Roses in Flames

After finishing their dumplings, Ye Mo pulled Xiao Lin to the living room to play cards.

Ye Yuntang stood to the side and watched for a while. Seeing that Xiao Lin got along well with her family, she smiled and asked, "Want some oranges?"

Xiao Lin nodded. "Mm."

Ye Yuntang took an orange, peeled it, and handed it to Xiao Lin.

Xiao Lin didn't take it. He reached out and picked up a mahjong tile, then turned to look at Ye Yuntang, "Feed me."

Ye Yuntang's long eyelashes trembled. Although she was a little shy in front of everyone, she still fed him a piece of the petal.

A gentle smile emanated from the man's cold and deep-set eyes.

The older and younger cousins ​​at the card table all wore expressions of utter disgust upon seeing this:

"Oh my goodness, who can handle this?!"

"Did we come here today specifically to be fed dog food?"

"Who will feed me a segment of orange?"

Ye Yuntang walked over and stuffed a segment of orange into her cousin's mouth.

Everyone was making a ruckus and laughing together.

With only twenty minutes left until midnight, the younger generation ran out with fireworks.

The courtyard was already covered with a layer of glistening white snow.

Xiao Lin pulled Ye Yuntang to a corner, and the two squatted in the snow. He built her a small snowman.

It has a round head, thin arms, and a small nose.

Ye Yuntang smiled and exclaimed, "Wow, so cute!"

She took out her phone, brought her face close to the snowman, and took a picture.

After taking the photo, she looked at the man again and said, "It seems like we haven't taken a selfie together yet."

Xiao Lin squatted down behind Ye Yuntang, rested his smooth-lined chin on her shoulder, and held up her phone with his other hand to take their first photo together.

She held a small snowman in her hand, her smile bright and radiant.

Xiao Lin looked down at her, his heart softening involuntarily.

Before anyone else could notice, he lowered his head and quickly pecked her lips.

Ye Yuntang's long eyelashes trembled, and a thin blush spread across her cheeks.

She glanced at him with a slightly embarrassed look.

His gaze remained fixed on her, without looking away.

His eyes were deep and burning, as if they wanted to devour her.

Her heart skipped a beat. Lowering her long eyelashes, she whispered, "Let's go set off fireworks."

The man hummed in agreement.

After placing the little snowman on the windowsill, Ye Yuntang opened a box of sparklers and handed two to Xiao Lin. Xiao Lin shook his head, "You play with them, I'll take pictures of you."

The sparkler was lit, and tiny sparks exploded in the darkness.

The warm golden light shone on her small face, and her smile was bright and touching.

She waved happily, her wrists twisting to draw a heart shape in the night sky.

He stood not far away, holding his phone, capturing her various expressions and movements.

Seeing this, Ye Mo ran over and said, "Brother-in-law, you go have fun too. I'll take pictures for you and my sister."

Xiao Lin handed the phone to Ye Mo, picked up a sparkler, and walked to Ye Yuntang's side.

"Ah Lin, let's make a heart shape together," Ye Yuntang said.

Xiao Lin nodded.

The two of them, with perfect understanding, drew a large heart together in the night.

Their faces were very close, their eyes were full of smiles, and the scene was very beautiful.

Ye Mo quickly captured this beautiful moment.

The television in the room was broadcasting a loud countdown: "Ten, nine, eight... three, two, one!"

As the last "one" fell, Xiao Lin reached out and forcefully pulled Ye Yuntang into his arms.

Ye Yuntang instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him.

His eyes were dark and deep, yet tender and passionate.

The sound of fireworks rising into the sky filled their ears, and the dazzling fireworks illuminated their faces in shifting light and shadow.

Looking at the man's handsome face so close to hers, she couldn't help but stand on tiptoe and kiss his lips.

"Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!"

The two spoke in unison.

Fireworks filled the sky, and the snow was gentle and soft.

At this moment, it seemed as if only the two of them remained in the world.

……

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, before the festive atmosphere of the New Year had completely dissipated, the police station was about to start work.

Xiao Lin returned to Ye City on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, and yesterday he even visited Ye Yuntang's home to offer New Year's greetings.

Ye Yuntang had relatives visiting, and she had to entertain the guests and cook for Song Xuan, so she didn't go back to her apartment.

We need to hold a morning meeting on the first day back to work.

Ye Yuntang took the documents and walked into the conference room.

As soon as she entered, she felt a gaze fixed on her.

She didn't need to look up to know who was watching her.

She glared at the man subtly, signaling him not to stare at her so openly.

The man smiled, raised an eyebrow, and then looked away.

After the meeting, Ye Yuntang returned to the forensic room.

She organized the autopsy report and the list of physical evidence awaiting review that Director Shao requested.

After finishing, she carried the documents and walked towards Director Shao's office.

Just around the corner, Xiao Lin's figure came into view.

He was wearing a crisp police uniform and carrying a black folder; he was probably also heading to Director Shao's office.

Ye Yuntang was about to call him back, but Xiao Lin walked very fast and had already entered Director Shao's office.

Ye Yuntang walked over quickly.

The door to Director Shao's office wasn't closed tightly, leaving a narrow gap.

Just as Ye Yuntang was about to knock on the door, she suddenly heard Director Shao's serious voice from inside, "After the fifteenth, you will be going abroad to work as an undercover agent. During this time, you need to hand over your work properly."

Xiao Lin nodded. "Yes."

After saying that, he realized something was wrong and quickly turned his head back.

Upon noticing someone outside, he turned around, walked over, and forcefully pulled the door open.

Perhaps not expecting that the person outside would be Ye Yuntang, the two were both stunned the moment their eyes met.

Ye Yuntang's eyes widened, and her chest heaved slightly, clearly shocked by what she had just heard.

Her eyes were filled with disbelief as she looked at Xiao Lin.

Upon seeing Ye Yuntang's expression, Xiao Lin felt a moment of panic.

He instinctively reached out to hold her hand.

But Ye Yuntang avoided it.

She didn't look at him again, turned away from him, and walked into the office.

She handed the documents to Director Shao, her delicate brows furrowed, and said, "Director Shao, my application for an undercover mission was rejected. You said you already have a suitable candidate. Could it be Captain Xiao?"

Director Shao glanced at Ye Yuntang, then at Xiao Lin, knowing that the matter could no longer be concealed. He nodded, "Yes."

Ye Yuntang's mind went blank, and her blood almost froze.

Her hands, hanging limply at her sides, trembled uncontrollably.

Her emotions overwhelmed her instantly, and her voice rose several decibels, "This mission can't be him! I don't agree!"

Director Shao frowned and said in a deep voice, "The higher-ups have already approved it, and the arrangements are all finalized. There's no way to change it now."

Ye Yuntang's chest heaved even more. She was about to say something more when Xiao Lin strode over and grabbed her arm. "Let's go outside and talk."

Ye Yuntang forcefully shook off his hand, not even glancing at him, "I have nothing to talk to you about."

She looked at Director Shao again, her voice urgent and trembling, filled with an almost desperate insistence, "I want to go! I can go!"