Lin Jicheng was startled and stood frozen in place as countless cannons sprayed out colorful ribbons that fluttered down onto her shoulders!
This is... a whole bunch of fireworks surrounding itself!
In an instant, the once quiet courtyard was brightly lit!
Dozens of familiar faces emerged from the covered walkways, the screen wall, and behind the doors, including Lin Yi, who had been silently following Lin Jicheng. They all greeted each other with bright smiles and shouted in unison—
"Surprise! Happy New Year, Miss!"
Lin Jicheng was stunned—
Before him were his long-time housekeeper and assistants Lin Yi, Lin E, and Lin Sangsang, a large group of bodyguards led by Lin Si, the chefs, cleaners, and gardeners who lived in the courtyard, Lin Lang and others who had been arranged to stay on the private jet and private yacht, Lin Si and Alfred whom he had recently met in North America and Europe, and the most surprising group of dormitory members, Qiao Lingyuan, An Xinmeng, and Xu Qingning. All of them were gathered together, wishing him a Happy New Year!
"..."
Lin Jicheng took a deep breath—
What is a surprise?
No wonder the group of people around me were acting so mysteriously before; they were planning this to give me a pleasant surprise!
Just then, Lin Yi, who had been keeping a low profile, stepped forward, her usual gentle smile now carrying an extra touch of kindness:
"Miss, you've really been working hard lately, always flying all over the world. Ning Gu Shen has shouldered so many company responsibilities and taken charge of so many tasks all by herself. You've really given so much. You really should get some rest!"
“Lately, without you in this courtyard, it feels too quiet. I keep thinking that there should always be a place in this world where there’s some of the lively noise of ‘home’…”
"..."
A long-lost warmth surged through Lin Jicheng's heart, and she felt her eyes welling up with tears.
No matter where she is or whether she has blood relatives, there will always be people in this world who care about her and love her. They are not only her subordinates, but also her vulnerability and armor as she walks alone in the world. This deep emotional connection reminds her, no matter when or where, that she will never be alone...
"And... what are you all doing here? I thought you'd all gone back to your own homes..."
Lin Jicheng was most surprised to see the three people from the dormitory in the courtyard!
"Hahaha……"
Qiao Lingyuan smiled:
"What, you're not welcoming me? I cut short my family dinner and came all the way to this courtyard to wish you a Happy New Year..."
"How could I not welcome you? I'm just a little curious..."
Lin Jicheng originally wanted to ask who had invited them, but An Xinmeng couldn't hold back and answered first:
"Hehehe, actually it was Lin Yi who called us from abroad specifically to tell us about this, asking if we wanted to come to the courtyard house..."
"Anyway, my home isn't too far from here. Lin Yi told me that tonight's dinner is all cooked by Michelin-starred chefs, so I just came over! Ji Cheng, let me tell you, I won't hold back at all when it comes to all this delicious food...!"
"What else is there to say? Eat as much as you want!"
Lin Jicheng laughed heartily:
"Do you think you're afraid my family will go broke from eating me?"
Lin Jicheng turned to look at Lin Yi, who, despite always being by his side, had secretly prepared a surprise for him. Lin Yi, keeping her efforts hidden, retreated inside, while Xu Qingning also came over.
"Well, I'm not planning to go home this winter break anyway. Going home would complicate things and cause more trouble..."
"My original plan for this winter break was to continue working in the school's lab! So I decided to stay in Beijing instead..."
"I've been doing a lot of work at Chengxin Technology lately, so I'm definitely going to have a big meal today!"
"Hahaha, great!"
Lin Jicheng smiled, but looking at the concerned faces around her, something seemed to choke her. She took a deep breath and looked up, only then realizing that the historic courtyard house where she usually lived had been carefully decorated and given a new look for the New Year.
Large red lanterns hung from the eaves, radiating a warm glow; windowsills and trees were adorned with small red balls and the character "福" (fortune/blessing); the air was filled with the warm aroma of food, and a huge rosewood table was laden with fragrant dishes—steaming, plump white dumplings, aromatic stir-fries, and even some exquisite French desserts, all gathered together in a lively and cheerful atmosphere…
Looking at everything that had clearly been meticulously arranged, Lin Jicheng smiled—
"All right!"
"Then let's celebrate the New Year in style tonight! We won't leave until we're drunk!"
"Yay...!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Laughter and cheerful voices echoed in the courtyard, warmth dispelling the winter chill and filling every corner of the courtyard. Lin Jicheng sat in the middle surrounded by everyone, chatting about interesting things at work, talking about everything under the sun, and the atmosphere was incredibly lively!
Outside the window, snowflakes fluttered and lights shone in every home, while inside, the atmosphere was warm, cozy, and lively...
Lin Jicheng finally felt every muscle in his body relax, enjoying food from all over the world, and everything seemed so wonderful!
Amidst the joyful and lively crowd, Qiao Lingyuan appeared somewhat aloof. She drank glass after glass, seemingly preoccupied with something on her mind.
"Your daughter, what happened?"
Lin Jicheng keenly noticed this and quickly and quietly moved closer:
"Is something wrong? You're still out so late, aren't your family worried about you?!"
"No, that won't happen..."
Qiao Lingyuan paused for a moment, then smiled:
"Actually, it's nothing. Sometimes, reuniting with family during holidays is a blessing, and sometimes it's a burden..."
Qiao Lingyuan's smile seemed a bit forced; Lin Jicheng, something feels off.
"What's going on? Did you have a fight with your family?"
Lin Jicheng hesitated for a moment, and seeing that the other party did not refute, he tentatively asked:
"Could it be... still related to what happened with Huang Tianci before...?!"
"This happened a long time ago, and Huang Tianci's fate is sealed. Haven't your parents thought it through yet?"
"That's not it..."
Qiao Lingyuan took a deep breath:
"The Huang family has fallen, that's a clear fact. However, your parents' mindset hasn't changed..."
"The fundamental conflict doesn't lie with the Huang family, but with my parents' beliefs—their desire for me to marry into a powerful family and for my brother to inherit the family business, which clashes with our own wishes!"
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