"Happy New Year!" As soon as Lan Yuxi finished speaking, Nan Xiao's voice came from outside.
Immediately after, the people at the two large tables all stood up and wished each other a Happy New Year.
"Bang-bang-bang..."
Hearing the sound, several children rushed to the balcony to look outside.
Outside the window, brilliant fireworks bloomed in the sky like flowers. The entire sky was filled with fireworks, colorful and vibrant like spring blossoms, as dazzling as the sunset clouds, and as radiant as a rainbow high in the sky!
"So beautiful!" Mumu tugged at her brother's hand and exclaimed excitedly.
Zhao Zhao curved his lips slightly, "Yes, truly beautiful!"
Hong Shihan smiled and said, "Brother, it's great to celebrate New Year at Auntie's house. We can set off fireworks. It's a no-fireworks zone where we live."
Hong Shikuan chuckled. Seeing Hanyi gazing longingly out the window, he reached out and gently stroked his little head, which had started to grow some hair.
"Brother Shikuan, the fireworks are so pretty!"
"Are you thinking how wonderful it would be if you could set off fireworks yourself?"
Lan Hanyi pouted and nodded, "But Grandma always told me and my brother and sister that fireworks are dangerous and we're not allowed to set them off."
Hong Shikuan smiled and, as if by magic, produced a sparkler from behind him. "Come on, brother will take you to set off these. These are safe and very pretty too."
"Wow~" Mumu's big eyes lit up instantly when she saw the sparklers.
Hong Shihan smiled and took her little hand. "Sister will take you to get dressed."
Mumu hopped and skipped upstairs with Hong Shihan.
Zhao Zhao hesitated for a moment, then took Lan Hanyi's hand. "If you want to set off fireworks, you need to wear more clothes and put on a mask and gloves."
"Oh." Lan Hanyi followed the two older brothers and also trotted upstairs.
Lan Yuxi came out of the dining room and met Nan Xiao, who was walking towards her.
Nan Xiao smiled and ruffled her hair. "Wife, Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year~" Lan Yuxi smiled and hugged his waist. In a fleeting glance, she saw the children running upstairs and immediately said, "You kids, slow down! Don't fall."
Zhao Zhao turned his head. "Mom, it's okay. I'll take good care of my brother and sister."
Nan Xiao smiled and said, "Don't worry about them. Let's go pay our respects to the elders."
"Okay." Lan Yuxi smiled and looked at her brothers who were gradually walking over. "Happy New Year, everyone~"
"Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year!"
The atmosphere in the villa instantly reached a crescendo. Everyone exchanged New Year's greetings. The elders gave red envelopes to the younger generation, while the younger generation exchanged gifts.
The celebration continued until one o'clock in the morning, and then everyone dispersed.
Nan Xiao and Lan Yuxi waited until everyone had returned to their rooms before walking hand in hand back to their bedroom.
Nan Xiao looked at the two slightly bulging lumps on the bed and knew that their romantic evening together was canceled again.
Lan Yuxi walked to the bed with a smile and patted Mumu's little bottom. "Stop pretending to be asleep. I saw your eyelashes twitching."
Mumu giggled. "Mom, look!"
The next second, the little one flipped open the covers, revealing a bed full of red envelopes.
Lan Yuxi smiled and asked, "Are you planning to sleep with them?"
"Mm~" Mumu shook her head with a smile. "Brother said these are all for you."
Zhao Zhao sat up with a smile and divided the red envelopes in half. "Mom, these are for you to buy handbags, and these are for you to buy cosmetics. Dad will buy your clothes, and my sister and I won't."
Lan Yuxi smiled and pinched his nose. "Thank you, my two darlings! Mom accepts your kind intentions. As for these red envelopes, Mom doesn't need them. You keep them yourselves and buy whatever you like."
Zhao Zhao pouted slightly and looked at Nan Xiao.
"Listen to your mother. Keep them yourselves," Nan Xiao said, taking out two cards from his pocket and handing them over. "The New Year's money you received earlier was from Mom. This is from Dad."
Lan Yuxi smiled and glanced at him. "Is this your private stash?"
Nan Xiao raised his hand and rubbed her head. "My private stash has all been handed over. This is my salary. Don't forget, I'm a public servant now."
"Thank you, Dad." Mumu took the bank card and looked at it. "Is Dad's salary a lot?"
"Not a lot, but enough to support the three of you."
Zhao Zhao pursed his lips. "Thank you, Dad."
Nan Xiao lovingly stroked his head. "Have you two had your bath yet?"
"Yes, we bathed as soon as we got to the room."
Nan Xiao smiled. "Then you two put away the red envelopes first. Mom and I will come back to accompany you after we've bathed."
Lan Yuxi's face flushed slightly as she saw the two little ones smiling at her. "You go ahead. I'll go get my pajamas."
Nan Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to go into the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, the family of four was lying in bed. Nan Xiao reached out and touched Lan Yuxi's hair. "It seems like it's still not dry. Do you want to blow it dry again?"
"No, it'll be dry soon." Lan Yuxi smiled and held the still-excited Mumu in her arms. "I see you're not sleepy at all."
"It's the first time we've celebrated New Year with so many people, and I set off so many sparklers. I'm so happy!" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Lan Yuxi smiled and kissed her soft little face.
Mumu hugged her mother's neck and kissed her back. "Mom, I love you~"
"Mom loves you too."
Zhao Zhao dangled Lan Yuxi's hand. "Mom, I love you too~"
"Wife, I love you too!" Nan Xiao chimed in, not wanting to be left out.
"Pfft—" Lan Yuxi couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Since the three of you surnamed Lan have said you love me, then you should each praise me with four characters to make me even happier."
Nan Xiao smiled and glanced at her. "Husband is very handsome!"
Zhao Zhao immediately understood his father's meaning and smiled. "Son is smart!"
Mumu blinked her eyes. "Daughter is beautiful!"
After the three of them finished speaking, they burst into laughter.
Lan Yuxi snorted. "I asked you to praise me, but you praised yourselves. This doesn't count!"
Nan Xiao smiled and said, "We are praising you. Finding such a handsome husband shows you have good taste. A smart son and a beautiful daughter show you have good genes."
Lan Yuxi yawned. "You're good at talking! Fine, it's the New Year, I'm too lazy to argue with you. I'll just pretend you're praising me."
Zhao Zhao saw that his mother was sleepy and quickly sat up. "Mom, you're tired. I'll switch places with you."
"No need. You sleep next to your dad. It's too much trouble to switch back and forth."
Zhao Zhao pouted. "Let's switch anyway. Otherwise, I'll still be inexplicably carried away in the middle of the night."
Nan Xiao smiled and patted his little bottom. "Unfilial son, on New Year's Day, you're lecturing your old man!"
Zhao Zhao rubbed his little bottom and crawled from the foot of the bed to Lan Yuxi's side. "Mom, Dad hit me!"