164: Extra (1) Parallel World 12

Stepping out of his room for the first time in over ten days, Yan Zhuohua felt that even the living room seemed much more welcoming than before.

He dashed out the front door and ran to a corner of the Plum Garden outside to try calling Yan Qinghe, but unfortunately, the call didn't go through. It seemed he still couldn't get in touch for the time being. This year was their first New Year after getting married, and he hadn't expected them to be separated like this.

Since the call didn't go through, Yan Zhuohua lost interest in getting fresh air and listlessly returned indoors to help prepare the New Year's Eve dinner.

Yan Zhuoyan, who was wrapping dumplings, smirked at Yan Zhuohua. "Oh, back so soon? Did the call not go through?"

Yan Zhuohua was no longer the reserved child who had first arrived at the Yan Family; he immediately got angry and smeared a face full of flour on Yan Zhuoyan.

"Hey! You brat! You dare touch your brother!"

Yan Zhuoyan immediately fought back, and the two of them jumped around the kitchen, flour flying everywhere from time to time.

"Both of you, stop it right now!" Yan Jinming had just entered the kitchen when he was plastered with a face full of flour. He angrily went over and gave each of them a kick. "What are you doing? Do you want to be beaten for wasting food?"

Yan Zhuohua and Yan Zhuoyan settled down for a moment, then the next second, they both couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Dad, Daddy... your face... hahaha..."

Yan Jinming quickly pulled out his phone to use as a mirror, and then he saw that he looked like a clown from a play.

"You two rascals!"

*

Near noon, Yan Zhuoyan and Yan Zhuohua were each holding a large broom, sweeping snow in the northern and southern parts of the courtyard respectively.

Just now in the kitchen, they had been kicked out on the spot to sweep snow by an exasperated Yan Jinming. There had been three heavy snowfalls recently. His Older Female Cousin, the big star, naturally didn't want to miss the beautiful scenery of the Main Residence after the snow, so she had enthusiastically brought her team a few days ago to take a snow-themed photoshoot. Because of this, the thick snow in the courtyard hadn't been cleared in time, so he and Yan Zhuoyan had been working from early morning until now to finish their respective sections.

Finally finishing the work, Yan Zhuohua leaned on the large broom and slowly straightened his back. He freed a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, grumbling incessantly.

"I've really had terrible luck this winter break! I was caught and punished as soon as I walked through the door, and now that I finally have two days to come out for some air, I was punished and sent out to sweep snow all morning before even half an hour had passed. Wuwuwu, I'm such a pitiful child!"

Suddenly, a large hand covered his eyes from behind.

"Who is it!" Yan Zhuohua tried to pry the hand away, but before he could move, he was held in the person's arms, his hands pinned, unable to move.

The next second, Yan Zhuohua suddenly stopped struggling.

"Hmm?" A clear male voice sounded in his ear. "Why did you stop moving?"

"Why didn't you answer my call this morning!"

Yan Qinghe's muffled laughter traveled from his chest against Yan Zhuohua's back, making him feel a bit numb all over for a moment. "Wh-what are you laughing at..."

"I'm laughing at how you're acting tough in such a cute way, like a little kitten I saw in the wild last week."

"Oh, so you have another cat." His tone was quite flat.

Yan Qinghe laughed even more brightly. He turned the boy around to face him, looked at his sparkling eyes full of accusation, and then leaned down to give him a kiss on the lips.

"There's no other cat. Why would I bring back a cat from outside? None of them are even half as good as the one in my arms."

Yan Zhuohua held it in for a while but still couldn't help but laugh. "You only know how to say sweet things."

"Then are you happy hearing sweet things?"

Yan Zhuohua lowered his head and pursed his lips, letting out a short and joyful "Mm."

"That's enough, you two. Are you treating me like I'm invisible?" Yan Zhuoyang, who had been standing nearby acting as a wooden post for a long time, finally couldn't take it anymore; he cringed.

"Big Brother?" There was a hint of slight alarm in Yan Zhuohua's voice. "Why are you here?"

"...What do you think?"

*

At noon, everyone had a lively meal together.

Yan Zhuohua and Yan Qinghe took the initiative to go to the kitchen to wash dishes together sweetly, but when they came out, they found that everyone seemed to be waiting for them in the living room.

"Sit." Yan Zhuoyang gestured to them with his eyes.

Yan Zhuohua nervously grabbed Yan Qinghe's hand and sat on the sofa with him, trembling with fear.

"Alright, no need to be nervous." Yan Jinming casually stuffed an orange into Yan Zhuohua's hand. "I just wanted to tell you that, seeing as you two have been fairly well-behaved during this time, Zhuohua can use his phone for the rest of his confinement period."

"What about me, Dad?" Yan Qinghe leaned in expectantly.

"You?" Yan Jinming looked at him with disdain before slowly speaking, "Your reward is that you can come back to spend the New Year today and leave tomorrow afternoon."

Yan Qinghe immediately wilted.

"Alright, stop teasing him." Jiang Fuyue patted Yan Jinming helplessly, then turned to look at Yan Qinghe. "You don't have to stay in the Military Camp for the full two months either. I'll have your brother bring you back the day before school starts."

Yan Qinghe was instantly revitalized.

"But!" Jiang Fuyue's expression immediately turned serious. "After school starts, both of you must come home to stay every weekend."

As she spoke, Jiang Fuyue's gaze became stern. "You aren't children without self-control, yet you still managed to cause such a scene. Aren't you ashamed? Remember this: if we catch you again, you might as well just come back and live here every single day!"

Yan Zhuohua nodded like a chick pecking at grain. Yan Qinghe, beside him, was quite reluctant but had no choice, so he forced out a grunt as a response.

"Now get out of here!"

*

The couple, who hadn't seen each other for a long time, obediently went back to their room and were lovey-dovey for quite a while. It wasn't until Yan Zhuoyang came up to catch them that they reluctantly went down to help everyone prepare the New Year's Eve dinner.

Yan Zhuohua was busy wrapping dumplings, while Yan Qinghe and Yan Zhuoyan were assigned to put up the Spring Couplets.

The joy and excitement of the New Year seemed to overflow all at once. Yan Qinghe and Yan Zhuoyan bickered as they walked inside. Outside the door was the biting cold of winter and white snow; inside was joy, warmth, and a festive atmosphere.

Yan Qinghe stopped not far away to watch the scene in the kitchen. As if sensing something, Yan Zhuohua turned back to look at him. The orange light shone on him, and Yan Qinghe felt his heart suddenly become full.

It felt like a lifetime ago.

I am as happy as I was in my dreams.

——End of Extra (I)——