*At the end of the last paragraph, please play the BGM “Gravity” by Jai Wolf*

After returning home from being busy for so many days, Luo Ye didn’t catch his breath at all before starting to deliver souvenirs. Starting from the neighbor across the hall, he went all the way to Mr. Tang’s home in the adjacent building.

Tiantian’s eyes lit up as soon as she saw him. When she saw that he was holding a gift for her, she was so happy that she almost jumped out of her wheelchair.

“Oh my gosh! Brother Luo Ye, you’re the best!” Tiantian held the small sheep plush toy Luo Ye had brought back from Guizhou, thrilled enough to bounce in her seat.

The tails of the two small sheep wagged back and forth at the same time, and Luo Ye patted her head.

“Thank you.” Tang Sanyuan expressed his gratitude to him and casually handed him a crate of coconut juice.

“Ah, no need, no need.”

“Just take it, you came all this way,” Tang Sanyuan said.

“That’s right,” Tiantian chimed in.

Luo Ye pushed it back and forth, refusing to accept it. In the end, Mr. Tang had the best solution—he placed the crate of coconut juice directly at the doorway and shut the door with a loud clack.

Leaving Luo Ye standing alone in the hallway with a crate of coconut juice.

“…” Luo Ye was completely dumbfounded, staring blankly at the celebrity pictured on the coconut juice packaging.

My goodness, he hadn’t expected this tactic at all. Parents really were on a higher level.

With no other choice, Luo Ye had to carry the coconut juice back home.

Of course, he had also prepared a gift for Luo Peng, which had long been neatly piled on Luo Peng’s bed.

Calculating the time his younger brother should be arriving home, Luo Ye leaned against the entryway, waiting.

A few minutes later, the door opened.

Luo Peng looked half-dead when he stepped inside.

His gaze slowly drifted up from the slippers at the entryway. The moment he saw Luo Ye, his tail popped out from inside his school uniform with a swish, and his eyes instantly lit up.

His face remained cold, but his speech rate was exceedingly fast: “Brother, why didn’t you call me when you got back? Have you been eating well? Why do you look like you lost weight? How have you been these past few days…”

“Stop—” Luo Ye covered his ears. “I haven’t seen you for a few days, and you’re getting more and more talkative.”

Luo Peng frowned: “Brother…”

Luo Ye smiled and tilted his chin toward the bedroom: “Go inside first and see what’s in there.”

Luo Peng froze for a second, then immediately switched into his slippers and ran to the bedroom.

The moment he saw the pile of gifts, he froze in place, his tail sticking straight up.

The next second, he turned around abruptly and lunged toward Luo Ye, who was walking over slowly.

It just so happened that the TV in the living room was broadcasting a long-awaited reunion of family members hugging—a scene artistic and touching.

Meanwhile, on Luo Ye’s side:

With a dull thud, Luo Ye heard the sound of his own bones being sent flying.

“…” Luo Ye gasped from the pain.

Good lord, is this his brother? Is this a bull?

Luo Peng was like this when he was little, and he was still like this now that he was grown up. Whenever Luo Ye returned from a long trip, he would hug him tightly like this, as if afraid that if he let go, the person would disappear again.

Luo Ye wanted to struggle free, but then he thought that such hugs would become fewer and fewer in the future.

He quieted down, allowing Luo Peng to hold him.

He slowly raised his hand, patted Luo Peng’s back, and sighed with a smile: “You’re returning good with evil here.”

“Mm,” Luo Peng replied against his shoulder.

In the warm living room, Luo Ye felt the genuine temperature in his arms and turned his head to look at the sky outside the balcony.

A rare clear blue sky, blue like a whole piece of translucent sapphire, clean and beautiful.

He took a light breath: “Look, the weather is so nice.”

Luo Peng looked over as well and slowly released his grip.

Luo Ye said with a smile: “A couple of years ago, I could still lift you up. Now I’m the one who has to stand on tiptoes. You grow so fast.”

Luo Peng clenched his hands and said in a low voice: “When I start working, I will definitely buy you lots and lots of cameras.”

Luo Ye was taken aback, then laughed: “What do I need that many cameras for?”

“To shoot videos,” Luo Peng looked up at him. “Haven’t you been making videos all along? You said before that you wanted to be a director.”

Luo Ye had indeed said those words, but definitely not in recent years.

He hadn’t expected that Luo Peng would remember something mentioned so casually to this day.

“Oh, so cute,” Luo Ye rubbed Luo Peng’s face. “You still remember things from so long ago.”

Luo Peng said unclearly, “Langlang-ge was also there back then.”

Hearing this name, Luo Ye’s hand paused slightly. He lowered his eyes and said softly, “That was indeed… quite a long time ago.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll definitely meet next year,” Luo Peng nodded with certainty.

Amused by his awkward yet serious demeanor, Luo Ye curved his eyes and said, “By the way, I heard a lot of gossip on the road. Let’s talk while we eat.”

They ordered takeout for dinner that evening, sitting together to chat about what they had seen and heard along the way.

Stories about strangers were brushed off after a word or two, as those could be seen in videos anyway. The main focus was on the folks back in their hometown.

For instance, the older sister who claimed years ago that she was single for life was getting married next year. Or the previously affectionate couple that was currently going through a divorce. Who bought a house, and who had a baby.

When the food was almost finished, Luo Peng put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth: “Didn’t they ask if you have a partner?”

“Of course they asked,” Luo Ye shook his head, imitating the tone of elders doing a barrage of interrogation. “‘Do you have a partner? Do you have a job? What’s your salary? Have you paid off your mortgage?’ Whatever they threw at me, I answered.”

“Good thing I didn’t go,” Luo Peng gloated a little.

“You’ll be in touch with them in the future anyway. Whatever I heard, you won’t be able to escape it either,” Luo Ye said with a smile.

Before he left, he had specially greeted those uncles and aunts, asking them to take more care of Luo Peng in the future.

Everyone responded readily without the slightest hesitation. At that moment, he was moved beyond words; even now, mentioning it made his nose feel a bit prickled.

“Are you going back for New Year’s this year?” Luo Peng asked him.

“Definitely. When the time comes, I’ll have Lan Ju take you there, and you can chat with them properly,” Luo Ye said. “Just do whatever Lan Ju tells you to do.”

Luo Peng immediately caught the abnormality and looked up at him: “What about you?”

Luo Ye’s gaze shifted slightly as he took a bite of rice: “Me… maybe I’ll have something to do.”

“Haven’t you already resigned?” Luo Peng looked at him, confused.

“Gotta go on a long trip,” Luo Ye said.

“Then I’ll go with you,” Luo Peng followed up immediately.

“You want to follow everything,” Luo Ye promptly tapped Luo Peng’s forehead with a chopstick. “Stay here properly and listen to your Lan Ju-ge.”

“…Oh.” Luo Peng lowered his head, eating his rice moodily, clearly unhappy.

Luo Ye wanted to comfort him, but restrained himself.

Luo Peng was already throwing a tantrum over just this. He couldn’t imagine what a wreck the kid would become if he truly found out about his death.

Unfortunately, by that time, he wouldn’t be able to comfort Luo Peng either. So he could only start from now, letting him get used to leaving bit by bit, weaning off slowly.

“How can it be so bitter?”

Squatting in front of his computer desk, Luo Ye mocked himself softly in a low voice while popping open a can of Sprite.

Reflecting carefully on the past dozen years, it seemed they had been losing things all along.

First Mom, then the little mute, and finally, it was his turn.

He filled a glass for himself, raised it toward the computer where the video editing was finished, considering it a toast.

After dinner, Luo Ye went back to his room to edit the video.

This video was forty minutes long, comparable to an ad-free variety show—it was the longest vlog he had ever made.

Previously published ones were kept within fifteen minutes. He didn’t know what the completion rate would be like this time, nor did he care anymore.

This video itself served as a memorial, allowing his friends to use these frames to slowly recall the days when he once existed.

Hence, this video felt a little sad.

Luo Ye took a sip of Sprite and edited the title: [vlog—My Thirty-Three Days]

The video exported bit by bit, the blue progress bar crawling slowly.

He stared at that expanding line, lost in thought for a long time.

After he died, what kind of expressions would his friends have when they saw this video and thought of him again?

Luo Ye didn’t know any of this. He only knew that the weather forecast said it seemed like it was going to snow tomorrow.

Yet days passed one by one, until the day of the celebration banquet arrived, and the sky remained crystal clear without a single flake of snow.

“Is this weather forecast accurate at all?” Luo Ye muttered softly, bending down to put on his sneakers.

“You still watch the weather forecast?” Luo Peng sneered. “You might as well believe that Li Aopeng could become emperor.”

It was Saturday, and Luo Peng was also at home, wearing pajamas.

Luo Ye turned to look at him in confusion, raising an eyebrow: “Who is Li Aopeng?”

Luo Peng: “The person ranked last in our class.”

Luo Ye: “…”

Who taught him to make comparisons like that??

Luo Ye could only sigh and say, “Don’t belittle your classmates.”

“Oh,” Luo Peng remained unmoved, still standing there with arms crossed, adding a line: “So are you taking an umbrella?”

“No,” Luo Ye looked out the window at the endless clear sky. “It’s a bit cold, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to snow.”

Luo Ye finally stood before the mirror in the entryway, tidying up his hem.

Today he wore a short black down jacket with a slightly raised collar; inside, he layered a gray high-neck base shirt, and on his lower body were slim-fit black straight-leg pants.

Quite handsome, and quite energetic.

Thinking that the private room at the celebration banquet would likely be warm, and that showing just the base shirt after taking off the jacket would be too plain, he wore a thin silver chain.

He had originally wanted to wear a hat, but since he might drink today and losing the hat after drinking too much would be troublesome, he didn’t wear one.

Luo Ye opened the door, turned back to tell Luo Peng: “I’m off. Eat well. Eating downstairs is fine too; tell me if you don’t have enough money.”

Luo Peng leaned against the wall with arms crossed, raising an eyebrow to call his bluff: “Who in our family is the one that doesn’t like to eat?”

“Don’t worry, it’s their treat this time, I’ll definitely eat a lot,” Luo Ye said with a chuckle.

He casually picked up the gift for Lan Ju from the entryway cabinet, stuffed it into his down jacket pocket, and closed the door.

The location of the celebration banquet wasn’t far from the previous company. Luo Ye took the subway there and even called Lan Ju to say he brought a gift.

Hearing that on the other end of the line, Lan Ju immediately grew excited, cleared his throat, and was about to start singing.

Wearing noise-canceling headphones, Luo Ye was afraid his eardrums would be shattered by him, so he quickly stopped this skylark from opening his mouth.

Lan Ju said touchedly: “Alright then, when we meet, I’ll treat you to a meal.”

Luo Ye: “…”

The calculation was practically slapped onto his face.

“Is it your treat today that you say you’re treating? That’s the art of conversation, huh?” Luo Ye also started calling his bluff.

“Then eat as much as you want today, I’ll pay for your fare,” Lan Ju said.

“I see you’re planning to eat to your heart’s content today, aren’t you?” Luo Ye suddenly remembered something and asked in a low voice, “Did you skip lunch?”

Lan Ju fell silent for a few seconds, then said cheerfully: “Ehehe, guess.”

Luo Ye tutted twice: “It’s over. The program team’s corporate card is going to be maxed out.”

Lan Ju felt a bit guilty, his voice dropping significantly: “How could it be that exaggerated? I will definitely exercise restraint.”

Looking at the station arrival prompt about to light up on the subway screen, Luo Ye stood up and walked to the train doors: “You said the same thing last time, and what happened?”

Lan Ju protested indignantly: “It wasn’t my fault that time! There were only eight people at our table, and there were so few dishes, how could anyone be full!”

Luo Ye: “Why don’t you mention that all the other tables had twelve people?”

Lan Ju started whistling: “Whew whew whew~”

It really couldn’t be blamed on the program team that time.

Lan Ju’s huge appetite was publicly acknowledged by the whole company. At the last celebration banquet, the team specifically arranged only eight people at his table.

In the end, he devoured four people’s portions by himself and was still not full, ordering additional wontons and two large bowls of ramen.

He enjoyed his meal, while everyone else was left dumbfounded. Thus, he became famous in a single battle, and future treats would always be held at buffets.

Recalling up to this point, the subway happened to arrive at the station.

Luo Ye followed the crowd out of the turnstiles, feeling quite relaxed as he scrolled through messages in the celebration banquet group chat.

Suddenly, a message popped up, particularly eye-catching.

[Xiao Ao]: Oh family, it’s snowing heavily outside right now. Did you guys bring umbrellas?

“It’s snowing?” Luo Ye raised his head, looking toward the direction of the entrance.

Sure enough, someone was closing an umbrella, and others were constantly tapping white snow off their jackets.

His cat ears subconsciously drooped, the fine fur at the tips pressing slightly against his pinnae. He prayed secretly in his heart that the snow would slow down, just a little bit more.

Unfortunately, things went against his wishes.

By the time he took the elevator up to the ground exit, the sky had already dimmed unnoticed. Streetlights lit up sequentially following the dusk, warm light washing over the streets shrouded in snow mist.

The heavy snow fell wildly without rhyme or reason, as if trying to cover the entire world, frantically beating against the transparent glass at the exit.

A crowd of people taking shelter from the snow blocked the doorway, mostly frowning and rubbing their hands; no one dared to charge into this wind and snow.

Luo Ye: “…”

He did want the weather forecast to be accurate, but there was no need for it to be accurate right now, was there? How was this any different from rain?

Could Luo Peng’s classmate really be becoming an emperor?

Luo Ye’s psychological composure was just like that—even at a time like this, he was still thinking about that classmate’s matter.

He even pondered that if he could stock up on umbrellas to sell here right now, he might make a fortune.

Luo Ye tentatively stretched out a hand, and fine, dense snowflakes instantly filled his palm.

A few flakes also landed on the top of his head, sending a refreshing chill upward; his sensitive ears instantly puffed up a bit of fur.

Luo Ye hesitated for a moment, opened the group chat, and sent a message.

[Luo Ye]: Out of the subway, didn’t bring an umbrella. You guys wait for me a bit, I’ll head over when the snow gets smaller.

[Xiao Ao]: Okok, no rush, still twenty minutes before it starts.

[Bai Nan]: Master, which exit are you at?! I’ll come pick you up!

[Luo Ye]: No need, I’ll just wait a bit.

[Lan Ju]: Then I’ll go pick you up.

[Luo Ye]: Did you bring an umbrella?

[Lan Ju]: No.

[Luo Ye]: ?

Luo Ye swept a helpless glance at the replies in the group, walked over to stand by the side of the entrance, and opened short video apps to scroll, waiting quietly for the snow to die down.

However, this snowfall really did gradually shrink. In less than ten minutes, only a third of the originally crowded group at the doorway remained.

Luo Ye looked up. The countdown in the sky was mostly blocked by the black pine at the entrance, leaving only the final ticking milliseconds visible.

The warm light of the streetlamps spilled onto the trunk of the black pine. Fine, tiny snowflakes drifted down slowly, much smaller than before.

“Alright then, let’s go.” Luo Ye put away his phone, soft BGM resounding in his headphones once more.

*BGM: “Gravity” by Jai Wolf*

The moment he took his first step, the wind and snow above his head suddenly stopped.

The branches of the black pine in front of his eyes were just covered by the canopy of a dark blue umbrella.

The umbrella tilted slightly toward him, snowflakes sliding down the edges with a rustle, curving around his feet in a shallow arc.

Luo Ye’s steps came to a sudden halt, and he turned his head to look, instinctively.

Chi Zhiyue stood by his side, his shoulders dusted with fine snow.

Looking at him, his eyes curved slightly, and he let out a soft laugh:

“Long time no see, Luo Ye.”

[Author’s Note]

The two sharing an umbrella after falling in love:

Luo: Move over to your side a bit.

Chi: No, I can’t let my darling get rained on.

Luo: Do you think I want you to get rained on? (pushes)

Chi: Still no.

Luo: So move to your side.

Lan Ju next to them, clenching his fists: “…Why don’t you two just ditch the umbrella and get soaked together??”

—

Company finance last year: What? There are twenty of you in total, how did you manage to spend enough on food for thirty people?

Program team: … (twiddling thumbs)