Bonus Chapter: Year After Year
On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the air in Haojiang was unusually damp and cold. Although it was not as frigid as the north, it still had a chill that penetrated to the bone.
The mansion was warm and cozy, with the central air conditioning operating silently to maintain the temperature at just the right level.
In the mirror, the timidity and pallor she had when she first arrived in Macau had faded from her eyes, replaced by a gentle and composed demeanor that had been carefully cultivated. However, deep within her eyes, there was still a subtle hint of caution towards the unknown situation.
"Nervous?" Li Yaodong's deep voice came from the doorway.
Cheng Yin looked up and saw him leaning against the door frame, wearing a tailor-made dark Zhongshan suit. The gold-embroidered dragon pattern on the buttons was faintly visible under the light, and the thin cigar between his fingers emitted wisps of light smoke.
His attire today, compared to his usual suits and ties, exuded a more traditional dignity and composure, yet his gaze remained fixed on her as always, carrying an all-knowing sharpness and an imperceptible indulgence.
Cheng Yin shook her head slightly, then nodded honestly: "Is Grandpa Lin still angry with me?" She paused, choosing her words carefully.
Although she did not witness the fierce argument between Li Yaodong and the Lin family patriarch last year, which was caused by her, she pieced together the general outline from various fragmented pieces of information and knew that it almost shook the deep father-son relationship between Li Yaodong and the Lin family.
Li Yaodong stubbed out his cigar and approached, carrying a faint scent of tobacco mixed with ambergris. His warm palm rested naturally on her lower back, gently stroking the soft fabric with a soothing tone. "He's angry at me." His tone was nonchalant, but his fingertips lingered on the graceful curve of her back. "After our big fight last year, this stubborn old man wouldn't let me into the Lin family's house for half a year. It's already a rare treat that he agreed to have New Year's Eve dinner with me this year."
The black Bentley Mulsanne cruised smoothly along the coastal highway, with the dazzling night view of Haojiang outside the window, neon lights flashing and outlining the bustling silhouette of this city that never sleeps.
In the distance, the eaves and brackets of the Lin family's old residence, with their distinctive Lingnan features, gradually came into view in the deepening night and the specially created festive lights, exuding the heritage and majesty of a century-old family in tranquility.
The vermilion and gold-lacquered gate was unusually wide open, with two huge lanterns casting a warm red glow in front of it.
Lin Shirong was waiting at the door, dressed in a dark gray Chinese suit, his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses as calm and restrained as ever. Seeing them get out of the car, his gaze lingered on Cheng Yin for a moment, then paused almost imperceptibly when it passed over the pearl brooch, before politely looking away and stepping aside to lead the way: "Father is waiting in the study." His voice was steady and calm.
Inside the house, the warm air is filled with the calming woody scent of sandalwood and the sweet aroma of rice cakes wafting from the kitchen. The two scents intertwine wonderfully, creating an atmosphere unique to the festival and the old house.
Inside the study, Xuan paper was laid out on a large mahogany table, where Old Master Lin was writing Spring Festival couplets. The brush, heavily dipped in ink, moved across the red paper with vigorous strokes. Upon their arrival, the brush tip made a barely perceptible but heavy pause on the last character "安" (peace) in the phrase "岁岁平安" (peace year after year), causing the ink to seem to smudge slightly.
“Grandpa.” Li Yaodong placed the exquisite gift box he was carrying on a corner of the rosewood table. “Yinyin specially chose this Suzhou embroidery screen for you. It’s double-sided embroidery in different colors, and she said it’s a ‘pine and crane longevity’ pattern, which suits you.”
Old Master Lin then put down his pen, his gaze sweeping over Cheng Yin's slender, fair fingers. His tone was unreadable: "Miss Cheng, you've gone to great lengths. People whose birth charts indicate a water element are indeed skillful and have good taste." His words seemed to contain praise, but upon closer inspection, they carried a subtle, almost imperceptible, stinging resentment towards the past. He still remembered the phrase "water and fire clash."
Cheng Yin lowered her eyes, her posture respectful: "You flatter me, this is just a small token of my appreciation."
Cheng Yin's gaze lingered on the scar for a moment before falling back down.
The dishes are plentiful and varied, mostly exquisite and traditional Cantonese cuisine.
Li Yaodong casually picked up a steamed crab, skillfully extracted the crab meat, and placed it on the bone china plate in front of Cheng Yin. Seeing that a little sauce had accidentally gotten on the corner of her lips, he casually wiped it away with his fingertip: "Try it. It's a specialty of the Lin family chef, made over decades. You can't get this level of cooking anywhere else."
Lin Shirong watched silently, but then gently turned the glass plate on the table and placed a plate of stir-fried lily bulbs and asparagus precisely in front of her. His voice was gentle: "This lily bulb and asparagus dish is cooked just right, light and refreshing."
Li Yaodong raised an eyebrow, glanced at Lin Shirong, his eyes deep, but said nothing. He simply picked up a soup spoon, ladled out a small bowl of clear, golden chicken soup, blew on it, and placed it beside Cheng Yin: "Drink more soup, it's good for your stomach. It's cold at night, warm yourself up." His concern was meticulous, yet carried an undeniable possessiveness.
Old Master Lin took in the whole scene, put down his chopsticks, and snorted: "Miss Cheng is quite lucky to have taught Yaodong to take care of people. Before, he only cared about his own pleasure and didn't know anything about these things."
“I learned it from her.” Li Yaodong chuckled upon hearing this, casually draping his arm over the back of Cheng Yin’s chair, forming a gesture that combined protection and declaration. “If she hadn’t been watching over me every day, making sure I ate on time and avoided raw, cold, and spicy foods, I would have gotten ten or eight stomach perforations long ago. How could I be sitting here having a proper meal with you?”
Cheng Yin's cheeks were slightly warm as she lowered her head and sipped the soup. The warm and delicious chicken soup warmed her stomach just right.
After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere eased a bit. Suddenly, the old man put down his glass and looked sharply at Li Yaodong: "Yaodong, I heard you've sold off quite a few shares of those casinos you own?"
Li Yaodong was leisurely peeling a boiled shrimp. Upon hearing this, he stopped and naturally placed the whole shrimp meat into Cheng Yin's bowl before raising his eyes and raising an eyebrow: "Hmm, cash out some of the funds and invest in technology and new energy. Macau can't have only one gambling table forever."
"Nonsense!" The old man slammed his rosewood cane heavily on the ground, making a dull thud. "That's the foundation of your business! How many people are watching it? You think you can just let it go like that? Have you thought this through?"
“Times have changed, sir.” Li Yaodong wiped his hands with a wet wipe, his tone calm but with an unwavering determination. “It’s the same principle as when you decisively switched from Nanyang tea to gambling. Only by seizing opportunities can you live longer and better.” He glanced at Cheng Yin’s quiet profile. “Now, I need to build a cleaner and more solid foundation for the future.”
Cheng Yin gently pressed Li Yaodong's hand under the table; her fingertips were slightly cool. Li Yaodong turned his hand around and completely enveloped her hand in his palm, feeling the dry, warm touch; his grip was slow yet firm.
Across the table, Lin Shirong rose to his feet, breaking the brief silence: "Father, Dong-ge, Yin-jie, as the old year draws to a close and the new year begins, I raise a toast to everyone, wishing you all a prosperous and healthy new year." His words were sincere, his posture upright, skillfully encompassing the concept of "family" with everyone present.
Li Yaodong and Cheng Yin then raised their glasses.
Li Yaodong said, "I wish the old man good health and all the best."
Cheng Yin also softly echoed, "Wishing Mr. Lin a happy and healthy New Year and all the best."
Three wine glasses clinked gently, the amber liquid shimmering in the crystal goblets, reflecting the light of the dazzling palace lanterns overhead. The momentary tension in the room seemed to gradually dissipate amidst the rich aroma of the wine and the auspicious blessings.
The ancestral worship ceremony after the meal was held at the Lin Family Ancestral Hall.
The ancestral hall was filled with the smoke of incense and candles, creating a solemn atmosphere. As Li Yaodong lit incense, his sleeve was slightly rolled up, revealing a section of his wrist, where an old scar on his wrist bone was faintly visible in the candlelight.
Cheng Yin quietly watched his profile, his eyes lowered and filled with utmost piety. Suddenly, she remembered that one night, in a languid and weary state, he had mentioned that when he was eighteen, covered in blood and on the verge of death, it was right here that Old Master Lin, defying all objections, followed the family rules to offer him the first incense and acknowledge him as his "son" who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
“Miss Cheng,” Old Master Lin suddenly spoke, his voice sounding particularly deep in the quiet ancestral hall, “go and kowtow to the ancestors and light incense.”
In an instant, the entire room fell silent. The gazes of all the distant relatives were cast upon them, seemingly casually.
Cheng Yin stepped forward as instructed, calmly accepting the three lit incense sticks from the old steward. Her kneeling movements were fluid and precise, her back ramrod straight, her demeanor respectful yet dignified. Wisps of smoke rose, brushing against her lowered eyelashes, her expression solemn and serene.
Grandpa Lin gazed at her for a long time, his eyes sweeping over Li Yaodong beside her, whose gaze had been fixed on her the entire time, displaying a completely protective attitude. Finally, he sighed almost imperceptibly and waved his hand: "Get up. You're a polite and sensible person..." As he spoke, he took a thick red envelope with a golden "福" (fortune) character printed on it from the mahogany tray held by the old butler beside him and handed it to Cheng Yin: "According to custom, this is a New Year's gift, to wish you good luck." Then, he picked up a velvet box, opened it, and inside was a jade bracelet of excellent quality, its color vibrant and lustrous: "This is for you to wear and play with."
Cheng Yin was slightly taken aback, then respectfully accepted the gift with both hands and softly thanked him, "Thank you, Mr. Lin." Li Yaodong stood beside her, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips, his eyes bright.
On the return trip, Li Yaodong relaxed and leaned back in the back seat, taking Cheng Yin's hand with the bracelet on it in his hand, his fingertips gently stroking the warm and translucent emerald green on her wrist: "You did very well today."
The jade bracelet had excellent translucency, gleaming under the neon lights outside the window. Surprisingly, the size of the bracelet fit her perfectly, as if it had been tailor-made for her.
This is not only a tradition of the Lin family giving red envelopes to the younger generation during the Lunar New Year, but also a profound expression of the old man's unspoken but deeply meaningful recognition.
A complex mix of emotions suddenly surged into Li Yaodong's heart: the satisfaction of things finally settling down, the pride of having achieved his goal, and the sense of security and comfort that came from officially inscribing her name into his long life and family genealogy.
“Director Lin… is very considerate,” Cheng Yin said softly, her gaze fixed on the passing night view outside the window. “He always hands things over promptly and helps people out of awkward situations.” She had noticed all of Lin Shirong’s subtle attempts to ease tensions and provide assistance during the meal.
Li Yaodong chuckled softly, pulling her closer and letting her lean on his shoulder. "Shirong is always thorough and meticulous in his work." His tone was casual, yet carried a hint of deep thought. He then leaned closer to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her lips. "But next time we work overtime, I'll still take you to Sister Lan's private kitchen for a meal. Takeout is never as healthy or tasty as freshly made food."
Cheng Yin nodded obediently, acknowledging Li Yaodong's assessment of Lin Shirong and agreeing to his arrangements for her after working overtime.
At this moment, in the Lin family study, Lin Shirong gently placed a document on his father's desk: "This is a copy of the final report for Miss Cheng's first large-scale project independently managed by Vanke Yingzhou. The Li family's net profit increased by 37% this quarter, and the assessment report states that her financial model and risk control plan played a crucial role in this success."
Grandpa Lin stroked the sandalwood bracelet in his hand, remaining silent for a long time before finally sighing, "Meticulous and composed, a fine piece of material... What a pity... If it were with you..."
“Father,” Lin Shirong interrupted gently but firmly, adjusting his glasses to reveal a clear and composed gaze behind the lenses. “Miss Cheng is the one Dong-ge has chosen; they are a good match.”
He turned to look out the window. In the distance, the taillights of Li Yaodong's black Bentley were merging into the dreamlike, dazzling river of lights in Haojiang, gradually disappearing into the distance. "We should offer our blessings," he said, his voice as steady and restrained as ever.
Outside the window, just as midnight struck, enormous fireworks burst open in the night sky beside the Haojiang Tower, their dazzling golden and silvery light instantly illuminating half the sky, and also revealing the faint trace of melancholy behind his glasses that he couldn't completely hide.
But Lin Shirong quickly put on his usual gentle smile, turned around, picked up the purple clay teapot, and poured hot tea into his father's cup: "Father, you should drink tea while staying up late on New Year's Eve to clear your mind and brighten your eyes."
Outside the car window, a new round of even more intense and dazzling fireworks exploded, and colorful lights shimmered and danced inside the car through the window.
Li Yaodong lowered his head and kissed Cheng Yin's lips. His kiss carried the mellow, slightly bitter taste of Pu'er tea, and also carried the sweetness between her lips and teeth.
Outside the window, deafening celebratory sounds filled the air, but inside the car was a tranquil and peaceful little world, isolated from the noise.
"Cheng Yin," he whispered against her soft, slightly swollen lips amidst the deafening roar of another grand fireworks display overhead, his voice hoarse, carrying an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and a barely perceptible sigh, "This is the first... year that someone has stayed up all night with me."
She carefully wrote, stroke by stroke, in his warm, broad palm: There will be many more.
Year after year.
He closed his palms, tightly enveloping her hand, and a deep laugh resonated from his chest, filled with immense pleasure.
The black sedan drove smoothly into the heart of the most dazzling lights in Haojiang, just as it was driving into the countless years they were about to embark on together, years that were both magnificent and enduring.
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