Before the Lunar New Year, Gong Yao received a call from his uncle, who inquired about his recent work and life and Gong Zhen's holiday arrangements.
"Xiao Zhen is busy and working hard in the army. Come back and reunite with your family this year. Your grandfather misses you both very much and has been talking about you two brothers a lot lately."
"Okay, I'll discuss it with my dad."
Gong Yao hung up the phone and sat quietly in a daze for a while.
The original owner's family background was complicated.
His father, Gong Nantian, and mother, Li Ran, had a business marriage. Although their relationship was lukewarm over the years, they could be considered to treat each other with respect.
When Gong Yao was eight years old, Gong Nantian's first love returned to China.
Six months later, his affair was exposed. Li Ran also died unexpectedly during a chaotic entanglement.
After that, the Gong and Li families completely broke off relations. Gong Yao was taken back to Dongshi by Li Cheng and raised for several years. He only returned to Gong Nantian's side when he went to university.
Gong Yao sighed helplessly.
He tapped his temples, activating the system within his consciousness.
[I said, could you please add a note? Don't give me small-world quests with such complicated emotional entanglements.]
[Sorry, missions are assigned according to difficulty level. You are currently an SS-level host, so you will only receive S-level or higher missions!]
Gong Yao clicked his tongue impatiently: "[Aren't there any other types of high-level missions? I'd rather fight Zerg in interstellar space or slay zombies in the apocalypse.]"
The system's tone remained unchanged: "[There's only one SS-level mission currently available!]"
never mind.
Gong Yao disconnected from the system and instead dialed a phone: "Dad, I'm going back to Grandpa's place for the Spring Festival this year."
Gong Nantian was silent for a moment: "Go if you want to. I didn't tell you not to go."
Gong Yao: "Okay."
"Come back soon." Gong Nantian's voice was somewhat low.
"Understood." Gong Yao took out a cigarette, lit it, and the sparks flickered in the dim room.
Gong Nantian said helplessly, "Smoke less."
Gong Yao responded with a soft "hmm".
A silent awkwardness spread between the father and son.
"Ahem, Gong Yao," Gong Nantian said, "Please give my regards to your maternal grandfather."
Gong Yao replied, "Received."
After hanging up the phone, Gong Yao glanced at the time and called Gong Zhen before 9:30.
Gong Zhen answered the phone quickly.
"Are you about to rest?"
Gong Zhen's voice was calm and steady: "Ten minutes left, what's wrong?"
Gong Yao flicked his cigarette ash: "To make a long story short, I'm going to my maternal grandfather's place for the New Year this year. What about you? Are you still staying in the army?"
"Yes, that's the arrangement from above."
Gong Yao sighed, "I know, I'm so tired."
"Thank you for your hard work. I'll spend more of my vacation time at home with you this year."
Gong Yao laughed it off: "No way, if you really have a vacation that's rarer than a protected animal, hurry up and find someone. If you waste your time at home, Dad will swing you out with his golf club."
Gong Zhen interrupted him: "Gong Yao, buy me a bouquet of flowers."
Gong Yao smiled and replied knowingly, "I understand, don't worry."
When Gong Yao landed in Dongshi, it was snowing there.
The Spring Festival drains the city of its usual vitality. The departure of millions of migrant workers has made the city less congested and more quiet and desolate in the late night.
"That's why I said I don't like this place, it's too cold."
Gong Yao pulled his black beanie down a little: "I came out but I didn't see you. I was wearing a black down jacket. Where are you?"
"I'm looking at your left."
Gong Yao looked to the left and sure enough, he saw Li Zhensheng leaning against a pillar, holding two cups of coffee in his hands.
"Brother!" Gong Yao waved, "It's too cold." He complained as he strode away.
Li Zhensheng said helplessly, "I reminded you."
"Who knew it would be this cold?" Gong Yao grumbled as he took the hot coffee.
"Let's go back to Grandpa's first. The old man is still awake and wants to see you."
Gong Yao clicked his tongue: "He's still not asleep at this hour? Is the old man going to stay up all night?"
As Gong Yao spoke, he skillfully pushed the suitcase to Li Zhensheng, holding a coffee in one hand and putting the other hand into the thick pocket of his down jacket, breathing air out of his mouth.
"Brother, let's go quickly, Grandpa is getting impatient."
Li Zhensheng took the luggage with affection: "Why are you always so afraid of the cold, kid? I'll have your aunt get you some traditional Chinese medicine later."
Gong Yao shouted, "Spare me! I feel nauseous just smelling that odor on my aunt. Please don't make our already fragile family relationship even worse!"
The two joked and teased their way to the parking lot. Li Zhensheng drove a black minivan, which looked very low-key in Yundong City, where luxury cars were commonplace.
Upon opening the car door, Gong Yao discovered that the interior had been carefully designed with meticulous attention to detail. Li Zhensheng's driving was incredibly steady, and shortly after the car started, Gong Yao comfortably drifted off to sleep.
When Gong Yao woke up, the view outside the window had changed to a winding mountain road.
It was clear that they had entered the private domain; only the commercial vehicle was moving silently across the vast mountain.
"Ha." Gong Yao yawned comfortably. "Where are we?"
"I just entered the gate and passed by that fountain." Li Zhensheng said with a smile.
"Brother!" Gong Yao raised his voice, "Twenty years have passed, can we replace the fountain statue? Smash this one, smash it hard!"
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