Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts Chapter 204: Fireworks

The Cultural Square is the most important place for entertainnt for residents of Baii County.

Every ti there is a festival or celebration, all sorts of barbecue stalls, snack stalls, toy stalls, and general rchandise are set up here, to the point that many high school students with nothing to do will also set up stalls here to earn so pocket money.

As for New Year, it is even more lively here. Not only are there many more festive stalls that are rarely seen at other tis, but there are also many people who gather here to set off fireworks. i Fang and the others ca here for this reason.

“Phew… There are so many people here… I can’t even find a place to park,” i Yue muttered as she drove through the crowds of people. Xia Yuan peered out the window, srized by the night scenery, with fireworks occasionally bursting in the distance, displaying brilliant colors.

“What are you looking at so intently?” i Fang leaned over Xia Yuan, ruffling her hair. “We co here every year. It’s always the sa.”

“It’s not always the sa… Rember those dice gas we used to play when we were kids? They’re gone now,” Xia Yuan retorted. “Rember how we played once and won a lot of money?”

“That year… I think it was the first ti we set off sky lantern,” i Fang reminisced, turning to Lin Youxi. “Youxi, you must rember it too, right?”

Lin Youxi smiled and nodded, “I lost Yuan Yuan’s hairpin and cried while looking for it.”

“What?! Sister Youxi can cry?!” Hearing this for the first ti, i Ya exclaid. “I can’t imagine that!”

“There are lots of things you can’t imagine. When Youxi was little——”

“Yuan Yuan, if you continue, we’ll end up exposing each other’s dark histories. You don’t want to lose face in front of i Ya, do you?” Lin Youxi interjected. Reaching past i Fang, Lin Youxi touched the back of Xia Yuan’s neck, causing her to shudder and tremble from the cold.

Xia Yuan quickly waved her hands, “Alright, alright… Let’s drop it. It’s all ancient history anyway.”

“Oh, co on! Don’t leave hanging! Tell , I really want to know! I used to have many good friends among the boys, but I had to transfer to Baizhou to study, and I don’t really like the students there… So, I’m super jealous that my brother has childhood sweethearts like you.”

i Fang’s face imdiately darkened upon hearing i Ya’s complaints.

“You don’t need childhood sweetheart. Having your brother is enough. Don’t get too close to other boys…”

“Wow, Brother, you’ve got so nerve to say that! Shaless! So you’re allowed to have childhood sweethearts but not ?”

“Hahaha… i Ya, don’t be upset. We’ve watched you grow up since you were a baby, so in a sense, we’re also your childhood sweethearts,” Lin Youxi patted i Ya’s head. “I still rember the first ti I held you. I was with Yuan Yuan.”

“See? We’ve grown up together too.”

“But the first one to hold you was , your sister Yue Yue!” i Yue spoke while driving in reverse. “After all, our Xiaoya was born in Echeng!”

Of course, i Ya wasn’t really angry with her brother. She knew she had grown up surrounded by love, which is why she was so cheerful and lively. After a few comforting words from her big sisters, i Ya quickly beca lively again.

“Alright… finally parked.”

“Let’s go!”

“Hey, don’t forget to bring the fireworks!”

To avoid carrying too many things, everyone started setting off fireworks together on the open space at the edge of the Cultural Square.

i Ya always had an adventurous spirit. While other kids, even older ones, needed their dads or brothers to help light the fireworks, i Ya would grab the lighter and do it herself. She would stand far from the fireworks, then lean sideways to light the fuse. After several attempts, when the fuse finally sparked, she would laugh and scramble into Xia Yuan’s or Lin Youxi’s arms.

Zi zi zi——

The small cone-shaped fireworks first shot out a bunch of sparks, then launch a high beam of light, resembling a shower of silver and gold. Then, the fireworks burst into small, crackling explosions, making everyone scatter, except i Fang and Lin Youxi, who were busy taking photos and videos.

Sparklers were easy and fun for everyone to light and enjoy. Everyone danced with sparklers, except for i Fang——

Because Xia Yuan’s new cloak was in the way of her fun, and she worried it might get burned, so she asked i Fang to hold it. She and Lin Youxi lit two sparklers for each other. Xia Yuan twirled her sparklers like she was dancing, while Lin Youxi preferred to hold hers still, watching the sparks burn out.

Among the four girls, only Lin Youxi wasn’t noisy. i Ya and i Yue, both from the i family, were just as lively as Xia Yuan with their sparklers.

They lit one sparkler after another, quickly using them up.

Then they tried out all sorts of unusual fireworks until only the skyrockets were left. Xia Yuan suggested going to the riverside near the Cultural Square to set them off. They carried the skyrockets to the riverside, where they saw many people setting off sky lanterns on the other side. Seeing this scene, Xia Yuan, Lin Youxi, and i Fang exchanged smiles and continued along the bridge.

“This spot shouldn’t interfere with anyone setting off sky lanterns…”

i Fang was unpacking the skyrockets when i Yue, standing a bit further away, looked into the distance. “Do you hear that? It sounds like soone is playing guitar.”

“Where? Where?”

Xia Yuan walked closer, following i Yue’s direction, and listened carefully.

“I know who it is! Ah Fang, Youxi, co with !”

Xia Yuan pulled Lin Youxi and i Fang along the bridge. There, they saw a short-haired girl with a red headband, playing a bass guitar and performing a folk-style song. Without a doubt, this was Peng Xue.

Although Peng Xue’s face looked young, her voice had a slightly husky quality to it, giving off a cool and alluring feeling. The majority of the people gathered around her to listen were girls.

In front of her was a large round box already filled with quite a few coins.

During her performance, people stepped forward to show their support with donations. No matter the amount, Peng Xue would always nod in gratitude.

Her appreciation turned to surprise when soone placed three red bills into the box.

Peng Xue looked up, astonished, and saw that it was Xia Yuan, Lin Youxi, and i Fang. Delighted, she greeted them warmly after finishing her song.

“Hello, hello! Discovering this street perforr on your New Year’s Eve date! You guys are incredibly lucky!”

Peng Xue said this to Xia Yuan, who took her hand and smiled, “What brings you here performing on the street? Why didn’t you call ?”

“Why would I call you? You’re probably off being lovey-dovey with your Ah Fang. Haha! I didn’t want to be the third wheel.”

“Aiya, what are you saying, Xiao Xue? You’re so naughty.”

Xia Yuan pinched Peng Xue’s cheek. “Actually, I really want to try singing on the street too. Next ti you co to Jiangcheng, I feel like we could try it together.”

“Sure, sure! When the ti cos, let your Sister Xue take you under her wing!”

Peng Xue patted Xia Yuan’s shoulder, then fist-bumped i Fang and Lin Youxi with a smile, “Happy New Year, Youxi-chan, Boss i!”

“Happy New Year.”

i Fang, obligingly, fist-bumped Peng Xue, “How late will you be here? We drove here with a car and can give you a ride back.”

“Wow, Boss i, you’re so considerate! Makes feel a bit shy——”

Peng Xue teased i Fang with a playful tone, then patted his shoulder, “Just kidding. My ho is right next to the Cultural Square, I’ll just walk back. I’ll be busking around here after New Year, so co support when you can. Otherwise, I won’t be able to pay you back, Boss i.”

“There’s no rush to repay that money…” i Fang smiled slightly. “Just don’t overwork yourself.”

“I know, I know. Now go have fun!”

i Fang’s group said their goodbyes to Peng Xue and returned to where i Ya and i Yue were. By then, the two i sisters were already setting off skyrockets.

“You’re so an, not waiting for us!”

“It’s because you guys took forever!”

“Alright, I’m joining in!”

Xia Yuan and i Fang each grabbed a skyrocket to play it with, but Lin Youxi didn’t join in like she usually did.

“Youxi, aren’t you going to join?”

“There are just four left. It’s perfect for the four of you to each have one.” Lin Youxi smiled. “I’ll just take pictures for you.”

On the east side of the night sky were the fireworks from the skyrockets and large firecrackers, while on the west side, sky lanterns floated gently. Near and far, the continuous crackle of firecrackers could be heard.

On this New Year’s Eve, as it cos once a year, people peacefully passed the night amidst the bustling noise, jubilation, and the happiness of being accompanied by their loved ones.