Mother Shen wasn't very good at socializing, but for Shen Mianyin's sake, she still mustered the courage to chat with Gu Huaizhi.
"I couldn't ask for more. But I'll have to trouble you, Auntie."
"It's no trouble, no trouble at all," Mother Shen said quickly.
"By the way, where's my brother?" Shen Mianyin asked.
"He said it's New Year's today, many people have gone home, so there are fewer delivery drivers. That means more orders. He's taking this chance to deliver a few more." Even though Shen Chenggang earned a lot from streaming and videos, he still didn't give up the money from food delivery.
"Ah, he's really motivated now," Mother Shen said with a smile. "He says since he can earn money, he should earn more while he's young. He said his current fans were all gained through his food delivery videos. What the fans want to see are those delivery videos, so he can't just drop that."
Shen Mianyin nodded.
Although Shen Chenggang wasn't there and only three of them were eating, Mother Shen still made a huge table full of dishes to show how much she valued Gu Huaizhi.
Gu Huaizhi and Shen Mianyin offered to help but were shooed out of the kitchen by Mother Shen, who told Shen Mianyin to sit and accompany Gu Huaizhi.
"Right, Mom, is Brother coming back for dinner tonight?" Shen Mianyin asked.
"He is," Mother Shen said. "I specifically told him that even if he's earning money, he still has to celebrate the New Year. He must come back for the New Year's Eve dinner."
"That's good." Shen Mianyin relaxed.
Mother Shen said with a smile, "I told him to come back early in the afternoon. You can never finish earning all the money. The New Year is a rare occasion, he should come back and rest."
Mother Shen felt that her life experience was worlds apart from Gu Huaizhi's, so she carefully looked for trivial, everyday topics to chat with him about. She was trying her best to prevent the conversation from freezing.
After finishing the meal and chatting with Mother Shen for a while longer, Gu Huaizhi finally left for the old family residence.
Shen Mianyin walked him downstairs, all the way to his car.
The two of them, going to and from work, were now together every day.
Suddenly having to part, Gu Huaizhi felt quite unaccustomed to it.
He took Shen Mianyin's hand and sighed, "I really want to spend the New Year with you."
Shen Mianyin blushed and said softly, "Me too."
Gu Huaizhi tilted his head slightly and said, "It's perfect. My older brother's family is also back. During the Spring Festival holiday, let's find a time for our parents to meet?"
"Okay... Okay." Shen Mianyin knew that Gu Huaizhi was seriously planning their future together.
"It's cold outside, go back up," Gu Huaizhi said. "I'll call you when I get to the main house."
"Mhm." She watched Gu Huaizhi get into the car.
Gu Huaizhi rolled down the window. "Go back."
"I'll watch you leave." Shen Mianyin didn't want to show him her back as she walked away.
"It seems we must spend next New Year together then."
Shen Mianyin froze for a moment. What did Gu Huaizhi mean by that?
Could it be... they would get married before next New Year?
"Go back," Gu Huaizhi said first. "I don't want you to watch my car's tail lights."
Shen Mianyin had no choice but to agree, but she kept looking back at Gu Huaizhi every few steps.
Only after she turned into the courtyard, where he could no longer see her, did Gu Huaizhi drive away.
After dinner that evening, Mother Shen carefully asked her if she wanted to stay the night.
This was Shen Mianyin's first Spring Festival back at the Shen family home.
So, Shen Mianyin agreed.
The family then sat together on the sofa, watching the Spring Festival Gala and chatting.
Just before midnight, Shen Mianyin received a call from Gu Huaizhi.
"I wanted to count down with you," Gu Huaizhi said.
Shen Mianyin heard 'crackles' sounds from Gu Huaizhi's side and asked about them.
"It's fireworks," Gu Huaizhi said. "My older brother's family is back. Although they come back every year, they're always fascinated by the new things in the country. This year they went and bought a lot of fireworks to set off."
"They allow fireworks at the main house?" Shen Mianyin was surprised.
The main house wasn't in a remote location, and fireworks weren't allowed in the city.
Although the Shen family lived in an old, small, and run-down apartment, its location was very central. It was completely quiet during the New Year, without any sound of firecrackers.
"A small exception can be made," Gu Huaizhi said.
Shen Mianyin mused that the Gu family's influence was indeed not small.
Just as she was thinking, the countdown started on the TV behind her.
Shen Mianyin stood on the balcony, looking up at the starry sky. "I also want to watch fireworks while counting down."
"That's my mistake," Gu Huaizhi said silently to himself, hoping they could next year.
"Are you at the Shen's tonight or did you go back to Lijing Garden?" Gu Huaizhi asked.
"At the Shen's," Shen Mianyin said. "It's the New Year, after all. I wanted it to be a bit more lively."
Gu Huaizhi had been thinking that if Shen Mianyin had gone back to Lijing Garden, he would have gone back too.
"Have you asked your mother and brother when they are free?"
"I've asked. They are available anytime, based on your family's schedule," Shen Mianyin said. "My brother can adjust his delivery schedule anytime."
"How about the fifth day of the New Year?" Gu Huaizhi suggested.
"Okay."
Because Gu Huaizhi had mentioned that his older brother's family would also be there.
Shen Mianyin went to the mall to pick out some gifts for the three children, as it was their first meeting.
The thought of meeting the Gu family made Mother Shen very nervous.
"I've never met any important people in my life," Mother Shen said. "Will they feel like they have nothing to talk about with us? I'm just afraid we'll drag Mianyin down."
"They won't. The Gu family elders are very nice people." Shen Mianyin had also specifically asked, and Gu Luo'An's family would not be going.
The two Gu elders hadn't even told them about it, lest they show up and get in the way.
As long as Gu Luo'An's family wasn't there, it wasn't a big problem.
"You can just make casual small talk. You chatted quite well with Gu Huaizhi the other day when he came," Shen Mianyin said.
Mother Shen was surprised. "Gu Huaizhi didn't mind?"
"Of course not. They're people too. they eat, drink, and sleep," Shen Mianyin said with a laugh. "Gu Huaizhi even knows how to cook. They also live ordinary lives."
Even so, Mother Shen knew it was still different.
She remained anxious, thinking that she should talk as little as possible to avoid embarrassing Shen Mianyin.
In the blink of an eye, the fifth day of the New Year arrived.
At the appointed time, Shen Mianyin arrived at the restaurant with Mother Shen and Shen Chenggang.
Gu Huaizhi had chosen the restaurant.
It was in the style of a private clubhouse.
It had a feeling of being in the middle of the bustling city yet far removed from the noise.
This private clubhouse was located inside a large mansion.
It was originally a Wangfu (a prince's residence).
The owner of the clubhouse must have had some connections to be able to use such a place as a clubhouse.
Gu Huaizhi had said it was quiet inside and operated on an appointment-only basis, receiving only three tables of guests per day.
Furthermore, each table of guests was in a different courtyard. Even if dining at the same time, there was no possibility of encountering one another. The privacy was excellent.
Sure enough, after entering the vermilion gate, they had to walk for a long time following the attendant.
It was like touring a famous historical site.
They passed through gardens and corridors before finally entering a small courtyard.
Shen Mianyin guessed these must have been the courtyards where the various masters of the Wangfu lived.
The courtyards were large, but the owner had only arranged for one table in each.
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