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February 7th, Lunar New Year's Eve.
The last day of the Year of the Goat, and the most important day of the year for the Chinese people. A light snowfall arrived in Binhai unexpectedly, bringing a delightful surprise to everyone.
It was the first snowfall of the winter in Binhai. Though the flakes were small and thin, children were overjoyed, rushing outside with laughter and excitement. They lit fireworks in the gently falling snow, and the crackling sounds echoed throughout Jinsheng Community, making the arrival of the New Year feel truly tangible.
Inside the dining room of the Lu family villa, Fang Yun, Lu Chen, Lu Xi, and Lu Xue were gathered around the table enjoying their New Year's Eve dinner.
Originally, Lu Chen had suggested ordering New Year's Eve dinner from a hotel.
Given how much better their family's situation had become, dining at any five-star hotel in Binhai wouldn't have been a problem.
But Fang Yun insisted on cooking herself. She believed that a New Year's dinner made at home tasted the most authentic!
The villa was brightly lit and cozy, the living room warm like spring thanks to the heating.
The whole family sat together, sharing laughter and warmth.
Ding-a-ling~
As they were eating, a crisp ringtone suddenly rang out. Fang Yun looked over. Lu Xue stuck out her tongue playfully, quickly pulled out her phone from her small bag, and answered it.
"Hello~"
After listening for a moment, a strange expression appeared on her face. She handed the phone to Lu Chen: "Brother, it's for you."
Lu Chen was momentarily surprised: "For me?"
He took the phone from Lu Xue and asked, puzzled, "Hello?"
A deep, hearty voice came from the other end: "Big celebrity! It's me, Huang Shan! Happy New Year!"
"Class monitor! Hey there!" Lu Chen immediately broke into a smile. "Why are you calling at this hour? Where are you?"
Huang Shan had been Lu Chen's class monitor in high school. Back then, the two had been on good terms. But after Huang Shan went off to university in Hangzhou, they gradually lost contact.
Huang Shan said with a bit of exasperation, "I haven't been able to reach you at all. No replies on Feixin either. I finally got your sister's number from someone else. Figured you'd be back in Binhai for the New Year. I'm at a hotel right now having New Year's Eve dinner!"
Lu Chen apologized, "Sorry, I changed numbers. The old one isn't in use anymore."
He had switched to a new number two years ago when he moved to the capital. Only close friends and family were notified, Huang Shan hadn't been one of them.
As for WeChat or Feixin, Lu Chen barely managed his own blog anymore. His studio handled most of it now. He really didn't have the time to keep up with social apps.
In fact, to be home this year, he had even turned down several commercial performances.
Huang Shan said, "We're having a high school class reunion on the second day of the New Year. At the Jinhao Grand Hotel. Almost everyone's coming. We all want to see you, our big celebrity! A bunch of the girls said that if we can't get you to show up, they're not coming either. So, you decide if you want to disappoint them!"
Lu Chen laughed: "Me, a big celebrity? I'm just trying to make a living. But since you're putting it that way, how could I say no? Which hall at Jinhao Grand Hotel?"
Jinhao Grand Hotel was one of the best hotels in Binhai. Back in the day, Lu Chen had often tagged along with his dad to dine there. It had been over four years since he graduated high school. Because of what happened with his family, he had only attended one reunion in the second year after graduating.
During high school, Lu Chen had been somewhat of a campus figure, well-liked and with plenty of friends.
Huang Shan immediately cheered, "The Rose Hall! Be there by 5:30 PM. Even our homeroom teacher, Teacher Ye, is coming! I told my girlfriend that I'm your old classmate, and she didn't even believe me!"
"I had to show her pictures to prove it, and now she insists on coming just to meet you in person!"
Lu Chen laughed: "It's not like I have three heads and six arms. Alright, see you there."
Huang Shan was excited: "Awesome! I'll go tell everyone. Catch you later!"
Lu Chen hung up and handed the phone back to Lu Xue.
Lu Xue asked curiously, "Brother, are you going to a high school reunion?"
Lu Chen nodded.
Lu Xue said very seriously, "There must be a lot of girl classmates who admire you, right? Just make sure you don't get drunk, or you might get eaten up and regret it... Aiya!"
Before she could finish, she got knocked on the head with a pair of chopsticks, Lu Xi had smacked her.
Her older sister's expression was not pleasant. "What nonsense are you saying?"
Lu Xue covered her head, aggrieved. "Mom, sis hit me again, it hurts!"
Fang Yun didn't take sides. "She should hit you. A young girl should mind her words. Don't keep copying things you hear on TV or online. Lu Chen, don't keep spoiling your sister either."
Lu Xue instantly wilted like an eggplant hit by frost.
Lu Chen chuckled, patted the spot on her head where she'd been hit, and said, "Come on, eat up. After dinner we'll go light fireworks."
The fireworks had already been bought. After the New Year's Eve dinner, Lu Chen took his sister out to the small lake in the front yard of the villa. Following tradition, they first lit three sixteen-shot sky rockets, symbolizing a prosperous new year and soaring success. Then came the colorful big firecrackers, representing joy and good fortune.
One burst of beautiful fireworks after another bloomed across the night sky. Reflected in the glittering bursts all around, the scene painted a spectacular, sleepless night of fire trees and silver blossoms. The bright flares lit up the villa from time to time, and lit up the faces of the Lu family as they watched together.
Standing at the doorway, Fang Yun discreetly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes. Those were tears of happiness.
Ever since the family's downfall, she had never imagined that such a blissful scene would appear in front of her again.
After the fireworks, Lu Chen secretly slipped a red envelope into Lu Xue's hand and whispered, "This is from your brother. Don't tell Mom. Keep it and spend it for yourself, but don't waste it."
Holding the thick red envelope, Lu Xue was so happy her eyebrows didn't look like eyebrows, and her eyes didn't look like eyes. She hugged Lu Chen and smacked a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, ge! You're the best!"
Lu Chen laughed sheepishly and went back to his room. Once inside and with the door closed, he lay on the bed and gave Chen Fei'er a call.
A moment later, the melodious, heavenly voice of Chen Fei'er came through the phone. "Happy New Year."
Lu Chen replied, "Happy New Year. Did you have your New Year's Eve dinner?"
Chen Fei'er said, "Mm, just finished. Ate a bit too much, I'm drinking tea now to help digest it. It feels really good to be home... I haven't spent a Spring Festival at home in years. This time, I'm planning to get some proper rest."
For A-list celebrities like Chen Fei'er, holidays almost didn't exist. Especially during major festivals, they were the busiest.
Last year, she had appeared on CCTV's Spring Festival Gala. This year she wasn't on the program, but invitations still poured in.
Many of them were hard to decline. So being able to return home for the new year was something truly rare for Chen Fei'er. Lu Chen's call was just the outlet she needed to open up.
Lu Chen didn't interrupt her. He just quietly listened to her talk, and a warm feeling spread gently through his heart. His whole body completely relaxed. He hoped time would slow down in this moment.
In the end, he didn't even know when he drifted off to sleep.
Outside the window, the fireworks still sparkled in the night.
(End of Chapter)