"It's nothing," Bai Yaxin gently wiped the corner of her eye. "This is the first time our family has spent the New Year together. I hope that every year from now on, we can all be reunited."
"Okay," Lin Tingyue said happily, "We'll be together forever."
Someone who was about to ruin the mood arrived, and Lin Shengyan, "That's not necessarily true."
All five people stared at Lin Shengyan.
Lin Shengyan explained, "I mean, what if I'm still on set during the New Year... Don't worry, I'll video call you guys."
"You child, why are you speaking in such a breathy way?"
"Just trying to liven things up."
"Are there really people still in the production team during the Chinese New Year?" Lin Tingyue asked.
"Yes, Ying An is in the group. Didn't he tell you?"
"Huh, he didn't say anything."
Lin Tingyue opened her phone and glanced at it. Ying An had wished her a happy Lunar New Year's Eve that morning, but he hadn't said a word about himself.
"Well, Ying An, you really know how to keep things to yourself," Lin Shengyan raised an eyebrow. "It's fine, it doesn't matter if I tell you."
"Okay, I understand."
[And it's so strange, why does everyone assume I know about Mr. Ying's recent situation?]
That's really strange.
The other five people understood each other without saying a word.
At nine o'clock in the evening, Bai Yaxin and Lin Rusong went to bed first. Lin Shengyan suggested playing cards, and the loser would have to stick a sticker on their face.
Lin Tingyue said with great confidence, "Fine, I'll stick it on then."
I'm a pro at playing poker.
Hmph, no matter how skilled a player is, they're doomed when they meet this gambling king.
Lin Shengyan then looked at Lin Yuhuan and Lin Xiawan, "Big brother, Xiawan, wanna play?"
Lin Xiawan and Lin Yuhuan exchanged a glance; the true king was right here.
Lin Xiawan said, "Play."
Lin Yuhuan followed closely behind, "We should have some fun during the New Year."
Lin Shengyan excitedly, "I'm going to find the playing cards."
The happier Lin Shengyan was at the beginning, the more heartbroken he was at the end. He and Lin Tingyue were utterly defeated by Lin Yuhuan and Lin Xiawan, those two wolves in sheep's clothing, leaving them with so many stickers on their faces.
Lin Shengyan in frustration, "How could this be?"
Lin Yuhuan patted him on the shoulder, "This is probably what they mean by 'there are always people more capable than you, and the sky is always higher than the heavens.'"
Lin Xiawan brushed the note off Lin Tingyue's face and asked softly, " Tingyue, do you want to play again?"
Lin Tingyue shook her head vigorously, like a rattle-drum.
Thankfully, there was no gambling involved.
Upon hearing this thought, the other three couldn't help but chuckle.
Lin Yuhuan glanced at his watch. "It's almost midnight."
The four of them stood up and walked to the French windows. At the stroke of midnight, fireworks lit up the sky outside, and the four of them wished each other a Happy New Year.
Lin Tingyue's phone beeped. She opened it and saw that Ying An had sent her a Happy New Year message right at midnight.
Lin Tingyue replied, and the group returned to their rooms to prepare for sleep.
Once inside the room, Lin Tingyue realized that her "Happy New Year" message was still in the chat box, but hadn't been sent at all.
How could I be so careless?
I quickly clicked send, and Ying An replied instantly, as if she had been watching my phone the whole time.
Lin Tingyue's feelings were somewhat complicated.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Tingyue asked again, " Mr. Ying, can you see the fireworks from your side?"
After sending the message, she drew back the curtains, pointed the camera at the fireworks in the villa area, and was interrupted by a phone call just as she started recording.
It was Ying An.
Mr. Ying.
"Happy New Year, Miss Lin."
"Happy New Year."
"Listen."
The sound of fireworks came through the receiver. Lin Tingyue leaned against the glass, watching the fireworks in front of her, imagining what the fireworks looked like on Ying An's side.
Lin Tingyue murmured softly, "It must be very beautiful."
Ying An asked from the other end, "Would Miss Lin like to take a look?"
"OK."
Ying An turned on the camera, and what appeared in Lin Tingyue's eyes was a dazzling display of fireworks.
"So beautiful!"
"It's very beautiful."
The moment the night sky was illuminated by fireworks, Ying An thought of Lin Tingyue's eyes.
Lin Tingyue asked softly, " Mr. Ying like to see what's on my side?"
"Think."
Lin Tingyue also turned on her camera. She held it up against the glass, and the two people, though in different places, saw the same fireworks display.
Ying An said, "They are all very beautiful."
"Yes."
After the sudden silence, Lin Tingyue asked, "Have you had your New Year's Eve dinner?"
"Yes, we ate. My parents and Ningning came all the way here."
"I see..."
"Yes."
The two chatted idly for a while, but Lin Tingyue didn't find it boring at all.
There was a knock on the door.
Lin Tingyue said, "Wait a moment."
Ying An, he said, "Okay."
Lin Tingyue went to open the door. "Second Brother, what are you doing?"
Lin Shengyan handed the red envelope to Lin Tingyue with a smug look, "New Year's money."
Lin Tingyue smiled sincerely, "Thank you, Second Brother."
Lin Shengyan crossed his arms and asked, "Now you know how to say thank you?"
"I've always been very polite."
"Yeah?"
"Definitely." Lin Tingyue smiled, holding the red envelope in her hand.
Lin Shengyan, "Go to sleep early, or you'll look like a panda tomorrow morning."
"What's wrong with giant pandas? They're national treasures!"
"Yes, yes, yes."
Giant pandas are national treasures, Lin Tingyue is the treasure of their family.
After Lin Shengyan left, Lin Tingyue closed the door. " Mr. Ying, are you still there?"
Ying An, who had been silent all along, quickly responded to Lin Tingyue, "Yes."
"Why don't you get some rest?"
"Okay, goodnight, Miss Lin."
"Good night."
Chapter 105
On the first day of the new year, Lin Tingyue opened the door and looked at the scene before her. She rubbed her eyes, wondering if there was something wrong with them.
Bai Yaxin asked with concern, " Tingyue, what's wrong? Are your eyes bothering you?"
It's actually true!?
Lin Tingyue shook her head, then asked, "Mom, what are you doing here? Big brother, sister, Dad, what are you all doing here?"
"We've come to give you lucky money."
As Bai Yaxin spoke, five red envelopes appeared before Lin Tingyue's eyes.
"Are they all for me?"
"Yes."
[This is so embarrassing.]
Lin Tingyue glanced at Lin Yuhuan, then at Lin Xiawan, while Bai Yaxin to herself, "They all have these, this is yours, take it quickly."
"Good."
Lin Tingyue nodded obediently, and just as she was about to reach out her hand, the five red envelopes seemed to be fighting in front of her, all wanting to stuff them into her hand as soon as possible.
Lin Tingyue: "?"
Bai Yaxin coaxed, " Tingyue, take Mom's first."
Lin Tingyue: "O.0"
What exactly is going on?
Hearing Lin Tingyue's roar, Lin Shengyan walked over. He leaned lazily against the railing, watching the scene unfold. Bai Yaxin asked, " Lin Shengyan, didn't you prepare any New Year's money for your sister?"
"I've got it ready. I gave it to her last night."
Last night?
The five people who wanted to be number one looked at each other in bewilderment. Why hadn't they thought of that?
Seeing their reactions, Lin Shengyan somewhat figured out what they were thinking. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Looks like I'm the first person to give Lin Tingyue a red envelope."
This earned him five angry glares.
Lin Shengyan smugly, "Although you didn't beat me in ranking, you can beat me in terms of the amount of money involved."
"Yes."
The five people suddenly realized what was going on and decided to put another card into the red envelope.
Lin Tingyue was both amused and exasperated. She stopped them, saying, "That's enough, that's enough. This is more than enough."
"How strange," Lin Shengyan slowly as he walked over, staring at Lin Tingyue. "This little money-grubber actually says 'enough' with money?"
"I may be a money-grubber, but I am also Lin Tingyue."
For me, the love of family and
Money is just as important.
"Oh my, Lin Tingyue's gotten to a high level. Why don't you give me all her money?"
Lin Shengyan, looking like he was asking for a beating, deliberately teased Lin Tingyue, snatched the red envelopes that everyone was going to give to Lin Tingyue, and ran away.
" Lin Shengyan!!!"
How could you rob someone of their money? Second brother, you're so awful!
Lin Tingyue chased after Lin Shengyan down the stairs, and the two of them were both panting heavily in the end.
[Today's exercise target has been met.]
Lin Shengyan chuckled and deliberately held the red envelope up to Lin Tingyue, letting her Lin Tingyue away.
Lin Tingyue retreated defensively while flipping through the cards in the red envelope; what else could she be but a money-grubber?
"Hey, sis..."
As she backed away, Lin Tingyue bumped into someone, and by the time Lin Shengyan stood up, it was too late.
Lin Tingyue was stunned, and the cards fell to the ground. By the time she came to her senses, the person behind her had already picked up the cards and put them in her hand.
Lin Tingyue's eyes fell upon Ying An's face, Lin Tingyue exclaimed happily, " Mr. Ying, what are you doing here?"
"That's right," Lin Shengyan pulled Lin Tingyue aside and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Ying An said, "I've come to offer New Year's greetings, aren't you welcome?"
"Who comes to offer New Year's greetings this early? And..." Lin Shengyan looked at the gate, "How did you get in?"
The maid is on holiday until the eighth day of the first lunar month, and hasn't returned to work yet.
Ying An was speechless. "Didn't you tell me the password to the front door? You know our house password too."