, as he grabbed her delicate arm and gently squeezed it.

Luo Jia's face turned red. Didn't he know that even in Europe, this kind of gesture would be seen as an intimate display?

"Feng Gege, come and help!"

"Oh"

Samson Nan walked over.

Bell Tong wanted to hang a bell on a tree, but she couldn't reach it even standing on a chair.

"Younger sister, let me help you~"

William Wei stood there, laughing in a perverted manner.

"Pervert...but, anyone will do~"

"Move aside, it's none of your business here~"

William Wei pushed Samson Nan. He used quite a bit of strength, causing Samson Nan to retreat two steps and return to Luo Jia's side.

...

Samson Nan didn't like crowded places, so in previous Christmases, he would just go to the park with Raina Nan, find a long bench, and chat while watching couples come and go in the park. It was a bit boring, but they enjoyed it.

This was the first time they were celebrating with a group of people.

After dinner, they sang outside, with equipment that Uncle Yun had prepared in advance, it was like an open-air KTV.

Bell Tong had an amazing talent for singing, every time she changed songs, she found out that the next one was also hers...

William Wei sang several Cantonese songs in a row, but when he sang "Boundless Ocean, Vast Sky," it instantly exposed his age.

As for the best singer, without a doubt, it was Jocelyn York. She was a professional, and as soon as she started singing, you could feel the difference, everyone listened quietly.

"Alright, this song should work~"

Samson Nan handed the microphone to Raina Nan. This duet of "Coral Sea" was chosen for her because she had been hiding and drinking her beverage the whole time.

"Oh, then you should sing too.""OK," he said as he reached out and touched her head.

Raina Nan wasn't very happy because their Christmas was ruined, but she didn't say anything because he looked so happy today and she didn't want to dampen his spirits.

Raina Nan picked up the microphone. This song was actually taught to him by her.

"Turning away, unable to say goodbye"

"A bird and a fish falling in love, just an accident"

"Our love, the differences always there"

"The azure coral sea, the moment we missed turns pale"

"At first, neither of us were mature or honest enough"

"The passion is gone, the smile can't be forced"

"Love buried in the coral sea"...

As she finished singing, Raina Nan realized that Samson Nan was holding her hand.

She looked up and met his clear gaze. Time seemed to freeze, as if there were only the two of them.

"Loga!"

Jocelyn York, who was lost in thought, was awakened by a loud voice.

She turned around and saw William Wei standing in front of her, his face devoid of any smile. He spoke slowly and clearly:

"Loga, there are some things that can no longer be hidden."