Chapter 467: The Xu Family Visits the Countryside for New Year Greetings

Compared to the city, the New Year atmosphere in the countryside is clearly stronger.

Because the neighbors are all relatives known since childhood, everyone returns for the holiday, visits each other, and all know one another.

Some relatives haven't seen each other in a year, so there's plenty to talk about.

If someone has done well outside, it's even more glorious.

Like Li Guohong, these days he was happy to wander around, chat with neighbors, and casually let them discover he had a new car.

And this thing called New Year atmosphere—compared to growing up, it's clearly easier for children to feel that joy.

Or rather, before marriage and career, adults create the New Year atmosphere for children.

Once you become an adult and have your own family, it's up to you to create the holiday atmosphere for your children.

Responsibility on your shoulders changes many flavors.

Li Luo never married in his past life, and in this life he's still young, so he doesn't deeply understand this.

But having lived two lives, he regards this current New Year atmosphere as something precious, savoring it carefully every day.

On the afternoon of the first day of the New Year, Yuan Wanqing came here; after spending the night, she spent the second and third days mostly following Lin Xiuhong.

Either playing mahjong, or going out to chat nearby.

Lin Xiuhong took Yuan Wanqing out, wandered around the neighborhood, and soon, all the nearby neighbors and relatives learned that Li Guohong's house had received a big star.

She even appeared on the Spring Festival Gala.

But the older generation in the countryside don't have that so-called fan-culture mindset; after expressing amazement, they move on, at most becoming topic of conversation over tea or meals.

Even among the young, most just shyly come over to ask for an autograph or a simple photo, then proudly show it off to their peers.

By the fourth day, Yuan Wanqing had fully blended into this environment, and even in the evening, she voluntarily went to the kitchen and cooked a dish under Lin Xiuhong's guidance.

In Li Luo's memory, because in his past life he broke ties with Ying Chanxi upon finishing junior high, the two families no longer ate together during the New Year.

Li Guohong and Ying Zhicheng's relationship was still good, but only privately.

Li Luo and Ying Chanxi ignored each other, both staying locked in their rooms during the holiday in the countryside, so they never met.

¤￠O

Under these circumstances, since Ying Zhicheng planned to reveal the truth to his daughter only when she entered university, he couldn't possibly bring Yuan Wanqing home for the New Year ahead of time.

Scenes like this—Yuan Wanqing cooking a dish and serving it for Ying Zhicheng and others to taste—probably never occurred in his past life.

So when going to bed that night, Lin Xiuhong rolled over on the bed and looked at Li Guohong beside her, unable to resist asking curiously: "Has Zhicheng said anything to you privately?"

"Said what?" Li Guohong blinked, completely confused by what Lin Xiuhong meant. "Just say it straight—why beat around the bush?"

"I mean Yuan Wanqing." Lin Xiuhong poked his arm with her elbow and whispered gossipingly, "I always feel Yuan Wanqing's gaze toward Zhicheng is strange."

"What do you mean?" Li Guohong wasn't stupid; hearing her say that and seeing her squinting expression, he immediately understood. "Impossible! You're imagining things."

"Then why would Yuan Wanqing agree to stay here a few extra days?"

"Isn't it because Lao Xu and the others are coming to visit? Everyone's gathering for the New Year." Li Guohong said.

Although since learning Yuan Wanqing was Yan Zhusheng's mother, Li Guohong had stopped claiming to be her fan.

But inwardly, he still had a bit of idolizing filter toward this big star.

When meeting privately, Yuan Wanqing was just Yan Zhusheng's mother, and everyone was a parent.

But when seeing Yuan Wanqing's news online, she was Big Star Yuan Wanqing—the voice that had often appeared in his playlist.

Now his own wife told him his favorite female singer might have feelings for his best friend?

That was terrifying!

"You haven't spent much time with Yuan Wanqing these days—I've been with her the whole time. You don't understand."

"You're the one who doesn't understand!" Li Guohong snapped. "They're both parents now—how could there be something like you're suggesting?"

"Having kids doesn't change the fact they're both single," Lin Xiuhong said matter-of-factly. "Besides, Yuan Wanqing's studio is affiliated with Zhicheng's company—they interact often. Isn't it normal for feelings to develop over time?"

"That's still impossible," Li Guohong shook his head repeatedly. "Don't you know how Zhicheng feels about Ruqing? Haven't there been women chasing him before? After Ruqing passed, did he ever show interest in anyone else?"

This struck a chord with Lin Xiuhong.

Before Ying Chanxi's mother, Yan Ruqing, died, because the two families were so close, Lin Xiuhong and Yan Ruqing were very good friends.

When Li Luo and Ying Chanxi were children, she often took both kids out traveling with Yan Ruqing.

Though mostly just within Yuhang City, it greatly broadened the children's horizons.

Yan Ruqing was a top graduate with her own philosophy on raising children.

Back then, Lin Xiuhong thought Yan Ruqing was highly educated and more capable, so she followed her lead in raising her child.

Unfortunately, Yan Ruqing passed away early; without her as a model, Lin Xiuhong gradually became a typical Chinese parent, constantly comparing Ying Chanxi's grades to Li Luo's.

But then again—

"I think Yuan Wanqing would be quite suitable," Lin Xiuhong thought over it and finally said. "Zhicheng has spent over a decade raising Xixi. Now that Xixi's about to enter university, he's fulfilled his duty—he deserves some life of his own, right?"

"You've got a point, but it doesn't have to be Yuan Wanqing," Li Guohong still resisted.

"Are you interested in her?" Lin Xiuhong glanced at him, snorting. "Didn't you used to say you were her fan?"

"How can you say such nonsense!" Li Guohong looked exasperated. "Being a fan and having feelings—are they the same thing?"

"I think Zhicheng is also interested in Yuan Wanqing," Lin Xiuhong said. "Look—when she went to the airport and when she returned, wasn't Zhicheng the one picking her up and dropping her off? Don't they have drivers?"

"Drivers need to celebrate the New Year too," Li Guohong retorted. "I think you should stop gossiping—this is classic midlife crisis, meddling in others' lives. Why not focus on your own?"

"What's that supposed to mean? You think I'm old?"

"I never said that."

"Li Guohong, explain yourself clearly."

"I'm going to sleep."

"Get up!"

"Hey hey hey! Talk properly—why are you hitting me?"

……

The fifth day of the New Year.

Qianjiang University staff housing complex.

Early in the morning, barely past six, Cui Suling and Xu Rongsheng were still asleep.

Then the bedroom door suddenly swung open.

Xu Youyu, in her pajamas and slippers, strode into the room, yanked open the curtains, and muttered under her breath:

"Sleep, sleep, sleep—you just know how to sleep! Don't you even check what time it is?"

"The sun's already shining on your butt! Get up already!"

"You always get up early for work—now that you're on holiday, you're slacking off? Get up right now!"

Xu Rongsheng and Cui Suling, lying in bed, were woken by Xu Youyu's voice. They blinked groggily at the dim morning light outside the window, then at Xu Youyu standing beside the bed with her hands on her hips, momentarily dazed.

Cui Suling rubbed her eyes, checked her phone, and saw it was only 6:10—she froze in shock.

"What… are you crazy?" Cui Suling turned back to her daughter, speechless. "It's barely six—why are you making such a racket?"

"Aren't you always yelling at me to wake up like this?" Xu Youyu grinned, reaching to yank off their covers. "Hurry up and get up!"

Seeing this, Xu Rongsheng grabbed the blanket. "Hey hey hey! Don't touch! We're getting up! Just go outside first!"

"Hurry then! Clean yourselves up, and then we'll go downstairs for breakfast!"

Xu Youyu clattered out of the room in her slippers, heading straight for the bathroom to wash up.

Left alone, Xu Rongsheng and Cui Suling stared at each other, both more bewildered than the other—half-convinced Xu Youyu had been possessed.

"What's gotten into her?" Cui Suling, still half-asleep, scratched her head, utterly confused.

"What else could it be?" Xu Rongsheng sighed, pulled out his phone, and showed it to Cui Suling. "Check the date."

"The fifth day of the New Year. So what?"

"Didn't we agree to visit Li Luo's house today to pay New Year's respects?"

"Right."

"Our daughter just couldn't wait," Xu Rongsheng said, exasperated.

Realization struck Cui Suling, and she let out a bittersweet laugh. "This is ridiculous. During the New Year, who ever gets up this early? I usually have to drag you out of bed at ten!"

"Can you compare?" Xu Rongsheng pulled back the covers, got out of bed, and changed clothes, sighing softly. "Daughters grow up and leave home—it's just frustrating."

"What's frustrating? Isn't Li Luo great?" Cui Suling got up too, changing clothes as she joked, "If they really end up together, I'd be thrilled. Why not let me hold my grandchild while they're still in college?"

"Is that the issue?" Xu Rongsheng shook his head. "What about Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng? Your daughter might not even win."

"Especially since she'll start university this fall—she'll spend far less time with Li Luo then."

"If their feelings fade over this year, it's fine—they're still kids."

Xu Rongsheng took this perspective calmly.

Even though the three girls all seemed close to Li Luo,

didn't everyone go through childhood?

Many people, in their youth, had one or two close friends of the opposite sex.

But very, very few of them ended up together in the end.

Cui Suling understood this too.

So when they talked about Xu Youyu and Li Luo, they usually spoke half-seriously, half-jokingly.

After all, the kids were still young—no one knew what the future held.

Even if Li Luo ended up with some girl they'd never heard of, rather than any of the three, it was entirely possible.

"Why worry so much? I was just saying it," Cui Suling waved her hand, then went to wash up with Xu Rongsheng.

At 6:30 a. m., the Xu family went downstairs for breakfast.

Then they returned home to pack gifts for their New Year's visit. By 7:30 a. m., Xu Rongsheng drove off with his wife and daughter toward Li Luo's home.

"Do you still remember how to get there?"

Over half an hour later, Xu Rongsheng pulled up at the entrance of Li Family Village and asked Xu Youyu, "You came here once last year, right?"

"How could I remember?" Xu Youyu shook her head, then leaned out the window, peering around—then her eyes lit up as she waved at a figure by the gate. "Li Luo! Over here! Over here!"

Xu Rongsheng and Cui Suling turned to look—and saw a figure approaching from the village entrance.

It was Li Luo.

"Uncle, Auntie, Happy New Year."

Li Luo walked to the car and politely greeted Xu Rongsheng and Cui Suling inside.

Xu Rongsheng and Cui Suling smiled and nodded.

In the backseat, Xu Youyu couldn't wait—she flung open the door, jumped out, grabbed Li Luo's arm, and yanked him toward the backseat. "Why are you being so formal with my parents? Get in already! How do we get inside?"

Li Luo was pulled into the backseat, the door shut, and he sat in the middle, giving Xu Rongsheng directions.

"Uncle Xu, go straight ahead, then turn left at the wider intersection."

As he spoke, Xu Rongsheng restarted the car. In the back, Li Luo's expression remained calm—but his hand was still clutched by Xu Youyu, gradually tightened by her warm, soft fingers until their fingers interlocked.

Knowing Xu Rongsheng and Cui Suling were in front, Li Luo dared not speak up—he could only endure Youyu's teasing in silence.

"Is it this way?" Xu Youyu leaned close to Li Luo, staring at the road ahead, pressing herself tightly against him. "I thought we could just walk straight in from here before?"

◆ttkΛn◆C〇

"People can walk straight in, but cars can't—it's got to be the village road," Li Luo replied, feeling the pressure from Xu Youyu's body against his arm.

Even wrapped in her down jacket, he couldn't fully ignore the softness.

But this pleasure didn't last long.

As Li Luo guided Xu Rongsheng's driving, the car soon arrived at the gate of Li Luo's family courtyard.

"Uncle Xu, just drive right in—the yard has plenty of space."

"Alright." Xu Rongsheng nodded and parked the car beside Li Guohong's vehicle.

At this moment, Li Guohong, Lin Xiuhong, Ying Chanxi, Yan Zhusheng, as well as Ying Zhicheng and Yuan Wanqing, were all already waiting in the yard.

As soon as the car stopped, Xu Youyu opened the door and got out, cheerfully greeting Li Guohong and the others.

"Uncle and Auntie, Happy New Year!"

The four elders all smiled and nodded in response.

After greeting them, Xu Youyu turned his gaze to Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng beside him, dashed over in a flash, and with a grin, opened his arms to hug both of them tightly.

"XiXi, ZhuSheng~ I've missed you so much~"

At that moment, Li Luo had just gotten out of the car and saw this scene; he instantly felt all six parents' eyes fixed on him, sending a chill through his body.

But that gaze vanished in an instant, and Li Luo thought it had been his imagination.

After the six parents withdrew their gazes from Li Luo and turned again to the trio hugging together—Xu Youyu, Ying Chanxi, and Yan Zhusheng—their expressions grew complex and unreadable.

They didn't know what to say.