[…Hm?]

When Li Hui came over, Lin Yijian was sitting together with her whole family, eating dumplings.

Although it was hard to describe in words, Lin Yijian could still sense when there was suddenly another consciousness in her body; she was a little surprised that the other party would come over at this moment. While she was distracted, she bit into something hard against her tooth, which was when Li Hui let out this sound of puzzlement.

Lin Yijian: “Why did you come?”

She asked while spitting out the date pit in her mouth.

According to the custom here, on New Year’s Eve, the dumpling filling would hide surprise items like coins, red dates, and peanuts. Whatever you ate would signify good luck in the coming year.

Li Hui: [I happened to be free, so I came to take a look.]

Before Lin Yijian had time to ask further, Grandma Lin already spoke with a smile, “This year, Jianjian drew the grand prize.”

Lin Yijian quickly looked up and smiled at the old lady, “Grandma, you eat too.”

Saying this, she used her chopsticks to push a dumpling over. It was said that what filling you got was all by luck, but after all, since the filling hid something inside, sometimes a slight difference in color could be seen through the dumpling skin. Although not always accurate, the chance was a bit higher. Studying how to increase the probability had once been a childhood amusement of Lin Yijian.

Grandma Lin happily accepted her granddaughter’s thoughtfulness, but did not hurry to eat; instead, she smiled with narrowed eyes and stared at Lin Yijian.

Lin Yijian was looked at until she felt a subtly uneasy feeling.

Sure enough, Grandma Lin then spoke, “Jianjian, when are you going to bring one back for Grandma?”

Lin Yijian: As expected.

Although eating a coin, a peanut, or a red date was all a good omen, each had slightly different meanings. Compared to the coin that symbolized wealth flowing in, the red date carried a bit of romantic implication. And Grandma Lin was a very open-minded old lady, open-minded enough to have once pulled Lin Yijian aside in high school to quietly ask if she “had a boyfriend.”

Just like now, as she spoke, her slightly dissatisfied gaze fell on Father Lin and Mother Lin.

The old lady had always felt that the reason her clever and obedient eldest granddaughter had not even had a single romance by now must be because Father Lin and Mother Lin were too strict.

The innocent and unfortunate Father Lin and Mother Lin had not yet spoken when the voice in Lin Yijian’s mind sounded: [Bring what back?]

Lin Yijian: What’s it got to do with you?!

A particularly familiar feeling of helplessness surfaced. Lin Yijian did not respond to Li Hui but instead said to Grandma Lin, “Grandma, it’s still early. I’m not in a hurry.”

Grandma Lin strongly disagreed with this. “How are you not in a hurry? If you wait any longer, it will all be what others have picked over!”

Lin Yijian: …

It could be seen that Grandma Lin was a shrewd old lady who went to the vegetable market early in the morning to grab fresh vegetables.

At times like this, it was still Father Lin who stepped forward and saved Lin Yijian, who did not know how to respond. “Mom! Jianjian is still young. Besides, for this kind of thing, what is there to be left over or not left over? It all depends on fate.”

Grandma Lin snorted at this.

She once again used herself, “back in the day, how she struck like lightning, with speed that could not be covered by one’s ears, and took down Grandpa Lin with one move,” as a case to educate Lin Yijian: when you see a potential stock, you must decisively take it down; hesitation will only let others benefit!

Lin Yijian: “…”

The corner of her mouth twitched, but on the surface, she obediently nodded repeatedly. Each generation has its own living environment, and there is no need to insist on competing with an old lady who came from that era.

It was only then that Li Hui finally reacted, [You are going to negotiate a marriage?]

The raised tone carried a hint of surprise.

Lin Yijian: […]

At her grandmother’s place, it was still “finding a boyfriend,” but when it came to Li Hui, it directly became “getting married.”

Wasn’t the progress a bit too fast?!

She explained with deep helplessness: “Don’t listen to my grandmother. Her situation was different back then. It’s still too early for me.”

Li Hui paused for a moment. It was unknown what he was thinking, but he spoke in all seriousness. [Indeed, this kind of thing cannot be rushed. It must be looked at carefully.]

The words sounded fine, but Lin Yijian always felt something strange about them.

What was with this tone of an elder with experience? Wasn’t he himself not that old?

Although she felt uncomfortable, Lin Yijian still responded, “Exactly, I am only eighteen.”

Clearly at an age that had just gotten past early puppy love, why was she living out the bitterness of being urged to marry?

Li Hui suddenly fell silent.

After quite a while, Lin Yijian finally heard him speak, [ … Eighteen?]

His tone was full of hesitation.

Lin Yijian: ?

What was wrong?

Feeling the hesitation mixed with shock, and the shock mixed with a bit of disbelief, Lin Yijian was completely at a loss. Even her tone when replying became uncertain, “After tonight, I will be nineteen.”

Li Hui: […]

Lin Yijian: “What is it?!”

If you have something to say, then say it. This is so strange.

Zhang Qi, from the corner of her eye, had been paying attention to her daughter’s movements. Seeing her chopsticks pause, she knowingly spoke, “Are you full?”

Lin Yijian had not yet come back to her senses and subconsciously gave an “Mm.”

After realizing it, she quickly grabbed her bowl and shook her head. “No, not yet.”

At the same time, a voice came from her mind. Li Hui, rarely seeming hesitant, said, [I thought… you… were still young…]

Lin Yijian: “Mm?”

Was eighteen considered old?

Lin Yijian began to have a little doubt about her own understanding.

But Li Hui thought Lin Yijian was pressing him for an answer. After hesitating for a moment, he said, [Not yet at hairpin age.]

Lin Yijian calculated the age for “hairpin coming-of-age,” and her expression immediately became subtle.

… A middle schooler.

Li Hui did not quite understand what this “middle schooler” referred to, but the actual situation was probably even younger than Lin Yijian thought.

He felt he could not be blamed for this.

It was truly because, when Lin Yijian was at home, her parents’ attitude toward her…

Just as he thought this, he heard Grandma Lin speak with full satisfaction, “Jianjian went out once, and sure enough, she has grown up. She doesn’t even need someone to coax her to eat now.”

Before Lin Yijian could respond, Li Hui gave a “Yes” first.

Everything was understood without words.

Needing to be coaxed to eat.

If not a little child, then what?

Lin Yijian: …

She was silent for three seconds, then, in shame and anger, “You let a middle schooler check information for you!!”

Having her sore spot hit, Lin Yijian directly blacklisted Li Hui. The latter called “Hey, hey” several times in her mind, only to get a particularly cold, “Hmph!”

A middle schooler won’t chat with you!

Li Hui: ?

Why was she angry again? Wasn’t what he said the truth?

*

The once-popular Spring Festival Gala had almost become the tears of an era, but because of Grandma Lin’s insistence, the family still had it playing as background noise.

In previous years, it had been background noise, but this time, because of the cold war, Lin Yijian did not even want to take out her phone, pretending to watch the Spring Festival Gala seriously.

But immediately after, Lin Yijian discovered that she was “pretending to be serious”, while the other person in her body was genuinely serious.

Lin Yijian: “…”

Even angrier now!

She got up, intending to walk away.

Just as she moved, she heard Grandma Lin say, “Jianjian is going back to her room already?”

Lin Yijian was stunned for a moment.

The slightly clouded eyes of the old lady fell on her, with a not very obvious tone of keeping her to stay.

Lin Yijian tilted her head and looked to the side. Her parents were both looking down at their phones, either editing New Year’s greetings to colleagues and friends or stealing a moment to scroll short videos, seemingly not noticing this conversation. The only one seriously watching the television screen was Grandma, though perhaps she was not truly watching, either.

Lin Yijian suddenly understood a bit — Grandma was not insisting on watching the Spring Festival Gala, but wanted someone to accompany her to watch it… just like when Grandpa was still around.

Lin Yijian paused, explaining, “No, I’m going to pour a glass of water.”

Grandma Lin immediately smiled. “Oh dear, let me do it, let me do it. Jianjian is only drinking water? Do you want dumpling soup?”

“Yes~”

“……”

“……”

Lin Yijian discovered that the Spring Festival Gala did not seem as boring as she had imagined, especially when watching while listening to Grandma talk about “how things were in the past,” giving her an illusion of traveling through a time tunnel, back to many years ago.

When the countdown for the Spring Festival began, Father Lin and Mother Lin, who were busy with their phones, also took some time to raise their heads.

“Mom, Happy New Year!” / “Mom, Happy New Year!”

“Grandma, Happy New Year!”

Grandma Lin smiled so widely that the wrinkles on her face deepened a lot. “All good, all good!”

She then took out the red envelope for Lin Yijian.

Lin Yijian also greeted her parents.

Received red envelopes ×2 (mobile transfer version).

After finishing this series of New Year’s customary routines, Lin Yijian raised her head and looked outside.

Outside the window, fireworks shot into the air, blooming in the darkness with bright flame colors, briefly flourishing before suddenly falling, but soon another would follow.

Lin Yijian paused for a moment and, in the end, softly said in her heart, “Happy New Year.”

[Happy New Year!]

Li Hui had been watching those fireworks with a thoughtful expression, but upon hearing Lin Yijian’s words, he immediately came back to his senses.

He replied very quickly, and then immediately followed up with, [You’re not angry anymore?]

Lin Yijian was choked for a moment.

Why did it seem like she was the petty one? Obviously, it was this person who was so annoying, wasn’t it?!

Since it was the New Year, Lin Yijian decided not to lower herself to argue with this person. Magnanimously, she turned the page on the matter and finally had the chance to ask about the situation of the war on his side.

But seeing that Li Hui still had the leisure to come over and be annoying, the situation should be quite good.

And indeed it was. Li Hui stated with a relaxed attitude that everything was going smoothly.

Before Lin Yijian could ask more in detail, a loud burst of “sunset red” music sounded from beside her. It was Grandma Lin’s phone.

The elderly were not very familiar with such smart devices. Grandma Lin poked the phone screen with such force that it made Lin Yijian worried: “Jianjian, come here and take a look, why is there no sound? And I can’t see anyone.”

Lin Yijian leaned over.

Li Hui had already had the use of mobile phones explained to him by Lin Yijian, but this was still the first time he had actually seen a video call.

The activated front camera captured the girl’s delicate face; beside her high bun were two red velvet balls matching the festive New Year atmosphere. A few strands of loose hair followed the curve of her temple down to her cheek, revealing a smooth and full forehead.

Before Li Hui could see clearly, the image suddenly shrank to one corner, and a strange middle-aged woman’s face appeared on the main screen.

Lin Yijian skillfully greeted, “Aunt, Happy New Year!”

Grandma Lin’s phone was set to default settings. It seemed that when the old lady answered the video call just now, she had accidentally touched something, turning off the speaker and switching her own video to the main screen, which explained the “no sound” and “can’t see anyone” situation.

On the other side, Aunt Lin looked delighted. “It’s Jianjian! Happy New Year~ This child, the older you get, the prettier you are. As expected, the big city nurtures people well. Xinxin, Xinxin, come over quickly to see your sister. Let me tell you…”

Lin Yijian’s eyelid twitched. “Aunt! Grandma is waiting to talk to you.”

If she were Liu Xinxin, she would hate this cousin to death. Aunt Lin was practically going out of her way to sabotage her interpersonal relationships.

Li Hui’s gaze fell on the shrunken display in the lower right corner.

The girl’s almond eyes, which had originally curved gently, were now wide open. Her lips were slightly pursed, and her whole demeanor revealed a tense air.

He said in a low voice: [Indeed…]

Quite pretty.

“What?”

Having finally returned the phone to Grandma Lin and let out a big sigh of relief, Lin Yijian vaguely heard something and could not help but ask.

Li Hui suddenly came back to his senses. [Nothing.]

Lin Yijian: There’s obviously something!

Before she could press for an answer, that consciousness suddenly cut off.

Li Hui had left.

Lin Yijian: ?

She froze for a moment, and upon returning to her senses, she realized — well, that made sense. Li Hui had just watched an entire Spring Festival Gala here. It was broad daylight on his side, not even sleeping time. It was normal for him to leave at any moment.

But Lin Yijian raised her hand to touch her slightly itchy throat, puzzled.

Strange, had she spoken too loudly just now?

*

Li Hui was woken up by someone.

The vice general had none of the ease from earlier when counting the spoils of war, his face full of sternness.

The moment he saw Li Hui open his eyes, he immediately spoke: “General, something happened in Xizhou!”