The courtyard slowly quieted after the storm. The flashing police lights faded into the night, and the gossiping crowd dispersed in embarrassed whispers. Liang's second uncle and cousin stood stiffly, their faces pale from humiliation. They bowed again and again, mumbling apologies as they turned to leave.
But just as they reached the gate, Old Liang's voice rang out.
"Wait."
Everyone froze. His second brother turned nervously, expecting another scolding. Instead, Old Liang walked into the house, returned with a thick envelope, and shoved it into his brother's hands.
"There's enough here for a car, a laptop, and a phone. Use it wisely. Don't ever disgrace the family again."
The uncle's eyes widened. He tried to protest, but tears betrayed his guilt. "Elder brother, I—"
"Don't say anything. Go."
Liang, watching silently, felt a lump in his throat. His father was harsh, stubborn, but never petty. This was the quiet dignity of family—anger burned hot, but love always cooled it.
The next morning, the town was buzzing with festival cheer. Lanterns swayed in the breeze, children ran around with paper masks, and the streets smelled of candied hawthorn, fried dumplings, and roasted chestnuts.
Liang strolled down the familiar road in casual clothes, his hands tucked in his pockets. It had been years since he last joined a festival here. For once, he was just Liang Chen, the hometown boy.
"Chen'er!"
The booming voice came from a storefront buzzing with laughter and shouts. Inside, boys were hammering keyboards, yelling at each other over games of Counter-Strike and DOTA, while a half-dozen more crowded around an old Street Fighter arcade cabinet.
Liang turned, and a stocky figure with messy hair burst out, grinning from ear to ear.
Zhang Wei. His childhood partner-in-crime.
"You came back and didn't even tell me?!" Zhang Wei grabbed him in a bear hug, nearly cracking his ribs. "Look at you, wearing city clothes, looking like a boss! What, you too big to remember your old buddy now?"
Liang laughed, shoving him away. "And you? Running a café already? Since when did you grow up?"
"Grow up? Pah!" Zhang Wei puffed his chest proudly. "This café is the best in town! Kids line up every weekend. Though…" He scratched his head. "Half my PCs lag like old men, and the arcade eats coins like a greedy landlord. But hey, they still come."
Liang glanced around. The café had heart—kids shouting, instant noodles boiling, soda cans scattered on tables—but it was clear the equipment was old. The PCs whirred loudly, monitors flickered occasionally, and the paint on the arcade was chipped.
"How much do you need to upgrade?" Liang asked casually.
Zhang Wei froze. "Uh… what do you mean?"
"I'll investI'll 300,000 yuan. Buy new PCs, maybe add more arcade machines. Kids don't just come to play—they want a place to hang out. Run it like a business, not just a hobby. Make it the best spot in town."
Zhang Wei gaped. "Wait—Three… three hundred thousand?! Investment? You serious?!"
Liang smiled faintly. "What, you think I'll forget you just because I made it big? Give me a number."
For a moment, Zhang Wei was silent. Then his eyes reddened. He suddenly lunged forward, crushing Liang in another bear hug.
"Damn it, Chen'er… you really didn't forget us. If you weren't a boy, I'd marry you!"
Liang groaned. "Get off me, fatso. If I marry you, I'd go bankrupt feeding you in a week."
The kids burst out laughing louder, some chanting, "Brother Zhang, Brother Liang, perfect couple!"
Zhang Wei scratched his head, embarrassed, but his eyes shone with excitement. "Chen'er, I swear, I'll make this café shine. You'll see!"
Liang patted his shoulder. "I trust you. Don't waste the chance."
Later, as the sun dipped low, Liang walked toward the old riverside park where the lantern fair would be held. Children were stringing paper fish lanterns, couples strolled hand in hand, and the sound of festival drums carried on the breeze. The lantern fair came alive by the riverside. Music filled the air, vendors called out their wares, and fireworks painted the twilight sky.
And there—standing by the old stone bridge—was a figure Liang recognized instantly.
Lin Xinya.
The girl he had once chased with nervous smiles, the girl he had never forgotten. She wore a flowing white dress, her hair tied back neatly, the lantern glow soft against her delicate face.
"Xinya," he called.
She turned, surprise brightening her eyes before her lips curved into a smile. "Chen'er? I thought it was just rumors. You really came back."
They walked side by side along the riverside, the sounds of drums and laughter around them. For Liang, the years melted away.
"Everyone's talking about you," Xinya said, her eyes sparkling. "Twin Tower of Zhonghai… It sounds unreal."
Liang chuckled softly. "The rumors are louder than the truth. I just worked hard, that's all."
"And college?" she asked.
"Busy," Liang admitted. "Sometimes too busy. But… seeing you now makes it worth coming back."
She giggled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Smooth words, Chen'er. Have you been practicing on city girls?"
Liang smirked. "Nah. I only practiced on you."
Her cheeks flushed faintly, though she tried to hide it.
They stopped by a lantern vendor. Couples scribbled wishes before releasing them into the night sky. Xinya picked one up, holding the thin paper gently.
"Do you remember? We used to do this every year."
"Yeah," Liang said softly.
As they wrote, Liang glanced at her curiously. "Tell me honestly—have guys been chasing you at university?"
Xinya giggled, her voice like a bell. "Oh, a lot. I can't even count. But you know how they are—playboys, smooth talkers. I barely bother to remember their names." She glanced sideways at him, her smile playful. "Why? Are you jealous?"
Liang snorted. "Should I be?"
"Maybe," she teased, her eyes glimmering.
He shook his head, writing slowly on the lantern. "Well, let them chase. As long as you're laughing like this, I don't mind."
Xinya's smile softened. For a moment, the noise of the festival faded, leaving only the glow of the lantern between them.
When they released it, the paper balloon rose slowly, joining hundreds of others floating into the night.
"I'll be going back to Shanghai after the festival," she said quietly. "It's busy, sometimes overwhelming… But if you ever come, Chen'er, call me. I'll show you around."
Liang looked at her, the lantern glow reflected in her eyes. "I promise. When I go to Shanghai, you'll be the first person I see."
The fireworks thundered overhead, lighting up the sky in bursts of color. Xinya looked up in wonder, her hair shimmering in the glow. Liang, however, only saw her—the girl he had liked for so many years, now standing beside him again.
And for the first time in a long while, wealth and business felt distant. He wasn't the Liang Chen, the young successful entrepreneur. He was just Liang Chen, the boy who once made paper lantern wishes with Lin Xinya by the riverside.