Chapter 102: Lian Li, Wish Me a Happy New Year
The mansion compound was heavily guarded, and for the New Year’s Eve dinner on the thirtieth of the lunar month, all members of the Jin Family who usually lived elsewhere had returned.
Old Master Jin sat at the head of the table, with his Madam and daughter on his left and right, followed by his two sons and their wives, and then his grandsons and granddaughters.
Adhering to the principle of family harmony, everyone at the dining table ate in silence, slowly enjoying their dinner.
After dinner, Jin Shi Yue, Jin Yan Ting, and their father and uncle went to Old Master Jin’s study to listen to the Old Master’s lecture.
After the lecture, Jin Shi Yue strode out of the study, and immediately after, a servant said, “Young Master Yue, the Old Madam requests your presence in the greenhouse.”
When Jin Shi Yue arrived at the greenhouse, Old Madam Jin and Chen Shifei were looking down at a stack of photographs on the crystal coffee table.
It was obvious what the elders intended by looking at photographs of young ladies from their social circle.
“A Yue, come quickly, what do you think of this young lady?” Old Madam Jin held up a photograph for Jin Shi Yue to see.
Jin Shi Yue glanced at it and lazily concluded, “She’s not suitable to be your granddaughter-in-law.”
Chen Shifei picked up another photograph, “The Lin Family’s young lady, she just graduated from Stanford and returned to the country.”
Jin Shi Yue’s expression remained unchanged, “She’s suitable to be the eldest sister-in-law.”
Old Madam Jin’s dignified and elegant face broke into a smile, “You child, we are looking for a wife for you now, what does that have to do with your eldest brother?”
“Eldest brother is not married yet, and you are rushing to find me a wife; it lacks proper etiquette,” Jin Shi Yue leaned back lazily on the sofa, his long legs slightly apart, exuding a relaxed and indolent demeanor.
“Etiquette?” Old Madam Jin’s smile deepened, “When have you ever had etiquette? You’re always so improper.”
Jin Shi Yue glanced at his mobile phone, stood up, and with a carefree air, said, “If you’re choosing an eldest sister-in-law, find eldest brother to come over. I’m leaving.”
Chen Shifei looked up at Jin Shi Yue’s retreating back, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and complex emotions flickered in her eyes.
Old Madam Jin sighed slightly, “This child, he can’t even stay for the New Year’s reunion.”
As the uncontainable Jin Shi Yue traversed the courtyard bridge, he bumped into Jin Shu Yu.
“The New Year is almost here, where are you going?” Jin Shu Yu was wearing a golden qipao, her elegant and noble aura intertwining with the falling snow to create a beautiful artistic painting.
“Giving out red envelopes,” Jin Shi Yue’s well-defined fingers toyed with the car key, his dark eyes reflecting a faint smile, his voice casual.
Jin Shu Yu: “Giving out red envelopes?”
Jin Shi Yue’s long fingers hooked towards Jin Shu Yu’s bag, “Red envelopes.”
Jin Shu Yu took out one of the red envelopes meant for the younger generation and gave it to Jin Shi Yue.
Jin Shi Yue: “Three.”
Jin Shu Yu decisively handed him six, “Six six great fortune.”
She asked, “Did the Old Madam just look for you?”
Jin Shi Yue: “Mm.”
“What about? Trying to set you up with the Mayor’s daughter, Xu Jingxi?” Jin Shu Yu’s personality was quite similar to Jin Shi Yue’s, more flamboyant and unrestrained.
“Picking an eldest sister-in-law,” Jin Shi Yue said concisely, then walked past Jin Shu Yu, “I’m off.”
“Asking the younger uncle to pick an eldest sister-in-law?” Jin Shu Yu feigned anger and cursed softly, “This brat is tricking me again.”
*
When Lian Li was young, she used to look forward to the New Year. She hoped that in the new year, she and her father would find her mother and have a New Year’s Eve dinner as a family of three, celebrating a lively festival.
Just like millions of ordinary families.
They didn’t need delicacies or a luxurious villa; all they needed was for the family to sit together and have a steaming hot New Year’s Eve dinner.
During school, some classmates would brag about the clothes and toys their mothers bought them, while others would complain that their mothers’ makeup and sleeping in caused them to be late for school. Their mothers had different parenting styles but all loved their children.
This made Lian Li very envious.
She missed her mother dearly, but she couldn’t show it in front of Lian Jingcheng.
Lian Jingcheng wanted to find her mother more than anyone.
Lian Li waited day after day, year after year, waiting for the moment their family of three would be reunited.
But before the third person arrived, she was left all alone.
Lian Li spent twelve years waiting.
Later, she no longer waited for that family affection that was destined not to be hers.
Mother was no longer Mother.
It was more of an obsession, a promise she had to fulfill for Lian Jingcheng.
And a shackle that bound her.
They say parents are the most forgiving people in the world. Lian Li had no parents, so she learned to forgive herself.
She allowed herself to have flaws and allowed others not to like her.
Lian Li put down her mobile phone, went to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and scanned its contents. Traditionally, one should eat tangyuan, symbolizing reunion, for New Year’s Eve dinner, but she only wanted noodles.
Lian Li took out beef, vegetables, and noodles, and cooked herself a steaming bowl of beef noodles.
Outside, the snow was heavy, the sleet shattered, and snowflakes fell silently, hitting the clear windowpane and reflecting the scene inside.
Lian Li carried the noodles to the living room, placed them on the coffee table, and sat on the carpet without pretense, eating noodles while watching the Spring Festival Gala.
After finishing her noodles, she sat back on the sofa and grabbed a soft pillow, tucking it into her arms.
WeChat messages poured in; everyone had started sending out New Year’s greetings.
Lian Li transformed into an emotionless robot, quickly replying with the same “Happy New Year” sticker pack.
She clicked into a new chat window, about to send stickers in a routine manner, when the screen suddenly popped up with an incoming call display 【 Eldest Young Master 】.
Lian Li ignored it directly. On New Year’s Eve, she didn’t want Jin Shi Yue to ruin her mood.
Although her mood wasn’t great at the moment, it was still better than being worse.
Everyone yearned for the powerful and wealthy, but Lian Li did not like it.
The social circle was filled with materialism and a decline in morals.
Her only desire in the Capital City was to find her mother and live an honest life, not to get involved in trouble.
Lian Li admitted that she didn’t entirely dislike physical contact with Jin Shi Yue.
But it was only because she was too lonely.
And his warmth was too comforting.
She liked Jin Yan Ting, not Jin Shi Yue.
Jin Shi Yue was such a scoundrel, so vile, so annoying… completely not someone who could bring her good luck.
Her life was already unlucky enough; she needed to stay away from him.
Jin Shi Yue persistently called three times.
Lian Li’s eyes reflected the fourth incoming call notification, remembering his previous contact name was 【 God of Wealth Master 】.
One couldn’t refuse the arrival of the God of Wealth, so shouldn’t one even more so refuse the arrival of the God of Wealth Master?
Lian Li pondered for a moment and answered before the call hung up: “Hello.”
The voice on the other end was lazy, “Asleep?”
“I was fast asleep, and you woke me up,” Lian Li lied.
Jin Shi Yue seemed to guess she was lying and chuckled, “Come open the door, I’ll apologize in person.”
Lian Li subconsciously turned her head towards the door, “You’re at my doorstep?”
“Where else, in your bed?”
“…” The Eldest Young Master was always lazily indecent.
Lian Li didn’t even look at the surveillance feed, put on her shoes, and walked to the door.
She opened the door, and before she could even get a clear look at the man outside, he cupped her face with his large hand.
Perhaps due to being outdoors for a long time, his hand was ice-cold. When it touched her skin, she instinctively recoiled.
This movement conveniently allowed Jin Shi Yue to step forward with his long legs, and with a slight hook of his foot, the door closed behind him.
Before Lian Li could react, she was already pressed against the door by his hard, hot body.
The man’s dark, deep eyes stared at her for two seconds, then he cupped her chin with one hand and lowered his head to kiss her.
Lian Li let out a soft sound, “Jin Shi Yue…”
Jin Shi Yue was initially gentle, but upon hearing her call his name, he instantly became fierce, entwining with her intimately.
The air was squeezed dry, and Lian Li, suffocating from the kiss, let out a muffled groan from her nose, her hands weakly pushing against his chest.
The sound of fireworks exploding drifted from the television in the living room.
Signaling the official arrival of the New Year.
At the same time, the man’s husky voice fell into her ear.
“Lian Li, say Happy New Year to me.”
