After dinner, Sheng Yan Cheng and Shen Mo played chess in the living room.
Sheng Jinyu sat on the side, watching the two elderly men play, occasionally offering tips.
Both seniors liked to pull him in as their strategist, and Sheng Jinyu was very patient, fair and impartial throughout.
Helping one to capture a cannon, then assisting the other to take down a knight, greatly speeding up the game.
The others sat nearby, chatting and keeping watch through the night.
Even Sheng Yeli had been ordered to stay up until after midnight before he could return to his room to rest.
Sheng Ning’an quietly started a video call with Xu Weiran.
The Xu family was small, with just Mr. Xu, Mother Xu, and Xu Weiran, a family of three.
In contrast to the Sheng family, it seemed somewhat quiet.
Xu Weiran held his phone and went into the yard.
The screen showed his girlfriend’s face and the Sheng family’s living room, filled with joy and laughter.
Even across the screen, he could feel the liveliness from the other side.
At that moment, Xu Weiran couldn’t help but envy the girl.
"Have you eaten?" Sheng Ning’an asked, holding the phone and walking to the window.
Remembering that Mr. Xu had recently been experimenting with new recipes, Sheng Ning’an couldn’t help but smile and ask, "Did Uncle prepare lots of delicious foods?"
Xu Weiran curved his lips into a smile, responding, "Yes, he made all the new dishes he’s been researching these past few days. He had my mom and me taste test them; he said he wants to make them for you when you visit."
"Please thank Uncle for me!"
Through the window, Sheng Ning’an suddenly saw fireworks bursting in the sky.
In Jing City, fireworks were a rare sight, but in small towns, the restrictions weren’t as strict, and many beautiful fireworks could be seen during the Spring Festival.
Sheng Ning’an pushed open the window, and a gust of cold wind blew in his face.
Just as he was about to close it, he noticed that snow had begun to fall outside.
"Xu Weiran, it’s snowing outside!" Sheng Ning’an couldn’t resist reaching out to catch the snowflakes.
The instant the snowflakes landed on his palm, they melted.
In reality, snow was not uncommon in Jing City; several snowfalls happened every winter. Sheng Ning’an was just suddenly reminded of the days when they vacationed in the snowy town together.
He thought back to when they sat together in the yard, warming by a stove and admiring the snow.
"Be careful not to catch a cold!" Xu Weiran reminded.
Sheng Ning’an reached to close the window, then stealthily glanced toward the living room and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Xu Weiran, I miss you!"
Xu Weiran, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but curve his lips into a gentle smile, a tender warmth spreading from his eyes.
A sudden surge of longing flooded his heart, like a tide rising, transcending time and space, yearning for an embrace.
"Ning An, come eat Yuanxiao!"
In the living room, Qin Suxin had just finished cooking sweet dumplings and was calling everyone to eat.
Eating Yuanxiao on New Year’s Eve was also one of the Sheng family’s traditions, signifying sweetness and completeness.
"Coming!" Sheng Ning’an replied, then said to Xu Weiran, "I’m going to eat Yuanxiao now; it’s very cold outside, you should go in too!"
After ending the video call, Xu Weiran went back inside. Mr. Xu was busy washing dishes, and Mother Xu was engrossed in chatting with her group of old sisters on the phone.
Whenever Sheng Ning’an was mentioned, Mother Xu praised the girl to her sisters.
Xu Weiran couldn’t help but smile as he listened on the side.
In his mind, he involuntarily thought, their family would eventually be as lively as that girl’s, right?