With her
In the morning, Zuo Xiao walked into the living room and found a Christmas tree over 1.8 meters high next to the stairs.
Zhuang Jinghao came down from upstairs carrying a bag of things. Zhuang Yu'an followed closely behind, holding a large box in his arms.
The brother and sister put the things next to the Christmas tree. Zhuang Jinghao said, "These are from last year. Let's recycle them and then go to the supermarket to buy some new ones. How about that?"
Zuo Xiao smiled and nodded, walked over and took a look. The bag was filled with a bunch of light strings, decorative balls and various Christmas pendants.
"There's another tree in the front yard we need to decorate. It's a real one!" Zhuang Jing said excitedly. "It's the one next to the swing. It's three meters tall!"
"Besides the two Christmas trees, is there anything else to decorate?" Zuo Xiao asked.
Zhuang Jinghao chattered non-stop, "There's also Santa Claus, Christmas wreaths, hanging banners, tablecloths... Oh, and there's also a Christmas-themed dog house and cat climbing frame! I almost forgot what the company's new models are this year! Bro, where are the new ones?"
As she chattered on, her brother kept his gaze fixed on someone else, almost intently watching them. Hearing this, he reluctantly withdrew his gaze and, with a smile, stopped his sister's flow: "Don't worry, everyone's where they should be. Let's get ready for breakfast, and we'll get back to work afterward."
Before leaving, his gaze lingered on Zuo Xiao's face for a few seconds.
After dinner, the three of them went to the supermarket. Zhuang Jinghao was so busy shopping that she couldn't stop herself from putting everything she saw into the shopping cart.
I was feeling happy when suddenly my cell phone rang.
The moment he saw the screen, Zhuang Jinghao's face changed drastically.
"It's Brother Luffy!" She looked at her brother, then at Zuo Xiao, "What should I do? Should I answer it or not?"
"catch."
"catch."
Two voices said almost at the same time.
Zhuang Jinghao took a deep breath and answered the phone.
"Jinghao, do you know where Zuo Xiao went?" the other party asked directly.
Zhuang Jinghao's eyes flickered, and his mouth opened and closed before he finally managed to utter, "What are you looking for her for?"
Luffy was silent for a few breaths, then said, "I can't contact her, and I'm worried something might have happened to her."
"Don't look for her anymore." Zhuang Jinghao mustered up the courage, "Didn't you break up? She doesn't let you find her because she doesn't want to see you! Brother Luffy, don't be so stubborn..."
The other party fell silent again. Zuo Xiao almost thought he had hung up the phone, but then he suddenly heard someone say, "Is she with you now? Is she next to you?"
She was so frightened that her hands trembled and she almost dropped the phone. Zuo Xiao patted her arm and made a hanging up gesture.
Zhuang Jinghao bit her lip and said, "Let's talk about it in person at work tomorrow. I'm hanging up now. Bye."
After hanging up the phone, she patted her chest and sighed softly. Zuo Xiao rubbed her shoulders and said, "I'm sorry for putting you through this."
Zhuang Jinghao quickly waved his hands and comforted her: "Don't worry, I will persuade him tomorrow and convey your meaning clearly so that he won't bother you again."
At this time, Zhuang Yu'an said, "If he comes to your door, don't open it. Remember?"
The two girls then realized that there was such a possibility and their expressions changed immediately.
Now she had no mood to shop anymore, so Zhuang Jing said angrily, "Let's go check out."
Zuo Xiao held her hand, shook his head, and said, "Don't let him affect your mood for the festival, otherwise... I will be embarrassed to stay at your house."
Zhuang Jinghao's eyes widened instantly, and she subconsciously glanced at her brother. He was biting his cheek, his eyes gloomy. She quickly held Zuo Xiao's hand back, "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter! Humph, we won't be affected by him! Let's eat and play! Let's go over there and take a look!"
Back home, Zhuang Yu'an went into the kitchen while the two girls decorated the house. By the time the food was served, the house was almost done, and the atmosphere of Christmas was everywhere.
"The day after tomorrow is Christmas Eve!" Zhuang Jinghao asked during dinner, "Xiaoxiao, baby, have you made a wish for your Christmas present this year?"
"There's this part?" Zuo Xiao said with a smile, "Isn't it that whatever Santa Claus gives you is what you get?"
"You can make a wish!" Zhuang Jinghao suddenly stood up and whispered in her ear, "Every time I write down my wish and put the small piece of paper in the sock on the door, and my brother will give me the gift I want."
Zuo Xiao suppressed his laughter and said, "I prefer surprises and never make wishes."
"Okay." Zhuang Jinghao sat back in his seat and glanced at his brother. "That will give Santa Claus a headache."
Zuo Xiao thought: I'm the one who's going to have a headache...
She wasn't one for rituals. In the past, Christmases were mostly just about going out shopping and attending friends' parties. She didn't have a gift exchange routine. She was just too lazy to choose, so she always gave red apples. Some people did give her gifts during Christmas, including designer watches, jewelry, and other expensive items, but she refused them all—except for her boyfriend.
Her ex-boyfriend, Zhou Zhihui, was the exact opposite. A sturdy man standing just over 5 feet tall, he was inexplicably fond of creating all kinds of rituals. Every Christmas, he would unleash his spirit of festivity. Last year, for example, he started decorating a month in advance and prepared a limited-edition handbag for her as a gift. He also prepared his own gift: a pair of Christmas-themed lingerie. It was women's, of course, and he couldn't wait to make her wear it on Christmas Eve, which he later tore apart with his own hands.
But this year, she was living with someone else, and they were celebrating Christmas, so she had to show some appreciation and not spoil the fun. Zhuang Jinghao's gift was easy; she'd wanted to get her something for a long time but had forgotten, so this was the perfect time to give it to her. But what about Zhuang Yu'an? She really couldn't think of anything good to give him right now. Couldn't she just give him a tie?
In the afternoon, Zhuang Jinghao made an appointment with Zhu Jingjing to go shopping. So, Zuo Xiao and Zhuang Yu'an were the only ones left in the huge villa.
Zhuang Yu'an had some official business to attend to, so he stayed in the study for over two hours. When he returned to the first floor, the living room was quiet.
Turning around, she saw Zuo Xiao lying on the sofa, seemingly asleep. Peter Pan lay on the carpet at her feet, squinting his eyes sensibly, without saying a word.
Zhuang Yu'an walked over with light steps. She was clutching an iPad in her arms and a stylus in her hand. Her face, half hidden by her long, dark hair, looked pale from lack of sleep. Her thick, feathery eyelashes fluttered beneath her slightly furrowed brows, as if troubled even by something in her dreams.
Zhuang Yu'an felt a sharp pain in his heart and couldn't move his eyes away. He simply sat down on the carpet, capturing every inch of her with his eyes, with countless thoughts running through his mind.
After an unknown amount of time, the video intercom at the door suddenly rang. Zhuang Yu'an hurriedly stood up, and at the same moment, the person on the sofa opened his eyes.
It was a Shansong delivery driver. Zhuang Yu'an gave the delivery code and asked him to place the package in the locker next to the courtyard gate. After a moment, he checked the surveillance footage, confirmed that the driver had gone far away and that there was no one else around the courtyard wall, and then opened the door and left.
He took a cardboard box back to the house. Zuo Xiao was already awake and sitting on the sofa.
He came back after washing his hands and taught her how to check the surveillance. He also reminded her to put any express deliveries and takeouts in the cabinet and make sure no one was around before going out to pick them up.
"It's safe here," he said. "Even if he knew you were here, he wouldn't be able to do anything. Besides, I'll notify the security guards and not let him into the complex."
Zuo Xiao was a little skeptical: "Doing this seems to affect your relationship."
"No. I have a way to keep him from doubting my motives."
"What method?"
Zhuang Yu'an's eyes showed a hint of embarrassment. He paused before saying, "I will let him misunderstand my relationship with other girls. He will think that I am only helping Jinghao protect you and that I have no other intentions. Although he will still blame me, at least the problem you are worried about will not happen."
It took Zuo Xiao two seconds to digest the "method" he mentioned, and he couldn't help but question: "Will this work?"
"Try it first." Zhuang Yu'an comforted him, "Just stay here peacefully, don't see him, and don't give him a chance. After a long time, he will naturally give up."
Zuo Xiao felt uneasy and returned to sit on the sofa. She had been writing lyrics for Lao Zuo's new song, but now she felt bored and curled up on the sofa, hugging her pillow and lost in thought.
Zhuang Yu'an came over, sat down beside her, and said, "If you're still worried, I have another solution."
Zuo Xiao turned around and asked, "What's the solution?"
Zhuang Yuan paused and said, "Do you know the relationship between him and Ge Xin?"
Zuo Xiao frowned: "I heard Jinghao say a little bit... have they been together?"
"I'm not sure what kind of relationship they had," Zhuang Yu'an said, "but what is certain is that they had sex. Before I left on my business trip, Luffy still had scratches on his neck."
Zuo Xiao suddenly felt nauseous, turned his eyes away, and pursed his lips tightly.
Zhuang Yu'an took in all her reactions. He was silent for a moment, then said, "I plan to talk to Ge Xin. Maybe she can change his mind."
Zuo Xiao curled up the corner of his mouth into a cold smile, and said "hmm" with disgust.
"I'm going to decorate the Christmas tree in the yard. Can you help me hold the ladder?" Zhuang Yu'an said.
The two put on their coats, and before going out, Zhuang Yu'an took out a scarf and gloves and asked her to put them on.
Zhuang Yu'an brought a stepladder, and Zuo Xiao helped him hold it as he watched him wrap coils of lights around the tree, then hang a large red bow at the top. He then asked her to help him pass this and that, and soon he had finished decorating the top of the tree. The rest of the tree could be reached from flat ground.
While the two of them were decorating the Christmas tree, Zhuang Yu'an told her interesting stories about Zhuang Jinghao's past Christmases.
She'd loved Christmas since she was a child. This holiday, originating from across the ocean, held a rich atmosphere and a strong sense of ritual, not to mention the myths and legends that informed countless films, television series, and literary works. Young Zhuang Jinghao's favorite deity was Santa Claus, and her primary concern was Christmas presents. Thus, young Zhuang Yu'an would ask Grandpa to dress up in Santa's clothes. On Christmas Eve, he'd "accidentally" see his sister as she was about to fall asleep, causing her to scream with excitement. Grandma, a Buddhist, would withdraw into her room during these times, ignoring Grandpa for the next three days.
Zuo Xiao was amused and giggled. Zhuang Yu'an then said that when he grew taller, it was his turn to dress up as Santa Claus. But he didn't know that his sister's classmates had already exposed her Santa Claus's "lie." She immediately ripped off his beard and threw it on the ground, angrily saying, "I'm not a child anymore, and you still lie to me like this? That's too much!" Since then, there has been no more Santa Claus at home, but Zhuang Jinghao still loves Christmas and tirelessly decorates the house every year, carefully preparing gifts for every family member, and handwriting Christmas cards to classmates and friends.
When he returned to the house, Zuo Xiao's heart was already cleared.
Zhuang Yu'an opened the refrigerator door and started preparing dinner. Zuo Xiao walked over and asked, "Do you want anything for Christmas?"
Zhuang Yu'an was stunned for a moment, then closed the refrigerator door and turned around and said, "What I want most, I already have."
"Huh?" Zuo Xiao was puzzled.
He gazed at her, his smile subtle yet radiant. The setting sun streamed through the window, casting a shimmering light over half of his body. At that moment, the words he spoke seemed to possess some unquestionable divinity.
"You being here is the best gift," he said.
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