Zhao ii called directly, and the phone was picked up almost imdiately. A gentle and pleasant voice from Xu Xu ca through the cellphone: "ii, Happy New Year."
Zhao ii smiled and said, "Happy New Year."
Since going to college, Xu Xu hadn’t co ho through the provincial capital as he had promised earlier during breaks. He also hadn’t connected with Zhao ii through video software online, nor had he sent calls or texts, only sending greetings during holidays.
Every ti Xu Xu sent a greeting ssage, Zhao ii would imdiately call him back.
Zhao ii asked, "What delicious food is Auntie making for you tonight?"
Xu Xu laughed, his voice coming through slightly unfamiliar but with the most familiar tone: "Tonight is a feast with chicken, duck, fish, and at. We’re eating dumplings right now, chive and egg dumplings with shrimp inside."
Zhao ii said, "You could just call it a vegetarian triple-fresh dumpling!"
Xu Xu: "It’s different. My mom’s dumplings are stuffed with whole shrimps cut into pieces, while vegetarian triple-fresh dumplings only have small shrimp chunks inside. What about you? Your house must be lively during New Year, right?"
Zhao ii lay in bed, stretching lazily: "Not very lively this year. My brother’s family had a relative who fell ill and was hospitalized, so my uncle and aunt have been busy taking care of the patient, and my parents are helping as well. Today, during the day, my parents went to the hospital, and in the evening my uncle and aunt went. They just left not long ago."
Xu Xu gently replied, "Oh," and then suddenly realized, asking with surprise, "ii, you ca back?"
Zhao ii laughed: "Yes, I did. I was thinking about visiting your place the day after tomorrow."
Xu Xu’s voice carried a hint of laughter: "Great, I’ll make you sothing delicious then."
The two chatted for a while longer, agreeing on a eting ti for the day after tomorrow, before hanging up.
Zhao ii, holding her phone, began to send group ssages in response to blessing texts. When it ca to her close friends like Da Bao, Peng Hui, Qian Sing, Qu Chaozong, and Zhang Xin, she composed each one individually, not using fancy words or humor, focusing on sincere intent.
Shi Yang pushed the door open and walked in, seeing her lying on the bed energetically playing with her phone. He asked, "Are you really planning to stay up all night?"
Zhao ii rolled over, lying on her back, and playfully said, "Honey, Happy New Year!"
Shi Yang smiled and climbed onto the bed, leaning over to kiss her, asking, "Do you want a gift?"
Zhao ii’s eyes lit up: "Is there a gift? Where?"
Shi Yang laughed and said, "Find it yourself."
Zhao ii first looked at Shi Yang, who was wearing casual clothes without pockets. Then she turned to flip the pillow, and finally found a square box under the pillow she slept on. Opening it, she found a ladies’ white porcelain watch inside, bearing a famous brand even Zhao ii, who never wore a watch, had heard of.
With delight, Zhao ii put it on her wrist, and Shi Yang reached out to help her fasten the strap, asking, "Do you like it?"
Zhao ii then noticed Shi Yang was also wearing a watch of the sa style on his wrist. She nodded repeatedly: "I like it. Bro, are these couple watches?"
Shi Yang gave her another kiss: "Yep, spent quite so ti at the counter, thought you’d definitely like this one."
On New Year’s Day, visitors ca continuously to Shi Yang’s house. Zhao ii stayed in the bedroom, playing on the computer. Shi Yang would occasionally sneak in when no one noticed, either to bring Zhao ii newly delivered New Year goods for her to try or gently pinching her chin and giving her a couple of kisses, sweetly sharing loving words.
In the afternoon, Zhao ii received a call from Zhang Xin and found out she had also returned to her hotown, arriving today in the afternoon.
Zhang Xin said, "I just saw the New Year’s ssage you sent . Do you have ti now? Want to go out for fun?"
Zhao ii jumped up from the bed, considering the constant flow of guests delivering gifts for New Year’s greetings outside, she agreed cheerfully: "Okay, I’ll tidy up and head out. Sister Xin, where do I find you?"
Zhang Xin asked for Shi Yang’s ho address and said, "I’ll wait for you at the main entrance of the community. It’s cold outside, wear more layers."
Zhao ii put on the down jacket Shi Yang recently bought her, grabbed a scarf, hat, and gloves, and finally put a mask in her pocket. Fully ard, she opened the bedroom door, and everyone in the living room looked at her.
Shi Yang approached her and asked in surprise, "Where are you heading?"
Zhao ii replied happily, "Sister Xin is taking out to play."
"Zhang Xin?" Shi Yang seed concerned: "Where is she taking you?"
Zhao ii: "I don’t know. She said she’ll wait for at the community entrance."
Shi Yang hesitated briefly, then held Zhao ii: "Wait a mont, I’ll take you there."
It was the first ti seeing Zhang Xin after the New Year, dressed in all black.
A shiny mink fur short coat, black leather pants down below, black leather boots, and long, black wavy hair hanging down. Even the car she drove was dazzling black, contrasting sharply against the festive red everywhere for the New Year.
Zhao ii cheerfully greeted her: "Sister Xin, Happy New Year!"
Zhang Xin, holding a large shopping bag, looked at Zhao ii bundled up like a penguin and couldn’t help but laugh: "Thank you, Happy New Year to you as well... Sis, are you planning to go skiing?"
Zhao ii was puzzled, wasn’t she told to dress warmly because it was cold outside?
Shi Yang greeted Zhang Xin: "When did you co back?"
Zhang Xin said: "Got ho a little after one, Mr. Shi, Happy New Year!"
Shi Yang laughed: "Why call Mr. Shi, call Bro!"
Zhang Xin laughed: "Bro, Happy New Year."
Shi Yang indeed took out a pre-packaged red envelope from his pocket, originally intended for so child’s gift but handed over to Zhang Xin on the spot: "Happy New Year."
Zhang Xin handed the bag over: "This is New Year’s goods from others, brought for you all to try. Bro, I’m taking your little wife, hope you don’t mind?"
Shi Yang semi-seriously joked: "As long as you bring her back safely, I don’t mind."
Zhang Xin laughed: "Don’t worry, won’t take her too far."
True to her word, Zhang Xin didn’t take Zhao ii too far away, not even outside the city, just from the west to the south of the city.
Zhang Xin unlocked the door, stood at the entrance, pulled down the zipper of her boots, kicked off the shoes, and walked barefoot on the floor, helping Zhao ii with slippers.
After changing shoes, Zhao ii looked around the house with surprise, asking, "Sister Xin, is this your ho?"
Zhang Xin’s tone carried a hint of nostalgia: "Yes, this house was my mother’s. I lived here when I was little, but after my mom passed away, this house belongs to . Apart from , no one else has been inside.
"I sold this house earlier, but just now my dad handed the key, the house was bought back by him. Interesting, right? The house my mom left for , I sold it, but it was bought back by dad spending money again."
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