“……”

With these words, everyone in the room looked at Yan Tingli.

They all fell silent.

Su Han was the first to lose composure, crossing her arms mockingly: “Just because you say it’s yours makes it yours?”

Yan Tingli lifted his eyes: “I advise you not to compete with me.”

Su Han immediately said: “Sui Sui, look at him—”

Yan Tingli: “Sui Sui will help me catch the bouquet.”

Shi Sui: “……”

Better not expect too much from her.

Su Han laughed: “Have you even proposed yet, and you’re so sure you can get married?”

This again touched on Yan Tingli’s forbidden topic.

Ever since Shi Sui said she wanted a satisfactory proposal ceremony or she’d refuse, he had suddenly gone quiet, no longer mentioning marriage every day in her ear.

Not sure what he was brewing.

But Shi Sui seriously suspected he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

This kind of person who had no boundaries in private, asking him to do something ceremonial in public was harder than climbing to heaven.

Fortunately, with him not constantly talking about marriage, Shi Sui’s ears could be cleaner.

“Right, have you proposed?” Xue Jing also chimed in, “Ranran, how did your husband propose? Tell us about it.”

Lin Anran’s eyes curved as she said gently: “He arranged for our mutual friends to have dinner together, and while we were eating, his little dog Nuonuo suddenly came over carrying a ring box.”

Su Han: “Wow, so romantic.”

Xue Jing also gave a thumbs up: “Right, super ceremonial.”

As they spoke, both glanced toward Yan Tingli, seeing him with his head down, not knowing what he was thinking.

They exchanged looks and secretly smiled.

The evening banquet was sumptuous, and the wedding details were full of love.

Shi Sui sat at the bridesmaids’ table, watching Xue Jing deliver the rings, and when the officiant had the bride and groom kiss, the whole venue cheered.

She smiled warmly, applauding to bless her friend.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Yan Tingli resting his chin on his hand, looking thoughtfully toward the stage.

Shi Sui couldn’t help asking: “What are you thinking about?”

He said blandly: “Marriage is quite embarrassing.”

Shi Sui: ?

What was he being critical about now?

“What’s wrong now?”

Yan Tingli made a sharp comment: “Being watched like a monkey.”

Thinking of how shameless he was in private, Shi Sui couldn’t help but ask a soul-searching question: “Do you think you’re someone with thin skin?”

“Yes.”

“……” She looked expressionless, “Didn’t you say before that you wanted to kiss me in front of so-and-so?”

“You wanted my mom to know we do it every week, using who knows how many condoms.”

“……”

Yan Tingli: “That’s different.”

Shi Sui’s lips twitched.

It was different.

The only difference was whether he had lost his mind or not.

Shi Sui continued watching the stage, no longer paying attention to his occasional dramatics.

Suddenly she heard Yan Tingli say: “When I’m unhappy, I want everyone to know.”

Shi Sui looked at him in wonder.

“But if you show off happiness too much, it gets stolen.”

Same with living life too fully.

Another example of his strange logic.

Shi Sui wanted to say something, but suddenly felt her heart soften, making her reach out to hold his hand.

“Then just hold onto me tightly, and it won’t get stolen.”

At this moment, the spotlight overhead lit up—the bouquet-tossing segment at the end of the wedding banquet.

The officiant enthusiastically invited unmarried women on stage.

Shi Sui was immediately pushed by Yan Tingli: “Go catch it.”

Shi Sui looked at the people on stage, some were even female police officers from Lin Anran’s husband’s team.

She said honestly: “I might not be able to catch it.”

But seeing Yan Tingli staring at the bouquet with intense longing in his eyes, like a child in a store looking at a toy car, ready to throw a tantrum to make adults buy it.

“I want it.” He insisted, “Go now.”

Shi Sui was like a helpless middle-aged man.

Looking at him for a long moment, she helplessly squeezed out: “I’ll do my best.”

Shi Sui mingled between Su Han and Xue Jing, watching Lin Anran point her fingers in their direction.

Then Lin Anran turned around.

The bouquet flew through the air.

Shi Sui widened her eyes to track its trajectory, nervously tensing her body.

There were people all around, and the bouquet wasn’t coming directly toward her.

She thought there was no hope.

Who knew, Su Han and Xue Jing both simultaneously dodged left and right with smiles, while also pulling other “competitors” away.

Shi Sui thus caught the bouquet perfectly in her arms.

Amid the officiant’s congratulations, Shi Sui looked questioningly at Su Han and the others.

She saw Su Han smiling and mouthing: “Who dares compete with little psycho Yan?”

Knowing they had deliberately let her have the bouquet, Shi Sui smiled gratefully and mouthed her thanks.

The officiant came over for the routine questions—nothing more than whether she had a boyfriend and if he was present.

Shi Sui was about to nod, but remembering Yan Tingli saying he didn’t want to be watched like a monkey, she ignored the latter question.

After going through the formalities and returning to her seat, she handed the bouquet to Yan Tingli: “Mission accomplished as expected.”

A nearby table happened to have a child who had won a large doll in the interactive games, showing it off by placing it on the table.

Shi Sui watched as Yan Tingli matter-of-factly took the bouquet and arranged it perfectly straight, standing it upright on the table.

Shi Sui: “…Doesn’t it block your view?”

Yan Tingli seriously played with the petals: “Doesn’t matter.”

Feeling the various glances directed their way, Shi Sui’s brow twitched: “Now you’re not afraid of being watched like a monkey?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Yan Tingli looked at her with dissatisfaction: “You didn’t introduce me just now.”

“Wasn’t it you who said you didn’t like being treated like—”

Yan Tingli said righteously: “But I like showing off.”

This person was so inconsistent, changing every moment.

Shi Sui completely lost her temper.

Whatever.

As long as Yan Tingli’s mental state was stable, he could do whatever he wanted.

After the wedding ended and they returned to Hangzhou, life resumed its normal track.

Still the same as before, Yan Tingli made maximum time to come eat at her house every few days.

But on weekends, Shi Sui would helplessly make various excuses—either vacations or trips to neighboring cities—actually going to hang out with that guy Yan Tingli.

After saying this so much, Shi Yue’s looks at her had become hesitant to speak.

Shi Sui still had to bite the bullet and continue making up stories.

Until early February, as the New Year approached.

On Little New Year’s Day, Yan Tingli came for dinner carrying two bottles of red wine from his wine cellar.

The atmosphere was the same as usual.

After three cups of wine, Shi Yue suddenly said: “Xiao Li, I haven’t seen your parents since the night Sui Sui returned to the country. Last time when your father had the car accident, I called to ask after him, but the secretary answered.”

“This Spring Festival, should our two families meet for a meal?”

Hearing this, Shi Sui suddenly looked up, biting her chopsticks as she looked across the table.

Her parents’ expressions were consistent—they must have discussed this beforehand, planning to bring this up with Yan Tingli.

Shi Sui felt things were going badly.

Given Yan Tingli’s current relationship with his parents, could they even sit at the same table? Would past events also be dug up?

Just as she was thinking how to smooth things over, Yan Tingli unhurriedly responded: “As it should be, I’ll mention it to them immediately.”

“Besides that, this New Year, I also want to bring Sui Sui to meet the elders on my family’s side.”

Huh? Shi Sui suddenly turned to look at him.

“I see.” Li Yin took a breath, looking somewhat confused, “Then what do we need to prepare for the elders on your side?”

“Auntie doesn’t need to worry,” Yan Tingli smiled, “they should be the ones preparing meeting gifts.”

Yan Tingli’s skill at making up stories had now reached its peak.

Shi Sui knew nothing about any of these things, yet they were already “arranged” in his mouth.

After dinner, she immediately pulled Yan Tingli outside to talk.

The winter wind blew coldly, and Yan Tingli, disliking the humid air, pulled her into the car.

Shi Sui: “You’re making up so many lies, my parents really believe them. How will you handle it when the time comes…”

“Who says they’re lies?”

Yan Tingli looked down, playing with her fingers.

Shi Sui was helpless: “Forget about your family elders, just your parents—will they still come eat with us?”

“Do you think they still have room to negotiate with me now?”

Yan Tingli’s tone was contemptuous, without any emotion.

“So you’re planning to force them to come?”

Shi Sui asked dryly.

She understood all too well the feeling of being forced by Yan Tingli.

When he held enough leverage and was determined to achieve a certain goal, no one could resist.

Yan Tingli looked at her disapprovingly: “Don’t use such harsh words.”

“……”

He smiled: “It’s clearly called an exchange of interests.”

Shi Sui really couldn’t imagine what it would be like to sit at a table again with Yan Zecheng and Song Jie, engaging in false pleasantries.

She could only sit back down in frustration.

“And visiting your family to meet elders—is that real too?”

Yan Tingli: “Of course.”

Thinking of his family’s many terrifying siblings, Shi Sui was horrified: “Does your family have some rule that requires meeting?”

Yan Tingli looked at her matter-of-factly: “Isn’t meeting each family’s elders before marriage a necessary process?”

This was knowledge he’d learned from this wedding.

Shi Sui was still hesitating.

“You said you didn’t want to elope.” Yan Tingli said, “Then let’s follow the proper marriage procedures.”

He observed her micro-expressions and called her out directly: “You don’t dare go?”

Shi Sui admitted she was cowardly and honestly nodded.

“Who are you afraid of?” Yan Tingli suddenly asked with a dark expression.

It seemed that if she really named someone, that person would immediately be in trouble.

Shi Sui didn’t know how to explain.

After quite a while, she slowly began: “Do you know what I felt the first time I saw you at the Yan house?”

“I know.” Yan Tingli said knowingly, “You admired me.”

“?” Shi Sui bristled, “Nonsense!”

“It was obvious.” Yan Tingli looked down at her.

His demeanor held confident arrogance, “I’ve received many similar looks.”

Shi Sui choked: “That was just liking your appearance.”

“I know,” Yan Tingli said, “most people are like that.”

Those who knew him would only avoid him at all costs.

Feeling the indifference and weariness emanating from him, Shi Sui grasped both his hands and explained: “It’s not because of anything else, just because you make people afraid to approach, like you’re from a different world than me.”

“It was only after going to your house that I learned some people live in such big houses and play such expensive pianos.”

If not for some coincidental birth chart compatibility that made Song Jie nod in agreement, allowing her to mistakenly enter that maze-like mansion.

Shi Sui probably would never have known Yan Tingli in this lifetime, much less spoken a word to him.

In the past, due to her teenage pride, Shi Sui found it hard to open her heart and analyze these things with him.

“So suddenly having to meet your family members is still quite challenging for me.” Shi Sui said softly, “Give me some time to prepare.”

Yan Tingli’s fingers were held by hers, like touching a piece of warm jade.

Suddenly, he lifted her hand and pressed it against his cheek, nuzzling it.

Shi Sui was somewhat dazed by his suddenly affectionate gesture, softening her voice: “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.” He paused for a few seconds before saying, “I like this feeling.”

Yan Tingli’s vocabulary for describing emotions was even more limited than hers, but his sensitivity to emotional changes was greater than anyone’s.

Shi Sui could only guide him herself: “Is it because I’m communicating with you calmly and peacefully?”

Even saying things that she would never have said before due to pride.

Yan Tingli didn’t speak, only kissed her wrist.

They rarely had such normal, effective communication.

Not bickering or being unreasonable, not talking to deaf ears.

But like any ordinary couple, opening their hearts and asking each other’s opinions.

“Am I giving you too little confidence?” Yan Tingli looked down with lowered lashes and suddenly asked.

“…Huh?”

“Are you worried those wastes will look down on you?”

Shi Sui’s expression showed slight annoyance as she gently pinched him: “…You don’t need to be so blunt.”

Yan Tingli suddenly looked at her and smiled.

But what he said made Shi Sui break out in a cold sweat for others.

He said carelessly: “I’d like to see who dares.”

“……”

That was true too.

Being with Yan Tingli, she wouldn’t suffer others’ slights.

There were always too many things at year-end.

By the time Shi Sui came to her senses amid the busy wrap-up work, it was already approaching New Year’s Eve.

Before the holiday break, Yan Tingli came to pick her up.

Shi Sui got in the car and asked: “Are you going back to Beijing?”

Yan Tingli: “Not going back.”

“Huh?” Shi Sui was puzzled, “Then where are you staying? Not at my house, right?”

“Can’t I?” Yan Tingli kept his eyes straight ahead.

Shi Sui hesitated: “What about your family’s side…”

“No one controls me.”

Whether it was “no one controls” or “no one can control” him, Shi Sui didn’t know.

“Did you tell my parents?”

Yan Tingli: “They know.”

“Huh?”

“I come every year.”

“Every year?” Shi Sui’s pupils slowly moved.

Yan Tingli suddenly stopped talking.

Looking at his bland expression, as if he’d fallen into some memory and lost the desire to continue.

Shi Sui also fell silent.

That evening at dinner, Li Yin naturally asked about where Yan Tingli was spending New Year.

“This year I want to accompany Sui Sui in Hangzhou,” Yan Tingli went along with the flow, “may I stay?”

“Of course you can.”

Li Yin immediately agreed, but soon hesitated: “But your parents not seeing you even once a year, isn’t that not so good?”

“It’s fine, we’re all used to this.”

Li Yin: “I see…”

No matter how slow, she could tell Yan Tingli’s relationship with his parents was ordinary.

That evening, after Yan Tingli left, Li Yin finally came to Shi Sui’s bedroom and asked: “Sui Sui, tell mom honestly, does Xiao Li have some conflict with his parents?”

Shi Sui was watching anime when her mother suddenly asked this.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she could only answer vaguely: “His parents are busy, they don’t get together much to begin with.”

“But your dad and I work busy schedules too, and we’re not like this.” Li Yin thought of the past two years and said softly, “During the three years you were abroad, he came to our house on New Year’s Day. But he wouldn’t stay long, sitting for a while before leaving, looking quite lonely.”

Some things Shi Sui didn’t know were suddenly dug up from corners, making her nose sting.

“Maybe he missed me.”

Li Yin rubbed the top of her head and didn’t ask further.

She said gently: “Good thing this year Xiao Li won’t be lonely anymore.”

“…Mm.”

On New Year’s Eve.

Early in the morning, Yan Tingli came to the door.

Shi Yue opened it to see gifts piled almost throughout the entire elevator hall by his feet.

Besides cigarettes, alcohol, and supplements, there were even bundles of gold bars.

He said in shock: “Xiao Li, what’s all this?”

Shi Sui had just gotten up, yawning as she looked over.

She was almost blinded by the gleaming gold bars at Yan Tingli’s feet.

“What are you doing?” She pattered over to the door.

Yan Tingli thought for a moment: “They said when visiting, you should bring heavy gifts.”

Shi Sui: “Who said that?”

Yan Tingli’s expression was mysterious.

Then he raised his chin toward the 3.0 control system in the living room: “It.”

Shi Sui: “……”

3.0 wasn’t wrong.

In China, when sons-in-law visit, these cigarettes and alcohol are standard.

But these somewhat vulgar things, when put together with Yan Tingli, seemed out of place everywhere.

Shi Yue and Li Yin were shocked for a while, then watched as Yan Tingli instructed people to move everything inside.

Li Yin’s expression changed.

These things were far too precious for them, but their value to Yan Tingli was as light as feathers, leaving people unsure how to handle it.

Shi Sui was used to it.

The energy Yan Tingli spent figuring out and preparing these things was worth more in his eyes than these strings of numbers.

She directed people to put everything in the house’s storage room.

Their family’s New Year was also very simple.

Grandpa and grandma had passed away when Shi Sui was in high school. In college, Shi Sui went with her parents to her maternal grandmother’s house in a neighboring province for New Year once.

But the living space was small—her parents had to squeeze into Li Yin’s unmarried room.

Shi Sui had to squeeze into bed with her cousin, also having to endure her bad-tempered cousin’s eye-rolls.

She still remembered that year in her cousin’s dim room, playing with her phone in frustration.

Suddenly Yan Tingli called with a video call, and Shi Sui accidentally answered.

At that time, the roosters outside the room were still crowing.

Behind Yan Tingli was a spacious, bright villa, and his face was as frosty as snow, ethereally handsome.

He leaned closer to look at her background and asked strangely: “Where did you go coal mining?”

Making Shi Sui’s face turn red: “…This is my grandmother’s house.”

More accurately, it was now her uncle’s house—grandmother had no say.

Yan Tingli tilted his head to examine it, his eyes showing curiosity like “there are still houses like this?”

“Come back quickly, I want to see you.” He said carelessly.

“No…” Before she could finish her words, Yan Tingli interrupted. He leaned closer, his face magnifying, showing a mischievous smile: “There’s a rooster crowing on your side, I can’t hear what you’re saying.”

The next second.

Beep beep beep, the video disconnected, embarrassing Shi Sui so much she buried her burning face and couldn’t recover for a long time.

After that incident, Shi Yue never took her to grandmother’s house again.

On New Year’s Eve, it was often just their family of three, simply chatting and having a meal.

This year, they had Yan Tingli added.

Past memories surfaced, making Shi Sui feel somewhat dazed.

That Yan Tingli who had been high and mighty in the video call, living in an ivory tower, had one day come to her side to spend Spring Festival.

He had laughed at the rooster beside her then—next year she’d make him personally feed chickens, Shi Sui thought vindictively.

She immediately suggested: “Let’s go back to the small town for New Year next year.”

Shi Yue was stunned, immediately feeling some homesickness.

He agreed: “We could, going back to the countryside for New Year has more festive atmosphere.”

Shi Sui smiled: “We’ll get two chickens to raise when we go back, and stew them for New Year.”

“Good idea.”

Today Yan Tingli accompanied Shi Yue in finishing an entire bottle of alcohol.

Shi Yue liked drinking liquor, but Yan Tingli wasn’t used to it. After a few cups, his whole body was already flushed pink.

Li Yin watched worriedly and patted Shi Yue: “Enough, don’t let Xiao Li drink more.”

While saying this: “I’ll go cook you a sobering soup.”

Shi Sui thought it wasn’t a big deal.

Yan Tingli’s skin changed color from doing anything—this was standard operation.

But Yan Tingli gladly accepted: “Thank you, Auntie.”

Until after several rounds of drinks.

Shi Yue was tipsy, and Yan Tingli’s reaction time was longer than usual. Shi Sui guessed he’d reached his limit and was about to suggest ending when Li Yin suddenly smiled and pulled out two small red envelopes, giving one each to them.

“Here, New Year money.” Li Yin said, “May the new year bring peace and happiness to everyone.”

Yan Tingli stared blankly for a few seconds: “I get one too?”

“Of course.” Li Yin said, “These are for you two.”

Shi Sui had already quickly taken hers and waved it in front of Yan Tingli: “If you don’t take it, I’ll take yours too.”

“It’s mine.” Yan Tingli snatched it away.

He was probably indeed drunk, staring at the red envelope with misty eyes, turning it up and down to examine it.

Then very carefully, he put it in his pocket, seemingly still worried she’d come snatch it, giving her a warning squint.

Shi Sui found it amusing and pushed his arm: “Have you never seen a red envelope? Still afraid I’ll steal it.”

“No.” Yan Tingli leaned his head on her shoulder and said quietly, “No one gives them.”

“?” Shi Sui was surprised, “How is that possible?”

Shi Yue had gone to the balcony to smoke after drinking, Li Yin was cooking sobering soup, making bubbling sounds.

Outside, naughty children occasionally secretly set off firecrackers, making sporadic noises.

Then there were the fragrant dishes on the dinner table, mixed with rich wine aroma.

All combining into a complete New Year.

“Too many people in the family, can’t give to everyone, so they just don’t give any,” Yan Tingli frowned and said, “The amounts are too small, meaningless.”

All were interest-based relationships—no one would spend effort on such boring things.

Shi Sui fell silent and suddenly patted his head.

“But actually,” Yan Tingli’s voice got even lower.

Shi Sui leaned closer: “What?”

“Xiao Jin had some.”

Song Jie would secretly give them to him.

He saw it but didn’t tell anyone.

At this moment, Shi Sui felt her heart was even more bitter than the alcohol she’d just swallowed.

Making her immediately stuff her own red envelope to him: “Here, I’ll give you mine too.”

“Don’t want it.” Yan Tingli turned his head, “That’s yours.”

“Sui Sui needs to be safe more.”

Drunk Yan Tingli suddenly wasn’t stubborn anymore, saying whatever came to mind.

Shi Sui’s heart melted completely as she helped him to the room’s sofa.

“Rest here for a bit, I’ll bring you the soup when it’s ready.”

Shi Sui was about to go to the kitchen when her hem was tugged.

Yan Tingli closed his eyes: “No, I want to talk more.”

Shi Sui couldn’t refuse and crouched down: “…What do you want to say?”

“I’m very happy today.”

Shi Sui smiled: “Mm, I’m very happy too.”

“This year I’m not lonely either.”

Shi Sui lowered her head to kiss his forehead and said softly: “From now on, A Li will never be lonely again.”