The sweet and gentle boy is actually crazy and bad.

New Year's Eve.

Looking out over the river from Hetang Bay, as night deepens, a fireworks display begins across the river. Countless fireworks soar outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, their dazzling flames overlapping and blooming in the night sky, a breathtaking sight.

The festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year is strong.

The house was large, and although it felt a little quiet for just the two of them, it wasn't deserted. There was a TV in the living room, and Wen Yisheng was helping to make dumplings in the kitchen. The water boiled, the dumplings were put in, and Wen Zhi put the glass lid on. The two looked at each other and laughed.

All the dishes were served, and the New Year's Eve dinner for two should be plentiful.

Before dinner, Wen Zhi took out an exquisitely packaged box and handed it to Wen Yisheng with a smile: "A New Year's gift."

Wen Yisheng thanked him, slipped on her slippers and jogged back to her room, bringing him a small gift box as well.

"It's just a small gift, please don't mind."

Wen Zhi was a little surprised, but happily accepted it: "Can I take it apart?"

"Um!"

The two opened the gift box at the same time.

Wen Yisheng received a... crystal music box.

Inside the crystal ball stood a ballerina standing on her tiptoes, next to a small piano and a short-haired boy in a suit.

When the music box is wound up, the lights softly illuminate, and ballet music seems to pour from the boy's fingertips as he presses the black and white keys.

The girl dances only for the boy, and the boy plays a solo only for the girl...

Wen Yisheng cupped her face in her hands, staring intently at the crystal ball for a long time.

"Do you like it?" She was looking at him, and Wen Zhi was looking at her too, but he was staring at her with a fascination and greed.

Wen Yisheng snapped out of her reverie and nodded sincerely: "I like it." She really liked it.

Inside the tiny crystal ball, there was romance and a dreamlike quality. Wen Zhi put her heart into it; she loves ballet.

"If you like it, that's good."

Wen Yisheng looked away from the crystal ball and asked him, "Wen Zhi, why is there a boy playing the piano next to the dancer? Is there a story behind this?"

My mother once said that every ballet piece is a long and winding story.

Wen Zhi smiled and shook his head. "There's no story. Maybe they're a couple? I'm not sure, that's just how things are."

This was specially carved and commissioned by Wen Zhi. The ballet girl in it represents Wen Yisheng, and the piano boy is of course him.

It means that he plays a solo for her, he is her loyal and unwavering audience, and similarly, she can only dance for him and belong to him exclusively for the rest of her life.

Just like this little crystal ball, once trapped in a cage, no one can escape.

"Oh." Wen Yisheng gave him a fountain pen.

Compared to that, she felt that she had been a bit perfunctory.

However, Wen Zhi liked it very much and was reluctant to use it.

If you want to keep it, put it together with the specimen made from Wen Yisheng's bloodstains, the used cups, the hair that fell off the pillow, and so on.

Wen Zhi stood up: "Let's eat. I'll go get some drinks."

On this cold, late-year night, with only a few fireworks lit, it was New Year's Eve when the two of them huddled together for warmth.

~

Wen Zhi opened a bottle of beverage; it was pink and looked delicious. Wen Yisheng held up her cup, wanting one too.

"Pour some for me too."

Wen Zhi raised an eyebrow slightly. "This is white peach flavored fruit wine. Are you sure you want to drink it?"

Wen Yisheng's eyes sparkled. She automatically translated what she heard as peach-flavored juice, completely ignoring the word "alcohol."

"I want to drink it..." Wen Yisheng pursed her lips, wanting to try it even more.

After eating too much salty food, she was naturally thirsty, and even during the Chinese New Year, she was craving something sweet and didn't want to get a glass of plain water.

"Alright then." Wen Zhi sighed, put down his chopsticks, and poured her a glass.

The two raised their glasses and clinked them together.

Wen Yisheng first tentatively took a small sip, held it on the tip of her tongue to taste it, and then her eyes lit up, clear and bright.

It tastes good.

Wen Zhi drank while glancing down at her, and was charmed by her little gestures again. His Ah Sheng was just too beautiful.

Wen Yisheng wanted another glass after finishing hers, but in the end she simply poured the wine herself while holding the bottle. Wen Zhi smiled gently and indulgently, letting her have her way.

After the meal, Wen Zhi tidied up the table.

Wen Yisheng had no idea how much she had drunk. She rested her chin on her hands, leaning against the table, her cheeks flushed. "Wen Zhi..."

Wen Zhi glanced at her, his cheeks curving into two little parentheses, his smile a little mischievous.

He ignored her, quickly cleared the table, and put the dishes in the dishwasher.

Wen Yisheng felt unwell, as if the underfloor heating was too hot, and she was sweating all over.

"Wen Zhi... my head is so hot."

"I have a fever... help me..." She touched her head and let out a long, uncomfortable groan.

Her almond-shaped eyes, reddened and half-closed, were moist, and her head kept bumping against the table.

Huh? What's wrong? The room is crooked now, and it's spinning around.

Wen Yisheng was completely drunk.

Fruit wine is certainly not enough to make you dizzy with intoxication. After looking at the ingredients, Wen Zhi added some other ingredients that he had developed himself.

Wen Zhi tidied everything up, wiped his hands clean, and came over from behind.

He approached, bent down, and put his arm around her, gently nuzzling his chin against her shoulder. "Baby, who am I?"

Wen Yisheng was exhausted and leaned against him as if she had no bones when he hugged her. She struggled to open her moist almond-shaped eyes and recognized him: "Wen...Wen Zhi?"

She can still recognize it.

Not completely drunk yet.

Wen Zhi smiled and kissed her chin.

They were brazen and unrestrained, as if they weren't afraid of her discovering them at all.

Wen Zhi reached out, picked up the wine glass on the table, and gently lifted her soft, delicate chin: "Open your mouth."

Wen Yisheng shook her head, looking a little aggrieved, as if she could sense that it was that sweet juice that made her feel unwell.

"I don't want to... um."

I was forced to drink another glass of wine.

Wen Zhi's eyes darkened.

Ruthless, barbaric, and utterly inhuman.

Wen Yisheng was completely stunned. She held her breath.

Her eyes were filled with physiological tears.

She leaned back in the chair, her back aching from the pressure, and helplessly tugged at Wen Zhi's clothes, saying, "Get...get away."

Wen Zhi finally let go and slightly distanced himself from her.

His eyes were bloodshot with intense excitement, but the smile on his lips was faint; his expression was eerily calm in this situation.

"What if you can't hold back anymore?" He raised his hand and slowly wiped Wen Yisheng's lips.

He was on the verge of losing control, yet his expression remained strangely calm as he murmured, "I can't help but want to do even worse things to Ah Sheng."

Wen Yisheng leaned her head limply against his shoulder, "Bad...bad dog."

"Hmm?" Wen Zhi suppressed his rapidly beating heart, picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the living room.

"What did you say?" he asked, looking down at her. "Let's go chat on the sofa. The chairs are too hard, and Ah Sheng isn't comfortable sitting on them, right?"