Mr. Home is Quite Spacious

"Thank you."

Krisha accepted the red envelope prepared by Xu Xi.

Her expression was serious as she hugged it to her chest with both hands.

"Thank you, brother."

Xu Moli giggled, still as gleeful as she was as a child, happily taking the New Year's money from Xu Xi's hand.

And then.

Xu Xi led Wu Yingxue out of the kitchen.

"Crack!— Crack crack!"

Fireworks exploded outside, splashing a dazzling array of colors. As they pierced through the corridor's glass, they created stunning shapes formed by light and shadow, like petals of a flower ready to bloom or ripples swaying in water.

"Sir, did you not prepare one for me?"

On their way to Xu Xi's bedroom,

Wu Yingxue blinked, the colors of the fireworks reflecting in her eyes, casting a glimmering light.

"Do you want one?"

"I thought you wouldn't be interested in it."

Xu Xi chuckled, his hand resting on the door handle of his bedroom. With a soft press and twist, the door clicked open.

"Rustle, rustle," the fireworks exploded in the sky outside the house.

Vivid and colorful.

The sparks scattered and disappeared quickly into the dark night.

The symbolism of the New Year's money is to wish the receiver safety and peace.

Regarding the princess, Wu the Young Master, and the now-grown Wu Yingxue, Xu Xi naturally wishes for her well-being.

But unlike his sister and the witch,

who met Xu Xi in their most vulnerable states and lived under his protection,

Wu Yingxue was already strong when Xu Xi encountered her.

She would cry, then stand up again; she would feel despondent, but still move forward with resolve.

As a warrior who upholds her beliefs, Wu Yingxue's safety is already firmly in her own hands, no need for others to bestow.

Xu Xi's role is more about guiding her direction.

"Yingxue, if you want one, I can prepare it for you now."

"No, Sir."

The princess placed her hands behind her back, her smile bright: "I'm not a child anymore, and such little New Year's money is not necessary."

Xu Xi wasn't sure if it was his imagination,

but he thought she emphasized the words "not a child" just a bit more.

The room was silent, emphasizing the chill of winter.

"Is that so? Since you say so, I won't prepare one," Xu Xi instinctively tightened his clothes, pushing the door open and leading Wu Yingxue into his room.

The room wasn't large, with minimal furniture.

It had a simple and clean style.

Soft lights illuminated from both sides, a warm white with a faint yellow cast, silently radiating a gentle warmth, making the wooden shelves clearly visible with their grain.

Anyone stepping into the room

would first be drawn to the display shelves.

Because the items inside were too peculiar: a porcelain jar filled with candy, a charred magic wand, or a small, ordinary paper flower.

"Is this your room? It feels... similar to the ones in the martial world."

Wu Yingxue’s expression was curious as she followed Xu Xi into the room.

Then,

under her gaze,

Xu Xi walked to the display shelves, unlocked the door with a key, and took out the paper flower from the third compartment.

The paper flower was ordinary, made of plain paper, but at the same time, it was flawless and exquisite, appearing as if it were a real flower.

"Yingxue, this is what I wanted to give you."

"The paper flower, by chance, ended up in my possession. I thought that since you've returned, it should be given to you."

"After all, you used to love it so much."

As Xu Xi spoke,

he extended his palm toward Wu Yingxue.

A brownish-white paper flower lay quietly in his palm, its petals curling softly without sound.

“How nostalgic...” Wu Yingxue's eyes were complex as she pinched the flawless paper flower between her fingers, idly spinning it in her hand.

Once the spinning halted,

the paper flower swayed before settling back quietly.

It was returned to Xu Xi by the princess.

"Sir," she softly spoke, "let this flower stay in the cabinet."

"You don't plan to take it with you?" Xu Xi asked, puzzled.

"No."

Wu Yingxue gave a tranquil smile, shaking her head slightly at Xu Xi: "Out with the old, in with the new. For me, it's better for it to stay here with you, Sir."

The princess still loved the paper flower.

She loved it dearly.

It was the first gift the silly Mr. Xu had given her.

However, compared to keeping the paper flower by her side, the now-mature princess felt it was better to leave it in Xu Xi's cabinet.

This way, Xu Xi could see the paper flower every day,

and think of the princess.

Moreover—

Wu Yingxue's gaze shifted slightly, looking at the candy jar and magic wand in the more prominent positions.

Warriors are competitive by nature.

Wu Yingxue reached the pinnacle through relentless battles and survival, never having surrendered without a fight. This time would be no different.

"Sir, let the flower stay here with you,"

the girl said to Xu Xi with a radiant smile.

"Well... Alright then."

Things took an unexpected turn, but Xu Xi respected Wu Yingxue's wishes.

Opening the cabinet door,

he gently placed the paper flower back into the third compartment.

At this moment, as she watched Xu Xi's actions, Wu Yingxue suddenly asked a peculiar question.

"Sir, are the positions in this cabinet always the same?"

Xu Xi replied, "Sometimes they change, sometimes they don't."

The princess seemed to understand something, piecing it together in her mind.

A moment later,

her smile grew even more radiant.

"I see. Thank you for the guidance, Sir."

Not really. What exactly have you understood?

Xu Xi felt the air even colder. Gazing at the princess before him and the display cabinet beside him, he sensed that the war over the cabinet would only intensify in the future.

But then again,

the display cabinet itself was already fiercely contested and unstable.

Adding the paper flower

seemed like just another drop in the ocean.

Thinking this, Xu Xi turned the key, locking the cabinet door securely.

With that, everything Xu Xi wanted to do tonight was completed. Be it the giving of New Year's gifts or the destiny of the paper flower—it all had a conclusion.

Perhaps imperfect,

but still a successful New Year's Eve.

Xu Xi exhaled slowly, feeling content with satisfaction. But looking at the girl before him, he suddenly remembered something crucial.

"Yingxue, do you have any plans for Earth?"

"Hmm..."

Wu Yingxue pondered.

It seemed she hadn’t given it much thought.

"I think I'll stay nearby, guarding everyone's safety in the Survival Army, as well as your safety, Sir."

"As for me, there's only so much I can do."

"No..."

"And occasionally, I might drop by Sir's place to spar with the other two."

Not to compete for Xu Xi, nor for any other reason.

Wu Yingxue's intentions were simple. She was purely itching for a fight, as she couldn’t find opponents elsewhere, and wanted to spar with the two superiors.

At the end,

she made a request to Xu Xi.

"Sir, your house seems pretty spacious. Could you spare a room for me?"

"I might occasionally come by for a visit."