Festival

Hans darted all the way down to the dormitory building and sure enough he saw Emily who was about to enter the dormitory building.

"Emily!" called Hans in a hurry, he stopped where he was and waited for her to turn around.

Emily stopped dead in her tracks when she heard it was Hans, she didn't actually blame Hans, she just didn't know how to open her mouth to tell someone about her family again, she didn't turn around.

Hans saw this and walked up to her and said to her as he got a little closer, "Emily, you know what? My parents...divorced when I was very young and I was raised by my grandparents." Hans said slowly, his tone flat, as if he was talking about something very normal, or maybe it was considered normal to him.

Emily couldn't stop the tears from falling down her face when she heard him, she turned around in surprise and looked at Hans, who was in a calm mood.

Hans saw Emily's tears, he couldn't help but reach out his hand to wipe her tears, "Emily, you have to realise that this is their business, it has nothing to do with us, we just have to do our own thing."

Emily was still in tears, "But my mum said for me not to try to escape, and I got into U of A to escape."

Hans took her into his arms and gently patted her on the back, "Emily, we're in control of our own lives, you still have me, and Martin, and Sarah, it's okay, it's okay..."

Emily closed her eyes, she didn't refuse Hans's hug, she always thought Hans's family would be a beautiful and happy family, he's so sunny and cheerful didn't expect it to be like this, Hans hugged her and she wanted to hug him back.

Martin and Sarah who came from behind saw them hugging, Sarah wanted to go up and stop them but was pulled back by Martin, he whispered to Sarah, "I'm the one in the wrong, Hans is the one who is most qualified to go and talk to Emily."

Sarah looked at him quizzically, "What do you mean?"

"Hans' parents divorced when he was very young."

Sarah covered her mouth in surprise when she heard that and didn't come forward, the two of them just watched them quietly from behind.

Hans was the sunniest, smiliest, and most optimistic of the four of them, and none of them had expected him to have such a past. Perhaps it was also this that made Hans know more and see more openly.

After that day, the four of them unspokenly did not mention it again, the four of them are still as close as before, the four of them seem to cherish each other even more.

It was almost time for the final performance of Romeo and Juliet, and the teacher had specially asked for the venue of the school theatre for them, which was open to all the teachers and students of the school.

"What? The whole school can come and see it!" Emily and Sarah were shocked backstage.

Hans calmed them down, "It only says it's open to all the teachers and students of the school, and they won't necessarily come, we're not that famous yet, don't worry."

"We've been practising for so long too, have confidence in yourself." Martin also smiled and said.

"Okay, one, two, three, go for it!" The four of them put their hands together to cheer.

The theatre lights all dimmed down, Emily and Martin walked onto the stage first, the lights turned on and she could even hear her slow and heavy heartbeat, but she couldn't see off the stage at all.

Martin suddenly took her hand, and she looked over to Martin, who was calm and steady, and seemed to give Emily a lot of courage, and Emily felt very relieved, and got into the mood right away.

Emily said the words on stage and she thought about what the four of them had been through together so far this term.

Later, Emily decided that she wanted to be with Martin because she wanted him to be her backer, she didn't want to live like her parents, in the end, it was all about the money, she couldn't believe that she was this vain and hypocritical, but she had to give it a try, marrying into a rich family, it could be a different life.

She looked at Martin, the tears that were swirling in her eyes, finally fell one by one, even Martin was shocked, usually, she was not able to cry at all.

The sad music played, Emily and Martin's dialogue, lingering and sad, Emily said excitedly, as if she had completely substituted herself into Juliet, her lines were slightly crying, the audience was infected, some even cried too.

"I've been afraid to look at the Goddess of Mercy ever since." Martin says as he holds Emily's face, pretending to kiss down and leaning against the stage the wrong way to look like the two kissed.The curtain slowly closes and Sarah narrates that the two were both martyred and that was the best ending for them.Emily was crying so hard, it was a small sob and when the curtain came down she collapsed into Martin's arms and sobbed. hans and Sarah ran over to watch but Martin just shook his head and signalled for them to leave her alone, letting her cry her heart out."Too much has happened lately already, just let her cry."The performance of Romeo and Juliet had gone very well and the teacher was surprised that they had done so well."Your performances were really good, there might be a chance to have anotherperformances." The teacher said happily to them. The four of them stood across from the teacher and smiled as if they were relieved.After that, the final exams and the Grade 4 exams went smoothly, and the first semester of the first year of college came to an end just like this.Time always goes so fast.Sarah hugged Emily after she packed up her things in the dormitory, "Don't worry, I will definitely come back early to accompany you."Emily smiled, "No need, I won't be bored in A city."Emily sent Sarah to the dormitory downstairs, the two of them joked and laughed for a while and then said goodbye.Emily was still trying to think of an excuse to put her mother off from going home when she got a call from her mother."When are you coming home?" Her mother's sharp, cold voice came through the receiver."I-I'm not going back...I got a part-time job." Emily replied timidly."What? You're not going home for the New Year? What's wrong with you? Going to City A to go to college and not coming back, I can tell you, I won't give you a cent!" Her mother hung up the phone in a rage.Emily sighed, her mother was always like this, but she was right, she just didn't want to go back and see them. She held back her tears downstairs in the dormitory, she told herself she couldn't always cry when things went wrong.The phone call from her aunt came back, "Emily, are you home yet?" Her aunt's gentle, inquiring voice was in stark contrast to her mother's voice.When Emily heard her aunt's tenderness, she couldn't break down any more, and she opened her mouth to answer with a voice full of tears, "No, I'm not going back for the whole holiday."The aunt heard her crying on the phone, but still gently said to her: "Stay in A city is also very good, more walks, New Year's Day will come to my house.Emily, no matter what your mum and dad, I will always be your aunt.""Well well well ..." Emily haphazardly nodded in response to hear such words, Emily cried even more, she is very aggrieved, but can never confide in her parents, confide in her parents also never get any comfort.Her aunt was so understanding, and immediately transferred $1,000 to Emily."Don't be polite to me, remember to be happier and be kind to yourself."Tears dripped onto the screen of her mobile phone, and she didn't know how to be grateful to her aunt in the future. She also vowed that she would be like her aunt and gain a foothold in A city without having to return to that small county."Emily, if you're bored, I can be a free tour guide." Martin edited the dialogue box for a long time before sending out this message. He didn't know what was wrong with him lately, it seemed like he would be especially nervous talking to Emily, always afraid that he would make a mistake in front of her.Emily saw this message and smiled involuntarily at the corner of her mouth, "Is he, like, inviting himself out?" She felt at ease around Martin."Auntie is making me happier too, so why not go." She thought in her heart, and immediately replied to Martin, "Pull the hook, from now on, you're a free tour guide."Martin jumped up from his chair when he saw that, so they would be spending a lot of time together on this one holiday.He immediately called his mother, "Mother, don't make arrangements for me on this holiday, I'm not going abroad either, I have my own activities." Without waiting for an answer, Martin hung up.Emily was still ready to get a part time holiday job, she couldn't keep letting her aunt pay for herself.She tried to be active and get herself moving, she picked out an outfit and was going to look for a part time job tomorrow.You only know how hard it is when you actually go to look for a job.On the street near the University of A school,Emily went and asked one after another.Either they were only hiring regular employees or the pay was very low.Emily was a little lost,she sat in front of a milk tea shop and sipped tastelessly.Emily said, "I don't know if it's okay to have a low pay,but I don't know if it's okay."Or does it matter if the salary is low?" Emily muttered to herself."How's that? You don't look too successful."A familiar voice rang out, Emily looked up and her eyes lit up, she jumped up from her chair in excitement, "Hans, Martin, what are you guys doing here?"It was like a light had suddenly appeared in a dim world, Hans was still funny, Martin was still calm and Emily smiled happily from the bottom of her heart."Let's look with you, part time jobs aren't that easy to find." Martin spoke to Emily.Emily looked at him and nodded vigorously. The three of them then started looking on the streets. They would go into shops and ask, or they would copy down phone numbers that were recruiting on the side of the road and call them."I'm really kind of surprised, Martin," Emily said to Martin as they walked down the street."What?" Martin looked at her a little strangely."I didn't expect the young master to come and look with me too." Emily said with a smile."Emily, in front of you, I am also just an ordinary person." Martin suddenly said seriously.Emily actually blushed a little after listening to the words and thinking carefully. She didn't say anything else and caught up with Hans who was in front of her."What does Martin's words mean, what do you mean that in front of me, he's just a normal person too?" Emily thought, her heartbeat unconsciously speeding up.Finally with the combined efforts of the three of them, Emily finally found a part-time job, working at a hotpot restaurant, it might be a bit busy and the pay is average, but overall, it's pretty good."Yay, cheers!" After a busy morning the three of them sat down at a barbecue restaurant to eat barbecue.They called Sarah, "Sarah, I'm telling you, Hans and Martin, those two are especially handsome today!""Yeah? Why, what's wrong?" Sarah asked on the other end of the phone with interest.Emily and told her that today Hans and Martin came from the sky like saviours to accompany her to find a part-time job and finally succeeded."Yo, the two of them are quite considerate, they even know how to come and take care of you, so I'm relieved that you're alone over there."Emily ate the barbecue meat, drank the beer and talked with the three of them, she felt so happy, there was no happier time than this, she wanted to cry again."Martin, you don't eat much do you? You need to eat more." Hans ordered a lot and shoved it all at Martin.Martin shook his head helplessly but accepted it all. It was true that he hadn't eaten a few times, his parents naturally didn't look at this kind of place, but he didn't feel anything, he but felt smoky and comfortable.Emily and Martin would accidentally lock eyes and both of them would dodge, but after a few times, both of them felt fine with it.Hans taught the two of them how to row, and they could never beat Hans. "Hahahahahahahaha ahahahahaha, you can't beat me!" Hans said arrogantly to the two."No way, do it again.Martin, you and him!" Emily was furious and commanded Martin."Yeah, yeah, one against two, I'm not afraid!"Sarah was on the phone cheering them on.It was already getting a little chilly in January and Emily wrapped her jumper around her, she felt so cold."It's cold, are you guys cold?" Emily asked craning her neck."I feel like I'm getting a little cold too." Hans nodded and shrugged as well."Look guys! It looks like it's snowing hey!" Emily pointed her finger out the window as she ran to the front of the shop and lifted her hands into the air, spinning around happily, "It's really snowing! It's snowing! Wow..." she said excitedly to Hans and Martin.When the shop owner heard it, he just thought the girl was cute, "It's like it's still the first snow in A city."Emily was still attracted by the snow and didn't know when Martin had come to her side and put a black scarf around her."Don't catch cold." Martin's dark languid eyes were full of sincerity.Emily smiled and agreed with him, but was a little afraid to look into his eyes, they were too deep, as if she would fall in love with him if she looked at him one more time.

Hans took the phone, which he had converted into a video call with Sarah: "The first snowfall in A city, you missed it, but, now it is also seen."

Sarah looked regretful and helpless, "Huh? Really convinced, I went home how to get down ah, can't even with you guys!"

"Okay, okay, the video counts as together." Hans rare gentle comfort her.

Together in A city ushered in the first snow, this scene is a picture that all four of them remembered clearly after many years, so much so that every subsequent year of the first snow, they would think of each other. Only later, the things that happened, there are times when Emily regrets, if at first they did not do so, is it later everything will not happen, they will also be like before.

The holidays after that, Emily worked diligently at the hot pot shop, the work was a bit tiring, the shop was doing good business, she could not rest until very late sometimes.

Emily didn't have time to go out with Martin at all, she looked at the calendar, it was almost New Year's Eve, would she be able to look for Martin during the few days that the hotpot shop was closed.

"No, Martin is celebrating New Year's too, surely he's with his family too? How about asking him first." Emily thought about it and decided to ask to see Martin.

"Martin, what are your arrangements for the days of Chinese New Year?" Emily sent a message to Martin.

Martin froze when he received the message, is she asking if I have time on those days? He immediately went from his room to his mother's room.

"Mother, are we still going to New York for New Year's Eve this year?" He stood in the doorway and inquired carefully.

"This year...let's not go, your grandfather is not well and we haven't spent New Year's together in A city for a long time." Mother answered him, but added, "Why are you asking, don't you hate going to New York for New Year's Eve?"

"Mother, I've said many times I don't hate it, I just prefer the country." He left happily.

Martin immediately messages Emily back, "With family in A city, but time will be more free."

Emily receives the message, "More free" means there will be time? She was secretly pleased that it seemed to imply something.

Emily replied with an "ok" emoticon and fell into a deep sleep with a smile on her face.

New Year's Eve night.

"Emily, I'm really sorry, we all still have work, Auntie sends you a New Year's red packet, I can't stay with you, you must accept the red packet." Auntie sent Emily another red packet and hung up the phone.

Emily sighed, "Auntie is really busy."

Not having to go to work today, she went to the supermarket to buy a bag of frozen dumplings, and when she was leaving, she suddenly saw the material pack for knitting scarves again.

She picked it up and looked at it, wanting to buy it but a little hesitant.

"It's on sale recently, it's very cheap." The shop assistant saw Emily's hesitation and immediately came over to her.

"Is it hard?" Emily asked her.

"It's..." the question seemed to ask the shop assistant, who was afraid that if she said it was difficult, Emily wouldn't buy it. The clerk was silent for a long time before she said, "But if you're knitting it for someone you miss, you won't find it difficult."

The clerk's words seemed to have woken Emily up a bit, she smiled and repeated the clerk's words, "The person you miss...yeah, I'll take it." Saying that she put the material bag into the shopping cart.

Sure enough it was New Year's Eve, the supermarket was playing cheerful music and the streets were filled with all sorts of red decorations. She walked slowly down the street alone, would her own family miss her?Emily smiled mockingly, not a single phone call, so I guess she didn't think about it.

As she walked down to the dormitory building, the hostel aunts were saying goodbye to her, "Happy New Year ah student, I'm going home for the New Year too."

"Happy New Year to you too, bye Auntie."

Emily was cooking dumplings in the dormitory, the live broadcast of the Spring Festival Gala was playing on the computer, and the sound of fireworks was coming from time to time in her ears, a lively scene, but she felt that she was lonely and cold.

Martin's family spent New Year's Eve in a villa near the University of A. A chef was brought in from a high-class restaurant to cook for them. The University of A is in the centre of the city, where the bustle of the Spring Festival can be felt even more.

The family celebrated with champagne: "Happy new year!"

"Martin, you should come to the office more often sometime." Martin's father said to him."I know, father, but I want to venture out on my own first after graduation." Martin said gently.

"We respect your choice, but you have to learn to manage the company's affairs." His father's words were solemn and irresistible.

Even if Martin was seen as a young master born with a golden key in other people's eyes, there were some things that Martin had to listen to his parents' arrangements.

"My classmates asked me to go to the river to watch the fireworks together." Martin put down the cutlery, wiped his mouth and said to his parents.

"It's so late, do you still want to go?" Mother said.

"Let him go, he's so old and has his own social circle." The father agreed to his going out, and the mother acquiesced.

Martin finally got out and he excitedly called Emily.

"Beep beep beep ..." It was twelve o'clock, would she answer? The ringing of the phone bellowed as if stating his heartbeat.

"Martin?" said Emily picking up the phone.

Martin surprised him with a yes, "It's me. I thought you wouldn't pick up."

Emily smiled on the other end of the line, "What's wrong?"

"Can you come out? Come out, come over to this side of the river."

"Okay, wait for me oh." Emily, happy and surprised to hear his invitation, haphazardly grabbed a jacket and a scarf and came out. On New Year's Eve, there was no gate.

Martin instead went to the shop to buy fireworks, "Boss, what kind of fireworks would a girl like?"

The boss smiled at his words, "Girls like them, it's not the fireworks mainly, it's you as a person."

Martin also smiled and pointed in a circle: "Then give me some of all of them."

The boss's eyes both opened round, "All, all?" The boss was too shocked to speak.

"Yes, boss, I'm in a hurry, can you hurry up?"

"Okay, I'll be right there, I'll be right there!" The boss was glad he hadn't closed the shop, otherwise he would have missed out on a big business deal.

Martin came to the riverside with lots of fireworks and met Emily, he smiled a little embarrassed.

Emily smiled back, Martin looked a bit funny now, "You went to stock up?"

"I didn't know what looked good so I just bought some of everything."

"Well, not bad for a young master then."

"Come on, these are put up for you to see." There was some pride in Martin's words.

"Let's start with this little fairy wand then."

Martin lit it for her and put it in her hand, Emily giggled happily just like a child.

"So pretty, so pretty!" Emily walked around Martin and Martin just looked at her, the smile in his eyes was full of doting, he really wanted time to freeze.

"Zooming in, be careful."

Emily covered her ears on the side : "You be careful too!" Martin lit the fire and immediately came to Emily's side, he didn't helpless his ears, he faced Emily close to her, at the moment the fireworks rose up, he also covered Emily's ears.

"Bang! Bang! BANG BANG BANG!" The fireworks rose with a loud bang, brilliant colours and patterns exploding in the air.

People on the ground gasped, "Wow, it's so pretty, so beautiful ..."

Emily was no exception, "Wow, that's the biggest firework I've ever seen."

Martin just stared at her face, which was a little hard to see in the darkness, and could only be seen through the few moments of light from the fireworks.

"Later, I'll show you bigger ones." Martin whispered.

Emily heard it, and she blinked, her face reddening again. What ambiguous words, could it be that, Martin really liked himself? But it seems like she likes him too ...

In the first year of knowing each other, they spent New Year's Eve together setting off fireworks, which was an exclusive memory belonging to the two of them.

The days after they separated, Martin became the president of Knight's, and his assistant would ask him every year "Mr Knight, do you want to set off fireworks on the river this year?"

Every time, the secretary would give him a blank look, "It's the same every year, you still can't remember?"

Martin, on the other hand, was looking at the river in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, as if expecting to see that familiar figure.