Taking advantage of Ka Ka’s ssage, Yan quickly replied with New Year’s greetings and asked about Ka Ka’s latest plans.
[Ka Ka]: The rice noodles will have to wait until delivery services resu before I can send them. It’ll probably take a few days to reach the capital. Mianyang isn’t exactly a tourist city, but there are still so scenic spots here. I plan to stay a few more days and avoid the post-holiday rush before heading ho.
[Yan]: No rush~~~ I’m just happy to get so! When you’re done, you can co visit us in Ning City after the holidays.
Yan guessed that since Ka Ka’s trip was unusually long this ti, she’d probably take a break for a while.
However, the next move of this little traveler didn’t seem entirely up to Ka Ka herself.
After chatting for a bit, Yan learned that Ka Ka hadn’t slept at all from last night until now—after finishing her video, she’d been busy contacting local brands in her hotel to buy Mianyang rice noodles. Yan imdiately urged her to get so rest.
Even people with halos aren’t made of iron!
After exchanging ssages with Ka Ka, Yan had completely forgotten about her earlier leg cramps. Now that her legs felt fine, she jumped up and bounced on the floor a couple of tis.
“Perfect, fully recharged.” Yan nodded in satisfaction, humming a little tune without thinking.
“We ordinary folks are so happy today~”
“La-la-la, la-la-la~”
New Year’s Day, the first day of the year—first, she’d raided Lu Chen’s dinsional convenience store, then watched Ka Ka’s video and was about to receive rice noodles from afar.
Comrade Chu Shen was even making egg-fried rice at ho.
What a perfect, peaceful, drama-free day!
Hearing her humming, Yuan Ye burst out laughing. “What kind of playlist is this?”
“An exclusive playlist you won’t hear anywhere else,” Zhu Jue chid in.
“Ewwww~~~” Yuan Ye imdiately hugged himself in mock disgust.
“Is Old Xiao not coming out today? Oh, he sent a ssage in the group,” Chu Shen said with a smile.
“Let check—is it in the big group?” Yan switched to the group chat.
She opened the combined dorm group but didn’t see any ssage from Brother Xiao. However, when she checked her feed, she spotted a public account post he’d shared.
[Xiao Qingnang]: “Tonight at 7 PM on CCTV—‘Treasures of Ti’! Top-tier national treasures make their debut. Don’t miss it!”
“He sent it in our dorm group,” Yuan Ye confird after seeing it too.
The mont Yan saw the post, it clicked.
“Ohhh, it’s Suisui’s show! Lin Lu also sponsored it.”
Chu Shen let out a knowing “tsk” and flashed a mysterious smile.
“Well, that settles our plans for tonight.”
They say that after New Year’s Eve’s fresh feast, the following days are just reheating leftovers.
But for Yan’s big, combined family, that wasn’t an issue.
Father Yan had a strict rule: no leftovers older than two als. Cooking extra saved effort for the next al, but nothing was reheated a third ti to avoid excessive nitrites.
Plus, with so many people—especially Zhu Jue and Da Bao, two growing boys raised to never waste food—there were rarely many leftovers to begin with. A couple of extra vegetable dishes the next day usually finished everything off.
So, for lunch on New Year’s Day, when the malls were packed and they were too lazy to go out, and small shops were closed, Zhu Jue fried so dumplings and reheated leftover atballs while Chu Shen tossed a cold salad. The four of them had a simple al at ho.
Their original plan to watch a movie fell through when they checked theater seats—the good showtis were long sold out. Since it was just a ti-killer anyway, they scrapped the idea.
With Da Bao and Xiao Bao still out visiting relatives, Chu Shen enthusiastically proposed a four-player card ga.
Without the two little geniuses around, and paired with Yuan Ye, the two teams were evenly matched, trading wins back and forth. Chu Shen nearly teared up.
“This is what a normal card ga feels like!”
But by evening, when Tan Dabao and Tan Xiaobao returned from their New Year’s visits, Yuan Ye finally t the prodigies Chu Shen had described as “wiping the floor with us.”
The legendary little geniuses joined the ga.
Now with six players, they split into teams of three, separating Da Bao and Xiao Bao. The battles grew even fiercer.
They cycled through Guandan, 414, 510k, and Red 5, playing every card ga they knew. After two hours, Yuan Ye and Chu Shen collapsed onto the floor.
“No more… seriously, no more. This isn’t playing cards—it’s like doing advanced calculus. My brain’s been running at full speed every second. It’s exhausting. I feel like my mind and stomach are both empty,” Yuan Ye groaned.
With just the four of them, it had been a fair fight. But after the siblings joined, it beca an all-out war. Their brains, already strained, couldn’t keep up. Every round was a high-stakes battle, each move calculated.
Chu Shen was equally spent. “This isn’t a ga. It’s a grand showdown.”
The card ga was supposed to be relaxing, but it ended up being unexpectedly intense, coming down to pure luck in the end.
As the ga concluded, Chu Shen volunteered to cook dinner for the uncles and aunts. Since it was the first day of the Lunar New Year, it didn’t feel right to let guests do the work, so everyone headed to the kitchen together. So washed rice, others peeled potatoes, while the chef’s role naturally fell to Chu Shen and Zhu Jue.
Da Bao and Xiao Bao had spent the day visiting relatives with Aunt Tan to offer New Year’s greetings, while Yan, figuring there were still so special visits to make, had gone out earlier. Now, the two of them ca downstairs to change clothes—though their festive outfits were nice, loungewear was far more comfortable.
"Wild Ge (Brother Wild), are you still going on business trips after the New Year? Taobao store photoshoots probably won’t start until after the seventh or eighth day of the Lunar New Year, right?" In the Yan family kitchen, Chu Shen sliced tofu so fast his hands were practically a blur.
Hearing "Boss Chu’s" question, Yuan Ye’s heart skipped a beat.
Well, it seed Boss Chu had completely mistaken him for a model who did photoshoots for Taobao stores—won’s clothing, no less. Whatever, he might as well let the misunderstanding continue.
Vaguely, he replied, "Hard to say. I might stick around for another two or three days, but if there’s an urgent order, I’ll have to leave."
Who knew when that dumb system’s "traveling outfit change" feature would refresh? Once it did, he’d have to head to the next city to check in.
Chu Shen sighed sympathetically. "Wild Ge, your industry is pretty competitive too. But you could probably model both n’s and won’s clothing."
Yuan Ye: "..."
As if I had a choice. His niche was indeed… unique.
Taking advantage of the fact that Chu Shen and Zhu Jue were busy in the kitchen, the younger siblings weren’t around, and Yan was adjusting the TV in the living room, Yuan Ye thought for a mont before walking over.
Yan was tidying up the ssy coffee table—earlier, they had gathered around it to play cards while snacking intermittently. Now, she was wiping it down. Glancing at the nut and seed tray, she figured there was enough for the evening and didn’t refill it.
As Yuan Ye approached to help, he hesitated before speaking softly, "Yan, about last night… thank you."
Yan blinked in confusion. Last night? When Yuan Ye dressed as a female ghost on Jingshan?
But she and Jue Jue hadn’t done anything!
Was he thanking them for not exposing him on the spot?
Wait, but Yuan Ye shouldn’t even know that they recognized him.
Her face remained blank. "What are you talking about?"
Yuan Ye pressed his lips together.
Were they still pretending not to know, just to protect his pride and dignity?
Earlier that morning, Boss Chu had video-called him, vividly recounting the events. The couple’s reactions made it obvious they were deliberately avoiding the topic—even now, whenever Boss Chu brought it up, they quickly changed the subject, clearly trying to spare him embarrassnt.
Yan and Zhu Jue were being so considerate. If they didn’t want to acknowledge it, he wouldn’t make things awkward for them either.
With that in mind, he simply said, "Never mind."
Then, shifting gears, he adopted a gossipy tone.
"By the way, was your roommate in Ning City before? That Elder Xiao, is he…?"
Yan took one look at Yuan Ye’s expression—ah, just like Chu Shen’s earlier.
"Why don’t you ask Xiao Ge yourself?" she said.
Yuan Ye shrugged. "I don’t dare."
"Elder Xiao’s aura is too intimidating. Forget face-to-face—even when I text him, his replies never exceed five words."
"Have you ever t soone his age who doesn’t use a QWERTY or T9 keyboard but insists on handwriting everything? I an, even if he’s from an ancient dical family, how could they not let him use the internet before?" Just thinking about it made Yuan Ye’s lips twitch.
Yan burst out laughing. "Jue Jue told about that."
Yuan Ye looked utterly bewildered, but she and Jue Jue naturally knew the reason.
"Whenever I’m around Elder Xiao, I just feel like… I’m facing an elder brother figure," Yuan Ye admitted.
Brother Fan was straightforward, Ping’an and Chu Shen were normal, and Zhu Jue—despite his unique background—still felt like any other young person in daily interactions.
Sotis, when he, Ping’an, and Boss Chu were noisily gaming in the dorm, Yuan Ye would glance over and catch Xiao Qingnang watching them with a gentle, almost parental gaze, unconditionally indulging their antics.
"So, about this whole thing… it kind of feels like watching an old tree finally bloom. I hope it works out for him," Yuan Ye concluded.
"He wakes up around the sa ti as Brother Fan—one goes for weighted runs, the other does health exercises. After breakfast, he reads for a bit before heading to the association. He’s big on wellness, has no bad habits, no sketchy friends, stable emotions, and a ton of skills. Plus, zero romantic history."
As the only one in the all-male dorm who spent most of his ti there, Yuan Ye wasn’t omniscient about his roommates’ lives, but he had a pretty good grasp of their routines.
Ye Ping'an was busy with live streaming, while Chu Shen, juggling classes and running his shop, often caught up on sleep in the dorm during his free ti. When Zhu Jue wasn’t around, the young couple would spend ti together, and Fan Ge was probably pushing himself with extra training at so gym.
Though everyone jokingly called Xiao Qingnang "Old Man Xiao," they genuinely regarded him as their elder brother. His social dia feed was usually filled with ancient dical texts or cutting-edge dical research, but today’s shared program announcent was a stark departure from his usual style.
Yan’s expression turned odd. "Yuan Ye, you sound like a matchmaker buttering up the girl’s family. Isn’t this bribery?"
Yuan Ye coughed awkwardly. "At most, I’m just saying nice things—I wouldn’t even call it matchmaking."
Yan, having finished wiping the table, paused thoughtfully before speaking.
"Ultimately, relationships are a matter between two people in the beginning."
"Whether it works out or not, whether it’s a yes or no—outsiders have no right to comnt. It’s like drinking water; only the person knows if it’s warm or cold."
"Adults have their own thoughts. Things like public confessions or peer pressure in school settings can just make the people involved uncomfortable," Yan continued slowly.
"The more external forces interfere, the more likely it is to trigger resistance. And for two introverted people, I think the best thing we can do is respect them and let things unfold naturally."
She tilted her head and spotted Zhu Jue and Chu Shen eavesdropping by the kitchen door.
Yan and Zhu Jue exchanged a knowing smile, her eyes crinkling as she watched Zhu Jue drag Chu Shen back into the kitchen.
Yuan Ye took a mont to process her words before responding.
"You’re right."
"Whatever choice they make, personal wishes should be respected."
He gave a self-deprecating smile. "I was overthinking it. Here I am, never even been in a relationship, trying to ddle in soone else’s. Trying to force things might just be self-indulgence. A lot of people think they’re helping, but they might just be making things worse."
Yan’s lips curved slightly as a new ssage popped up on her phone—from Ding Ling.
[Ding Ling]: Yan, are you free these next few days? I need to return to Bin City and give the bell back to you first.
Yan: !
Why was the bell being returned already? She’d only just given it away a few days ago!
Frowning slightly, Yan sighed in frustration.
Yuan Ye caught a glimpse of her phone. Huh? Ding Ling… the bell?
His mind flashed back to the ti he’d accidentally seen Yan holding a bell in the school grove.
His expression tightened. So, Ding Ling had borrowed the bell from Yan—they really were connected!
Before Yan could reply, another ssage ca through.
[Ding Ling]: The Xie Family matter should be resolved soon.
Yan thought for a mont. Ding Ling’s return to Bin City was probably still related to the case—maybe Xie Da, whose spirit had been faint in the records. The bell might still be useful.
[Yan]: Then you should keep the bell with you. It might co in handy.
If those two bells were sent back again, even though the residential area was safe, she’d still worry about them.
Ding Ling took a while to respond. "Alright, I understand."
Though Yan wasn’t sure what she’d "understood," at least the two troubleso copper bells were temporarily out of her hands again. She set her phone aside.
Yuan Ye, not wanting to intrude further, headed to the kitchen to see if he could help, only to be imdiately shooed out by Chu Shen.
"The kitchen’s cramped enough as it is. Don’t get in the way—we’re almost done."
Zhu Jue ca out to help set the table. Just as they finished arranging the large dining table, the sound of keys turning in the lock announced the arrival of the adults and the freshly bathed Da Bao and Xiao Bao.
Seeing the spread of dishes being brought to the table—along with a new, pretty face—Madam Yu exclaid, "Well, well! You kids haven’t been idle at ho. Cooking up a feast on New Year’s Day!"
There was Wensi tofu, beef stew with potatoes, fried rice, and, due to ti constraints, Chu Shen had decided against making braised pork belly.
With so many people, variety was key. He’d also prepared a cold salad, while Zhu Jue seasoned so pre-soaked jellyfish strips. Other dishes included blanched greens, pan-fried hairtail fish, stir-fried pickled cabbage with glass noodles, and pre-made crispy pork bites and popcorn chicken tossed into the air fryer for quick finishing.
To welco his roommates, Zhu Jue even showed off with a plate of candied sweet potatoes—thin, delicate strands of caral drawing enthusiastic applause from Da Bao and Xiao Bao.
Yi Zhi had sent over a whole crate of sweet potatoes. Though they were delicious, eating too many could cause heartburn. They’d stead so for breakfast, and now they were finally making a dent in the stash.
"Damn, Zhu Jue, turns out you’re the real chef here," Chu Shen remarked in awe.
Last night’s New Year’s Eve dinner had mostly been prepared by their dads, with them just assisting. Today, they got to see Zhu Jue’s skills firsthand.
"Just ho-style cooking," Zhu Jue said dismissively. Back when their parents were often away, they’d grown tired of cafeteria food and takeout but didn’t want to impose on neighbors, so they’d learned to cook for themselves.
The kitchen was heavy with the sll of cooking oil, and since he was still getting the hang of frying without splattering grease everywhere, his height and strength gave him an advantage—lighting the stove, stir-frying, and flipping the wok were all easier for him. There was no way he’d let Yan or the two younger ones handle it.
"These are all my sister’s favorite dishes," Tan Xiaobao snickered.
Yan coughed lightly. "The candied sweet potatoes are your favorite. I don’t like sweet things."
Even so, the first piece of candied sweet potato, cooled in water, still found its way into Yan’s bowl.
After dinner, The Passage of National Treasures began airing, and everyone fixed their eyes on the TV, even the adults gathering around.
When Gu Jiasui appeared on screen in a ticulously recreated palace gown, Yan heard her mother inhale sharply.
The show, which told the stories of national treasures, first introduced each artifact through its "guardian," then imrsed viewers in historical reenactnts to explore its past.
And so, they watched as Princess Jianing—from her youthful days flitting through palace corridors, to her coming-of-age ceremony, her departure from the palace to establish her own residence, and her lonely days of illness—beca the thread weaving through The Imperial Scroll of the Zhou Dynasty, a princess entwined with three generations of emperors.
By the ti the episode ended, Aunt Tan sighed in admiration.
"That classmate of yours is truly extraordinary."
"She embodied the princess so naturally."
Father Yan nodded slowly in agreent. "They really chose the perfect person for the role."
Yan, still cupping her cheeks, stared at the TV. It was her first ti seeing Suisui dressed so regally—she looked every bit like a princess brought back to life, radiant and peerless.
Normally, Gu Jiasui dressed simply, her deanor cool and understated. But on the show, she was resplendent, her elegance undiminished by the opulence around her—instead, the two complented each other perfectly.
Especially during the scene where she left the palace to establish her residence and received her official title—it was as if she had unleashed a suppressed side of herself, commanding the screen with an imperious gaze that seed to pierce through it, every inch the golden, untouchable noble.
Excited, Yan reposted the official show’s photos to her social dia.
[Yan]: AHHHH SUISUI IS THE BEST!!! BORN TO PLAY HISTORICAL ROLES! PRINCESS JIANING REINCARNATED!!! If you haven’t seen The Passage of National Treasures, GO WATCH IT NOW!!! [GIF]
Within monts, the others followed suit.
[Chu Bingbing]: SUISUI MURDERED !!! SO GORGEOUS I COULD DIE WAAAAH!!!
[Yi Zhi]: Like. [photo.jpg]
[Ding Ling]: My Suisui baby [kiss]
Refreshing her feed, Yan saw all four of their posts lined up in a row.
Then, a new notification popped up at the top of her feed.
In the blink of an eye, four likes from Xiao Qingnang appeared.
Yan: "..."
Bro Xiao, aren’t you being a little too obvious? He never usually liked any of their posts!
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