“Don’t overthink for now. Today is New Year’s eve. You can worry about those things after tonight,” Su Qianxun advised.
Gu Mian thought about it for a while and agreed with her. She had suffered enough. Today was New year’s eve. She did not want to think about the things that frustrated her. She ought to have a great time tonight.
“I’m going to ask Tang Zui something,” Gu Mian said and went away to talk to Tang Zui.
After listening to Gu Mian’s question, Tang Zui said, “What do you think then? Do you wish Gu Ling to go home today or make sure that he learns a harder lesson?”
“I’m just… worried about my parents.” Gu Mian’s voice had a tone of resignation.
“If you’re genuinely worried about them, you’d know when to be stern. If you give in now, you’d be perpetuating the cycle. Not having their son around on New year’s eve is not as tragic as losing him forever… Even if we taught your older brother a lesson this time, he might not have a change of heart. If you let him off the hook that easily, he will become even more sloppy and irresponsible,” Tang Zui said to her with a serious expression.
Gu Mian lowered her head and looked down at her feet. She said softly, “I know. It’s just my mother who kept calling me… Never mind that. Don’t let him go home for now.”
“That’s a smart decision. If it weren’t for the fact that I was the one managing your family’s company finances, Gu Ling could have owed so much more money, perhaps as much as five billion RMB.”
“Thank you… for dealing with this, I mean, my family’s financial crisis,” Gu Mian said.
“I thought you’d be suspicious of me. It seems like I’ve underestimated your emotional maturity.” Tang Zui smiled slightly, raising a hand to flick her lightly on the forehead.
Gu Mian felt her heart skip a beat. She immediately lifted a hand to touch her forehead, at the spot that he had just touched. There was a surprised look in her eyes.
Tang Zui was smiling while staring at her. It was the first time Gu Mian saw him smile so gently at her.
Gu Mian’s phone started ringing again. She knew it must be her mother, who was calling to ask about her older brother again. She quickly took it out. Tang Zui snatched the phone from her right away, rejected the call and turned it off.
“Don’t answer any phone calls tonight. Let’s go and celebrate New year’s Eve.” Tang Zui held her hand and brought her to join everyone else.
Gu Mian felt his large hands wrap around her. His palm was dry and warm. Strangely enough, it gave her a sense of security.
Due to the fact that today was New year’s Eve, Long Sijue allowed everyone to drink and have some fun. The only rule was that those who were in charge of the security detail should not drink too much and let their drunkenness affect their duties.
“Have you eaten dumplings?” Su Qianxun asked her friends.
“I ate some at home before coming over,” Si Mancheng said.
“We have made some at home.” Gu Mian picked a glass of wine and took a sip. She decided to drink more, since it was New year’s eve. She should not get too hung up on her worries. She should be having fun.
“Good. Eating dumplings on New Year’s Eve is a must.”
Si Mancheng suggested that they should cheer and wish themselves a happy new year. The group of five each picked up a glass of wine. The glasses clinked against each other when they cheered.
The music started playing. Tang Zui immediately dragged Gu Mian to the dance floor. Long Sijue, too, began dancing with Su Qianxun. The two couples were waltzing slowly under the light. It was a truly heartwarming sight.
Si Mancheng felt rather disheartened. ‘Don’t they realize there’s a bachelor among them?
‘Never mind that.’ He better went off to have some fun somewhere else instead of staying here and getting upset by the sight of couples.
Tang Zui had Gu Mian tightly in his arms. The two of them were locked in an embrace and moving around back and forth without any rhythm. Gu Mian was actually very nervous. She put her small hands on his chest to keep some space between him and herself. If she did not restrain herself, she was afraid that she would simply push him away.
“I think you need more drinks,” Tang Zui whispered in her ear. “You’re too tensed up.”