TMLFDN 101
Wow, it's a bank card.
During the Lunar New Year, families didn't differ much from each other. They gathered for a reunion dinner, with just four people at the table. Xie Li's family of three, plus Xie Jun, the elderly patriarch, didn't bother with hired help; they just ate when the food was served.
Jiang Yuying brought dumplings for Xie Siyun, without bothering anyone, and they all just enjoyed a simple meal.
After dinner, the family sat in the multimedia room on the first floor, snacking on fruits and snacks, chatting casually, and watching the somewhat boring Spring Festival Gala. Xie Jun, being old, couldn't stay awake late, so he went upstairs to sleep first. Xie Li and Jiang Yuying watched for a while but decided not to continue and went upstairs to sleep and celebrate the New Year.
Only Xie Siyun, chatting on her phone, noticed when midnight struck.
At 11:50 p.m., Xie Li's alarm woke him up, and Jiang Yuying, beside him, also got up, helping him put on his coat. "Go downstairs to light the firecrackers, then come back up. It's cold outside."
Xie Li nodded and, wearing his coat and slippers, went downstairs.
It was their tradition to light firecrackers at midnight to welcome the New Year. When Xie Li went downstairs, the butler was already waiting for him, handing him a fire stick. Xie Li looked at the row of firecrackers set up at the front gate, lit the fuse with the stick, then quickly returned to the porch.
Crackling sounds filled the air, and the flickering flames were barely visible under the lamplight. Despite the freezing weather, the festive atmosphere of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new one made Xie Li want to smile. But the thought of Xie Jun upstairs watching him made him hold back.
Xie Li forced himself to maintain a neutral expression, his face reflecting the occasional glow of the fire.
The butler, seemingly oblivious to his expression, smiled and said, "Happy New Year, sir! We wish you prosperity in the coming year!"
Xie Li replied calmly, "Thank you, and you too. Get some rest."
After the firecrackers were done, Xie Li turned and went back upstairs. The room was warm with the heater on, but he still felt the chill. Even with the heater, he found the warmth of the blankets more comforting.
He returned to the master bedroom, took off his coat, and slipped under the covers. Feeling a draft, he burrowed deeper into the blankets. Jiang Yuying, unable to sleep because of the noise outside, waited for him and snuggled up to him when he returned.
Jiang Yuying murmured softly, complaining about feeling cold, but still rubbed against him like a cat. She reached out, placing her hand on Xie Li's waist, and rested her cheek on his chest.
Xie Li pulled the blanket over them both.
Jiang Yuying still seemed a bit dazed, sleepy from the noise outside. She leaned against Xie Li, her voice soft, "Happy New Year. I must be the first to say it to you..."
—Actually, she wasn't. The butler had just said it to him.
But compared to the butler's wishes, Jiang Yuying's were more meaningful.
So Xie Li affirmed, "Yes, you're the first to say it to me. And I'll say it to you too: Happy New Year!"
Jiang Yuying closed her eyes, smiling contentedly.
Xie Li's formerly stern expression softened unconsciously.
**And they start the new year making a sibling for their two foolish children
—sike!! -TL XD**
After the New Year, it was soon time for Xie Siyun to go back to school. She had performed well in the last semester, with her grades improving rapidly, so Xie Li had asked Assistant Gao to find a way to transfer her to a different class.
There was no choice. Every time he thought back to the time he returned from Greece and saw Xie Siyun's grades, which were enough to place her third in the class, he got a headache. From that day on, Xie Li had decided to transfer Xie Siyun to another class. Otherwise, no matter how good she was, she wouldn't be able to shine in that environment.
Through the efforts of Gaotezhu and the private tutor, Xie Siyun, after her grades improved, she was transferred to the top class.
Even though she was at the bottom of the top class, it was still better than before, and Xie Li was satisfied.
After entering the second half of the third year, the workload became heavier. Just one month later, the school conducted the first round of midterm exams. After the exams, the school would hold a parent-teacher conference.
Normally, Jiang Yuying attended the parent-teacher conferences, but this time, Xie Li insisted on going as well, so Xie Siyun was one of the few students whose parents were present.
To be honest, it was Xie Li's first time attending a parent-teacher conference for someone else.
In the past, it was his mother who attended the conferences for him. Now that he was attending as someone else's parent, and as the parent of a struggling student, Xie Li was a bit nervous.
"Yuying, does my tie look crooked?"
Before leaving, Xie Li asked Jiang Yuying for reassurance.
She glanced at him, then at his tie, and replied, "It looks fine."
"Take another look. I feel like it's a bit crooked."
Jiang Yuying took a deep breath, feeling helpless with her husband, and went over to him to straighten his tie, "There, it's fine now. Let's go."
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