"By the way, your second uncle’s family must be beside themselves with joy now that I’m not in the picture. Especially pleased, right? Xiao Mo, rember what your mom says: those people have hearts as cunning as can be. Don’t let them fool you!"
Even if Leng Mo was filled with sadness, it vanished with Zeng Qiuping’s words. She had to interrupt her endless ranting: "Mom! Is it really appropriate to keep saying words like ’dead’ during New Year?"
Zeng Qiuping was taken aback by Leng Mo’s question, awkwardly laughing: "I’m just saying it casually. By the way, daughter, you and Yin Xian..."
Leng Mo lowered her head and replied flatly: "We’re just friends now!"
After midnight, the New Year’s bell rang, officially ushering in 2008.
In a large bedroom specially tidied up by Housekeeper Xu on the old man’s orders, Li Si snuggled in the broad, warm embrace of Leng Mochen, chatting, while Buding was snoring away on a little bed not far away.
Li Si played with his slender fingers, sighing: "How quickly ti flies! It’s already 2008!"
Sotis she couldn’t even imagine what her life was like at this ti in that life.
Leng Mochen kissed her cheek, breathing in her enticing scent, feeling parts of himself stir, "Quick? On such a morable day, shouldn’t we do sothing?"
How could Li Si not guess what was on his mind? She pounded his chest twice: "Watch it! We’re not at ho!"
"You must be imagining things! Am I that impure? Anything we do must equate to love?"
Li Si didn’t believe his nonsense: "Ahem! Extrely impure! It’s obvious to everyone!"
Leng Mochen eagerly retorted: "You say that even without any initial intent, I must act on it! Otherwise, how can I live up to your words?"
In a swift motion, he pinned her beneath him, beginning the first activity of 2008.
"Ah! Be gentle!" Li Si felt like dying; the more he talked, the more vigorous he beca, completely ignoring everything.
Leng Mochen said nonchalantly: "What are you afraid of! This room has excellent soundproofing!"
Li Si: "..."
On the first day of the New Year, after the Leng Family had breakfast together, except for Leng Mochen who stayed to play chess with the old man in the study, the rest returned to their hos to prepare to host visiting guests.
Li Si and the others returned ho with Leng Qiankai. They had just settled in when Jin Yichen arrived with gifts for the New Year.
Leng Ning joyously busied herself around, urging Jin Yichen to eat fruit quickly and having the housemaids bring coffee promptly.
Mrs. Leng helplessly stopped her: "Xiao Ning! Stop being so busy, sit down and chat with us!"
Isn’t this girl outward-oriented!
Leng Ning playfully stuck out her tongue and winked at Jin Yichen.
Ouyang Yan found the son-in-law more pleasing to the eye day by day and asked warmly: "Yesterday, we thought you were only spending the New Year with your dad! Just the two of you wouldn’t be much fun. Your grandfather even suggested you co over for so lively company. But then, Xiao Ning called, saying you had other family mbers over, so that plan was dropped!"
"Yes! My aunt’s children ca from out of town." Jin Yichen explained, his face slightly stiff.
"I see! It’s more lively with more people!" Mrs. Leng, knowing little, said nothing more and switched the conversation to another topic.
But Leng Ning and Li Si both noticed sothing off about Jin Yichen’s face, as if it wasn’t just the simple matter of a newly acknowledged family.
At this mont, Ouyang Zhenglin brought Wang ishu and their son over to wish the old man a New Year, and then they ca to the house.
Since their parents passed away, there wasn’t much protocol. Ouyang Yan, who spent the thirty-first with her father-in-law, ant Wang ishu spent New Year’s Eve with Ouyang Zhenglin and their son at her family’s ho.
Leng Ning briefly chatted with them before she went upstairs with Jin Yichen.
Wang ishu, always the conversationalist, couldn’t help but praise Buding from head to toe upon seeing him dressed up, making Li Si feel embarrassed listening beside her.
Mrs. Leng listened with a smile, not wishing to seek out any negativity on New Year’s, so she responded to whatever her sister-in-law said.
The two n clearly didn’t like listening to won chat, so Ouyang Zhenglin was invited to the study by Leng Qiankai,
Mingming followed them promptly as they got up and left.
In no ti, the spacious living room was left with just the three won and Buding.
When Ouyang Yan took Buding to find toys, Wang ishu, seeing the opportunity, leaned over to Li Si, "Sisi, I heard sothing, not sure if I should tell you!"
Li Si paused with her teacup raised, looking up at her: "What is it? Related to ?"
She thought so, having sensed Wang ishu’s hesitance earlier, but didn’t know if it was good news or bad.
Wang ishu leaned closer and whispered: "Well, it doesn’t really concern you. I just heard about it! Wang Ye’s grandmother’s old acquaintance, an old man nad Han, passed away before the New Year!"
Li Si glanced at her indifferently, not responding. Talking about this during New Year’s showed Wang ishu’s true intentions!
Thinking it was an invitation to continue, Wang ishu went on in a low voice: "I heard the old man left quite an estate, divided into several parts. His biological son’s family received a third, and they’re now embroiled in a lawsuit!"
Li Si’s lips curled into a cold smile. It was obvious this was about Li Fei’s family, but she had no interest in it.
So, she interrupted Wang ishu’s probing with a laugh: "Auntie, such matters are quite common, and have nothing to do with us! Let’s talk about sothing else during the New Year! I heard Mingming found a little girlfriend, how’s that going?"
The ntion of this topic brought Wang ishu to life; despite her curiosity, she excitedly said: "She’s beautiful, from a good family! Let tell you, Sisi, that girl..."
Li Si listened with a soft laugh, occasionally chiming in. She glanced upstairs, wondering if Leng Ning had learned anything since going up. Jin Yichen’s expression surely wasn’t quite right.
Leng Ning took Jin Yichen to her room to talk, diving straight in:
"Why does your face look so bad with your aunt’s family here? I sensed sothing was off during our call last night. What happened, tell ! Don’t let it be like He Qingchi’s situation, hiding it until almost..."
She had a good impression of that family nad Zhuang, but Jin Yichen’s deanor suggested he was hiding sothing.
Leng Ning was the type to lay it all bare, realizing that upon seeing Jin Yichen today, he probably hadn’t slept well last night.
Jin Yichen quickly held Leng Ning’s hand, gazing into her eyes and speaking softly: "Why would I! The He Qingchi matter was an accident; I feared if you knew, it would affect how you view the old man..."
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