Chapter 19: 18. Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year has arrived.

The streets of Bridon were adorned with crimson lanterns and golden decorations, each corner glowing in celebration of the Lunar New Year. The air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of dumplings, roasted chestnuts, and the faint echo of firecrackers in the distance. Vein and Xia Fei walked side by side, the chill of the evening pressing against them, but neither seemed to mind.

“Liu Xiao better have prepared something good,” Xia Fei muttered, tucking his hands into his jacket pockets. “He practically begged us to come over for dinner.”

Vein chuckled softly, glancing at Xia Fei. “He’s been wanting to meet with us for a while. You should be glad. He’s probably dying to interrogate me about you.”

Xia Fei shot him a sideways glance, his cheeks tinged pink. “You’re the one who agreed to come. If he gets nosy, it’s your problem, boss.”

Vein smirked but said nothing, his eyes lingering on Xia Fei a moment longer before they continued walking.

---

When they arrived at Liu Xiao’s apartment, the smell of freshly cooked food hit them immediately. The table was laid out with a variety of dishes—steamed fish, dumplings, sweet rice cakes, and even a bottle of baijiu. Liu Xiao greeted them at the door, wearing a casual sweater and an amused grin.

“Finally! I thought you two might ditch me,” Liu Xiao joked, stepping aside to let them in.

“Trust me, it crossed my mind,” Xia Fei quipped, removing his jacket.

Liu Xiao raised an eyebrow at Vein. “And you let him talk to you like that?”

Vein chuckled and shrugged. “It’s part of his charm.”

They all sat down, the conversation flowing easily over plates of food. Liu Xiao’s teasing was relentless, especially toward Xia Fei, who kept retaliating with quick-witted jabs. The atmosphere was warm and comfortable, the kind of evening that felt easy to sink into.

At one point, Liu Xiao leaned back in his chair and smirked. “So... I’ve been hearing rumors about you two.”

Xia Fei froze mid-bite, his chopsticks hovering over a dumpling. “Rumors?” he repeated cautiously.

Vein, on the other hand, remained calm, his gaze steady on Liu Xiao. “Go on,” he said, pouring himself another glass of baijiu.

Liu Xiao grinned, clearly enjoying himself. “People say you two have gotten... close. Care to confirm or deny?”

Xia Fei’s face turned red instantly, and he avoided looking at either of them. “What kind of people? Who even cares about that?”

Vein set his glass down and leaned slightly toward Liu Xiao. “It’s true,” he said, his voice steady and unapologetic.

The silence that followed was brief but heavy. Xia Fei finally looked up, his expression a mix of surprise and frustration. “You could’ve at least asked if I was okay with telling him,” he muttered.

Vein gave him a small, reassuring smile. “I didn’t think it was something we needed to hide, Felix.”

Liu Xiao raised his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, no need to fight over me. Honestly, I’m just glad you two finally figured it out. Took you long enough.”

Xia Fei let out a groan and buried his face in his hands, while Vein laughed quietly.

---

As the evening went on, they drank, exchanged stories, and laughed more than Xia Fei thought he would. When the clock struck midnight, Liu Xiao raised a toast.

“To new beginnings,” he said, his gaze flicking between them with a knowing smile.

“To new beginnings,” Vein echoed, his eyes lingering on Xia Fei.

Xia Fei rolled his eyes but clinked his glass with theirs. “Happy Chinese New Year.”

---

Later, Vein and Xia Fei returned to Vein’s penthouse, the city quieting down after the celebrations. Xia Fei kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto the couch with a sigh. “I’m stuffed. Liu Xiao overdoes it every year.”

Vein walked over, loosening his tie and watching Xia Fei with a small smile. “You didn’t seem to mind too much.”

Xia Fei shrugged, closing his eyes. “It wasn’t so bad, I guess. And... thanks for not making it weird when you told him about us.”

Vein sat down beside him, his hand lightly brushing Xia Fei’s. “I wasn’t going to lie about how I feel.”

Xia Fei opened one eye to look at him. “You’re too straightforward, you know that?”

Vein leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “Is that a bad thing?”

Before Xia Fei could answer, Vein slid an arm around his waist and pulled him closer, their faces mere inches apart. Xia Fei’s breath hitched as Vein’s other hand cupped his cheek, his thumb brushing over his skin.

“Vein...”

“I’m done waiting,” Vein whispered, pressing his lips to Xia Fei’s.

The kiss was slow and deliberate, a mix of tenderness and intensity that left Xia Fei’s mind spinning. He found himself melting into it, his hands clutching at Vein’s shirt as he kissed back.

Vein didn’t stop there. He stood, pulling Xia Fei up with him and guiding him toward the bedroom. Once inside, he pushed Xia Fei gently onto the bed, leaning over him with a look that was equal parts adoration and desire.

Vein kissed him again, deeper this time, his hands threading through Xia Fei’s hair. It was overwhelming but intoxicating, and for once, Xia Fei didn’t feel the need to overthink. He gave in to the moment, letting Vein’s affection take over as he held onto him tightly.

---

When it was all over, Xia Fei lay sprawled out on the bed, trying to catch his breath. His face was flushed, his body warm from the lingering touch of Vein’s lips. He glanced down at himself, groaning softly as he noticed the faint marks left along his neck and collarbone.

“Hickeys? Really?” Xia Fei muttered, his voice laced with both embarrassment and frustration.

Vein, who had already propped himself up on one elbow to admire Xia Fei’s flustered state, smirked lazily. “What? Don't tell me you haven't noticed...They suit you.”

Xia Fei glared at him, his cheeks burning. “They don’t ‘suit me.’ How am I supposed to go out in public like this?”

Vein chuckled, reaching out to trace one of the marks with his fingers. “It’s not like you’re hiding anything anymore. Besides...” He leaned in, his lips brushing against Xia Fei’s ear. “I like the idea of people knowing you’re mine.”

Xia Fei’s breath hitched, and he shoved Vein’s chest lightly. “You’re ridiculous.”

Vein laughed, catching Xia Fei’s hand and pressing a kiss to his knuckles. “You’re adorable when you’re embarrassed.”

---

When Vein woke up the next morning, the first thing he noticed was Xia Fei still asleep beside him. He lay on his side, his face calm and peaceful, the faintest hint of a pout on his lips as he slept. Vein couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

His hand moved almost on its own, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Xia Fei’s face. His fingers lingered, gently stroking his cheek. Xia Fei’s skin was warm under his touch, and for a moment, Vein allowed himself to simply admire him, feeling a surge of affection he hadn’t expected.

Xia Fei stirred slightly at the touch, his eyes fluttering open. It took him a moment to realize what was happening, and when he did, his face turned bright red. “W-What are you doing?” he stammered, sitting up abruptly.

Vein smirked, propping himself up on one elbow. “Good morning to you too.”

Xia Fei frowned, his hand instinctively moving to his neck where the hickeys were still visible. “You’re insane.”

Vein chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Xia Fei’s hair. “And you’re cute when you’re flustered.”

“Stop it!” Xia Fei groaned, batting his hand away, though he couldn’t completely hide the small smile tugging at his lips.

“Did you sleep well?” Vein asked, his tone softening.

Xia Fei hesitated before nodding. “Yeah... surprisingly.”

Vein’s expression turned serious for a moment. “Good. You should always feel comfortable here.”

Xia Fei looked at him, his heart skipping a beat at the sincerity in his voice. “Thanks... I guess.”

Vein leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to Xia Fei’s temple before getting out of bed. “I’ll make us some coffee. Stay here and relax for a bit.”

As Vein disappeared in the kitchen, Xia Fei sat on his bed, processing what he and Vein did last night while his hand was still resting on his neck. His heart was still racing and he couldn't help but smile at himself.

___

Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter, because Chinese New Year was just some days ago and I felt like writing a chapter about it 🙈

(and yes they did it, respectfully hehehe)

Tell me how you guys feel about this book and also make suggestions what I could write after finishing this fanfiction 🫰