Chapter 97

The elegant man and the gentle woman sat in a quiet café. If passersby didn't know their identities, they would have thought they were a perfect couple made in heaven. However, everyone knew that this woman was Yuan Yi's girlfriend and that this man was just a failed suitor. Just as rumors of Yuan Yi and Yan Xi getting closer spread, news broke that the two were meeting in a café. For those who loved gossip, it was a year-end spectacle. Some people thought Song Chao was deeply infatuated, others thought they were just meeting casually, while some wondered if Yuan Yi was being cheated on by Yan Xi.

Netizens with a hatred for the rich began mocking Yuan Yi, claiming that no matter how much money he had, he couldn't win over the woman he loved and was even being cuckolded by her. The angriest voices were from women who seemed to embody Yuan Yi, cursing Yan Xi for being unfaithful, condemning all women, and saying that if they were Yuan Yi, they would teach this woman a lesson.

The online comments were toxic, and Yuan Yi, after glancing at a few trending posts, couldn't bear to read more. He stood up to go find Yan Xi, but was stopped by Yuan Bo, who grabbed his arm.

"What's wrong?" Yuan Bo, still unaware of what had happened, saw Yuan Yi's troubled expression and pulled him back to the couch. "No matter what's going on, you're not in a condition to go out and handle business right now."

Yuan Yi sat on the couch for two minutes, brooding. Then he muttered, "I'm going to buy groceries."

"Does this have to do with Xiao Xi?" Yuan Bo, sensing something related to Yan Xi, raised an eyebrow. "Buying groceries? Why does our Second Young Master need to go grocery shopping? If you need anything, I'll have someone arrange it and have it delivered to Xiao Xi's house by tomorrow morning."

"Big brother..." Yuan Yi rubbed his face with both hands, hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Do you think... Xiao Xi likes me?"

Yuan Bo laughed when he heard this question. "You should know better than I do."

"Before meeting Yan Xi, I thought marriage was like what our parents have—so full of love that you forget everything else around you. I wasn't interested in that kind of relationship, and I had no expectations of women," Yuan Yi smiled bitterly. "Yan Xi, though, she looks delicate and soft, but she's the kind of person who could break a car door, throw shoes at people, or even sneakily stomp on bad guys while wearing high heels. She's not gentle at all, and she always goes against me. Sometimes she's super cheeky, and she's not a beauty. What's so great about her?"

Yuan Bo thought for a moment and realized if he dared to speak ill of Yan Xi, their brotherhood would probably be tested.

"But her eyes are really beautiful. Every time she looks at me, I can't help but think, she's the one. I'd do anything for her," Yuan Yi scratched his hair, feeling awkward since he wasn't used to expressing his feelings in front of others. "I know it's pathetic, and not very manly, but..."

"But who can help it? I like her," his voice lowered. "All the things I used to care about don't seem as important anymore. I used to wonder, how could any man willingly carry a woman's bag, beg her, and lower his pride? How could they still have face?"

"Being with Yan Xi made me realize that face is just nonsense!" Yuan Yi clenched his teeth, seemingly feeling hopeless. "Every time she frowns, I can't help but reflect on what I did wrong to upset her."

"If I had known I'd become this pathetic after meeting her..." Yuan Yi paused, unable to finish the sentence. What could he do? Now, even imagining Yan Xi with another man was unbearable.

This was his life now, falling into this woman's hands, and all his pride, face, and principles were washed away like sewage.

Yuan Bo patted him on the shoulder without mocking him. "The fact that you understand these things means you've truly grown up."

"Growth makes you realize that being a real man isn't about always maintaining a high posture, never bowing, and never compromising." Yuan Bo smiled with pride. "You make me proud. Sometimes I worry about you, though, afraid you'll be too proud and forget to pay attention to the life around you."

"I'm grateful to Yan Xi. She's made you live more like an ordinary man."

Yuan Yi fell silent for a moment. "You're saying that, but you're the same. You're almost thirty-five and still haven't shown any intention of getting married."

"I don't want to get married or have children, and neither does she," Yuan Bo said with a smile. "Everyone meets someone who suits them. You met Yan Xi, I met her. It's all good."

"Bro, do you have an anti-marriage stance because of our parents?" Yuan Yi asked.

Yuan Bo glanced at him calmly. "Don't overthink things at your age. Weren't you about to go find Xiao Xi? Why aren't you hurrying?"

"I'm not going," Yuan Yi shook his head. "There's nothing going on."

"You were in a hurry just now, and now there's nothing?" Yuan Bo got up, looking at the messy kitchen, then sighed. "Let's go, I'll treat you to a meal outside."

Yuan Yi changed into his jacket, casually putting his keys into his pocket, and left the house with Yuan Bo.

The two brothers didn't talk much while eating. They finished the meal quickly and went outside, only to run into Song Chao.

Yuan Bo knew that Song Chao had once pursued Yan Xi and was well aware of the internal competition within the Song family. He nodded slightly at Song Chao but didn't say anything. He had expected Yuan Yi to have a strong reaction upon seeing Song Chao, but he clearly didn't know Yuan Yi well enough. Throughout the encounter, Yuan Yi's expression didn't change much.

Song Chao hadn't expected to run into the Yuan brothers at the restaurant. The three of them stood facing each other, none of them saying a word.

A man dining alone on the twenty-ninth of the year was either someone who couldn't cook or didn't want to be at home.

"Mr. Yuan," Song Chao smiled and glanced at Yuan Yi. "What a coincidence."

Yuan Bo shook Song Chao's hand. "I haven't congratulated you on your promotion, Mr. Song. I wish you great success."

"Thank you, Mr. Yuan," Song Chao lowered his gaze politely. "But it's all thanks to the support of my elders. I can't compare to Mr. Yuan Yi, who started his own business and has become a rising star in the industry."

While seemingly modest, Song Chao's words subtly sowed discord between the Yuan brothers. Yuan Bo now ran the family business, while Yuan Yi developed his own company. By saying that he couldn't compare to Yuan Yi, Song Chao was implying that Yuan Yi was more successful than his older brother. If there was any tension between the two brothers, this simple comment could spark a conflict.

"You're too kind, Mr. Song," Yuan Bo smiled slightly, with a sense of pride. "Our little second is just muddling along. As long as he doesn't starve himself, I'm happy with that."

Song Chao: "..."

These two were brothers from a wealthy family, not father and son, right? Yuan Bo's seeming modesty, paired with a subtle air of pride, left Song Chao bewildered. Having witnessed the cutthroat dynamics among wealthy families, this was the first time he saw genuine brotherly affection. He instinctively felt that Yuan Bo might be playing a role.

He didn't want to believe it, but couldn't help but say, "It's not flattery, it's the truth. A lot of people in the industry now say that Yuan Yi is surpassing his elders. The younger generation knows Yuan Yi but doesn't know Mr. Yuan. Such praise is something few of us can get."

Yuan Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, leisurely saying, "You're right, I think so too." He tilted his chin with a calm and composed demeanor. "I am indeed a bit more outstanding than you."

Song Chao: "..."

Yuan Bo coughed, trying to suppress the laughter that almost slipped out.

"Yuan Yi, we've been high school classmates for three years. Do you really dislike me this much?" Song Chao smiled, his demeanor graceful. "In the future, I hope you can take care of me in business. Let's work together for mutual benefit and a win-win situation."

Yuan Yi glanced at Song Chao, sneered, and suddenly said, "Song Chao, you probably forgot. You're now the head of the Song family, not just the young master of the Song family." Sometimes, strategy and tactics are essential, but to support a family, what matters is truly the skill and determination.

Song Chao's smile froze for a moment, then he quickly recovered, saying, "Of course."

The two exchanged looks full of disdain, but Yuan Yi didn't want to waste any more words with Song Chao. He turned and walked out.

"By the way." Song Chao smiled just as Yuan Yi took a few steps out. "The thing this morning was a misunderstanding. I only sat in the café with Miss Yan for less than half an hour. We hardly exchanged a few words."

He and she didn't even finish a cup of coffee.

Yuan Yi paused and looked back at him. Without asking or saying anything, he turned and left the restaurant.

Song Chao stared at Yuan Yi's back for a long moment, then suddenly laughed. He adjusted his glasses, becoming once again the suave head of the Song family.

Yan Xi brought the red lanterns and window decorations she had bought back to Song Hai. After dinner, father and daughter began a thorough cleaning. They hung the lanterns and pasted the window decorations. For the first time, Yan Xi found herself disliking the size of their house. She ran up and down, sweating all over. Her father, on the other hand, moved around briskly, seemingly not tired at all.

Yan Xi lay on the couch, panting, while her chubby father continued his work without breaking a sweat. Yan Xi began to suspect that it was her father who had been working out all these years, not her.

In the last half-year, due to work, she hadn't been able to maintain her fitness routine. After the New Year, she decided to get back into shape by resuming her gym workouts.

As evening approached, father and daughter finally finished cleaning the house, making it look like it was ready for the New Year. Yan Xi leaned against the window, wiping off the condensation, and looked outside. "Dad, it's snowing."

Song Hai, who was making dinner in the kitchen, heard her call and hurriedly came out, thinking something was wrong. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing, it's just snowing outside," Yan Xi said, smiling as she saw her father wearing a big floral apron. "Dad, you brought home the leftover gifts from the company again?"

Other companies usually give their employees high-end benefits, but her dad's company is unique. Sometimes they send local specialties from all over the country, and other times they even give out everyday items. Yan Xi often thought that if an employee were to submit a "My Boss is Weird" post online, her dad would definitely make the list.

"There were a few left, and since they were just going to be thrown away, I figured I might as well take them home and use them. It's not a waste," Song Hai said, glancing down at his apron. "The flowers on it are peonies. Wearing this for the New Year is auspicious."

Peonies symbolize wealth, so yes... it is indeed auspicious.

After dinner, Yan Xi was lying on the couch with a soft pillow, turning on the TV and about to play on her phone, which she hadn't touched in a long time, when she thought she heard a knock on the door.

With the heavy snowstorm outside, no one should be visiting. Maybe she had imagined it?

She listened carefully again, and yes, there was a knock.

She opened the door to find Yuan Xiao Er standing outside, holding several large bags.

"Yuan Xiao Er?"

"I really wanted to come tomorrow, but my house is too quiet and empty. It's just too lonely to be here by myself," Yuan Yi said with a silly smile. "I wanted to come see you, and I'll leave soon."

He was covered in snow, his shoulders still trembling from the cold, and the bags in his hands were heavy with who-knows-what. He had braved the storm just to come see her.

How could there be such a silly man in the world?

But... she liked it.

Song Hai, hearing the commotion outside, stuck his head out from the kitchen to have a look. Seeing his daughter and that silly boy standing at the door, he wanted to remind them that standing outside in the cold wind wasn't comfortable.

But when he saw Yuan Yi's face, red from the cold, smiling with his white teeth showing, he quietly went upstairs.

Out of sight, out of mind.

"Are you crazy?" Yan Xi pulled him inside and dusted off the snow from his coat. "Didn't the driver bring you in?"

"He did," Yuan Yi said, putting the bags down and taking off his hat and scarf. "You don't need to brush it off, you'll freeze your hands."

The driver had brought him inside, but why was there so much snow on him?

How long had he been standing outside?

"Did Aunt Li go home?" Yan Xi remembered that Aunt Li was from the capital.

Yuan Yi nodded. "Yeah, although she's worried about me, I can't let her spend New Year's alone. It's a big holiday, after all." Normally, he wouldn't think much of it, but when he saw the snowflakes drifting outside the window and unintentionally came across a photo of Yan Xi and Song Chao sitting together at a café drinking tea, he suddenly felt the emptiness in the house.

When he arrived outside Yan Xi's door, he suddenly realized how impulsive his actions were. His rational mind told him to get back into the car, pretend nothing had happened, go home, sleep, and come back tomorrow. But his emotions told him, "What's rationality? I want to see Yan Xi, not wait for tomorrow alone."

Yan Xi took the things he brought, putting what needed to go in the fridge in the fridge, hanging up what needed to be hung, then reached over to feel his hand. When she saw it finally warming up, she poked his forehead. "Are you stupid?"

"People in love sometimes lose a bit of their IQ," Yuan Yi took her finger in his hand and gently kissed her cheek. "But I missed you too much."

When he knocked on the door, he just wanted to see her, even if it was just for a moment.

He didn't know why he acted so foolishly, but he did it anyway.

"Have you had dinner?" Hearing this, Yan Xi's heart softened. She rubbed the spot on his forehead where she had poked him.

"I don't have an appetite," Yuan Yi lazily hugged her, not wanting to move.

"There are some dumplings my dad and I made in the fridge, and there are a few left. I'll cook them for you," Yan Xi patted his head. "Be good, watch some TV while I cook."

She handed him the remote and went to the kitchen to cook the dumplings.

The dumplings were ready quickly, and she brought a bowl to the table and called Yuan Yi over to eat. She saw him blowing on the dumplings and eating, looking like he was enjoying it and not really lacking an appetite. Pampering her man, even occasionally being a little spoiled, she didn't mind indulging him.

Yan Xi was about to go back to the kitchen to get Yuan Yi some pickles when her phone, which she had forgotten on the sofa, rang. She picked it up and saw that the call was from Tao Ru. Answering the phone, she laughed and said, "Just got home, and you already have the energy to chat on the phone with me?"

"Do you think I want to?" Tao Ru responded in a flustered voice. "I wish I could just lie in bed and sleep. You and Song Chao made such a big scene, and now they're saying you put a green hat on Yuan Yi. How could I sleep?"

"A green hat?" Yan Xi turned around to glance at Yuan Yi, who was engrossed in eating his dumplings, then put the pickles on the table and walked to the window to continue the conversation. "You believe those things online?"

"I don't want to believe it, but when I got off the plane and opened my phone, I saw photos of you and Song Chao dating all over the news. I'm worried that Yuan Yi might misunderstand you." Tao Ru hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Da He, you should explain this properly to Yuan Yi, don't let him misunderstand you. I really think the young boss likes you a lot. His eyes light up when he looks at you."

"I know, you rest well, don't worry," Yan Xi ended the call and began scrolling through the online news. Sure enough, the story of her and Song Chao's "date" had made the headlines. Some smaller media outlets even went as far as to title it: "Hengtai CEO Yuan Yi Gets Cheated On by His Girlfriend — What a Tragedy!"

What a tragedy, my foot!

Yan Xi skimmed through the various comments, some of which were downright disgusting. People shamelessly mocked Yuan Yi, as though mocking a successful person brought them endless satisfaction.

She closed the phone's browser, walked over to Yuan Yi, and sat down in front of him. Seeing that he had already eaten most of the dumplings, she smiled and asked, "Is it good?"

Yuan Yi nodded. "It's delicious, the skin is thin and the filling is fresh."

"If it's delicious, let's make it together tomorrow," Yan Xi said, walking behind Yuan Yi. She bent down, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered in his ear, "Stay tonight, don't go back."

The dumpling on his chopsticks fell back into the bowl, and Yuan Yi's throat tightened as he let out a slightly hoarse voice, "Okay."

He had never doubted Yan Xi. He couldn't even bring himself to ask her more questions, at most, he would foolishly brave the snow to see her.

What a proud man, yet he did such a foolish thing because of her.

Yan Xi gently touched his ear, soft and warm, just like him.

The next morning, Yuan Yi got up early. Song Hai saw him and naturally greeted him with "Good morning," as if he had always been part of the family, not someone who had just appeared out of nowhere.

In the kitchen that morning, the three of them were preparing a lavish lunch. Yan Xi was chopping vegetables, Yuan Yi was washing them, and Song Hai, who was waiting to cook, watched the two young people bickering and occasionally holding hands, shaking his head and laughing.

This year's New Year really felt lively.

After lunch, Yuan Yi started putting up Spring Festival couplets and the character "Fu" (for good luck). Yan Xi was causing mischief, telling him it was too high or crooked, making Yuan Yi spin around trying to fix it. Eventually, even Song Hai couldn't stand it and, picking up a handful of snow from the ground, told her to go play with the snow instead.

"Uncle, don't let her play in the snow, she'll freeze her hands," Yuan Yi stood on a stool, continuously defending Yan Xi.

Song Hai: "..."

Fine, if one wants to play and the other wants to indulge, he might as well not interfere.

A while later, when Song Hai finished preparing the dumpling filling and came out, the two of them had already built several oddly shaped snowmen in the yard. He sighed, tapping a spoon against a bowl: "You two, come inside and help make dumplings!"

"Dad, are you calling a dog?" Yan Xi jumped on the steps, shaking off snow.

"At least dogs know not to play outside in the heavy snow," Song Hai retorted.

Yuan Yi, Yan Xi: ...

After making dumplings, Yuan Yi completely gave up on trying to win over his father-in-law with his cooking skills. One must know their own limits.

As it was getting dark, Yan Xi turned on the TV. The Spring Festival Gala hadn't started yet, but the hosts had already begun wishing the audience a Happy New Year. Even the usually serious news anchors were smiling and saying good wishes.

While setting down her chopsticks, Yan Xi noticed Yuan Yi taking a call and asked, "Is someone looking for you?"

"My mom wants me to go to her place for the New Year's Eve dinner."

Yan Xi paused for a moment. "Are you going back?"

"What's the point?" Yuan Yi took the chopsticks from her and arranged them neatly. "I'm still waiting to eat the dumplings with the coin inside."

"Don't even think about it, that dumpling is definitely mine," Yan Xi teased, wrinkling her nose at him. She didn't try to persuade him to go see his parents because she knew Yuan Yi didn't want to go anywhere else.

Her heart was small; she just wanted the person she loved to be happy.

While eating the dumplings, Yuan Yi poked a dumpling with a hard belly. He opened it up and, sure enough, found a coin inside.

He turned to Yan Xi, and she stared back at him. Seeing her expression, he couldn't help but laugh.

"You get half, I get half." Yuan Yi generously split it, pushing his bowl next to hers, then took out his phone and took a photo, posting it on Weibo.

Yuan Yi: Dumplings with treasures inside—half for you, half for me. @Xiao Xi Liu.

Seeing him eagerly showing off their love, Yan Xi took out her phone and posted a picture of the dumplings they made today.

Xiao Xi Liu: The dumplings I made are the ugliest, but the luck from eating them is the best. @Yuan Yi.

Regardless of how the netizens reacted, the two of them, after eating the dumplings and showing off their love, went outside with sparklers, playing in the yard. Even though snow was still falling, it didn't dampen their spirits.

Song Hai sat by the window, smiling as he watched them. When he saw the two of them holding hands and playing like a couple of six-year-olds, he shook his head and pulled the curtains shut.

"Xixi," Yuan Yi pulled Yan Xi into his arms, "I'm really happy today. Thank you."

The sparklers had already burned out. Yan Xi leaned against Yuan Yi's chest, with cold snowflakes drifting onto her face, but she didn't feel cold.

"Would you... be willing to spend every New Year with me, making a grand lunch, making dumplings, putting up Spring Festival couplets, and preparing the New Year's Eve dinner?"

"Yes."

Snowflakes drifted, and the sound of the New Year bells rang.

The new year had arrived.

The author's note: The main story ends here. The following extra chapters will be released from time to time. Thank you for your continuous support. Da He and Yuan Xiao Er send you their love. Wishing you all the best.