TNSFC – Chapter 108

As the end of the year approached, the weather grew increasingly cold.

Que Yining had originally planned to spend New Year’s with Gu Shanxue, and then visit the Que family on New Year’s Day to offer greetings. However, on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, You Lanqing called her.

“Ningning, on New Year’s Eve, just bring Shanxue back home with you. It’ll be livelier with more people. We’re all family, so there’s no need to be formal. Xiaoxiao is also looking forward to you coming back. So, it’s settled then.”

As if afraid she would refuse, You Lanqing hung up as soon as she finished speaking, not giving Que Yining any time to object.

Actually, they knew that if Que Yining didn’t want to come, she absolutely could choose not to. But their heartfelt invitation was clear.

Que Yining looked at the ‘call ended’ screen on her phone and gave a resigned smile.

Although the warm winter sun lacked scorching heat, it still shone brightly into the room from outside.

They were sitting in the spacious living room, where floor-to-ceiling windows provided an excellent view and ample light. Gu Shanxue had placed a large hanging chair there, covered with a soft, white, fluffy cushion that looked comfortable and warm. Sitting in it felt like sinking into clouds. In front of the hanging chair was a small table.

When the weather was nice and they weren’t busy, Gu Shanxue would brew a pot of tea. Sometimes she would make small cookies or cakes and place them on the table. They would snuggle together, reading and eating, or lean back together in the dim light to watch a movie.

Sometimes, when drowsiness overcame her, Que Yining would lean against Gu Shanxue and fall soundly asleep, only to wake up in her arms.

“Did your mother ask you to go home tomorrow?”

Gu Shanxue put down the book in her hand and looked at Que Yining, an unavoidable sense of disappointment in her heart.

“She asked us to go back together.”

Que Yining leaned back in her arms, looking up at her, her tone light and cheerful.

“Am I going too?”

Gu Shanxue pointed to herself, somewhat hesitant and surprised. She worried that her status wasn’t yet such that she would be included.

“Of course! It’s already public knowledge. Who in Lu Su City doesn’t know that you, Gu Shanxue, belong to me, Que Yining? Even if you didn’t want to go, I’d drag you there.”

Que Yining spoke with a playful arrogance, her eyebrows slightly raised, a captivating smile playing at the corners of her slender eyes.

“Mm.”

Gu Shanxue felt a tickle in her throat. Her hand unconsciously reached out to scratch Que Yining’s chin, as if petting a cat.

“You think I’m Ningning, huh?”

Que Yining naturally noticed her cat-petting technique and her eyes widened.

Ningning, who was basking in the sun nearby, suddenly heard its owner call its name. It responded with a lazy meow and twitched its tail.

Gu Shanxue chuckled softly and said deliberately, “Aren’t you Ningning?”

Those fingers lingered, moving from her chin to her cheek, bringing a faintly ticklish shiver.

As they moved towards her lips, Que Yining opened her mouth and caught them, gently gnawing with her teeth but not daring to bite hard.

The fingertip felt warm, soft, and moist. It wasn’t like playful teasing, but more like flirting.

Gu Shanxue gently guided Que Yining’s head, helping her sit up straight, then placed her feet on the floor and got out of the rattan chair.

The semi-circular space of the chair suddenly felt more open. Que Yining thought Gu Shanxue was going to get something, but instead, Gu Shanxue turned and lifted her into her arms.

“Hmm?”

Que Yining let out a soft gasp, a fleeting look of confusion on her face, which then turned to understanding.

She smiled, wrapped her arms around Gu Shanxue’s neck, blew softly into her ear, and said teasingly, “CEO Gu, it’s still daytime, you know.”

Que Yining wasn’t the type to care whether it was day or night; Gu Shanxue had always been the more reserved one.

At night, Gu Shanxue was somewhat more at ease, but doing intimate things during the day was usually too much for her easily embarrassed nature.

But people change. The once shy Miss Gu had also matured quickly under Que Yining’s constant teasing and had gradually learned how to counterattack.

Of course, she couldn’t out-talk Que Yining, and her flirting skills were naturally inferior. But she could use actions to make Que Yining blush unexpectedly.

For example, kissing her while she was talking, or, for another example… engaging in certain daytime activities.

Gu Shanxue pulled the blackout curtains closed. The light was blocked, and the room fell into dimness.

“Now it’s nighttime.”

Gu Shanxue said, trying to sound serious, her slender fingers unfastening a button.

Que Yining was wearing a white sweater that day. As everyone knows, sweaters can visually enhance one’s bust. Que Yining was already well-endowed, and the sweater made her look even more ‘magnificently ample’.

Gu Shanxue tested it with her hand and found it to be indeed true.

Que Yining smiled and kissed her passionately, offering her all the pleasures of earthly love.

As the saying goes, ‘In the fourth month, worldly fragrance fades, yet temple peach blossoms begin to bloom.’ Gu Shanxue had been exploring snow-capped peaks, their expanse rising and falling with each breath. Journeying downwards revealed a splendid spring landscape: a narrow valley of fallen petals within a dense forest, where a stream gurgled softly.

Her breath was scorching, her heart ablaze like a burning summer. Yet, her calves and ankles felt cool, as if holding onto autumn.

The gentle ripples in her eyes sketched an unparalleled worldly beauty, as they indulged in all the sensual pleasures of their union.

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On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, Que Yining and Gu Shanxue returned to the old family home with gifts.

The Que family had many descendants, and they always spent New Year’s at the old family home. The main gate of the house stood open, the driveway packed with cars.

Que Yining still remembered what it was like when she came here last year. It was her first time meeting Xiaoxiao, and she had also stumbled upon Que Chuling and Hou Manni’s secret here. In the middle of the night, she had rushed back to Lu Su City and shared a hot pot meal with Gu Shanxue.

Because of the events of last year, some relatives didn’t come this year. Some had fallen along with Que Linyang, while others, who had been opportunistic fence-sitters during the troubles, had been dealt with by Que Yining. Although they were still in the Que family registry, they no longer had the face to return.

Yet, this year wasn’t desolate despite the reduced numbers. Everyone had worked together to overcome the difficulties and was now in high spirits. Additionally, some of the younger generation had married, some had babies, and some even had a second child. Gathered in the old house, it was as lively as ever.

Gu Shanxue, however, had never witnessed such a grand affair. When she was young, the Gu family didn’t have many relatives, and New Year’s was just her immediate family sharing a meal. After her family’s circumstances changed, there hadn’t been a festive New Year’s atmosphere for many years. She had moved abroad with her mother in her early teens, and although they observed Spring Festival every year, it usually just involved a meal like any other, with her mother giving her some lucky money, and that was all.

The Que family was so populous and thriving, with people constantly coming and going, greeting both her and Que Yining. The festive New Year’s spirit naturally enveloped her, its cheer infectious.

“You don’t find it too noisy, do you?”

Que Yining heard children laughing and playing in the hallway and worried that Gu Shanxue might be bothered by the noise.

“Not at all. I think it’s wonderful.”

Gu Shanxue couldn’t articulate much more, but she held Que Yining’s hand tightly, a smile on her face.

Que Yining looked into her bright eyes and knew she must be genuinely happy, which made Que Yining feel even more joyful herself.

“Come on, let’s go check out the kitchen.”

The liveliest place in the Que household right now was undoubtedly the kitchen.

The New Year’s Eve dinner always held special significance. The Que family wasn’t one to hire outside help for it. Que Hanyi had started his business by opening a restaurant, initially working as the chef himself. His culinary skills were naturally superb. After his business prospered, he brought in family members to help—not in management, but definitely to cook alongside him. They learned the craft and then went on to open branch restaurants. Consequently, most of the older generation in the Que family, men and women alike, knew how to cook and were now enthusiastically showing off their skills in the bustling kitchen.

“Oh dear! You added too much vinegar! Who cooks like that? Can you even manage? If not, let me do it!”

“Oh, you talk too much! I’ve been cooking this dish for decades, you think I don’t know how? Just step aside!”

Sixth Uncle and Fifth Uncle were glaring at each other, mustaches practically bristling, brandishing their spatulas with the ferocity of men wielding Gatling guns.

“Who shredded these potatoes? If you can’t slice them properly, use a grater! This knife work… If my hands weren’t what they used to be, I’d show you all what real shredding looks like! Back in my day…”

“Oh, be quiet and hurry up with the stir-frying! There’s another dish waiting to go into the wok!”

Fourth Uncle was in the middle of boasting when Fourth Aunt rolled her eyes at him, and he sheepishly went back to his stir-frying.

It was noisy and clamorous, yet also lively and bustling, filled with the lingering aroma of food. Everyone seemed so genuine and endearing.

“Hey, Ningning!”

You Lanqing, with her sharp eyes, spotted Que Yining standing at the doorway. Holding a bowl, she squeezed her way out and placed it with chopsticks in front of Que Yining.

“Hello, Auntie.”

Gu Shanxue greeted her, and You Lanqing smiled in acknowledgment.

“This is freshly made braised pork belly, and here are some braised pork ribs. Shanxue, you two have a taste. See if it’s too salty or not salty enough.”

Que Yining took a bite and said it was seasoned perfectly. You Lanqing was about to say something more but was pulled back into the kitchen by her sisters-in-law.

Que Yining, holding the bowl, picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and fed it to Gu Shanxue.

The braised pork was sweet but not cloying, and its delightful sweetness spread from her taste buds right into her heart.

Gu Shanxue smiled. After Que Yining put down the empty bowl, she gently wiped the corner of Que Yining’s mouth.

“Youngest Aunt, Youngest Aunt! What delicious thing are you eating?”

Xiaoxiao ran over and stood on her tiptoes to peek into the bowl, only to find it empty.

“Xiaoxiao will find out tonight. Has our Xiaoxiao grown taller?”

Que Yining patted the little girl’s head. She had her hair in pretty braids and was wearing a red padded jacket. With her rosy lips and white teeth, she looked like a little cherubic attendant from a celestial palace.

“Yes! Grandma measured me, and I’ve grown two centimeters!” Xiaoxiao said proudly. Then, taking Gu Shanxue’s hand, she gestured, “I’ll definitely be as tall as Youngest Aunt Gu in the future!”

“Yes, our Xiaoxiao definitely can.”

Gu Shanxue bent down, patted the little girl’s head as well, and slipped a piece of candy into her mouth.

They went to sit and chat with the younger generation. The younger ones weren’t sure how to address Gu Shanxue; calling her ‘brother-in-law’ was obviously inappropriate due to her gender, so they all just called her ‘Jiejie’ (older sister).

Many of the younger relatives were playing Galaxy Watch together in a premade team. When Que Yining approached, Fifth Uncle’s son was playing as a Ghost Hawk from the Federation faction and was on the verge of being killed by an enemy. While maneuvering his character to escape, he yelled, “Stop chasing, stop chasing! My sister is Que Yining! My sister is Que Yining! Ha! I didn’t die!”

His voice was incredibly smug. He recalled to base to heal, and when he looked up, he saw Que Yining.

“What on earth were you shouting?”

“Sis, you wouldn’t get it. It’s a secret incantation! It works wonders when Afra and Hillary are chasing me. Next time, I can try shouting, ‘My sister is Gu Shanxue!’ After all, we’re all family, right? The magical effect should be the same.”

The young man looked at Gu Shanxue, who was standing nearby, and gave them both a teasing, mischievous grin.

“You’re such a smooth talker,”

Que Yining flicked his forehead. Gu Shanxue playfully scratched Que Yining’s palm, and they laughed together.

So this was what family felt like. It was so wonderful.

At 6:30 in the evening, the New Year’s Eve dinner began.

Everyone ate, drank, and chatted about happy things, wishing each other a prosperous, joyful, and fulfilling year ahead.

Que Yining and Gu Shanxue also raised their glasses in celebration, tender affection flowing silently between them.

Que Yining said with a smile, “Miss Gu, in the new year, let’s continue to spend it well together.”

“We will.”

Gu Shanxue gazed at her without blinking. She would definitely hold her hand tightly and never let go.

Their glasses clinked in the air, a clear, crisp sound, just like the heart-fluttering signal that sparked every time they met.