961: It's Lively Tonight

It's Lively Tonight

"Haven't you become a bit unrestrained while I was absent?" asked Ying.1

Xiu shrugged her shoulders, "When was I ever restrained?"

"Exactly!" said Nora in agreement. She had never seen a restrained Xiu. Not even in her dreams! "By the way, I think Bohai is stuck at a Spring Gala. You'd definitely have to wait for like till morning for him to come to find you."

Ying scratched her head, "Well, I have waited for two years. Just a few more hours don't really matter."

"Later on, don't say we are making you drink vinegar," warned Nora. "You're the one who wants to be here alone. It has nothing to do with us."

Ying shot her a dirty look. 

"Ying!" Xiao Li's voice rang out and Ying looked over. 

Instantly, a small figure shot over to Xiu's side and grinned, "Happy New Year, Xiu! May this new year bring you loads and loads of happiness and bless you with health."

Xiu pinched Asteria's cheek, "Happy New Year's, Ria darling! I wish you happiness and health as well." She patted her head and said, "Ava is already here. Do you want to go look for her?"

"Okay!" Saying that Asteria also ran inside without any care. She was more than familiar with the layout of this house. Did she need to feel shy? No!

"Li bro, why are you so late?" asked Xiu. "You and Nora came from the same house, why are you coming separately? And Ah-Si is still missing along with my Ah-Xin."

"Dad and Ah-Si will come together," said Xiao Li as he came to hug his sister. "Where is Regan?"

"He is inside," told Xiu. "I put him to some work."

"Good! He is too lazy. You should make him work!" said Xiao Li. "Oh, right! I picked up another kid at the door." Xiu raised her brow in surprise and Xiao Li looked towards the door, "What are you waiting for?"

With her head lowered, Bo Jiu stepped inside. Her clothes were so dirty as if she just got into a mud fight with someone. But clearly, it was winter and there was snow outside. How did she actually get into a mud fight in this season?

"Bo Jiu, what's wrong with you?"

"About that..." Bo Jiu's small voice got smaller and she didn't know how to explain. 

"Miss Bo here got into a snow fight with the kids," told Xiao Li. "And in the end, she... Well, you can see the end yourself."

Bo Jiu felt so embarrassed, "It wasn't my fault. Their firecrackers scared my Sweet Pea. She was so scared, she even scratched me. She never scratched me before. Look!" She even showed them her neck where they could see scratches. They weren't bloody since she trimmed Sweet Pea's nails regularly but it was still a little painful, okay!

Xiu tried to hold back but in the end, "Pfft!"

Seeing her laughing so unrestrainedly, Xiao Li also smiled. Xiu walked over to Bo Jiu, "Come with me. I'll give you some clothes to change into."

"I'm sorry," said Bo Jiu with reddened eyes.

"Aiya! There is no need for that. It's no big deal," Xiu reassured her patiently as she took her upstairs and found brand new clothes for her to change into. 

"Xiu's friends are really like Xiu," stated Ying. 

"Well, no wonder you're here Ying Jie," added Dylan.

"Dylan, are you taking her side right now?"

"Why can't I?"

"Why don't you do it when she is around?"

"Where is the fun in that?" retorted Dylan. "When she is around, it's only fair that we argue. That's the real fun in my life."

"Get a hobby!" said Nora. "Or get married already!"

"Why are you so eager for my marriage?" asked Dylan.

"Why should I tell you that?" retorted Nora. "Where is my nephew? Where is my little Derek? I need to hug him and kiss him to wash away the bitter taste Dylan left around me."

"What do you think Rowan is?" asked Dylan.

"My energy booster!" yelled Nora. "You got a problem with that?"

Dylan rubbed his ear that she almost broke with her yell, "How can I ever dare to have a problem with that?"

"My living room is quite lively this evening," said Darren as he looked at the crowded lounge. It had been a while he saw so many people gathered around. There were quite a few faces, he hadn't seen in months. And Dylan's face was also included in that. Because when Nora met him like a month ago, Darren wasn't around.

"Dazi!" Dylan opened his arms and hugged his best friend. "Why are you so fit? Shouldn't dad's be with a pot belly?"

"Is your dad also with a pot belly?" 

Dylan stiffened when he heard that voice and looked behind, "Dad, when did you come?"

"When you're telling Darren how dads should be," said his father. "First, become a dad then give us a lecture!"

"Uncle Yi, you're my hero tonight!" said Darren.

Qiu Jiayi gave his son a huff and looked at his future daughter-in-law, affectionately, "Cali, how are you? Is everything settled? Do you need me to help you with anything else?"

"Uncle, you've already helped me a lot," said Cali. "I don't dare ask for more."

"Aiya, what uncle? We are family now. I'm also your dad now. There is no need for formalities between us. No one even knows the meaning of formality in this family anymore."

Cali smiled at him, "Then I won't be formal from now on."

"That's better," said Qiu Jiayi. Then he looked at his son and frowned, "If you're here, help Regan with something. Don't just stand there? Did you all come to freeload on Spring Festival?"

Dylan was jolted as he pulled Darren away saying, "Bro, even if there is no work, you give me something to do. My dad is out for my life."

"Who told you to run off in the middle of a huge project? You deserve it!" retorted Darren with no sympathy for his best friend.

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