Chapter 16.1 - 杏仁 Almond
He looked at his watch, checked the date, and then realized that tonight was New Year’s Eve. The school’s experimental building was cold and quiet, with only a few research labs still lit for ongoing projects. The graduate students he came with had already left early, and the vast clean lab was left with just him.
For three years, this was how He Suye spent his New Year’s Eve — immersed in pharmacology, dosage, and on-duty work. Every time his grandmother or mother called, he would say he was too busy to go home. Over time, the Spring Festival had become something he could take or leave.
Because he had no family, no one to celebrate with. There were no dumplings cooking at midnight, no endless phone calls to wish a Happy New Year. He didn’t want to spend the holiday like this.
He heard a phone ring from the next lab, and Chen Yixun’s song began to play, “Merry, Merry Christmas, lonely, lonely Christmas… I want to send my blessings, but I don’t know who to give them to… love has been tied into a knot…” The sound echoed through the empty corridor.
A wave of bitterness rose in his chest, and he sighed heavily. Just then, he heard footsteps in the hallway — the distinct sound of high heels, hurried and a little disordered. Without thinking, he stopped what he was doing, waiting for something, not sure what.
The footsteps suddenly stopped. Contrary to what he expected, the person didn’t push the door open, holding a lunchbox and smiling as they said, “He Suye, come eat dumplings, don’t be busy, it’s New Year’s Eve! Come on, or I’ll eat them all.”
He often teased her, saying, “Eating dumplings in the ultra-clean room might be a bit disrespectful to the scientific instruments.”
At that time, he didn’t want to go home for the New Year and stayed in the lab. Zhang Yiling stayed with him to celebrate the New Year, and the two of them ate dumplings and tangyuan in the lab. Then, in the early hours of the morning, he sent her to the train station, and once again, he was left alone for the holiday.
However, no matter how much he tried to escape, there was always an emptiness in his heart, an absence of belonging. He took off his gloves, grabbed his phone, and dialed his grandfather’s number. Someone immediately picked up the phone on the other end, a child’s voice said cheerfully, “Hello, He’s Grandfather’s house, who are you looking for?”
He chuckled, feeling a warm affection rise in his chest, and said, “It’s me, little uncle, He Shouwu!”
The child grumbled, “Little uncle, you’re bullying me, I’m not He Shouwu, I’m He Shouzhen!”
Immediately, someone else took over the phone, “Suye?! Mom, Dad, Suye is calling!”
He didn’t want the elderly folks to rush over, so he gently said to his little nephew, “I’ll be home in a bit. Tell grandma and grandpa not to wait for me if they’ve already eaten.”
“Little uncle has to give me red envelope money! Otherwise, I won’t let you in!”
“Got it, little money-lover! I’ll hang up now, see you soon.”
“Mm! We’ll see each other!”
The supermarket was already closed, but luckily, the small stall next to the hospital was still open. The owner enthusiastically greeted him, holding a bowl of noodles, “Young man, you just came back from out of town, huh? If you’re buying gifts, I’ll give you a discount. Let’s all have a good New Year!”
He smiled wryly, feeling like a foreigner with his disheveled appearance.
Sitting alone on the bus, people rushed by in the streets. The driver smiled, “Young man, you’re lucky, this is the last bus tonight. After this, we’re all going home for the New Year.”
He felt like it was fate, a good omen for the coming year.
It had really been a long time since he’d had a family dinner together. The He family wasn’t large, so they could barely make up one table. His little nephew, full of mischievous energy, made everyone laugh. The meal was warm and cheerful, and afterward, the family sat together in front of the sofa to watch the Spring Festival Gala.
He Shouzhen, holding a glass of juice, bounced over and dove into He Suye’s arms. “Little uncle, come play with me and set off fireworks.”
Many children had gathered in the provincial government compound, and the “pop pop” sound of fireworks illuminated the clear sky. He Shouzhen was happily playing, running through the snow with one deep step and one shallow step, holding a “magic wand.” The sparks jumped around, framing his round face in childlike joy, delight, happiness, and bliss.
He Suye thought back to his own childhood and remembered the happiness he had felt. But happiness always felt so fleeting.
After playing for a while, He Shouzhen’s shoes were soaked with snow, and he pitifully called out “Little uncle.” He Suye had no choice but to carry his little nephew home. As soon as they sat down, his phone rang. It was a New Year’s message from Li Jie, followed by messages from Fang Kexin and a call from Qiu Tian, along with some old classmates and colleagues.
He Shouzhen, having changed into new shoes, obediently leaned against him, playing with his phone. Suddenly, the phone vibrated, and the child mumbled, “Little uncle, it’s Shen Xifan’s call!”
He took the phone, pinched He Shouzhen’s cheek, and said, “It’s not Shen Xifan, it’s Shen Xifan!” He stood up, moved to the yard, and answered the call.
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