On Lunar New Year’s Eve, the streets were adorned in red everywhere.

Wang Hui and Bai Jin finally had a rare chance to rest at home for a while.

“Qianqian.” Bai Jin called out gently when he returned home and saw Yu Qian playing with the dogs.

“Uncle.” Yu Qian put Heihei down and walked toward Bai Jin.

Bai Jin handed her a fruit basket. “This is from a friend of mine— some cherries. Take them and enjoy.”

When it was just him and Bai Qiming at home, he never brought back any snacks. After all, the housekeeper kept the kitchen stocked daily, and Bai Qiming wasn’t particularly interested in food.

But ever since Yu Qian came, Bai Jin often saw her eating all kinds of things. So, whenever someone gifted him a fruit basket or snacks, he would unconsciously bring them home.

Yu Qian took the basket as if it were routine. “Thank you, Uncle.”

Bai Jin smiled, watching as Yu Qian went to the kitchen, took out a plate, and filled it with cherries. She then sealed the rest and put them in the fridge.

Seeing this, Bai Jin’s smile deepened. At first, he had simply been extending kindness to someone connected to his wife. But now, he truly felt like he was raising a daughter. After all, who wouldn’t soften at the sight of such an obedient and considerate child?

Yu Qian washed the cherries and politely asked Bai Jin if he wanted some. When he declined, she picked one up and took a bite without hesitation. The taste instantly won her over— thick, juicy flesh and an incredibly sweet flavor!

Bai Qiming came downstairs and Yu Qian lifted the plate slightly. “Brother Ming, Uncle Bai brought home some cherries. Want some?”

“No need.” Bai Qiming shook his head indifferently, then went to the sofa and sat down across from his father.

Well, that was expected. Yu Qian didn’t mind and continued eating her cherries.

On one side, Yu Qian was animatedly enjoying her snack, while on the other, the father and son sat in silence, forming a stark contrast.

As she ate, Yu Qian kept glancing at them. If not for their resemblance, no one would believe they were father and son just by looking at the cold distance between them.

Eventually, Wang Hui’s return broke the strange stillness in the house.

Seeing her mother carrying multiple shopping bags, Yu Qian quickly put down the cherries and went to help. Bai Jin also got up to lend a hand. The once quiet home instantly became lively.

Yu Qian eagerly washed another plate of cherries for her mother.

────ρя


In previous years, the aunties worked in shifts during the Lunar New Year to ensure that at least one person remained in the house. Otherwise, the Bai family’s father and son might just starve themselves.

But this year was different. Wang Hui had given all the household staff a holiday yesterday, so now everything had to be done by themselves.

It was the first Lunar New Year after Bai Jin and Wang Hui had remarried, making it particularly significant.

Wang Hui took out festive decorations— red banners, cutouts, and lucky symbols— and directed Bai Jin to put them up.

Yu Qian joined her mother in the kitchen to prepare dinner. Even Bai Qiming was assigned the task of setting the table.

The four of them bustled around together, eventually managing to prepare a Lunar New Year’s Eve feast.

Looking at the dishes she and her mother had made, Yu Qian was deeply moved. Cooking was truly exhausting. Fortunately, her mother had some foresight and bought plenty of ready-made food.

Bai Jin and Wang Hui exchanged smiles before raising their glasses for a toast with everyone.

After dinner, Bai Jin called Bai Qiming and Yu Qian over and handed them each a red envelope.

Yu Qian thanked him. The envelope felt stiff and firm, and though she couldn’t gauge its thickness, she had a feeling it wasn’t just filled with cash. She was eager to know how much Uncle Bai had given her— cough, not that she was money-hungry, just curious whether wealthy families really gave out checks in their red envelopes.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t satisfy her curiosity right away.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she quickly pulled it out. It was a WeChat message from Jiang Zheng.

【Come outside.】

Yu Qian frowned at the message. What was Jiang Zheng up to? He was literally next door. Why bother texting?

She grumbled inwardly but still walked out of the house. As soon as she stepped out, she saw Jiang Zheng standing at the gate. She opened it and complained, “It’s just a few steps! You could’ve walked in. Why send a message?”

Jiang Zheng didn’t argue. A gentle smile played on his lips, unlike his usual carefree demeanor. “Because I want to give you a gift, and I figured I should at least make it feel a bit more formal.”

Yu Qian felt something was off about Jiang Zheng today— almost like he’d taken the wrong medicine. She suddenly felt a little uneasy. But why was he giving her a gift?

Noticing her nervous expression, Jiang Zheng suddenly extended his hand from behind his back. “For the lunar new year, I got you a fresh copy of 《Five Three^[1]5-Year College Entrance Examination 3-Year Simulation》!”

The moment Yu Qian saw that familiar purple cover, she could almost hear the sound of her soul shattering.

Gritting her teeth, she growled, “Oh, ‘thank’ you so much. But I already have a math 《Five Three》— I don’t need another one!!!”

Jiang Zheng grinned mischievously. “You can alternate between them. Don’t waste your brother’s good intentions.”

He was back to his usual teasing self.

Yu Qian was about to explode. Studying during the Lunar New Year? 《Five Three》 was every high school student’s nightmare!

She turned back toward the house, but Jiang Zheng quickly stepped forward, ignoring her resistance as he stuffed the book into her arms.

“Since you’re so mad, I’ll throw in something extra.” He said, casually pulling a phone charm from his pocket and slipping it into hers. “This is for you. Make sure you use it.”

Yu Qian rolled her eyes at him before storming back inside.

Jiang Zheng stood there, watching her retreating figure with a chuckle before turning away toward another lit-up home.

Back in her room, Yu Qian threw the 《Five Three》 onto her bed in frustration. But curiosity soon got the better of her and she took out the phone charm from her pocket.

It was a black cord with a small red lucky pouch at the end, soft to the touch, with a tiny flower embellishing it.

It was…… pretty nice.

Yu Qian glanced at her phone, which currently had a bunny-shaped charm that Wang Jiajia had gifted her. She kept comparing the two before finally placing Jiang Zheng’s charm on her desk. She didn’t switch them.

Later, she joined a video call with Wang Jiajia and her other friends. Chatting away, she eventually fell asleep.

At midnight, the sound of fireworks woke her.

Still groggy, she pulled open the curtains to take in the view and make a wish.

Just as she rubbed her eyes, she vaguely spotted a shadowy figure in the window across from hers.

“My gosh!” Yu Qian nearly fell backward in fright. As the next round of fireworks lit up the night, she finally saw who it was— Jiang Zheng.

He noticed her staring and even waved at her with a grin.

Yu Qian’s legs turned weak, her heart pounding. Seeing this eerie scene, she wanted to scream. Was he trying to scare her to death by standing there in the dark?

Fueled by anger, she grabbed her phone and called him.

Jiang Zheng answered, “Hey, Little Fish—”

“Jiang Zheng, are you insane?! Why are you standing at the window in the middle of the night like a ghost?!”

Jiang Zheng: “……”

He felt wronged. He had been standing there first, just enjoying the view. How was he supposed to know he’d scare her?

Still, in a way, they had welcomed the Lunar New Year together.

Listening to Yu Qian’s furious rant, Jiang Zheng traced the outline of her small figure with his eyes and sighed. He really couldn’t wait to grow up.

When Yu Qian finally hung up, the fireworks had long since ended. She hadn’t made her wish in time, and she silently blamed Jiang Zheng for it.

────ρя


The next morning, Yu Qian finally remembered the red envelope and eagerly opened it.

Inside was a card.

A card!

Yu Qian was ecstatic. She wanted to run straight to an ATM and check the balance.

For the next few days, just holding that card kept her in a great mood.

During the Lunar New Year, most people visit relatives or travel.

But all of Yu Qian’s relatives were in Jiang City, and she had no desire to go far. So, for the entire holiday, she lounged around the Bai family’s house like a salted fish^[2]someone who has no intention of doing anything, occasionally being dragged out by Lin Niannian or Jiang Zheng.