The food was quickly packed, filling three large containers.
There was also a big lunchbox stuffed to the brim with dumplings.
The reason for such a generous amount was to let colleagues at work also get a taste of the New Year’s spirit.
The eldest sister was always thoughtful.
"Drive carefully, and come back soon."
Before leaving, Mom gave her instructions, then adjusted Cao Cheng’s coat collar before finally nodding in satisfaction.
Her handsome young man—the more she looked at him, the more pleased she felt.
The whole family watched as Cao Cheng drove off.
The third-generation G-Class roared away.
Ren Yuege wanted to tag along but was stopped by her mother.
In Aunt Ren’s heart, she actually hoped the siblings could mend their relationship—harmony at home brings prosperity, after all.
Especially between Cao Cheng and Second Sister Ren Fanxing.
Their silence, Second Sister’s cold shoulder—Mom saw it all and worried endlessly.
That’s why she let Cao Cheng deliver the food alone.
As for her intentions, how could Cao Cheng not understand?
But groveling?
Not a chance.
Delivering food wasn’t about currying favor—it was about nurturing a Gao Qiqiang.
New Year’s Eve meal delivery, served with tears.
Whoever brings the dumplings gets the gratitude—that’s the classic playbook.
...
Criminal Investigation Division.
Second Sister was busy.
There really was a case.
A mass murder a few days ago, right at the year’s end, had caused an extremely negative impact. The surrounding community couldn’t even celebrate the New Year in peace. The news hadn’t broken online yet, but it was only a matter of time.
So the higher-ups were pressing hard—a deadline was set, and both the Criminal Investigation Unit and the city bureau’s top brass had pledged to solve it.
The case was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Unit.
Experts were also called in.
As a result,
many people couldn’t celebrate the New Year.
And the case itself was shrouded in mystery.
The trail was hard to follow.
No suspects had been identified yet, and everyone was working with bloodshot eyes.
From the moment the case landed yesterday until now, Second Sister Ren Fanxing hadn’t slept a wink.
Just then—
"Captain Ren!"
A team member put down the phone and called out from across the room.
Ren Fanxing, expression grim, set down the documents in her hands and looked up sharply. "Did the surveillance turn up anything?"
"Not about the case—the security at the gate just called. Said your family sent over New Year’s dinner," the team member explained.
A warmth flickered in Ren Fanxing’s heart, though her face remained unchanged. "Got it."
She knew Mom would be upset she wasn’t coming home today.
But she was still her mother.
Angry or not, she’d still send food.
That lifted her spirits a little. The case was a nightmare—no progress, and her mood had hit rock bottom.
Her team was currently reviewing surveillance footage.
Other teams were out conducting interviews, working even on New Year’s Eve.
So the warmth of a home-cooked New Year’s meal swept away the gloom in her heart.
Until—
Young Master Cao Cheng strolled in, grinning widely and carrying several containers into the office.
One glance, and Ren Fanxing’s mood plummeted again.
Why was he delivering the food?
Was there no one else at home?
"Second Sister, chow time! I know you’ve got a big appetite, so this should be enough, right?" Cao Cheng waved the containers and lunchbox, his smile blindingly bright.
"..."
Her fists clenched.
Second Sister’s fists hardened.
They hadn’t seen much of each other these past two weeks.
Normally, when work wasn’t overwhelming, Second Sister Ren Fanxing had plenty of downtime—resting at home or training in the basement gym.
But the last two weeks had been hectic. Year-end kept every department busy.
Now, with this major case, it was chaos on top of chaos!
For a while, she’d even forgotten there was a man living at home.
Seeing him now, she didn’t know whether to be happy or annoyed.
The New Year’s meal was heartwarming.
But why did he have to be the one delivering it?
Ugh.
At the end of the day, he was still "family." Over the past six months, Second Sister had come to accept Cao Cheng’s father’s place in their lives—but old habits died hard.
Plus, her first impression of Cao Cheng hadn’t been great.
So,
her feelings were complicated.
Especially seeing him like this—were you here to pick a fight?
What do you mean, "big appetite"?
You doing this on purpose?
...
Cao Cheng, ever the social butterfly, greeted everyone as soon as he entered—calling this one "Brother," that one "Sister," even offering cigarettes to the middle-aged unit captain.
Most people didn’t know much about Ren Fanxing’s family background. They just knew Deputy Captain Ren came from a comfortable, well-off household.
No one knew how many siblings she had.
They assumed this was her younger brother.
Ren Fanxing didn’t explain. Outside the home, she refused to air family matters or expose their conflicts in public.
Once the greetings were done and everyone returned to work, Ren Fanxing muttered coldly under her breath, "Who told you to come?"
"Mom."
"That’s my mom." Ren Fanxing frowned.
"Yeah, your mom."
"..."
Her grip tightened.
Critical hit to morale.
Cao Cheng chuckled. "Hurry up and eat. There’s plenty here—share some with your colleagues. After you’re done, I’ll take the containers back."
"No need. You can leave. I’ll wash them and bring them home myself."
"Not happening. Mom said I have to watch you finish and bring the containers back." Cao Cheng was bluffing, draping himself in Mom’s authority.
But Ren Fanxing bought it.
"Then stay away from me."
"I don’t mind your table manners."
"I mind you."
"Tch." Cao Cheng scoffed and walked off.
That attitude was infuriating.
Damn it.
I’m here delivering your food, and you treat me like a delivery boy?
He took a deep breath, swallowing his irritation.
Just you wait, Second Sister. I’ll get my payback, you overgrown husky!
Second Sister Ren Fanxing laid out the food—three containers and a giant box of dumplings, covering the entire desk.
The aroma spread.
She called the team over.
There wasn’t enough for all dozen-plus people to eat their fill, but they could at least get a taste—enough for half a meal.
After all, New Year’s dinner deliveries weren’t a one-time thing. Soon, the unit captain’s wife—everyone’s "sister-in-law"—would bring over more dumplings.
That would be enough to keep everyone full today.
"Captain Ren, your family’s cooking is amazing."
"So good! Especially these dumplings. A little sticky, but the flavor’s incredible."
What bootlickers.
Cao Cheng shook his head from a distance. Sticky dumplings = delicious?
I’ve tasted them—they’re just okay.
"Yummy yummy~~"
"Happy New Year, Captain Ren!"
"Man, some alcohol would really hit the spot."
"Alcohol? Shut up and eat your garlic."
The group ate happily, the shadow of the case momentarily lifted by the meal.
Even with the unresolved tension between Second Sister and Young Master Cao, the warmth in their stomachs spread to their hearts.
For a second, Cao Cheng didn’t seem quite as irritating.
Only 99% as irritating now!
...
Young Master Cao lit a cigarette.
Sat to the side.
From afar, he studied the materials on the wall-mounted board—some photos were gruesome.
The board was far, but Cao Cheng’s vision was sharp.
The pictures showed charred bodies.
A family of seven, wiped out?
Oh, this case...
I know this one!
Everybody move—time for me to show off!
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
't think I'm that capable, I'm just trying my best to stay alive. I've been kind all my life, never did anything bad, yet worldly suffering spared me not one bit. The human world is a nice place, but I won't come back in my next life. A kind young man, who wanted to just get by singing, but through repeated deceits and betrayals, has gone down an irredeemable path.
ng to die together with you." Lin Xuan is dead, his body thrown into the river by his scumbag lover and her accomplice. She, the president of the Su Group, is decisive, ruthless, and ice-cold. For three days and three nights, she had his body fished out of the river, and without hesitation, she kissed the bloated corpse of Lin Xuan. She laid down beside him in a cold coffin, their fingers intertwined, a smile lingering on her lips as she closed her eyes. The noble and cold-hearted woman, only bending for one man—Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan, with his golden finger, is reborn and returns to the day of his wedding to the treacherous woman. Su Qiang comes to steal the bride. Lin Xuan's eyes light up, eager to pledge his loyalty on the spot, but instead, her kiss transfers a glass of drugged wine into his mouth, causing him to pass out... 【Male Protagonist with Single Female Lead】【Yandere Tycoon】【Action-Packed】【True vs. Fake Heir】
