The three of them came out of the restaurant chattering and laughing when they saw the three men returning from outside.
As Mu Yichen was heading to the parking lot, he was the last to reach the living room and caught sight of the image of his wife...
Qin Mu wore a simple pair of jeans and a sweater, all in light colors.
Her long hair was braided on one side.
Mu Yichen suddenly felt this look of Qin Mu’s was so endearing.
When Mu Qingxin saw Qin Haiming, she let go of Qin Mu’s shoulder and respectfully bowed to greet him.
"Qingxin, you’ve grown even prettier this year!"
Qin Haiming praised kindly.
"Thank you for the compliment, Uncle Qin. Oh, this is my husband, Jiang Yan! Jiang Yan, this is my sister-in-law’s father, Uncle Qin!"
Jiang Yan had heard of this man, and now that he was celebrating the New Year at his wife’s family home, he followed local customs and nodded his head in greeting.
Qin Haiming also nodded in return, then the old man hurried him along to join the others for tea and chat.
So Qin Mu looked at the sofa, where there didn’t seem to be any comfortable spots left for the younger ones to sit, and thought about going back to the dining room to help out.
"Where are you going? Mom and Auntie think we’re more of a hindrance than a help. Look at how wrinkled my brother’s clothes are; hurry and take him upstairs to change into a new set. It is the New Year’s Eve tonight, after all."
Mu Qingxin looked pityingly at her poor brother and, pushing down on Qin Mu, steered her towards Mu Yichen’s side.
Qin Mu’s shoulder inadvertently brushed against Mu Yichen’s, and the hand in his pants pocket stiffened before she subconsciously tightened her shoulder and leaned slightly to the side.
Mu Yichen’s gaze reluctantly shifted from her face and unhappily turned to his sister.
"Brother, why are your clothes so wrinkled? Have Qin Mu pick out a new one for you, it’s New Year’s Eve tonight."
"Where are they wrinkled?"
Mu Yichen inquired with furrowed brows, looking down at his clothes but feeling that there was nothing amiss.
"We’re not children."
Qin Mu muttered under her breath, then returned to the dining room.
She didn’t dare stay even for a moment, her heart seeming ready to leap out at any time.
Mu Yichen surely understood Mu Qingxin’s intentions, but couldn’t cooperate because how could he be unaware of his own wife’s feelings?
So, as he watched Qin Mu turn her back to him again, he could only watch her leave helplessly.
"Bro! What’s wrong with you?"
Mu Qingxin grabbed her brother’s sleeve and scolded him in agitation.
"Don’t help ’till it’s too much. Go help Dad and the others pour some tea."
Mu Yichen told her quietly and then strode up the stairs with long steps.
Mu Qingxin and Jiang Yan stood together, looking after the tall figure with some sympathy. "Why do I feel like beating up Qin Mu?"
Jiang Yan looked at his wife and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "Let’s just watch without meddling in things we don’t fully understand."
Upon hearing this, Mu Qingxin sighed helplessly, wondering if Mu Yichen had gone back to his room?
In fact, Mu Yichen had gone to his son’s nursery.
His son was sound asleep in the crib.
He seemed to have changed so much just in one day.
While sleeping, the little one’s mouth still moved, and Mu Yichen suddenly wondered if Huanhuan at this age was the same, suckling in his sleep?
His expression was no longer filled with fatigue but was now tinged with tenderness.
No matter what happened between him and his wife, their home would always remain constant.
He used to get really annoyed with this little guy, but now he found him quite pleasant to look at.
"You little rascal, do you know how annoying your mom can be?"
Mu Yichen picked him up from the crib and walked over to a cartoon-themed couch where he sat down.
Huanhuan also ran up from downstairs, "Daddy!"
She climbed onto the couch, peering over her dad’s shoulder at her little brother in his arms, smiling joyfully without making any other sound.
During the dinner, the whole family gathered around, as if it was their first time celebrating such a lively New Year. Everyone was very happy.
"Haiming, don’t be shy, eat up."
The patriarch encouraged Qin Haiming and Uncle Wang. Not just them, but all the household staff who stayed were also invited to join the table. That evening was an unforgettable New Year’s Eve dinner for many.
Everyone at the table raised their glasses to toast, including Little Huanhuan amid the festivities.
The two little ones were already asleep, but she was still full of energy, eating and drinking along with the adults.
The men started talking about work, a common topic, while Feng Fanghua busied herself with feeding her granddaughter.