Chapter 57: New Year’s Eve Part 3

Miao Zhu couldn’t walk fast. Mu Zhiren trailed at a distance, too curious. Everyone said Sister A-Heng and Miao Zhu were dating—what was a dating Sister A-Heng like? She had to see.

Ahead, Miao Zhu paused mid-step. Huh, why’d she stop?

Mu Zhiren peeked from behind a pillar and saw someone charge straight at Miao Zhu.

Who? Oh! Sister A-Heng’s other little sister, Sheng Xingran.

Sheng Xingran was about to lose her mind over Miao Zhu and Mu Shanyi being together. In a breakdown, she stormed into Jinyuan and ran smack into Miao Zhu. Without a word, she grabbed her arm and dragged her outward.

Miao Zhu struggled but couldn’t break free, stumbling several steps. “Xingran, my ankle hurts. I can’t walk that fast. You go first—”

“You promised you wouldn’t get back together with her!” Sheng Xingran whirled around.

Miao Zhu sighed helplessly. “I never promised that.”

“What’s going on? Are they going to fight?” Mu Zhiren muttered to herself when she suddenly heard someone whispering right above her head, “We have to go break it up!”

Mu Zhiren nearly jumped out of her skin. Mu Huiren had silently crouched down beside her, eyes scanning everywhere and ears perked up. “Oh! No need for us to step in—A-Heng jie is here! Sister Baozhu is here too!”

Rage and frustration burned Sheng Xingran’s cheeks bright red. She shook off Miao Zhu’s hand. “Do you really think you have a future with her? She’s just after something new and exciting, playing around with you. Everyone she interacts with is more suitable for her than you are! Don’t forget about Zheng Simiao—Zheng Simiao was betrothed to her!”

“So certain? Did she tell you that herself?”

Sheng Xingran stiffened.

Mu Shanyi glanced at Li Baozhu, who was with her. Understanding the look, Li Baozhu chuckled and walked to the pillar at the corner of the walkway. She grabbed Mu Huiren with one hand and Mu Zhiren with the other, hauling both of them away.

“I called Dad to discuss it and told him Miao Zhu would be spending New Year’s Eve at Jinyuan. If you planned to come here today too, I didn’t want anything to happen that would upset Miao Zhu. What, didn’t Dad pass that on to you?” Mu Shanyi’s words came at a measured pace. As she spoke, she walked over to Miao Zhu’s side.

Was that a discussion? It was a one-sided notice! Sheng Xingran gnashed her teeth. “You made Mom so mad she got sick! We’re not coming! Don’t worry—we won’t come here anymore!”

The more she thought about it, the more it stuck in her throat. “Stealing your little sister’s fiancée and then showing up together like that—you really don’t care about losing face, do you? You really don’t mind people laughing at you!”

Mu Shanyi’s expression toward Sheng Xingran was the same as Miao Zhu’s—full of helplessness. “Xingran, can’t you act a little more mature?”

“You used to be inseparable from Miao Zhu. You should be the one who understands and empathizes with her the most. Even if you’re slow on the uptake, after that New Year’s Eve incident, you should have realized what Miao Zhu wants. ‘Fiancée’? That’s just plundering her free will, and you’re still throwing that word around. Are you the one who can’t let her go, or is it that sense of superiority that lets you take her whenever you want?”

“I can give Longlong everything she wants too!” Sheng Xingran’s face flushed red. She deliberately ignored Mu Shanyi’s use of “plunder,” pretending not to hear it. For the first time in her life, she yelled loudly at Mu Shanyi. “Isn’t the whole world revolving around you enough!? Why do you have to take Longlong away from me too!!”

This was nothing but unreasonable nonsense, and Mu Shanyi’s patience was nearly exhausted. “Xingran, sober up. Once you learn some respect, we can talk about this.”

With that, Mu Shanyi ignored Sheng Xingran. She took Miao Zhu’s hand and carefully escorted her toward Spring Language Hall.

Miao Zhu hadn’t said a word the whole way. Only when she heard voices and laughter from the courtyard did she quicken her pace a step.

“Hm?” Mu Shanyi let Miao Zhu burrow into her embrace.

Miao Zhu wrapped her arms around Mu Shanyi and looked up at her with reddened eyes. “A-Heng jie, I love you so much.”

Not far away, the sneaky Mu Huiren and Mu Zhiren hugged each other and stomped their feet in excitement.

Night fell, and the lanterns hanging in Jinyuan lit up, ushering in another joyful and harmonious New Year’s Eve.

In their three-person WeChat group, Emma sent a message wishing everyone a happy New Year and casually asking if there were any plans for New Year’s Eve since she was free and very bored.

【Yishan Yishan Liang: Busy falling in love】

【Emma: Tsk】

【Emma: @Mia】

【Yishan Yishan Liang: Busy falling in love [pen core]】

【”Emma” retracted a message】

【”Emma” retracted a message】

【”Emma” retracted a message】

【Yishan Yishan Liang: ……】

【Yishan Yishan Liang: [laughing crying.jpg]】

“Full yet?” At the table in Emerald Bamboo Hall, Mu Shanyi turned to ask Miao Zhu.

Miao Zhu looked up from her phone screen with a smile and leaned toward Mu Shanyi, whispering back, “Stuffed.”

Mu Shanyi smiled and opened her palm. Miao Zhu pressed her own palm against it once more.

“Let’s go.” Mu Shanyi stood with Miao Zhu. Amid the rising and falling New Year greetings from table to table, they held hands as they passed through Emerald Bamboo Hall.

“Oh no! A-Heng jie hasn’t given me my red envelope this year!” Mu Huiren congratulated herself on her quick thinking and was about to call Mu Shanyi back when Li Baozhu pinned her down.

“Don’t interrupt their couple time.” Li Baozhu, ever prescient, pulled a red envelope from her coat pocket. “Here, you little money-grubber.”

The clamor from Emerald Bamboo Hall spilled out through the doors and windows into the courtyard.

Far in the sky, fireworks bloomed one after another. Miao Zhu tilted her face up to watch, her excited voice carried on the wind. “A-Heng jie, where are we going?”

Mu Shanyi interlaced their fingers. “To see the snow.”