For the next two days, Wan Yunting visited his old friends again, continuing until this New Year's Eve.
The house was already adorned with festive decorations for the New Year. Small red envelopes and lanterns hung from the trees, and Wan Yunting personally wrote several couplets. He planned to give two to his second brother's family and keep two for himself to paste on the main door.
That same day, these two couplets appeared on the Hua Du City Literati Association's website, sparking heated discussions and comments among scholars, literati, and calligraphy enthusiasts.
Wan Yunting had written calligraphy infrequently in the past year, and the market was still flooded with his earlier works from Shao Xing.
His calligraphy, renowned for the title "Wan Shu Xian" (Calligraphy Immortal) and "Shu Shen" (Calligraphy God), had always been highly sought after by the literati circles. However, they lamented his scarcity of new works, making it difficult for collectors, even those willing to spend a fortune, to acquire a piece.
After all, Wan Yunting did not earn a living from calligraphy; it was merely one of his unassuming skills.
The New Year passed like any other. On New Year's Eve, after a reunion dinner with his family, Wan Yunting drove directly to the Gu Mansion to pick up Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao.
"Yunting is here..."
Gu Yuanbai and Gu Yingbo, father and son, along with their old housekeeper Lu Hong, were sipping tea in a pavilion in the mansion's rear garden after their New Year's Eve dinner.
"Elder Gu, Uncle Gu, Master Hong, Happy New Year..." Wan Yunting strode over and greeted the three with clasped fists.
"Happy New Year..."
Gu Yuanbai smiled and invited him over for tea.
Meanwhile, Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao had finished packing their belongings in their chambers. They then called Wan Yunting to help them with their luggage.
At the main entrance of the Gu Mansion, Wan Yunting loaded Gu Luotang's and Qi Miaomiao's luggage into the car. He then opened the car doors for them to get in.
"Grandpa, Dad, Miaomiao and I are leaving now."
Gu Luotang, her belly prominent, turned to Gu Yuanbai and Gu Yingbo standing at the main entrance. Her eyes were slightly red, filled with reluctance.
"Yes, go ahead."
Gu Yuanbai, suppressing his own feelings of reluctance, waved goodbye with a smile.
Gu Luotang pursed her red lips, casting a deep gaze at her grandfather and father before turning and getting into the car.
"Master, bye-bye..."
Qi Miaomiao also waved goodbye to her Master, Gu Yuanbai, with evident reluctance, and followed her senior sister into the car.
Wan Yunting closed the car door, then turned to look at Gu Yuanbai and his son. He could sense their complex emotions and smiled, "Elder Gu, Uncle Gu, I will take good care of Luotang and Miaomiao. I will bring them back to see you in a couple of days."
"Alright, go back quickly."
Gu Yuanbai nodded and smiled.
Wan Yunting acknowledged with a hum, then turned and got back into the car to leave.
"Alas, the day has finally come."
Gu Yingbo sighed with emotion. His daughter had grown up and would eventually marry.
"Let's go back."
Gu Yuanbai felt a pang of reluctance and complexity. After all, he had raised his granddaughter himself, and now that she was leaving his side, he felt a profound sense of loss.
"Alright, senior sister, we're not going far away. Don't cry anymore..."
In the car, Gu Luotang couldn't help but shed tears, and Qi Miaomiao comforted her.
Wan Yunting, driving, also felt a bit emotional. He smiled and tried to console her, "Luotang, Miaomiao is right. Besides, you're not moving far away. You can come back anytime you wish."
"Brother Yunting, what are you saying? Who's getting married?" Gu Luotang wiped away her tears and shot him a glance.
However, leaving tonight was indeed akin to marriage, as she was now considered Wan Yunting's person.
Wan Yunting's expression faltered, and he said helplessly, "Alright, if you don't want that, I'll take you back right now..."
"You..."
Gu Luotang glared at him in exasperation. Wan Yunting burst into laughter, and Qi Miaomiao also chuckled. Leaning forward against the seatback, she said softly to Wan Yunting, who was driving, "Brother Yunting, if you dare to treat me and senior sister badly, I'll go back to my parents' home with her."
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare..."
Wan Yunting reached out and gently stroked Qi Miaomiao's fair and smooth cheek, smiling sincerely, "I, Wan Yunting, will never let you down in this life."
"Hmph, that's more like it."
Qi Miaomiao beamed and kissed Wan Yunting on the cheek before sitting back. Gu Luotang also smiled, her hand gently resting on her belly. In two months, the little one would arrive.
They soon returned home.
"Luotang, Miaomiao, you're back..."
Xia Xiangyun, seeing them enter the door, hurried to greet them.
"Yes, Auntie..."
Gu Luotang was pulled along by Xia Xiangyun, her face beaming with joy.
"Still calling me Auntie? Call me Mom," Xia Xiangyun teased with a smile.
This made Gu Luotang's pretty face flush with shyness.
"Hehe, it's okay. You'll get used to it," Xia Xiangyun said, unbothered. She knew the girl was a bit reserved and a shy, modest young lady.
"Miaomiao, come upstairs quickly..."
On the villa's rooftop, Su Ke'er, dressed in a festive red Hanfu gown, shouted down to Qi Miaomiao. Seeing Gu Luotang, she also called out, "Sister Luotang, you come up quickly too! We're about to set off fireworks..."
"Oh, okay..."
Gu Luotang responded, and Xia Xiangyun carefully led her upstairs.
In the rear garden, his second brother Wan Dongming and Ouyang Zhixin personally set off fireworks for the family.
Meanwhile, Fang Yanxi, holding their daughter, and second sister-in-law Wang Chulin, holding their son, along with their niece Wan'er, Su Ke'er, and Ouyang Fanmeng, were on the rooftop. As Qi Miaomiao, Gu Luotang, and Xia Xiangyun joined them, the fireworks exploded into the sky.
"Wow, how beautiful!"
The women cheered. Wan Yunting, after putting away the luggage, also went to the backyard to help his father and second brother with the fireworks. Seeing the smiles on the women's faces, he felt content.
After the fireworks concluded, Wan Yunting came up. There were lounge sofas on the rooftop, and the family sat together, enjoying fruits and snacks.
Wan Yunting, his second brother, and his father, invigorated, opened several bottles of good wine to drink.
They also connected with elders in the Beijing family and offered their congratulations via video call.
After drinking, he handed out red envelopes to Wan'er and his second brother's son.
His second brother and second sister-in-law, in turn, gave red envelopes to his daughter. Su Ke'er and Qi Miaomiao, having had a bit to drink, became bolder and asked their father-in-law, Ouyang Zhixin, for red envelopes.
"Yes, yes, you all have them..."
A delighted Ouyang Zhixin produced several large red envelopes, distributing them to Fang Yanxi, Gu Luotang, Qi Miaomiao, and Su Ke'er, as well as to his second son and daughter-in-law.
"Bank card!"
Qi Miaomiao secretly opened her red envelope and discovered it contained not cash, but a black bank card.
Her father-in-law was truly generous.
"Dad, Second Brother, let's have another drink..."
Wan Yunting urged his father and second brother, and the three men continued to drink and chat.
Meanwhile, every family across the country was gathered together that evening, welcoming the arrival of the New Year.
As midnight struck, fireworks lit up the sky above every household villa in the entire Sheng Tang peak, heralding the New Year.
Wan Yunting was no exception. After the fireworks, he continued drinking with his father and second brother until two in the morning before they finished.
After seeing his second brother out, Wan Yunting returned home somewhat unsteadily. His parents, sister, and Gu Luotang were already asleep. He went back to his bedroom, where Fang Yanxi had also retired early with their daughter.
However, Wan Yunting's sharp ears caught the sounds of Qi Miaomiao and Su Ke'er coming from a room on the second basement level!
He went downstairs and arrived at Su Ke'er's room. The door was unlocked, seemingly prepared for someone.
Pushing the door open, he saw Qi Miaomiao and Su Ke'er dressed in alluring ancient-style dresses. The two girls struck provocative and charming poses on the large bed, giggling as they saw Wan Yunting at the doorway. "Brother Yunting, you're here..."
Witnessing this scene, Wan Yunting closed the door and couldn't help but rush forward, exclaiming, "Bold enchantresses, I shall deal with you two vixen spirits tonight..."
The next morning, the family was awakened by the sound of firecrackers.
It was the first day of the Lunar New Year. They had originally planned to go out for a stroll, but upon considering that Wan Yunting's presence would attract a crowd, the family decided to wander in the scenic area behind the Sheng Tang Peak. They spent the day together.
On the second day, visitors began to call on Wan Yunting. Jiang Wenhao also returned to the country and specifically came to wish Wan Yunting a Happy New Year.
On the third day, Wan Yunting first took Fang Yanxi back to the Fang family.
On the fourth day, Wan Yunting took Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao back to the Gu Mansion to visit Gu Yuanbai and Gu Yingbo.
"Tomorrow is the fifth day, so we must head back to Beijing."
After lunch, everyone gathered in the pavilion in the rear garden for tea. The New Year had passed.
"Yes, it's time to go back to work."
Wan Yunting nodded with a smile. Leisurely days were always short. He said, "Let's return to Beijing together tomorrow afternoon."
"Okay..."
Gu Yuanbai nodded, and Gu Yingbo was also preparing to return to the United States and relocate his company back to China.
In the afternoon, Wan Yunting took the opportunity to visit Elder Chang first, asking him when he planned to depart for the Wu Liang Daoist Temple. By seven in the evening, after informing his family, he drove to Ruan Xingwen's home.
Ruan Wen, having received the news, was also at Ruan Xingwen's home. Learning that her man would be returning to Beijing the next day and realizing he might not return to Hua Du City often, the three women, unable to bear the thought, could only express their mutual emotions in a more passionate manner.
Around ten in the evening, Wan Yunting returned home, helping his family pack their belongings for their departure to Beijing the next day.
The next morning, the family reunited. Wan Yunting gave his second brother many instructions, as he would likely have few opportunities to return to Hua Du City in the future. He asked his second brother to visit their elder sister on his behalf more often.
Under Wan Yunting's efforts, Wan Manyu had already secured several sentence reductions and would be released in less than two years.
At three in the afternoon, Wan Yunting, along with his family, arrived at the airport. They met up with Gu Yuanbai and the others and then flew back to Beijing. They arrived around six in the evening and went directly to the Ouyang residence.
"You all are back..."
Ouyang Zhihui and other elders of the family warmly welcomed Wan Yunting and Ouyang Zhixin's large family, saying, "Dinner is ready. Let's all go and eat."
"Okay..."
Everyone moved directly to the dining room, while the luggage was handled by the servants.
The entire family was present, except for the elderly Patriarch Ouyang Shenyi.
The Patriarch had stayed in Shao Xing with Fan Liren for the New Year. They had also video-called with Wan Yunting, and seeing the Patriarch and Fan Liren enjoying their New Year together eased Wan Yunting's worries.
Ouyang Zhixin also planned to visit his elderly father specifically the next day, as he was concerned about how the Patriarch was living in Shao Xing, and Wan Yunting and the others were not entirely at ease.
However, the following period was quite peaceful.
On the eighth day, the Chinese Medicine Association officially resumed work. Wan Yunting arrived at the association's office punctually and encountered Li Yuxiu, who had arrived at the same time.
The woman was wearing a coffee-colored coat, with her lustrous black hair elegantly draped over her shoulders. Her beautiful oval face, seemingly adorned with delicate makeup, made her appear younger and more beautiful, exuding a mature and captivating aura.
"Chairman Wan is quite punctual."
Seeing Wan Yunting arrive at the same time as her, Li Yuxiu smiled faintly.
"Vice Chairman Li, aren't you as well?"
They met at the entrance, and with other members coming and going, they naturally refrained from any overt displays of affection.
"Let's go inside. We'll have the first meeting of the year once everyone has arrived!" Li Yuxiu said with a smile.
"Yes, let's go to your office first," Wan Yunting said with a smile, an irrepressible hint of eagerness in his expression.
Li Yuxiu's autumn eyes subtly glanced at the man. She couldn't possibly know what he was thinking, but she herself was also thinking of him.
They entered the association's office building together, exchanging greetings with the members they encountered. As not everyone had arrived yet, Wan Yunting and Li Yuxiu went to their offices first.
As soon as they entered, they closed the door and embraced each other, eagerly kissing to release their pent-up longing.