Chapter 44: New Year’s Eve

After the twentieth of the Twelfth Lunar Month, the festive spirit of the New Year gradually thickened.

Occasional bursts of firecrackers echoed from the village at the foot of the mountain. Every household began cleaning their homes, slaughtering pigs for the New Year, grinding tofu, and steaming New Year cakes. The cooking smoke rose thicker than usual, curling upward into the sky after the snow.

Bai Heng crouched at the entrance of her rock cave, gazing down at the village below.

In recent days, Qin Yun had come up the mountain less often.

There were many chores in the Twelfth Lunar Month. He had to help chop firewood, carry water, and tidy the courtyard. He also had to follow Qin Shi into the mountains for one last hunt to stock up on wild game for the New Year.

Qin Yu had not come at all.

The little girl was kept at home by Li Lianhua, helping with cleaning, pasting window decorations, and twisting hemp rope. Occasionally she would ask Qin Yun to pass on a message, saying she missed White Fox Immortal and would come see her after the New Year.

Bai Heng did not mind.

She simply continued her daily routine—cultivating, sunbathing, and occasionally taking out that mirror to look at herself.

She alternated between the two little jackets: the red one and the green one.

One day, Qin Yun came up the mountain again.

He carried his bundle on his back and walked slowly along the snowy path. When he drew near, he first laid out the food as usual.

Bai Heng leaped down from the rock and began eating slowly.

Qin Yun sat down beside her. Unlike usual, he did not chatter. He simply watched her quietly.

Bai Heng lifted her head and glanced at him.

Qin Yun smiled.

“It’s nothing. I was just thinking that the New Year is almost here.”

He paused.

“My mother said we should prepare more food this year and set aside a portion for you. On New Year’s Eve, she wants me to bring it up.”

Bai Heng’s ears twitched slightly.

Qin Yun continued.

“My father agreed too. He said Miss White is an honored guest of our family and should have her share for the New Year.”

As he spoke, he took out a small cloth bundle from his clothes.

“This is what my mother asked me to bring. She made it herself for you to try.”

Bai Heng set down the food in her mouth, walked over, and lowered her head to sniff.

Inside the bundle were several pieces of candy.

They were not ordinary malt candy. These were made with sesame and peanuts, cut into small squares and coated with sugar frosting. They looked very sweet.

Bai Heng lifted her head and looked at Qin Yun.

Qin Yun scratched his head.

“My mother said girls usually like sweet things. I don’t know if you’ll like them.”

Bai Heng was silent for a moment. This family really was treating her like a young lady…

She gently picked up a piece and ate it slowly.

It was sweet.

Very sweet.

Qin Yun watched her, his eyes curving with a smile.

“I’m glad you like it.”

After Qin Yun left that day, Bai Heng crouched on the rock, gazing in the direction he had gone. She remained lost in thought for a long time.

New Year’s Eve.

It had been a very, very long time since she had celebrated the New Year.

The last time had been in her previous life. In those blurry memories, there were firecrackers, family reunion dinners, the Spring Festival Gala playing more and more like background noise, and phone calls filled with mutual greetings…

It was too long ago.

So long that it felt like someone else’s memories.

But now, the sporadic sound of firecrackers from the village below, the curling cooking smoke, and the youth’s words—“We’ll set aside a portion for you too”—suddenly made those faded memories a little clearer.

Bai Heng withdrew her gaze and slowly walked back into the rock cave.

On New Year’s Eve, the snow stopped.

The sky was still overcast, but no snowflakes fell.

From the afternoon onward, the village below became lively. Children chased each other across the drying ground. Firecrackers exploded from time to time, startling chickens, ducks, and dogs into a cacophony.

Bai Heng crouched at the cave entrance, looking down at the village.

Today she was wearing the red jacket.

She wasn’t sure why, but she simply felt like wearing it.

When dusk fell, Qin Yun came up the mountain.

He carried a large bundle on his back and held a food box in his hand, trudging step by step through the snow.

When he reached her, he set everything down and exhaled a puff of white vapor.

“Miss White, Happy New Year’s Eve.”

Bai Heng leaped down from the rock and walked up to him.

Qin Yun opened the bundle and food box, taking things out one by one.

There was white rice, abundant meat dishes, fresh winter vegetables, steamed New Year cakes, and a small pot of wine.

“My mother prepared all this especially for you.”

He spoke as he arranged everything.

“This wine was brewed by my father himself. It’s not strong. You can try some.”

Finally, there were steaming hot dumplings.

“Freshly boiled. My mother told me to bring them up quickly so they wouldn’t get cold.”

Bai Heng looked at the spread of food, then at Qin Yun, and gently swished her tail.

Qin Yun smiled.

“Eat first. I’ll stay here and keep you company.”

He sat down at the edge of the rock and watched as Bai Heng tasted everything one by one.

Rice, cured meat, chicken legs, wild game, meatballs, New Year cakes, dumplings—Bai Heng ate slowly, savoring each dish carefully.

At the end, she touched the wine pot with her paw and blinked at Qin Yun.

Qin Yun understood. He picked up the pot, pulled out the stopper, and tilted it toward her mouth.

The wine was mild, carrying the fragrance of grain and a hint of sweetness.

As she drank, she looked up at Qin Yun.

He was watching her with gentle eyes.

“Does it taste good?”

Bai Heng blinked at him again.

Qin Yun smiled.

“Good.”

As night deepened, the sound of firecrackers from the village grew denser. Looking down, the village was brightly lit. Fireworks occasionally bloomed in the night sky in colorful bursts before fading away.

After eating and drinking her fill, Bai Heng crouched on the rock, watching the fireworks.

Qin Yun sat beside her, watching as well.

Neither the human nor the fox spoke.

After a long time, Qin Yun suddenly said, “Miss White, what do you think is on the other side of the mountain?”

Bai Heng turned her head to look at him.

Qin Yun gazed into the distance, his eyes distant.

“In my memory, I’ve lived in this village since I was little. The farthest I’ve ever been is the town. Sometimes I wonder, what’s on the other side of the mountain? What is the outside world like?”

He paused.

“But I only wonder. My father says the outside world isn’t that good. People’s hearts are treacherous. It’s better to stay in the quiet mountains.”

Bai Heng was silent for a moment, then gently swished her tail.

Qin Yun looked at her.

“Have you been to many places, Miss White?”

Bai Heng looked at him but did not answer.

Qin Yun did not press further.

He simply smiled.

“No matter how many places you’ve been, this New Year’s Eve, you’re here spending it with me.”

He stood up and brushed the snow from his clothes.

“I should head back. We have to wake up early tomorrow to pay New Year visits.”

He packed up the things and waved at Bai Heng.

“Miss White, Happy New Year.”

Bai Heng looked at him and gave a slight nod.

Qin Yun turned and walked down the mountain through the snow.

After a few steps, he suddenly looked back.

“Miss White!”

Bai Heng lifted her head.

Qin Yun stood in the snow and called loudly, “See you next year!”

Bai Heng looked at him and gently swished her tail.

Qin Yun smiled, turned, and continued down the mountain.

His figure gradually faded into the night.

Bai Heng crouched on the rock, watching in that direction for a long time without moving.

The sound of firecrackers from the village below continued. Fireworks bloomed and faded in the night sky.

She lifted her head and gazed at the fireworks.

“See you next year.”

She said softly.

During the first few days of the New Year, Qin Yun came up the mountain again.

This time he was not alone. He brought Qin Yu with him.

The little girl was wearing new clothes. Her cheeks were flushed red, and her eyes were as bright as ever.

“White Fox Immortal! Happy New Year!”

She ran over, crouched beside the rock, and began pulling things from her clothes.

“This is the candy my mother made for me. I couldn’t bear to eat it, so I saved it for you!”

Bai Heng looked at the candy, then at the little girl’s sparkling eyes, and felt a soft warmth in her heart.

She lowered her head and gently licked the candy.

Qin Yu smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.

Qin Yun stood to the side, watching the scene with a smile on his lips.

“Miss White, Happy New Year.”

Bai Heng lifted her head, glanced at him, and gently swished her tail.

Qin Yu chattered away beside them.

“White Fox Immortal, the New Year is so much fun. I got a lot of New Year money. When I save enough, I’ll buy you lots of good food.”

“Did you see the fireworks that night? They were so pretty.”

“My mother said that once the New Year is over, spring will come soon. The flowers in the mountains will all bloom. It’ll be so beautiful.”

Bai Heng listened while slowly eating the candy.

Sunlight spilled across the snow, illuminating the two humans and one fox.

Qin Yun stood quietly to the side, watching.

After a long while, Qin Yu grew tired and leaned against her brother.

Bai Heng had also finished the candy.

She stood up, looked at the brother and sister, and gently swished her tail.

Qin Yu understood and stood up.

“White Fox Immortal, we’ll head back now. We’ll come see you again in a few days.”

She waved, then took Qin Yun’s hand as they walked down the mountain.

After a few steps, she suddenly turned back.

“Oh right!”

She turned around and shouted toward Bai Heng.

“White Fox Immortal, you look so beautiful in red! Just like a bride!”

Bai Heng’s tail paused slightly.

Qin Yun quickly pulled his sister forward.

“Let’s go, let’s go. Stop talking.”

Qin Yu still didn’t understand.

“Why can’t I say it? I was complimenting her…”

The siblings’ voices gradually faded into the distance.

Bai Heng crouched on the rock, watching the two figures disappear into the snowy woods.

The wind blew past, lifting the hem of her red jacket.

She lowered her head and looked at the red jacket on her body, then lifted her gaze toward the distant village.

Cooking smoke rose in curls from the houses below.

Occasional firecrackers could still be heard, popping sporadically.

Winter had not yet passed.

But the New Year had already come and gone.