Beijing-Hong Kong Rosemary

Chapter 79 Happy New Year, Baby

New Year's Eve.

The Qu family mansion was brightly lit, and the snow continued to fall softly on the roof and in the courtyard.

Festive and eye-catching red lanterns, colorful streamers, and New Year decorations adorn every corner.

The couplets at the main entrance were written by the old lady herself, every year.

She had beautiful calligraphy skills when she was young, which were comparable to the Spring Festival couplets sold outside.

In this retro-style Chinese restaurant, the table is laden with a sumptuous spread of dishes, each with its own unique meaning.

Xia Xi sat at the table, staring at the glass jar in front of her uncle, and asked greedily, "What kind of drink are you drinking? Can I drink it?"

"This is fruit wine, children can't drink it." The woman who spoke had a striking and delicate face, her features half similar to Qu Yanci's, but her gentle demeanor softened the aloofness that came with her appearance.

She asked her daughter, "Do you want some pear juice?"

Xia Xi shook her head. "I don't like pear juice."

Grandpa Qu then said, "Spend more time with your children, don't focus all your energy on your movie."

It's true that Xia Qi spends little time with her daughter, and she has always felt guilty about it.

Xia Xi spoke up first: "It's okay, Mom, just do what makes you happy."

Xia Qi patted her head with relief, "I was wondering why you suddenly understood me?"

Xia Xi thought for a moment, then said earnestly, "Sister Ning said that everyone has their own pursuits and dreams. I can't ask you to give up your career for me, right?"

Xia Qi was a little surprised. "You mean your dance teacher? I need to thank her properly. I'll invite her over for dinner sometime."

"She's incredibly beautiful, and she's an amazing dancer," Xia Xi said, then instinctively sought validation, "Right, Uncle?"

Qu Yanci slowly took a sip of wine and gave a soft "hmm".

Grandpa Qu shifted his attention and glanced at him unhappily, "I haven't even mentioned you yet. What's wrong with that girl from the Cui family? She's a perfect match for you in every way. The key is that she likes you too. What's wrong with giving her a chance to try getting to know you? Why did you have to refuse outright!"

Qu Yanci was about to speak when the old lady said first, "Stop, stop. Today is New Year's Eve. No one is allowed to say anything unpleasant. We can talk about it after the New Year."

When the old lady spoke, no one dared to say a word.

The topic has ended.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, Xia Xi took several servants out to the yard to play with sparklers.

Laughter could be heard from time to time in the hall.

The Spring Festival Gala was being broadcast live on TV, and Xia Qi complained that the skits were boring and the show was getting worse every year.

The old man said, "It's just for the lively atmosphere, what's there to be picky about?"

The old lady agreed with her granddaughter, yawning and saying, "It really isn't very interesting."

Qu Yanci reminded him, "If you're sleepy, go to bed early and don't stay up late."

The old lady scolded him, "You still dare to talk back to me? Don't squander your health just because you're young. Work is important, but your health is even more important."

Qu Yanci listened without refuting, "I know."

At 11 o'clock, the old man and the old woman went back to their room to sleep, while Xia Qi accompanied Xia Xi to watch cartoons in the living room.

The room was warm, so Qu Yanci went out to get some fresh air under the eaves and lit a cigar.

Under the lights, the shadows are elongated.

The snow bent the branches, and when the wind blew, they rustled and a chill swept over the trees.

There were footsteps behind me.

Qu Yanci didn't need to turn around to know it was Xia Qi.

"Brother, why are you smoking here?" she asked as she walked over. "Are you in a bad mood?"

"No." Qu Yanci exhaled a thin puff of smoke, his voice low.

“We’re twins, how could I not feel it?” Xia Qi guessed. “Is it because of the arranged marriage?”

Qu Yanci glanced at her sideways, but did not deny it.

Xia Qi said, "Actually, it doesn't matter who you marry, right? From this perspective, Cui Manying is indeed a suitable candidate..."

Qu Yanci interrupted her, "It's different."

He once thought it was the same, but later he discovered that only Shen Guining could easily stir his emotions.

Xia Qi stared at him inquisitively, "Do you have someone you like?"

The cigar burned out and was thrown on the ground, where it was trampled out by the leather shoes. Qu Yanci turned and went inside. "Take your daughter to bed early and tell her to spend less time on electronic devices."
-
Hong Kong Island is exceptionally lively tonight.

A grand and romantic fireworks display lit up the entire night sky over Victoria Harbour.

Radiant and colorful, dreamlike.

The presidential suite's floor-to-ceiling windows face Victoria Harbour, offering a panoramic view.

After returning from the Shen family, Shen Guining stayed at the hotel, and ate dinner alone, with Ruby keeping her company.

Zhu Sixuan invited her to have New Year's Eve dinner together, but she declined, not wanting to disturb their family reunion.

The TV is on, but nobody's watching it.

Shen Guining, holding Ruby, leaned against the sofa, playing on her phone and replying to New Year's Eve greetings from friends.

On social media, everyone is sharing videos of family reunions, photos of their New Year's Eve dinner, and the lucky money they received...

You can feel the joy overflowing from the screen.

Just before midnight, Qu Yanci called.

She pressed the answer button.

A deep, magnetic voice brushed against my earlobe, "What are you doing?"

"Playing on my phone." Shen Guining rubbed her dry eyes.

"Didn't go out today?" Qu Yanci leaned against the balcony railing, looking languid, his emotions unclear in the darkness.

Shen Guining shifted to a more comfortable sitting position. "I went back to the Shen family this morning."

"Did you eat well?"

"Yeah, I've gained two pounds recently."

I'll check it in a few days.

"How can I check this? Can a weighing scale really lie?"

Qu Yanci chuckled softly, "Feel it and see where all the flesh has grown."

For some reason, I always felt that his words were ambiguous.

Shen Guining inexplicably thought of certain explicit scenes, and a blush rose to the tips of her ears.

“It’s midnight,” he said.

Shen Guining glanced at the time on her phone, "Happy New Year..."

Before the last word was finished, Qu Yanci suddenly said, "Look out the window."

"Hmm?" Shen Guining was puzzled, but her gaze still turned to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The exterior screens of the skyscrapers standing across the harbor simultaneously switched, flashing with light and shadow.

【Happy New Year, my girl, Stella.】

In the dazzling Victoria Harbour, this line of English text is displayed on all the LED advertising screens.

It drew gasps of amazement from countless passersby, who all raised their phones to take pictures.

Shen Guining stared blankly for a few seconds before getting off the sofa and walking to the French windows.

Light and shadow swept across her face, flickering between bright and dim.

All the disappointment of today has been replaced by the joy of this moment.

His warm and pleasant voice rang in my ears, "Happy New Year, baby."

A warm current surged through my heart, enveloping it.

Shen Guining's eyes welled up with tears, and she held back the urge to cry. Her red lips parted slightly, "Happy New Year, Aci."

Qu Yanci told her, "Your New Year's money is under your pillow, remember to take it."

Shen Guining blinked in surprise, "I'm so old, how can I still get New Year's money?"

"How old are you?"

"After the New Year, I should be twenty-two, right?"

"Then I wish the 22-year-old a safe and healthy new year."

The way he said "little friend" was tinged with an unspeakable doting affection.

"Then I wish Mr. Qu, who is 29 years old, all the best."