◇ 【054】 New Year's greetings
On New Year's Eve, one minute before midnight, Gu Juan's phone showed an incoming call from Shi Lang.
"Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year!"
The sound of fireworks outside the window and the voices of the two people rang out at the same time. The two seemed to have crossed the space, standing face to face, smiling at each other.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Gu Juan, as usual, called his relatives one by one to wish them a happy new year. As usual, those people offered him a few polite but unfamiliar words of good luck, and then nothing more to say. He paid no attention.
One thing that was different from usual was that he did not go to Gu Xiangfu's house to wish him a happy new year, but just made a phone call.
Gu Xiangfu probably didn't want to deal with him, so he hung up the phone after saying a few words.
Gu Juan had already prepared the gifts for his visit to the Xi family, and he didn't need to worry about the train tickets; Xi Lang had already prepared them for him. Worried about bad weather, Xi Lang had prepared a plane ticket and a high-speed train ticket, both for the afternoon of the second day of the Lunar New Year.
Xi Lang's worries were not unfounded. Gu Juan checked the weather forecast and saw heavy snow in the capital that morning, which would continue all day. He boarded the train, which departed a little after one and arrived a little after seven.
After leaving the station, he saw Xi Lang standing out in the crowd, wearing a brown woolen coat and holding an umbrella. He walked over quickly and asked, "Didn't I tell you not to pick me up?"
Xi Lang brushed off the snowflakes on him, took the suitcase from his hand, and stuffed the umbrella into his hand. "It's hard to get a taxi today, and I'm worried. Let's go home."
Gu Juan said, "I've already booked a hotel, just take me there."
Xi Lang looked displeased. "How could I let you stay in a hotel alone during the New Year? My parents knew you were coming over today, and they asked me to take you home."
Gu Juan insisted, "How can we celebrate New Year's Eve at night? No way. If you don't take me to the hotel, I'll take a taxi myself."
Xi Lang stared at him for a long time, but he remained unmoved.
Xi Lang sighed helplessly, "Why are you so stubborn? Get in the car."
When they arrived at the hotel, Xi Lang had dinner with Gu Juan downstairs and then went upstairs with him.
Gu Juan had assumed he'd just be sitting for a while, but he'd watched the financial news, then the focus news, then the international news, and by eleven o'clock he still hadn't mentioned going home. When he emerged from the shower, Xi Lang's leisurely sitting posture hadn't changed at all.
"Old man, if you want to watch TV, go home."
Xi Lang stared at the TV without turning his head. "It's still snowing and the roads are hard to walk on. Please take me in for one night. I've already called and told you."
Gu Juan was startled, walked over and lay on his shoulders, tightly holding his neck as if to strangle him to death.
Xi Lang didn't move.
Gu Juan had no choice but to let him go and go find him pajamas.
Xi Lang touched his ear and his eyes fell on his waist, slowly sliding down. Because the young man was bent over, the curve of his hips appeared rounder under the loose white nightgown.
Suddenly, everything went dark before his eyes, and a nightgown fell over his head.
Xi Lang took off his clothes and walked towards the bathroom after he relieved the heat in his body a little.
Gu Juan threw back the covers and lay down, his phone in hand, casually flipping through the channels. It was either a crosstalk, a skit, or a gala, all festive and lively. After Xi Lang came out, he turned off the TV and yawned.
Xi Lang lay down beside him, gazing into his features, "Xiaojuan."
Gu Juan raised his eyebrows to ask.
"It's nothing, go to sleep." Seeing that he closed his eyes and supported his arm on the other side of his body, Xi Lang couldn't help but lean down and press a light kiss on his forehead. His body temperature, which had already cooled down, rose again uncontrollably.
Gu Juan opened his eyes and looked at him.
"Goodnight kiss." Xi Lang's voice was hoarse, his breathing was a little heavy, and his body was tense.
Gu Juan smiled slightly, closed her eyes, and rubbed against him.
Xi Lang turned off the lights and hugged the man tightly. The light from outside the window was filtered by the curtains and fell on his face. His eyes were still open, staring at the young man's face intently.
The next day, the two had breakfast at the hotel. Gu Juan checked out and went to Xi's house with Xi Lang.
Xi Lang handed Gu Juan's suitcase to the servant and helped Gu Juan carry the gifts.
Seeing Gu Juan and Xi Lang walking side by side, everyone in the living room felt their eyes brighten.
Gu Juan noticed that there was a gray-haired old man whom he had never seen before. He was vigorous and strong. He guessed that it was Xi Houde, the old man of the Xi family. Looking into the old man's shrewd and sharp eyes, he thought that although this old man was just an ordinary person, his aura was not simple.
Xi Cong looked at Gu Juan and Xi Lang carrying so many bags and small things, and laughed out loud. He whispered to Luo Qingyou, "Wife, why do I feel like they look a bit like a new bride returning to her parents' home?"
Gu Juan and Xi Lang both glared at him unkindly.
Luo Qingyou slapped Xi Cong on the leg as a warning.
"No way? Are these two people so sharp-eared?" Xi Cong thought to himself, coughed lightly, sat upright, and muttered in his heart, "They didn't hear it, they didn't hear it..."
"Xiaojuan, you are finally here." Lin Ronghua was happy and smiled when she saw Gu Juan wearing the clothes she bought for her.
Gu Juan smiled and said, "Auntie, Happy New Year. Mr. Xi, Uncle, Auntie, I'm here to wish you all a happy new year. I wish you good health and a happy smile."
The old man and Xi Yongming nodded.
Lin Ronghua took Gu Juan's hand affectionately and said, "Come, sit over here."
Gu Juan placed the gift box on the coffee table. "I brought you some gifts. I hope you don't mind. This is a parrot for Grandpa, and this is some wine for Uncle..." The gifts he gave were the best he could offer as an ordinary person. Aside from the parrot and the wine, he didn't give anything produced in the space. Too many goodies would inevitably arouse suspicion.
He even prepared New Year's gifts for Duoduo and Doudou, and the Xi family secretly praised him for his thoughtfulness.
"Okay, sit down quickly. Here, this is the New Year's money your uncle and I gave you, take it." Lin Ronghua stuffed a red envelope into Gu Juan's hand.
Gu Juan refused: "No, I'm already this old, how can I-"
Lin Ronghua interrupted him and said with a smile, "Take it. It's so big, so what? Ah Cong and Ah Lang have been accepting my red envelopes until now."
Gu Juan looked at Xi Lang curiously.
Xi Lang nodded with a smile.
Gu Juan accepted it and said, "Thank you, uncle and aunt."
Old Man Xi was looking at the parrot in the cage. The parrot had a yellow belly and its wings were layered with three colors: bright red, emerald green and sea blue. It was so beautiful that it looked like it had flown out of a painting.
The parrot was also staring at him.
A clear and unfamiliar voice suddenly rang out, "Happy New Year! Good health and good fortune!"
Duoduo ran over in surprise, "Grandpa, it's this bird talking!"
"Yes." Old Master Xi was very fond of the parrot. He smiled broadly, patted Duoduo's head, and said to Gu Juan, "It's a very smart parrot. How old is it?"
Gu Juan said, "It was born not long ago, and now it can only speak these two sentences." He had searched for this parrot in the space for a long time before finding it. It had a hint of intelligence. Such a bird is not too conspicuous, but also smart enough. Mr. Xi is a bird lover, so giving it to him is a perfect gift.
Mr. Xi took out a red envelope from his pocket and handed it to him, saying with a smile: "Here, just call me Grandpa Xi from now on."
Gu Juan accepted it with both hands, "Thank you, Grandpa Xi."
A few people were sitting and chatting when a group of people came in from outside. There were men and women, old and young, all dressed in extraordinary clothes.
"Brother and sister-in-law are here." Xi Yongming and Lin Ronghua stood up to greet them.
Xi Lang introduced him to Gu Juan.
The group that entered was Xi Yongming's eldest brother, Xi Yongchang, and his family. Xi Yongchang was married to Zhao Qing, and they had two sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Xi Long, was married to Chen Yingxiu, and they had two children: an eight-year-old son, Xi Minhao, and a four-year-old daughter, Xi Minhui. Xi Yongchang's only daughter, Xi Shanshan, married Li Xukai of the Li family, Li Ruicheng's cousin. They were childhood sweethearts and had a six-year-old daughter, Li Ya'an. Xi Yongchang's youngest son, Xi Zhuo, was married to Yang Weiwei, and they had a two-year-old son, Xi Minkai.
In other words, Xi Lang's generation in the Xi family consists of five children: Xi Long, Xi Cong, Xi Shanshan, Xi Lang, and Xi Zhuo. The younger generation includes Xi Minhao, Xi Minyue, Xi Minhui, Xi Minkai, and Xi Minxuan, also five. Not counting the other branches, it truly is a large family. Xi Lang is the only one of Xi Lang's generation left, still single. It's no wonder Lin Ronghua is so anxious.
Xi Yongchang was three years older than Xi Yongming. He had an elegant appearance, wore glasses, and always wore a gentle smile. Even so, he couldn't conceal the seemingly innate majesty he carried. He was indeed an official.
After exchanging pleasantries, Xi Lang introduced Gu Juan to Xi Yongchang's family.
Xi Yongchang was very kind to Gu Juan. "Since you're in the imperial capital, let Alang, Azhuo and the others take you out for some fun. You young people should have plenty to talk about."
Xi Lang nodded, "I will. Uncle, aunt, you guys chat, I'll go upstairs with Xiaojuan to clean up first."
"good."
Arriving at the guest room on the second floor, Gu Juan took out all the clothes from the suitcase and placed them in the closet. He then asked Xi Lang, "How's the investigation going on?"
"Zheng Lei, the man who bumped into us last time, his sister is still in Xia Zhili's hands. Zheng Lei was a little hesitant to expose Xia Zhili. But later the police found his sister, and she had been defiled by Xia Zhili's people. Zheng Lei stood on our side without hesitation. Because of his testimony, Xia Zhili faced charges of intentional homicide. However, the Xia family has a very mysterious family backing them, and even my uncle's power cannot shake it. In desperation, we can only settle for the second best and let the Xia family compensate Han Lin and me with 500 million each to settle the matter." Xi Lang shook his head, not satisfied with the result.
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