New Year's Eve.
Li Yu'an had just wrapped himself in his coat when the phone rang again. It was Qin Yishun.
"Hello, big brother."
"Xiao'an, are you really not coming over tonight? I'll pick you up. Don't mind the trouble. It's just an extra pair of chopsticks."
Qin Yishun invited him right away.
Tonight is New Year's Eve, and every family has a reunion dinner.
Qin Yishun was not worried about his younger brother Pei Yi, but was thinking about Li Yu'an who was alone at home with an injured foot. Chinese people attach great importance to the Spring Festival.
No matter where you are, the four words "spending the New Year alone" sound lonely.
"Big brother, I really won't go. You know I'm not good at face-to-face conversations. It would be awkward if we don't know each other well. There is no rule of staying up late to celebrate the New Year..." Li Yu'an gave a reason to refuse.
Qin Yishun's parents, the eldest daughter and son-in-law of Master Pei, have been working hard in Yuncheng for the past few years. Seeing that their son stayed in Imperial Capital for the New Year and Master Pei was in the hospital
, they decided to return to Imperial Capital for the New Year.
Li Yu'an knew that Qin Yishun missed him and was grateful for his care, but he really didn't want to get involved in other people's homes on such a meaningful day as New Year's Eve.
Li Yu'an paused and gave his sincere blessing, "Brother, you and your family should have a good gathering. I wish my two elders a happy new year."
Qin Yishun on the other end of the phone sighed lightly, but still chose to respect Li Yu'an's idea, "Well, call me anytime if you need anything. You still need to pay more attention to your foot injury."
Li Yu'an lowered his eyes and looked at the large cotton slippers on his right foot, and curled his lips, "Don't worry, it just looked swollen at first, but it's nothing serious. I changed the medicine yesterday, and now I can step on the ground slightly."
"Changed the medicine yesterday?" Qin Yishun paused for a moment, "Who took you there?"
"..."
Li Yu'an was stunned by the question.
Who else could it be?
Of course, Yan Cen accompanied him.
After spending time together, Li Yu'an probably also saw Qin Yishun's strong nature of "protecting his younger brother", and inexplicably felt guilty that he was caught by the head of the family for "premature love".
"I, I went there by myself, the hospital is not far away."
Qin Yishun gave him 100% trust, "Well, next time you need to change the medicine, tell me, and I will drive you there."
Li Yu'an pinched the zipper of his clothes with his fingertips, "Oh."
The two brothers simply hung up the call, and before Li Yu'an put down his phone, the WeChat message vibrated.
Yan Cen sent a photo.
The walnut tabletop is warm in color, and the inner ring is inlaid with a round marble. Anyone with a discerning eye can tell that this dining table is expensive. It is filled with a delicious New Year's Eve dinner, which looks very tempting.
There were several bottles of wine and Wuliangye at the edge, all of which were top-notch wines.
At the same time, a message came from Yan Cen, "Mr. Li, how are you? Do you want to come?"
Since he expressed
his intention to "pursue", Yan Cen not only came to the house every now and then, but also reported his situation to Li Yu'an in real time - the chat records were mostly trivial daily matters, but it was this that made Li Yu'an feel more at ease, a sense of confirmation that Yan Cen really liked him.
The Yan family is a wealthy family with deep roots in the capital, and tonight's New Year's Eve reunion is more about family gathering.
As the eldest grandson, Yan Cen naturally couldn't escape.
Li Yu'an dodged the invitation and replied with a smile, "It's not even five o'clock yet? Are you eating so early?"
Yan Cen replied, "My husband and his family are old and have to go to bed early at night, but he was in a good mood today and even cooked two dishes himself. He also insisted on having a couple of drinks later."
As soon as he said this, he repeated the question -
"Do you want to come over? It just so happens that my husband asked me about my relationship status."
"..."
Li Yu'an's cheeks flushed, and he changed the subject, "I'm not going."
Yan Cen asked again, "Home alone?"
Li Yu'an remembered his inner hesitation and paused for two or three seconds, "No, my eldest brother asked me to go over for dinner."
Yan Cen on the other side of the screen was silent for a while, and asked again and again, "Are you going over?"
Li Yu'an glanced at the packaged gift box with his peripheral vision, and stopped chatting awkwardly, "Well, you go ahead, I have something else to do here."
"Okay."
The WeChat chat box stopped.
Li Yu'an checked the time, then picked up the crutch in one hand as an aid, picked up the gift box that had been prepared long ago, and slowly left home.
Because of his injured foot, Li Yu'an couldn't drive.
He waited for a long time in the cold wind, but failed to call a car on the software. Fortunately, the taxi driver in Dijing was quite diligent and luckily stopped a car.
The driver saw Li Yu'an's situation through the rearview mirror, "Hey, it's the New Year after all. Even if your foot is injured, you have to go home to have the New Year's Eve dinner, right?"
"..."
Go home?
New Year's Eve dinner?
Li Yu'an's eyes flashed with hesitation, and then he heard the driver's question.
"Little brother, where are you going?"
"..."
Li Yu'an took a breath without leaving a trace, and reported an address that he was very familiar with.
Twenty minutes later, the taxi stopped at the gate of a high-end residential area.
Li Yu'an got out of the car with some effort, and the cold wind was blowing.
He looked at the familiar community environment and felt a kind of fear to back out for no reason.
Li Yu'an's uninjured left foot took a step back in a daze, and the security guard recognized him, "Mr. Li! You're back! Happy New Year, I was just saying two days ago that I haven't seen you for a long time!"
Li Yu'an's eyes fell on the familiar face of the security guard, and he forced a smile, "Happy New Year."
"Hey, why are you only wearing a pair of slippers? Are you hurt?" The security guard noticed his condition and hurriedly urged him in a friendly manner, "It's so cold, go home quickly to warm up, do you want me to hold you?"
Li Yu'an shook his head hurriedly, "No, I can do it myself, thank you."
He walked to the access control area with shallow and deep steps.
"Facial recognition, passed, welcome home." The
emotionless electronic voice came over, but it sounded like a different kind of affirmation.
The hesitation and timidity in Li Yu'an's heart were diluted a lot, and he walked slowly but steadily towards the "home" that used to be.
The elevator ran to the sixteenth floor and stopped.
Li Yu'an turned right and came to the familiar house number, but his fingertips froze on the doorbell, and he didn't dare to press it easily.
In order to make up for the losses, the Li family's other properties were sold one after another in the past few years. After the death of his adoptive father Li Xiao, this place became the only home for Li Yu'an and An Yang.
When the Li family was wealthy, they had servants and nannies to serve them. Even when the economy was tight, Li Xiao was the one who took care of the cooking at home.
As a young girl, Li Yu'an was not very good at cooking. As a wealthy wife and a doted-on husband, Anyang hardly ever cooked.
After Anyang fell ill, she could only go into the kitchen a few times, but every New Year's Eve, she would still prepare a bowl of wine-brewed egg dumplings for Li Yu'an.
In fact, there is no technical content.
Go to the supermarket to buy a bowl of packaged wine and small dumplings, add water and boil them together, and add the beaten eggs when it boils.
But Li Yu'an just loves this and eats it all every year.
To him, this is one of the few flavors that comes from "maternal love".
"..."
Li Yu'an looked at the carefully selected gift box in his hand, but still couldn't press the doorbell. In fact, he couldn't explain why he had to come here on New Year's Eve -
maybe he missed the taste in his memory.
Or maybe he couldn't give up the mother-son relationship of many years in his heart. After all, the feeling of spending the New Year alone is not as simple and pleasant as imagined.
But think about it, what will happen if we meet? Pretend that nothing happened and let bygones be bygones?
Li Yu'an knew that he had a commotion in his heart that he couldn't get over. Even if they met, it would probably be just speechless embarrassment.
Time passed by minute by minute, and the coldness began to invade from the soles of the feet.
Perhaps it was a subconscious "self-protection" for himself, Li Yu'an didn't press the doorbell after all, but put the gift box at the door, intending to leave.
The elevator rang again, and Pei Huan unexpectedly appeared here -
he was wearing a coat of unknown brand, but his figure looked "shrunk" a lot, with obvious dark circles under his eyes and a little stubble, and his energy seemed to be rapidly drained.
On the other hand, although Li Yu'an injured his foot, he was taken care of by Yan Cen and Qin Yishun in turn during this period, and his complexion was very good, and his cheeks were even a little fleshy. When
their eyes met, the atmosphere in the corridor quickly condensed.
Pei Huan bit his back teeth imperceptibly, his eyes instantly showing displeasure, "Li Yu'an? Why are you here?"
Li Yu'an's breath tightened.
Even after so much time had passed, he still had an instinctive resistance and disgust towards Pei Huan.
In silence, Pei Huan noticed the gift box at the door and sneered, "Are you rushing to her house on your own? Or did she beg you to come?"
"..."
Pei Huan came up with a hint of determination, "It seems to be the first one? Why are you holding a cane? Are you trying to show off to anyone?"
Li Yu'an didn't intend to waste time with Pei Huan here, so he took a step outside -
but Pei Huan suddenly pulled him back with a force that was full of hatred, "You're here, why are you in such a hurry?"
"Bang!"
The cane fell to the ground.
Li Yu'an didn't have time to pick it up, and Pei Huan decisively pressed the doorbell.
Footsteps were heard in the house, coming from far away and getting closer, very hurried.
The moment the door opened, An Yang's joy and excitement came over simultaneously, "Xiao Huan, you're finally here! Mom has learned to cook a lot of dishes during this period, just waiting for you..."
The gift box that had been placed was knocked open by the door and fell to the ground, looking particularly worthless.
An Yang's voice stopped abruptly. She looked at the two figures standing at the door. Her eyes, which were originally filled with excitement, had a hint of unbelievable complexity.
An Yang's eyes were fixed on Li Yu'an, and the excitement that came to her later all over her body spread throughout her body, and she even forgot to continue the conversation with Pei Huan.
She subconsciously wiped her hands on her apron and tried to pull Li Yu'an, "Xiao An, why are you here too?"
The next second, Li Yu'an's left foot quickly withdrew to avoid An Yang's contact. At the same time, he shook off Pei Huan's dirty hand.
"Get lost."
With just one sentence, An Yang and Pei Huan's faces changed at the same time.
Li Yu'an looked through the open door and saw the steaming tray not far away. Then he looked at An Yang's apron, and everything was self-evident.
Li Yu'an tried his best to keep his center of gravity, picked up the gift box on the ground, and threw it into the trash can in the corridor in front of the two of them. He walked quickly towards the elevator like nothing had happened.
An Yang wanted to chase him, but Pei Huan called him, "Mom!"
"..."
Li Yu'an looked at the elevator door blocking the "deep love between mother and son" in the corridor and laughed at himself.
Just a few minutes, just take it as a slap in the face for not being sober.
There won't be a next time, never again!
...
The night was dark, but snowflakes were floating in the sky.
Yan Cen, who was sitting quietly in the car, couldn't help but take out his mobile phone, took a photo and sent it to Li Yu'an——
"Look, it's snowing."
"When will it end? I'm waiting for you."
After Yan Cen sent these two sentences, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure in his peripheral vision.
The pure white down jacket and the hat covered most of his face. He walked very slowly and stiffly, and his limp was particularly obvious.
Even so, Yan Cen still recognized the person instantly based on his height and feeling.
His relaxed brows furrowed fiercely, and he quickly got out of the car and ran over, "Yu An! What's wrong with you?"
"..."
Li Yu'an paused for a moment, and when he looked up again, Yan Cen had already rushed to him.
Their eyes met.
The redness in Li Yu'an's eyes deepened, "Yan, Yan Cen."
The trembling ending of his voice easily revealed his emotions, and his originally stiff body also had a tendency to fall.
Yan Cen saw the slippers on his feet and picked him up directly, "What's the matter? Where did you go alone?"
Li Yu'an let out a breath of cold air, without the shyness and struggle of the past.
Yan Cen took him into the community building, at least avoiding the snow and cold wind outside.
Li Yu'an hesitated for a long time before asking, "...Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see you." Yan Cen answered decisively, "I was afraid that you would lie to me and say you were going to have a New Year's Eve dinner, but actually you stayed at home alone to celebrate the New Year." They
soon reached the third floor.
Yan Cen pressed the familiar password, hugged Li Yu'an and walked straight into the room. After making sure he was seated, he turned around and poured him a cup of hot water.
"Look at you, your hands and feet are frozen."
Yan Cen was so angry that his heart ached, but he didn't dare to be angry with Li Yu'an, "Where did you hide from me?"
Li Yu'an lowered his eyes, and the heat from the cup soaked his eyes.
He choked softly, muffled, "Why do I just have a bad memory? I forget the pain after the wound heals."
"..."
Yan Cen's eyes condensed, and he understood from these few words, "You went to find An Yang?"
Li Yu'an felt ridiculous and briefly recounted what happened, "I arrived at the door but didn't dare to go in. When I wanted to leave, I ran into Pei Huan..."
Yan Cen had already noticed his red ankles from being frozen, "How did you get back? Where's your crutches?"
Li Yu'an buried his head even lower, "I didn't get my crutches back, and I waited for a long time but couldn't get a car. I guess they all went home for the New Year's Eve dinner." Li Yu'an
pretended to be indifferent in front of Pei Huan and An Yang, but he was still "severely hurt" in his heart.
He waited for a long time in the cold wind, and when he came to his senses, he had already walked back.
Yan Cen felt distressed, "Don't you know to call me?"
Li Yu'an said nothing.
First, he was so emotional that he forgot about it; second, at this point in time, he really wouldn't bother Yan Cen or Qin Yishun and others.
The drive was less than half an hour, but it took a long, long time.
His right foot went from pain to numbness, and his body and mind seemed to be completely frozen. Li Yu'an didn't know how much time he spent and how he insisted on walking back without saying a word.
Until the moment Yan Cen appeared in front of him, his tense nerves completely collapsed.
"Yan Cen, I know I have no future, but why?"
Tears were hidden in the mist, leaving only a choking sound in the voice, "She almost never cooked before, but today she cooked a large table of dishes for Pei Huan, I, I just..."
Yan Cen listened gently, "Just what?"
The more concerned, the more difficult it was to pretend to be calm.
Li Yu'an could no longer hide his crying voice, "I just want to eat a bowl of glutinous rice balls brewed with wine, why, why can't I?"
The long-suppressed emotions completely broke out at this moment, and a little childish arrogance and stubbornness overflowed.
"I just want it! Is it not okay for me to just have a bowl of this?"
Yan Cen took away the shaking water cup from Li Yu'an's hand, held him in his arms and comforted him, "Okay, okay, I got it. I'll make it for you, okay?"
"I'll make whatever you want to eat. Don't cry, be good."
"..."
Li Yu'an buried his head in Yan Cen's shoulder, no longer caring about the "image" that he once cared about the most.
After a while, his crying in the name of "venting" finally stopped, "There is no wine, and you can't buy it."
"You can buy it, you can definitely buy it."
Yan Cen gently stroked the back of Li Yuan'an's head, and his hair felt a little cool, "If you want to eat it, I can buy wine for you, but the premise is-" "
You have to take care of yourself."
"Stay in the heated room, drink hot water, remove the herbs and gauze on your right foot first, and then I will get you a basin of water to soak your feet, okay?"
"..."
Li Yuan'an calmed down in Yan Cen's gentle caress, and he didn't come back to his senses until the right temperature of water submerged his ankle.
Yan Cen saw the relaxation of his eyes, "Are you feeling better?"
Li Yuan'an nodded.
Yan Cen easily found the cold medicine he had left over from last time, and made him a cup of it with water, "Take it and drink it up, I'll be back soon."
Li Yu'an smelled the medicine and remembered his incoherent complaints just now, "Forget it."
He didn't want to take the medicine, and he also felt that he couldn't buy wine at this time.
Yan Cen didn't listen to him at this time, "You're already a little nasal, you must drink a pack to prevent it, you don't want to get sick again on the first day of the Chinese New Year tomorrow, do you? Didn't you say you wanted to eat wine-fermented dumplings? I'll buy them."
Yan Cen came closer and promised, "I'll make them for you when I come back."
Li Yu'an's palms were warmed by the cup of water, and the chill in his heart was also dispelled.
His Adam's apple rolled slightly, and he unconsciously put on obvious coquettishness, "Then, then add an egg, the kind that is beaten."
Yan Cen chuckled indulgently, "Okay, I'll do as you say."
...
It was obviously the worst night for business on New Year's Eve, but Yan Cen really bought instant wine and small dumplings, plus the eggs already stored in the refrigerator -
after eleven o'clock, a bowl of steaming wine-brewed egg dumplings appeared in front of Li Yu'an, with a unique sweet wine aroma, tempting the heart.
Li Yu'an was "forced" by Yan Cen to stay in the bedroom and did not go out.
His right foot was wrapped in a thick blanket. Although it was a little swollen after this incident, it was not serious. He drank a cup of cold medicine not long ago, and now all his limbs have warmed up.
Of course, the most important thing is that his mood has also eased.
Li Yu'an is not a cold person by nature, but he hides his feelings deeply, so today he let his impulse do "stupid things", but he will never do that again.
Yan Cen sat on the bed and motioned to Li Yu'an, with a rare nervousness in his eyes, "This is my first time making it, do you want to try it and see if it suits your taste?"
If he had known that Li Yu'an liked this, he should have tried it at home first to avoid failure.
Yan Cen left himself a way out, "I'll leave some ingredients, if this bowl is not well made, I'll make you a new bowl."
Li Yu'an picked up the spoon and took a bite.
Soft, glutinous and sweet.
It's not the taste in memory, but it's delicious enough to cover the past memories.
Yan Cen asked, "How was it?"
Li Yu'an's eyes suddenly felt sour again, but he held back, "Yeah, it's delicious."
Yan Cen breathed a sigh of relief, "Then I'll make it for you every Chinese New Year? It doesn't have to be Chinese New Year, as long as you like it, I'll make it for you."
Li Yu'an heard the weight of this promise, and his face became even redder due to the heat.
He didn't dare to answer casually, but just chewed a mouthful of glutinous rice balls, "Didn't you drink? Why did you come to my place?"
"I only drank a little with the old man, but we left early."
Yan Cen deliberately stayed at home for more than an hour to make sure that the alcohol had dissipated before coming.
In fact, he always felt that Li Yu'an would not go to the reunion dinner with Qin Yishun, so he sent a WeChat message to the other party but didn't reply. Just in case, he chose to wait in the car downstairs.
Li Yu'an asked again, "Why did you come to see me on New Year's Eve?"
"Didn't I tell you? I really want to see you." Yan Cen answered honestly, and then kept the secret, "After you finish this bowl of wine-brewed glutinous rice balls, I have something to give you."
"Why are you still so secretive?"
Li Yu'an retorted subconsciously, but out of curiosity, he ate the glutinous rice balls faster.
In less than ten minutes, the bowl of wine-brewed egg glutinous rice balls was finished.
Yan Cen looked at the empty bowl and felt satisfied, "It's so delicious? Do you want more?"
Li Yu'an shook his head, but the look he gave him was full of expectation, "I'm done."
It was a very obvious reminder.
Yan Cen saw through it but didn't say anything. He took out something red from his coat pocket and handed it over, "This is for you."
"..."
Li Yuan looked at the red envelope handed to him, stunned, "Is this considered New Year's money?"
Yan Cen smiled and replied, "Didn't someone say that New Year's money should be put under the pillow and can only be taken out after New Year's Eve? There are still ten minutes now, what are you going to do with it?"
Li Yuan was embarrassed to accept it, "It's rare among peers. I, I haven't prepared a red envelope for you."
"Then consider it--"
Yan Cen pressed the red envelope in his hand and pointed out, "It's from the senior to the junior, keep it!"
Li Yuan took the red envelope that came suddenly, and his expression was a little cute.
Yan Cen gently pushed his glasses, as if to remind him, "Do you want to open it and see the amount first? I finally got the cash."
Li Yu'an's eyes fell on the red envelope, and the red color really aroused his excitement and expectation.
His fingertips moved slightly, and he opened the red envelope carefully, and then he saw the amount in the red envelope.
"..."
Li Yu'an reacted for several seconds, and looked at Yan Cen in front of him with a subtle look.
Yan Cen, who was always calm, rarely felt uncomfortable being stared at by him, and explained with his hands covering his lips, "I don't usually take or give red envelopes during the Chinese New Year. If I give too much, I'm afraid you won't accept it."
With his current wealth, as long as Li Yu'an is willing to accept it, he can afford any red envelope.
Of course, this red envelope of New Year's money is more of a thought.
Li Yu'an saw through Yan Cen's rare discomfort, and raised his lips, with a soft tone in his naturally cold voice, "Yan Cen."
"Hmm?"
"The amount of this red envelope--" Li Yu'an showed his venomous side in front of Yan Cen for the first time, "It's so tacky."
"..."
Yan Cen was speechless.
The two looked at each other for a few seconds and laughed at the same time.
Seeing that Li Yu'an was happy, Yan Cen simply gave up, "Is it very tacky? These 100-yuan Mao Ye Ye are easy to find, but this brand new 20-yuan note is very difficult to find."
Li Yu'an was still laughing, saying one thing and thinking another, "Hmm, it's so tacky and vulgar."
Yan Cen teased him, "Then give it back to me?"
Li Yu'an hid it quickly, "No, I've already taken it."
He carefully pressed the New Year's money under his pillow, along with the one that Shu Wan had given him.
Yan Cen allowed Li Yu'an to keep and protect him childishly, but the moment he turned his eyes back, he approached tenderly, "Li Yu'an, Happy New Year's Eve and Happy New Year."
"Don't cry again in the new year, okay?"
Even if something happens in Anyang in the future, he will deal with and solve it on behalf of Li Yu'an.
Li Yu'an's heart was filled with warmth. He forgot when it started -
he had already evacuated from the edge of the bottomless cliff. As long as he turned around and looked up, he would see the gentle world he longed for the most.
"Yan Cen."
"Hmm?"
Li Yu'an responded with a smile, "Happy New Year."