Zhuang Yan has said more than once that she will go to the world and stand at the top to receive glory.

Acting is Jiang Ning's talent. She shouldn't limit herself to romantic love. If she's going to love, she should love herself. No one is indispensable. She can live well with or without Zhuang Yan. She just lacks happiness and has some regrets... But what life is without regrets?

One wrong choice leads to another. All she can do is not disturb him and just watch from afar as Zhuang Yan lives a happy life.

After parting ways, everyone should go their own way, and it's best for everyone not to disturb each other.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have questioned your relationship."

"It's good that you know you're wrong and can correct it. But I still have to thank you for liking my Ayan. Don't worry, he'll get better and better in the future." Lu Yan's words broke the ice.

Jiang Ning oscillated between comforting and breaking down, but in the end, she could only let go.

After shopping and returning home, Zhuang Yan had just finished cooking, and the aroma of the food filled the air as soon as he reached the door.

When Zhuang Yan saw Lu Yan return, he went up to help her move things. Since it was cold now, the groceries they bought didn't need to be put in the refrigerator and could be used tomorrow.

"Are you tired?" Zhuang Yan took the bag from Lu Yan's hand.

"fine."

"I made sweet rice balls with fermented rice wine, you go and have some first."

"I'll drink with you later."

Zhuang Yan didn't say anything more. After the things in the car were cleared out, Zhuang Yan naturally handed the flowers he had bought to Lu Yan.

This gesture drew mixed reactions in the live stream chat. Some viewers found it romantic, while others accused Zhuang Yan of being a simp.

On the other hand, if they were in the same boat as such a beautiful, rich, and kind woman, they would fawn over her too.

Receiving a bouquet of flowers in this setting is quite a pleasant surprise: "You went to buy flowers? How many did you buy?"

"Just this one bouquet? What, do you think anyone else can receive it too?" Flowers can't be given away casually. He knew Lu Yan only liked unique ones, and once he had given one to her, he couldn't give it to anyone else.

Lu Yan's smile was captivating; the allure of her eyes, both alluring and languid, was subtle yet captivating. She spoke slowly, "I'm afraid others might also receive it."

There was no one else.

After a brief moment of tenderness with Lu Yan, the atmosphere in the live stream reached its climax. Putting everything else aside, the handsome man and beautiful woman made for a visually appealing scene.

........

After lunch, Zhuang Yan, as the team leader, issued a task: first treat everyone to a meal, then borrow a table and an iron pot.

Zhuang Yan had never cooked a traditional banquet before, but many people in the village knew how. When they heard that the production team was going to treat them to a meal, everyone volunteered to help and offer suggestions.

I originally thought it would be a very troublesome thing, but I didn't expect it to be as difficult as I imagined. Many hands make light work.

Grandpa Wang and Fishing Guy were both invited. Fishing Guy brought a steamer. When Grandpa Wang heard that they were going to set up a Christmas tree, he said that they could cut down any trees in the mountains they wanted.

Zhuang Yan's popularity was fully demonstrated at this moment. Everyone present greeted Zhuang Yan warmly, patted him on the shoulder, and chatted with him.

After two busy days with almost no rest, we finally finished the banquet. There are only three days left until the end of the event.

These three days happened to be Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and the temperature dropped to its lowest point. Zhuang Yan left the door open as usual at night, and Lu Yan arrived around the time the bed was warmed up.

Zhuang Yan knew that Lu Yan's mother died on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is a day with a very auspicious meaning, and he didn't want Lu Yan to have painful memories of Christmas Eve.

"What do you want to eat today? How about cake? We have an oven at home."

"I want to eat apple cake." The apple cake she remembered was one her mother made for her before she died. The red syrup on the apples looked like blood. It wasn't very tasty; it was too sweet and cloying. She never ate it a second time.

Can you do it?

"No, but I can learn."

Zhuang Yan got a phone from the director and searched for apple cake tutorials. There were all sorts of tutorials available, and Zhuang Yan chose a video that looked reliable and followed along to learn how to make it.

The tree cut down from Grandpa Wang's mountain has arrived. After some trimming, it really looks like a Christmas tree. An Xinrong is enthusiastically hanging ribbons and lights on the tree, and Jiang Ning is also helping to tidy up the decorations.

The entire program was filled with a festive atmosphere. In addition to apple cake, Zhuang Yan also specially baked pizza and made a big cake.

Zhuang Yan is very talented in cooking. He made an apple cake for the first time and it was a great success. In terms of shape, it looks very similar to the apple cake in Lu Yan's memory.

The red syrup hardens and becomes shiny after cooling, making it look very appetizing.

Everyone gathered around the table to watch, and the camera even gave several close-ups.

Jiang Ning and An Xinrong both looked at the apple cake. Although Zhuang Yan did not explicitly say who it was for, they both knew that the most special cake must have been prepared for Lu Yan.

The first person to pick up his chopsticks was Ling Xuan. He had been climbing up and down trees all day and was starving. When he saw the cakes on the table, he grabbed his fork and reached for the best-looking apple cake.

He thought that eating apples on Christmas Eve symbolizes peace and joy, and although the cake was small, it would be enough for everyone to have a bite, so it would be a nice little treat for the holiday.

"Let's divide this cake..."

His hand was stretched out in mid-air, about to fall, when it was stopped by someone.

An Xinrong: "Don't move."

Jiang Ning: "That's not for you to eat."

It almost got ruined. Ling Xuan froze, looking completely lost, and asked blankly, "Can't I eat this?"

Zhuang Yan brought the large cake to the table: "Eat this one, that one was made for Lu Yan."

Ling Xuan then understood and awkwardly withdrew his hand: "Luckily you stopped me, otherwise it would have been ruined."

No one knew how many people at the table had broken down; Jiang Ning kept her head down, fiddling with her fork.

An Xinrong stood up. "I'll go call Lu Yan to come out and eat cake."

Lu Yan was called out, unaware of what was happening. The large cake on the table had already been cut, and the most exquisite apple cake was placed in front of her.

Lu Yan already knew that Zhuang Yan would make her an apple cake, so she wasn't too surprised when she saw it, but she was definitely happy.

Lu Yan took the small spoon from Zhuang Yan's hand, scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth. The taste was sweet and not as cloyingly sweet and unpleasant as she remembered.

Over the years, she has never eaten anything like apples, subconsciously finding them so unpalatable that she can hardly swallow them.

But actually, it's not that the apple tastes bad, it's that I'm afraid of the memories.

Lu Yan ate spoonful after spoonful, replacing the taste in her memory, leaving only the sweetness in her mind.

Zhuang Yan always manages to save her time and time again, unintentionally... The first time was seven years ago.

To ensure Lu Yan had a wonderful Christmas Eve, Zhuang Yan bought fireworks out of his own pocket and had them shipped over from the city.

Upon hearing that fireworks were going to be set off, even the sullen An Xinrong cheered up, as she had only ever seen fireworks before but had never set them off herself.