A phone call summoned Meng Beiyan away.

Ying Qian was washing dishes, listening intently.

He always keeps his phone on speakerphone at home.

The other person was a woman, and her tone was unfriendly: "Where did you go last night? Aunt Tang came to the house last night, and when she saw you weren't there, she gave me a lecture!"

"I'll be more careful next time."

"Meng Beiyan, did you go to see Ying Qian again? She's your sister!" The other person practically shouted these words.

Meng Beiyan immediately turned off the speakerphone, strode to the balcony, and pulled open the glass door.

Ying Qian continued what she was doing, unconcerned and not taking it to heart.

The woman seemed to hear something on the other end of the phone. "What? She's next to you, isn't she?"

“Meng Beiyan, as a friend, I really have to give you some advice.” She seemed to have been holding back her anger, and now she could finally let it out. “You two have lived together for so long, you can only be siblings. What will people think of you if word gets out that the brother has fallen in love with the sister? Why do you insist on hanging yourself on this tree? Is it really necessary?”

After patiently listening to the whole thing, Meng Beiyan said coldly, "Li Qinqin, we are friends, but that doesn't mean you can stand on the moral high ground and judge me!"

She sensed the anger in his words and promptly stopped the conversation.

"What did Aunt Tang say? She just messaged me asking where you want to buy it."

It's started snowing lightly outside.

Meng Beiyan: "I'll go back right away."

He opened the door and saw Ying Qian lying on the sofa looking at her phone.

With a hint of reluctance, she said, "I have to go back now."

Meng Beiyan looked much better than yesterday, and was full of energy.

Ying Qian nodded, without saying much, her fingers tapping on the screen as if replying to a message.

Meng Beiyan casually asked, "Are you chatting with Chen Wenzhi?"

"No, it's my friend."

His brow twitched, and he continued, "Boy or girl?"

"Girls."

After receiving the answer, Meng Beiyan left in a hurry.

After he left, Zhao Yaya came over. She was wearing thin clothes and was shivering from the cold. As soon as she opened the door, she hugged Ying Qian. "Xiao Qian! Come on, come to our house and have something delicious. My husband is back!"

“Uncle Chen? I haven’t met him yet,” Ying Qian said to herself.

“We met today.” Zhao Yaya pulled her down the stairs.

Heating is available in every home in the entire community.

Once you step inside, it's no longer cold.

At first, she was worried that Uncle Chen might be too strict or dislike her.

The moment I saw Uncle Chen, everything fell apart.

He was a very kind man, looked very mature, and was tall; Chen Wenzhi probably inherited his height from his father.

He looked at Zhao Yaya with displeasure as she hugged Ying Qian, and immediately separated them, jokingly saying, "I finally came back, and you, this little girl, got to hug my wife first."

The three of them laughed simultaneously.

Ying Qian greeted him with a smile.

He responded enthusiastically, "Great! My son has told me about you; he raved about you." He carefully observed Ying Qian, "But seeing you in person, I realize that the boy wasn't exaggerating!"

Zhao Yaya chimed in, "Our Xiaoqian is not only beautiful, but also academically excellent. I want a daughter like that."

The man glanced at her, feigning anger, and said, "But when I said I wanted to have another daughter, why wouldn't you agree?"

"Oh dear," Zhao Yaya said coquettishly, leaning against her husband's chest.

Ying Qian's gaze swept around the room.

"Chen Wenzhi went out to buy flowers. Your Uncle Chen said he wanted to put flowers in the vases at home." Zhao Yaya knew what she was looking for.

She smiled, revealing two rows of pearly teeth.

"Um."

"Oh dear! We've been standing here all this time!" Zhao Yaya suddenly realized and hurriedly pulled Ying Qian into the living room.

Uncle Chen's arms were empty, and he followed weakly behind.

"Don't you still have work to do?" Zhao Yaya shooed him away. "Go back to your room and finish it! Otherwise, you'll say it's because of my work that you haven't finished!"

"Okay!" The man strode into the room.

She's really obedient.

"Xiaoqian, Chen Wenzhi told me that you've been spending New Year's alone for the past few years?"

Ying Qian was somewhat surprised that Zhao Yaya would ask such a question, and nodded with a somewhat forced smile.

“Then come with us for Chinese New Year this year!” she said seriously, without any hint of joking. “We’re not going back to our hometown for Chinese New Year this year, and it won’t be lively with just the few of us. It will be more lively if you come.”

Ying Qian really didn't understand this cause-and-effect relationship, but it was a feeling of being cared for.

She was hesitating.

The door opened.

Chen Wenzhi was carrying a large bag of artificial flowers. His hair was covered in snowflakes, as were his eyebrows and eyelashes. His brown scarf was white. He changed his shoes and walked inside, looking travel-worn.

He placed the flowers on the table, rubbed his hands together, and sighed, "It's so cold."

He turned his head and saw Ying Qian sitting upright on the sofa. He was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and smiled frankly. He walked towards the sofa, his eyes only on Ying Qian. "Why are you here?"

"What are you saying? Why can't Xiaoqian come?" Zhao Yaya glared at him, dissatisfied. "Didn't you always say you wanted to see her? Huh?"

He smiled slightly and let out a very soft laugh.

"What are you talking about? Invite me in." He sat down next to Ying Qian naturally.

He still carried a chill, and the snow between his brows had just melted.

"I just invited Ying Qian to spend the New Year with us this year." Tang Ya Wen held Ying Qian's hand affectionately. "There's really no inconvenience at all. It'll be more lively with another person."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!