[Christmas Planning Sneak Peek] Christmas Gift for Girls: A Reunion Christmas

Xiao Ji's words: Uh, Christmas, well, it's annual. Compared to the upcoming New Year, Christmas has more of a poetic feel. This year, Xiao Ji still has no clue whether 7723 will hold any Christmas events or what kind of plans they might have. (Maybe Mina could give some suggestions? Or does anyone have a good project plan?) However, I have thought of and carried out something new for this year's Christmas, which is to give each girl who has gone their separate ways after high school at least a gift that can make her feel warm. As for me, I don't really have any skills; the only thing I feel I can handle competently, and even if I fail it won't backfire too badly, is writing—a skill laboriously taught by various Chinese language teachers. Well, I'm someone who feeds on inspiration, so last night I came up with the idea and finished writing it early this morning. After waking up from a sleep, I felt good about it and came to the 7723 subsidiary base to post it. The reason is simple: if even my friends shake their heads after reading it, then releasing the official Christmas version will probably get me chased and beaten by the girls! (Don't want to get embarrassed). The 'early release version' actually already accounts for the majority, since the full story is the main body. Only the content hasn't been edited at all, just the original manuscript posted. The later official version will have story proofreading and an added 'afterword' (kind of like an 'epilogue,' as an Easter egg). I've rambled enough; I hope my friends can read it and give some feedback, pointing out issues so I can make corrections.
\Today is the day of the birth of God's Jesus; Jesus redeemed our sins, enabling us humans to live a life that feels happy. On such a day, even the beggar on the street with only scant clothing is protected by God, because God is fair and loves even the animals under His care. And when a beggar receives food handed over by others, he also joins his hands in gratitude, thanking God for this precious gift before eating it.\Of course, those with religious beliefs can feel happiness by giving thanks at Christmas; what about those without religious beliefs? They find happiness in being able to reunite.\The happiness shared by Westerners eating turkey together and Chinese families gathering to make dumplings is essentially the same.\But there are always some people who, on a snowy and hazy Christmas, are still waiting for their own happiness to arrive.The streets on Christmas Eve had lost their usual hustle and bustle, revealing their true appearance: shadows dominated, while the mottled lights, influenced by the slightly dense falling snowflakes, served as a backdrop...

Yet, at a time when everyone should be gathering and countless homes bathe in light, under the dim street lamps, there was a lone girl.

The girl held a bright red scarf tightly against her chest with hands clad in pink gloves. Under a knitted hat embroidered with a beautiful flower, a pair of lively eyes moved from side to side, seemingly searching for someone.

Among the people walking down the street at that time, a middle-aged man wearing a long coat paused. Although he wore a brown scarf, it was still visible that he was dressed in a suit underneath. He stopped in front of the girl and asked, "Miss, why are you alone here on Christmas Eve? Are you looking for your family?"

The girl spoke, but not to answer his question: "Do you have any reason for me to give you this scarf?"

The middle-aged man was a little surprised: "Huh? The scarf? No, no need, I already—" The girl repeated her question, and the man looked embarrassed: "Ah, well, I'll help you find your family, no need for the scarf really…"

"Thank you."

"Huh?"

"Thank you, sir. I am indeed looking for someone, but not family. Sorry, I cannot give you the scarf."

"Ah, I see. It's okay." The middle-aged man glanced at the girl with a puzzled expression a few times, then turned and walked away.

Not long after the middle-aged man left, another person stopped in front of the girl. This was a man wearing a reversed baseball cap and carrying a travel bag that seemed large for his size. He stopped and stretched out both hands toward the girl, forming rectangles with his index fingers as if framing something. Then he spoke: "The scene here really has a cinematic feel. Would you mind if I take a picture of you now?"

The girl showed no change in expression, and she asked the same question she had asked the middle-aged man: "Do you have any reason for me to give you this scarf?"

The man making the hand frame hesitated slightly, then said to the girl: "I am a photographer and also a freelance writer."With my professional intuition, girl, you are someone with a story. I think I would like to take a series of photos of you and write a deeply moving article about you. You could become famous. Would that win me your scarf?”\The girl shook her head and said, “I'm sorry, I can't give you the scarf. I do have a story, but I don't want to share it with everyone.” The photographer-writer listened and smiled with pursed lips: “I see. Understood.” Then he turned and walked away.\Just as the photographer had gone a short distance, a pair of outstretched hands suddenly appeared in the girl's sight, followed by a gentle voice saying: “Please give me the scarf.” The girl handed the scarf to those hands. Then, those hands wrapped the scarf around the girl's neck.\“You should be kinder to yourself. The one who deserves this scarf the most isn't anyone else, it's you, silly girl.”\In front of the girl appeared a boy about her age, and what caught the eye most was that he was wearing a scarf of the same color around his neck.\“Click” — a flash appeared not far away. “Oh, sorry, I can't help noticing a good scene…” The previous photographer-writer approached the two, took out a photo, and said, “This could also be a form of testimony. Since this is your story, please take good care of it. I'll name this photo ‘Love.'”\Unknowingly, the photo in his hands slipped onto a nearby chair. An elderly person with a small lacy hat and a face full of years awakened from a brief nap, propped against the back of the chair. He looked up, and the streetlight remained dim as ever — still perhaps because of the snow? At that moment, a figure appeared behind the streetlamp, distinct and clear, wearing a red hood with a white pompom and a red coat, kind-eyed and benevolent, looking just like Santa Claus. But if you were to find the difference, it was the red scarf around his neck.\The elderly man on the chair smiled knowingly and said: \“I finally waited to see you.”\(The End)