Yang Qiqi had always been very outgoing. She and Chen Yuan were close in age and attended the same school, so she was very genuine and unpretentious in front of him.

Having finally met, she naturally wanted to greet him enthusiastically, maybe pat him on the shoulder or something.

But when she saw Xia Xinyu, she suddenly remembered that there was a young lady present, so she had to be dignified and polite...

But the way I just turned around looked so stupid!

A bit silly.

Sitting next to Yang Qiqi, a college student with glasses, a square face, and a slightly lower-profile Aizen Sosuke vibe, with an expression similar to Chen Yuan's, was Chen Bo.

He didn't know what he was supposed to do today.

According to local customs, when a girl visits for the first time, many important relatives should be present as company.

But Chen Yuan's dad said not to be too formal, that the girl was just coming over to play and they shouldn't scare her.

So, he arranged for a group of peers to be there.

They thought this would make it easier to integrate, since they were all the same age.

But the wise Chen Bo immediately saw through it—it would only be more awkward.

It would be better to have two chatty aunts here, gossiping and asking a lot of questions.

Anyway, they wouldn't be asking me.

"Bo-ge, are you about to start your internship?" Chen Yuan suddenly asked.

Tsk, are you impersonating an aunt?

"Yeah, how are you doing this year? Your grades are pretty good, right?" With a smile on his lips, Chen Bo retaliated.

"Yes, my grades are very good."

"..." Chen Bo's forehead immediately showed an '井' (jing - tic-tac-toe) symbol of annoyance.

"Nice to meet you all, I'm Xia Xinyu. Happy New Year, everyone," Xia Xinyu took the initiative to greet everyone.

Then the group of peers responded with smiles, "Happy New Year, Happy New Year."

At this moment, a girl who looked like an elementary school student, wearing a red down jacket and with pigtails, whispered something to Yang Qiqi next to her.

Then, Yang Qiqi covered her mouth and laughed.

"Huh?" Xia Xinyu heard it but didn't understand, so she tilted her head, puzzled.

"She said you're a great beauty, very pretty," Chen Yuan translated.

After he finished speaking, everyone laughed.

"Ah?" Xia Xinyu's face turned red, and then she saw the little girl immediately turn around and 'aiya' pounce on Yang Qiqi, very shy.

"Xinyu is here, everyone, speak Mandarin," Yang Junlian instructed.

"It's okay, Chen Yuan is here, he'll translate for me," Xia Xinyu said with a smile.

"He'll translate it wrong," Chen Bo said.

"Ah?" Xia Xinyu looked uncertainly at Chen Yuan.

"What I just translated was indeed not wrong," Chen Yuan explained sincerely.

"Don't translate anything wrong."

"Hahaha, then you guys go put your luggage away and come out to play with everyone later," Yang Junlian led Xia Xinyu toward her room.

After she walked in, Yang Qiqi looked at Chen Yuan and whispered, "This is the first time I've seen someone in real life who looks like this..."

"What do you mean, 'looks like this'?" Chen Yuan retorted.

"I mean, very good-looking, invincible. Every frame of her bare face is like a网红 (wanghong - internet celebrity) photo," Yang Qiqi explained seriously. "The last time I saw that was when I flipped the camera on my phone."

Chen Yuan made an okay gesture: "Kid, you're invincible."

"So, what are the plans for today?" Chen Bo asked.

"What do you mean?" Chen Yuan felt he had something to say.

"If there aren't any, I'm gonna leave. But when I do, your mom will definitely try to keep me here," Chen Bo stared at Chen Yuan, intentionally reminding him, "You understand, right?"

"You're a very considerate relative."

Chen Yuan gave him a thumbs up.

"You're also a very considerate cousin."

Chen Bo responded with the same gesture.

"No way," Yang Qiqi disagreed, immediately objecting, "I still want to chat with Xinyu-jie and make friends, share beauty tips."

"Alright, alright, let's go now," Chen Yuan grabbed Yang Qiqi's arm, ready to drag her over there.

Then, this guy was as hard to catch as a pig being slaughtered for the New Year, refusing to give in even if it meant death.

"Your keyboard warrior personality doesn't resemble anyone in your Yang family," Chen Yuan mocked.

"Hey, you've Chen-ed," (汝陈了啊 - A play on words, meaning you've become like the Chens)

Chen Bo made a husky pointing gesture, seriously criticizing him.

"No, why are you taking it so personally?"

Chen Yuan was speechless.

"Indeed, Chen Yuan, Chen Bo-ge, and even Uncle, the three Chen men are a little..." Yang Qiqi didn't want to comment.

It wasn't that they liked to brag.

It was just that, sometimes, even if the facts were right in front of them, they would still stubbornly insist.

This led Yang Qiqi to subconsciously feel that classmates with the surname Chen were a bit stubborn.

"Chen Yuan, come here!"

Just then, Yang Junlian's voice suddenly came from over there.

Then, Chen Yuan went over.

Pushing open the door, he saw Xia Xinyu trying on a pure white, particularly casual, but very flattering brand-name down jacket.

"Does it look good?" Yang Junlian asked.

"It looks good, but what about mine?" Chen Yuan stretched out his hand, acting like he deserved one for free.

"It's in your room, it's black," Yang Junlian pursed her lips, feeling very disappointed, "I spent so long picking it out, you should praise my taste more."

"Thank you so much, Auntie, for such expensive clothes..." Xia Xinyu felt very embarrassed.

"Thank you too, Auntie," Chen Yuan also expressed his gratitude, "I'm also benefiting from Xinyu's good fortune, otherwise, how could I wear a down jacket that costs over two thousand."

"You're always so glib," Yang Junlian glanced at him, then took the initiative to leave the room.

After she left, Xia Xinyu quickly called Chen Yuan to her side, took out several red envelopes from her pocket, and said to him, "Mom told me a few names, I'm afraid I'll get them wrong, anyway, I have to give these to them later."

"It's okay, I know this," Chen Yuan said.

"And..." Xia Xinyu looked at herself, feeling very embarrassed, "Your mom spent so much, I feel really bad."

"The New Year is for wearing new clothes."

Chen Yuan smiled softly, touched her hair and cheeks, and instructed, "There's also setting off fireworks, eating New Year's dinner, singing karaoke, and playing mahjong. I want you to do all these things with me, have a good time, and don't you dare say you're tired."

Xia Xinyu knew that Chen Yuan saying he wanted her to accompany him to play was actually to ease her anxiety, that he wanted to keep her busy.

And the emotion of anxiety.

Would definitely be there.

After all, it was the New Year, a time for reunion.

After all, this was the first year she wasn't spending it with her parents.

"Okay, let's go out then," Chen Yuan stretched out his hand, letting her hold it.

Xia Xinyu poked his palm with her finger.

Then, she gently held his arm and said with a smile, "Let's hold hands in a couple of years, one step at a time."

"You're very considerate, okay."

"Oh, wait a minute."

Before leaving, Xia Xinyu took off the clothes she was wearing, smoothed them out, carefully hung them in the closet, and explained to Chen Yuan with a smile, "We only wear new clothes for the New Year, let's wait a little longer."

When she was a child, she would always buy new clothes before the New Year, and before the New Year arrived, she would fold the clothes and put them on the bed, just waiting for the moment to wear them.

No matter what, this ritual had never disappeared.

So Xia Xinyu cherished and maintained her habit of doing this.

And she looked so cute and petite like this.

"Alright, let's go."

Then, the two of them left the room and went to the living room.

"Xinyu, Chen Yuan," Chen Bo stood up, holding two red envelopes in his hand.

"How could I? No need, Ge-ge," Xia Xinyu waved her hand, refusing.

"No, you're still in school, I can't accept this."

Chen Yuan also refused in the same way.

Then, Chen Bo looked blandly at Chen Yuan, who was covering his face with one hand to refuse but had his pocket wide open with the other, and directly handed both red envelopes to Xinyu, holding them with both hands, "Happy New Year, I hope you come to visit us every year."

Chen Bo's tone was sincere, and Xia Xinyu, even though she was a little embarrassed, couldn't refuse.

So she accepted them gratefully.

Then, she smiled and walked to the two children, and with Chen Yuan's guidance, handed them the red envelopes: "Happy New Year, Happy New Year."

"Thank you, Jie-jie," the shy little girl covered her face and accepted it awkwardly.

"Thank you, Jie-jie..."

When the little boy next to her addressed her this way, Yang Qiqi poked him: "Wrong generation, call her Auntie."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"..." Xia Xinyu, who was being called Auntie for the first time, squeezed out an awkward smile.

It was okay now.

But after a few years, when the two of them looked about the same age, if he still called her Auntie...

It would be very strange.

But strangeness was part of the New Year, something you had to experience.

"And then, there's our most beautiful cousin, Yang Qiqi."

When it was her turn, Xia Xinyu suddenly added the prefix, which made Yang Qiqi feel touched and incredulous.

"Thank you, Xinyu-jie!" Her eyes became bright and big as she accepted the red envelope.

Some people are shy, and being praised for being good-looking during the New Year is embarrassing.

But Yang Qiqi was different. The more she was praised for being beautiful, the more outgoing and happy she became.

This attention-grabbing personality might have been criticized in the past, but now it was a popular E-person personality that was loved by aunts.

After giving out the red envelopes, it was time for awkward small talk. At this time, Chen Bo wisely suggested playing a game.

"Play [beep]! Play [beep]!" At this moment, the boy who had called Xia Xinyu Auntie suddenly raised his hand and said.

"Don't play that, give me your phone."

Chen Yuan seriously corrected him and downloaded a Dream Star for him.

Just like that, a bunch of kids used Dream Star, which had 1.4 billion in advertising and gave out cash red envelopes for downloading, to pass the time.

Seeing that the time was about right, Chen Bo stood up at the right moment: "Second Uncle, my dad needs the car, I have to go back."

"Go back for what? Have lunch with us," Yang Junlian came out wearing an apron and said directly.

"Uncle needs the car urgently, he has to go back," Chen Yuan helped explain.

"Then let him take a taxi."

"It's too impolite to pick someone up in a taxi, anyway, we'll get together again," Chen Yuan said.

"Yes, he's urging me urgently, I have no choice," Chen Bo responded with a smile and patted Chen Yuan on the back before leaving.

Good job.

"Okay, the road is slippery, be careful."

Just like that, Chen Bo left, taking the two younger relatives with him.

Yang Qiqi, who was a relative of Yang Junlian's side, naturally stayed behind, sitting on the sofa, very relaxed.

Of course, not completely relaxed.

After all, there was a particularly new person today, and she hoped to have some interaction with her, but she didn't know how to start, until Xia Xinyu beckoned to her: "Qiqi, come here."

"Yeah, yeah, coming."

Then, Yang Qiqi happily went over.

"No boys allowed," Xia Xinyu stretched out her hand, blocking Chen Yuan, who was also curious and wanted to follow.

"Hmph, narcissistic," Chen Yuan pointed to his room with great pride, "I'm going back to my room, who wants to find you?"

Laughing to death, you're really pretending.

"A unique personality of the Chen family, don't pay attention to him," Yang Qiqi explained.

"You understand me best."

Xia Xinyu smiled, and then took Yang Qiqi to her room.

As she sat on the bed, her feet dangling like paddles, Xia Xinyu took out an exquisite gift box from the suitcase that was lying on the floor and handed it to Yang Qiqi.

"For me?" Yang Qiqi pointed at herself, her eyes shining, feeling incredulous.

"Yeah, open it and see."

"Thank you~" Yang Qiqi carefully opened the box and saw a Parker pen lying inside, very exquisite, "You even brought me a gift, is it very expensive?"

Although it was bought for 199, after all, she had put in the effort, exerted herself when playing Overcooked, and it originally cost 799 after the discount, so when Yang Qiqi said it was expensive, she didn't deny it.

"Because your brother often mentions you, so we thought about bringing you a meeting gift."

"Often mentions me?" Yang Qiqi revealed a suspicious expression, not believing it, "He wouldn't often mention me."

"He said you have a good relationship..."

"The relationship is indeed good, but he still wouldn't mention me."

Yang Qiqi suddenly showed a funny smile, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, and interrogated Xia Xinyu: "It's only possible that you discovered me."

"..." Xia Xinyu became nervous all of a sudden.

"Is it chat logs, photos, or..." The astute Yang Qiqi pressed closer, "Space comments?"

"I, I did see the comments..."

"And then, did you want to tear this guy apart!"

Yang Qiqi leaned forward, staring at Xia Xinyu with a gossipy expression, as if she were talking about someone else's business.

"No, no," Xia Xinyu waved her hand, saying a little embarrassed, "It's just that, I did misunderstand at the time. But after he told me she was his sister, I understood."

"Then you're too generous," Yang Qiqi's acting skills immediately exploded, acting jealous, "If it were me, I would definitely ask, who is this girl, why does she keep leaving you messages, and wants to meet again, confess everything. Otherwise, break up!"

"..."

This sister... is too wild.

She thought she could get some information from her, but so far she was just being interrogated one-sidedly.

"Back then, people who didn't know always thought we were a couple or something," Thinking of this, Yang Qiqi found it funny, "I was even misunderstood by the teacher as having a puppy love with Chen Yuan."

"Then aren't you afraid?"

"Of course not, on the contrary, I can even choke the teacher speechless, it's extremely fun."

After Yang Qiqi finished speaking, she suddenly became worried again, looked at Xia Xinyu, and swore, "Jie-jie, my grandma is Chen Yuan's maternal grandma... there's absolutely no way there can be that kind of relationship."

"Of course, they're blood relatives within three generations, I understand," Xia Xinyu nodded with a smile, very understanding.

Then, she watched Yang Qiqi write on paper with a pen.

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something, stood up and went to the drawer: "I'll show you something good."

"Huh?"

Yang Qiqi took out a small key from the drawer, then used the small key to open another drawer, took out several photo albums from inside, and took one, holding it to the bed, spreading it out.

Just like that, she shared them with great interest...

...

Chen Yuan was lying in his room playing on his phone, very leisurely.

He thought that Xia Xinyu would need him to take her everywhere, but he didn't expect that she and that little ghost Yang Qiqi got along quite well.

The two of them chatted a lot like best friends.

They even went to the living room to watch dramas together.

This made him feel relieved.

At least he didn't have to take care of Xinyu at home.

Just like that, Yang Qiqi was sent away by Old Chen more than an hour after lunch.

During this time, Xia Xinyu spent most of her time with her.

Did these two really have so much to say?

While Chen Yuan was curious, lying in his room like a corpse, his door was knocked on.

"Come in."

After Chen Yuan said this, Xia Xinyu, holding a photo album, stood at the door with a mysterious smile on her face.

Even though she didn't say anything, he seemed to hear: Hehehe.

"You actually dug this out!"

"Come take a look." Xia Xinyu walked to Chen Yuan's side, sat down on the bed, put the photo album down, spread it out, and stopped at a photo of Chen Yuan sitting on a camel, "Were you so calm when you were a kid?"

"It's just a camel, if it was a tiger underneath, I wouldn't be calm."

"When was this one taken?"

Following Xia Xinyu's finger, Chen Yuan looked down and explained, "To the park under the Second Bridge. That day was Yang Qiqi's birthday, we spent the whole afternoon shopping, she was tired and didn't want to walk anymore, she insisted on riding me... insisted that I carry her."

"What about this one?"

"This one was during the New Year, going to Grandma's house, she was caught by the big goose, and then chased after me, trying to shift the blame."

"This one looks like it was taken relatively recently."

"This was when I graduated from junior high school. Because she also graduated, my little uncle took us two to the amusement park..."

Chen Yuan stopped halfway through his sentence, suddenly realizing something.

These photos all seemed to have one thing in common.

So, he tilted his head slightly, his eyes not moving, staring at Xia Xinyu, using a gif action to express four words—you're acting strange.

Xia Xinyu pursed her lips, looked to the side, wanting to whistle to change the subject, but couldn't make a sound, and then 'hua' 'hua' on the side...

"This is truly a clear conscience, a childhood friend and cousin!" Chen Yuan also swore.

No, why did I use "also?"

"I didn't say anything."

"You're more powerful than saying anything!"

"That's not what I meant..."

"Then what do you mean?" Chen Yuan stared at Xia Xinyu and asked, "Why did you specifically pick these photos? What's your purpose?"

Being asked this, Xia Xinyu really did have some thoughts.

The natural joy when seeing Chen Yuan.

Being so carefree at Chen Yuan's house.

Being so familiar when flipping through Chen Yuan's photo album.

Constantly showing a sense of relaxation.

Thinking of this, Xia Xinyu, sitting on the bed, leaned back on Chen Yuan, and murmured with some longing, "Growing up together, being the same age, having so many shared memories, still being relatives who can't disappear, and occasionally being mistaken as a couple... I'm so envious of her."

Hearing this, Chen Yuan put down his phone, smiled, and hugged her, comforting her, "At least, we met very early, right?"

"But I want it to be earlier..." Xia Xinyu sighed distractedly, "Why am I not Yang Qiqi?"

"If you were Yang Qiqi, then you couldn't be sexy."

"...That's not the issue."

Xia Xinyu pouted, then turned sideways, shrunk into Chen Yuan's arms, and muttered, "Although I know you love me the most, when I think about how the most time in your life wasn't spent with me, and that you have so many happy memories left behind, it makes me feel jealous."

It was clear that Xia Xinyu was doing what she said.

She said she was jealous, and she really started to look jealous.

But thinking about it, although those photos were all taken by the parents, he had a lot of happy memories in his previous life, with Yang Qiqi, his childhood friend and cousin, because they were the same age.

It was only natural that Yu-bao would 'cause' a little trouble.

"Wait a minute, Yu-bao."

So, Chen Yuan gently patted Xia Xinyu's head.

Then, he stood up, went to the drawer, rummaged for a while, took out a digital camera wrapped in a camera case, tried it with a charging cable and found that it still worked, and said, "Let's go take pictures too."

"Ah?" Xia Xinyu was stunned for a moment.

"Our family photos were all taken with this camera. Although it's a bit old, and the pixels are worse than today's phones, that's the feeling we want."

Chen Yuan picked up the camera, looked at Xinyu, and planned, "We'll go to the Second Bridge Park, the old shopping mall, and the Drum Tower. I'll take photos with Xinyu in every place where I have memories. And then, we'll go to a photo studio to buy a photo album. I don't know if it's too late to start now, but when we look back at this photo album in a few years... it'll probably be the same feeling, right?"

Staring at Chen Yuan, the corners of Xia Xinyu's mouth twitched, looking like she was about to cry.

"Come, hug."

Chen Yuan walked forward, before he could fully open his arms, Xia Xinyu rushed up, hugged him, and sobbed, "Why are you so good..."

"Because I love you."

Chen Yuan gently patted Xia Xinyu on the back, his tone gentle as a spring breeze.

Just like that, after charging the camera, about half an hour later, the two of them left the room.

"Woof woof woof!" At this moment, Yu Zi, who had already been delivered by logistics and picked up by Old Chen, barked at the two of them.

"We're going out," Chen Yuan said after petting the dog's head.

"Do you want me to drive you?" Old Chen said.

"No, we'll just wander around ourselves."

The two of them left the house and got into a taxi.

Because Yu Zi also wanted to take a photo of her riding... being carried on his back, the two of them went directly to the Second Bridge Park.

But before getting on the bridge, Chen Yuan looked at Xia Xinyu and asked, "Do you want to do something superstitious?"

Xia Xinyu was puzzled but nodded, "I'll listen to your arrangements, I'm okay with anything."

"Okay."

Just like that, Chen Yuan got out of the car in advance.

Holding Xia Xinyu's hand, he went to the approach bridge of the Second Bridge and pointed to the walkway, saying, "There's a saying that people who walk across this bridge together will last a long time. Although there's no data to show that people who walk across the He-Xiang Second Bridge have a lower divorce rate, but..."

"Let's go!" Hearing that it had this meaning, Xia Xinyu didn't care that the sign next to it said it was 1982 meters long.

"Okay, but before we go, let me take a picture of you."

Chen Yuan picked up the camera.

"How should I pose?"

Xia Xinyu stood by the bridge railing, not knowing what kind of pose to make, so she made the classic peace sign, asking for suggestions.

"It's okay, you look good no matter what..."

"Mommy, Daddy, let's take a family photo!"

Suddenly, a girl's voice came over.

It was right behind Xia Xinyu.

And Chen Yuan, just like that, watched Yu Zi slowly turn her head, looking at the family of three behind her.

Daughter, mother, father.

At this moment, Chen Yuan's heart was gripped.

He wanted to give Xia Xinyu enough care, meticulously, but kinship was a blunt knife that would cut her at all times...

He was very afraid, afraid that there would be a line of transparent rain on Xia Xinyu's face, flashing past like a shooting star.

Then she would turn back and smile at the camera, in order to leave a joyful moment on the memory photo album.

The Chen family is really stubborn.

But if our Xiao Xia isn't stubborn, she won't be able to help but cry loudly, and after crying, she'll look at you blankly, as if she's been abandoned by the whole world, unable to find her way home...

"Xin..."

Just as Chen Yuan was about to say something, Xia Xinyu suddenly turned around and went to the family of three.

After saying something, she used the other party's phone to take a family photo for the three of them.

After finishing, she ran to him and brought Chen Yuan over, "Could you trouble you to take a photo of us?"

"Of course!"

The little girl happily took the camera, and after Chen Yuan taught her how to operate it, she took a photo of the two of them.

With the Second Bridge together.

A lot of them, in a row.

"Thank you~"

Xia Xinyu took the camera, looked at the photos, and smiled at the little girl.

"Is Jie-jie Ge-ge's girlfriend?" the girl asked curiously.

Then, Xia Xinyu immediately replied, "No."

Chen Yuan smiled.

Here it comes again.

The sarcastic Yu Zi.

Because of Yang Qiqi's matter, she wanted to play the cousin card, right?

How childish...

Xia Xinyu directly hugged Chen Yuan's arm, then leaned her head on his shoulder, and smiled as she revealed the secret, "I'm his wife."

Yuan Zi is going back to his hometown, and I'm going back to my hometown too.

Just this chapter today, I'm getting on the highway.

Happy New Year, brothers!

(End of chapter)