Tang Li glanced at the red packet and then looked towards Song Baiyan, her expression puzzled.
Song Baiyan smiled gently, his demeanor cultured and scholarly: "What, do you think the amount in it is too little?"
"Not at all," Tang Li denied.
After a slight pause, she added, "I’m already an adult; I no longer take red packets."
"Even if you’re an adult, you’re still in school," Song Baiyan didn’t take the red packet back, only saying, "In the Song family, as long as you haven’t graduated from school, you’ll receive New Year’s money during the festival."
Hearing this explanation, Tang Li didn’t refuse any further.
She took the red packet in her hand. It wasn’t thinner than the one Song Jingtian received.
"Come down for dinner with Jingtian in ten minutes."
Song Baiyan reminded.
Tang Li acknowledged him and watched him go downstairs first, then returned to Song Jingtian’s room.
Upon seeing her red packet, Song Jingtian insisted on opening it to check.
After counting the money, he found 35 bills and got upset, looking at Tang Li with disapproval: "I only got 3000 yuan, why did my older brother give you 3500 yuan?"
Tang Li put the money back into the red packet: "You don’t know, how would I know?"
"Brother is biased," Song Jingtian grumbled, hugging his pillow.
Then, glancing sideways at Tang Li, he said, "I know, it must be because you’re a guest in our home, while Brother and I are family. Family naturally isn’t as formal."
Tang Li held the red packet, ignoring Song Jingtian’s sour words.
After Tang Yin passed away, she hadn’t felt the sensation of receiving New Year’s money for a long time.
During the two New Years she spent back at the Lai family, Ouyang Qian always gave out red packets to both daughters and didn’t neglect her share; watching Lai Shengxia and her sister sitting next to Ouyang Qian, with Lai Yuanyuan hugging Ouyang Qian and kissing her in thanks, she sat in the living room unable to blend into that atmosphere.
During visits to relatives after the New Year, she and the youngsters from Lai Fang’s family never mingled.
For her, celebrating New Year at the Lai family felt like enduring silent hostility.
Luckily, she didn’t have to go back this year.
Ten minutes later, Tang Li went downstairs with Song Jingtian.
In the dining room, Aunt Min was arranging the tableware, while Ji Ming was standing beside the table opening drink bottles.
Upon seeing that it was coconut juice, Song Jingtian picked up his own special small bowl and hurried over, urging Ji Ming: "Old Ji, give me half a bowl first."
After Ji Ming poured it for him, the little guy took the bowl and guzzled the drink.
Xiao Minglan came out of the kitchen just in time to see her younger son chugging down the drink and put down the plate in her hand to stop him: "If your older brother sees you drinking like that, you’ll surely get a lecture."
Speaking of which, Xiao Minglan turned her head, looked at Tang Li, and smiled kindly: "Sit down, Bai Yan is taking a call. Let’s start eating without waiting for him."
Tang Li complied and sat next to Song Jingtian.
Song Jingtian suddenly shouted while holding a crab leg, his meated right hand pointing at the dipping bowl: "This isn’t soy sauce!"
"Probably poured the wrong one; I’ll go change it," Aunt Min said and was about to get up.
"I’ll go," said Tang Li, picking up the dipping bowl.
Walking to the kitchen door, she met Song Baiyan coming out after finishing his call. Seeing Song Baiyan stop by the door, she also paused for a moment before passing by him into the kitchen.
As she brushed past, her ears involuntarily turned red.
Because her shoulder had brushed against his body.
Song Baiyan stood by the door, watching Tang Li return with the dipping bowl. The scent of fruits from her hair wafted into his nose, bringing a smile to his lips.
After switching the soy sauce, Tang Li returned to the dining room.
She placed the dipping bowl in front of Song Jingtian and sat down, only to find Song Baiyan sitting opposite her.