The night descended.
The crackling sound of firecrackers exploded.
Lin Fan brought out a table full of fragrant delicacies, popping morsels into his mouth now and then.
Song Yue was coaxing the child in the room. Occasional cries could be heard, likely from the child being startled by the firecrackers.
In the kitchen, Xia Xue was still busy with the last dish.
"Sister-in-law, that's enough. The three of us can't eat that much."
Lin Fan walked into the kitchen and saw his sister-in-law, wearing a floral apron, expertly and swiftly cooking. He felt an immense warmth.
Xia Xue had always supported this family. Now, she could finally lift the burden from her shoulders and live a comfortable life.
"Xiao Fan, you go out. Cough, cough, the chili is too much."
Xia Xue said, coughing twice.
"Sister-in-law."
Lin Fan quietly went behind his sister-in-law and gently hugged her waist from behind.
"What are you doing?"
Xia Xue was suddenly flustered.
If Song Yue saw this, she would be too ashamed to face her.
"Let go of me quickly."
Xia Xue used her free left hand to try and pry Lin Fan's arms open.
"Yueyue jie is in the room coaxing the child, Sister-in-law, just let me hold you for a bit."
Lin Fan refused to let go.
"I'm cooking, it's almost burnt."
Xia Xue smelled a faint burning odor and quickly stirred the contents of the wok.
Feeling the warmth of Lin Fan's chest, an ineffable emotion surged within her.
"Xiao Fan, is something bothering you?"
Lin Fan nodded dully, "Mmm."
He had been worried about the escaped snake demon.
They had already crossed paths, and once the snake demon recovered, it would surely return for revenge.
He had the purple qi to protect him and could withstand some of it.
But what if the snake demon targeted his sister-in-law and Yueyue jie?
He had to be prepared!
Xia Xue continued to plate the stir-fried dish from the wok, allowing Lin Fan to hold her from behind.
Thinking back, the last time Lin Fan had hugged her like this was when he was in school and got into a fight. He was covered in injuries, his clothes torn, and she had scolded him severely.
"Sister-in-law, they said my brother wouldn't come back, and they called you a widow, that's why I fought with them."
Lin Fan had said then, with tears in his eyes.
Hearing this, Xia Xue's heart ached for him. She hugged him tightly, her eyes also welling up.
"Xiao Fan, don't fight with others anymore. Let them say whatever they want."
"No, Sister-in-law, I must protect you. No one can speak ill of you!"
Lin Fan was only thirteen at the time.
Thinking of this, Xia Xue first placed the plate on the stove. Then, she glanced towards the main room, ensuring Song Yue wouldn't suddenly appear. Only then did she place her hand on top of Lin Fan's.
"Xiao Fan, don't worry."
Xia Xue said gently again, "We've been through so many difficult times, I don't believe there will be any harder days ahead."
"Mmm!"
Lin Fan nodded heavily.
His sister-in-law's comforting words eased his heart considerably.
"You, be more settled. You're not a child anymore, and I can't watch over you forever."
Xia Xue reminded him with concern.
"Sister-in-law, you're so naggy."
Lin Fan hugged his sister-in-law's soft, delicate body and swayed, "But I love to hear it!"
Just as Xia Xue showed a hint of joy, she felt a light kiss on her cheek, like a dragonfly touching water.
Lin Fan, looking smug, praised, "Sister-in-law, you're so beautiful!"
"I'll hit you with my spatula!"
Xia Xue playfully grabbed her spatula, scaring Lin Fan into a hasty retreat out of the kitchen.
"This guy."
Xia Xue watched Lin Fan's retreating back, a sense of happiness welling up within her.
During the meal, Xia Xue called her parents, explaining that the police were hunting a murderer and had set up checkpoints everywhere, making travel inconvenient, so she couldn't return for the New Year.
To her surprise, her parents also said that the same was happening even in Xiajia Gou. The village had even notified each household to report any outsiders immediately.
Xia Xue had no choice but to wait for the situation to calm down before visiting her parents.
In the main room, a table full of fragrant delicacies was laid out.
Lin Fan, Xia Xue, and Song Yue, holding her child, took their seats, all looking joyous.
"Xiao Fan, why did you run back to the clinic just now? Are people still coming for treatment on New Year's Day?"
Song Yue asked, pouring them all a glass of red wine.
Xia Xue kept looking curiously at the handbag by Lin Fan's feet, sensing that its contents were not ordinary.
"Sister-in-law."
Lin Fan suddenly spoke, "Actually, there's something I've been hiding from you."
"What is it?"
Xia Xue looked intently at Lin Fan.
Lin Fan bringing it up on New Year's Eve suggested it wasn't a trivial matter.
"Heh heh, I've been saving some private money to spend myself."
"I haven't asked you for anything. As long as we can build our house, you can keep the rest for yourself."
Xia Xue breathed a sigh of relief, glad it wasn't something bad.
"Sister-in-law, you said it yourself. It's up to me how I arrange it, right?"
Lin Fan tilted his head, looking at his sister-in-law with a sly glint in his eyes.
"I did say that. The money you earn is yours, spend it as you please, as long as you don't get into trouble."
Xia Xue thought, how much could private savings be? Ten to twenty thousand at most!
"Sister-in-law, this is for you."
Lin Fan bent down, rummaged in the handbag, counted out a hundred thousand yuan, and presented it with both hands.
"Where did you get..."
Xia Xue, seeing ten neat stacks of red banknotes, instinctively took a deep breath.
"Didn't I tell you? It's my private savings."
Lin Fan pondered for a moment, then added, "After thinking about it, Sister-in-law, you've been incredibly kind to me. I feel indebted to you!"
He stood up, holding the hundred thousand yuan, and offered it to her, "Sister-in-law, you keep it for me."
"Hmph, you were hiding so much."
Xia Xue, while excited, also felt a pang of worry.
If he could casually hide a hundred thousand yuan, how much had he truly earned this year?
However, on second thought, Xia Xue quickly felt at ease.
After all, Xiao Fan's clinic had already gained a good reputation, and people came for treatments daily. It was hard not to make money.
"If you're taking it, then fine. Xiao Fan, don't you need to keep any money for yourself?"
Xia Xue accepted it without hesitation, placing the money on the chair beside her.
"No need, I still have a little."
Lin Fan pinched his thumb and index finger together, indicating a spot the size of a fingernail.
Xia Xue didn't believe him at all but didn't press further.
Song Yue lowered her eyes, feeling intensely envious.
If she were Lin Fan's legal wife, this money should have been entrusted to her.
As a woman, it was undoubtedly a joyous thing to have a man willing to earn money for her.
It was just a pity...
That woman wasn't her. She was merely a mistress.
Thinking this, Song Yue's mood became even more somber.
"Yueyue jie, here, this is for you."
Lin Fan, at some unknown moment, produced twenty thousand yuan.