“Come, come, come inside and sit down.” Zheng BuLu took the lead and enthusiastically led the Lin family into the living room.

  Chen ShiYi, who had initially been worried about the men possibly making a scene: “.……”


  It seems that there will be no awkwardness between them tonight. Instead, the only one feeling awkward was her, the woman who was forgotten by both her current and ex-husband.

  Fortunately, these pig trotters weren’t completely covered in lard. Lin YaZhi managed to walk halfway into the room before he finally remembered her. Lin YaZhi stopped and waited for Chen ShiYi to catch up, then said: “ShiYi, let’s go.”


  Zheng BuLu smiled. “ShiYi is familiar with the way to the living room, she can get there on her own.”


  Chen ShiYi: “.……”


  Chen ShiYi snorted and said: “No, it seems that I haven’t been here for so long that I’ve forgotten what the family head is like.”


  Zheng BuLu spread out his hands and skillfully shifted the blame as he replied: “When we were in the middle of our divorce proceedings, I offered you the house. You were that one that didn’t want it, ah.”


  Chen ShiYi rolled her eyes. “That’s why I forgot everything about this house, ah.”


  Zheng BuLu was speechless for a while. His ex-wife was still as logical and impeccable as she was before, ah.

  Lin YaZhi quietly inserted himself between the two. After blocking Zheng BuLu’s line of sight, he said: “Brother Zheng, let’s hurry into the room so we can properly talk.”


  “Yes, yes.” Lin YaZhi’s pure and honest expression managed to successfully distract Zheng BuLu from bickering with his ex-wife. Zheng BuLu draped an arm over Lin YaZhi’s shoulders and led him inside.

  Shao SiJia stretched her arms, then folded her hands to the back of her head. With a ‘tsk, tsk,’ she said: “Such a bloody competition……”


  Chen ShiYi turned towards Shao SiJia in puzzlement. She didn’t understand what that saying meant. Shao SiJia looked back at her and, “Don’t worry stepmother, you still have a chance of winning!”


  Chen ShiYi: “.……???” Why are youngsters these days so hard to understand?

  Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing followed the women in, leaving He YiJun to be the last one in the group.

  Zheng PingQing deliberately slowed down, and after making sure that He YiJun would be able to hear him, he complained to Lin Qian: “My father is too magnanimous, ah.”


  Lin Qian put on a confused expression. “Why do you say that?”


  Zheng PingQing let out a cold hum as he replied: “The fact that my dad is becoming friends with your dad. I feel so unworthy, ah.”


  Lin Qian looked even more confused as he asked: “What’s wrong with that?”


  The conversation between the two men made He YiJun sweat. From the moment Lin Qian’s family arrived, she had been in high vigilance, like a frightened bird. She had just survived the first exchange of greetings, but she wasn’t given any time to recover before this particular subject was suddenly brought up.

  With her heart in her throat, He YiJun quickly stepped forward and interrupted them. “Oh, I forgot to ask what you two wanted to eat for lunch. Tell me, and I’ll get the kitchen to prepare it.”


  Zheng PingQing looked at He YiJun funny. “Didn’t you get up early this morning to have everything ready?”


  He YiJun lovingly replied: “I’m afraid you might not like it.”


  Lin Qian commented with a smile: “Auntie is quite careful.”


  He YiJun’s smile remained in place as she said: “You are all children of this family; I’m only doing what I’m supposed to.”


  “Oh.” At her words, Lin Qian didn’t hesitate as he started to order: “Then I want to eat crab tofu, pickled pork soup, crispy pork roast, pork with garlic sauce……”


  In one breath, Lin Qian listed several famous dishes from several different provinces, causing He YiJun’s smile to slowly fade away.

  In the end, Lin Qian smiled and said: “That’s it. I hope that’s not too much, I wouldn’t want to trouble you.”


  He YiJun’s receding smile froze. She was only trying to stop the two of them from talking about their parents, ah. Who knew that Lin Qian would actually order so many dishes.

  He also ordered dishes from different cuisines. There was no way the professional chefs she contracted would be able to cook all these dishes on the fly.

  Don’t you know the etiquette a visiting guest should have?!

  He YiJun’s mind burst into flames, but she couldn’t show it on her face. She had to smile and say: “In fact, I have many other dishes prepared for today……”


  Before she could finish her sentence, Zheng PingQing interrupted: “I like those dishes too. Auntie He, remember to prepare them. We shouldn’t be seen lacking today of all days.”


  He YiJun: “.……”


  He YiJun’s lips trembled as she jokingly asked: “So many dishes, ah. Will you be able to finish all that?”


  “It doesn’t matter if we don’t finish everything.” the unusually playful Zheng PingQing stated. “We rich families don’t need to think about saving money, ah.”


  He YiJun: “.……”


  He YiJun pinched her fingers and tried to keep her smile in place. “Since you two like it, I’ll go arrange it now.”


  Meanwhile, Zheng BuLu and Lin YaZhi were sitting in the living room and chatting.

  While Zheng BuLu hadn’t visited a shopping mall in years, he had inevitably gotten sucked into some hobbies common to middle-aged men, such as collecting various tea leaves. Now, he was in the middle of brewing some tea while he told Lin YaZhi about his collection.

  Lin YaZhi was quietly sitting between Zheng BuLu and Chen ShiYi, successfully blocking any direct eye contact between the two. He seemed to be devotedly listening to Zheng BuLu’s every word and was nodding when appropriate. It appeared to be a very harmonious and joyful scene.

  “These tea leaves were sent to me by a friend from Southern Yunnan. It’s called Chen tea, and it’s quite hard to get. It doesn’t have a set market price, but it’s never below……” Zheng BuLu opened an antique wooden box and said: “Try one……”


  Lin YaZhi politely refused. “This is your treasure, ah. I shouldn’t drink such a precious item.”


  Zheng BuLu didn’t reply, but instead directly placed some leaves into a pot of hot water. “What treasure, it’s tea. Well, of course, to some people who understand its value, it’s very precious and meaningful, right?”


  Lin YaZhi smiled. “Yes.”


  Chen ShiYi was feeling drowsy as she listened to their conversation. She and her ex-husband really don’t have anything in common, ah. Every topic Zheng BuLu enjoyed talking about was like sleeping pills for her.

  Of course, her own hobbies had the same effect on Zheng BuLu.

  She initially thought that Lin YaZhi, who shared the same interests as her, would also be bored with Zheng BuLu’s hobbies. But unexpectedly……

  Chen ShiYi watched as Zheng BuLu shuffled closer and closer to Lin YaZhi. Zheng BuLu held Lin YaZhi’s shoulder and lifted a tea leaf against the room light above. Zheng BuLu continued to chatter: “This is real tea, ah. Look at its smooth texture……the process the used……you can judge how good or bad tea is based on……”


  “Ha-” Chen ShiYi finally couldn’t help but yawn. She reached for the tea, hoping that it would help her wake up.

  “Eh, ShiYi, don’t be so hasty to drink.” Zheng BuLu said, quickly reaching over to stop Chen ShiYi’s hand. But before he could reach her, he was blocked by Lin YaZhi.

  Lin YaZhi said with a smile: “I think this tea really is exquisite.”


  “Right?!” Zheng BuLu focused back onto his comrade and forgot all about Chen ShiYi. He continued to talk with Lin YaZhi with relish. “Good tea isn’t for drinking, ah, but for tasting. First, you have to look at the color of the brewed tea……smell its beautiful aroma……finally, take a sip and savor the taste……”


  Chen ShiYi was feeling so sleepy that, in the end, she simply ignored Zheng BuLu and poured a large amount of tea into a cup to drink.

  “Ah, I’m finally awake.” Chen ShiYi drank some tea and shook her head. She felt like she had just narrowly escaped danger.

  But Zheng BuLu clicked his tongue and shook his head. He turned to Lin YaZhi and said: “See that, that’s called an old cow chewing peony. She doesn’t understand or appreciate it at all.”


  Lin YaZhi’s smile didn’t waver as he replied: “Don’t pay any attention to her, ah. Continue with your explanation: what do you think of this tea’s color? How is its smell? What does it taste like?”


  Chen ShiYi looked at Lin YaZhi in panic.

  He was even asking questions! This kind of middle-aged hobbyist shouldn’t be asked questions unless you have no choice, ah! Otherwise, Zheng BuLu will never stop talking!

  As expected, Zheng BuLu was very happy when he heard Lin YaZhi’s questions. He immediately leaned closer to Lin YaZhi and said: “Brother Lin, you’re asking the right person……”


  Chen ShiYi looked towards the heavens and rolled her eyes. It seems that it was already too late- Zheng BuLu called him ‘brother.’ Chen ShiYi could already see the thousands of sleeping pills smacking her in the face.

  “I’m going to the kitchen to help with the food.” Chen ShiYi decisively said as she stood up. “Have a good talk.”


  Shao SiJia, who had been pretending to be a lady all this time, stood up with her. “I’ll go too.”


  Zheng BuLu didn’t even look at them as he made a casual sound of affirmation.

  Lin YaZhi wasn’t reluctant to let them go either. He simply urged them: “Remember: your safety is the most important. Don’t try to be brave.”


  Chen ShiYi: “.……”
……

  On the other side, Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing escaped to the terrace together as soon as He YiJun left.

  In the past, there used to be specially assigned gardeners who took care of the Zheng family terrace. Many plants used to fill the place, and the aesthetic was charming. But after Zheng PingQing started to live by himself and drove all the housekeepers away, the terrace became neglected and empty.

  Well, it stayed deserted until now. When Zheng BuLu came back early, the capable He Fei found a unique interior design company to re-do the terrace. Now, the terrace was transformed into a glass greenhouse.

  But of course, such a short amount of time didn’t allow the plants to grow as much. The vines hadn’t crawled up yet, and the area was only sparsely dotted with a few evergreen plants and flowers that bloomed in winter. There were some artificial vines and colored lights on top, but it was daytime right now, so the lights weren’t that obvious.

  There was a long, solid wooden table and an outdoor sofa set. Several rattan chairs were scattered around the area, and there was a bench swing on one side. The terrace was designed to have a convenient place to sit anytime and in any corner of the place.

  Lin Qian approached one of the planting spaces and inspected one of the few open flowers.

  “Happy New Year.” Zheng PingQing took advantage of Lin Qian’s brief inattention and circled an arm around Lin Qian’s waist from behind. Zheng PingQing then turned Lin Qian around and pushed him onto one of the outdoor sofas.

  Lin Qian couldn’t resist, and he ended up with his back against the sofa. Then, Zheng PingQing climbed up, so both of his hands were on the back of the couch while his knees were next to Lin Qian’s outer thighs. Zheng PingQing completely imprisoned Lin Qian beneath him, and he looked down and said: “Since I saw you on the first day of this new year, I believe that this year will be a very good one.”


  The lazily reclined Lin Qian looked up at the man and laughed. “With that logic, every year from now on will be a very good one.”


  Zheng PingQing leaned lower until their lips were only millimeters away. Feeling Lin Qian’s breath against his skin, he said: “So you agree that from now on, you’ll spend every new year with me?”


  Lin Qian raised his hands and hung onto Zheng PingQing’s neck and joked: “You say that as if you were planning on giving me a choice?”


  “Of course I’m giving you a choice.” Zheng PingQing rubbed the tip of his nose against Lin Qian’s. “Since I’m the best boyfriend in the world, I must fully respect the wishes of my other half and ask for his opinion.”


  Then, Zheng PingQing’s voice became sticky as he said: “You can choose to spend every new year with me, or……”


  “Or?” Lin Qian raised a brow.

  Zheng PingQing was silent for a while, then huffed. “Forget it, I can’t think of another option.”


  Zheng PingQing lightly bit the tip of Lin Qian’s nose and said: “No matter what the other option is, you can only choose to celebrate with me.”


  Lin Qian wasn’t the least bit surprised by this. He directly gave up and said: “Don’t worry, I don’t have any other idea as to what other options I have either. In this lifetime, you’re my boyfriend.”


  “What bad luck.” Zheng PingQing pouted. “I don’t think I can believe you so easily.”


  Lin Qian closed his eyes to resist the urge to roll his eyes. “.……ugh. Come here.”


  Zheng PingQing lowered his head at the same time Lin Qian raised his, and the two met halfway for a kiss.

  The faint smell of smoke was in the air, but it didn’t diminish the sweetness of this kiss.

  The atmosphere was so good that both of them forgot where they were.

  Zheng PingQing nibbled Lin Qian’s lower lip, then continued down to kiss Lin Qian’s chin, then neck.

  Lin Qian let go of Zheng PingQing’s neck and instead wrapped his arms around Zheng PingQing’s waist. Lin Qian pulled the man closer so that their bodies were pressed together.

  Zheng PingQing couldn’t help but fiddle with the hem of Lin Qian’s sweater……

  Then, at the distance, a loud bang suddenly sounded out, followed by a burst of crackling.

  It seems that someone was illegally setting off fireworks again.

  The sudden sound tore the intoxicated couple away from their previously ambiguous mood. Zheng PingQing’s soft legs gave out, and his body fell directly on top of Lin Qian, causing their sensitive parts to rub against each other.

  “Fuck, I’m going to report them.” Zheng PingQing scolded.

  Then, he looked down at their lower bodies. Zheng PingQing regretfully complained: “Why do people even wear pants, ah.”


  Lin Qian raised his gaze and said: “To prevent minors from breaking the law in the new year, ah.”


  Then suddenly, Lin Qian tightened his hold on Zheng PingQing’s waist and flipped him over. Zheng PingQing’s back hit the couch, and this time, it was Lin Qian who was on top. Lin Qian sat up and directly pressed down on Zheng PingQing’s restless lower body. With a faint smile, Lin Qian said: “Minor, it’s better to keep your hands strictly above the neck.”


  But of course, Zheng PingQing completely disregarded his words and excitedly said: “Riding on the first day of the new year! This year really is a great one, ah, how exciting!”


  Lin Qian: “.……”


  T/N: I loved this chapter! It was funny, sweet, and had a little bit of spice.