Chapter 33 New Year 1

Zhao Tingyu had a dream.

In his dream, he returned to the summer after the college entrance exam. It was a hot day, the sun scorching the basketball court, which offered no shade. Xu Mo stood on the steps of the school basketball court, wearing a pure white dress with small flying sleeves.

She came to watch him play basketball again. She used to do this often. He told her that it was not necessary. She told him not to feel burdened. She just liked watching handsome guys play basketball. So he acquiesced to her behavior and gradually got used to it. But that day was a little different. She seemed to be worried and her eyes were a little red.

That day she bought him a cup of lemon tea. He still remembered it was the normal iced, unsweetened lemon flavor, which was his usual flavor. She watched him finish it, then called his name: "Brother Tingyu."

Zhao Tingyu lowered his eyes to look at her, sweat dripping down his distinct jawline. She closed her eyes, as if she had made a great decision, and said to him, "I have liked you since I was fifteen. Over the years, I have done many things unilaterally, which may have caused you a lot of trouble. I am sorry."

He looked at her pale little face and tightly pursed lips, and his intuition made his heart feel vaguely weightless: "What do you want to say?"

"I won't like you anymore." Xu Mo opened her eyes. "I wish you a happy life in the future."

He stretched out his hand to grab her sleeve, but caught nothing. She disappeared before his eyes, leaving only the blue hairband on the ground.

He suddenly felt a splitting headache and knelt on the ground with his head in his hands. Just when he was in too much pain to bear, another person suddenly appeared in front of him, wearing black clothes and black pants, with his back to him.

"Who are you?" he asked in surprise in his dream.

"I am another you." The man slowly turned around, his face exactly like his. He smiled at him, a smile that revealed a bit of wanton evil. "I was born from your suppressed desire. Today is our first meeting."

"What desire?" He raised his eyes and looked at him seriously.

The other party raised an eyebrow and smiled lewdly: "Don't you like her? Why are you pushing her away?"

"I don't like her. I won't like anyone else." He closed his eyes, and the images of his mother being intimate with other men and his father killing his mother flashed through his mind. He couldn't help but clench his fists and grit his teeth. "People are dirty. I won't like anyone."

"Then why did you agree to be with her when she wanted to leave you?"

"She has liked me for so many years, I don't want to make her too sad."

"Oh? Really?"

The man laughed out loud. He raised his eyes and frowned, wanting to ask the man why he was laughing, but the man just walked further away.

In the darkness, Zhao Tingyu suddenly opened his eyes.

He looked at the dark ceiling and felt his heart pounding. He touched his chest and felt the warmth there.

Three o'clock in the morning.

The dim light from the phone screen reflected his tired face.

Zhao Tingyu stood up, opened the door and asked for some water to drink. Xu Mo's room opposite was still empty.

He took out ice water from the refrigerator, drank a few sips, and became more conscious. But when he tried to recall his dream, he couldn't remember anything. He only remembered that it was a very complicated dream and it made him very tired.

Shaking his head, Zhao Tingyu returned to his room to sleep.

On New Year's Eve, before daybreak, I heard the sound of firecrackers outside. I opened the curtains and saw that most of the shops on the street were closed. Red lanterns were hung everywhere in the community, and a few children were playing with fireworks outside, laughing and making noises.

When Xu Mo and Lin Jingchuan returned home, they could smell the fragrant smell of bacon in the house through the door.

As soon as she opened the door, Xu Mo saw the amiable faces of her uncle and grandfather in the house.

"Hey, Dad, look who this is!" Uncle said with a smile, "It's our Momo!"

Grandpa smiled happily: "Momo, I haven't seen you for a long time!"

The uncle glanced at Lin Jingchuan, a look of satisfaction on his face: "You are Momo's partner, right, Xiaolin?"

Lin Jingchuan smiled and nodded, clasping his hands together: "Uncle, Grandpa, Happy New Year's Eve!"

The uncle waved his hand: "Why are you standing at the door? Come in!"

Xu Mo exchanged glances with Lin Jingchuan, who nodded. As he entered the room, he quickly took out a few red envelopes and distributed them to the elders and children in the family one by one before sitting down.

The children were particularly happy to receive the red envelopes. Following their parents' prompting, the clever children shouted out, "Happy New Year, brother-in-law! Happy wedding, sister and brother-in-law! Wish you good fortune and prosperity!"

Xu Mo laughed and said something cunning. Lin Jingchuan couldn't help laughing. He touched the little boy's head and said, "Happy New Year, make progress in your studies, and all the best!"

The little boy ran away when he heard the word "study". Lin Jingchuan handed the thickest red envelope in his hand to his grandparents who were sitting happily on the sofa, and said respectfully: "Grandpa and grandma, I wish you a happy new year, and may you be blessed as vast as the East Sea and live as long as the Southern Mountains!"

Grandma is a money-grubber. When she saw the thick red envelope, she smiled from ear to ear and said that Momo had found a good husband.

Grandpa was relatively reserved, but he also had a good impression of this polite man.

After Lin Jingchuan distributed red envelopes to everyone, Xu Mo quietly said to Lin Jingchuan, "You are really thoughtful."

Lin Jingchuan raised his lips into a smile that showed everything was under control. This matter dates back to before he bought the train ticket to go home.

While shopping for New Year's goods in the supermarket, Lin Jingchuan suddenly asked Xu Mo how many people usually celebrated the New Year together in her family, including how many elderly people, elders and children there were.

Xu Mo was quite confused at the time. This was her first marriage, and before this, she always went home empty-handed for the New Year. According to the custom in her hometown, unmarried daughters were not required to give out red envelopes during the holidays, so she had no experience in this matter. But based on the few words Xu Zhao told her on the phone, she deduced that since her uncle's son was going abroad for vacation this year, her uncle's family should be spending the New Year with her. Her younger sister-in-law was divorced, so she usually spent the New Year at her house. If her uncle came, her grandparents would probably come too. Even if they didn't come, they would still go to pay New Year's greetings.

So she gave Lin Jingchuan a number, and Lin Jingchuan purchased the corresponding number of red envelopes and went to the bank to withdraw enough cash.

Lin Jingchuan whispered to her: "This is my first time at your house, so I have to behave better."

Xu Mo raised the corners of her lips, and she gently squeezed Lin Jingchuan's hand, and Lin Jingchuan held her hand in return.

Grandma waved to Xu Mo, and Xu Mo smiled and sat next to her: "Grandma."

Grandma asked, "Momo, we only heard your mother tell us about your marriage when we came to your house. When are you planning to have the wedding?"

Xu Mo glanced at Lin Jingchuan and said, "I've been very busy with work lately and haven't thought about it yet."

"What do you think, Xiaolin?"

"It depends on what Momo thinks," Lin Jingchuan said, "but of course we will do it."

Grandma nodded and said, "Weddings only come once in a lifetime, so we should have them."

Xu Mo nodded obediently. No matter what she thought, she would not disobey her elders during the New Year.

The eldest aunt agreed, "Yes, Momo, I know you are busy with work, but getting married should still have some sense of ceremony."

Xu Mo nodded and changed the subject: "Aunt, where did my cousin and his wife go on vacation this year?"

"They are very free and easy. They went abroad and said they were going to Australia," said my aunt.

Grandma said, "Xiao Li and Shuai Shuai have been married for so long, but there's still no sign of pregnancy. What's going on?"

"Who knows?"

"Is there something wrong with Shuai Shuai? If there is, go to the hospital immediately." Grandma frowned and said, "Little Li looks plump and beautiful, she doesn't look like she has any problem."

The eldest aunt took a sip of tea and said, "I asked him about this question before, and he told me that there is no problem."

Grandpa said: "Kids nowadays are under a lot of work pressure, but it's not necessarily a problem. You two are still young, so there's no need to rush."

Xu Mo smiled. Her grandparents had always been relatively open-minded people, which might be one of the reasons for the harmony in the Xu family.

Lin Jingchuan's phone rang. He opened WeChat and raised his eyebrows when he saw the person who initiated the video call.

Xu Mo asked, "What's wrong?"

Lin Jingchuan said in her ear: "Come with me."