Chapter 174

"So affectionate, isn't it?" Hehe. Hua Xin's body relaxed even more, the feeling of going back to sleep was very comfortable. The fireworks last night were so beautiful... There were so many people, the atmosphere was so intense. And it was a particularly meaningful New Year's Eve. Santa Claus should have received her email, right? Hopefully he'll climb down the chimney to reply to her... Uh, it seems there's no chimney at home. How did he climb into the other houses without chimneys?? Could it be the sewer??... Great, no need to say more... After being overwhelmed by a deep sleep once again, the quiet room was filled with soft breathing sounds. From the moment her hand and his were clasped together. Whether it was Hua Xin or Gu Xin Hua. It was always her...963...967...999...1000... At noon, Xia Fen, who worked hard and supported herself, was already in place at the cat cafe. With no one at home, Xia Yan did his long-awaited rehabilitation exercises. After all, he couldn't just sit shirtless in the living room playing with barbells when Xia Fen was home. He hadn't exercised since collapsing from overwork, and with work piling up... well, he'd already taken a long leave. This was the first time in years he'd had any free time. No more messages on his phone that he couldn't keep up with, no more endless on-site installations. But the most important thing wasn't his first time making a firm decision to change himself. It was last night. Xia Yan picked up a towel and wiped the sweat from his body, then gulped down his workout drink. A few minutes of white rice. A long-awaited 1000 push-ups. The feeling after exercising wasn't the exhaustion of work fatigue, but rather a feeling of exhilaration. Xia Yan was exceptionally energetic today. He didn't look like he'd only slept a few hours. A faint smile unconsciously graced his face, his eyes sparkling. Compared to his previous gentle and sunny demeanor, perhaps Xia Yan could now be described as more composed and... married? Xia Yan sat on the sofa, calming his breathing, and took out his phone to look at his unusually simple WeChat chat. He hadn't received a reply to Hua Xin's message yet... Last night, afraid of disturbing Hua Xin by staying up too late, he immediately shared this joyous occasion with his best friend this morning! He had finally become a real couple with "Gu Xin Hua"! His confession had been accepted! Xia Yan seemed to remember something, then chuckled to himself, holding his phone. Happy. If Xia Fen saw this... he'd probably be preparing black dog blood and glutinous rice this afternoon. ———————— "Hmm..." As the sun set, Hua Xin groggily sat up, her hair disheveled. What time was it? She remembered while she was sleeping. Sister Li Xue had given her a day off... no work today. She'd sleep some more... "Buzz." "?" It was Xia Yan again? This shrew was really taking advantage of her... The girl yawned and pulled her phone away. Then, the languor and dazed look in her eyes vanished, replaced by a string of 99 messages. Not Xia Yan. But Xia Fen and Li Xue. "Xiao Hua! / Sister Xin Hua!?????" "The shop is in danger, come back quickly!???" 136. Li Xue's debuff was triggered? 3k At the beginning of the new year, everything is renewed. As we bid farewell to the old year and step into the new, apart from the temperature and weather becoming colder and the 2024 on the phone calendar changing to 2025, nothing else has changed. After all, the world is still the same world, and life is still the same life. We still have to go to class and school, we still have to endure hardship, and the 996 work schedule and the monthly salary of 3,000 yuan still have to continue. The weather in January is already very cold, and Shanghai is no exception. You can see the cold air in the breath in the morning, and you can't just wear two simple clothes and a skirt. Otherwise, you might really get rheumatism. The young girl doesn't want to let her perfect legs get sick and be covered with strong-smelling plasters at such a young age. However... "The wind is so noisy today (sigh)..." Hua Xin took a bite of the warm bun in her hand. The taste of the Thirteen Spices bean sprout filling wasn't exactly bad, but it certainly wasn't very tasty either. When she woke up last night, the only ingredients she had at home were two boxes of bean sprouts she had grown herself, and the ever-present Thirteen Spices filling. As for the dumplings and meats she had prepared in advance in the refrigerator for the New Year... those were more important than her savings for her funeral! She absolutely couldn't waste them now! Taking advantage of yesterday being New Year's Day, the girl simply used her excellent cooking skills and steamed a pot of buns with flour she had bought during Double Twelve. Even if you're poor, you still have to celebrate! The most important sense of ritual can't be ruined! As for the taste... the girl's eyes darted around, blocking out her taste buds, and she swallowed the bun. Years of cooking for herself had taught her when to restore her sense of taste and when to block it out. The buns, which hadn't gotten cold, filled her stomach, and the girl put on the hood of her cotton-padded jacket and wrapped herself up. If she hadn't forgotten her mask today, her current attire would have been almost identical to that of "Hua Xin" when she was hiding her identity. As she entered the subway with the flow of people, the chilly temperature finally eased slightly. After precisely finding a secluded seat, she lowered her head, her eyes filled with a warm sense of happiness, and a joyful smile spread across her face. What could be more joyful in this world than feeling cool in summer and warm in winter? Today, Hua Xin was wearing the cotton-padded jacket Xia Yan had given her that day, but her lower body was no longer adorned with her familiar skirt, thick black stockings, and small leather shoes. Because she and Xia Yan had spent too much time outside last night, the chill of the night had been deeply etched into the girl's soul; even with the protection of thick black stockings... she was still cold. So, after waking up yesterday afternoon, she went to a cheap wholesale market near her home and bought a pair of thick pants and shoes for twenty yuan. Although they looked old-fashioned and might even be secondhand... at least the black pants and shoes were aesthetically pleasing. It's cheap, but once the government's relief grain arrives, everything will be fine! Just get through this month, and you can comfortably carry six thousand yuan in the future! Heh heh, if it weren't for the need to avoid revealing that "Hua Xin" and "Gu Xin Hua" are the same person, the girl would have to wear two completely different outfits when she goes out. It's all Xia Yan's fault. Hua Xin picked up her phone, looking at the messages Xia Yan sent to "herself" this morning, and couldn't help but sigh. How could she have agreed to Xia Yan's offer so impulsively... Every morning she has to reply to him as both a good brother and a girlfriend, making it seem like her good brother and girlfriend are the same person! Uh, a female brother? Looking at Xia Yan's two completely different attitudes in the chat box, the girl couldn't help but twitch her lips. To Hua Xin: "Don't stay up too late, Hua Xin, you'll get kidney deficiency. Play a couple of games of chess tonight and I'll come keep my old man company."