The sound of firecrackers went on for a long time before stopping. However, there were still all kinds of fireworks in the distant sky.
Only then did Lu Huaiyu let go of her and gently caressed her head with a smile.
“It’s time to eat.”
Ning Li nodded.
“Okay, I’ll just let my classmate know, then I’ll go over.”
Lu Huaiyu nodded.
Ning Li put the phone back to her ear. Before she could say anything, she heard He Xiaochen stutter in excitement.
“Ahhhhhhhhh…! That voice was so familiar! That was your Second Brother, right? It’s him, isn’t it? Ning Li, are you celebrating the New Year with your Second Brother today?”
Ning Li subconsciously covered the receiver, but it was too late. He Xiaochen’s voice had been so loud and clear that she could not pretend that she had not heard it.
She immediately looked up at Lu Huaiyu and saw him raise his eyebrows slightly and smile playfully.
“…”
Wonderful… Her excited scream had broken through the screen and been clearly heard.
Ning Li facepalmed.
“I…”
Before she could think of a reply, Lu Huaiyu suddenly raised his hand and took her phone.
She was caught off-guard, and the phone fell into Lu Huaiyu’s hand.
He smiled lightly and spoke in a low and pleasant voice, with a casual smile.
“Yes, Ning Li is at my house. She’s spending New Year’s Eve with me.”
As soon as he said that, He Xiaochen, who had been wildly excited so far, suddenly went completely quiet.
There was dead silence and the air seemed to have frozen.
After a long while, He Xiaochen finally opened her mouth as if she had just come back to her senses. Because of her nervousness, her voice had changed.
“Happy New Year, Second Brother of Ning Li! I… I… I am the deskmate of Ning Li…”
Ning Li covered her face in despair.
He Xiaochen was clearly embarrassed, but why was she feeling that way?
He Xiaochen finally seemed to realize that her behavior was extremely strange, and she stammered even more.
“I… I… I…”
“Happy New Year.” Lu Huaiyu said.
He Xiaochen hurriedly said,
“Happy New Year! I wish you good health, good luck, and a long life–”
Ning Li could not take it anymore. She took a step forward and interrupted her.
“Xiaochen, we’re going to have dinner now. Shall I hang up first?”
He Xiaochen finally stopped.
After reacting for a moment, she let out a soft “Ah” and mumbled in bewilderment, “…did I say something wrong just now?”
What had she said? Ahhh!
Ning Li was silent for a moment.
“It’s fine.”
That had not been the first time anyway.
He Xiaochen was silent for a moment before she started sobbing,
“Ah!
“I’m dead!
“What did I say just now, ahhhhhh!”
Ning Li: “…”
Lu Huaiyu raised his eyebrows.
“Classmate, I heard everything you said just now. Thank you for your blessing.”
He Xiaochen’s crying stopped abruptly, and because it was too sudden, she even hiccuped.
In the silence, Ning Li said in a flat tone, “…it was public release just now.”
He Xiaochen said, “Thank you. I left very peacefully.jpg”
Ning Li said a few more words before hanging up.
The atmosphere was so awkward that Ning Li did not even dare to look into Lu Huaiyu’s eyes.
Had he heard every word just now?
After a while, Lu Huaiyu let out a laugh.
“Let’s go and eat.”
…
The Lu family’s Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner tonight was especially sumptuous.
Old Master Lu sat in the main seat, Lu Huaiyu sat to his left, while Ning Li sat on the opposite side.
Fang Qingyun and Zhang Chunlan finished their work and went home to have their reunion dinner with their children.
Old Master Lu turned his head to look at Ning Li and kept putting food in her bowl.
“Ah Li, you’re too skinny. Eat more!”
Ning Li’s bowl was already piled high with food.
The old man was so full of enthusiasm that she did not have the heart to refuse. She could only accept everything.
Old Master Lu asked about other things, mostly about her preferences.
Ning Li answered each question, one by one.
“Oh right, Ah Li will sleep in the guest bedroom on the first floor tonight, right?”
Knowing that someone was coming over, Old Master Lu had already gotten someone to clean the room up. All the bed sheets and pillowcases were new.
Ning Li paused.
That guest bedroom seemed to be next to Lu Huaihe’s bedroom…
After all, this was the Lu family.
She nodded.
“Okay. Thank you, Grandpa Lu.”
…
After dinner, Old Master Lu pulled Ning Li into the living room to watch the Spring Festival Gala.
Lu Huaiyu was also there to accompany them.
However, Old Master Lu was old and he fell asleep on the sofa after ten o’clock.
Lu Huaiyu noticed it and helped him back to his room to rest.
After a while, Lu Huaiyu came back.
“Are you sleepy?” he asked.
Ning Li shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Lu Huaiyu sat down on the sofa as well. There was a seat between them. Seeing that she was watching the television seriously, he followed her line of sight and asked with a smile, “Does it look that good?”
Ning Li was silent for a moment before she nodded slightly.
“Yes.”
Actually, the appealing part was not the Spring Festival Gala. The joys and sorrows of the people on the screen had nothing to do with her.
It was just that, in her memory, there had rarely been such a lively and peaceful Chinese New Year’s Eve before.
Therefore, it was very appealing.
…
Time passed slowly.
Ning Li seemed to be getting sleepy, as her head started swaying slightly.
When Lu Huaiyu saw this, he turned off the lights in the living room, leaving only a floor lamp beside the sofa.
Then, he stood up and moved a little to her side, sitting beside her. He raised his hand to support her head and let her lean on his shoulder.
The hour hand pointed to 12 o’clock.
The clock struck midnight.
Lu Huaiyu turned his head and rested his chin gently on her forehead. His voice was very soft.
“Happy New Year, Ah Li.”
Ning Li seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.
Lu Huaiyu moved to carry her, intending on sending her back to her room.
As if sensing his movements, she frowned slightly, as if she wanted to refuse.
Lu Huaiyu coaxed her in a low voice, “Be good.”
Hearing this, Ning Li’s resistance stopped, and her eyebrows gradually relaxed.
Lu Huaiyu carried her in his arms.
Ning Li’s room was next to his.
Lu Huaiyu came to the side of the bed and put her down.
Ning Li’s fingers were still tightly clutching his shirt.
As if sensing that he was about to leave, she frowned slightly, and a hint of panic flashed between her eyebrows.
Then, she straightened her body slightly and pressed her forehead against his chest.
Smelling the cool and familiar smell of cedar, she leaned against him and gradually calmed down.
Lu Huaiyu and his Adam’s apple rolled, as he couldn’t help but laugh.
“Ning Li.
“Why are you so lovable?”
