A beam of light shone into the darkness, gradually revealing swirling snowflakes.

The last snow of the year had arrived.

The Spring Festival was the coldest time of the year in Linjiang.

This time, the snowflakes, which had never accumulated in the past, fell gently to the ground and didn’t melt quickly.

The snow kept falling, piling up into a scattered silver-white blanket.

Frost formed on the windows, the cold outside was biting, but inside, the sound of songs from the New Year’s Eve gala on the television filled the warmth of the house.

Xu Wan looked at her son, who was eating dumplings with a blank expression, and couldn’t help but smile.

She tentatively asked, “Qiming, are you staying at home tonight?”

“Home” obviously referred to the old Shen family house they were currently in.

Shen Qiming took a sip of light soup and calmly replied, “No. I’ll go back after the countdown.”

He didn’t like the house where he had grown up, nor did he enjoy living anywhere other than the Mingzhu Mountain newlywed home.

Even when he traveled for business, he always preferred to return as soon as possible instead of staying overnight.

Xu Wan wasn’t disappointed. Getting to have this New Year’s Eve dinner together was already an unexpected surprise.

She thought for a moment, took out her phone, and snapped a picture of the dumplings.

She posted it online with the caption: “New Year’s Eve dinner made by my son.”

Although they were frozen dumplings, and nearly seven out of ten had burst open while boiling, they were still cooked by her son.

After posting, she glanced at the dynamic feed on her social media.

Most of her friends were people she had met at social gatherings over the years.

Their lives, filled with bright lights and wine, were far busier than hers, even during the Spring Festival, with constant travel and social obligations.

The next post in her feed was from an overseas business gathering—bright lights, fancy outfits, and everyone looked glamorous.

Xu Wan tugged at the corner of her mouth, put the phone aside, and ate a dumpling.

Shen Qiming noticed the noise and saw the phone screen briefly light up.

He glanced away, uninterested.

Xu Wan, trying to make conversation, said, “This kind of life is pretty boring, isn’t it?”

Shen Qiming replied indifferently, “I thought you enjoyed it.”

Over the years, no matter what his father did out there, indulging in extravagance and infidelity, his mother always acted as though it didn’t bother her.

After each fight, they would return to their sweet, public appearances at events.

People outside never knew about the cold wars they had the day before the cameras captured them holding hands and smiling.

He had been disgusted by their behavior for years.

As a child, he couldn’t contain his feelings and just wished they would disappear from his life.

Later, he realized that to truly separate them from his life, he needed power.

And so, he gained power.

Xu Wan had no words to say.

She only smiled bitterly.

She lowered her head, stirred the dumplings in her bowl, and quietly said, “Qiming, I’m sorry. We didn’t give you a normal family. But I want to tell you, I really didn’t enjoy it.”

Shen Qiming didn’t respond, unsure whether he believed her.

“You know how your dad is. How could I not mind? Qiming,” Xu Wan said softly. “To be honest, even if there were no real affairs, even just admirers, no woman would be indifferent about their husband being desired by others.”

Shen Qiming paused his dumpling-eating motion for the first time.

Was it really like that?

On the television, the countdown ended, and cheers erupted.

---

Overseas, Shen Father

In the midst of a lively gathering, Shen Father finished his drink.

The Chinese people around him exchanged New Year’s greetings, but that was all it was.

Few of those who could afford to attend a banquet with business partners on New Year’s Eve truly cared about the Spring Festival.

He didn’t care either.

After exchanging pleasantries and drinking the ceremonial drinks, someone teased him, congratulating him on regaining his freedom.

This person was a good friend, not here to mock him, so Shen Father smiled and accepted the congratulations.

Despite losing most of his fortune, he remained a wealthy man, his charm and stature still intact.

While the family scandal was embarrassing, the women around him, eager to gain his attention, only increased after his divorce.

Now, in this venue, he was still the glorious Mr. Shen.

A model invited to the party served him a drink, and he took it. She naturally followed him around, and after the event, she instinctively linked her arm with his as they left together.

Such women were beautiful, gentle, and pleasing, without any emotional baggage.

Many of his friends looked at him with knowing eyes. The model said, “I heard today is your country’s holiday, sir. Let me celebrate with you.”

Shen Father didn’t respond. After all, for him, the Spring Festival was just like any other day.

Once in the car, he took out his phone and casually glanced at some greetings from familiar contacts.

His heart remained calm.

He accidentally tapped on a particular section and, instead of closing it, he unexpectedly saw his ex-wife’s profile picture.

Upon reading the text, he subconsciously furrowed his brow.

The driver in the front turned to ask, “Boss, where to?”

The model, eagerly looking at him, asked for his answer.

Shen Father suddenly said, “Get out.”

She froze for a moment, but the driver had already reacted and opened the door for her.

The model was reluctant but dared not resist his command. She bit her lip, left her business card, and got out.

The door closed, and Shen Father put down his phone, closed his eyes, and leaned back into the soft seat.

He didn’t look at the card she left behind.

It surprised him that his ex-wife and son were spending the Spring Festival together in the country, but it was only a mild surprise—nothing to anger him.

Yet, for some reason, at that moment, he suddenly felt the surrounding silence.

Even though there were people with him a second ago, it didn’t hide the overwhelming loneliness.

---

In Shencheng, Shang Family

Shang Rong also didn’t have a good New Year. The evening before the New Year’s feast, a few of Old Master Shang’s disciples suddenly caused a ruckus.

Shang Rong was now in charge of Shang Jia Zhenlong, but the chefs, who were among the most active in the Shang family, had all achieved great success and held significant influence in the family.

They had grown up together, and some of Shang Old Master’s most senior disciples had joined the family even before him.

Normally, they gave him face and maintained a superficial harmony, but everyone in Shencheng knew that the Shang family’s unity was only on the surface.

In reality, everyone knew how things really were behind closed doors.

Old Master Shang had no relatives.

On the family’s New Year’s Eve table, aside from Shang Rong, the rest were from the Xie family, his mother’s side.

The Xie family was large, but not everyone could enter the Shang family’s door.

Those who could sit at the New Year’s Eve dinner table were the outstanding members of the Xie family.

Despite their status, they still acted cautiously, constantly flattering Shang Rong and his mother, listening to their every word.

Shang Rong’s mother, Madam Xie, was pampered and made to smile by her clever relatives, but Shang Rong showed no interest in the lively atmosphere. He simply sat still on the couch, brewing tea while others fawned over him.

The more he ignored others, the more the Xia family members tried to please him.

Xia Ren sat beside him, flattering him without holding back: “Look at my brother, he’s so cultured. He often makes tea at home and at the office. I’ve been learning from him for so many years, but I still can’t reach his level.”

Another member of the Xia family quickly took the teapot from Shang Rong’s hands and poured tea.

After pouring, he took a cup for himself and drank it, nodding repeatedly, switching to a different form of flattery: “The tea is really well brewed, though the leaves are average. This must be from Linjiang’s small Hu Chun, right? Linjiang can’t produce good tea. Next time, I’ll get some authentic pre-rain Longjing or Da Hong Pao to not spoil your skills.”

Shang Rong scoffed, “Seems like life is going well now. We used to be so poor we didn’t have food to eat, and now you even know about tea leaves.”

The man who spoke froze at the sarcasm, but had no choice but to continue flattering: “Yes, yes, it’s all thanks to you that we are where we are today.”

The Xia family had indeed been poor in the past, not just poor but extremely so.

When Old Mrs. Xia brought Shang Rong back home, the whole family was in a scramble over how to feed two extra mouths.

At that time, the Xia family’s brothers and sisters all worked together, enduring a lot of hardship for these two new mouths to feed.

Many of the people now sitting at the family dinner table had been involved in those efforts.

Who would have known that these two mouths would later become the most successful ones?

The people they once bullied were now the ones revered by the entire Xia family. As the old saying goes, “Fortunes rise and fall,” and the ancients were right.

For the sake of money, they had to endure the insults.

Shang Rong glanced at the smiling relatives and took a sip of tea, his expression unchanged.

When someone outside mentioned there were guests, he furrowed his brows. Sure enough, the group from Zhenlong, the company’s big shots, walked in.

The big shots walked into the room, and as expected, saw the faces of the Xia family members.

They were used to it and didn’t waste time on small talk, getting straight to the point.

Shang Rong’s brows furrowed even more as he looked at the second-in-command: “Did you go to Linjiang?”

He didn’t mention the Jin family.

Since his rise to power, the Jin family had been a forbidden topic in the Shang family.

The second-in-command looked at him deeply: “Shang Rong, we won’t talk about the things that Xia Ren has done under your orders, but leaving some room for others is necessary. That’s our big senior brother; he’s never had any ill intentions toward the Shang family.”

“What did I do?” Xia Ren, hearing his name, immediately recalled the fear of being chased for four blocks that day, his anger flaring, “You send people to beat me up, and you’re saying there are no ill intentions? If I hadn’t run fast, you might be visiting me in the hospital now!”

“Still making up stories? Sending people to beat you? What century do you think you’re in, writing a novel?” Sixth Master scoffed, “If you keep slandering our senior brother, I’ll really beat you into the hospital. Do you believe me?”

Old Mrs. Xia stepped in to mediate: “Sixth Master, we’re family. How can you say such things?”

Old Mrs. Xia, though not very old, had given birth early. When the disciples saw her, they still held back their anger and called her “Shimu” (Master’s wife).

After greeting her, they didn’t want to stay long. The second-in-command gave Shang Rong an ultimatum: “Shang Rong, our senior brother has never done anything wrong to the Shang family. As for your grievances with him… I don’t want to say much. Anyway, the matter is clear. After the New Year, our senior brother’s new store is opening. For the sake of the Shang family, don’t do anything that will disappoint us.”

After he finished speaking, he led his disciples away, and the tension in the room made the Xia family members silent.

Old Mrs. Xia, furious, exclaimed, “What do they mean by this? Coming here during the New Year to talk about such things? Don’t they want us to have a good year?”

The relatives hurried to comfort her.

Old Mrs. Xia, both startled and angry, grabbed her son: “Didn’t we say not to let them contact the Jin family? How did they end up in Linjiang? Did he do something? Is he still unwilling to give up, trying to fight you for the Shang family?”

Shang Rong, holding his tea cup with a stern face, said, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

But Old Mrs. Xia was in a panic: “You can’t let Ming De stay in Deep City. We’ve finally come this far. He’s from the Jin family; why should he try to take what’s yours? You’re Shang, you’re the—”

Shang Rong slammed his cup down, interrupting her: “Do you think I want to see the Jin family in Deep City?!”

The cup shattered on the tea table, startling Old Mrs. Xia, who immediately fell silent.

Since inheriting the Shang family, Shang Rong’s mood had become increasingly unpredictable.

Even his mother had to tread carefully when dealing with him.

The Xia family members were silent, but only Xia Ren felt wronged.

He grumbled, “Sixth Master is totally biased. The Jin family sends people to beat me, and he’s still defending Ming De. It’s like eating from both sides!”

As he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his side, nearly falling from the sofa.

It took a moment for him to realize that it was Shang Rong who had kicked him.

Shang Rong stood up, gave him a kick, and walked toward the study, leaving a parting shot: “Think before you speak. If I were you, I’d beat you too for such illogical nonsense.”

Xia Ren clutched his side in pain, stunned. After a while, he realized that even Shang Rong didn’t believe him, and he felt utterly wronged.

Usually, he flattered Shang Rong and was favored by Old Mrs. Xia more than other younger relatives. Seeing him beaten, she came to comfort him.

Xia Ren grabbed her hand: “I’m telling the truth, Aunt! Ming De sent four big guys to beat me up, chasing me for four blocks! Ming De must be involved with the underworld!”

Old Mrs. Xia looked at him with concern: “I know you’re trying to find a reason to help Shang Rong persuade Sixth Master, but… stop reading those novels.”

Xia Ren: “……………………”

But it’s the truth! I’m telling the truth! Sixth Master and the others don’t believe me, but how can even you not believe me!

---

After the New Year, Jin Yaotiao returned to work with a scarf knitted by Luna.

Grandpa Meng arrived early and sat in the security booth reading the newspaper.

Suddenly, the window was tapped, and when he looked up, it was the young boss, Jin Yaotiao.

She smiled and handed him a red envelope: “Happy New Year, Uncle Meng!”

He hesitated for a few seconds before accepting it, and a smile nearly slipped out.

It had been years since anyone had given him a red envelope; the feeling was… nostalgic.

Grandpa Meng held the red envelope, his eyes softening as he adjusted his security badge and smiled at Jin Yaotiao: “Happy New Year to you too, young boss.”

After the holiday, employees who were still a bit sluggish received a red envelope from Director Jin.

It had only been a short break, but Director Jin seemed even more beautiful.

Holding the red envelope with a teasing smile, she said: “Did you all have fun during the holiday? Does coming back to work feel like going to a grave?”

The employees from Ming De reached for the red envelope, laughing loudly after hearing her.

“Wronged, Your Highness!”