Film and Television Time Travel: Why Do I Always End Up in Romance Dramas?

Chapter 44: New Year's Eve

The experiment was completely completed on the afternoon of December 30th.

After the last set of data was completed, the reactor stopped operating, and the tense hum that had been going on in the laboratory for months finally subsided.

On the screen, the final efficiency curve stopped steadily at 29.2%, looking as beautiful as a gift.

Hua Xiangyang stared at the screen for a full minute, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "It's done! It fucking worked!"

The entire project team breathed a sigh of relief, followed by low cheers and high-fives.

Two months of non-stop work, the sleepless nights, the hair loss, the failed samples—at this moment, it was all worth it.

Yu Chen stood in front of the control panel, looking at the data. His face didn't show much excitement, but his shoulders slumped slightly, as if he had finally unloaded a heavy burden.

No one told him that even with the system's support, this damn thing was still so difficult to deal with.

Suddenly, Yu Chen felt someone gently touch his hand.

It's Nie Xiguang.

Her eyes crinkled with a smile as she whispered, "Congratulations."

Yu Chen patted her little head, then said to everyone in the lab, "Thank you for your hard work, everyone."

"The data is organized. Today..." He glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost five o'clock. "Go home and rest early. Tomorrow is New Year's Day, a holiday."

The sounds of packing up echoed in the laboratory, mixed with relaxed laughter.

Nie Xiguang turned off the auxiliary equipment he was in charge of and backed up the data.

She felt a lighthearted excitement, not only for the success of the experiment but also for the upcoming holiday.

This was the first New Year she spent with Yu Chen.

Yu Chen and she were the last to leave the lab.

The corridor was empty; most of the other departments had also gone home.

The sky outside the window was gray and misty, with a few cold raindrops falling.

"Finally, I can get a good night's sleep." Nie Xiguang stretched and said in a light tone, "Yu Chen, how are you spending New Year's Day? It's a three-day holiday."

Yu Chen was locking the lab door when he heard this, he paused for a moment, then smiled indifferently: "Just like that, I'll just go through the motions, maybe sleep in a little, and organize some data."

This is his first year in this world.

With no family or friends, the New Year's Eve celebration didn't hold any special meaning for him.

Yu Chen's tone was too nonchalant, almost devoid of emotion, which made Nie Xiguang's initial excitement suddenly subside.

She turned to look at him. Yu Chen had already locked the door and turned around. His face was still calm, but there was a blankness in his eyes that she couldn't quite understand.

"Just...one person?" she asked tentatively.

"Hmm." Yu Chen nodded and walked side by side with her towards the changing room. "There's nowhere I particularly want to go."

A strange thought popped into Nie Xiguang's mind.

She recalled that in all the time they had known each other, Yu Chen rarely mentioned his family.

After changing my clothes, I stepped out of the research and development building. The rain was getting heavier, and it felt cool on my face.

Yu Chen opened the umbrella, mostly shielding Nie Xiguang's head.

"Are you going home?" Yu Chen remembered that Nie Xiguang hadn't been home for a long time either. "Wuxi isn't far away."

"I..." Nie Xiguang had originally planned to go back; her aunt and mother had already called. But looking at Yu Chen's calm profile, she changed her mind. "I'll go back later."

"The New Year's Day holiday is short, and traveling back and forth is tiring. What about you? Really not planning to... go home and visit?"

She asked cautiously.

Yu Chen remained silent for a few seconds, while the rain pattered softly outside the umbrella.

"I have no home to return to." His voice was calm, as if he were talking about someone else. "My parents passed away a long time ago."

Nie Xiguang stopped in her tracks. Raindrops drifted in and landed on her eyelashes, feeling cool.

She looked at Yu Chen; his face showed no sorrow, and he spoke so calmly, which only made her heart clench even more.

"I'm sorry," she said instinctively, "I didn't know..."

"It's nothing," Yu Chen interrupted her, even smiling. "Let's go, the rain is getting heavier."

He continued walking forward, and Nie Xiguang silently followed.

The space under the umbrella was small, and she could smell his faint, clean scent from the laboratory, mixed with the damp smell of winter rain.

I walked silently to the factory gate.

"Then..." Nie Xiguang began, her voice softer than usual, "tomorrow, how about... we spend it together?"

Yu Chen paused for a moment, then looked at her.

"Anyway, I don't have any plans." Nie Xiguang quickly added, his fingers unconsciously twisting the backpack strap. "Today I promised my mom and aunt I'd eat with them, but tomorrow... we can make dumplings, or... just watch TV and cook something simple."

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with cautious expectation and an unconcealable heartache.

Looking at her bangs damp with raindrops and her bright eyes, Yu Chen felt a warm current wash over him, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?" he asked.

"No trouble at all!" Nie Xiguang immediately shook his head, a smile spreading across his face. "Then it's settled? I'll come see you tomorrow!"

"...Okay." Yu Chen nodded, a genuine smile curving his lips. "I'll go buy the materials tomorrow."

"Okay! I'll head back now, see you tomorrow!" Nie Xiguang waved, turned and ran into the rain, her steps light and quick.

Yu Chen stood there, watching her figure disappear around the corner, before opening his umbrella and slowly walking into the denser rain.

The next day was New Year's Day.

The weather unexpectedly cleared up; although it was still cold, the sun was shining brightly.

Yu Chen went to the supermarket early in the morning and bought dumpling wrappers, meat filling, vegetables, and some snacks and fruits that Nie Xiguang liked.

Back in his apartment, he tidied up the books and documents on the sofa, wiped the coffee table, and even changed the sheets and duvet cover.

After doing all that, he stood in the middle of the living room and looked around. He felt like something was still missing, so he went downstairs to the flower shop and bought a small potted green plant to put on the windowsill.

Around 11 o'clock, the door opened.

"Yu Chen, I'm back!"

Nie Xiguang appeared at the door. She was wearing a beige sweater, a red scarf, her hair was neatly combed, she had a smile on her face, and she was carrying a paper bag in her hand.

"Happy New Year!" she said.

Happy New Year! Was it cold on the road?

"It's not cold, the sun is shining." Nie Xiguang took off his coat and looked around the room. "Not bad, not bad, it's very clean."

"I just threw it together." Yu Chen took the paper bag from her hand. "What's this?"

"These are for you. They're homemade sausages and rice cakes. My mom said we should eat them for the New Year." Nie Xiguang said, her voice unconsciously softening. "I told her... I'm spending New Year's Eve with my friends."

Yu Chen understood that the term "friend" was probably used to avoid questions from her family.

He nodded: "Thank you, keep it."

"Have you bought all the ingredients?" Nie Xiguang washed his hands and walked into the open-plan kitchenette.

"Yes, they're all here."

The two began to prepare.

Nie Xiguang prepared the filling, while Yu Chen washed and chopped the vegetables. The small kitchen gradually filled with the warmth of daily life.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the kitchen counter.

"You need to squeeze out the water from this cabbage, otherwise the filling will be too watery." Nie Xiguang skillfully handled it. "I added some minced ginger and cooking wine to the meat filling to remove the fishy smell."

"Okay, you can do it as you see fit." Yu Chen leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her busy herself.

She moved nimbly, unlike a pampered young lady who never lifted a finger.

"I lived with my grandparents when I was little. My grandfather was a great chef, so he taught me some things," Nie Xiguang said while mixing the filling.

Yu Chen smiled and said, "Then I'm in for a treat today."

Once the filling is prepared, start wrapping.

Neither of them spoke much, but the atmosphere wasn't awkward at all. The TV was on, playing some program, the volume very low, just background noise.

Nie Xiguang occasionally looked up at Yu Chen.

He kept his head down, his eyelashes were long, and his fingers deftly pinched the dumpling wrappers together, his expression focused.

The sunlight cast a soft shadow on his profile.

She suddenly realized that this moment was precious.

Without the tension of the lab or the pressure of work, it's just the two of them, quietly preparing a meal and waiting for the New Year to arrive.

"Yu Chen," she called softly.

"Um?"

"Let's spend every year together from now on," she said casually, as if it were a matter of course.

Yu Chen paused for a moment while making dumplings.

He looked up at her.

Nie Xiguang looked at him, her eyes clear and open, without flinching.

"it is good."

Yu Chen's voice was steady, but the warm current in his heart had already overflowed the dam.

The campaign is nearing its end, and he will soon be leaving to embrace a new world.

But now, he hesitated.

I made a lot of dumplings, and they filled several plates.

I cooked some for lunch and froze the rest.

The afternoon passed slowly and leisurely.

They watched an old movie, and Nie Xiguang leaned on Yu Chen's shoulder and fell asleep halfway through.

Yu Chen didn't move, letting her lean against him, and turned the TV volume down even lower.

When I woke up, it was already dark outside the window.

"How long have I been asleep?" Nie Xiguang rubbed his eyes.

"Not long," Yu Chen said. "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat tonight?"

"Let's boil the dumplings, and make two more dishes." Nie Xiguang got up. "I'll stir-fry the dishes, you boil the dumplings."

A simple dinner, but very satisfying.

After finishing our meal, we cleaned up the dishes together and then snuggled back onto the sofa.

There's still some time until midnight.

They chatted idly, talking about trivial things.

When Nie Xiguang talked about her embarrassing childhood stories, Yu Chen also shared a few anecdotes from his student days, memories unique to him from the previous world.

Laughter broke out from time to time.

Around midnight, they went out onto the balcony.

It was cold outside, but the night sky was clear and you could see the stars.

Faint noises could be heard in the distance; it was the crowd waiting to ring in the New Year at the city center square.

"The countdown is about to begin." Nie Xiguang looked at his phone.

The TV presenter's voice came through, excitedly counting: "Ten, nine, eight..."

Yu Chen grasped Nie Xiguang's hand; it was a little cold, so he wrapped it in both of his own.

"Three, two, one! Happy New Year!"

Almost simultaneously, fireworks rose in the distance, exploding in the night sky, dazzling and spectacular. Cheers could be faintly heard.

"Happy New Year, Yu Chen." Nie Xiguang turned his head, his eyes reflecting the colors of the fireworks.

"Happy New Year, Xiguang." Yu Chen lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then her cool cheek, and finally her lips.

The kiss was gentle, carrying the spirit of the New Year and the warmth they gave each other.

The fireworks continued, illuminating the night sky only to darken again.

They stood on their small balcony, watching the city's celebrations, their hands clasped tightly together.

Perhaps he could have stayed a little longer.

-

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