Chapter 294: So What Should I Do?

At the entrance to the apartment building, traces of firecrackers were visible everywhere on the ground, as if a fiery red scroll had been unfurled before one's eyes. Red paper scraps were scattered like stars, carrying people's beautiful wishes for the New Year.

The air was filled with a faint scent of gunpowder, the lingering echo of fireworks.

Looking out, quite a few people were gathered in the open space in front of the door, both old and young, all setting off fireworks and firecrackers. A feast of brilliant, colorful fireworks bloomed in the sky, as dazzling and dreamlike as a fantasy.

Shen Yan then moved various fireworks out from the trunk, including a Gatling, Fairy Wands, and Big Windmills.

Several cousins were having a blast over there, especially when Shen Yan held the Gatling and fired wildly like a machine gun; the thrill was off the charts.

The children were dancing and gesturing behind him, with cries of "Wow! Wow! So pretty!" coming one after another.

This was the way the New Year should taste.

Before long, Yu Youwei hurried back from her grandfather's house. She stood to the side, eager to try but hesitant to step forward, fearing she might be burned by the fireworks. Shen Yan gave her a few Fairy Wands and then paid her no more mind.

Finally, Shen Yan set off a barrel of Hundred-Sound Fireworks. Bundles of sparks shot straight into the sky, blooming in colorful hues that were reflected in everyone's eyes.

It really is beautiful!

At this moment, Shen Jiaqing asked without warning: "Brother, what do you think the housing prices in Shanghai will develop into in the future? Can they keep rising?"

Shen Yan replied casually: "They'll definitely rise! Shanghai is the country's economic center, after all; it's at the top level in the nation in every aspect. I'd bet that in the future, housing prices there will absolutely rise to an unimaginably high level."

"Unlike our Wencheng, where the economic decline has been very obvious these past few years. Our GDP has gone from first in the province to being surpassed by other cities one after another. Buying a house in Shanghai is definitely a guaranteed profit."

Shen Jiaqing nodded in understanding. Shen Yan hadn't mentioned these points during the New Year's Eve dinner just now, but the analysis was incisive and made perfect sense.

The facts were indeed so; Wencheng was declining at a visible speed, yet housing prices were bucking the trend and sitting firmly on the throne of being the highest in the country, which was very illogical.

"Then, when Grandma moves to Shanghai, how do you plan to handle the house here?" Shen Jiaqing asked again.

As everyone knew, this Shen Family property was obtained through the demolition of the old house left by Shen Fu. There was no dispute; the ownership belonged to Shen Yan, and even the head of the household was in Shen Yan's name.

Hearing this, Yu Youwei, who was nearby, was suddenly startled and immediately interrupted their conversation: "Shen Yan, what did Brother Jiaqing just mean? Your grandma is moving to Shanghai?"

"There is such a plan. Uncle is moving to Shanghai and intends to take Grandma there to live together," Shen Yan answered truthfully.

"Then what about you? Are you living here alone?"

Looking at her nervous expression, Shen Yan sighed inwardly and said: "I will most likely settle in Shanghai in the future. I probably won't come back here much."

Upon hearing this, Yu Youwei stood dazed for a long while; her brain felt like mush, and she completely lost the ability to think.

Not coming back?

Then what should she do?

After the Hundred-Sound Fireworks ended, Shen Yan drove to Junrui Haoyuan. Wu Yue'er was there, craning her neck in anticipation. Dressed in a black tassel sweater, she was particularly eye-catching under the dim streetlights. Her beautiful legs were outlined as straight and slender by her shark leggings, and she wore high-top boots—a quintessential sexy goddess.

"Beep!"

A honk of the horn.

Wu Yue'er ran prettily to the passenger seat like a little sprite, hugged Shen Yan, and gave him a fierce kiss on the face.

"Hubby, why did you take so long? I'm almost starving to death."

In fact, she had eaten a few biscuits earlier to stave off hunger. The reason she said that was just to act coquettishly toward Shen Yan. Shen Yan reached out and pinched her cheek, feigning confusion: "If you're starving, why is your face still so chubby? Don't tell me it's swollen from being hit for lying."

"You're annoying!"

Wu Yue'er gave him a charming, coquettish glare, saying that she clearly had a melon-seed face with naturally smooth lines; where was it chubby?

Laughing and joking, the car began to wander along the road. At this time of night, few restaurants were open, and finding a place to eat required searching for quite a while.

This made Shen Yan miss the days when he could order delivery.

By the way, Meituan was launched this year. Meituan Delivery wouldn't launch until 2013, and at this time, Ele. me was still an obscure little website.

He would look it up online later.

As an investor, one naturally shouldn't miss out on good projects.

After quite a search, the two ate their New Year's Eve dinner at a boiled fish restaurant. Wu Yue'er ate until her mouth was oily, saying that although this New Year's Eve dinner wasn't very lavish, it was the "most delicious" one she had ever eaten.

Shen Yan affectionately stroked her little head, teasing her: "Look at this poor girl, she can be so happy eating just boiled fish. Sigh! That's all the ambition she has."

"At a time like this, shouldn't you be holding me and comforting me for a while, saying 'little baby, little darling, I'll spend every New Year's Eve with you from now on'? And this is all I get?"

Wu Yue'er got up and sat next to him with a resentful look. Shen Yan said that the sentiment was conveyed, so there was no need to be so melodramatic. Wu Yue'er indicated that he should please be as melodramatic as possible; she loved that sort of thing.

Shen Yan then pulled out a tissue to wipe the grease from her mouth and kissed her directly.

Just like that, the pair of lovebirds kissed wantonly in the private room, unable to bear parting.

After eating and drinking their fill, Shen Yan drove to a riverbank. The sky was overcast, with the bright moon and stars hiding behind thick clouds. Rows of orderly streetlights emitted a soft glow, illuminating the surroundings.

Across the river was an endless field. Scattered here and there were a few young couples, happily setting off fireworks that were colorful and quite beautiful.

Facing this scene, Wu Yue'er was like a wild horse off the leash, reveling to her heart's content. Unlike Yu Youwei, who feared firecrackers, Wu Yue'er was fearless.

She threw small and large firecrackers into the river. Accompanied by a muffled thud, water splashed everywhere, forming curtains of water. Wu Yue'er was as happy as a child, jumping up and down while hugging Shen Yan, her face beaming with a radiant smile.

"Hubby, look, it exploded, it exploded!"

"This firecracker has such great power!"

A cold breeze blew by, bringing a cool and fresh scent. Wu Yue'er's joyful laughter echoed in the air, sounding like the most beautiful musical notes.

Next came the Gatling barrage; then the "Bullish Rising," where the firework spun rapidly on the ground like a top, emitting dense, fragmented rays of light; then the Happiness Sunflower, with the firework fixed in the air, spinning 360 degrees...

Afterward, the two moved on to the square in the center of the county town to welcome the New Year's countdown.

Time passed second by second, and the atmosphere around them grew more and more fervent. Cheers rose one after another, anticipating the arrival of the new year.

Finally, the countdown began:

"10!"

"9!"

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

Immediately following this, the sky suddenly became exceptionally bright, and countless fireworks bloomed simultaneously, forming a sea of flowers that covered the sky and earth, illuminating the entire square as if it were broad daylight, leaving people marveling in wonder, with many people taking out their mobile phones to record this beautiful moment.

At this moment, the Year of the Tiger officially arrived!