The New Year celebrations in January passed in a blink, and soon Lunar New Year's Eve was nearly upon them.
On the 28th of the lunar month, Mei Ran finally started her holiday. She got up early in the morning to pack. Despite trying her best to keep things minimal, she still ended up filling two large suitcases. Apart from clothes, most of it were gifts for the family.
Fu Shijin stood by the door holding a small silver suitcase, arching a brow as he looked at her, "All set?"
"Give me five minutes, I just need to do a final check."
Without even turning her head, Mei Ran bent down and got busy again. He pressed a hand to his forehead behind her.
When she was finally done, she seemed to remember something important, "You're coming with me to S City for New Year's, what about Aunt Huiyuan and Old Uncle Yang..."
He smiled faintly, "They went back to Aunt Huiyuan's hometown together yesterday."
Mei Ran was surprised, "Together?"
She asked again, "The two of them..."
The man walked over, ruffled her hair, and smoothed down a few stray strands that had sprung up. He chuckled lightly, "Couldn't tell?"
Honestly, she hadn't noticed at all.
"Aunt Huiyuan was widowed for half her life, and Old Uncle Yang never married. It's quite nice for them to have each other's company in their later years."
"So, have they... gotten married?"
He draped the scarf around her, his fingers brushing casually across the side of her neck, "I mentioned it once, but the two elders said they don't care about formalities like that."
Mei Ran shivered slightly, "I see."
After checking the windows, doors, water, and electricity one last time, she fully relaxed and went forward to take his hand, "Let's go."
The airport was packed, almost suffocatingly dense with people. They'd already been stuck in traffic for nearly half an hour on the way, and by the time they rushed in, it was almost boarding time.
Once the plane leveled out, Mei Ran spat out her gum and wrapped it in a tissue. She rubbed her temples. Perhaps due to being overly excited last night and not sleeping well, she was starting to feel drowsy now.
She vaguely heard the sweet voice of a flight attendant, then soon heard nothing else.
When she opened her eyes and heard that voice again, the plane was about to arrive in S City. Mei Ran stretched lazily, "That was fast."
The man beside her leaned over, lowering his voice, "I recall last night... there was only once. How are you this tired, hmm?"
He concluded directly, "Poor stamina."
Mei Ran gave a light cough, silently protesting in her heart: Even if it was only once, could you discount how long it lasted and how much energy that consumed?
When that someone deliberately wanted to torment her, it really was...
The plane came to a stop. People in first class were already starting to move. Mei Ran also stood up, acting as if she hadn't heard anything.
Dragging their suitcases out of the airport, Mei Ran scanned around but didn't see Old Uncle Zhou's car. She was just about to pull out her phone to call when a familiar voice came from behind, "Think It Over."
She turned towards the sound, and upon seeing who it was, her face lit up with surprise and delight, "Dad! How come it's you?!"
Fu Shijin was also somewhat surprised, "Dad."
Mei Hongyuan nodded at both of them, "Get in the car. I'll be your chauffeur today."
Mei Ran abandoned the luggage and scurried over to his side, beaming with joy, "This is wonderful!"
Over the years, she and her father had spent little time together; the number of times they'd ridden in the same car was almost countable, let alone him driving personally.
Mei Hongyuan tapped her nose tip affectionately, smiling fondly, "The wind is strong, hurry and get in."
Mei Ran pulled the man beside her to squeeze into the back seat, but Fu Shijin, with his meticulous and careful mind, could never allow his father-in-law to drive. He naturally pulled open the driver's side door and got in, leaving the back seat.
"Dad, when did you get back?"
"Yesterday."
"Is all the company stuff settled?"
Mei Ran remembered that in previous years, he would always return at least a day later. They'd spoken on the phone last night for nearly an hour, yet he'd hidden from her that he was back.
Was it specifically to prepare this surprise for her?
"There are still a few loose ends," Mei Hongyuan said, "I left them to Secretary Wang to handle."
"You should give Secretary Wang a big red envelope for New Year's," Mei Ran couldn't help giggling, "Who knows how many more grey hairs he's sprouted these past two years."
Mei Hongyuan asked, "Did he complain to you?"
"No," Mei Ran hurriedly denied.
To keep informed about her father's schedule and health condition, she maintained frequent contact with Secretary Wang and occasionally heard him "grumble" intentionally or not, which she had kept in mind.
The over-hour-long car journey ended amidst the father-daughter pair chatting about all sorts of topics. The car stopped in front of the Mei family estate gates.
Mei Ran got out and walked inside, bathed in warm sunshine. Just as she stepped over the threshold, she heard a soft, sweet voice. Looking over, she saw a little girl in a pink princess dress talking to Mei Liangzhi, "Your name shares two characters with my daddy's, so does that mean you're my... uncle?"
Mei Liangzhi laughed heartily, "You're so smart!"
His gaze flickered and he spotted the person at the door. He puckered his lips, "Sweetie, go see who that is."
The little girl turned, saw the beautiful woman by the door, and her eyes suddenly lit up, sparkling. Due to her ladylike reserve, she "sauntered" over, holding up her dress, raised her little head, her two braids swaying along.
This was the first time Mei Ran was being sized up from head to toe by such a delicate little treasure made of powder and jade. She felt a bit nervous and puzzled; whose child was this?
"Ah!" the little girl suddenly lunged forward and hugged Mei Ran's legs tightly, "You're as pretty as I am! You're Aunt Mei Ran, right?! Right?!"
She blinked her big, beautiful eyes, seeming to ask for confirmation.
Mei Ran had already guessed her identity. Squatting down, she pinched the girl's soft cheek and shook her small hand, "Nice to meet you, 'Fine Wine' little friend."
This was the only daughter of her eldest cousin brother Mei Liangjue, Mei Jiu.
"Auntie, hold me."
The little girl wasn't shy at all. With a smacking sound, she planted a big kiss on Mei Ran's cheek. Mei Ran had thin skin and couldn't withstand such enthusiasm; that spot was soon left with a red mark from the kiss.
"Huh?" The little girl saw two men still standing outside the door, one old, one not old. She looked at Mei Hongyuan first, her delicate brow furrowing before smoothing out, "Ah! I know! You're Great-uncle!"
She happily extended her little arms for a hug. Mei Hongyuan laughed and took her, lifting her up, "Jiu Jiu seems heavier?"
He'd visited their home once while on business in Moscow, so the child probably still remembered him.
Mei Jiu found his chest too hard and uncomfortable to hug. Turning around, she clamored to get back into Mei Ran's arms. Settling onto her shoulder, she asked sweetly and tenderly, "Then who are you?"
This uncle didn't just look younger than her daddy, he was also very tall and handsome. She racked her brains but couldn't figure out who he was. The little girl began anxiously tugging at her hair.
Mei Hongyuan, now empty-handed, teased with a smile, "Jiu Jiu, you're so smart, how could you not guess who he is?"
The little girl blinked, "Is his surname Mei?"
"My surname is Fu," Fu Shijin smiled faintly.
Her mind whirled but she didn't immediately connect which "Fu" it was. However, not wanting to lose face in front of the handsome man, she could only pretend she understood, nodding solemnly with a serious expression.
"Are you a guest of the family?"
"No."
The little girl went "Oh!" then said, "You came back with Great-uncle and Aunt Mei Ran."
Fu Shijin nodded, "Yes."
"Are you a friend of Great-uncle's? Or Aunt Mei Ran's? Wait," she overturned her own guess, "Mommy said New Year's is for reuniting with family. Why would friends come to someone else's house for New Year's?"
Mei Hongyuan couldn't help laughing, "This is your aunt's..."
"Oh! So you're Aunt's husband!" The little girl suddenly understood, feeling like she'd taken a huge detour. Pouting, she said, "I want a hug."
Fu Shijin, taken aback for a moment, found the girl's arms already winding around his neck, hugging him tightly. The soft, small bundle in his arms carried a faint, unfamiliar milky scent that stirred something in the depths of his heart.
"You can hold me, right?"
The soft, childish voice nearly melted Fu Shijin's heart completely. He nodded, "I can hold you."
Seeing his stiff posture while holding her, Mei Ran couldn't help pursing her lips in a smile and followed them into the main hall.
"Uncle," Mei Liangjue stood up to greet them, nodding at Fu Shijin before looking at his daughter nestled in his arms, a hint of helpless amusement curling at his lips.
"Brother Liangjue," Mei Ran then looked at the young woman beside him, "Sister-in-law."
To think, this cousin had once been the most rebellious person in the family, disregarding his uncle and the matriarch's opposition to resolutely go abroad, working in the embassy in Moscow, almost severing ties with the family. Four years ago, a single email announced his marriage...
This was the first time he'd returned home in many years, and moreover with his wife and daughter.
However, Mei Ran thought, this sister-in-law seemed much younger than she'd imagined, feeling even younger than herself. She'd always assumed someone as mature and steady as her cousin brother would have a wife who should be... what kind should she be? She couldn't put it into words, but she just intuitively felt it shouldn't be like this.
Yet, when it came to matters of love, who could say for sure?
The girl who grew up in Moscow was amazed by everything in the Mei family. For some reason, she clung especially to Mei Ran, her little mouth also exceptionally sweet.
"Auntie, the braids you did for me are so pretty!" The little girl sat before the dressing table, swinging her legs, "Mommy can't do braids at all. Every time she pulls my hair so much it hurts, hurts a lot."
Mei Ran asked, "Then who did your braids before?"
"My daddy!" The little girl counted on her fingers, "First he braids mine, then he braids Mommy's... la-la-la, and then it's all done!"
Mei Ran genuinely struggled to imagine that scene. She also couldn't imagine the scene of their married life. She gave a light cough and was just about to speak when Old Mrs. Zhou came in happily, "Miss Ran, Young Miss, get ready. New Year's Eve dinner is about to start."
This was likely the most lively New Year's Eve dinner the Mei family had had in a while, filled intermittently with the little girl's joyful laughter. Even Mei Hongyuan couldn't resist having an extra drink. Throughout the meal, the atmosphere was indescribably harmonious and joyful.
Old Mrs. Zhou also prepared post-dinner fruits and desserts. Everyone sat in the living room chatting and laughing, discussing stocks, people's livelihood, and snowstorms, all finding topics they were at ease with.
The little girl, Mei Jiu, sat on the sofa opening red envelopes, her braids adorned with beaded flowers, making her look adorable beyond words.
"This is from Auntie, this is from Great-uncle, this is from Aunt Mei Ran," she spread out the envelopes one by one, "This is from Uncle Fu, this is from Uncle..."
They still had to stay up late for New Year's Eve. Mei Ran was even less able to keep up than the child. Close to eleven o'clock, she was overwhelmed with sleepiness and decided to go rest in her room for a bit first.
"Mommy," the little girl suddenly clung to Zhao Yu, cooing, "Can I sleep with Auntie tonight?"
"Er..." Zhao Yu wasn't sure how to answer and glanced at her husband. Understanding, Mei Liangjue walked over, "You have to ask Uncle Fu if he agrees first."
The little girl raised her head, asking naively and innocently, "Why do I need Uncle Fu's permission to sleep with Auntie?"
Mei Liangjue amusedly rubbed his daughter's head, "I'll take you outside to set off fireworks."
"Hurray!" The little girl jumped for joy, "Awesome! Daddy, let's go quickly!"
The previous question was tossed to the kingdom of Java.
"She's like this, always getting whims," Zhao Yu explained with a smile, "However, she probably likes you too much. She knew when we were in Moscow that she had a beautiful aunt who's a doctor..."
Mei Ran lay in bed, that cute little face still flitting through her mind. Drowsy and half-asleep, she felt someone lie down beside her. Then a warm, strong hand slid under her clothes, pushing her pajama top up. Soon she was already beginning to pant.
The man's wet kisses began falling on her face, kissing the plum blossom over her heart, then continuing downward, lightly encircling that red bud...
"Ran Ran, let's have a daughter too."