The Xia family's New Year's Eve dinner lasted until eight in the evening.
On the living room television, the Spring Festival Gala had just begun.
After Qin Tian helped clean up the tableware, he bade farewell to the elders of the Xia family.
"Xiao Qin, it's still early. Come sit with us and watch the gala, then play for a while longer!" Grandpa Xia said with a smile, inviting him to stay.
"No, Grandpa, my mom is home alone. I want to go back and accompany her. I'll come over to wish you a Happy New Year tomorrow morning," Qin Tian politely declined with a smile.
"Right, right, I'm getting old and forgetful!" The elder smiled and said, "You should go back and keep vigil with your mother tonight. Then go ahead, and be safe on the road!"
"I know!" Qin Tian nodded with a smile.
"Brother, shall I see you out?" Xia Nuannuan offered.
"No need, why see me out? It's so cold outside. You should stay in and watch the gala!" Qin Tian shook his head and refused.
"It's fine, I'll just walk you down and come right back."
"Really, no need."
"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, remember to prepare red envelopes tomorrow! I'm going to wish you a Happy New Year," Xia Xue called out loudly.
"No problem." Qin Tian nodded in agreement, unable to suppress a smile. He then looked at the twin siblings and deliberately raised his voice, saying, "Anyone who wishes me a Happy New Year tomorrow will get a red envelope!"
Xia Yaxin's eyes brightened, and she nodded vigorously with a gentle smile.
"Who cares about that!" Xia Junjie mumbled softly after eating an orange segment.
"I'm leaving now, bye-bye, bye-bye!"
"Bye-bye, brother-in-law, see you tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow!"
After mutual goodbyes, Qin Tian turned and walked towards the entryway.
Xia Nuannuan followed him, seeing him off.
"You silly girl, red envelopes are from elders. Why are you asking Xiao Qin for one?" Xia Wenhua glared at his daughter, chiding her good-naturedly.
"Brother-in-law is like family! It's not a problem for him to prepare red envelopes for us. And let me tell you, Nuannuan sister said brother-in-law is very good at making money. That apartment they bought together in Jiangcheng, brother-in-law bought it with his own earnings," Xia Xue said in a lowered voice, covering her mouth with her hand.
"He's that capable?" Xia Wenhua was stunned. He had only heard that the two children had bought an apartment in Jiangcheng, but he didn't know that the money was earned by Qin Tian himself; he thought it was from his family.
"Yes, so tomorrow, the red envelope brother-in-law prepares will definitely be a big one!" Xia Xue displayed a sly smile like a little fox.
"You're so quick-witted about these things. If you put more effort into studying, would you have scored so poorly on the final exam?" Xia Wenhua reprimanded his daughter with a stern face.
"Here you go again! I don't listen, I don't listen, like a monk chanting scriptures!" Xia Xue covered her ears with her hands, shaking her head.
Xia Wenhua found it both amusing and exasperating. He mused about preparing a few more bills for Qin Tian's New Year's red envelope tomorrow. After all, it wouldn't do to let Xiao Qin be at a disadvantage in terms of red envelopes when he was helping his daughter with tutoring!
"Then I'm leaving. No need to see me off." After changing his shoes, Qin Tian said to Xia Nuannuan with a hearty smile.
"Alright, then text me when you get home."
"Okay!"
"Brother, wait a moment!" Xia Nuannuan suddenly called out.
Qin Tian, who had just opened the door to leave, heard the voice and turned his head, looking at her with a puzzled expression.
Xia Nuannuan bit her lip and suddenly stepped forward, standing on tiptoe to kiss him on the lips.
"This counts as... the last kiss of the year," Qin Tian teased with a playful smile after a moment of stunned silence.
"Quick, go, go!" Xia Nuannuan pushed him out, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"You didn't want me to leave just now, and now you're chasing me away. Alas!"
"What are you talking about!"
"Auntie, I'm leaving!" Qin Tian suddenly called out behind her.
Xia Nuannuan turned around in surprise, only to see her mother standing not far away, holding a sliced fruit platter, smiling at them.
"Hey, take your time on the road!" Su Xia instructed with a radiant smile.
"Will do!" Qin Tian grinned.
Watching him wave as he entered the elevator, Xia Nuannuan covered her flushed cheeks with both hands and fled back towards her room as if escaping.
"Auntie, what's wrong with Nuannuan sister?" Xia Yaxin asked in surprise.
"Nothing, she's just shy. Come, come, have some fruit," Su Xia placed the fruit platter in front of her, calling out with a beaming smile.
"Shy?" Xia Yaxin blinked in confusion.
"Hehe... Auntie, did Nuannuan sister and brother-in-law secretly kiss, and you saw them?" Xia Xue asked slyly, taking a bite of an apple.
"So clever." Su Xia smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.
Xia Yaxin was taken aback for a moment, then her own face turned red.
...
...
Keeping vigil on New Year's Eve is a traditional custom. Candles are usually lit in the house, and the lights are kept on until dawn. It is believed that this practice will bring wealth to the family in the coming year.
Even before entering the house, Qin Tian could hear the sound of the Spring Festival Gala playing from his mother's room.
"Mom, I'm back," Qin Tian called out as he reached the doorway of the room.
"You're back? How was it? Was Nuannuan's family's New Year's Eve dinner lively?" Tang Xiuxia asked, nibbling on sunflower seeds and turning to look at her son with a smiling expression.
"Yes, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Xia, Aunt Su, and Xia Xue's parents, her second grandfather's family, the whole extended family was very lively," Qin Tian replied with a smile.
"Then why didn't you stay there to play a bit longer?" Tang Xiuxia chuckled, a hint of guilt flashing in the depths of her eyes. For many years, it had only been the mother and son spending New Year's Eve together, and it had indeed been a bit lonely. Although their hometown was much more lively, they wouldn't be able to return until the second day of the New Year. Frankly speaking, rather than returning home and facing the gossip from the villagers, the mother and son preferred to stay in Yucheng.
"I came back to accompany you," Qin Tian sat down beside his mother and spread his palms open with a smile.
Tang Xiuxia reached out, letting the remaining sunflower seeds fall into his palm, and rolled her eyes. "I'm perfectly comfortable watching TV and nibbling on sunflower seeds by myself. I don't need your company!"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Qin Tian replied with an indifferent smile and began cracking sunflower seeds. Suddenly remembering something, he took out his phone and sent a text message to Xia Nuannuan, letting her know he had arrived home safely. She replied quickly.
"Okay, so are you and Auntie watching TV?"
"Mom, come, let's take a selfie together." Qin Tian said with a smile, then put down the sunflower seeds in his left hand, picked up his phone with his right hand, and held it up, pointing the camera at himself and his mother.
"Wh-what do you mean, taking a photo all of a sudden?" Tang Xiuxia felt a little embarrassed.
"Come on!" Qin Tian moved closer, put his left arm around his mother's shoulder, tilted his head, and revealed a hearty smile. Seeing this, Tang Xiuxia could only cooperate and smiled back.
*Click*. The photo was taken. Qin Tian took it down, nodded in satisfaction, and sent it to Xia Nuannuan.
"Wow, the photo turned out great! Brother, your photography skills are getting better and better," she replied again shortly after.
"Of course. It's just that my mom said it would have been even better if you were in it," Qin Tian typed back with a smile.
"You little rascal!" Tang Xiuxia looked at him sending the message and playfully patted his shoulder with a smile. "Send me the photo too."
"Certainly. Do you want the photos I took with Nuannuan at the amusement park too?"
"Yes, yes, send me all of them."