On the evening of the thirtieth, Jian Suiying and Li Yu naturally returned to their respective homes.
Jian Suiying found himself talking nonstop to a room full of relatives until his face went numb. He was also drunk from the wine. He found it utterly tedious.
Next year, he planned to spend the New Year elsewhere—perhaps in Qinhuangdao with his grandfather. Anything was better than facing this noisy gathering.
Jian Suiying was now the pillar of the Jian family. Whether elders or younger relatives, everyone inevitably pulled him aside for a drink.
No matter how much he could drink, he couldn't withstand this relentless round of toasts. Finally, he couldn't take another sip, and his legs trembled as he walked.
Jian Suilin had already intercepted several drinks for him, but he himself was starting to feel unwell. Seeing Jian Suiying looking dazed, he leaned close
and whispered in his ear, "Brother, you're done for, aren't you? Let me help you inside."
Jian Suiying belched, hooked his arm around Jian Suilin's neck, and murmured, "In... let's go inside..."
Jian Suilin helped him to his feet and explained to the others at the table: "My brother's really had too much. I'll take him inside to rest for a bit."
."
One of Jian Suiying's uncles protested, "You'll be back out in no time! It's barely past nine!" Jian Suiying waved him off and staggered back to his room, supported by Xiaolinzi.
Xiao Linzi helped Jian Suiying into his own room and laid him on the bed. Jian Suiying, his mind still clear despite the alcohol, asked, "Why did I come to your place?"
"I was worried you'd mess up your own bed and not sleep well tonight." Jian Suilin grabbed a few napkins and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
the sweat from his forehead.
"Don't worry, brother."
"What's the status on those properties?"
"The offices are closed for the holidays. We'll handle it after the New Year. It's not complicated." "About that... Bai Xinyu. Has he caused any trouble?"
"No, he's been very proactive."
"Hmm, keep an eye on him... Let me know if anything comes up." "Got it."
"You can go now. I'm going to sleep for a bit."
"I'll stay with you for a bit. I don't feel like going out drinking either."
Jian Suiying didn't urge him to leave. She lay back on the bed, limbs relaxed, and closed her eyes to rest.
After an unknown amount of time, Jian Suiying's breathing evened out, and she seemed to have fallen asleep.
Jian Suilin got up, washed his face in the bathroom, and took a sip of water. Feeling slightly more awake, he sat back down beside the bed and watched Jian Suiying.
He touched Jian Suiying's hair—it felt slightly damp, damp with sweat from drinking.
It had been ages since he'd seen his brother sleeping so defenselessly before him. If he knew what thoughts he harbored toward him, he probably wouldn't dare close his eyes.
he dared not even close his eyes.
Jian Suilin's hand moved from his hair to his forehead, his fingertips light as feathers, dancing gently across his face—from his brow
to his nose, and finally to his lips.
Jian Suying's lips always looked so soft, though this mouth was foul and stubborn, never uttering a kind word.
Pressing gently with his fingertips, it truly felt soft.
Jian Suilin's heartbeat suddenly quickened. Staring at those slightly parted lips, an endless longing welled up within him. He softly called out, "Brother."
No response.
"Brother, are you asleep?"
Still no response.
Jian Suilin's courage grew. He slowly leaned closer, trembling slightly, until finally pressing his lips against Jian Suying's
lips.
For that instant, his breath caught in his throat. He dared not move, terrified of waking Jian Suiying.
That soft, warm sensation was utterly intoxicating.
Jian Suilin's eyes widened. His heart felt like it was leaping out of his throat. He tensed, wanting to flee immediately, yet
he couldn't bear to leave.
The moment the words registered, Sui Lin felt his head grow hot and his vision blur. A wave of raw anger and jealousy flooded his entire being.
Half his body trembled. Li Yu.
He was calling out Li Yu.
Jian Suilin sprang to his feet, glaring at Jian Suying who lay fast asleep on his bed, his fists clenched tightly.
Jian Suying never woke up to greet the New Year, sleeping straight through until dawn.
The next morning, she awoke with a splitting headache. Everything seemed to be viewed through a transparent film—though she could see clearly, it was unbearably uncomfortable.
He woke up to find himself still lying in Jian Suilin's bed, completely naked except for a pair of underwear. He stared at the ceiling for a long while, debating whether to get up or stay in bed.
Suddenly, something hit him like a bolt of lightning. He scrambled to his feet, frantically searching for his phone.
He'd planned to call Li Yu at midnight to wish her a Happy New Year yesterday. It would've been even better if they could count down together.
. It might seem silly, but wasn't that what being together was all about? Never missing a chance to be affectionate.
But he'd slept right through it all, missing everything—he hadn't even sent Li Yu a text.
Li Yu had sent him a generic New Year's greeting—the kind copied and pasted from some template and mass-sent to everyone.
Nothing else.
Jian Suiying also felt silly obsessing over a single text message, but he just couldn't shake the uneasy feeling.
No matter how Jian Suiying thought about it, it wasn't that he was being petty—it was that Li Yu was being careless. He flopped naked onto the bed and immediately called Li Yu.
"Hello, Brother Jian." "Hello, Li Er."
Jian Suiying only called him "Li Er" when he was in a foul mood, and Li Yu knew immediately that something was up.
"What's up?"
"Don't you have something to say to me today?" "Huh? Oh, Happy New Year."
Jian Suiying let out a "tsk." "Why didn't you even call yesterday? How could you be so inconsiderate?"
Li Yu sighed helplessly: "I called Sui Lin yesterday. He said you were passed out drunk, so I didn't call."
This didn't comfort Jian Suiying at all; it only fueled his anger. "Hey, listen—you didn't call me first.
call me first? Why did you call him?"
Li Yu paused. "What's gotten into you now? Still hungover?"
Jian Suiying snapped: "I sobered up ages ago! On New Year's Day, you just sent me some tacky, generic text message to wish me a happy new year and thought that was
that's it?"
"Damn it, how could someone be so clueless..." Jian Suiying rolled around on the bed, his anger growing with every thought.
Just then, Jian Suilin burst through the door and immediately spotted his brother sprawled on the bed, wearing only a bullet-shaped pair of underwear.
sprawled on the bed.
Jian Suiying glanced up at him before burying his face back in the pillow. "Where did you sleep last night?" "The guest room."
"Oh. What time is it?" "Nine-thirty."
Jian Suiying yawned. "My head hurts a bit. Go find me some medicine, then get something to eat. I'll
heading downstairs soon."
Jian Suiying lingered in bed for another half hour before lazily getting up to wash, brush his teeth, and eat.
When he came downstairs, his dad was reading the paper. Seeing him, he chuckled. "Suiying, how long has it been since you last drank? You went down so fast yesterday."
"They just kept forcing it down my throat. Damn, it was torture." Jian Suiying rubbed his temples.
Jian Dongyuan set down his newspaper, looking at his tall, sturdy eldest son with quiet satisfaction. "Eat something.
We'll be busy over the next few days." "Mm."
"So, what day should we go visit your grandfather?"
" The third day." He planned to visit his mother's relatives today and tomorrow, then go with his father to his grandfather's place on the third day.
.
"Alright, you decide. Sui Lin... should we bring him along?"
Jian Suiying glanced at Jian Suilin. "Do you want to go?"
Jian Suiying raised an eyebrow, thinking this kid was getting more savvy by the day. Jian Dongyuan nodded happily too.
Jian Suiying thought of something and said: "Dad, this year I plan to take Xiaolin to pay New Year's respects to the Li family."
"Oh, that's great. You two brothers and the Li brothers get along so well now. It's only right to pay them a New Year's visit and strengthen the relationship."
"Hmm, you get in touch with Uncle Li about that, and I'll take Sui Lin along." "Alright."
Jian Suiying thought of Li Yu's perpetually calm and composed face, which made him both love and hate him.