She touched her own cheek.
"This isn't good, as a shop owner, I can't meet people looking ..."
She murmured to herself, applied a bit of foundation and blush to add some color to her face, and finally put on lipstick to cover her already pale lips.
Yao Mingyue coughed, feeling increasingly weak; this winter, she couldn't tell which day she might actually need to go to the hospital.
But that's alright, after all, he's been busy enough this year, and she might as well save him some worry.
She pursed her lips slightly, thinking it's better to stay cheerful for now.
It didn't take long for the two of them to drive to the village at the foot of Mang Mountain.
At the entrance, Zhao Lianmai was waiting eagerly, and she hopped over as soon as she saw the license plate.
Xu Musen got off the car, smiling as he greeted the cute little girl, and then touched his wallet: "Let me get you a red envelope."
"No need, no need, Brother Xu, you've already given me one."
The little girl blushed, a lot more cheerful than when she first shyly met him, now not wearing the old bulky coat but a branded down jacket, looking a bit more refined.
"When did I give it to you?"
"Just a few days ago, in the mall, sister gave it to me."
Xu Musen nodded, remembering the one-dollar red envelope, he chuckled, definitely something Zhao Lianmai would do.
"Hello, pretty sister."
The little girl, seeing Yao Mingyue getting off the car, also politely greeted her.
Yao Mingyue smiled, took Xu Musen's wallet, pulled out a few bills and a red packet, packed it up, and handed it to her.
"Here, Happy New Year, I wouldn't let you call me 'pretty sister' for nothing."
But facing the red envelope that children anticipate the most, the little girl shook her head repeatedly.
"No no, I can't take it, Brother already gave me one..."
"Take it, my giving is my giving, this beautiful big sister giving a beautiful little girl a red packet is not common."
Xu Musen laughed heartily.
Yao Mingyue knew he was teasing her about being jealous even of little children, and glared at him: "Hey, what do you mean by that?"
Xu Musen pretended to cower.
"See, she's my boss, if you don't give her face, she might deal with me later."
Yao Mingyue, seeing his acting, hummed proudly inside, thinking that scumbags will always be scumbags, fooling even little girls.
The little girl watched the two, her big eyes rolling, uncertain for a moment.
Just then, Zhao Lianmai, wearing an apron, came out of the yard and softly patted her sister's head: "Both of them are my bosses, I can't afford to offend them, and who knows, in a couple of days the lady boss might come to give red packets."
Zhao Lianmai's voice was always so calm, it was hard to discern her tone.
"Oh…" The little girl was somewhat puzzled but always unconditionally obeyed her sister, thanked her, and then received the red packet with both hands.
"Thank you, pretty sister."
Yao Mingyue smiled and nodded, then turned towards Zhao Lianmai: "Xiao Mai, long time no see."
Her tone was generous, more natural than Xu Musen, the boss.
As if she was the real boss.
Zhao Lianmai nodded, her gaze briefly shifting towards Xu Musen.
Xu Musen looked aside, greeting a big yellow dog poking its head out in the yard enthusiastically: "Yo, isn't this Big Yellow, haven't seen you in a year, you've grown so big, got a girlfriend? I'll introduce you to a couple of lady dogs…"
Saying this, Xu Musen hurried into the yard.
Zhao Lianmai and Yao Mingyue exchanged a gaze.
Zhao Lianmai was undoubtedly a staunch supporter of Nuannuan, but she had witnessed many of their affairs up close and knew those were issues only they could resolve.
Faced with the person before her, she finally revealed a slight smile.
"Happy New Year, please come in."