Xie Ning spent New Year’s at the large compound.
A smile bloomed on Uncle Zhong’s face when he saw Xie Ning. “Elder Xie has been anticipating your arrival.”
As he spoke, he took his luggage, and continued, “He liked the snowflake pastry you had Wu Shu bring back last time so much that he ate a piece every day, but was afraid that it would be gone if he ate too much at once.”
Xie Ning smiled. “Since Grandpa likes to eat it, I’ll buy more of it in the future.”
“Elder Xie likes to eat anything that you give him.” Uncle Zhong brought his luggage to his room and said, “This room is cleaned every day. No matter which day you come, it’s ready for you anytime.”
Xie Ning said, “This time, I’ll stay until after New Year’s...where’s Grandpa? Did he go out?”
Uncle Zhong let out a sigh. “He just fell asleep. It’s been cold these couple of days, and his body’s condition isn’t the best. Yesterday, he woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t fall back asleep, so after eating lunch today, he got sleepy.
Xie Ning said, “Then I won’t bother him, and will let him sleep some more.”
Uncle Zhong nodded his head continuously, smiling so hard that the wrinkles on his face all bunched up together. “When Elder Xie wakes up and sees you, he’ll definitely be happy!”
Xie Ning glanced around the room. The furniture and decorations were the same as when he moved out.
The random pots of flowers he had looked after in the past were still out on the balcony, stretching their leaves and branches out to the winter sun. He could tell that they were well taken care of in his absence.
Uncle Zhong watched Xie Ning put his clothes away in the closet, take out a rabbit plushie, and put it beside the bed. He smiled and said, “I didn’t know Young Master liked this sort of thing.”
Xie Ning paused because he didn’t know why he’d brought it over either.
While he was packing, he felt like he could only sleep well at night if he brought the rabbit plushie with him.
“It’s quite cute, just a little small,” Uncle Zhong said. “Since it’s a plushie, it should be a bit bigger so that it’s comfortable to hug.”
Xie Ning thought about it, and said, “I like this, though.”
The Xie family’s descendants were flimsy. Elder Xie only has his two sons, Xie Zun and Xie Jing, and didn’t remarry after Xie Ning’s grandmother passed away.
After the two sons got married, they moved out into their own residences, but still returned to the large compound to celebrate New Year’s with Elder Xie.
On New Year’s Eve, Xie Ning’s parents and his uncle’s family rushed back to the large compound, one after another.
The New Year’s Eve dinner is prepared by the kitchen staff. Xia Wan and Xie Zun’s wife, Su JinYan were sitting together on the big sofa in the living room, chatting and wrapping dumplings at the same time.
Wrapping dumplings is a unique activity to the Xie family. The kitchen staff prepares the skins and filling in the morning, so they only need to wrap it themselves.
Even Elder Xie would come over to wrap a couple, and would personally put a copper coin in one of the ones he wrapped.
During New Year’s Eve dinner, whoever eats the dumpling with a copper coin will be blessed with good fortune.
“Where did NingNing go? I haven’t seen him all day.” Su JinYan raised her chin at Xia Wan and smiled.
Xia Wan was slow to wrap the dumplings, and frowned, saying, “In his room, probably. This kid’s personality is a little stuffy and likes to be alone.”
Su JinYan said, “It’s good to be quiet. Our AnAn just likes to make trouble; he often stays out until midnight before coming home. We ask him to come home earlier, but he says that he has to go because it’s for work and is only polite, so we can’t convince him otherwise.”
Xia Wan knew in her heart that Su JinYan was secretly boasting about her son. She twitched the corners of her mouth a little, smiled insincerely, and didn’t continue the conversation.
Su JinYan continued to say, “Is your relationship with NingNing still cold? I’ll say, between a mother and a son, what kind of deep grudge can there be? If he’s stubborn, then you can be a little softer, and there shouldn’t be anything unforgivable.”
The smile on Xia Wan’s face froze.
She frowned and said, “Sister-in-law means to say that I haven’t been soft on him all these years? He likes men; must I sit back and watch him walk on this forked path?”
Su JinYan tried to persuade her, saying, “Same-sex marriage has been legal for so many years now, so how is it a forked road?”
Xia Wan coldly said, “Look at the people around us. There aren’t any that get married to the same sex! I’m trying to stop him for his own good!”
“Children and grandchildren have their own good fortune.” Su JinYan, seeing Xia Wan like this, spoke in a different tone. “What are you worrying about wildly?”
Xia Wan raised her eyebrows and looked at her. “He’s not your son, so you’re naturally not worried about it. If Xie An liked men as well, would you not stop him and accept it so easily?”
Su JinYan, hearing these words, choked for a moment and took a breath before saying, “He’s already an adult. As long as he’s not murdering people and committing crimes, he can decide the other things by himself. Of course I’d honor his decision and will.”
Xie An has had several girlfriends and his sexuality is straight. Su JinYan has never worried about this.
Xia Wan laughed coldly in her heart.
It’s all very well to talk, but getting things done is another matter.
Who didn’t know that Su JinYan urged Xie An daily to get married and have children so that he could inherit the Xie family’s large fortune and estate?
She says that she would respect his will now, but if Xie An really decided to be with a man, she’d be the first one to turn her face.
Xia Wan didn’t want to cause trouble by arguing with her, especially on New Year’s Eve, but she didn’t have the energy to gossip. She stood up with a sullen expression and said, “Sister-in-law, you can stay and keep wrapping dumplings. I’m going to the kitchen to see if the chicken soup has started boiling yet.”
Su JinYan, seeing her like this, turned around immediately and started complaining to Xie Zun.
Xie Zun didn’t know if he should laugh or cry. “Why did you speak so frankly and poke her heart like that? That’s their family’s business; you’re the one worrying wildly about it.”
Su JinYan snorted. “Elder Xie too obviously favors Xie Ning. Without discussing it, he directly gave Xie Ning 10% of the company’s shares so easily. Our AnAn worked so hard for the company for so many years, but it’s like he was working for Xie Ning’s profit.”
Xie Zun knew more than Su JinYan did about this, and shook his head, saying, “This was Dad trying to make it up to Xie Ning. You also know that he was worried at the time that Xie Jing and I would fight, so he sent Xie Jing to the south to start his own business. Xia Wan took Xie Ning with them over there as well. He only gets to see his little grandson a couple of times a year and really misses him, and Xie Ning, in the south…”
He paused and didn’t finish his thought, then turned to say, “Xie Ning doesn’t know anything about business. Dad had no intention of training him, and no matter how much he favors him, it’s just love for his grandson. Xie An is the heir in his heart.”
Su JinYan responded with a sound. “Our family’s AnAn is naturally outstanding.”
Xie Zun continued to say, “Later, when Dad is here, watch your words a little. Don’t provoke Xia Wan. Her mental disorder isn’t something we can solve, so let’s not get involved and celebrate New Year’s happily.”
Su JinYan listened to the lesson he was giving and understood, nodding reluctantly, “Okay.”
Thanks to Elder Xie’s presence, the New Year’s Eve dinner went quite smoothly.
Xie Zun took the lead. Everyone stood up to say a few blessings and good wishes, and wished Elder Xie a happy new year.
When Xie Ning finished speaking, Auntie Rong brought the dumplings over and served everyone a couple, saying, “These are the ones that everyone personally wrapped; they’re full of luck and good fortune.”
Xie Jing poked at a dumpling that was near-bursting in his own bowl, and said, “Xia Wan definitely wrapped this one.”
Xia Wan turned to glance at it, reached her hand out to pinch his wrist, and twisted it, saying, “If you don’t like it, give it to me.”
Xie Jing hurriedly said, “I don’t dislike it, I’ll eat it, I’ll eat it.”
Elder Xie smiled as he saw them fussing around, and felt a bit of family joy.
Xie Ning took a bite of the dumpling in his bowl, and something hard knocked onto his teeth.
It felt like a rock. When he lowered his head to look, he found a copper coin instead.
Elder Xie smiled heartily and said, “You’re the one to eat the copper coin I wrapped this year.”
Everyone echoed him, saying, “A good omen!”
Elder Xie said, “NingNing, this is a sign. There will definitely be good things happening to you in the coming year.”
Xie Ning smiled with everyone else.
For some reason, he suddenly thought of meeting Zhuang Yan, and whether or not that would be considered a good thing for him.
……
It snowed again at night on New Year’s Eve.
There was a thin layer of snow that collected on the windowsill. Xie Ning sat next to the window and watched the heavy snow fly around for a while.
The temperature difference between inside and outside was too large, and there was a layer of fog on the glass window that made things unclear, almost as if everything outside was blurred.
His phone made a sound. Xie Ning took a look and saw that it was Zhuang Yan who’d sent him a photo.
He did the same thing again, piling up snow to make a snow rabbit, but this rabbit was a bit small, around the size of a cup.
Zhuang Yan: There wasn’t enough snow that fell, so I could only make a small one for you. Do you like it?
Since Zhuang Yan is a director, photography is a basic skill for him. Even though he didn’t add any filters and only used a phone camera to take the photo, both the composition and the photo itself made one’s eyes light up.
In the photo, the snow rabbit was in the center of his palm, and the background was a word, “Fortune”, stuck upside-down on the wall.
Xie Ning: The snow rabbit is okay, but the photo is quite nice.
Zhuang Yan’s replies were quick: I want to hold Mr. Rabbit in my palm.
Xie Ning’s face blushed without him knowing when he read this.
He softly sighed, and replied to Zhuang Yan with an ellipsis.
Xie Ning: …
Zhuang Yan: You haven’t answered me yet. Do you like it?
Xie Ning: ...I like it.
While looking at the photo, he suddenly put down his phone and used his finger to draw on the foggy glass.
Xie Ning’s basic skills are solid, and in just a few strokes, a blue whale appeared under his fingers.
He quickly snapped a photo of it, afraid that the fog would cover it up, and sent it to Zhuang Yan.
Zhuang Yan didn’t expect such a gift in return, and laughed, his entire heart softening.
Zhuang Yan: Does this mean you want Mr. Blue Whale to jump in from your window?
Xie Ning: …
Zhuang Yan: That might be difficult.
Xie Ning: You’re thinking too much.
Zhuang Yan: Even though you didn’t ask, I still want to say it. I also really like your gift.
“NingNing!” Xie Ning hadn’t responded yet when someone behind him called his name.
He turned his head subconsciously, and he didn’t have time to restrain the smile on his face. “Grandpa, how come you came over?”
Elder Xie looked at him and smiled, saying, “You’re sitting in a daze again. What are you thinking about to make you so happy?”
Xie Ning shook his head. “I was chatting with a friend just now.”
Elder Xie made an “Oh” sound and didn’t continue to ask, instead handing a document over.
Xie Ning reached his hand out to take it, and seeing the words on the cover, was surprised, saying, “This is…”
It was a real estate purchase agreement.
Elder Xie asked, “I heard you moved to Lakeside Villa recently?”
Xie Ning said, “Yes, I did.”
Elder Xie continued to say, “Although it’s quite good, it’s too big. Since you don’t like too many people in a house, you live there alone, but there’s too much space and seems too lonely.”
Xie Ning just shook his head. “I’m living there quite well.”
Elder Xie said mildly, “This house is a single-family home. It’s not as small as a bachelor pad, but not as large as Lakeside Villa. It’s very suitable for a married couple or dating couples to live in, and is Grandpa’s New Year’s gift to you.”
Xie Ning hurriedly said, “Xu Qing and I broke up already.”
“If the old don’t go, then the new won’t come.” Elder Xie smiled, saying, “I didn’t really like the kid from the Xu family. He was too frivolous. Grandpa doesn’t mind that you like men, but I didn’t approve of you and him being together. You two aren’t from the same world.”
Xie Ning’s expression slightly changed.
These years, he used Xu Qing as his boyfriend to reject the blind dates that Xia Wan arranged for him. Elder Xie had never expressed his opinion before, so this was the first time Xie Ning was hearing that Elder Xie didn’t look favorably upon Xu Qing.
Elder Xie continued, “This old man has no problem with you liking men or women. I only hope that our NingNing can find someone who sincerely likes you, and is worthy of your feelings, to spend the rest of your life happily with.”
Xie Ning, hearing these words, felt his nose become sour {T/N: it means he’s on the verge of tears!}, and gave a soft “Mmn”.
“This house is what I prepared for you and your future lover.” Elder Xie smiled and said, “It’s large enough for two people, and it won’t be too large for one person. The location is very good, transportation is convenient, and there’s a shopping mall nearby. I searched the whole city and couldn’t find a better spot, so just accept it.”
Xie Ning looked at Elder Xie, and felt nothing but warmth in his heart. “Thank you, Grandpa…”
“We’re a family; what’s there to thank?” Elder Xie smiled and shook his head. “Not even two years after you were born, I sent your father to the south and your mother was worried so she went with him as well. Although I wanted to keep you by my side and raise you, it wasn’t good to separate your family of three…”
Elder Xie sighed as he spoke, and the look in his eyes became a little more solid. “If, at that time, I had kept you by my side, it would have been nice. After so many years, us two grandfather and grandson are basically only able to see each other during New Year’s.”
Xie Ning lowered his head and said, “It’s all in the past now. Plus, haven’t I returned to your side now?”
Elder Xie nodded. “Since things are in the past now, I won’t mention it anymore.”
Xie Ning looked at the real estate purchase agreement in his hand and was still a bit hesitant. “This present is too much. On Xie An’s side…”
“It’s not too much.” Elder Xie knew what he was worrying about and said, “AnAn’s New Year’s present is a car, a global limited edition, that he seems to like very much. Originally, I wanted to buy you a car as well, but I remembered that you still haven’t taken the license test yet, so I changed it to this house. I’m not favoring one over the other.”
Xie Ning was relieved after hearing this, and accepted this New Year’s present.
During the time he was talking with Elder Xie, his phone had continued to vibrate several times.
Xie Ning opened it and took a look, finding that Zhuang Yan had sent a couple more photos over. It seemed like he was outside, and took many pictures of the snow at night.
For some reason, Xie Ning felt like some of the scenes looked very familiar.
Zhuang Yan: Are you celebrating New Year’s at the large compound?
Xie Ning: Mmn.
Zhuang Yan: My grandpa also lives at the large compound. He and Elder Xie are fishing buddies.
Xie Ning paused: Fishing buddies?
Zhuang Yan: Mmn, friends that fish together. Just a couple of days ago, they met up to go fishing too.
So it’s like that.
Xie Ning hadn’t responded yet when Zhuang Yan quickly sent over another message: I’m celebrating New Year’s today with my grandpa.
Xie Ning widened his eyes a little. So he means…
Zhuang Yan: I’m also at the large compound.
Zhuang Yan: It seems like I’m not far from you.
Zhuang Yan: Do you want to come out and meet me?
Xie Ning: It’s so late…
Zhuang Yan: It’s the perfect time for us to be together when we go into the next year.
Xie Ning, holding his phone, actually felt his heart move a little.
Zhuang Yan: Even if you don’t want to see me, it’s too late.
Zhuang Yan: Mr. Blue Whale can’t jump in from your window, but he’s already walked to the entrance of your place.
Xie Ning, surprised: !!!
He subconsciously looked out the window towards the entrance, but his line of sight was blocked by the trees in the garden.
Zhuang Yan: I’ll wait for you.
When Xie Ning recovered his senses and walked to the entrance in a daze, he found himself gripping his phone tightly, his heart beating as if it was going to jump out of his chest.
Outside the entrance, Zhuang Yan was covered in snowflakes, his hands in his pockets. In the intertwining wind and snow, he curled his lips upwards and looked at him.
He was smiling slightly, and his eyes were flashing like there were stars in them.
“Happy New Year, NingNing.”
-----------------------------------
Author’s Note: I feel like I’m writing a fairy tale about a blue whale and a rabbit.
ZhuangZhuang: There’s already a house; when can we live together?
NingNing: Don’t ask NingNing, NingNing doesn’t know anything.
Xie Ning spent New Year’s at the large compound.
A smile bloomed on Uncle Zhong’s face when he saw Xie Ning. “Elder Xie has been anticipating your arrival.”
As he spoke, he took his luggage, and continued, “He liked the snowflake pastry you had Wu Shu bring back last time so much that he ate a piece every day, but was afraid that it would be gone if he ate too much at once.”
Xie Ning smiled. “Since Grandpa likes to eat it, I’ll buy more of it in the future.”
“Elder Xie likes to eat anything that you give him.” Uncle Zhong brought his luggage to his room and said, “This room is cleaned every day. No matter which day you come, it’s ready for you anytime.”
Xie Ning said, “This time, I’ll stay until after New Year’s...where’s Grandpa? Did he go out?”
Uncle Zhong let out a sigh. “He just fell asleep. It’s been cold these couple of days, and his body’s condition isn’t the best. Yesterday, he woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t fall back asleep, so after eating lunch today, he got sleepy.
Xie Ning said, “Then I won’t bother him, and will let him sleep some more.”
Uncle Zhong nodded his head continuously, smiling so hard that the wrinkles on his face all bunched up together. “When Elder Xie wakes up and sees you, he’ll definitely be happy!”
Xie Ning glanced around the room. The furniture and decorations were the same as when he moved out.
The random pots of flowers he had looked after in the past were still out on the balcony, stretching their leaves and branches out to the winter sun. He could tell that they were well taken care of in his absence.
Uncle Zhong watched Xie Ning put his clothes away in the closet, take out a rabbit plushie, and put it beside the bed. He smiled and said, “I didn’t know Young Master liked this sort of thing.”
Xie Ning paused because he didn’t know why he’d brought it over either.
While he was packing, he felt like he could only sleep well at night if he brought the rabbit plushie with him.
“It’s quite cute, just a little small,” Uncle Zhong said. “Since it’s a plushie, it should be a bit bigger so that it’s comfortable to hug.”
Xie Ning thought about it, and said, “I like this, though.”
The Xie family’s descendants were flimsy. Elder Xie only has his two sons, Xie Zun and Xie Jing, and didn’t remarry after Xie Ning’s grandmother passed away.
After the two sons got married, they moved out into their own residences, but still returned to the large compound to celebrate New Year’s with Elder Xie.
On New Year’s Eve, Xie Ning’s parents and his uncle’s family rushed back to the large compound, one after another.
The New Year’s Eve dinner is prepared by the kitchen staff. Xia Wan and Xie Zun’s wife, Su JinYan were sitting together on the big sofa in the living room, chatting and wrapping dumplings at the same time.
Wrapping dumplings is a unique activity to the Xie family. The kitchen staff prepares the skins and filling in the morning, so they only need to wrap it themselves.
Even Elder Xie would come over to wrap a couple, and would personally put a copper coin in one of the ones he wrapped.
During New Year’s Eve dinner, whoever eats the dumpling with a copper coin will be blessed with good fortune.
“Where did NingNing go? I haven’t seen him all day.” Su JinYan raised her chin at Xia Wan and smiled.
Xia Wan was slow to wrap the dumplings, and frowned, saying, “In his room, probably. This kid’s personality is a little stuffy and likes to be alone.”
Su JinYan said, “It’s good to be quiet. Our AnAn just likes to make trouble; he often stays out until midnight before coming home. We ask him to come home earlier, but he says that he has to go because it’s for work and is only polite, so we can’t convince him otherwise.”
Xia Wan knew in her heart that Su JinYan was secretly boasting about her son. She twitched the corners of her mouth a little, smiled insincerely, and didn’t continue the conversation.
Su JinYan continued to say, “Is your relationship with NingNing still cold? I’ll say, between a mother and a son, what kind of deep grudge can there be? If he’s stubborn, then you can be a little softer, and there shouldn’t be anything unforgivable.”
The smile on Xia Wan’s face froze.
She frowned and said, “Sister-in-law means to say that I haven’t been soft on him all these years? He likes men; must I sit back and watch him walk on this forked path?”
Su JinYan tried to persuade her, saying, “Same-sex marriage has been legal for so many years now, so how is it a forked road?”
Xia Wan coldly said, “Look at the people around us. There aren’t any that get married to the same sex! I’m trying to stop him for his own good!”
“Children and grandchildren have their own good fortune.” Su JinYan, seeing Xia Wan like this, spoke in a different tone. “What are you worrying about wildly?”
Xia Wan raised her eyebrows and looked at her. “He’s not your son, so you’re naturally not worried about it. If Xie An liked men as well, would you not stop him and accept it so easily?”
Su JinYan, hearing these words, choked for a moment and took a breath before saying, “He’s already an adult. As long as he’s not murdering people and committing crimes, he can decide the other things by himself. Of course I’d honor his decision and will.”
Xie An has had several girlfriends and his sexuality is straight. Su JinYan has never worried about this.
Xia Wan laughed coldly in her heart.
It’s all very well to talk, but getting things done is another matter.
Who didn’t know that Su JinYan urged Xie An daily to get married and have children so that he could inherit the Xie family’s large fortune and estate?
She says that she would respect his will now, but if Xie An really decided to be with a man, she’d be the first one to turn her face.
Xia Wan didn’t want to cause trouble by arguing with her, especially on New Year’s Eve, but she didn’t have the energy to gossip. She stood up with a sullen expression and said, “Sister-in-law, you can stay and keep wrapping dumplings. I’m going to the kitchen to see if the chicken soup has started boiling yet.”
Su JinYan, seeing her like this, turned around immediately and started complaining to Xie Zun.
Xie Zun didn’t know if he should laugh or cry. “Why did you speak so frankly and poke her heart like that? That’s their family’s business; you’re the one worrying wildly about it.”
Su JinYan snorted. “Elder Xie too obviously favors Xie Ning. Without discussing it, he directly gave Xie Ning 10% of the company’s shares so easily. Our AnAn worked so hard for the company for so many years, but it’s like he was working for Xie Ning’s profit.”
Xie Zun knew more than Su JinYan did about this, and shook his head, saying, “This was Dad trying to make it up to Xie Ning. You also know that he was worried at the time that Xie Jing and I would fight, so he sent Xie Jing to the south to start his own business. Xia Wan took Xie Ning with them over there as well. He only gets to see his little grandson a couple of times a year and really misses him, and Xie Ning, in the south…”
He paused and didn’t finish his thought, then turned to say, “Xie Ning doesn’t know anything about business. Dad had no intention of training him, and no matter how much he favors him, it’s just love for his grandson. Xie An is the heir in his heart.”
Su JinYan responded with a sound. “Our family’s AnAn is naturally outstanding.”
Xie Zun continued to say, “Later, when Dad is here, watch your words a little. Don’t provoke Xia Wan. Her mental disorder isn’t something we can solve, so let’s not get involved and celebrate New Year’s happily.”
Su JinYan listened to the lesson he was giving and understood, nodding reluctantly, “Okay.”
Thanks to Elder Xie’s presence, the New Year’s Eve dinner went quite smoothly.
Xie Zun took the lead. Everyone stood up to say a few blessings and good wishes, and wished Elder Xie a happy new year.
When Xie Ning finished speaking, Auntie Rong brought the dumplings over and served everyone a couple, saying, “These are the ones that everyone personally wrapped; they’re full of luck and good fortune.”
Xie Jing poked at a dumpling that was near-bursting in his own bowl, and said, “Xia Wan definitely wrapped this one.”
Xia Wan turned to glance at it, reached her hand out to pinch his wrist, and twisted it, saying, “If you don’t like it, give it to me.”
Xie Jing hurriedly said, “I don’t dislike it, I’ll eat it, I’ll eat it.”
Elder Xie smiled as he saw them fussing around, and felt a bit of family joy.
Xie Ning took a bite of the dumpling in his bowl, and something hard knocked onto his teeth.
It felt like a rock. When he lowered his head to look, he found a copper coin instead.
Elder Xie smiled heartily and said, “You’re the one to eat the copper coin I wrapped this year.”
Everyone echoed him, saying, “A good omen!”
Elder Xie said, “NingNing, this is a sign. There will definitely be good things happening to you in the coming year.”
Xie Ning smiled with everyone else.
For some reason, he suddenly thought of meeting Zhuang Yan, and whether or not that would be considered a good thing for him.
……
It snowed again at night on New Year’s Eve.
There was a thin layer of snow that collected on the windowsill. Xie Ning sat next to the window and watched the heavy snow fly around for a while.
The temperature difference between inside and outside was too large, and there was a layer of fog on the glass window that made things unclear, almost as if everything outside was blurred.
His phone made a sound. Xie Ning took a look and saw that it was Zhuang Yan who’d sent him a photo.
He did the same thing again, piling up snow to make a snow rabbit, but this rabbit was a bit small, around the size of a cup.
Zhuang Yan: There wasn’t enough snow that fell, so I could only make a small one for you. Do you like it?
Since Zhuang Yan is a director, photography is a basic skill for him. Even though he didn’t add any filters and only used a phone camera to take the photo, both the composition and the photo itself made one’s eyes light up.
In the photo, the snow rabbit was in the center of his palm, and the background was a word, “Fortune”, stuck upside-down on the wall.
Xie Ning: The snow rabbit is okay, but the photo is quite nice.
Zhuang Yan’s replies were quick: I want to hold Mr. Rabbit in my palm.
Xie Ning’s face blushed without him knowing when he read this.
He softly sighed, and replied to Zhuang Yan with an ellipsis.
Xie Ning: …
Zhuang Yan: You haven’t answered me yet. Do you like it?
Xie Ning: ...I like it.
While looking at the photo, he suddenly put down his phone and used his finger to draw on the foggy glass.
Xie Ning’s basic skills are solid, and in just a few strokes, a blue whale appeared under his fingers.
He quickly snapped a photo of it, afraid that the fog would cover it up, and sent it to Zhuang Yan.
Zhuang Yan didn’t expect such a gift in return, and laughed, his entire heart softening.
Zhuang Yan: Does this mean you want Mr. Blue Whale to jump in from your window?
Xie Ning: …
Zhuang Yan: That might be difficult.
Xie Ning: You’re thinking too much.
Zhuang Yan: Even though you didn’t ask, I still want to say it. I also really like your gift.
“NingNing!” Xie Ning hadn’t responded yet when someone behind him called his name.
He turned his head subconsciously, and he didn’t have time to restrain the smile on his face. “Grandpa, how come you came over?”
Elder Xie looked at him and smiled, saying, “You’re sitting in a daze again. What are you thinking about to make you so happy?”
Xie Ning shook his head. “I was chatting with a friend just now.”
Elder Xie made an “Oh” sound and didn’t continue to ask, instead handing a document over.
Xie Ning reached his hand out to take it, and seeing the words on the cover, was surprised, saying, “This is…”
It was a real estate purchase agreement.
Elder Xie asked, “I heard you moved to Lakeside Villa recently?”
Xie Ning said, “Yes, I did.”
Elder Xie continued to say, “Although it’s quite good, it’s too big. Since you don’t like too many people in a house, you live there alone, but there’s too much space and seems too lonely.”
Xie Ning just shook his head. “I’m living there quite well.”
Elder Xie said mildly, “This house is a single-family home. It’s not as small as a bachelor pad, but not as large as Lakeside Villa. It’s very suitable for a married couple or dating couples to live in, and is Grandpa’s New Year’s gift to you.”
Xie Ning hurriedly said, “Xu Qing and I broke up already.”
“If the old don’t go, then the new won’t come.” Elder Xie smiled, saying, “I didn’t really like the kid from the Xu family. He was too frivolous. Grandpa doesn’t mind that you like men, but I didn’t approve of you and him being together. You two aren’t from the same world.”
Xie Ning’s expression slightly changed.
These years, he used Xu Qing as his boyfriend to reject the blind dates that Xia Wan arranged for him. Elder Xie had never expressed his opinion before, so this was the first time Xie Ning was hearing that Elder Xie didn’t look favorably upon Xu Qing.
Elder Xie continued, “This old man has no problem with you liking men or women. I only hope that our NingNing can find someone who sincerely likes you, and is worthy of your feelings, to spend the rest of your life happily with.”
Xie Ning, hearing these words, felt his nose become sour {T/N: it means he’s on the verge of tears!}, and gave a soft “Mmn”.
“This house is what I prepared for you and your future lover.” Elder Xie smiled and said, “It’s large enough for two people, and it won’t be too large for one person. The location is very good, transportation is convenient, and there’s a shopping mall nearby. I searched the whole city and couldn’t find a better spot, so just accept it.”
Xie Ning looked at Elder Xie, and felt nothing but warmth in his heart. “Thank you, Grandpa…”
“We’re a family; what’s there to thank?” Elder Xie smiled and shook his head. “Not even two years after you were born, I sent your father to the south and your mother was worried so she went with him as well. Although I wanted to keep you by my side and raise you, it wasn’t good to separate your family of three…”
Elder Xie sighed as he spoke, and the look in his eyes became a little more solid. “If, at that time, I had kept you by my side, it would have been nice. After so many years, us two grandfather and grandson are basically only able to see each other during New Year’s.”
Xie Ning lowered his head and said, “It’s all in the past now. Plus, haven’t I returned to your side now?”
Elder Xie nodded. “Since things are in the past now, I won’t mention it anymore.”
Xie Ning looked at the real estate purchase agreement in his hand and was still a bit hesitant. “This present is too much. On Xie An’s side…”
“It’s not too much.” Elder Xie knew what he was worrying about and said, “AnAn’s New Year’s present is a car, a global limited edition, that he seems to like very much. Originally, I wanted to buy you a car as well, but I remembered that you still haven’t taken the license test yet, so I changed it to this house. I’m not favoring one over the other.”
Xie Ning was relieved after hearing this, and accepted this New Year’s present.
During the time he was talking with Elder Xie, his phone had continued to vibrate several times.
Xie Ning opened it and took a look, finding that Zhuang Yan had sent a couple more photos over. It seemed like he was outside, and took many pictures of the snow at night.
For some reason, Xie Ning felt like some of the scenes looked very familiar.
Zhuang Yan: Are you celebrating New Year’s at the large compound?
Xie Ning: Mmn.
Zhuang Yan: My grandpa also lives at the large compound. He and Elder Xie are fishing buddies.
Xie Ning paused: Fishing buddies?
Zhuang Yan: Mmn, friends that fish together. Just a couple of days ago, they met up to go fishing too.
So it’s like that.
Xie Ning hadn’t responded yet when Zhuang Yan quickly sent over another message: I’m celebrating New Year’s today with my grandpa.
Xie Ning widened his eyes a little. So he means…
Zhuang Yan: I’m also at the large compound.
Zhuang Yan: It seems like I’m not far from you.
Zhuang Yan: Do you want to come out and meet me?
Xie Ning: It’s so late…
Zhuang Yan: It’s the perfect time for us to be together when we go into the next year.
Xie Ning, holding his phone, actually felt his heart move a little.
Zhuang Yan: Even if you don’t want to see me, it’s too late.
Zhuang Yan: Mr. Blue Whale can’t jump in from your window, but he’s already walked to the entrance of your place.
Xie Ning, surprised: !!!
He subconsciously looked out the window towards the entrance, but his line of sight was blocked by the trees in the garden.
Zhuang Yan: I’ll wait for you.
When Xie Ning recovered his senses and walked to the entrance in a daze, he found himself gripping his phone tightly, his heart beating as if it was going to jump out of his chest.
Outside the entrance, Zhuang Yan was covered in snowflakes, his hands in his pockets. In the intertwining wind and snow, he curled his lips upwards and looked at him.
He was smiling slightly, and his eyes were flashing like there were stars in them.
“Happy New Year, NingNing.”
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Author’s Note: I feel like I’m writing a fairy tale about a blue whale and a rabbit.
ZhuangZhuang: There’s already a house; when can we live together?
NingNing: Don’t ask NingNing, NingNing doesn’t know anything.
