Chapter 85: Sixteen

Lin Zixi glanced at Ye Can, who turned to Ye Shen with a look of disdain. “If you don’t know how, just search it online. Cooking is hard—you can’t leave one person to do it all.”

Ye Shen realized she needed to face facts. With Lin Zixi around, there was no way she’d ever steal Ye Can away.

Ye Shen sighed and resignedly grabbed the newly bought couplets and “Fortune” characters, heading to the door to put them up.

To think that hands worth hundreds of thousands were now doing this kind of work—like a crown princess kneading dough.

Despite her reluctance, Ye Shen managed it properly and even felt a subtle joy in the process.

Even after being targeted for four or five days, spending this long-overdue New Year’s Eve with Ye Can was the best thing imaginable.

Lin Zixi was in high spirits too, just like Ye Shen.

As she bustled in the kitchen prepping ingredients, a pleased smile never left her face.

With an extra mouth to feed at home, Lin Zixi planned to roast a whole chicken, along with steamed fish, steamed bread crabs, lobsters, and more. She even made some sashimi for a fusion of Chinese and Western dishes, preparing over a dozen in total.

Ye Can helped in the kitchen and, noticing Lin Zixi’s constantly upturned lips, casually asked, “You’re really happy today, huh?”

Lin Zixi nodded and hummed lightly. “Yeah, because tonight’s dinner will actually get eaten up.”

Preparing over a dozen dishes was tedious work. Once midnight passed, Lin Zixi shooed Ye Can off to shower.

Ye Can was puzzled. “This early?”

Lin Zixi smiled. “After midnight, it’s New Year’s Eve. We shower before dinner—it’s a rule in my family.”

Ye Can suddenly understood and went to take a shower as Lin Zixi instructed. After Ye Can finished, she spotted Ye Shen on the sofa handling work and poked her. “Lin Zixi says we have to bathe and change before dinner.”

Ye Shen looked up at her towel-drying sister and froze for a moment.

After completing the routine, around four o’clock, Lin Zixi’s dinner was finally ready, and they could eat.

Unlike the festive atmosphere of her childhood in the townships, every New Year’s Eve spent in this steel forest had felt cold and devoid of warmth.

In previous years, Lin Zixi never ate until the exact time, but this year was different. As sunlight streamed through the windows onto the full table in the living room, she gazed at Ye Can seated at the long table and felt a long-lost warmth.

She didn’t rush to eat. Instead, she took a DSLR from the bookshelf and aimed the lens at Ye Can.

Bathed in the four o’clock afternoon sunlight, Ye Can seemed entirely immersed in light. The bright rays brushed her body, faintly outlining a halo.

She sat primly at the long table, eyeing the feast hungrily, then turned to Lin Zixi. “I’m starving. When can we eat?”

Lin Zixi smiled. “Look at the lens and smile.”

Afterward, Lin Zixi glanced at Ye Shen, whose eyes had been fixed on Ye Can. “Director Ye, want a photo with Ye Can?”

Ye Shen nodded and silently sidled up to Ye Can.

Ye Can gave her a sidelong glance but didn’t refuse. Lin Zixi aimed the lens at the sisters and gestured for them to scoot closer.

Ye Shen cautiously drew nearer to Ye Can, taking their first photo together in years.

After a few more shots, Ye Shen suggested, “Since we’re having New Year’s Eve dinner together, let’s take a group photo.”

Back when the Ye parents were alive, their family had this tradition.

Lin Zixi was surprised but nodded. She set up the DSLR on its tripod, timed it, and pulled Ye Can to sit on the sofa.

Ye Can found it troublesome and grumbled about being hungry, but she followed Lin Zixi in front of the lens.

The three sat stiffly together, Ye Can in the middle with a cool expression. Lin Zixi held her hand, fingers interlaced. Ye Shen sat upright on Ye Can’s other side like the family matriarch.

Lin Zixi retrieved the camera and opened the photo, falling into a subtle silence. Ye Can leaned over from behind to peek and frowned at herself sandwiched between them. “Why do I look like a kid being chaperoned?”

Confused, she added, “Do I really look that young and immature? Such a stupid face.”

She grabbed Lin Zixi’s hand from behind, displeased. “Delete it quick—I look so stupid.”

Lin Zixi held back a laugh. “It’s fine, though. No one’s blinking or anything.”

She quickly turned off the DSLR and pushed Ye Can toward the table. “Alright, alright, photos are done—let’s eat!”

Despite Ye Can’s protests, the photo stayed saved.

After dinner, following New Year’s custom, Lin Zixi gave Ye Can a red envelope. Ye Can took it in confusion. “What’s this?”

Lin Zixi smiled at her. “Lucky money. Say ‘Happy New Year, get rich!’ quick.”

Ye Can blinked. “Isn’t that for kids?”

Lin Zixi’s eyes curved in amusement as she patted Ye Can’s head with the envelope. “It’s for good luck. Say it.”

Ye Can gave a perfunctory smile. “Happy New Year, get rich.”

Lin Zixi handed over the envelope with a gentle smile. “Good girl.” Ye Can took it, muttering, “How much is in here? Why give me money?”

While Ye Can opened hers, Lin Zixi handed one to Ye Shen. “This is for Director Ye.”

Ye Shen was uncharacteristically surprised. “Me too?”

Lin Zixi smiled. “My family is traditional—anyone unmarried gets one.”

The over-thirty single Ye Shen took the envelope, feeling oddly touched. She managed a smile. “Thanks.”

Ye Can felt a twinge of annoyance but understood it was Lin Zixi’s cherished tradition, so she held her tongue for once.

The day passed in seemingly ordinary fashion.

Aside from eating dinner early and having a little wine, the three with nothing to do turned on the TV to wait for the Spring Festival Gala, then idly played Landlords.

Ye Can couldn’t fully grasp how vital this family reunion holiday was for Lin Zixi, but she understood her intentions and followed her lead all day.

They played cards together until around seven or eight, when friends started sending New Year’s greetings.

Liang Yu, who’d run off to Film City dreaming of an extra role, seemed to have gone home and even repaid the money she’d borrowed from Lin Zixi.

Meng Zhiqiu, whom Ye Can had tricked into thinking proximity would win her the prize, called Lin Zixi briefly before her stage appearance to share New Year’s wishes.

Jiang Yue, who’d once invited Lin Zixi to dinner, griped about the show’s schedule right before going on and insisted Lin Zixi watch her performance on TV.

Ye Can sat on the sofa, listening to Lin Zixi’s phone buzz nonstop with calls, feeling an unusual liveliness.

Compared to her own world, Lin Zixi’s seemed bustling and vibrant—as if all that previous loneliness had been Ye Can’s unfounded assumption.

Contrasted with that icy Royal Palace, this cold, cruel steel forest suddenly seemed vast enough to hold a thread of warmth embracing Lin Zixi.

Lin Zixi’s New Year’s calls lasted until midnight.

At the stroke of midnight, she returned to Ye Can’s side, watching the all-star countdown to the New Year on TV and murmuring the numbers along.

Ye Can turned to gaze at her, unblinking.

As “Happy New Year!” rang out, a burst of electric fireworks shattered the night sky, dissolving into rainbow waves that lit Lin Zixi’s face.

Ye Can watched the smile slowly bloom on her face, and the fog of confusion that had long shrouded her heart seemed torn apart by the fireworks, revealing her true sigh.