Chapter 84: Welcoming the New Year With You

Chapter 84: Celebrating the New Year With You

Time flew by, and as Fan Xiaoyao and Wang Guocheng bickered and played, the footsteps of the New Year drew near.

On the night before the New Year, Fan Xiaoyao asked Wang Guocheng, “Are you really not planning to go home for the New Year?”

Wang Guocheng was crouched on the floor packing their luggage. Hearing her question, he rolled his eyes.

“Xiaoyao, you’ve already asked me that fifty times tonight. Why are you so nagging? For the last time: I’m not going home. This year, I want to spend the New Year with you, okay?”

Fan Xiaoyao sat on the sofa, counting her fingers and stammering, “Actually, your mother called me today.”

Wang Guocheng replied irritably, “No wonder you’ve been asking me about going home over and over—did Madam Wang Li Fengqin say something to you?”

Fan Xiaoyao shook her head like a rattle. “No, no... Aunt didn’t say anything, she just asked me to persuade you to go home for the New Year.”

Wang Guocheng stood up and walked over to her, sitting down beside her and asking with concern, “Xiaoyao, did she make things difficult for you today?”

Fan Xiaoyao lowered her head like a child caught misbehaving, and her eyes turned red.

Seeing her struggling to hold back tears, Wang Guocheng felt a pang of sympathy.

He reached out, pulling her into his arms and kissed her cheek. “Don’t be sad, okay? No matter what she says, I still love you.”

Fan Xiaoyao raised her eyes to meet Wang Guocheng’s gaze, and in that moment, all her grievances poured out like a flood.

Within seconds, her tears soaked the front of his shirt.

She looked at him, embarrassed. “Sorry... I got your shirt all wet.”

Wang Guocheng held her close, gently comforting her, “It’s fine, don’t worry about what she says, okay?

Falling in love, getting married—it’s between you and me. It has nothing to do with my mother.

So, from now on, you must never cry for people who aren’t truly involved, alright?”

Fan Xiaoyao, seeing how tenderly he comforted her, pouted in mock annoyance.

“What do you mean ‘not truly involved’? She’s your mother, isn’t she? Am I supposed to marry into your family and never speak to her again?”

When Wang Guocheng heard Fan Xiaoyao mention marrying into his family, he was so delighted that he lifted her up and spun her around the room.

“Xiaoyao, does that mean you’ve accepted my proposal? But you set 101 proposals for me, and I’ve only made about fifty so far…”

Fan Xiaoyao, laughing as he spun her around, teased, “Guocheng, stop dreaming! I said 101 proposals, not one less, understand?”

In an instant, Wang Guocheng’s exuberance deflated like a punctured ball. He wore a long face and muttered softly.

“Xiaoyao, can’t we negotiate? Given how devoted I am...”

Fan Xiaoyao patted his shoulder, comforting him, “No way! No concessions, not a single one less!”

Just then, Fan Xiaoyao’s phone rang again, the tune drifting in, “Cloudy dusk, outside the car window...”

Wang Guocheng set her down, went to her bedroom, fetched her phone, and handed it to her. “Looks like it’s Aunt’s call.”

Before Fan Xiaoyao could respond, Rong Jinfeng’s melodic voice came through the line.

“Xiaoyao, have you and Guocheng packed your luggage? Your uncle just called, said he’ll come pick you up personally and take you home.”

Knowing how busy Rong Fenghua was at the end of the year, Fan Xiaoyao quickly responded.

“Mom, I’ll call Uncle myself—no need for him to pick us up. Guocheng rented a car; we’ll be on our way soon. Uncle has a lot on his plate, so let’s not trouble him.”

Rong Jinfeng continued to nag, “Your uncle has a car, why rent one? Isn’t that a waste?”

Fan Xiaoyao hurried to reassure her, “Mom, I’m grown now, earning my own money. I can’t always rely on Uncle.

Besides, Guocheng already booked the car and paid the deposit. We can’t just cancel it, can we? It’s the New Year—everyone wants a peaceful holiday!”

Rong Jinfeng, hearing her daughter’s reasoning, relented. “Alright, alright... My daughter’s grown up, has her own ideas. I’ll call your uncle and tell him to go straight from Tongcheng to Yongnan Town.”

Fan Xiaoyao thought for a moment and said, “Mom, let me call Uncle myself. Don’t worry, our bags are almost packed, and we’ll head to Yongnan Town this afternoon.”

After hanging up with Rong Jinfeng, Fan Xiaoyao dialed Rong Fenghua.

“Uncle, it’s Xiaoyao. Mom said you were coming to pick up me and Guocheng?

Uncle, you don’t need to bother—we’ve already rented a car, and we’ll drive ourselves to Yongnan Town.

You and Aunt can just head directly from Tongcheng to Yongnan Town, don’t worry about us.”

Rong Fenghua and Wu Jing were shopping for New Year’s goods in a bustling mall. Because it was noisy, he moved closer to the escalator. “Xiaoyao, what did you say? The mall’s too loud.”

Hearing the chaos over the phone, Fan Xiaoyao repeated herself.

“Uncle, I said you don’t need to detour through Kangcheng to pick us up. We’ve rented a car and will drive ourselves to Yongnan Town.

You and Aunt can go straight from Tongcheng to Yongnan Town; don’t worry about us.”

Rong Fenghua’s voice was stern as he lectured her over the phone, “Fan Xiaoyao, you’re being wasteful! Your uncle has a car—why rent one? If you’re feeling rich, then give your grandfather a big red envelope this New Year and let him enjoy a bit of luxury.”

Back when Wang Guocheng called the car rental agency, Fan Xiaoyao knew she’d get scolded by Rong Fenghua.

But Wang Guocheng had said, “Now you have me—I’ll take care of everything for you. You can’t always rely on your uncle.”

Fan Xiaoyao cast a somewhat reproachful glance at Wang Guocheng, which left him puzzled.

She pursed her lips and continued with Rong Fenghua, “Uncle, the deposit for the rental car is paid. It’s the New Year—surely we can’t ask them to refund it?”

Rong Fenghua’s reply was adamant. “Refund it! The rental must be canceled. Fan Xiaoyao, as long as you’re unmarried, it’s your uncle’s duty to look after you.

And Xiaoyao, tell Guocheng not to be so extravagant. If he’s got money, he should save it—don’t squander it away.

Once we finish shopping, your aunt and I will set out. Just wait for us in Kangcheng around three o’clock this afternoon.”