New Year's Eve 02

After spending the entire morning cleaning the house, Lin Yu rested for a while after lunch before joining Xia Muzhu in more preparations, while Xia Yueshan went to catch up on sleep.

By the time dusk approached, everything was ready. A sumptuous feast was laid out on the dining table, and the three of them happily began their meal, savoring the New Year's reunion and delicious food.

After dinner, the fixed program for New Year's Eve was, naturally, watching the Spring Festival Gala.

This was Lin Yu's first time watching the Spring Festival Gala in this world. Last year's New Year schedule had been packed, and he hadn't even caught a glimpse of what the Gala was like.

He just didn't know about the quality of this world's Spring Festival Gala.

Lin Yu was a little worried.

He remembered that in the world he came from before crossing over, the Spring Festival Gala had been getting worse and worse, even gradually falling from a national-level program, an indispensable part of New Year's Eve, to becoming something of a laughingstock.

Would this world's Spring Festival Gala be just as disappointing?

With a mix of apprehension and curiosity, Lin Yu sat down on the living room sofa, picked up the remote control from the coffee table, and turned on the TV.

The timing was perfect. The Spring Festival Gala had just started; the hosts hadn't even come out yet, and the opening animation was playing on the TV.

Xia Muzhu also finished her tasks and walked over to the sofa, sitting down beside Lin Yu.

With his fragrant, soft girlfriend right next to him, Lin Yu couldn't help but reach out, wrap his arm around her waist, and naturally pull her into his embrace.

With Xia Yueshan nearby, Xia Muzhu felt a bit embarrassed, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she shyly nestled closer, leaning softly against Lin Yu.

Xia Yueshan had gone to the cabinet with a wicker basket to grab some nuts. In no time, he filled the basket with dried fruits, stacked a few together, and carried them over to the sofa area.

Seeing the two being all lovey-dovey, his expression was a mix of teasing and disdain.

So you finally can't keep up the act anymore, huh?

Day in and day out, acting like some secret, nameless affair.

Who are you even hiding from!

He bent down to place the baskets one by one on the coffee table. As he straightened up to leave, he shot them another teasing look, as if saying, "Why don't you two keep pretending?"

Xia Muzhu lowered her head in slight embarrassment, while Lin Yu remained as steady as Mount Tai. He even glared back at him and growled,

"Go on, get out of the way. Don't block the TV."

Xia Yueshan curled his lip, then sat on another sofa. Grabbing a handful of almonds, he started eating while watching the Gala with them.

Spring Festival Gala programs are generally divided into two categories: performances and language-based acts (like skits and crosstalk). The opening acts were all dances and music, which weren't particularly interesting.

But Lin Yu felt it was okay. Mainly, holding a soft, fragrant girlfriend like Xia Muzhu, he could happily sit there all night!

The three of them sat on the sofa, waiting for the skits or crosstalk to appear.

That was the real key to judging whether a year's Spring Festival Gala was successful or not!

But before they could see a skit or crosstalk on TV, they first got a video call.

Xia Muzhu picked up her phone from the coffee table. Seeing the ID of the caller, she pursed her peach-colored lips, looking somewhat nervous.

"Who is it?" Lin Yu asked curiously.

"It's Sun Tao," Xia Muzhu said, looking up at him.

Hearing the name, Lin Yu couldn't immediately recall who she was. Xia Muzhu promptly reminded him,

"You've met her. Last autumn, she stayed at my place for a while."

With that reminder, Lin Yu remembered who she was—a very interesting person who used to often tease Xia Muzhu about him back then.

"Oh, her. Then answer it," Lin Yu said casually.

Xia Muzhu seemed hesitant, but she nodded and answered the video call.

The call connected, and Sun Tao's pretty face appeared on the phone screen. A smile played on her lips, her eyes sparkling, looking very eager to see Xia Muzhu.

The next second, upon seeing Xia Muzhu shyly leaning against Lin Yu's chest, her expression froze for a moment.

Immediately after, her eyes widened in shock, her red lips parting slightly. She covered her mouth with one hand and pointed at the two of them with the other, asking in delighted surprise,

"You... you two... you're together?"

"When did you get together?"

"Xia Muzhu, why didn't you tell me anything?"

Seeing Sun Tao's clueless look, Lin Yu smiled, glossing over many details, and simply explained for Xia Muzhu,

"This summer, after I graduated high school, Xia Muzhu and I got together."

"Oooh~"

Sun Tao drew out the sound, a smile she couldn't hide on her lips. She put on an exaggerated, envious expression and teased,

"Look at you, Xia Muzhu. You're something else."

"Couldn't even wait for him to start university, huh? Snatched him up right after high school graduation."

"Aren't 'high school boys' all the rage online these days?"

"Not bad."

"You're keeping up with the trend."

Xia Muzhu's face flushed bright red from the teasing. She shot Sun Tao an annoyed glare but couldn't come up with a retort. She could only quickly change the subject, asking how her work was going.

Sun Tao had gone to another city. Her job was good, but she couldn't adapt to the local customs and poured out her grievances to Xia Muzhu.

The two chatted for over half an hour before Sun Tao started feeling a bit down.

Seeing Xia Muzhu nestled in a warm embrace while she was all alone working in a different city, without even her family around, she felt like she might start crying if they kept talking. She hurriedly ended the call.

Before hanging up, she didn't forget to stand up for her good friend, telling Lin Yu to treat her well, or else she wouldn't let him off the hook!

Not long after this call ended, before even one full program had finished on the Spring Festival Gala, another call came through.

This time, Lin Yu didn't need Xia Muzhu to say anything; he saw the contact name on the phone at a glance.

Dad.

Perhaps influenced by some universal pressure symbolized by his hair color, seeing those two words made Lin Yu feel immense pressure. He unconsciously let go of Xia Muzhu.

Sensing Lin Yu's nervousness, Xia Muzhu looked up at him and comforted him softly,

"It's okay."

As she spoke, she tugged at Lin Yu's hand, wanting him to meet her family.

Lin Yu wasn't a coward, but he still declined Xia Muzhu's suggestion.

Meeting the parents was a serious matter, especially the first time. Lin Yu didn't want to meet his future father-in-law so casually. After all, first impressions were crucial!

"Next time, next time. Next time I'll properly tidy up. Let's skip it this time. I didn't even use soap when I washed my face this morning!"

Lin Yu moved a bit away from Xia Muzhu, staying out of the camera's view as he refused.

Seeing Lin Yu's insistence, Xia Muzhu had to give up the idea.

Only after Lin Yu had moved away did she answer the video call, addressing the middle-aged man and woman on the screen sweetly,

"Dad, Mom."