Chapter 24

"William Wei?" Jocelyn York turned around and looked at him.

The sea breeze mixed with some moisture, teasing her hair. Through the gaps in her hair, William Wei saw her momentarily dim eyes.

"What, what are you saying?" Jocelyn York whispered, only he could hear.

"I think... you should talk to him, stop hiding, it's not like you," William Wei hesitated unexpectedly, because the way Jocelyn looked at him just now was like a lost fawn, helpless and fragile.

"W-who, who are you talking about?" She looked at him, her words fumbling.

"Samson Nan," he almost blurted out.

"Huh? What happened to him?" She carefully averted her gaze, seemingly nonchalant, but it was obvious, as she couldn't stop fidgeting with her skirt.

"... Haha!" William Wei stared at her for about 5 seconds, then couldn't help but burst out laughing. Everyone was saying that Jocelyn York had changed, but to him, she hadn't changed, for example... her usual terrible acting.

"What are you laughing at?" Jocelyn York was confused by his laughter.

"Since you're so willing to act, then go ahead and act~" He squinted his eyes and smirked.

"Act? Are you crazy..." She was a smart person, she understood what William Wei was saying, but since nobody wanted to break through that last layer of facade, then let it remain as it is and everyone would be happy.

"But if," William Wei didn't finish his sentence.

"One day you can't act anymore, don't forget to let me know~ Maybe, I can help you!" He grinned, revealing two rows of pristine teeth.

"Is that so... then why—"

"Because we're good buddies!" William Wei cut her off before she could finish her sentence. He knew what she wanted to ask.

"Who's your buddy..."

"What? Are you going to turn your back on me?"

"Since when do girls call each other buddies?"

She didn't really like the term "buddy" because it sounded like a boy, and she had already decided to become a woman with femininity.

"Well..." William Wei pondered for a moment, then said, "To me, you're different from other girls~"

"Huh? What do you mean? Are you saying I don't look like a woman?!"

She tiptoed, stared at him angrily. Perhaps she was too sensitive to the definition of male and female, she completely ignored the real meaning behind his words.

"Seems like we've got a tomboy on our hands~"

"You're the tomboy! Hmph!"

Being called a tomboy by him, Jocelyn blushed. She didn't want her carefully crafted image of a lady to be ruined.

"Hey, Jocelyn. Do you remember... swallowing a thousand needles?" William Wei put on a more serious expression, looking at her.

"Huh? What's that?"

"Well... it's nothing~"

"What's going on?" She looked at him suspiciously.

"It's nothing~ You go sing!"

"What about you?"

"Going to smoke a cigarette~" He took out a cigarette from his bag and waved it in front of her.

"Oh." She replied, then turned and walked away. After a few steps, she turned back.

"Smoke less."

"I won't die~" He waved at her and leaned against the Christmas tree adorned with colorful lights.

He took out a lighter, lit the cigarette, looked around, but couldn't find anyone to accompany him for a smoke. Samson Nan used to smoke too, they could've kept each other company, but after Raina Nan imposed a smoking ban on him, he had quit.

"Indeed, you can't remember, can you?" He looked up at the bell hanging on the Christmas tree and blew out a smoke ring. That day, it was also under the Christmas tree, just the two of them.

...

"William Wei, what should I do? Sob sob"The girl was lying on the boy's back, tears mixed with snot flowing down her face. She fell while running too fast in the snow and twisted her ankle.

"What should I do?" the girl asked.

The boy, carrying the girl on his back, handed her a tissue.

"He doesn't like me!" the girl said, crying even harder.

"Did you confess to him?" the boy asked.

"No," she replied.

"Then how do you know he doesn't like you?"

"He said he likes someone else! Sob."

"Do you like him?"

"Of course! Sob!"

"How much do you like him?"

"Well..."

The girl thought for a moment. "More than the other girl he likes!!" she said, staring with determination.

"Then it's okay," the boy said.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I will make him like you. I have a strong connection with that guy!" he said, patting his chest. He didn't know where his confidence came from, but he didn't want to let her down.

"You're just bragging!" she said.

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"You lie to me all the time!"

"Um..." The boy couldn't argue, realizing that he did indeed lie to her often.

"Alright then!" he said. He grabbed her hand resting on his shoulder and hooked his little finger with hers.

"Hook, promise, anyone who lies will swallow a thousand needles!"

"Uh? That sounds painful..." The girl wanted to retract her finger, but he held it tighter.

"Okay, do you believe me now?" he asked.

"Um..." The girl reluctantly nodded, then smiled slightly. She suddenly realized that even though the situation hadn't changed, she didn't feel as sad as before.

Bang!

The fireworks exploding in the sky brought William Wei back from his thoughts.

"Smoking alone?"

The person calling him was Samson Nan, who also threw him a can of beer.

"What do you know? I'm not smoking, I'm cultivating my temperament~"

"Heh~ That noble temperament~" Samson Nan said, looking at the fireworks in the night sky and laughing.

"Samson Nan."

"Speak."

"Luo Jia likes you."

"?! Cough, cough, cough, cough!!"

He choked on the beer in his mouth.

"Just kidding~ Look at you, so gullible, haha!" William Wei laughed triumphantly.

"You scared me..."

Samson Nan said, wiping off the beer splashed on him with a tissue.

"Hehe, speaking of which, do you have anyone you like?"

William Wei asked him, and then added, "Besides your sister~"

"What do you mean besides my sister?" Samson Nan frowned, looking displeased.

"Just say if you have anyone! Be straightforward like a man!"

"No."

"Oh! So, our Luo Jia still has a chance, right?"

He wanted to test his reaction.

"Yeah, not only Luo Jia, even you have a chance," Samson Nan said with a devilish smile.

"Damn, you have such a twisted taste?!"

William Wei's face showed a disgusted expression.

"Hehe~"

There was a time when only when Luo Jia was not around that the two had the opportunity to make all sorts of tasteless jokes. He also thought about how nice it would be if the three of them could maintain this kind of relationship forever...

More and more fireworks lit up the sky, almost illuminating the nearby city.

William Wei looked up at the night sky and lit another cigarette.

Swallow a thousand needles? Believe me, nobody wants to encounter such a tragedy. But at this moment, God mischievously hides behind you, counting the days, until one day, with a wave of his hand, he pushes you into the center of this tragic stage...

So this time, he broke his promise again.