Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Brandy.
44.
The end of the year is really a happy time. New Year's Eve is just a few days after Christmas. After working for three days and drying the net for two days, I finally got to give myself a holiday.
It's a seven-day holiday during the Lunar New Year. Never mind whether the Black Organization has this benefit or not. If I say yes, then yes. I've already had an office romance and slept with my boss, so shouldn't I be allowed some privileges?
...Besides, before I slept with my boss, I also enjoyed the seven days of New Year's celebration.
My colleagues had no objections. First, they were used to me not coming if I could. Second, if I didn't come, they could take over when the code members came (otherwise, they'd always go to me first). If I could make a name for myself with the code members, I could get a promotion or even become a code member myself. It's not unheard of, and they were happy with it. Third, if I didn't come, they'd be given ample benefits, and they'd get a similar number of days off.
It can be said that everyone in our bar is relatively harmonious.
45.
On New Year's Eve, just like the past two years, I spent it at Gin's house with Gin and Vodka.
Things change, and today it's Vodka who's in charge of cooking.
Well, he lost a bet on whether Gin would leave the house with his left foot or his right foot first. Just kidding, so what if he's known Gin longer? I live with Gin!
At this moment, my privilege...
The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen. The strong man Vodka, wearing an apron with a cartoon puppy wearing sunglasses printed on it - Yes, I forced him to put it on, and I had it custom-made for him - was clumsily trying to tame the pot on the stove.
"Vodka! Are the chestnut balls ready? I want to steal one!" I peeked in through the kitchen door frame, sniffing the air intently, fearing that the vodka would blow up the kitchen.
"It will be ready soon, Yingzi, wait a little longer!" Vodka said nervously, afraid of messing up, without even turning his head. "Big brother said I have to do it properly."
I turned my head and looked towards the living room. Gin was casually reclining on the sofa, holding a document that looked like a mission briefing, but from my vantage point, it felt like his eyes weren't focused on the paper. He was wearing dark gray housecoats, his long silver hair draped loosely, less aggressive than usual, more relaxed and at home.
"Zhen, stop looking! It's Chinese New Year!" I trotted over, snatched the document from his hand and threw it on the coffee table. Then I squeezed into the space between him and the armrest of the sofa and hugged his arm like a koala. "Vodka is working hard for us. How can you, the head of the family, not be absent?"
Gin glanced down at me, but he didn't push me away, nor did he pick up the document. He just bent his fingers with his free hand and tapped my forehead lightly: "Be quiet."
"No!" I rubbed him with a smile, "It's only this once a year, you have to accompany me."
He hummed an almost inaudible sound, a tacit agreement. His gaze swept across Vodka's busy back in the kitchen, his long eyes squinting so quickly that anyone who saw it a second later would have thought it was an illusion.
Vodka, sweating profusely, served one dish after another that he had worked so hard to prepare, including Chikuzen-ni, grilled fish, chestnut golden balls, tamagoyaki, etc. Although they didn't look particularly good and the taste was just average, it was Vodka's debut dish (?), and it was indeed not easy.
Every time I sneak a bite, I give Vodka a thumbs-up, showing my emotional touch... I'm afraid he won't cook it next time. Praise him, praise him, because children still need encouragement. If I encourage him and make him happy, he'll cook for me next time, hehe!
"Cheers!" I raised my glass of orange juice and clinked it against the gin glass and vodka beer can. "May we... well, have a peaceful and prosperous new year!"
I didn't make a wish like I did before that we could celebrate the New Year together in the future. After all, I have some confidence that they must always accompany me to celebrate the New Year - at least until the Black Organization disappears.
Well, I don’t know how my precious nephew would have been affected in the destruction of the Black Organization if Gin hadn’t knocked him out with a club and fed him poison.
Not noticing any changes in me this year, Vodka smiled innocently and nodded vigorously: "Yeah! Big brother, Yingzi, happy new year!"
Gin didn't say anything, just picked up the glass and took a sip. But under the light, I seemed to see the corners of his lips curl up very slightly.
...Well, that's enough.
After dinner, we happily moved from the dining room to the living room to watch the Red and White Songs Contest.
This time, Vodka won't have to wash the dishes. Oh, it's not because I feel bad for him having to cook and wash dishes, I'm not that considerate. It's mainly because I strongly requested that the kitchen be equipped with a dishwasher during this move, so Vodka only needs to be a mover.
He even thanked me!
This year, I didn't sink into my own private beanbag as usual. Instead, I naturally took my place in Gin's arms. He leaned back on the sofa, and I leaned comfortably against his chest, with his warm chest and steady heartbeat behind me, and a soft wool blanket covering my body.
Vodka sat next to me and shared with me the family-sized potato chips he had bought for her, crunching them happily.
Gin was too lazy to eat this kind of snack. As a mature adult (I don’t mean to say that Vodka is immature), he was too lazy to reach into the bag of potato chips in front of me. He just lazily took a sip of the drink I mixed from time to time.
As we all know, the more Gin acts like this, the more I like to force him. I rolled my eyes with a malicious look in my eyes, pinched a piece, and handed it to Gin's mouth: "Zhen, try it, it's cucumber flavored, super delicious!"
He frowned and turned away, rejection written all over his face.
"Just one bite~ It's New Year, let me make an exception!" I held it up persistently, almost touching his lips.
He seemed to be at his wit's end. He opened his mouth with great reluctance, took a quick bite of my hand, then immediately picked up the wine glass and took a sip, as if to wash away the taste.
It was this feeling of both disgust and helplessness that made it truly special. I chuckled smugly, then withdrew my hand with satisfaction and ate the remaining half of the potato chip myself.
Well, but gin is indeed more suitable for drinking. The amber liquid in the glass swayed gently between his slender fingers, making his hands look particularly beautiful.
It's beautiful, really beautiful, especially...
"Here it comes, it's coming!" As I stared at Gin's hand in a daze, Vodka shouted excitedly, "My daughter is on stage!"
I came to my senses in a second, grabbed the glow stick I had prepared a long time ago, turned it on, waited for Vodka to turn off the lights and come back, handed one to him, and followed the rhythm of the music with Vodka to cheer for my daughter.
Woo woo woo, my baby daughter, you are still the dazzling center today, you are worthy of being your good daughter!
"Ahhhh! Our daughter's wink is amazing!" Vodka pointed at the screen, not only his eyes shining, but his voice breaking.
Once again, the two of us forced ourselves to treat Gin's living room as a concert venue.
Gin behind me was steaming coldly, but he endured it again.
At the end of the performance, I clutched a tissue to wipe away the non-existent tears in my eyes and said with all my heart, "My daughter is amazing! I must go to your concert next month! Mom and Dad will always love you!"
Just as I excitedly turned around to high-five "daughter's father" Vodka, I suddenly felt the arm around my waist tighten.
I looked up and met Gin's expressionless face. His eyes seemed to be on the screen, but he didn't seem to be really looking at it, and his jawline was a little tense.
Vodka, completely unaware, wiped her tears in the same way as me and nodded frantically: "Yingzi, let's go together. I want to see my son live too..."
Qiaodou Madai, this is a bit, not good...
"dad?"
Vodka lowered his head.
"Mother?"
I was shocked.
"Cub?"
Vodka put down the tissue.
"daughter?"
I also put down the tissue and gave Gin a dry smile: "Zhen, listen to my excuses, oh, no, listen to my explanation..."
Gin turned off the TV with a snap: "You two really dare to say anything?"
Jealous, I understand, I am jealous.
I understood immediately and teased him deliberately: "Huh? Zhen, you think our daughter is great too, right?"
Gin glanced at me coldly, his voice flat: "It's so noisy."
"Hey, are you jealous?" I poked his cheek with my finger, "Don't worry, Vodka and I are just playing around with our baby daughter."
I made a heart shape with my other hand: "You are the only ones in my heart."
"It's more important than anything else for the three of us to live a good life!"
He slapped my hand away, his tone a little disgusted: "Idiot, did I ask you this?"
But the arm around me didn't loosen. Instead, he pressed me closer to him. I guess it was an illusion. Why did I feel like he wanted to separate me from the vodka?
It's definitely an illusion.
Humph, a man who says one thing and means another.
46.
As the clock slowly approached midnight, the muffled sound of fireworks launching into the sky outside began to drift.
It's great. In previous years, at the latest around this time, Gin's phone would always ring unknowingly, either with an urgent task or an unexpected situation. The New Year's Eve for the three of us was always incomplete.
But this year, Gin's phone screen remained dark.
When the hour and minute hands overlapped on the dial, the host's exciting New Year countdown came from the TV, and brilliant fireworks exploded outside the window, Gin's cell phone was still lying quietly on the sofa.
"Five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!"
Vodka stood up happily and opened another can of beer: "Brother, Yingzi, Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year!!!" I also jumped up from Gin's arms, clinked glasses with him, and then with Gin. "It's rare that there are no missions to disturb me this year. It's a good omen!"
To celebrate this good omen, we got together for a drink until the vodka started to get to him. To avoid spending the night on the carpet, he decided to go back and embrace his own big bed.
After closing the door, Gin and I were the only ones left in the room.
I walked back into the living room and saw Gin still standing by the window, his empty glass in hand. He seemed lost in thought. I picked up the bottle and gave him another whiskey.
Putting down the bottle, I simply took a sip from the cup he had just used.
"Hey, Zhen, this is the cup you used, so you can kiss indirectly." I shook the cup and teased him on purpose.
He turned around, took the cup, but didn't drink it. He just lowered his eyes and looked at me.
I suddenly noticed that against his cold, pale skin, the corners of his eyes seemed a little red, and his gaze was... hazier than usual? His breath reeked of alcohol.
Could it be... that he is drunk?
When was the last time he was drunk?
"Formation?" I called him tentatively.
If I'm still as drunk as I was before, can I just ask for the answer?
Before I could make the next attempt, Gin put down his glass and held my face, rubbing my skin with his warm fingertips with thin calluses.
"Yingzi." He called my name softly, his voice hoarser than usual, with a strong taste of alcohol and some suppressed emotions.
Then he lowered his head and kissed me.
The kiss was gentle, almost reverent, carrying the mellow aroma of wine and his unique, reassuring scent. He meticulously traced the shape of my lips, as if confirming the existence of something precious. His tongue gently penetrated, entwining with mine with patience and tenderness.
I was stunned into accepting this extremely gentle kiss. His hand slid from my cheek to the back of my head, tangled in my hair, and gently supported it, allowing me to respond to the kiss more comfortably. His other hand wrapped around my waist, holding me tightly in his arms.
I don't know how long it took before he slowly left my lips, but his forehead was still against mine, our hot breaths blending together.
His eyes were still a little hazy, but surprisingly bright, as if they contained thousands of stars.
"Happy New Year," he whispered.
"Happy New Year, husband?" I blinked.
A name that only appears at certain times, obviously, is a switch.
The bright starlight in his eyes instantly faded, replaced by a deeper and more dangerous dark color.
…
In the second half of the night, or rather, in the early morning of the first day of the new year, I fell into a deep sleep in a state of extreme exhaustion and satisfaction.
I don't know how long it was before I suddenly opened my eyes, feeling the steady breathing and ups and downs of the person next to me, and carefully turned over in his arms.
I closed my eyes again and stroked the diamond bracelet Gin gave me with my fingers.
On the inconspicuous silver tag at the ring of this diamond bracelet is engraved an English word that may require a magnifying glass to see clearly.
Brandy.
Brandy.
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The author has something to say: The warm moments are over now (clap your hands) (If you don’t end it, I won’t write anymore) (If it’s all burned out, I’m not good at describing warm things)
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