A beautiful summer night

On New Year's Eve, Xie Qiyan and Xia Wanzhi rushed back to the Xie family home before dark to have a New Year's Eve dinner.

Xia Wanzhi probably didn't get enough sleep this morning, but was woken up by her biological clock. She entertained Jiang Baichuan and Yun Li until after 3 pm. After seeing the young couple off, she went back to Lanting Villa to tidy herself up. When she got on the car back to the Xie family, she dozed off while talking to Xie Qiyan.

"Go to sleep for a while." Xie Qiyan could tell she was forcing herself to stay awake.

Xia Wanzhi shook her head: "It's okay, I'm not very sleepy, we'll be there soon."

He finished speaking and yawned.

Xia Wanzhi sniffed, hummed, and wiped the water mist from the corners of her eyes, blaming him: "You're sleepy because you didn't replenish your energy in time due to excessive physical exertion. It's all your fault."

One sentence brought me back to last night.

Xie Qiyan chuckled: "It was my fault for not serving you well, and I should indeed be punished."

What's the penalty?

Xie Qiyan volunteered: "It's due to my lack of experience. Could you give me another chance tonight, Mrs. Xie? I promise I'll definitely..."

"Shut up." Xia Wanzhi perked up immediately and scolded, "Dream on."

They arrived at the Xie family's house after talking for a while. Xia Wanzhi shivered when she got out of the car. The weather was nice, but the wind was more biting than usual.

"Ayan." Xie Qiyan was getting things from the trunk. Xia Wanzhi stepped forward and reached out to take them. After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Is this your first time spending Chinese New Year at the Xie family home since you grew up? You..."

"It's just a meal, it's nothing." Xie Qiyan didn't give the things to Xia Wan. There weren't many things; they were all for Xie Tan. He carried them with one hand and used the other to hold Xia Wanzhi's hand. "Let's go."

Xia Wanzhi pursed her lips and glanced at him sideways for a while.

It wasn't that she was worried about him; after spending so much time together, Xia Wanzhi knew he wouldn't care about trivial people and things.

What she wanted to ask was how he felt.

But now there's no need to ask.

She saw it.

The timing of his return was perfect, or rather, Xie Qiyan deliberately chose this time to return.

It was just lunchtime, and the large table of sumptuous reunion dinner exuded the festive atmosphere of the New Year. Before picking up his chopsticks, the old man said a few words: "This year, our Xie family has two new members. One is my little granddaughter Xie Tong, and the second is my eldest granddaughter-in-law, Xiao Wanzi."

The old man took a deep breath, his eyes slightly reddening, and smiled, "This old man is happy, very happy!"

"You all know Wanzi, and you're all familiar with her. Xie Lin, Xie Nan, and Xie Tan are all here. From now on, she'll be your sister-in-law, your family. You must treat her with respect, understand?"

These words were ostensibly an instruction to the younger generation, but secretly a warning to the elders, such as the second and third uncles.

Schelling was the first to respond, "We heard you."

Xie Nan's eyes darted around, lingering on Xia Wanzhi for a few seconds before she called out, "Sister-in-law."

Given Xia Wanzhi's background, how could she not shout?

The Xie family is not to be trifled with, and from now on they will only treat Xia Wanzhi like an ancestor.

The old man was very pleased and smiled kindly at Xia Wanzhi: "Let's eat. Take whatever you like. Just like before, don't be shy."

"Grandpa, please eat. Don't worry about me. I've never been polite before, and I certainly won't be now." Xia Wanzhi said with a smile in her eyes.

The hand hidden under the table tugged at Xie Qiyan's clothes, signaling him to tone down the look in his eyes that threatened to kill Xie Nan.

Xie Qiyan always had a stiff face when he returned to the Xie family. Others probably didn't realize whether he was angry or not.

But Xia Wanzhi could sense his rising dissatisfaction.

"What's wrong?" Xia Wanzhi asked softly after the meal.

“If we don’t like it, we don’t have to come back. We don’t need to smile at them.” Xie Qiyan hasn’t celebrated the New Year since he went abroad. Over the years, he has long lost the obsession with eating New Year’s Eve dinner.

Especially since we were having our New Year's Eve dinner at the Xie family's house.

I only have New Year's Eve dinner with my family.

The Xie family doesn't count.

"Don't think about those unimportant people. You need to know that we came back to have dinner with Grandpa and Xie Tan, not anyone else." Xia Wanzhi squeezed his hand, stood on tiptoe slightly, and poked the corner of his mouth with her index finger. "It's New Year's Eve, give me a smile. Besides, I'm smiling because I'm happy, not to put on a show for anyone."

Xie Qiyan took a deep breath, realizing he had been overreacting: "Go to the South Courtyard to see Xie Tan."

"Where are you looking? Xie Tan is still in the restaurant," Xia Wanzhi reminded her.

Xie Qiyan stopped and glanced back, his face expressionless: "We're not at the same altitude, I didn't see it."

Xia Wanzhi: "..."

Upon hearing this, Xie Tan flew into a rage and jumped forward: "Sister Wanzi, Xie Qiyan... he actually insulted my height!"

"Call me sister-in-law." Xie Qiyan's face was turning dark.

Xia Wanzhi stood between the two of them: "No arguing during the New Year."

Xie Tan was about to cry: "What he did was wrong!"

Xia Wanzhi nodded: "That's right, but you have to call him brother first. Okay, okay, our Tanmei will still grow taller. It's alright, I'll teach him a lesson for you later."

Xie Qiyan glanced at Xia Wanzhi, took her hand, turned around and was about to leave, casually telling Xie Tan, "Come on, I'm going to check your homework."

Xie Tan was about to cry even more.

Xia Wanzhi felt sorry for her, but she was powerless to do anything about it.

Good children really need to start with their homework.

Xie Qiyan ignored whether Xie Tan was crying or laughing, and led Xia Wanzhi ahead, asking in a low voice, "Mrs. Xie, are you going to lecture me for someone else's sake?"

Xia Wanzhi glared at him: "That's our sister! Not someone else!"

Seemingly pleased with her use of "we," Xie Qiyan raised an eyebrow and changed his question: "So, how are you going to teach me a lesson?"

Xia Wanzhi: "..."

Xie Tan, who usually loves watching the two of them being affectionate, is now racking her brains to figure out how to avoid having her homework checked.

"Don't even think about escaping, you can't get away." Xie Qiyan gave her a special warning as soon as they entered the South Courtyard.

Xie Tan blurted out, "Want to know why Third Brother was looking at Wanzi...Sister-in-law at the dinner table tonight?"

Xie Qiyan remained silent for two seconds.

Xie Tan took a deep breath and chuckled, "Let's check the homework tomorrow, and chat about it tonight?"

Xia Wanzhi let out a laugh.