You're my wife, don't doubt it!

"As everyone knows, I used to study and live in Suzhou. Every Spring Festival was the day I looked forward to the most because I could come to Shanghai and set off firecrackers and fireworks with my older brothers and sisters."

As Xiao Yao spoke, he looked around the room: "I remember that every year when we had our New Year's Eve dinner, this room was just this crowded, a dozen square meters, with a dozen or so people, like a black hole in Calcutta."

"Grandpa and Grandma, Uncles and Aunts, Great Aunt and Little Aunt, Great Uncle and Little Uncle, Cousins, Sisters and Cousins, all the family members are gathered together," when he mentioned the sisters and cousins, he deliberately nodded to Shen Jie and Shen Tianyun with a serious expression: "They also have to use the sofa and bed, they can't walk around, and they also have to take turns sitting at the table... Great Uncle likes to smoke, and Grandma and Great Aunt don't let him smoke. Every time, they yell at him to go to the photo booth to smoke..."

“I see some of you have strange expressions,” Xiao Yao said with a smile, then glanced around the room. He saw Zhao Xiaomei sitting on the sofa, holding her composition book, with an encouraging look on her face. “You must be wondering why I’m saying all this. Actually, I just want you all to know that since my family broke up, since I came to Shanghai to study, I have never been able to look forward to having a New Year like this again.”

"Yes, Shanghai was once my dream hometown. I dreamed of living here when I was a child, but after I actually came here, it became a foreign land to me." Xiao Yao said emotionally, "It is you who made this city my hometown again. It is you who made today a New Year again, only without firecrackers. You, all of you, are my new family."

"Wow, Dad... Brother, you're like a big dad, it's so cheesy!" Shen Tianyun hugged her shoulders, deliberately acting cold.

“And the root of all this comes from you,” Xiao Yao said to Shen Tianyun with deep affection.

Shen Jie glanced at Xiao Yao uneasily.

"Well said!" Little Bear was the first to stand up, holding his cup.

"Great!" Daiyu and Zhang Jialong followed suit, and then, someone started clapping, and soon the applause was continuous.

"Brother Xiong! Master Xiong! I'd like to toast you!" Xiao Yao shouted loudly, "When I first came to Shanghai, when I was the only one in the class... no, when I didn't have any friends in the class, it was you, and you, Shen Bin, who extended a hand of friendship to me."

“I have never regretted it,” Xiao Xiong said, and Shen Bin nodded silently.

"When my friends and I were in danger, you stepped forward, risked your own safety, and accompanied me without asking for anything in return. Thank you!" Xiao Yao said.

"Wasn't I dragged in by you?" the little bear laughed.

Xiao Yao, Xiong Ji, and Shen Bin took turns hugging each other tightly.

“Brother Long, Brother Yu,” Xiao Yao then turned to the other two, “Many people think you two are the class hooligans…”

“We’re just the class hooligans…” Daiyu revealed a Stephen Chow-esque smile.

"But I know you two aren't like that at all. I've known you for a year, and I've never seen you bully anyone," Xiao Yao said passionately. "On the contrary, you two are both righteous. When you see injustice happening around you, when you see the weak being bullied, you can't help but speak out. Like this—"

Xiao Yao roared, "Guan Te!"

"Xiao Yao, you've had too much to drink!" Shen Jie said.

“No, let him say it, I love to hear it,” Zhang Jialong’s usually expressionless face broke into a slight smile: “Dairy, are we really that great?”

“He’s absolutely right,” the ribbonfish declared. “We’ve always been this great.”

"Otherwise, why would I be friends with you?" Chen Lu added to Zhang Jialong.

"Thank you for being my friends." Xiao Yao hugged Zhang Jialong and Daiyu, and Zhang Jialong pounded Xiao Yao's back hard.

After Zhang Jialong and Daiyu sat down, Xiao Yao let out a long hiccup and staggered towards the two most important girls in his life.

“Shen, Tian, ​​Yun,” Xiao Yao said gruffly, “Shen j—Rong!”

"Alright, stop talking," Shen Tianyun quickly interrupted him, because she was really afraid that he would say something he shouldn't tell others in this state: "Me and Sister Tianyun, we are all your family!"

"We are family!" Xiao Yao shouted, raising his arms. He put his left hand under Shen Tianyun's right armpit and his right hand under Shen Rong's left armpit, and the three of them hugged tightly.

"Whoa~~~~" The boys cheered, and some even started banging their bowls with their chopsticks.

Xiao Yao knew what these guys meant by shouting and yelling, but at this moment, he knew clearly that he was not indulging in debauchery with women on both sides—the two women in his arms were his family members with whom he shared blood ties.

Xiao Yao hugged them tightly, silently savoring this peaceful warmth, a sense of satisfaction welling up in his heart.

He didn't let go for a long time, until he felt someone gently pinching his waist and gritting his teeth, saying, "That's enough."

Xiao Yao released his grip, savoring the feeling from just now, and turned to Ouyang Qianqian.

"Ouyang Qianqian," Xiao Yao slurred, trying to find the right words in his head, "In my most..."

"Alright, stop talking," Ouyang Qianqian suddenly put down her chopsticks and repeated half of Shen Rong's line: "Skip the process and fast forward."

"Huh?" Xiao Yao said.

Ouyang Qianqian stood up, walked around the dining table, and pulled Xiao Yao into her arms.

? ?

The small room fell silent instantly.

Three seconds later, a deafening roar of cheers erupted, as if it were about to lift the roof off.

The ribbonfish pounded the table desperately, almost losing its voice from shouting.

Shen Jie stood up from the sofa, but was pulled back down by Shen Tianyun halfway up and sat down again, looking rather annoyed.

Ouyang Qianqian returned to her seat, and Xiao Yao was stunned for a long time, still not understanding what was going on.

He felt like he had sobered up quite a bit.

“Um…” His gaze inadvertently swept across Chen Lu’s face, and the latter shrank back, moved her chair back a little, and buried half of her face behind Zhang Jialong.

Zhang Jialong made a quick decision, stood up and shouted, "I'll take care of Chen Lu's share, and I'll give you a super bonus!" Then he gave Xiao Yao a bear hug and held him tightly in his arms.

"Ah... Help..." Xiao Yao's groan caused a burst of laughter from the crowd, and Zhang Jialong finally let go of his hand.

"Is it finally Xiaomei's turn?" Zhao Xiaomei stood on the sofa with her arms outstretched, looking excited, as if she was about to pounce down.

Xiao Yao took three steps back, making a "STOP" gesture with one hand and holding his forehead with the other, his face full of black lines.

Hey, please have mercy on me.

Shen Jie silently blocked Zhao Xiaomei's path to pounce.

The sudden knock on the door saved Xiao Yao from his embarrassment. He hurriedly ran to open the door, exclaiming, "Coming! Coming!"

As soon as the door to the photo room opened, Xiao Yao smelled that familiar jasmine fragrance.

Even though she was wearing a mask and sunglasses, and even though the tall Father Yu wasn't standing next to her, Xiao Yao could recognize her at a glance.

"Happy birthday, Xiao Yao," the girl said in a slightly hoarse voice.

Chapter 113 The Moment of the Black Moon

2023-02-18

When Yu Bo and Yu Luying entered, the meal was basically over, and everyone had started drinking, chatting, and gossiping in small groups.

"I've saved some meat and vegetables. Please have a seat, and I'll add some hot water."

"No need to trouble yourself, I already ate during the parish meeting." Yu Bo reached out to stop Xiao Yao's eagerness.

“I’ve already eaten at home,” Yu Luying said.

Everyone found it strange, not understanding why Yu Luying would arrive so late after eating, but Xiao Yao knew that she hadn't actually eaten at all.

But since he was full, which meant Yu Luying was full, Xiao Yao didn't care. He was more concerned about what Yu Luying had just experienced.

But behind him was a room full of uninformed onlookers, and in front of him was Father Yu's cold face. Xiao Yao opened his mouth for a long time, and finally managed to stammer out, "I'll pour you some juice."

"Brother Bo".

"Brother Bo".

"Hello, Brother Bo."

"Yes, sit down, sit down. Eat and drink well, eat and drink well."

Father Yu was always approachable and loved to mingle with young people, but he was, after all, an "adult," and at this moment he had a stern face, so none of the students and friends present talked much with Yu Luying. Even Zhao Xiaomei put on an indifferent "unfamiliar" face and sat in the distance.

Now that everyone was present and the meal was finished, the group cleared away the hot pot, the remaining dishes, and the rotating table. Shen Tianyun then brought out the birthday cake that had been prepared beforehand.

To be honest, the cake didn't look very appealing, and the fresh cream wasn't sprayed evenly. But when everyone learned that it was made by the Shen "sisters" themselves, they all looked at Xiao Yao with envy.

"Don't be fooled by how bad it looks," Shen Jie explained somewhat embarrassedly, "We've already tried it, and the taste is fine."

"That would be best," Xiao Yao thought to himself.

Shen Jie placed 16 candles on the cake, and everyone sang "Happy Birthday" together.

This was the first time Xiao Yao had heard Shen Jie sing—he truly admired her; with such a beautiful voice, she could sing without ever going off-key.

Before blowing out the candles and making a wish, Xiao Yao originally wanted to ask Yu Bo to perform a prayer or blessing ceremony, but then he thought that neither he nor most of the people present were church members, so it would be better to just do something ordinary!

"I hope... I hope I can stay with Shen Jie forever, never be separated, and then when we both reach the right age, we'll get our marriage certificate and get married immediately. And I hope Shen Jie's father will accept me soon. God bless, Amen Amen!" Xiao Yao clasped his hands together, silently recited these words in his heart, and blew out the candles in one breath.

Shen Tianyun turned the light back on with a "snap".

As per the custom, Xiao Yao made the first cut on the cake, and then Shen Jie and Shen Tianyun, the "sisters," helped him divide the entire cake, serving it on ceramic plates and distributing it to everyone.

Yu Luying took a small piece of cake, retreated to a corner, hastily made the sign of the cross on her chest, turned her back to the wall, pulled down her mask, and ate it in small bites.

"It's so delicious!" Zhao Xiaomei exclaimed.

It's so delicious, so incredibly delicious, Xiao Yao thought to himself, dazed.

He savored the sweetness on his tongue, finding it hard to believe that such a delicious dish could have come from the hands of Shen Jie and Shen Tianyun. It was as if—

"Eat it!" Shen Jie poked his arm, and Yu Luying's arm twitched in response: "If you keep staring blankly like that, you'll be poisoned!"

Xiao Yao then realized that he hadn't even started eating the cake yet, and hurriedly began waving his chopsticks in a frenzy.

Hmm... eating cake with Yu Luying at the same time is a bit too sweet.

After finishing her cake, Yu Luying pulled her mask up again, turned around, and stood leaning against the bedroom door.

Seeing the other person waving at him, Xiao Yao quickly walked over, stepping over four legs and squeezing past two people, finally arriving at his destination with great difficulty.

"How are you? Are you alright?" Xiao Yao asked in a low voice.