Chapter 29: New Year’s Celebration

Xu An pursed her lips and walked over to sit in the chair. Zhou Yu finished stir-frying the dishes and placed them on the stove. He glanced at Xu An and said in a laid-back tone, “Are you waiting for me to help you wash your hands?”

As he set the bowls and chopsticks on the table, Xu An raised her eyebrows, stood up, and heard Zhou Yu’s calm voice. “There’s hot water in the kettle.”

He had even made sure to boil water for her. Xu An nodded, picked up the kettle by the door, poured the water into a basin, and adjusted the temperature herself. After washing her hands, she returned to her seat.

Zhou Yu had already served her food, placing the bowl in front of her. Having slept, Xu An was now quite hungry.

She picked up her bowl and started eating without hesitation. Zhou Yu pulled up a chair and sat across from her, eating slowly and steadily.

Once Xu An was full, she glanced at Zhou Yu and said calmly, “In a couple of days, it’s New Year’s Eve. We’ve got most of the supplies ready. I was thinking we could visit Xiaoyang and Xiaotong that day, and then you can take me to greet Yaowu’s grandmother. Since it’s just the two of us, there’s no need to prepare too much.”

There were only two of them, and with all the leftovers, Zhou Yu’s appetite wouldn’t be enough to finish everything.

Zhou Yu responded in a low voice, and Xu An placed her chopsticks down and stood up. Since she had just woken up, she was still wide awake. She took a walk around the yard, her gaze occasionally falling on the main house of the Zhou family, where lights shone brightly. Every so often, she could hear sounds from within, likely indicating that the family was busy with preparations.

In this large family, she could occasionally hear Pan Hehua’s voice, directing others like someone burdened with responsibility, as if she were the only one toiling.

Xu An chuckled softly and stopped paying attention to the noise from the main house. After walking a few laps, she returned inside, took a bath, and when she came back, she found that Zhou Yu had already cleaned up all the dishes, scrubbed the stove, and wiped down the cabinets until they sparkled.

Sitting down at the table, Xu An rested her hand on the surface, raising her eyes to look at Zhou Yu. His movements while doing chores were quick and skillful. Over time, she realized he was quite good at household tasks. Apart from his less-than-handsome face, there wasn’t much he missed.

A bit puzzled, Xu An asked, “Zhou Yu… did you have to do these things when you were in prison?”

Zhou Yu hung the towel on the rack, turned his head toward her, and said casually, “What did you think, that I was enjoying myself in there?”

Obviously, she wasn’t that naive. Xu An shook her head. “I just meant that you’re really efficient. I was complimenting you.”

Zhou Yu walked over to the stove and sat down across from her, raising his eyebrows. “I didn’t learn this while in prison.”

He tilted his head and gestured toward the Zhou family’s side with his chin. “Before prison, I was treated like livestock by this family, ordered around like an idiot.”

Xu An blinked and frowned slightly. “Wasn’t all the housework done by your mother?”

As she spoke, her tone gradually softened as she recalled her first morning after marrying Zhou Yu when Pan Hehua had woken her up early to do chores.

It turned out that Pan Hehua wasn’t overworking herself out of habit, but rather, Zhou Yu had been doing most of the labor, and now that he and Xu An were out of reach, the burden had fallen back on her.

Xu An tilted her head, sighed lightly, and said, “She brought this upon herself.”

“Now that the family is divided, the people she spoiled can’t be ordered around anymore.”

Zhou Yu remained indifferent. “We’re not living together anymore. We just share a courtyard, so there’s no need to interact during the New Year. We’ll just watch the show and see how long she can manage to take care of the entire family.”

Resting her chin on her hand, Xu An gazed at Zhou Yu and said, “As our lives improve, we should move out. This family has become dysfunctional. Zhou Hongguang is constantly trying to compete with you. We shouldn’t have to deal with them forever.”

If they stayed in the courtyard, conflicts would arise often, disrupting their peace.

Zhou Yu looked at Xu An and asked in a low voice, “He says I’m competitive. Do you believe me?”

“Of course,” Xu An replied, raising an eyebrow. “No matter how perfect someone seems, the fact that he forced you to take the blame and later arranged a token job for you while you’re still limping says it all. Now, even though the Zhou family supports him, anyone who looks closely can see what’s really going on.”

She paused, realizing how even the most well-dressed lies can’t cover up blatant actions. The Zhou family continued to side with Zhou Hongguang, pretending not to see the truth.

No wonder they were pushing Zhou Yu further away.

Looking up at Zhou Yu across the stove, Xu An saw him lazily watching her, as if unaware of anything.

Zhou Yu’s calm voice broke the silence. “Back then, I thought we were family, so I never minded those things. Now that we’re not, I don’t care anymore.”

It was clear he understood everything. No one is truly naive, but some people act as though others are fools, thinking they can manipulate them. Zhou Yu used to care, so he didn’t argue. Now that he no longer cared, there was no need to tolerate it.

The Zhou family pushing Zhou Yu away was likely the dumbest decision they had ever made.

…

With the beginning of the New Year came a fresh start.

On New Year’s Eve, every household was festively decorated. Since the reform and opening up, bans on fireworks and traditional rituals had been lifted, and the alley was alive with the spirit of the holiday.

Xu An and Zhou Yu got up early. After having a simple breakfast, they started preparing for the day.

Zhou Yu took the chicken they had bought to the courtyard entrance to slaughter, while Xu An heated some water and began cleaning the various ingredients they had prepared for the New Year.

“Zhou Yu, after you’re done with the chicken, can you handle the fish too?”

The fish, which Xu An had kept in a bucket, was still lively and jumping around.

Zhou Yu responded, and Xu An set up a pot on the small stove. They used both stoves, starting with the pork trotters.

In the courtyard, the Zhou family had also woken up early, and Xu An could hear Pan Hehua’s voice calling out tasks for the family to do.

Pan Hehua, feeling frustrated by her family’s laziness, could only watch as her second son efficiently handled the chicken, his actions reminding her of how things used to be when he helped her every New Year.

Back when her second son was home, she never had to worry about New Year’s preparations. He always took care of everything, from handling the food to cleaning the courtyard and putting up decorations.

“Mom, what are you staring at?” Zhou Dandan asked, breaking her mother’s reverie. She complained, “Mom, I don’t know how to wash these vegetables. Can you help me? My hands can’t get frostbite; they’ll get rough, and that won’t look good.”

Zhou Dandan pouted and added, “My second brother used to do all this for me. Now that the family is divided, he’s changed and doesn’t care about me anymore.”

As she complained, she glanced at her limping brother’s back, angrily muttering, “He’s only moody because of his lame leg. Now he doesn’t care about his family at all.”

Pan Hehua nodded in agreement and took the vegetables from her daughter, indulging her as usual, though she couldn’t shake her feelings of frustration.

She looked at her eldest son putting up the Spring Festival couplets with Shuwen, not even bothering to tear down last year’s decorations properly. She wanted to say something but decided to hold her tongue, knowing her eldest son wouldn’t listen anyway.

The eldest daughter-in-law stayed in the west room, not intending to do any work. Pan Hehua glanced at the shadows of the second son and his wife busily moving in the east room’s window reflection, feeling bitter but unable to speak. She no longer had any voice or influence in this household.

Xu An and Zhou Yu were working in the house. Xu An turned her head to see Zhou Yu taking a fish out of a bucket, and quietly said, “I just rinsed the rice. I’ll cook it in a bit and steam it, and we can use the rice water to paste the Spring Festival couplets.”

“If they’ve pasted the couplets at the courtyard gate, let them be. We’ll just paste the ones on the east room’s door and window, okay?”

Zhou Yu walked out with the fish, not objecting to Xu An’s suggestion.

After he scaled and cleaned the fish, Xu An began steaming the rice and started stewing the chicken that Zhou Yu had prepared.

The couple went outside to paste the couplets. Zhou Yu swiftly tore down the old couplets from the door and cleaned it thoroughly. As they walked out with the rice water, the Zhou family members in the courtyard glanced over, but Xu An and Zhou Yu paid them no mind, continuing with their own work.

Once Zhou Yu had finished, Xu An set up a bench at the door. The house wasn’t tall, so Zhou Yu could easily reach the top of the door by standing on the chair. When he had cleaned the horizontal banner, Xu An soaked a towel in the rice water and handed it to him. After he dampened the surface, she passed him the new banner, carefully guiding him to ensure it was straight.

“Zhou Yu, a little more to the left, and a bit lower…”

The man said nothing, simply following her instructions.

The Zhou family watched the couple’s harmonious and warm interaction, and Zhou Dandan couldn’t hold back her frustration, cursing under her breath. Her second brother was utterly bewitched, seemingly enjoying being ordered around by this woman.

“Not even a hint of manliness,” she muttered.

Zhou Shuwen and Zhou Hongguang were also pasting couplets. The rice water Pan Hehua had prepared was almost gone, leaving only some corn paste that was messy and sticky. Though neither brother said anything, their eyes showed disdain.

When they saw Zhou Yu carefully tear off last year’s old couplets before pasting the new ones, the brothers couldn’t hide their displeasure. They looked at the couple’s neatly pasted, clean, and beautiful couplets, then glanced at their own—hastily pasted with a corn mixture, along with their mother’s dirty pot brush dipped in the paste, making everything look black and grimy. The brothers pinched their noses and finished the task in silence.

Xu An and Zhou Yu completed their work smoothly. Xu An went back inside to continue cooking, while Zhou Yu poured out the rice water, cleaned the bowl, and returned to the east room.

“Zhou Yu, let’s steam the fish for dinner. The sea bass we bought is perfect for steaming,” Xu An said.

During the Lunar New Year, the dishes were often rich and heavy, so they needed some lighter ones to balance things out.

Xu An stewed the chicken and pig’s feet and then prepared the pork belly. Gradually, a delicious aroma began to fill the room and soon spread outside, enveloping the entire courtyard.

The Zhou family, moving sluggishly as they waited for Pan Hehua to do most of the work, had barely started cooking rice by this time. Now, they smelled the fragrant dishes coming from the east room, their expressions changing, though none of them looked happy.

By around 4 p.m., the couple had finished preparing the New Year’s feast. Xu An grabbed a basket, scooping two bowls of chicken and braised pork into it. She turned to Zhou Yu and said, “Let’s go check on Xiaoyang first. Grab the gifts we bought earlier.”

Zhou Yu went into the inner room and picked up the gifts Xu An had prepared for Su Xiaoyang and Wen Yaowu. The couple then left the house, with Xu An making sure the food was kept warm on the stove before locking the door.

Zhou Dandan watched her brother and sister-in-law leave, complaining to her mother, “Mom, look at my second brother! He’s taking so many things to give to outsiders, but he didn’t even think of us!”

Pan Hehua, who had been feeling frustrated all day, sighed, “Alright, alright. Didn’t I tell you already? The families are split now, and everyone goes their own way. Dandan, it’s New Year’s. Don’t stir up trouble. Just get through the holiday peacefully, okay?”

Zhou Dandan pouted, clearly not satisfied.

Meanwhile, unaware of Zhou Dandan’s resentment, Xu An and Zhou Yu headed toward Su Xiaoyang’s small wooden cabin.

As they arrived, they saw Su Xiaoyang and his little sister, Su Xiaotong, diligently washing vegetables outside. They looked like they were doing a pretty good job.

As soon as Xu An got close, Su Xiaoyang noticed her, his face lighting up with a big smile as he greeted them. His little sister followed suit, politely calling out, “Happy New Year, Sister Xu An, Brother Zhou Yu,” under her brother’s guidance.

Xu An smiled and wished them a happy new year as well. “Xiaoyang, we brought you some food. Have it for dinner with Xiaotong.”

Hearing this, Su Xiaoyang quickly waved his hands, pointing to the vegetables they had prepared. “Sister Xu An, we’ve also bought a lot of food for the holiday. We can cook ourselves.”

The two of them were still just kids, and though they were capable, they couldn’t handle too much. Xu An didn’t hesitate to enter their small home, pulling Zhou Yu along with her.

Su Xiaoyang hurriedly pulled his sister inside as well.

The little house, once desolate and cold, had now become cozy with thick quilts on the bed, a small stove, a table, and some new clothes hanging on a line that Xiaoyang had bought.

“Sister Xu An, we have everything we need now. Xiaotong and I are going to paste couplets soon. This year, we can have a proper New Year. You don’t need to worry about us.”

Xu An ruffled his hair playfully. “I’m not worried. Think of this as your year-end bonus from Zhou Yu and me. You deserve it, especially after all your help this past year. You’ll need to keep it up in the coming spring.”

Puffing his cheeks, Su Xiaoyang nodded. Even without any reward, he would still help them out.

Xu An placed the chicken and braised pork on the table, while Zhou Yu set the gifts on a chair. Looking at Xiaoyang, Zhou Yu said calmly, “Take them.”

Faced with Zhou Yu, Xiaoyang knew there was no room for negotiation. He quietly accepted the gifts.

Seeing that, Xu An smiled. “Alright then, you were going to paste couplets? Let your brother Zhou Yu help you. He’s taller and can reach better.”

Before Xiaoyang could refuse, Zhou Yu had already taken the rice water and headed out. Xiaoyang quickly grabbed the couplets and followed him outside.

Inside, Xu An stretched out her hand to little Xiaotong, who blinked her large eyes and placed her tiny hand in Xu An’s. It was cold, but Xu An could tell she had gained a bit of weight since their first meeting.

Gently rubbing her hands to warm them, Xu An brought Xiaotong to the stove, placing her within the warmth of her arms, and slowly massaged her small hands to help her adjust and avoid chilblains.

“Xiaotong, when you eat with your brother later, make sure you both wear your new clothes, okay?” Xu An had bought them both new outfits, perfect for the New Year festivities.

Xiaotong nodded sweetly. “Thank you, Sister Xu An. Xiaotong and brother will wear the new clothes.”

As Xu An kept the girl warm, Zhou Yu and Xiaoyang quickly pasted the couplets. Zhou Yu didn’t come back inside but instead called for Xu An from the door.

She understood and stood up, picking up the basket. Before leaving, she playfully pinched Xiaotong’s cheek, “Big sister has to go find Yaowu now. You can come visit me at home, okay?”

Xiaotong nodded again, waving her little hand with a hint of baby fat as she said goodbye to Xu An.

The couple then left the small cabin and walked toward Wen Yaowu’s home.

Smiling, Xu An glanced at Zhou Yu. “Xiaoyang has done a great job fixing up their place. I feel much better now.”

Zhou Yu nodded in agreement, though his response was brief.

After walking for about twenty minutes, they reached Wen Yaowu’s house, which was larger and in better condition than Su Xiaoyang’s cabin or even their own east room.

Just as they reached the door, they noticed the already pasted couplets and window decorations, and faint sounds could be heard from inside.

Zhou Yu called out loudly, and soon, Wen Yaowu appeared at the door with a wide grin.

“Sister-in-law, Brother Yu, you’re here! Come on in,” Wen Yaowu said, welcoming them inside.

“Wu’er, is that Zhou Yu and his wife?” came the voice of an elderly woman from inside.

“Yes, Grandma, Brother Yu and his wife are here.”

“Well, don’t keep them standing outside! Bring them in,” Wen Yaowu’s grandmother

 called out warmly.

The three of them entered the house together, and Xu An immediately saw an elderly woman sitting by the stove, warming herself by the fire.

She was seated in a half-reclined chair, covered with soft cushions, and had a small blanket over her lap. She lay half-reclined beside the stove, warming herself, and looked to be in decent health.

This must be Wen Yaowu’s grandmother, a kind and gentle-looking old lady with silver hair scattered across her head. Her clouded eyes looked at Xu An and Zhou Yu, and there was a hint of a smile on her face.

As soon as she saw them come in, she tried to get up and wave to them.

“Grandma, don’t get up. We just came to see you, no need to worry,” Xu An said, walking over to stop her from standing up.

Zhou Yu also walked over and calmly reassured the old woman not to rise.

Zhou Yu had been coming over every day before, carefully taking care of the elderly lady. Wen Yaowu’s grandmother was grateful to him and was happy to listen to his words. Her aged hand gently patted Xu An’s delicate hand as she smiled and nodded.

She turned to her grandson and said, “Wu’er, quickly pour your sister-in-law and the others a cup of tea.”

Wen Yaowu responded with a quick “Yes” and immediately fetched some cups to pour tea.

Xu An took the things from the basket and placed them on the stove, then asked Zhou Yu to set down the gifts.

Wen Yaowu’s grandmother sighed as she looked at the young couple in front of her. “You really shouldn’t have gone to such trouble.”

Her voice was filled with gratitude as she looked at the couple. “I’m lucky to have lived this long, and it’s all thanks to you two.”

She took Zhou Yu’s hand and placed it over Xu An’s, patting them both gently.

Wen Yaowu brought over two cups of tea and placed them in front of Xu An and Zhou Yu.

With a kind smile, the grandmother said, “In the past, Brother Yu saved our Wu’er’s life. Now, he’s saved this old woman’s life too.”

She looked warmly at Xu An. “May I call you An’an?”

Xu An smiled and nodded, “Grandma, please call me An’an.”

The elderly woman nodded and softly said, “An’an.”

“After Wu’er was released, you gave him work and saved his life again,” she said, glancing around the house. “If it weren’t for that job coming just in time, I don’t know if this old body would have survived the winter.”

She continued patting Xu An’s and Zhou Yu’s joined hands. “You two are the saviors of our family.”

She then turned to her grandson with a serious expression. “Wu’er, you must listen to Brother Yu and An’an and repay their kindness.”

Wen Yaowu looked at his grandmother, then at Zhou Yu and Xu An, and said firmly, “Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ll follow Brother Yu and Sister-in-law for the rest of my life. My life belongs to them.”

Xu An hurriedly tried to stop him, but the grandmother interrupted.

“Good. Our family doesn’t forget those who help us.”

Wen Yaowu wiped his face and nodded firmly.

Xu An smiled and said, “Yaowu, these are New Year gifts we brought for you. Just warm them on the stove for a while.”

Seeing that he seemed embarrassed, Xu An laughed lightly. “We gave the same gifts to Xiaoyang, so don’t feel awkward.”

Hearing this, Wen Yaowu habitually scratched his head and obediently nodded.

After spending a while there, Xu An and Zhou Yu finally stood up to leave.

On New Year’s Day, everyone is busy, so Xu An didn’t let Wen Yaowu escort them. She and Zhou Yu walked home side by side.

After delivering the gifts, Xu An’s steps became noticeably lighter. Zhou Yu carried the basket and glanced at her serene expression, asking softly, “Do you like doing this?”

Xu An looked up at him and immediately shook her head, “No.”

“It’s not that I like visiting people or socializing; I’m just happy,” she said as they walked.

“These past days, Xiaoyang and Yaowu have been with us, and they’ve both improved. That makes me happy.”

“Xiaoyang’s house, though still small, now has everything he needs. It’s better than before.”

“As for Yaowu, I haven’t seen it, but I’m sure things have improved. He had nothing when he first got out of prison, but now, things are definitely better.”

Zhou Yu’s gaze moved from her smiling eyes to the road ahead, and he said quietly, “Yes, things have improved a lot.”

His voice was steady, with little emotion. “When I first got out, it was right as the weather was turning cold. Back then, Yaowu’s house had its windows and doors smashed, and the roof tiles were shattered, offering no protection from the wind or rain. There was nothing inside, only an old woman barely clinging to life.”

He paused, then continued, “It took some effort to get her to the clinic, and after a few days, I brought her back and repaired the house. But at the time, there was really nothing in the house, unlike now, where everything is full, and the old lady’s health has improved. She’s no longer on the verge of death.”

Xu An lowered her eyes briefly, then looked up at him, her face hopeful. “Next year will be even better.”

Zhou Yu stared at her and replied softly with a barely audible sound of agreement.

The couple returned home, where the Zhou family was still bustling around the courtyard. There were a lot of people around, but not many were actually working. Only Pan Hehua seemed to be doing everything.

As soon as Xu An and Zhou Yu entered, their sister Zhou Dandan, who had been given some tasks, couldn’t help but complain.

“Second Brother, you and Sister-in-law are so generous, giving all the good stuff from home to outsiders. I haven’t seen you bring anything to honor Mom and Dad, or even a gift for me, your little sister.”

She spoke with increasing resentment. Before her second brother went to prison, he would magically come up with gifts for her every year during the New Year. Now that he was back, not only had he brought nothing, but he wasn’t even helping around the house.

Hearing her accusations, Zhou Yu sneered coldly, his voice icy and mocking.

“You’re right. I almost forgot.”

He raised his empty hand and gestured dismissively toward Zhou Dandan. “The gifts I gave you before were wasted on a thankless person like you.”

“Those gifts were better off thrown to animals. If you’re so ungrateful, why don’t you give them back to me? Hurry up.”

Zhou Dandan was shocked. She hadn’t expected that, instead of receiving more gifts, her second brother would ask for the ones he’d given her before to be returned. How could that be?

“Second Brother, once a gift is given, it’s mine. You can’t just take it back.”

Though she had always thought her second brother wasn’t as impressive as her eldest or third brother, she had still liked the gifts he gave her. She had never liked the money her eldest brother gave her, nor had her third brother given her many presents.

There was no way she was going to return those gifts.

Xu An couldn’t help but chuckle softly at Zhou Dandan’s entitled attitude.

“Dandan, come help out,” Zhou Hongguang said calmly. Pan Hehua might not have been able to move her, but their eldest brother could.

Zhou Dandan shot a glare at Xu An and Zhou Yu, but she still went to help Zhou Hongguang.

Xu An and Zhou Yu exchanged a glance and ignored the rest of the family, heading back to the eastern room together.

As Zhou Dandan left, Zhou Hongguang watched the couple’s retreating backs. He lowered his eyes slightly. Until he found a better way out, he had to prevent his younger brother from ruining things for everyone. Avoiding a direct confrontation with his volatile brother was crucial.

Back inside the room, Xu An looked at Zhou Yu and asked softly, “Zhou Yu, do you want to offer food for the ancestors?”

With their strained relationship with the family, Xu An wasn’t sure if Zhou Yu would want to follow this traditional ritual.

Zhou Yu sat down with a firm motion and shook his head. “Let’s eat.”

Xu An nodded. “Alright.”

She grabbed a cup, a set of utensils, and ran into the inner room to bring out some fruit wine, pouring a cup for herself and Zhou Yu.

The wine was mild, with a faint fragrance. Xu An sat opposite Zhou Yu and looked up at him with a smile. “This shouldn’t make you drunk. Even if you don’t like it, you’ll have to drink it today.”

Thinking of the unpleasant smell of cigarettes and alcohol from his social gatherings, Xu An wrinkled her nose.

Zhou Yu looked at the juice-like liquid in front of him, which didn’t resemble alcohol at all. His gaze returned to Xu An’s serious expression, and he replied in a low voice.

The two of them opened the lids on the stove’s dishes, and Xu An handed some firecrackers to Zhou Yu. After sticking them behind Zhou Yu, she ran to the courtyard gate, standing at a distance with her ears covered.

The sound of the firecrackers popped in her ears even through her hands. After the two of them finished lighting the firecrackers, they returned

—

Zhou Yu stared at the woman’s flushed face and her eyes glistening with moisture. Her gaze was slightly dim, and as his fingers twitched momentarily, he raised the fruit wine and took a sip. The sweet flavor, clearly not intoxicating at all, surprisingly left him feeling somewhat tipsy. He couldn’t help but focus on the hint of red at the corners of the woman’s eyes, which was rather ambiguous.

The couple, having eaten and drunk their fill, lounged lazily in their chairs, enjoying a comfortable rest. Outside, the sky had darkened, and the sound of firecrackers from the Zhou family’s festivities drifted in. Xu An, a bit slow on the uptake, covered her ears and stared blankly at Zhou Yu, speaking softly.

“Zhou Yu, it’s so noisy.”

Zhou Yu averted his gaze, stood up, and walked a few steps to the door, slamming it shut with a bang, blocking out some of the noise. Xu An’s expression relaxed slightly.

This should have been the most festive and joyful time, with the Zhou family gathered around the stove, eyeing the New Year’s Eve dinner being prepared. The delicious aromas had whetted their appetites, but now, as they stared at the dishes on the table, their appetites diminished.

The sound of firecrackers ceased, and Zhou Youlu raised his glass, speaking solemnly.

“Life is lived day by day.”

“Dandan needs to prepare for the college entrance exam. No matter what, if she passes, she’ll continue studying. By then, your elder brother and third brother will be working and can support her. If she doesn’t pass, at least a high school diploma will suffice. Your elder brother can find her a better partner, so she won’t have to worry about the future.”

“Shuwen is about to graduate too. If he’s assigned a job at the factory, our family will have two successful individuals, and we won’t have to worry about life in the future.”

“Hongguang, you and your wife have stable jobs. Once Shuwen and Dandan finish their studies, your burdens will lighten, and things will get better.”

He tapped his glass on the table and glanced at his family.

“Don’t be misled by the current situation of the second brother and his wife; such things won’t last long. How can one achieve anything lofty? You all need to broaden your perspective.”

The three siblings of the Zhou family nodded in silence. Zhou Youlu raised his glass. “Alright, let’s eat.”

During this New Year’s Eve dinner, each member of the Zhou family had different thoughts, and the food seemed tasteless.

Zhou Yu had already cleared the bowls and chopsticks into the basin and put the leftovers away in the cabinet. He looked at the woman with drooping eyes. Zhou Yu quietly cleaned the stove again and laid the wooden board neatly. Xu An rested her hand on the board, feeling a bit dizzy as she leaned into his arm, tilting her head, staring at Zhou Yu, who was cleaning up the mess.

Watching Zhou Yu’s back as he moved about the room, Xu An yawned softly. Unable to control her drunkenness that brought along sleepiness, she slowly closed her eyes.

By the time Zhou Yu finished tidying up the house, he returned to the room almost instantly, seeing the sleepy little face of the woman nestled in the blanket.

Zhou Yu pinched the bridge of his nose, his gaze fixed on the dark sky outside.

Turning to look at Xu An, he suddenly recalled what she had said earlier. His dark eyes showed signs of conflict for a moment. He walked two steps toward Xu An, bent down to align his gaze with hers, and then, without any hesitation, raised his hand and pushed her, who was uncomfortably slumped against the stove.

Xu An stirred slightly, her long lashes quivering. At Zhou Yu’s persistent nudging, she opened her eyes, meeting the enlarged handsome face of the man. Xu An remained unfocused, momentarily unable to react.

She simply stared blankly at Zhou Yu, her voice thick with sleep.

“Zhou Yu, what’s wrong?”

As soon as Zhou Yu saw her awake, he swallowed hard, distancing himself slightly from the woman, the charming fragrance from his nose dissipating. He straightened up, his tone dark.

“Go sleep on the bed.”

Xu An blinked, looking down to realize she had fallen asleep against the stove. Her wrist felt a bit numb from resting on it. Quickly, she straightened herself and lazily leaned back in her chair.

Her mind began to function at this point, recalling Zhou Yu’s earlier words. She came to her senses, swaying slightly as she stood up and walked toward the inner room.

Before reaching the door, she reminded Zhou Yu, “Zhou Yu, remember to wake me up at midnight.”

Hearing Zhou Yu’s promise, Xu An finally felt no burden as she lay down on the bed, pulled the blanket over herself, and drifted off into a muddled sleep.

Zhou Yu finished tidying up the outside, turned off the lights, and hobbled back to the inner room. He gazed at the small mound on the bed, hesitated for a moment, and then stepped over to climb into bed.

His dark eyes stared blankly into the pitch black, not a hint of drowsiness brewing.

The person beside him breathed steadily, sleeping soundly, intoxicated. Zhou Yu’s gaze glanced subtly at her, catching a glimpse of the woman’s fair face before moving away gently.

His body was quite warm, and before long, his cold body began to feel hot, drawing the sleeping person closer to the heat source.

Xu An’s slender hand gradually climbed onto Zhou Yu’s muscular body until she was sprawled over him, finding a comfortable position, gently rubbing against him, sinking deeper into sleep.

Unaware that someone beside her had turned into a statue, only slightly contracted pupils indicating that he was still very much alive.

The person beside him was definitely not the heavy anchor he pretended to be; she felt light as a feather, delicately teasing the man’s heart.

The fragrant scent invaded his nostrils, tightly entwined and inescapable.

Zhou Yu’s throat tightened as he endured the situation, each passing second feeling more unbearable than the last.

Finally, when the clock struck midnight, Zhou Yu felt as if he were a prisoner released from his sentence. His stiff body suddenly relaxed, and his hands raised to gently push the woman beside him.

After a while, he heard her impatiently grunt, irritated as if her beautiful dream had been disturbed.

Zhou Yu couldn’t restrain his voice, speaking in a low tone, “Xu An.”

“It’s time.”

Xu An took a deep breath, not waking up at all. Hearing Zhou Yu’s voice, she responded sleepily, resting her chin on Zhou Yu’s gently rising chest, answering softly.

“Zhou Yu, Happy New Year.”

Mumbling a reply, Xu An tightened her grip around him, clinging to Zhou Yu even more tightly, gently rubbing against him before allowing herself to sink comfortably back into sleep.

One side of her body had gone numb from being in this position, and now wrapped tightly in his embrace, Zhou Yu felt a surge in his throat, his lips moved slightly, but he only responded silently.

The little drunk beside him had become quite unruly in her sleep, sprawling all over him, as if she wanted to occupy the entire bed. After muttering a “Happy New Year,” she had disturbed his peace of mind and then effortlessly drifted off to sleep.

Zhou Yu exhaled softly, resignedly closing his eyes.