87: Have a holiday

The annual meeting finally ended after 9:00 PM, and the grand prize ultimately fell into Special Assistant Xiao's hands.

Special Assistant Xiao joyfully took the stage to receive his one-million-yuan cash prize from Yan Qinghe's hands. While delivering his acceptance speech, he asked very seriously, "Do I need to pay Individual Income Tax?"

You really are rigorous; you're suited to be a star in the entertainment industry—working hard, no private life, high pay, and "paying taxes as one should."

Yan Qinghe was momentarily choked up by his question and remained silent for a while before answering him.

"No need, the company will pay it for you."

Yan Zhuoyan, sitting below, was about to die laughing. "I just love this rigorous attitude! It's just like our Researchers!"

With the grand prize awarded, the annual meeting was declared over.

People left the hotel entrance in groups of twos and threes, everyone holding a small gift bag prepared by the company—not expensive, but very practical.

After seeing off the important guests who attended today, Yan Zhuohua and the others also got into their cars and returned to the main residence the way they came.

By the time they reached home, it was nearly 11:00 PM. Dinner at home had long since ended, but Jiang Fuyue had still set aside a seafood feast for the children, fearing they hadn't eaten well at the banquet.

"Thank you, Auntie! I knew you wouldn't let me go hungry!" Zhuoyue happily gave Jiang Fuyue a kiss on the cheek and headed straight for the dining room.

Jiang Fuyue calmly wiped the lipstick mark off her face, clearly used to it.

Yan Zhuohua had eaten quite a bit at the banquet, so he couldn't really eat much now. However, he couldn't withstand Yan Qinghe's worry that eating only cake was bad for him; Yan Qinghe insisted on dragging him to the dining room and snatching a large plate of seafood for him from the other two.

"Hey, hey, hey, leave some for me! Can you two even finish all that?" Zhuoyue's heart broke into pieces as she watched the several plates in front of her lose half their contents.

"You're worried they can't finish? You ate more than them at the annual meeting, yet you're still eating. Have some self-awareness as a celebrity; aren't you afraid of being too fat to go on camera?" Yan Zhuoyan quick-wittedly snatched several large crabs while not forgetting to mock Zhuoyue.

"Shut up!" Zhuoyue firmly defended her remaining food. "Constantly shouting 'celebrity, celebrity'—what, are celebrities not human? I just love to eat, and I just don't get fat. What are you going to do about it?"

Yan Zhuohua watched the free show before him while eating the crab and shrimp Yan Qinghe had prepared for him, feeling extremely content.

The four of them boisterously finished off the several plates of seafood on the table before parting ways to return to their respective rooms.

As soon as they entered the door, Yan Zhuohua was pressed against the door panel by Yan Qinghe from behind.

"Remember what you said a few hours ago? I've been holding back for a long time, and I even fed you until you were full, fearing you wouldn't be able to take it!" Yan Qinghe pinned his hands, giving him no chance to struggle.

No wonder he kept cracking crabs and peeling shrimp for him at the table just now; so that was his plan!

Yan Zhuohua began to regret it a little; he shouldn't have provoked Yan Qinghe so easily.

"If I beg for mercy and apologize now, is it too late?" Yan Zhuohua's gaze was pitiful. "Are you willing to forgive me just once? Husband?"

Yan Qinghe suddenly laughed, like flowers blooming in spring.

"Of course... not."

Yan Zhuohua, struggling violently, was dragged into the inner room and thrown onto the bed.

By the time Yan Zhuohua finally finished bathing and was carried out of the bathroom, it was nearly 4:00 AM.

After a night like this, he didn't even dare to beg for mercy; he was punished once for every word he spoke, nearly accumulating enough punishment to last until tomorrow.

The sky outside was still dark, yet Yan Zhuohua felt as if a whole night had already passed. He tremblingly picked up his phone to check the time. Good heavens, it really was almost an all-nighter; he would definitely be laughed at by the others tomorrow.

Look at you, why did you have to have such a loose tongue? Before falling into a dream, Yan Zhuohua's mind was still filled with self-reproach.

Having slept in the bedroom for most of the day on Sunday, Yan Zhuohua truly didn't have the face to see anyone else. As soon as he got up, he pulled Yan Qinghe to rush back to Mirror Lake Bright Forest.

It was a new week, and this week consisted of the last five working days before the New Year. From the headquarters to the branch offices, Xingfeng Group would start its New Year holiday after work this Friday afternoon. Saturday was the 25th of the Twelfth Lunar Month, and next Thursday was New Years Eve; everyone needed time to go home and prepare for the New Year.

There would be almost no new work this week; everything was focused on year-end settlements and summaries.

Yan Zhuohua also followed Yan Muxuan through a careful review of the Business Department's year-end summary, working until the Friday afternoon they went on holiday before finishing all his work.

Things weren't easy for Yan Qinghe either; he even worked overtime, which was rare.

By the time they finally packed their things and closed the office door, the sky was completely dark. They didn't plan to return to the main residence tonight, intending to go back to Mirror Lake Bright Forest first to pack some simple luggage and return tomorrow morning.

"The holiday this year is quite a coincidence, sixteen days in a row, not even counting the three days of the Lantern Festival afterward." Yan Zhuohua sat in the car driven by Yan Qinghe, flipping through the calendar on his phone.

Originally, the New Year holiday was supposed to last until the Seventh Day of the First Lunar Month, with work resuming on the eighth. But this year was interesting; the eighth happened to be a Friday. Working for one day and then continuing with two days of the weekend was truly a bit ridiculous and troublesome.

Regardless of how other companies handled it, Xingfeng Group simply gave everyone the eighth off as well, extending the New Year holiday until the tenth, with work resuming on the eleventh of the first lunar month. It could be called a mini Winter Break.

"It is quite a coincidence. You haven't had such a long New Year holiday in a long time, have you?"

"It's not 'haven't had in a long time'; since I've had memories, I've never had such a long Winter Break or New Year holiday." Yan Zhuohua's voice held some resentment.

"Back when I was in school, I was tricked by my father and Uncle, and almost my entire Winter Breaks were handed over to the Military Camp. Later, when I played Esports, the Spring Season just happened to start in January of the Solar Calendar. The New Year holiday in between was only ten days, and I still had to find time to make up for my live streams. What was even scarier was that if our performance wasn't good during that period, everyone would spontaneously return to the base three or four days early for extra training. So, speaking of New Year holidays, I really haven't had many."

As Yan Zhuohua spoke, he became somewhat nostalgic.

"But it was okay. During those years of playing Esports, I didn't go home, and I was all alone for the New Year. Ending the holiday early at least made things a bit livelier."

Yan Qinghe listened quietly to his words, and only after he finished venting did he speak to cheer him up.

"Then this year, you can consider it made up for." There was a hint of a smile in Yan Qinghe's voice. "I've already spoken with Uncle; the first week after the New Year holiday—from the eleventh to the fourteenth of the first lunar month—you don't have to go to work. You can just stay home and prepare for the Special Training."

"Really?" Yan Zhuohua had thought he would still have to work for four days after the New Year before going to the Special Training.

"Of course it's true. Since you're going away for so long, I naturally have to get you some benefits first. Besides, you'd only be able to work for four days at the start of the year; there's really no need."

Hearing Yan Qinghe's confirmed reply, Yan Zhuohua happily opened the calendar again and calculated carefully.

"Then doesn't that mean I can have twenty-two days of vacation!" Yan Zhuohua's voice was full of pleasant surprise.

"Happy?"

"Mm-hmm, happy!"

"Then how are you going to thank the husband who helped you get a few extra days of vacation?" Yan Qinghe started asking for benefits again.

Just as they reached a red light, Yan Zhuohua quickly leaned in and gave Yan Qinghe a kiss on the cheek. "I'll thank my husband tonight!"