Going home for the Chinese New Year with a year-end bonus of 100 million

After leaving Zhou Jin's house, that kid's fawning attitude was...

"Brother! Take care! I'll send you the configuration details tonight!"

"As for Xiaoya... cough, could you put in a good word for me, brother?"

Yang Fan was speechless. He really hadn't expected this kid to be so persistent.

"If you say that again, you think I won't beat you to death?!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yao burst into laughter: "Hahaha! Zhou Jin... stop making a fool of yourself here! You can't get the girl, so you try to suck up to her brother? Have you no shame?"

"..."

A night breeze blew, and Yang Fan couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

He didn't dislike Zhou Jin.

But how could he, as the brother-in-law, possibly have feelings for someone who covets his sister?

But he couldn't get too involved in many things; in the end, it all depended on Xiaoya's decision.

Just then, my phone vibrated; it was a voice message from Xiaoya:

"Bro! It's all sorted out! The doctor said we can get discharged tonight, and we can leave tomorrow noon!"

"Sister Xiaoyu is so excited! She was humming a song while she was tidying up!"

In the background audio, you can faintly hear Lin Xiaoyu's embarrassed and annoyed "Xiaoya, don't talk nonsense," as well as the laughter of the two girls playing around.

Yang Fan's lips unconsciously curled up into a smile.

He replied, "Okay, I'll come pick you up tomorrow."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "Xiaoya, do you know someone named Zhou Jin?"

Almost instant reply—

Xiaoya: "That slovenly guy? How do you know him, bro?"

Even through the screen, I can imagine the sister's disgusted expression as she wrinkles her nose.

Yang Fan smiled and didn't reply.

Some things are better left unsaid.

……

At 3 p.m. the next day, the black Mercedes-Benz E300 smoothly stopped in front of the county hospital.

To avoid the hassle of going back and forth, Xiaoya and Xiaoyu went home to pack yesterday. After they finished, they contacted a truck to haul the things away. Lin's parents stayed at the hospital for an extra day. Yang Fan could come directly to the hospital to pick them up, saving Lin's father the trouble of going through all that trouble.

As soon as Yang Fan got out of the car, he saw Xiao Ya rush out of the hospital building like a cheerful little bird, followed by Lin Xiaoyu pushing a wheelchair. Lin's father, whose complexion had obviously improved, was sitting in the wheelchair, while Lin's mother followed beside him carrying large and small bags.

"Brother!" Xiaoya rushed over and gave Yang Fan a hug, then turned to Lin Xiaoyu excitedly and said:

"See! I told you my brother would be on time!"

Lin Xiaoyu pushed the wheelchair closer, her cheeks bathed in the soft warmth of the afternoon sun.

She looked up at Yang Fan, her eyes sparkling, and said softly, "Brother... I'm troubling you again."

"Don't say it's troublesome." Yang Fan walked naturally to the back of the wheelchair. "Uncle, how are you feeling?"

Mr. Lin quickly waved his hand: "Much better, much better! Xiao Fan, this time it's really... really all thanks to you."

"We're family, no need for formalities." Yang Fan took the wheelchair and said to Xiaoya, "Open the trunk and load the things in first."

While they were moving their luggage, Xiaoya sidled up to Yang Fan and whispered, "Brother, let me tell you, Sister Xiaoyu didn't sleep well last night."

Yang Fan continued working: "What's wrong? Worried about your uncle?"

"No, that's not it!" Xiaoya winked mischievously. "She's thinking about... how to behave when she gets to her new home."

"Mom called yesterday and said she reserved the master bedroom with a bathroom on the first floor for Uncle and his family. Xiaoyu can stay with me on the third floor, and she'll be on the same floor as you. After hearing that, Xiaoyu..."

She deliberately dragged out her words, and only continued with a smile after seeing Yang Fan listen intently:

"My ears were red all night."

Yang Fan paused for a moment, then looked up at Lin Xiaoyu, who was helping her mother pack her bags not far away.

The girl wore a light beige knitted cardigan today, paired with simple jeans and white sneakers.

Her long, soft hair cascaded over her shoulders, and as she lowered her head, a few strands slipped down her cheeks. She raised her hand and gently tucked them behind her ear—a gesture that was both natural and tender.

Seemingly noticing the gaze, Lin Xiaoyu looked up.

Eyes facing each other.

She was taken aback at first, then her cheeks flushed a light pink at a visible speed. She hurriedly looked away and pretended to check the wheelchair brakes.

Yang Fan withdrew his gaze, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

"Alright, get in the car."

The car was spacious, but it still felt a bit cramped with five people inside.

Lin's father sat in the passenger seat, leaving the back seat for the three women.

As soon as Xiaoya got on the bus, she squeezed into the middle seat, with Lin Xiaoyu on her left and Lin's mother on her right.

As the car entered the highway, the scenery outside the window began to recede at a steady pace.

Xiaoya, unable to stay still, began chattering away, reporting on her experiences at the hospital over the past few days:

"Brother, you didn't see it, Sister Xiaoyu took such good care of Uncle!"

"I get up early every day to go to the cafeteria to get my meals, and I even ask the nutritionist how to make a balanced diet."

"At night, when her uncle's legs hurt, she would repeatedly apply hot towels to them..."

Lin Xiaoyu felt embarrassed by what she was being said and gently tugged at Xiaoya's sleeve: "Xiaoya, stop talking..."

"Why wouldn't I say so?" Xiaoya asked matter-of-factly. "I'm showing my brother your good points, right, brother?"

Yang Fan glanced at the rearview mirror.

Lin Xiaoyu lowered her eyelashes, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her earlobes still red.

"Yes," he responded, his voice tinged with amusement, "You are very thoughtful."

These four simple words made Lin Xiaoyu's fingers tighten suddenly.

She secretly glanced up, trying to see Yang Fan's expression in the rearview mirror, but her eyes met his gaze as he looked into the mirror.

He hurriedly lowered his head again.

My heart was pounding wildly in my chest.

Xiaoya saw all of this, suppressed a laugh, and deliberately leaned against Lin Xiaoyu: "Oh, I'm so sleepy, I'm going to take a nap."

He closed his eyes as he spoke, but secretly reached behind his back and gently patted Lin Xiaoyu's hand.

The meaning is clear: Keep it up, I believe in you.

Lin Xiaoyu bit her lower lip, feeling both sweet and flustered.

As she looked out the window at the fields rushing by, her mind kept replaying the scene of Yang Fan standing in the main room of her house, telling that mean-spirited matchmaker, "I am her boyfriend."

The warmth of his hand resting on her shoulder.

He spoke in a calm yet resolute tone.

And then there was that inexplicable sense of loss that welled up inside her when she later clarified things…