Chapter 32

Lin Yu thought for a moment and asked: Are you home?

Chen Lüli replied: Just got here.

Lin Yu: Oh, okay.

Chen Lüli looked at her reply, and a hint of a smile entered his eyes at the familiar little "oh." He walked toward the dressing room, loosening his collar as he went. In fact, he had already undone one button in the back seat. It had been unbearably hot, and he had undone it without thinking while kissing her.

He was undoing his belt when his movements stopped. Remembering her hand touching him, he closed his eyes, unsure whether to be angry or laugh.

She seemed timid, but deep down, she was rather bold.

Lin Yu drank half the milk tea, and her thirst eased somewhat. Perhaps the sweetness had covered up the burning sensation, and as it happened, she had indeed wanted something sweet tonight.

The drink warmed her body even more. Listening to the fireworks outside, she took her pajamas into the bathroom, hung her coat on the rack outside, and let the hot water wash over her.

Lin Yu stood beneath the showerhead, not quite daring to look down, but she could feel the hot water rolling over her. She even saw the scattered kiss marks in the mirror.

At the time, his fingertips had glided lightly over her navel.

Lin Yu's cheeks grew hotter. She took the body wash, squeezed some out and rubbed it over her shoulders, then lowered her head to wash her hair, letting the stream of water envelop her.

A long while later.

She came out of the bathroom, the flush on her face considerably faded. The effects of the alcohol seemed to have worn off too. The bottle of red wine her mother had opened tonight had only packed a punch for two or three hours after drinking it; afterward, only its mellow fragrance remained. So she was a little clearer-headed now than she had been earlier. She dried her hair and sat on the bed.

She saw Jiang Yan'an handing out red envelopes in the group chat.

Every time Jiang Zao grabbed one, she shouted: Thank you, Brother Jiang! Brother Jiang is rich! Brother Jiang will definitely strike it big in the new year!

Jiang Yan'an curled his lip: When have I ever not had money? I've got plenty.

Jiang Zao: Yes, Brother Jiang is rich forever.

Jiang Yan'an scoffed and tagged Lin Yu: Come on, we're waiting for you to grab some.

Lin Yu opened the group chat. Each red envelope was set so that exactly five people could claim a share, so she did as Jiang Yan'an wanted and grabbed a few. Just then, Chen Lüli sent a red envelope. It contained a considerable sum-a very large one, in fact.

Jiang Zao was stunned and said happily: As expected of Star Rise's boss, you really are rich.

She was quick on the draw and hurried to claim a share.

Jiang Yan'an: ...Brother Lü, are you trying to upstage me?

Chen Lüli didn't reply.

While they were talking, Lin Yu also quietly tapped on the red envelope. The number she saw was truly satisfying. She copied Jiang Zao's sticker of someone kowtowing furiously: [Thank you, boss].

Chen Lüli saw her sticker: .

Jiang Zao burst out laughing.

Jiang Zao said happily: The big shots eat meat, and I get to drink the soup. I'll send one too.

She sent a red envelope as well, naturally with an auspicious message: May everything go smoothly in the new year.

Jiang Yan'an didn't stand on ceremony. He grabbed it straight away and needled Jiang Zao: Cheapskate, you grabbed so many red envelopes, and you're only sending this little?

Jiang Zao: Be glad you got anything. When you grab red envelopes, you've got to make a little profit.

Jiang Yan'an: ...

Lin Yu had grabbed quite a few, and it was a lucky way to start the new year, so she sent a red envelope containing a considerable sum as well, about the same as Jiang Zao's. She could actually have sent the whole amount, but she needed to match Jiang Zao, lest Jiang Yan'an criticize her again.

Seeing this, Jiang Yan'an promptly showed off his double standard: Yuyu, why did you send so much?

Jiang Zao: ...You dog.

Just then, Ming Yu came in too. She wrote: It's lively in here.

Jiang Zao replied: It is.

Ming Yu glanced at the red envelopes: Then I won't stand on ceremony.

She claimed them one by one.

Lin Yu wanted to send another red envelope, but someone knocked on her bedroom door. She instantly put down her phone and held her breath. Zhong Lixin had been smoking in the courtyard when she looked back and saw the light on Lin Yu's little balcony. She came to knock and asked, "Yuyu, still awake?"

Lin Yu turned to look.

The solid-colored curtains on the little balcony were swaying gently, and the light from the room shone through them. Even with the glass door in between, the glow could be seen from downstairs.

Lin Yu leaped out of bed and drew the dark curtains shut. Then she said, "Mom, I'm getting ready to sleep. I was just playing a game."

Zhong Lixin stood outside the door with her arms folded. "You drank milk tea so late. Is that keeping you up?"

"No, I can sleep after drinking milk tea. I was just playing a game."

"All right, go to sleep early. Relatives are coming over tomorrow, so remember to come downstairs and say hello."

"Okay, Mom."

Zhong Lixin left. She wasn't as strict as Lin Zhenghe, but she still worried about the things a mother should worry about and couldn't possibly leave Lin Yu entirely to herself. Because Lin Yu was quiet by nature, she paid even closer attention to her, afraid she might suffer in silence or overthink things. But it was hard to have it both ways: the more she seemed to watch over Lin Yu, the quieter Lin Yu became.

She shook her head and went downstairs to drink some water and soothe her throat, waiting for the smell of smoke on her to fade a little before going back up.

Work was stressful, so she smoked occasionally. A cigarette in the dead of night, in particular, helped clear her head a little.

Lin Yu knew her mother had gone.

She leaned back against the headboard and picked up her phone, intending to continue, only to see that the group chat had already gone quiet. If she sent another red envelope now, it would seem out of place.

She checked the time and pulled the covers over herself.

Her phone lit up, and she glanced at it.

Chen Lüli: Asleep?

Lin Yu's eyes brightened slightly: Mm, getting ready to.

Chen Lüli: Okay, good night.

Lin Yu: Good night.

She rolled over, turned off the light, pulled the covers over her head, and went to sleep.

The next day marked

the beginning of a new year. Relatives came to the house on the first day of the new year. Most of the Lin family's relatives were locals from Li City. Some lived off rental income, some ran businesses, and some studied or did research; they were involved in everything from computing and engineering to real estate. Over the years, the relatives they still kept in touch with had gradually dwindled to those they got along with in everyday life.

Lin Zhenghe wasn't particularly polite when he spoke. In earlier years, he had personally cut ties with some of their more outlandish relatives, and they had never been in contact again. But when it came to his siblings, it was hard to sever ties completely.

For example, as soon as Lin Yu's aunt came through the door that morning, she began asking about Lin Yu and Li Yin. Lin Yu wore a light-colored sweater with a long skirt. She looked soft and lovely, her features as pure as spring sunshine and fresh snow.

Her aunt looked at her and saw that her complexion was rosy, as though she hadn't been affected at all. With a sigh, she said, "Yuyu should still find a local man from Li City to marry, someone whose background we know inside and out."

Zhong Lixin smiled, picked up a segment of tangerine, and ate it. "It doesn't matter where he's from. As long as he has good character, anywhere is fine."

"That's not how it works," her aunt said, biting into a melon seed. "A local is always better than someone from elsewhere, and you also have to look at the family background. Oh, I have a friend who knows the Chen and Ming families. Big Li City families like those are the ones you can really count on. I'll ask her another day whether there's anyone she can introduce to Yuyu as a boyfriend."

When Zhong Lixin heard the Chen and Ming families mentioned, she instinctively glanced at Lin Yu.

Her look said: That friend of yours surnamed Chen has become a hot commodity on the matchmaking scene?

Lin Yu pretended not to see her mother's look and lowered her head to take a sip of juice.

Lin Zhenghe was impatient with how much his older sister talked. He folded his newspaper and said, "You don't need to worry about Lin Yu's marriage. As her parents, we'll naturally make plans for her. If you're coming over, just sit and visit. All this gossiping back and forth is irritating to listen to."

His sister: "..."

She quietly shut her mouth.

Zhong Lixin held back a laugh.

Lin Yu did too.

Although her father was strict, it was quite satisfying to watch when he turned it on other people.

Not long afterward, her aunt and her family left. Over the next two days, they dealt with visiting relatives one by one and also went to visit relatives on her mother's side.

After several days of socializing, Lin Yu's face was stiff from smiling.

On the fourth day of the new year.

None of the family of three wanted to entertain or visit anyone anymore. Besides, Lin Zhenghe always went to look at the plants at the Spring Flower Festival on the fourth day of the new year. Her mother pulled Lin Yu along to get ready, and the family headed out to the festival.

The Spring Flower Festival was held every year, and every year brought something new. There were quite a few people there. Lin Yu and her mother followed Lin Zhenghe, looking around at a leisurely pace. Her father knew every plant variety like the back of his hand, and as he looked, he explained them to Lin Yu and Zhong Lixin. Lin Yu herself had a meticulous streak when it came to this, or she wouldn't have grown so many flowers at her shop and set aside space for a garden.

The family of three made a circuit and came to a slope where they had to go up some steps. They happened to meet someone coming the other way, and Lin Yu came face-to-face with Chen Lüli.

He wore a black casual jacket and had a tall, slender figure. He had come with his mother, Tan You, who wore a long dress and a long coat. She was very well preserved, and her features were gentle.

Tan You saw her son's gaze come to rest on someone. Curious, she glanced at Lin Yu and found her somewhat familiar, as though she had seen her somewhere before.

Zhong Lixin, of course, recognized Chen Lüli more quickly. Smiling, she said, "Lüli?"

Chen Lüli greeted her politely. "Auntie Zhong."

He turned to his mother and said, "This is Lin Yu, my..."

He paused for a few seconds and cast a casual glance at Lin Yu. With a smile in his eyes, he told Tan You, "A female classmate from high school, a classmate from university, and a good friend."

"These are her parents, Professor Lin from Li University and Teacher Zhong from No. 1 Middle School."

Hearing this, Tan You greeted them with a smile. "Professor Lin, Teacher Zhong, hello."

Zhong Lixin smiled. "Hello. The two kids have known each other for years, but this is our first time meeting."

Tan You smiled. "Yes, it really is our first time meeting. So this is Lin Yu. I was wondering why she looked so familiar."

She looked at Lin Yu with a gentle gaze.

Lin Yu greeted her politely. "Hello, Auntie."

"Hello, Yuyu." Tan You smiled.

Zhong Lixin asked with a smile, "Did you come to see the spring flowers today?"

Tan You looked at Zhong Lixin. She herself was dressed in a refined manner, but one look at Zhong Lixin's clothes showed that she was a decisive, straightforward person. No wonder she was able to teach at a school like No. 1 Middle School. She nodded. "Yes. Lüli happened to be free, so I asked him to come with me."

Hehe.

They're about to go around together.

Another 100 red envelopes this chapter. See you tomorrow. I'll try to finish sending them all out over the next couple of days.

Chapter 32