91: Reunion

Knowing that Yan Zhuohua was going to write Spring Festival couplets, Yan Qinghe started hatching a little plan of his own.

Unfortunately, it fizzled out before it even began.

"Qinghe, you and Zhuoyan go to the basement and find all these items on the list," Jiang Fuyue assigned them tasks directly. "Also, there are still some things missing for the New Year gifts. You two should head out early tomorrow morning to buy them."

Yan Zhuoyan groaned in pain, "Mom, can't you just let Zhuoyue bring them back when she gets here in a bit?"

"No! She just finished work today; how would she have time to go shopping?" Jiang Fuyue refused cruelly. "Besides, she's a girl. Can she even carry that many things?"

Yan Zhuoyan muttered under his breath, "Then you clearly haven't seen her running with a heavy machine gun while her wrists are wrapped in lead weights."

Yan Zhuole, the famous 'Strong Cold Beauty' star. A miraculous woman who once ran so fast in a competitive variety show that several cameramen couldn't keep up, so she simply shouldered the camera herself and ran for a mile. Word has it the directors had to chase her in a car, terrified she might take the camera and sell it. Furthermore, when they checked the playback later, it turned out she had filmed everything except herself. It was completely useless.

"What are you mumbling about?"

"Nothing! I guarantee the mission will be accomplished."

The few who were assigned tasks split up to work, and the first-floor living room suddenly became quiet.

When Yan Zhuole returned, she thought the house had been burgled.

"Auntie~ Where is everyone? Why didn't a single person come out to welcome me?" Yan Zhuole caught Jiang Fuyue as she walked by, grabbing her arm and acting spoiled.

"I've sent them all off to work. Don't go looking for them. Go upstairs, take a shower, and get some rest. Look at you, you're starting to get dark circles." Jiang Fuyue looked at her niece's face with heartache, urging her to go rest.

Yan Zhuoyan, who happened to be carrying a box up from the basement: "..."

Is this the difference in treatment between a son and a daughter?

Time passed quickly amidst the bustle, and in the blink of an eye, it was the day before New Years Eve.

Over the past few days, all the children except for Yan Zhuole had been ordered to perform various tasks. It could be said that they might as well have not had a holiday at all.

Having a rare moment of free time without work, they were all sprawled out on the sofa in various poses, playing dead. Yan Zhuole was holding a bag of potato chips, laughing heartily at a comedy movie.

After a short while, Yan Zhuoyan couldn't keep up the act anymore.

"Seriously, can't you two go back to your room to be all lovey-dovey?" Yan Zhuoyan was utterly baffled. "Is there some extra thrill in flaunting your affection in front of us 'Single Dogs'?"

Yan Zhuole was multitasking, and hearing Yan Zhuoyan's complaint, she chimed in, "Exactly. In broad daylight, you two are practically on the verge of kissing."

Yan Zhuohua rolled his eyes at the two of them.

"No one asked you to look."

Yan Qinghe lowered his head and chuckled.

Yan Zhuole tossed a peanut at them.

"Go eat your dried fruits!"

The group had only been resting quietly for a moment before they started fooling around again, triggered by that single peanut.

"What are you all doing? You're adults now, acting like children," came Yan Zhuoyi's voice.

Hearing the voice, Yan Qinghe turned his head immediately. It turned out his cousin was back.

Yan Zhuoyi and Yan Zhuoyang had returned together. He came in first, took off his coat, and let the helper hang it on the rack.

"Stop fooling around. Go help Zhuoyang with the things; he and I prepared gifts for you all." Yan Zhuoyi stepped forward and ruffled Yan Zhuohua's hair, which had become messy during the play-fighting, urging them to go outside and help carry things.

Upon hearing there were gifts, everyone grew expectant. Yan Zhuole was the first to drop her pillow weapon and rush out.

"Put on some clothes before you go out!" Yan Zhuoyi couldn't stop Yan Zhuole, who had already run out, so he could only instruct the two eager younger brothers behind him, "Take a coat for Zhuoyue too."

Yan Zhuohua and Yan Zhuoyan also happily went out to move things, but Yan Qinghe didn't move.

"Why aren't you going?" Yan Zhuoyi was a bit tired and sat directly on the sofa to lean back.

Yan Qinghe found a clean cup from the cluttered table and poured a glass of water for Yan Zhuoyi.

"I have something to discuss with you, Cousin."

Yan Zhuoyi took the water cup and took a few sips. "Speak."

"After the New Year, have Zhuohua go to your place for a full body check-up, especially his teeth."

"Sure, just set a time and I'll arrange it." This was a small matter and easy to handle. Yan Zhuoyi then asked about something else, "Is the ointment I gave you enough? I often hear Zhuoyang say you're fooling around all day. When I checked his pulse last time, I could see what you two have been up to."

Yan Qinghe felt a bit awkward and rubbed his nose, saying, "It's almost gone."

Yan Zhuoyi gave him a half-smile. "I've prepared some in the gifts; go take it yourself later. Also, since I'm home lately, I'll prescribe some medicine for each of you. Be good and drink it for a few days."

"Drinking medicine during the New Year?" Yan Qinghe was reluctant.

"Then start the day after tomorrow. I'll leave New Years Eve and New Year's Day free for you."

While they were talking, the others had already moved the things inside.

"Which box is the gift?" Yan Zhuole flipped through them.

Yan Zhuoyang, who was behind her, also carried a box in. "The one marked with a marker. Your names are written on it."

Yan Zhuohua was the first to find that box and tore it open in no time.

The cardboard box with his name on it was right at the top. After getting it, he also dug out Yan Qinghe's.

"Qinghe, Qinghe, open your gift."

Yan Qinghe reached out and took the two gift boxes, letting Yan Zhuohua sit down first. He found a pair of scissors from a drawer and cut the tape on the two boxes.

"Hurry up, let me use the scissors!" Yan Zhuoyan urged, clutching his box.

Yan Zhuole, standing nearby, gave them a disdainful look and sliced the tape open with her sharp manicured nails.

Seeing this, Yan Zhuohua shuddered, secretly glad that his sister hadn't used her nails as weapons just now.

The gifts were unwrapped quickly, and soon everyone was almost done. Yan Zhuoyan got the models and materials he liked, Yan Zhuole's box contained several pieces of jewelry and the latest camera, and Yan Zhuohua's box had various ornaments he liked, a jade pendant, and a box of candies.

"What kind of candy is this?" Yan Zhuohua impatiently unwrapped one and ate it. "It's surprisingly delicious."

"Newly developed by the hospital, for children's use." Yan Zhuoyi smiled mischievously. "It's just to coax kids."

Yan Zhuohua froze and looked at his cousin in disbelief.

"I'm just teasing you. Although this candy was indeed researched for children, it was later found to be sweet enough without containing sucrose, so it was given to people who can't eat sugar to satisfy their cravings. I brought a box back for you; you can eat it without worrying about cavities."

Yan Zhuohua popped another one into his mouth.

"Then, is my box also candy?" Yan Qinghe also found a square box among his several watches and models.

"I don't know, Zhuoyang prepared that one." Yan Zhuoyi really didn't know what it was. "Why don't you open it and see?"

Yan Qinghe opened the box directly, and inside were several boxes of 'Necessities' laid out quite bluntly.

The scene fell silent for a moment.