An Nuannuan blinked her large eyes and thought to herself, punish him… yes, she must punish him.
But before the punishment, An Nuannuan really wanted to have a good hug, cuddle, and kiss with him first.
In the living room, Grandpa and Grandma were already seated at the dining table, and the delicious smell of the dishes permeated throughout.
Although they always ate well, An Nuannuan felt that today's dishes had a very familiar taste to them.
"Have you washed your hands? Come and get ready for dinner."
Grandpa and Grandma also seemed especially happy today, smiling warmly as they invited their granddaughters to sit down.
The dishes on the table today seemed even more abundant than those of New Year's Eve's feast the day before.
And Grandpa and Grandma were also wearing their beautiful new clothes.
An Nuannuan curiously asked, "Why are we having so much food again today?"
Grandma caressed her granddaughter's head, her eyes brimming with laughter, "Because today, someone has come back to see you."
An Nuannuan's eyes widened as she scanned the dishes on the table, which truly tasted different from usual.
She instantly felt a joy that brightened up her appearance.
At that moment, the kitchen door was slowly pushed open, and a tall and straight figure emerged.
An Nuannuan couldn't help but stand up; her eyes filled with long-suppressed excitement as she looked towards the kitchen entrance.
However, when she clearly saw the person standing there, An Nuannuan was momentarily stunned.
At the kitchen entrance stood An Shanhai, holding a dinner plate, still clad in his suit without having time to change, seeing the expression of his daughter shifting from surprise to a bit of bewilderment.
He smiled helplessly, not blaming Nuannuan for her reaction, as it had been several years since he last came home for the New Year.
It was natural for the child to feel resentful; this was his own failing towards Nuannuan and Nannan.
Carrying the dinner plate, he walked over to his increasingly grown-up daughters; he wanted to reach out and touch their heads, but felt too remorseful and retracted his hand, "Daddy's back. Let's celebrate the New Year together, and from now on, every year we'll celebrate together."
An Shanhai, like many traditional fathers, was not good at expressing his feelings, and even apologizing seemed awkward and understated.
Yet, that statement softened the atmosphere at the dining table.
An Nuannuan nodded, looking at her aging father, whose face was etched with wrinkles and whose once staunch figure seemed to show signs of fatigue when seen from up close.
Though she had held some resentment in her heart, she understood that after the death of their mother, the person most heartbroken was actually her dad.
An Nuannuan never wanted to dwell on anyone's past; their incrementally improved lives were what Mom would have most wanted to see.
Grandpa and Grandma also felt a twinge of emotion, not having experienced such a harmonious scene in a long time.
"However, this dish was specially prepared for you by a little rascal."
An Shanhai set down the dinner plate he was holding, gazing at his daughter with a wistful smile as he slowly lifted the lid off the plate.
Inside the plate were not extravagant delicacies such as lobster or abalone, but a few white steamed buns.
To be precise, they were steamed buns pinched into the shape of rabbits, decorated with raisins, red beans, and dates to form the eyes, making them look just like several real snowy white rabbits that had been steamed.
An Nannan's eyes immediately lit up, "Where did you buy these?"
Yet, at this moment, just as An Nuannuan had seated herself, she stood again, her eyes locked on the rabbit-shaped steamed buns in the plate, her previous bit of disappointment now dissolved by immense surprise.
The kitchen door opened once again, and the man An Nuannuan was muttering about emerged with a gentle smile.
Musen was wearing an apron, holding An Nuannuan's favorite dessert in his hand, appearing as if he stepped out of an idol drama.>
He stood in front of An Nuannuan, smiling warmly at her.
"Nuannuan, Santa Claus got stuck in traffic, so I came to check on you instead."
An Nuannuan's dazed face instantly flushed with a red glow, the yearning in her eyes palpable, giving her the strength to stand.
She got up, staggered a couple of steps, and plunged headlong into Xu Musen's arms.
As the girl called out his name, it seemed all her longing from the days apart melted into those three words and into Xu Musen's embrace.
Xu Musen reached out to gently stroke her head, this too was his lifetime's greatest treasure.
"Happy New Year, from now on, every year, I'll be with you."
At this moment, it was winter, yet so warm.
The grandparents wore a benevolent look, experienced as they were, recognizing the authenticity and preciousness of this affection.
An Nannan watched, huffing slightly, feeling a little jealous—her sister had never hugged her with such excitement.
And she had just provided this guy with a cover too.
Humph! No debt could be settled without ten sticks of roasted sausages and three cups of milk tea!
An Shanhai's expression turned complex, a mix of happiness and the melancholy that comes with being a father watching his daughter grow up.
They say that a man forgets his mother when he finds a wife.
The same could be said for a girl.
Nevertheless, An Shanhai felt relieved; he knew that many things he couldn't make up to his daughter.
Now, seeing his daughter living happily was what mattered the most, making this the most perfect New Year's Eve dinner they had shared in many years...