New Year’s Eve.

Wait, last time I watched the group chat, you guys were still talking about Zhang Bili being jealous of his second sister and preparing to take someone to block Xu Ningjian. My phone was confiscated for a few days, how did the plot develop like this.

In the blink of an eye, a year had passed.

On New Year’s Eve, Bai Juanqiu arrived at the Ren Family’s house early in the morning under his boyfriend’s urging. 

Just as he parked the car, he saw a certain someone waiting for him in the yard, pacing for his arrival.

“You’ve got it.” Ren Xingliu hung it around his neck and complained in a low voice, “Grandpa read you eight hundred times in the morning, and my ears will grow calluses if it’s any later.”

“You’re finally here.” Ren Xingliu put his weight around the other’s neck and murmured in a low voice, “Grandfather has been talking about you for the eighth hundred times this morning. Any more and I’m going to form calluses on my ears.”

“My apology, bad traffic on my way here.” Bai Juanqiu reached out to support the youth, then frowned. “Why did you come out without putting on a coat?”

As he said that, he untied his scarf and wrapped it around the other person’s exposed neck.

The scarf still carried Bai Juanqiu’s body heat. Ren Xingliu tightened it around his neck in passing, saying, “It’s fine, I wasn’t out here for long.”

Then he beamed. “I was in a hurry to welcome you.”

“You still have to pay attention.” Bai Juanqiu ran his fingers through Ren Xingliu’s hair, but the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved up a little. 

Since the death of his parents, this kind of holiday was no longer something he looked forward to.

In the past few years, when the New Year came, he would always find excuses to stay in school and watch the New Year alone. I was once invited to Wei Duzhou’s home, but in that family reunion atmosphere, no matter how lively it was, I often felt like an outsider.

In the past few years, once New Year rolled around, he always found excuses to stay on campus and guard the year alone. Wei Duzhou invited him once to celebrate with his family, but in that cozy atmosphere of a family reunion, no matter how lively it was, he often still felt like an outsider.

This year was different. He finally had a place he truly belonged; one he could look forward to. 

Looking at the youth’s face that was inches away, Bai Juanqiu felt moved, lowered his head and kissed the corner of Ren Xingliu’s lips, implying, “I won’t have you wait next year.”

Ren Xingliu raised his eyebrows. Before he could ask, Mr. Ren’s voice came from inside, “Is Juanqiu here? Come inside. It’s windy outside.”

Ren Xingliu had to stop, rubbed against Bai Juanqiu’s chin and pulled the young man into the house.

The interior was decorated in a festive and cozy manner, with a brilliant peach blossom tree against the wall, blooming with the warm atmosphere of spring. 

Ren Lao and Ren Zhu were both there. When they saw Bai Juanqiu, they smiled and greeted each other. They were not as powerful as they usually are in the shopping mall, but just like all the ordinary and kind elders in the world.

Mr. Ren and Ren Zhu were both present. As soon as they saw Bai Juanqiu, they greeted with a smile, exhaling cold air and asking in a warm breath, and not at all like their usual roaring and storming front in the business world. Instead, they acted more like ordinary and kind elders.

Bai Juanqiu answered one by one.

As he was talking, Ms. Shen came out of the kitchen and announced, “The dumpling skins are all rolled out and ready to be wrapped.”

“Perfect. Let’s go wrap dumplings together.” Ren Xingliu pulled Bai Juanqiu up.

Bai Juanqiu was somewhat surprised. “Wrap dumplings?”

The Ren Family’s New Year’s Eve dinner was prepared by a dedicated individual, so needless to say, he didn’t expect this kind of simple activity.

Ren Xingliu blinked and chuckled. “I suggested it.” 

Bai Juanqiu got it now.

Ms. Shen prepared several types of fillings in one go, filling the table with them. 

Sadly, none of the members in the Ren Family was an ingredient to be cooked, and their hands, which were usually extremely skilled in striking contracts, were completely defeated in the face of soft dumpling skins.

“Gosh, what are you making?” Mr. Ren looked at the pile of strange-shaped blobs in front of his daughter and had to point it out. “So unsightly.”

“Father, can you even say that about me?” Ren Zhu calmly flipped through the dumplings in front of the old man. “There isn’t that much of a difference between us two.”

At first glance, Mr. Ren’s dumplings might look decent, but after turning them over, one would discover that the filling was escaping. 

Mr. Ren’s chin trembled as he dragged his feet and tossed the pot, “It’s not my fault. The dumpling skin is too small.”

Ren Zhu sneered, “You sure it’s not you who put too much filling?”

Mr. Ren said, “That makes sense. It is also an important reason.”

Ren Xingliu watched the fires burning across the river and sighed softly to Bai Juanqiu, “Look at those two. As expected from father to daughter. Their cooking level is about the same.”

Bai Juanqiu glanced at him out of the corner of his eyes and was reminded in amusement, “You do know you’re related to them by blood.”

Ren Xingliu kept a calm face and said, “My gene mutated.”

Bai Juanqiu: “…”

Of course this is just a joke. In fact, I have been wandering in troubled times, and I know how to cook simple meals. I can’t say how good he is, but compared to the two elders, he does a pretty good job.

This was a joke of course. Actually, during his time wandering in the turbulent times, he could more or less do simple cooking. He couldn’t say the same for more advanced cooking, but compared to his two elders, his dumplings have the form.

It was just that he had hairy arms and hairy legs.

“Don’t move. You got flour on your face.” Bai Juanqiu drew a tissue and gently wiped it off for Ren Xingliu.

Mr. Ren was all smiles, to this, he was increasingly more satisfied with this grandson-in-law. “Juanqiu, we are all family here. Why don’t you stay and cross into the new year with us?” 

Bai Juanqiu accepted the offer smoothly, “Alright.”

After wrapping dumplings, Ren Xingliu was once again dragged away by Mr. Ren to write Spring Festival antithetical couplets.

In previous years, the Spring Festival couplets in the Ren family were all works of famous artists specially sent by others. This year, someone also sent Spring Festival couplets, but Mr. Ren didn’t use any of them. In the heart of the old man, no matter how famous he is, nothing can compare to what his grandson wrote in his own hand.

In the past years, the Ren Family’s couplets were all works of famous artists that people specially sent. It was the same for this year, however, Mr. Ren wouldn’t be using them. In his opinion, no matter how famous those artists were, they weren’t as good as those written by his grandson’s hands. 

Moreover, Ren Xingliu’s calligraphy had been recognized by the Chairman of the Calligraphy Association, Ke Fangsong.

Since the brush, ink and red papers were made ready for him, Ren Xingliu wrote at great length without hesitation and then commanded Bai Juanqiu, “Xiao Bai, come and paste it.”

“Okay.” Bai Juanqiu nodded. As he was about to display it, he was stopped by Mr. Ren.

“Wait, let me take a photo and post it on my Moments.” Mr. Ren said as he took out his phone. 

Since Ren Xingliu showed his skill in front of the group of old gentlemen, Mr. Ren always walked with the breeze in front of his friends.

Ren Xingliu was speechless at his grandfather’s eager look to show off, but said, “…Alright.”

However, once Bai Juanqiu pasted the couplets, Ren Xingliu also couldn’t resist pulling out his phone, taking a picture and sending it to Ding Shi.

Ding Shi: [?] 

Ren Xingliu: [Your sister-in-law is celebrating the New Year with me this year.]

Ding Shi: [I can tell.]

Ding Shi: [You don’t need to go out of your way to tell me.]

Ding Shi: [If possible, I hope you can try to forget me in things like this.] 

Ren Xingliu: [That’s impossible. You’re my best friend, and I want to share with you all the happy moments in my life.]

Ding Shi: […I thank you for that.]

Ren Xingliu finished torturing Ding Shi and was about to put away his phone when he found several new messages popping up on the page, all from the calligraphy enthusiasts Ke Fangsong who had added them before.

After tormenting Ding Shi, Ren Xingliu was about to put away his phone when he noticed several new messages popping up, all of which were from calligraphy enthusiasts, who he had added when Ke Fangsong asked for his WeChat. 

Thinking they were generic New Year’s greetings, Ren Xingliu thought that these gentlemen were quite polite.

There are a lot of blessing messages sent in mass during the New Year, but he usually just ignores them and then copies other people’s mass messages back. However, these are all elders, so they still need to be polite, so I am going to wish them a happy New Year one by one.

He usually ignored the many blessing messages sent during the New Year, as he usually copied one from someone and used it to reply to everyone. However, these were all his seniors, so he had to pay his respects to them one by one.

But after checking the messages, he found that the content wasn’t quite what he expected. 

Ke Fangsong: [My dear friend Xingliu, I’m really ashamed. I didn’t win the prize of Ren Lao’s circle of friends, and I really want your calligraphy treasure. So I have the audacity to ask you if you can write one for me in private. Couplet, just pay me on delivery. 】

Ke Fangsong: [Young Xingliu, I’m quite ashamed that I didn’t win the drawing from Mr. Ren’s Moments. I really want your ink treasure, so here I am, shamelessly asking if you could privately write me a couple and COD it to me, make it express.]

Looking at other messages from the older folks, they were pretty much the same.

Ren Xingliu: “?”

With a bad feeling about this, he checked his grandfather’s Moments hesitatingly, then he was shocked.

[Mr. Ren: Spring Festival couplets by Xingliu (photo).]

Comment added: I didn’t expect such an enthusiastic response, so let’s do a lucky draw. The 66th friend who clicks on the “Like” button will receive a pair of hand-written Chinese New Year couplets from Xingliu.

The old man even commented on his own Moments. 

[I didn’t expect such a warm response from everyone, so let’s have a drawing. The friend with the 66th like will receive a pair of couplets, written by Xingliu himself.]

Ren Xingliu: “…”

He never knew how good his grandfather was at entertaining himself, and also didn’t know where the old man learned it from.

What else could he do but reply to each of the old men one by one, promising to write one for each of them while sweating profusely. He also emphasized to Ke Fangsong that he would cover the shipping. 

As soon as he finished replying to each of them, Song Chengkai also sent him a message.

Song Chengkai: [Dear, can you also write me a couplet for the Spring Festival (pitiful).]

Ren Xingliu was a bit puzzled, since Song Chengkai didn’t look like someone who would be interested in calligraphy. Just as he was about to ask for the reason, the other party had already sent an explanation.

Song Chengkai: [My grandfather wants it, but he didn’t want to like your grandfather’s Moments.] 

Song Chengkai: [Plus he might not get it even if he liked the post. (finger point)]

Ren Xingliu: “…”

Ren Xingliu: […Fine.]

He had to write many of them anyway, no harm in adding one more. 

After a while, the New Year’s Eve dinner was prepared. Ren Zhu gave red envelopes to Aunt Shen and several local staff members, and asked them to go home for reunion. By the way, I also stuffed a red envelope into each of Ren Xingliu and Bai Juanqiu.

Not long after the New Year’s Eve dinner was ready, Ren Zhu sent red envelopes to Ms. Shen and several local staff, asking them to head home and spend time with family. Along the way, she also gave Ren Xingliu and Bai Juanqiu each one as well.

Bai Juanqiu wasn’t accustomed to it as it was forever ago since he last received a red envelope.

Ren Zhu smiled and said, “Think of it as good luck for myself. You never know, you guys might be the one giving me one next year.”

The custom here in Ling City was that unmarried individuals could receive red envelopes. After marriage, the younger generation would be the one giving red envelopes to their elders.

Bai Juanqiu understood the underlying message and accepted it. After some pondering, he took out his phone and sent a red envelope to Wei Duzhou.

Wei Duzhou: [Gosh, bro, you’re too kind. It’s embarrassing to receive so much money suddenly.]

Bai Juanqiu: [You’re welcome. I heard that married people have to give red envelopes to unmarried people.] 

Wei Duzhou: […]

Wei Duzhou: [You’re unmarried yourself as well.]

Bai Juanqiu: [Not for long. Taking the chance to practice first.]

Wei Duzhou: […Thank you.]

These few people are usually very busy people and rarely have any free time. They finished the New Year’s Eve dinner and made no other arrangements. Although there was constant information on the phone, no one read it at this moment. They just sat around and chatted casually. In fact, they are just very daily trivial matters, but no one feels bored.

Usually, these people are busy working and rarely have leisure time. After finishing the New Year’s Eve dinner, they didn’t make any other plans. Although there were a lot of messages pouring into their phones, no one checked them; they just sat together and chatted casually. The topic of conversation was the small daily things, but none of them found it boring.

Mr. Ren was at an age where it was hard to stay up late. Seeing how late it was, he turned in for the night first, leaving Ren Zhu and the two juniors to finish the countdown.

Knowing that young people now go to bed late, Ren Zhu did not urge them too much. He only reminded: “Pay attention to the time. There will be guests coming to visit tomorrow to pay New Year greetings. Don’t get up too late.” 

Knowing that young people nowadays are night owls, Ren Xingliu didn’t urge them to sleep, only reminded them, “Pay attention to the time. There will be guests visiting to pay New Year’s greetings tomorrow, so don’t stay up too late.”

She still didn’t feel at ease, so she turned to the relatively more mature Bai Juanqiu and said, “Juanqiu, remember to keep an eye on this child.”

Ren Xingliu instantly expressed his dissatisfaction. “Mother, I’m your biological son here!”

“Exactly.” Ren Zhu said, “That’s why I know what kind of morals you have.” 

Ren Xingliu: “…”

He was unable to refute.

Bai Juanqiu held back his urge to laugh, nodded at Ren Zhu and promised solemnly, “I’ll keep a close eye on him.”

Only then did Ren Zhu feel at ease to turn in for the night. 

Ren Xingliu glanced sideways at Bai Juanqiu and sighed, “Ding Shi is right. You’re indeed a butler-like husband.”

“Yes, you will be under my control from now on.” Bai Juan reached out and rubbed his head, paused, and couldn’t help but chuckle, but his eyes were extremely serious, “I am under your control too.”

“That’s right. From now on, you’ll be under my control.” Bai Juanqiu reached out and ruffled Ren Xingliu’s hair. Then he took a pause, unable to hold back his chuckle; yet he looked extremely serious. “I’m also under your control.”

“Naturally.” Ren Xingliu leaned in for a kiss. “And I intended to do so for a very long time.”