Shen Zhijin nodded and gestured for her to answer the call.

Shen Li walked to the side and came to a quiet corner. She answered the call.

“Hello, Grandpa?”

“Ah Li.”

There was a smile in Old Man Gu’s voice,

“Your final exams are over today, right?”

Shen Li was stunned– Was this call specifically meant to be exactly after she finished the last exam?

She had not expected the old man to remember such a small matter so clearly.

The corners of her lips curled up.

“Yes, I just finished the exam and was planning to go back to my dormitory.”

“That’s good. Since you’ve finished your exams, you should come to Hong Kong City,” Old Master Gu said as he looked over to the side. He smiled and said, “Your grandmother and I miss you very much.”

“And me! Cousin! And me and my brother! We miss you too!”

Gu Sicheng’s voice came from the other end of the phone.

Shen Li could not help but laugh.

“I miss you, Grandma, and uncles, too.”

Gu Sicheng said pitifully, “Cousin…”

“And Siqi and Sicheng.”

Upon finally hearing this, Gu Sicheng finally felt happy.

“I knew it!”

Old Master Gu said gently, “Everyone in the family is waiting for you. It just so happens that tomorrow is New Year’s Day. You should come back with your eldest uncle’s family.”

From the day they had confirmed Shen Li’s identity, the Gu family had wanted to bring her back to Hong Kong City so that she could officially acknowledge her ancestors. However, because she had still been busy with her studies and exams, they had waited until now.

Hearing this, Shen Li turned her head to look at Shen Zhijin.

Of course, she knew what the purpose of this trip back to Hong Kong city was.

After thinking for a moment, she said, “Okay.”

After confirming that she was coming back, Old Master Gu handed the phone over to Old Madam Gu.

Old Madam Gu asked gently, “Ah Li, are you tired from the exam?”

Shen Li remembered that she had slept well for an hour and a half in the exam room just now, so she said honestly, “I’m not tired, Grandma.”

“Siyang said that you have to take the exams for thirteen subjects this semester,” Old Madam Gu said. Then, she remembered something and smiled, “Fortunately, you’re following Zhijin. These definitely won’t be problems. If Siyang were to take the exam, I’m afraid he would have a terrible headache.”

Hearing these words, Shen Li’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

Shen Zhijin was standing a few steps away but had not moved forward, so he should not have heard these words.

He was waiting for her, his expression remaining calm and extremely patient.

The corners of her lips pursed into a faint smile.

“Mm, I think so.”

Old Madam Gu gave her a few more gentle reminders before reluctantly hanging up.

She put down her phone and seemed to be in a daze.

Old Master Gu patted her hand.

“It’s alright, Ah Li will be back tomorrow.”

Old Madam Gu nodded and muttered softly, “It’s Tangtang who’s back…”

…

Shen Li put away her phone and returned to Shen Zhijin’s side.

“Grandfather said that he wants me to return to Hong Kong city with uncle and the others tomorrow.”

This was within Shen Zhijin’s expectations.

He nodded.

“Yes, it’s time to go back. They must miss you very much.”

Shen Li walked home with him.

This New Year’s Day would be a little special.

“Dad, I really want to spend New Year’s Day with you too.”

She said.

Shen Zhijin stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her.

He raised his hand and gently patted her head. There was a hint of gentleness in his eyes:

“Actually, the Gu family could have come to pick you up today.”

It would have been even earlier.

During this period of time, she had stayed here. Allowing her to stay with him in Skyleaf City was already a concession made by the Gu family.

That, including the fact that they would only pick her up officially tomorrow and bring her back to Hong Kong City, was actually a compromise.

They had kept her by his side on the last day of the year.

Shen Li was quiet for a moment before her eyes curved in a smile.

That was true.

This New Year’s Day, it could be considered that she, Shen Zhijin, and the Gu family had all spent the day together.

“Just now, Grandma complimented me, saying that it was fortunate that I was following you, which would have made the exam very easy.” She smiled.

Shen Zhijin was momentarily stunned, before the corners of his lips curved slightly.

“Actually, your mother was also very smart.”

Shen Li rarely heard him mention these things. She thought of the “Mountain Tea” painting that she had seen at the Xijing Art School, and then she thought of the cartoon that she had received from his mailbox, as well as–

“You may not know this, but I still have the booklet in the admission letter from Xijing University.”

Shen Zhijin quickly understood what she was saying. He pondered for a moment, as if he was recalling something.

“That was… she drew it while she was at Xijing Academy. Later, it was made into a welcome booklet. Many students liked it, and it has lasted until now.”

Shen Li nodded slightly.

She had already liked her drawing even when she had not known that it was her mother.

Speaking of which, perhaps it had been destined.

She paused and looked at Shen Zhijin.

“Father, Grandfather said that the date has been set as January 8th. You will come to Hong Kong City on that day, right?”

When she asked this question, there was actually a trace of anxiety in her heart.

There was a deep divide between the Gu family and Shen Zhijin, not to mention that eighteen years was really too long.

Even if they wanted to ease the relationship, it would not possibly happen overnight.

Shen Zhijin looked at her for a long time before he smiled.

“Okay.”

…

On New Year’s Day, the whole neighborhood was particularly lively.

Shen Li and Shen Zhijin went home to have dinner together. Outside the window, the night was thick and bright, and they could vaguely hear the laughter of children running and playing.

She curled up on the sofa and played with her phone. It was rare for her to be relaxed.

Shen Zhijin was not far from her, working on his computer.

The room was quiet, but it was not lonely. Instead, it was filled with a rare warmth.

Soon, midnight came. Shen Li’s phone was bombarded with countless messages of blessings.

She turned around and glanced at Shen Zhijin. Suddenly, she raised her phone.

“Dad.”

Shen Zhijin looked up.

“Happy New Year!”

Shen Zhijin was stunned for a moment and smiled.

“Happy New Year, Tangtang.”

Click.

Shen Li took a photo.

…

After replying all the messages with great difficulty, Shen Li went back to her bedroom to rest.

She got into bed but did not turn on the lights. Only the faint moonlight flowed in through the window, seemingly coating everything in the room with a layer of faint silver light.

She looked at her phone and opened Lu Huaiyu’s dialog box.

[ Happy New Year, Ah Li. ]

The message had been sent earlier at midnight.

Only this one message remained that she had yet to reply to.

She dialed Lu Huaiyu’s number, and the other side quickly picked up.

“Second Brother.”

She called out.

Lu Huaiyu looked at his wristwatch, a deep smile in his voice as he spoke.

“Five minutes. I was wondering when you would think of me.”

Shen Li said honestly, “I was replying to other people’s messages just now.”

Lu Huaiyu raised his eyebrows.

“Hmm? So, I’m the last one in line?”

“No, it’s just that, the rest of the time will belong to Second Brother.”

Shen Li pulled up the quilt and covered half of her small face. Perhaps because of this, her sweet voice sounded particularly soft.

How could she bear just reply to a line of blessings and spend New Year’s Day without him?

Lu Huaiyu’s breathing became much lighter. After a moment, he asked in a coaxing manner,

“What did you just say? Could you say it again?”

Shen Li blinked.

“I said, Lu Huaiyu, I’m thinking of you.”