Chapter 80 New Year's Eve

The simple box contained a plain necklace.

Yes, it was simple and unadorned. At least, she had never seen such simple packaging or such rough workmanship. A blue gemstone, even larger than a pigeon egg, had been drilled with a hole, and that hole wasn't even through; it took several twists and turns to make it open, and then it was strung together with a black cord.

If Yun Zhaozhao hadn't been knowledgeable and recognized this as a rare sapphire, she would have thought it was one of those cheap necklaces sold for ten yuan for five strands on the street. No, even those cheap necklaces are prettier than this; at least they're well-made, and even the glass beads are beautifully crafted.

The gemstones worth hundreds of millions were instantly devalued by more than half after this incident, and with Yun Xiaobao's ruby ​​added to the loss, several hundred million were gone just like that.

Yun Zhaozhao no longer knew what adjectives to use to describe Pei Jiuyan.

She collected the two unsightly necklaces together, out of sight, out of mind. Although she didn't care much about money, seeing something nice being ruined like this still bothered her. Besides Pei Jiuyan, probably no one else would do something so cruel.

Pei Xiaobao had no idea of ​​Yun Zhaozhao's distress; he only felt that he had completed the task his father had given him, and he happily spun around.

Yun Zhaozhao rubbed the dog's head and let it play by itself.

"Why are you back? Are you really alright?"

Grandpa Huang only found out that Yun Zhaozhao had returned after he had rested.

“Grandpa is fine. Yueming said it’s just from being cold. Today is New Year’s Eve, of course I had to come back. I haven’t spent the New Year with Grandpa in so long. Besides, I don’t like hospitals, Grandpa, you know that.”

She disliked going to the hospital since she was a child and always tried to endure it.

"You."

Grandpa Huang knew her temperament. He reached out and touched her head. Seeing that she no longer had a fever and seemed more energetic, he felt relieved.

"You can eat something light tonight, don't crave anything."

Grandpa Huang gave his instructions.

"Okay, Grandpa."

Soon it was evening, and Grandpa Huang gave the servants the day off so they could go home and reunite with their families. It was just the two of them, the grandfather and grandson, and a dog at home. The TV was on, and the singing on it made the house feel less lonely.

The grandfather and grandson ate very little of the dishes on the table, just a small taste of each one.

"Grandpa, Happy New Year."

Yun Zhaozhao raised her glass and offered a beverage as a toast to her grandfather.

"Zhaozhao is happy too!"

Grandpa Huang also took out a large red envelope that he had carefully prepared, which was a token of the older generation's affection for the younger generation.

"Next year, I hope Zhaozhao will be safe and sound, happy every day, and give birth to a good baby. Of course, I also hope that Zhaozhao can find someone she can love again."

A single sentence encapsulates the elders' blessings and expectations for the younger generation.

"Thank you, Grandpa."

Yun Zhaozhao couldn't help but hug Grandpa Huang's arm. Grandpa Huang patted her head and then took out a dog treat, which he had specially asked the servants to prepare.

"Come on, our little one also gets lucky money. We hope our little one grows up strong and tall."

Pei Xiaobao didn't know what it was, but that didn't stop it from jumping around with joy. When it tore open the bag and found its favorite snacks inside, it was even more unstoppable.

Yun Zhaozhao watched this scene with joy. Although her father, mother, and brother were missing this year, it was still very warm and cozy.

She knew her mother and family didn't want to see her sad every day, so she would carry their blessings and be happy every day.

Yun Zhaozhao had originally bought a lot of fireworks to set off today, but Grandpa Huang was worried that she would catch a cold if she went out, so he disagreed with her going. She was also worried about her grandfather going out alone, so she had to give up the idea.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Yun Zhaozhao glanced at the screen and wasn't surprised at all when she saw Pei Jiuyan outside the door.

It would truly be a miracle if Pei Jiuyan could one day understand what others were saying.

Perhaps knowing that Yun Zhaozhao wouldn't open the door, Pei Jiuyan said directly to the camera, "Zhaozhao, you don't need to open the door. It's cold outside, don't come out. You and Grandpa go to the window."

Yun Zhaozhao was in a good mood today, so she did as Pei Jiuyan said.

She had just reached the window when she heard a loud bang in the sky. She instinctively looked up and saw fireworks exploding all over the sky, red and green colliding, gold and silver intertwining, illuminating the entire sky.

Pei Xiaobao was hearing such a loud noise for the first time, and kept barking. Yun Zhaozhao picked him up and said, "Xiaobao, these are fireworks. They're set off during the New Year."

She was just lamenting that she wouldn't be able to set off fireworks this year, but now she's seeing them.

The fireworks display lasted for almost half an hour, and the finale was particularly grand, revealing several large characters: "May peace and joy prevail."

Yun Zhaozhao looked around for a while before turning her gaze to the people in the courtyard.

Pei Jiuyan had been standing there since the fireworks started. When she saw Pei Jiuyan looking over, she quickly waved to her with a pure and bright smile.

This Pei Jiuyan is the same Pei Jiuyan she fell in love with at first sight back then, as if she has returned to seven years ago.

However, she is not the same person she was back then.

Back then, her heart would pound; now, it's as still as a stagnant pool.

Under Pei Jiuyan's expectant gaze, Yun Zhaozhao coldly drew the curtains.

"Grandpa, it's getting late, you should get some rest."

Because she had a fever, yesterday was a chaotic day, so she should rest well today. They don't observe the custom of staying up all night on New Year's Eve.

Seeing that she remained calm and did not soften her heart because of Pei Jiuyan's little tricks, Grandpa Huang nodded in relief.

Pei Jiuyan is really too annoying. Zhao Zhao doesn't want to be with him, but he still insists on sticking with her.

This person has extremely low moral standards, and no one can control him. It seems we need to think of a solution.

Pei Jiuyan was unaware that Grandpa Huang was already plotting how to deal with him. He was still regretting that he hadn't been able to speak with Yun Zhaozhao earlier, but being able to stay with her like this meant he was spending New Year's Eve with her.

He couldn't help but think of last year's Lunar New Year's Eve. What were they like last year's Lunar New Year's Eve?

Upon reflection, he smiled bitterly. The two of them had been arguing at the time, and he couldn't remember exactly what it was about, but ever since he heard those words, he had often done things that made Yun Zhaozhao unhappy.

The only thing she still remembers is Yun Zhaozhao's heartbroken eyes. She may have already been asking him why he had changed, but he couldn't see it at the time. He was filled with anger and thought that even if he had wronged the world, he had at least been worthy of Yun Zhaozhao.

Looking back now, he has wronged everyone.

Pei Jiuyan stood there for a while longer, until the lights in Yun Zhaozhao's room went out before he left. He had another important thing to do today.