Lin Ran didn't dare open her eyes to look, for it was too painful for her.
The events that made her feel guilty towards Ji Yun surfaced before her eyes one by one, making her heart ache.
Cen Mo placed the photo he picked up back into the box and closed the lid. He then said to Lin Ran, "Thank Mom for the present on my behalf! I'm very grateful."
Lin Ran nodded and said nothing else. She didn't even stay to eat that day and just left.
…
On Chinese New Year's Eve, it snowed heavily in Haicheng. Early in the morning, when they woke up, the entirety of Haicheng was covered in white.
Tuan Tuan pressed his arms against the French windows, and when he saw the pure white scenery outside, he bounced into Lin Nuan and Fu Huai'an's room. "Papa! Mama! Snow!"
Little Candy, Little Happy, and Tuan Tuan made a promise last time. They were going to eat little tangerines together the next time it snowed.
But Tuan Tuan also knew that today was Chinese New Year's Eve. Uncle had said that Tuan Tuan was going to spend Chinese New Year's Eve with Papa, Mama, and Uncle's family.
Lin Nuan and Fu Huai'an were already up. The duo was standing before the French windows watching the snow, and Lin Nuan was holding a steaming hot cup of milk in her hands. When she heard Tuan Tuan's voice, she turned around.
Lin Nuan waved at Tuan Tuan…
The little fellow's face turned red in embarrassment. He bounced towards Mama and held her slim and long fingers, then looked up at her. His vision then fell upon Mama's tummy, hoping the little baby in Mama's tummy would be good and not torment Mama today.
"Little Candy already called to say that you two and Little Happy agreed to eat tangerines together when it snows, right?" Lin Nuan squatted down and asked as she stroked Tuan Tuan's little head.
The little fellow's furry head was made a mess of. His vision fell upon the milk in Lin Nuan's hands as he nodded.
"Does Tuan Tuan want to drink?"
The little fellow nodded again.
Lin Nuan slowly blew at it before bringing it to Tuan Tuan's lips. The little fellow gripped the fingers on Lin Nuan's other hand and took a big gulp of the milk. His little face puffed up, and a milk mustache appeared on his mouth.
After gulping down the milk, Tuan Tuan flashed a satisfied smile, his black and round eyes smiling at Lin Nuan. "Yummy!"
The tickled Lin Nuan said to Tuan Tuan, "Today is Chinese New Year's Eve, so Mama told Little Candy's mama to postpone until the sixth day of Chinese New Year. We'll invite Little Happy and Little Candy to our house and eat tangerines with them then, okay?"
Fu Huai'an gazed at his son, making a disdainful "tsk" sound before drawing a tissue to help Tuan Tuan wipe his mouth.
Cen Mo and Fu Huai'an followed the customs on Chinese New Year, and Cen Mo placed the ball-like Tuan Tuan on his shoulders to let him put up antithetical couplets.
Song Yao, who was wrapped up like a ball, gave instructions to Tuan Tuan and Cen Mo as they stuck the couplets on the walls. Even though the couplets were put up in a crooked manner, at least the entire house now had a Chinese New Year vibe to it.
Tuan Tuan stood beside Cen Mo's legs and looked at the crooked couplets he put up, feeling rather satisfied with himself. Even though it wasn't very neat, Mama said not to worry about it since he was still young…
At the thought of this, Tuan Tuan happily grinned. He was dressed snugly, and putting up the couplets earlier took some effort, so he was already sweating now. It looked like steam was about to come out of the top of his head, making his face look like a fresh-out-of-the-steamer fair and tender little bun.
"Want to have a snowball fight, Tuan Tuan? Aunt will act as a judge for you and Uncle. Snowball fight with Uncle?" Song Yao squatted down and asked Tuan Tuan.
Tuan Tuan thought about it and then shook his head. "Not fair!"
Tuan Tuan then jogged into the house and, within a minute, removed his thick down jacket. He tugged at the leg of Fu Huai'an's trousers to get him to come out with him, then repeatedly chanted with one finger pointing at the door, "Papa… Papa… Papa…"
Tuan Tuan came back out with his reinforcement, Fu Huai'an. He pointed at the faraway snow with a chubby finger and said, with his head raised and gazing at Fu Huai'an, "Snowball fight! Papa and Uncle… then fair!"
Song Yao couldn't help but smile. "Then Papa and Uncle will be engaged in a snowball fight, and Tuan Tuan won't be playing!"
Tuan Tuan widened his sparkly eyes and thought about it earnestly, then nodded. He said with perfect articulation, "Tuan Tuan accompany Mama!"
Cen Mo was rendered speechless.
Hur hur, Cen Mo only wanted to have a snowball fight with Tuan Tuan. What was the deal with him snowball-fighting another grown man?
Cen Mo refused!
Fu Huai'an smiled politely and gentlemanly. The thought of him and Cen Mo—two grown men—snowball-fighting each other was goofy and hilarious. He lowered his gaze and looked at his son. "Tuan Tuan, Papa will take you to kindergarten!"
"Holiday!" Tuan Tuan answered earnestly, looking endearingly silly.
"Never mind, I'll hold a class just for you!"
"Still snowball fighting?"
Lin Nuan's voice could be heard. Tuan Tuan let go of Fu Huai'an's trousers and turned around to look for Lin Nuan, but Fu Huai'an held Tuan Tuan up by his suspenders. The little fellow struggled in mid-air like a little chick for a bit, then stuck out his hands and called out to his mama aggrievedly.
Fu Huai'an let Tuan Tuan back down to the ground and patiently said to him, "Mama is pregnant. If you run over to grab Mama's leg like you're used to, what happens if Mama falls?"
Tuan Tuan nodded. "Then… from now on, I'll be careful!"
Fu Huai'an smiled and stroked the top of Tuan Tuan's head, saying, "Mm…"
Lin Nuan came out, firmly wrapping herself with her jacket. She lifted Tuan Tuan up. Her down jacket was wide and long, so she wrapped Tuan Tuan within her jacket. She asked Cen Mo, "Wanna have a snowball fight?"
"I'd oblige if it was with Tuan Tuan. Forget it if it's with Fu Huai'an!" Cen Mo didn't dare imagine what the scene of two grown men fighting with snowballs in the snow would look like. He couldn't bear to think about it.
"Then, let's build a snowman!" Lin Nuan suggested. "Tuan Tuan, go back and put on your down jacket. Put on your gloves and hat as well, then build a snowman with Papa and Uncle, okay? Let's build it outside the entrance of our house!"
"Okay!" Tuan Tuan agreed quickly. So long as Mama wanted to see it, he would build it for Mama.
The well-armed Tuan Tuan drank his milk, then went out to build a snowman with Papa and Uncle for Mama.
Song Yao and Lin Nuan sat under the roof, watching the two adults and one child get busy…
Song Yao wrapped herself firmly with her jacket and smiled at Lin Nuan. "Honestly speaking, a few years back, I wouldn't be able to imagine that life after marriage would be like this. It feels so wonderful to be able to stay with my best friend! Even if Cen Mo allowed me to get out of the house now, I don't want to go out! With my best friend and the adorable baby Tuan Tuan, why would I need to go out!"
"Are you still learning French?" Lin Nuan suddenly asked.
Song Yao nodded. "Of course!"
Song Yao then gazed at Cen Mo, who was seriously building a snowman, saying to Lin Nuan in a hushed voice with her hand over her mouth, "Every day, during the noontime nap, when your brother isn't around, I sneak online and learn. One day, when I master it, your brother will certainly be shocked!"
Song Yao's eyes lit up as she said this. She looked like she was glowing.
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