Dominate the Super Bowl-Chapter 843 - 842 days before sunrise
Chapter 843: 842 days before sunrise
Chapter 843: 842 days before sunrise
“Ah, ah ah ah… hahaha…”
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Thalia sprinted down the street, arms raised high to feel the breeze brushing over her head. The hem of her long coat fluttered wildly.
Then, in a sudden twirl, her radiant, dazzling smile bloomed like a night-springing flower under the hazy glow of the evening light.
“I just signed an autograph for someone.”
Even from a distance, the happiness sparkling in Thalia’s eyes was unmistakable. It was so contagious that the corners of Li Wei’s mouth lifted as he raised his voice.
“So, how was the pizza?”
“What?”
“I said, how was the pizza?”
“Good, so good—it was absolutely delicious! This is the most amazing pizza of my life.”
Their voices echoed across the distance, shouting back and forth like two fools. Their exuberance spread through the night, creating ripples that enveloped the air.
Only now did they realize it was getting late. Without doing anything particularly noteworthy, time had quietly slipped through their fingers.
Having just witnessed New York’s noisy side, they were now soaking in its tranquil aspect. Though New York’s nightlife offers countless options, the city gradually quiets down past midnight. Except for a few areas concentrated with clubs and bars, the rest of the city enters its slumber earlier than expected—a side of New York few had probably imagined.
Thalia noticed it too, and a new idea sprang to her mind.
“How about heading to the dock near the Statue of Liberty to watch the sunrise?”
Li Wei hadn’t been prepared for this suggestion. “Sunrise? Are you sure? Won’t your mom be worried if you come home so late? Did you tell your family before heading out tonight?”
Thalia pouted. “I can’t believe you’re such a stickler for the rules.”
Li Wei laughed outright. “This is the first time someone has called me old.”
Thalia thought it over and couldn’t help herself; a smile bloomed once again. “Don’t worry, I already told my mom, gave her a heads-up, and let her know I was hanging out with Kansas City Chiefs’ number 23. If anything goes wrong, she’ll be quick to expose your true colors to the media.”
Li Wei: “Hahaha, looks like I better tread carefully.”
Thalia: “So, are we going for the sunrise or not?”
Normally, at this hour, Li Wei would’ve been getting ready for bed. A regular sleep cycle is crucial for professional athletes, and he hadn’t forgotten about the upcoming final showdown next week.
But tonight, he had stepped out because he couldn’t calm his restless mind. Taking a stroll and indulging in a rare deviation from routine seemed like a good way to reset.
Li Wei waved his hand dramatically. “Alright, let’s go. We’ll hail a cab.”
Thalia sprinted back to him and quickly grabbed his right hand. “Wait, wait—what’s the point of taking a cab? It’s just a little bit farther; let’s walk.”
Li Wei: “Walk? Are you serious? It’s at least thirty blocks to the dock from here.”
Thalia looked at him as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Yeah, but it’s just thirty blocks. If we keep walking, we’ll get there. The air in New York at night is especially fresh—let’s just think of it as a way to unwind.”
Li Wei shot her a strange look.
Thalia refused to back down and glared right back. “What, are you worried you can’t handle it? I thought thirty blocks would be nothing for someone like you.”
Was this a provocation?
Li Wei laughed helplessly and didn’t argue back. “Alright, we’ll walk.”
…
The night felt both endless and fleeting. Before they had time to fully savor it, the sky was already transitioning to blue—a deep, vivid blue.
It was immediately recognizable as the blue hour right before the Sun’s rise.
Li Wei turned to look at Thalia, who had slipped into dreams while leaning against his shoulder, her mouth wide open as if waiting for an unsuspecting bug to fly in.
The night’s trek left Li Wei only slightly tired; for Thalia, though, it had drained her completely. Coupled with her endless chatter throughout, her body and mind had been pushed to their limits—it would’ve been strange if she weren’t exhausted.
To top it off, Thalia had already performed in a show earlier in the evening.
Li Wei had thought she wouldn’t manage to make it to Manhattan’s southern docks, but to his surprise, she gritted her teeth and soldiered on.
Once they finally arrived, however, the blurred shadow of the Statue of Liberty in the dark wasn’t enough to keep Thalia awake for long. Her eyelids began drooping almost immediately.
Li Wei hesitated for a moment but decided not to wake her and let her rest.
He quietly turned his gaze eastward, waiting for the Earth to complete its steady rotation and welcome daylight back to this northern hemisphere city.
Bit by bit, a faint orange glow appeared at the junction of sea and sky, pulsating gently as though imitating the beat of a heart.
The soft radiance slowly seeped into the pitch-black night, painting the sky a deep peacock blue—rich, mysterious, and seemingly stirring the sleeping heavens awake.
The moment seemed frozen, waiting for ages.
Then, suddenly, the transformation began. Orange shifted to red, then into gold. The infinite tapestry of night tore apart into countless fragments, dissipating within the span of a breath. In no time, the Sun broke free from its constraints, bouncing into view. Its brilliant rays overflowed, spreading mightily.
Dawn had arrived.
The lazy light warmed the skin, the sudden chill of goosebumps quickly leveling off into tranquility. The gentle warmth kissed the face, inviting one to close their eyes and savor it.
Thalia curled herself tighter into a ball, scooting closer to Li Wei like she was cozying up to a fireplace. Her body gradually began to relax.
Finally, overwhelmed by the bright sunlight, Thalia slowly opened her eyes, raising her hand to rub at them.
She leaned her head back onto Li Wei’s shoulder without hesitation and murmured in a raspy voice, “Looks like a soft-boiled egg.”
Li Wei couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter. “Are you hungry now?”
Thalia admitted openly and shamelessly, “Mm-hmm.”
Li Wei nodded lightly. “Alright, no problem. Let’s go grab breakfast. I’ll call the taxi company.”
In New York, hailing a cab on the street was always an option. But if you worried about catching a ride, calling a taxi company was always a reliable alternative.
Thalia’s sleepy eyes suddenly widened. “Taxi? Why a taxi? Isn’t walking good enough?”
Li Wei looked at her curiously. “Do you have some particular attachment to walking?”
Thalia giggled, letting out a silly laugh. “What if I told you that I’ve never been on a plane—would you believe me?”
Li Wei froze.
Yet Thalia remained candid and upbeat. “My sister and I are interested in acting jobs, which is why our parents moved to New York for us. But, clearly, it costs a fortune to become an actor in New York.”
The memory suddenly clicked for Li Wei: during their first meeting, Thalia had been working part-time.
Li Wei tilted his chin slightly upward. “So, should I offer to buy you a car right now?”
Thalia widened her eyes in mock shock. “There’s no parking spot in front of my apartment. So, does that mean the car comes with a house?”
“Haha.” Li Wei let out an unrestrained laugh at her unexpected response.
Thalia straightened up and adjusted her posture. “I actually think this kind of life has its charm. Not everyone can own a car or a house whenever they want. If you don’t, are you supposed to sit on the ground and cry? Might as well enjoy what you’ve already got—like indulging in daydreams, losing yourself, and even lying to yourself. That’s one way.”
Li Wei’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Or, you know, enjoy the free, beautiful sunrise right in front of us—a beachfront property.”
Thalia’s smile bloomed brightly once more. “Exactly—priceless beachfront property.”
Ahead of them, the Sun was fully risen. The city stirred awake gradually, while the calm sea shimmered with a dazzling glow that was breathtakingly beautiful.
