Han Yu, following behind, glanced at Lu Yanming. The brothers shared a helpless smile.
Then, they stepped forward and greeted the three of them, "Grandpa, Uncle, Aunt, Happy New Year."
They said in unison.
"Good, good, good. Happy New Year to all of you."
Meng Tianhua, warm and hospitable, quickly invited them to sit, "Come, come, everyone sit down. You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Let's eat together."
Every year during the holidays, a lot of dumplings are made, and on the morning of the first day, many dumplings are cooked, so there's no need to worry about not having enough.
Du Juan, hearing Meng Tianhua speak, could only agree, "Yes, everyone sit down and eat together. There are still many dumplings in the kitchen."
"Come, everyone sit. It's livelier with more people."
Old Chen also gestured for them to sit.
Meng Jingwei glanced at Qing Muye. She saw that the man was talking with Old Chen and Meng Tianhua, completely ignoring her existence.
His amiable demeanor was a stark contrast to his usual noble and cold disposition, exuding a more down-to-earth charm.
"Then we won't be polite," Tang Si grinned, pulled over a chair, and sat down unceremoniously.
Han Yu nodded slightly at Meng Jingwei, "Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year," Lu Yanming cupped his hands towards her, offering New Year greetings.
As the saying goes, "One cannot refuse a smiling face."
Meng Jingwei couldn't bring herself to embarrass them, so she just nodded and smiled, "Happy New Year. You all sit first, I'll go to the kitchen and cook a few more dumplings for you."
"Okay, okay, okay. Little La... Jingwei, the dumplings Aunt made taste really good, like childhood. Tell Aunt if she can cook a few more?"
Tang Si was naturally gregarious wherever he went. While it was fine for him to call Meng Jingwei 'Little Pepper' in private, he dared not be so presumptuous in front of others.
However, just as he finished speaking, Qing Muye, sitting beside him, subtly lifted his foot and stomped hard on Tang Si's instep, reminding him to restrain himself.
"Oh~"
Tang Si gasped in pain, his face contorted, and then he realized everyone's gaze was on him.
He immediately forced a smile, "Oh wow, delicious, delicious. Aunt's dumpling-making skills are simply superb!"
His flattery was excellent.
Old Chen and Meng Tianhua beamed with joy.
"If you like it, eat more. There are plenty in the refrigerator," Meng Tianhua said while greeting Han Yu and Lu Yanming, "Come and eat quickly. When you come to our home, we are all family, so don't be polite."
"Yes, Uncle."
"Mm, good."
The two sat down. The men sat at one table, chatting and eating, the atmosphere lively and harmonious, filled with warmth and joy.
Meng Jingwei walked to the front yard and paused intentionally as she entered the kitchen. She looked back at the people sitting in the main hall, raised her hand to touch her head, and shook it helplessly.
Just as she was sighing, Du Juan came out of the kitchen. Her cool hand took Meng Jingwei's and pulled her into the kitchen, whispering, "Daughter, didn't you say they had all left? How did they end up at our house?"
"I thought they had left. It seems they must have slept in the car yesterday," she guessed.
"No wonder there was a car from the capital parked by the roadside. So it was them."
Du Juan sighed in realization and asked, "What are you planning to do now? I haven't even had a chance to tell your father. Who knew he would be so clueless and invite them in."
"Let's forget it. It's the New Year, and they must have stayed out all night. It wouldn't be appropriate to ask them to leave now," Meng Jingwei said.
"That's true." Du Juan agreed with Meng Jingwei's thoughts and then pointed to the two bowls of dumplings on the stove, "You take these two bowls over first, and I'll quickly cook some more dumplings. With so many people, we definitely won't have enough."
"Okay. Mom, thank you for your hard work."
Meng Jingwei walked up to Du Juan, gave her a big hug, and playfully kissed her on the cheek.
"Ugh, it's all slobber. You child, really."
Du Juan wiped her cheek with her apron, glared at Meng Jingwei, but the smile on her face was undeniable.
Meng Jingwei took the dumplings to the main hall.
Tang Si, being extremely clever, immediately shifted his position and patted the chair to his right, "Jingwei, come and sit, let's eat together."
The chair was positioned with Tang Si on the left and Qing Muye on the right.
Although Meng Jingwei didn't want to acknowledge Qing Muye, she was ultimately a sensible person.
She placed the dumplings on the table and said to them, "You all eat first. My mother and I will cook some more dumplings. We'll be right back."
She said this with a smile to everyone, but she didn't even glance at Qing Muye.
Qing Muye picked up his bowl, chewed on a dumpling, its rich flavor lingering on his lips.
However, his entire attention was on Meng Jingwei. Even when Meng Tianhua beside him kept chatting with him, he didn't hear what was being said.
Clink—
He gently placed his bowl and chopsticks on the table, "Master Chen, Uncle, you eat first. I'll go take a look."
"Hey, what are you looking at? The mother and daughter will be here any moment," Meng Tianhua, thinking of them as guests, enthusiastically pulled him back to sit.
Tang Si, however, immediately said to Meng Tianhua, "Uncle, Qing Muye is Jingwei's elder brother. He's also considered half a member of the Meng family. Let him go and see, get acquainted."
His smooth words made Meng Tianhua very happy, and he nodded, "Hahaha, yes, yes, yes. That makes sense."
"Mm. Uncle, Master Chen, you eat first."
Qing Muye stood up, walked out of the main hall, and went directly to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Meng Jingwei was standing and talking with Du Juan when she noticed a shadow cast at the kitchen entrance.
They both turned around and saw Qing Muye standing there.
Du Juan glanced at Qing Muye, then at Meng Jingwei, and immediately said, "Muye, you're here? Perfect, you can help Jingwei. I'll go get some firewood."
The stove used a pot over a fire. So Du Juan made an excuse about getting firewood, but in reality, she wanted to give the two of them some private time.
"Thank you, Aunt,"
Qing Muye smiled politely, respectful and courteous.
"When you come to our home, we're all family, no need to be polite."
Du Juan wiped her hands on her apron and walked outside.
Qing Muye stood at the kitchen entrance, looking at Meng Jingwei, their eyes meeting.
Meng Jingwei slowly lowered her head, sat on the chair, and continued to add wood to the fire.
"A Wei?"
The man called out, stepped to her side, and watched the young woman tending the fire by the stove. Without any makeup, she looked as endearing as a girl next door.
Unbeknownst to him, Qing Muye's heart began to flutter.
He then asked, "Why didn't you answer my calls?"
Meng Jingwei played with the fire tongs in her hand, poking at the fire in the stove noncommittally, and said, "I already said that our relationship is a three-month trial period, and I don't think it's suitable. So, is it a problem that I didn't answer your calls?"
The young woman looked up, her eyes cold as she gazed at him.
Her fair face was calm and serene, making it impossible to fathom her emotions.
"Is it because of her?"
Qing Muye took out his phone, magnified a photo, and handed it to Meng Jingwei.
Meng Jingwei looked up.
The woman in the photo was the same one who had video-called with Tang Si that day and had her arms around Qing Muye's neck.