Come on, What Kind of CEO Chases His Roommate Back to the Country? - Chapter 113

By the time they left Pei’s mother’s house, dusk had already fallen.

The setting sun painted the horizon a warm orange-red, and the air carried the crisp coolness of early spring. Max curled up in the back seat, dozing off, his tail occasionally giving a soft wag.

“Where do you want to go in the next few days?” Shi Yancheng turned on the heater and adjusted it to a comfortable temperature.

“I heard there’s a Da Tiehua (Iron Flower – A Chinese firework method) performance by the river lately,” Pei Song thought for a moment. “How about we check it out tonight?”

“Sounds good.” Shi Yancheng took his hand. “Tomorrow we can go see the panda lantern festival. I read in the news that they’ve added lots of interactive installations this year.”

“Oh, by the way,” Pei Song suddenly remembered, “what do you think about that grand prize I won at the company party, the European trip for two? When would be a good time to go?”

“Why don’t you exchange it for cash instead?” Shi Yancheng said. “The company allows you to cash it in at 85% of the value. Once this busy period is over, I’ll take you to Europe myself for a longer stay. I grew up there and know every corner like the back of my hand. I can show you places no tourists ever see… and we can also check on our restaurant there.”

Pei Song’s eyes lit up. “Great! Then let’s swap it for cash.”

Down by the riverside, a sizable crowd had already gathered. Vendors had set up stalls selling colorful balloons, and the air was rich with the scent of freshly roasted chestnuts. The river shimmered under the twilight sky, and a simple iron frame stood set up along the bank.

Several craftsmen were adding charcoal to the furnace, sparks crackling and snapping in the quiet evening.

Shi Yancheng led Pei Song by the hand to a spot with a good view.

The craftsmen inserted iron rods into the flames, their arm muscles flexing with the effort. Once the rods glowed red-hot, one of them suddenly let out a loud shout and flung a rod high into the air. In an instant, the sky filled with a shower of sparks, falling like meteors and bursting into brilliant light against the darkness.

Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd.

Pei Song tilted his head back, his eyes reflecting the scattered starlight of the sparks. Shi Yancheng stood beside him, but his gaze was fixed on Pei Song’s profile. Bathed in the firelight, his features looked especially soft and gentle.

At that moment, Shi Yancheng felt that the person before him shone far brighter than the dazzling display in the sky. Taking advantage of the cover of night, he quickly pressed a kiss to Pei Song’s cheek. Pei Song froze, his face flushing involuntarily. He glanced left and right in a slight panic, worried that the nearby tourists might have seen.

The craftsmen worked in perfect coordination, taking turns with their performance. Sparks danced through the air, sometimes forming giant peonies, sometimes weaving into dense nets, a golden rain cascading from the heavens.

Occasionally a stray spark would float down, and Pei Song instinctively flinched to the side, bumping right into Shi Yancheng’s arms.

Shi Yancheng seized the opportunity to wrap an arm around his waist, leaning close to whisper, “Scared?” Pei Song shook his head. “No… it’s just amazing. Ordinary iron rods, after heating and hammering, can become something this beautiful.”

As the performance neared its end, four iron rods were flung into the air at once. Sparks intertwined, forming a dense web of golden light that poured down like a waterfall.

Applause erupted all around.

When they got home, Max eagerly grabbed his leash and trotted over. “I’ll take Max out for another walk,” Pei Song said. “He hasn’t had much exercise tonight.”

“I’ll come with you,” Shi Yancheng stood up.

Under the night sky, three figures strolled along the tree-lined path of their neighborhood. Shi Yancheng naturally took Pei Song’s hand, the warmth of his palm making the chilly night air feel soft and gentle. “Cold?” he asked.

Pei Song shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Shi Yancheng looked at Max trotting ahead. “He’s a lot like you.”

“Like me?” Pei Song asked curiously.

“Serious and gentle,” Shi Yancheng said softly. “Always thoughtful with the ones you care about.”

Suddenly Max stopped, ears pricking alertly. A stray cat darted out from the bushes, making them both jump. But Max didn’t give chase. Instead, he stood politely in place, waiting for Pei Song’s command.

“Go on,” Pei Song said.

Only then did Max slowly approach the cat, sniffing carefully as if saying hello. The cat eyed Max warily, but seeing no hostility, it relaxed and gracefully walked past.

“Good boy.” Pei Song patted Max’s head. “You’re getting more sensible every day.”

Watching the scene, Shi Yancheng said, “Sometimes I feel really lucky.”

“Hmm?” Pei Song turned to look at him.

“Lucky to have met you,” Shi Yancheng said in a low voice. “Lucky to live with you… and with Max.” He paused. “Like having a complete home.”

A warm feeling welled up in Pei Song’s chest. He tightened his grip on Shi Yancheng’s hand. “I feel lucky too.”

The next evening, the two of them went to Jiangtan Park in the high-tech district. The 64th International Panda Lantern Festival was being held there, transforming the entire park into a dazzling world of light and shadow.

At the entrance stood a massive lantern display of “Guardian Panda Gods,” pandas dressed in majestic gatekeeper armor, lifelike and adorable.

“The festival’s divided into four themed zones,” Shi Yancheng said, studying the map. “Which one do you want to visit first?”

“Let’s start with ‘Splendid Brocade City,’” Pei Song pointed at the map. “There’s a lantern king called ‘Snowy Shushan’ over there.”

Following the illuminated corridor, they soon reached a spacious area.

The grand “Snowy Shushan” lantern stood towering, its snow-capped peaks vividly lifelike, dotted with blooming plum blossoms halfway up the slopes. A few pandas frolicked in the snow at its base.

“This design is brilliant,” Pei Song said. “It perfectly blends Shushan culture with panda elements.”

“The mountain’s outline is interesting too,” Shi Yancheng nodded. “Looks like they combined features of both Mount Emei and Mount Qingcheng.”

They moved on to the “Night Tour Jinjiang” zone. By the riverside, a “Floating Cups on Winding Water” installation let visitors send wishes via their phones, the messages transformed into glowing words drifting across the water’s surface.

Pei Song took out his phone and sent a simple “Happy New Year,” watching the words ripple and glow on the water.

“Want to send one together?” Shi Yancheng asked.

“What are you going to write?”

“Let me think…” Shi Yancheng typed, ‘May our story flow on as long and endless as this river.’

Pei Song saw the words drifting on the water and smiled softly.

In the “Watery Land of Heaven” zone, the most eye-catching display was the “Pandas Performing Sichuan Opera Face-Changing” lanterns. The pandas wore traditional opera masks that changed expressions along with the lights, drawing gasps of amazement from the crowd.

“Look at how smoothly the faces change,” Shi Yancheng pointed. “This interactive tech is pretty mature.”

“Yeah,” Pei Song mused. “Maybe we could apply something like this to the Senior Living Haven project. The elderly love interacting with pets, if we made some light-based installations like this…”

“Digital pets?” Shi Yancheng picked up the idea. “It’s worth considering, especially for seniors with mobility issues.”

“And the interactions could be tailored to their interests,” Pei Song said excitedly. “Some like chess, some enjoy opera, we could make them into interactive projections.”

In the “Comfortable Sichuan” zone, they were amused by the “International Panda Band.” A group of pandas held erhus and flutes, seriously ‘playing’ music while the lights shifted rhythmically, creating a warm, joyful atmosphere.

Passing by the “Caterpillar Playground,” Shi Yancheng tugged Pei Song’s hand. “Wanna try?”

It was an interactive game, visitors stepped on glowing “caterpillars” that lit up with their movements. The two of them played enthusiastically, laughing like children, until they noticed the envious looks of nearby kids and sheepishly stepped away.

“Hungry?” Shi Yancheng pointed to the nearby food court. “Let’s grab something to eat.”

The food area was filled with various snacks. They bought a few local specialties and found a quiet corner to sit.

The night breeze carried a faint scent of fireworks.

“I didn’t expect this year’s lantern festival to be so thoughtfully done,” Pei Song said with a smile. “Not only are there traditional cultural elements, but so many interactive designs too. I used to think these festivals felt the same every year, but this one really feels different.”

Shi Yancheng looked at him. “How so?”

“Because I’m seeing it with you,” Pei Song gently squeezed his hand, the tips of his ears tinged pink.

Shi Yancheng softly stroked his fingers. “Then let’s come together every year.”

“Alright, it’s a promise.” Pei Song nodded, smiling faintly.