Chapter 51: Christmas Celebration

  Christmas, traditionally considered Jesus' birthday, is the most grand festival in Western countries, similar to our Chinese New Year.

  Regardless of the various sayings about Christmas and Western customs and taboos, Christmas has gradually entered China after reform and opening up, and has become popular in some big cities, which has become a fact.

  In recent years, many young people have been enthusiastic about celebrating various Western festivals, such as Christmas and Valentine's Day. Many so-called experts have begun to shout "cultural invasion" and "loss of tradition" in the media.

  Duan Yue sneered at this!

  Whatever is, is right!

  Since we are going to the world, we must accept various different cultures. Putting aside the religious color of Christmas, Duan Lei still thinks it is a warm and joyful festival. Can't young people celebrate Christmas in winter and then celebrate Dragon Boat Festival in summer?

  All along, Duan Yue has never thought that Chinese people celebrating Western festivals have anything to be ashamed of. As long as we face everything with the mindset of 'inclusiveness', it's all good. We should accept various things from the West while not forgetting our excellent traditional customs, this is the self-confidence of a strong nation.

  …………

  As Christmas draws near, the festive atmosphere in the air is also getting thicker and thicker, even in school it's no exception.

  In fact, as the group that is most receptive to new things, university students often have a very good impression of Christmas. Many people are eagerly awaiting the arrival of this day. Especially for lovers and would-be lovers, who are even more looking forward to the arrival of this day, so some people jokingly call Christmas "Little Lovers' Day".

  Isn't the reason just because Western Valentine's Day 2.14 and Chinese Valentine's Day Qixi are all on holidays? It's just that people want romance, but two people who are far apart can only stare at each other blankly, so Christmas, which has been gradually created by businesses to have a romantic atmosphere, has become the choice of many people.

  The cafeteria's glass window began to appear with snowflake stickers, and the colored lights were also pulled up. Even two Christmas trees were placed at the entrance, although they looked a bit out of place, but still managed to create some festive atmosphere. The small shops on campus also started to decorate according to some Christmas customs, playing Christmas songs, and even some salespeople wore red Christmas clothes and pointed Santa hats.

  Of course, it's just a small disturbance in the campus, but the whole city has already started to enter the Christmas season.

  More than a hundred years after the opening of Haicheng, Christmas and Christianity have a long history. The large and small churches in the city center and the church schools that stood during the Republic of China period are sufficient proof. Among the citizens of Haicheng, there is not much resistance to Christmas, and many citizens themselves are Christians. Compared to other cities, the Christmas atmosphere in Haicheng is much thicker.

  Major shopping malls have started to take advantage of Christmas to promote sales, and various promotional methods are emerging one after another. On the most prosperous Beijing Road, every few steps is a tall Christmas tree with a height of several meters. Unlike the fake goods in Haidian cafeteria, these Christmas trees are decorated exceptionally beautifully. At night, when the lights are turned on, they are colorful and breathtakingly beautiful. Almost every shopping mall has an employee dressed as Santa Claus at the entrance, carrying a big bag to distribute small gifts such as candies to passersby.

  As for those large and small churches, it's even more so, just like Chinese people celebrating the New Year, they spare no effort in creating a Christmas atmosphere, attracting tourists and locals to attend Mass on Christmas Eve.

  …………

  Before long, it was the 24th, and the entire city seemed to have fallen into an irrepressible frenzy, with the vast majority of people eagerly awaiting the arrival of nightfall.

  Tang Lian'er couldn't help but feel a little unhappy.

  Everyone around was discussing where to go tonight and how to spend a romantic Christmas Eve, but Duan Lei seemed like a stone, without any reaction, still burying his head in reading.

  This is the first Christmas after getting to know Duan Lei, and for Tang Lulu who has fallen in love for the first time, how much she yearns to spend a romantic and unforgettable Christmas night with Duan Lei? After all, most girls' hearts long for Qiong Yao-style romance, hoping to have their own fairy tale.

  Tang Lier thought of this and couldn't help but gaze at Duan Lei with a melancholic look, but he seemed oblivious, staring intently at the "Plant Embryology" book on his desk as if there was a flower inside.

  To say, when Duan Yun was fully focused on reading, he still looked quite handsome. His slightly pursed lips, firm eyes, and clear facial features all gave him the elements that made Tang Liurong infatuated.

  Although Tang Lier felt a little downhearted, thinking of Duan Yue's background and his efforts, her heart softened again.

  Women are always a contradictory kind of animal, hoping that their loved ones have a strong sense of career, but also hoping that they can be romantic and considerate, best to be a perfect object. However, in reality, it is often difficult to achieve both!

  Many men who focus on their careers can't help but neglect their partner's feelings, which is why there are so many misunderstandings and unhappy marriages.

  That's the difference in thinking between men and women!

  Men think that working hard to support the family is the best way to maintain love; however, women hope to have a romantic feeling from time to time. Once there is no good communication and no understanding of each other's thoughts, the differences between the two people will become bigger and bigger, slowly, love will fade away, and hearts will grow cold!

  Tang Lier looked at Duan Lei who was deeply engrossed in his book, wanting to speak but hesitating.

  Tang Lier's phone in her pocket had been vibrating for a long time, Tang Lier knew that Yang Fen was sending a text message, inviting herself to eat French food and then go to church on Christmas Eve.

  Tang Lier very much wanted to go, but it was with Duan Yue, so she completely ignored Yang Feng's phone call.

  …………

  It wasn't until after five o'clock that the usually packed self-study room was almost empty, and Duan Lei finally closed his textbook, stretched his waist and stood up.

  "Lier, you must have waited for a long time?" Duan Lei reached out and grabbed Tang Lier's hand, staring at her as he said: "Let's go, we're going to eat!"

  "Hmm!" Looking at Duan Lei's deep and affectionate gaze, Tang Liu'er's feelings of loss and discontent instantly vanished.

  Two people gathered their things from the desk, put on their backpacks, and hand in hand walked out of the study room. The biting cold wind outside couldn't make them feel chilly because their hearts were burning with passion.

  As soon as the two people walked out of the teaching building, they saw Yang Feng standing next to a BMW Z4, dressed in a suit and holding a bouquet of fresh flowers, and they couldn't help but stare blankly for a moment.

  As Duan Lei and Tang Lian'er walked away hand in hand, a hint of resentment flashed across Yang Feng's eyes. Although he quickly covered it up, Duan Lei still saw it clearly.

  Yang Feng's face was filled with a smile as he welcomed everyone! [Thank you for the strong support from our fellow villagers, Xiaotou will continue to work hard!]