Quick Transmigration: The Villain is Destiny, the Protagonist Takes a Backseat

However, he still dried his hands and carefully read through all the messages one by one.

They also occasionally 'quote' a few replies individually.

Looking at the message Shen Liuyun sent, Ji Qiuzhe could imagine him replying to it earnestly with a cold, aloof expression.

Just thinking about it makes me feel cute and adorable.

Had dinner.

As usual, the Ji family turned on the TV, ate dried fruit and snacks, and waited for the Spring Festival Gala to be broadcast live.

Although each year is less festive than the last, the Ji family still preserves this old tradition in order to experience the 'New Year's atmosphere'.

Of course, according to the Ji family tradition, dumplings are eaten between New Year's Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Ji's mother prepared the dough early, and Ji Qiuzhe and Ji's father helped make dumplings together.

After wrapping all the prepared fillings, Ji Qiuzhe, listening to the occasional firecrackers outside, finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"Dad, Mom, I won't be able to eat dumplings with you for a while. I have to go out."

"Where are you going during the New Year?" Father Ji asked, puzzled.

As if she knew everything, Ji's mother rolled her eyes at Ji's father and said, "Where else could they go? Isn't Liuyun alone?"

"Oh, I should go and keep them company."

Ji's father also realized that a few days ago Ji Qiuzhe refused to go home no matter what, and later said that he wanted to bring his sweetheart back, but in the end he did not.

"Useless thing, he's been chasing someone for so long and still hasn't succeeded."

While cracking sunflower seeds, Mr. Ji said, "Back in the day, your old man took a liking to your mother and won her over in just one month... Oh dear, I was wrong, honey, don't pinch my ear, give me some face in front of our son, okay?"

For the time being, Ji's mother let Ji's outspoken father off the hook. She got up, filled a food box with dumplings, put it in a plastic bag, and handed it to Ji Qiuzhe.

"Take some dumplings with you, and cook them with Liuyun. You should try to be more responsible and bring him back for me next year's New Year, right?"

"Okay, Mom, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"As long as you know, you should go quickly. That child is all alone and looks pitiful."

Ji Qiuzhe carried the dumplings with love out the door, but instead of going straight home, he went around to his studio to pick up the painting he had finished earlier and carried it with him.

The Ji family's residence was about an hour and a half's drive away from Ji Qiuzhe's place. Ji Qiuzhe was delayed for a while when he went to pick up the painting, and it was almost midnight when he arrived at his residence.

He didn't dare to delay. He opened his own door, grabbed the gifts he had bought in his spare time, and went to ring the neighbor's doorbell with a bunch of things.

Shen Liuyun had moved a recliner to sit in front of the floor-to-ceiling window and was looking at the night view.

This winter is not as cold as usual, and there has been no snow so far.

He stared at his phone, counting down the seconds until midnight, eager to send Ji Qiuzhe a message of blessing as soon as possible.

With one minute left until midnight, the doorbell suddenly rang.

In an instant, Shen Liuyun's previously calm heart clenched.

As if sensing something, he jumped up from his chair and jogged to open the door.

Outside.

The man in the black short down jacket was smiling and chatting. His handsome features, carried by the cold wind from the corridor, went straight into his eyes.

Shen Liuyun stood there dumbfounded, so flustered that he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet.

"You...why are you here?"

Suddenly, a series of loud explosions erupted outside the window, and a dazzling array of fireworks illuminated the two smiling faces through the glass window.

Ji Qiuzhe stared intently at Shen Liuyun and parted his thin lips slightly.

"Happy New Year!"

Shen Liuyun only paused for two seconds before quickly replying, "Happy New Year!"

He stared intently at the man before him, fearing that it was all just his imagination.

Ji Qiuzhe looked at Shen Liuyun teasingly: "I brought you a gift, are you sure you don't want to invite me in for a bit?"

Shen Liuyun then noticed that Ji Qiuzhe was carrying a lot of things.

He hurriedly tried to take it, but Ji Qiuzhe dodged him, saying, "It's heavy."

He had no choice but to step aside, saying, "Come in quickly."

The new year brought a lot more life to Shen Liuyun's home.

The windows were decorated with clusters of beautiful red paper-cut window decorations, and two large red cushions were added to the sofa. Even on the table, there was a pot of carefully cultivated red Phalaenopsis orchids.

It looks very festive.

Ji Qiuzhe put everything else aside and held up the dumplings he had brought to show Shen Liuyun.

"Let's cook dumplings first. My parents and I made them two hours ago."

Shen Liuyun glanced reluctantly at the several boxes of varying sizes on the ground before turning her bright eyes back to Ji Qiuzhe with eager anticipation.

"Do your aunt and uncle know you're coming?"

"of course."

Ji Qiuzhe went to the kitchen and started cooking with ease. "These dumplings are what my mom asked me to bring."

Shen Liuyun was relieved.

He pulled his shawl tighter around himself and leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching the man in only a turtleneck sweater intently cooking dumplings. His earlier loneliness was replaced by joy.

The dumplings cooked quickly.

Ji Qiuzhe then chopped some scallions and cilantro, added soy sauce and vinegar, and a simple bowl of soup dumplings was perfectly served.

The filling was celery, mushrooms and pork. Ji's mother was very skilled. One bite of the dumplings was full of fresh and delicious flavor. Shen Liuyun was not hungry at first, but after taking a bite, she couldn't help but finish all twelve dumplings in the bowl.

After they finished eating, Ji Qiuzhe, under Shen Liuyun's expectant gaze, moved all the gifts to the sofa in the living room.

"Here's a surprise for you, unpack it yourself."

Shen Liuyun immediately sat down on the carpet with great joy and first used tools to disassemble a large, square box.

When the guitar with its intricate patterns came into view, he looked at it again and again, and couldn't help but exclaim, "So beautiful! I love it!"

He owns quite a few guitars, but none of them are in this style.

This guitar is entirely milky white with a simple and smooth design. The most eye-catching feature is the unique pattern around the guitar, which looks more like it was hand-painted than carved.

“I like it.”

Ji Qiuzhe was unusually a little embarrassed. "The guitar was custom-made, with your name engraved on the back, but the painting was done by me."

Shen Liuyun was genuinely pleasantly surprised.

He only knew that Ji Qiuzhe had opened an art studio, but he had never seen him paint.

He stroked the delicate blue butterfly-shaped pattern on the guitar with obvious affection and asked, "What kind of flower is that?"

"Lobelia, also known as the butterfly flower, symbolizes mystery and has medicinal uses. I think it would suit you very well."

The guitar was custom-made a few months ago, and the painting was inspired by seeing Shen Liuyun wearing an indigo down jacket some time ago, so I painted it overnight.

Shen Liuyun tested the sound and heard a clear, crisp sound like striking jade. Satisfied, he carefully placed the guitar aside.

"So thoughtful."

"I want to give you the best," Ji Qiuzhe reminded him, "Quickly take out one."

Shen Liuyun dismantled several more items, all of which Ji Qiuzhe had seen by chance and thought were very suitable for Shen Liuyun.

It was either a plush toy, a small ornament, or various accessories that seemed to have Shen Liuyun's name on them, each one exactly to Shen Liuyun's liking.