Invincible Dad-Chapter 456: The Flavor of the New Year Fades More with Each Passing Year_1
The New Year’s Eve dinner was lavish, featuring a total of ten substantial dishes.
Ruan Tang returned to her room and changed into her pajamas. She hung the wedding dress, shimmering with starlight, in the wardrobe. Gently touching it, she imagined herself marrying Xu Lai in this very dress. She even blushed a little.
After composing herself, she returned to the dining table.
Looking at the feast before them, Xu Lai took the initiative. "Call your parents and invite them to join us."
Ruan Tang and Ruan Lan were both taken aback.
"I’ll call them!" Ruan Lan said earnestly.
The call went through quickly, but after a few words, Ruan Lan hung up in a huff. "They said they’ve immigrated to Lighthouse Country and are vacationing in Hawaii. They’re not coming back and told my sister and me to just consider them dead!"
Ruan Tang was speechless. "..."
So was Xu Lai. "..."
Although he knew his in-laws were materialistic and had mentioned immigrating before, he hadn’t expected them to actually go through with it, abandoning their own two daughters. It was one thing to miss New Year’s Eve dinner, but to say something like ’just consider them dead’ on New Year’s Eve...
Ruan Tang was so angry she couldn’t stop rolling her eyes. "Forget about them. Let’s eat."
"You’re right." Xu Lai didn’t insist.
On New Year’s Eve, Haitang Court was filled with joy and warmth. A cheerful Yiyi ran around the house hugging Beibei, occasionally trying to pour a cup of cola for the plump, round Xiao Hei. Xiao Hei sniffed at it, his actions clearly expressing that anything other than bamboo was garbage.
As the clock struck midnight, the Year of the Rat began. Fireworks and firecrackers erupted in many parts of East Sea City. The sight of the illegally lit fireworks made the faces of the relevant authorities darken.
"Who’s setting off fireworks again?"
They had all agreed to a ban on fireworks and firecrackers. Overtime on New Year’s was already miserable enough; did they really have to face a scolding from their superiors on top of it?
"Dad, Mom, Happy Year of the Rat! Red envelopes, please!" Yiyi chirped, her beautiful eyes curving into crescents as she held out her hands with a giggle.
Xu Lai was startled. Red envelopes? He wasn’t familiar with this custom...
Ruan Tang, however, took four red envelopes from her purse, giving two to Yiyi and two to Beibei. "One from me, and one from Xu Lai."
"You’re the best, darling," Xu Lai said, touched.
"Sis, Brother-in-law, Happy New Year!" Ruan Lan reached out her hand coquettishly, but Ruan Tang slapped her palm.
"Go wash the dishes."
Ruan Lan was utterly baffled. No red envelope was one thing, but rewarding her with chores instead?!
The sister-in-law muttered, "The New Year’s spirit gets weaker every year. In the past, I’d at least get a red envelope from my dear sister, but this year there isn’t even a basic show of affection..."
"You’re an adult now. What affection do you need?" Ruan Tang retorted, but she pulled two more red envelopes from her purse. These were obviously much thicker than the ones for Yiyi and Beibei.
Ruan Lan’s smile bloomed. "Oh! The New Year’s spirit is getting stronger again! Thank you, my dearest sister! Thank you, my dearest brother-in-law! I wish you a happy Year of the Rat and hope you have a son soon!"
"Daddy, Mommy, are you going to give Yiyi a little brother or a little sister?" Yiyi’s big eyes lit up again. "I heard from Qian Xiao that Aunt Luo Chu is already trying to get pregnant. Could it be that Mommy is too...?"
As she spoke, Yiyi eagerly pressed her ear to Ruan Tang’s stomach, as if trying to hear a heartbeat.
Ruan Tang was speechless. "..." She shot Ruan Lan an annoyed glance before explaining, "Yiyi, Mommy isn’t pregnant. Don’t listen to your aunt’s nonsense."
"Oh." Yiyi was a little disappointed but quickly consoled herself. "That’s okay, it’ll happen sooner or later."
Xu Lai didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. That wish was probably a little more difficult than destroying the Universe. But... he would do his best!
His gaze shifted to Ruan Tang. Noticing his stare, Ruan Tang couldn’t help but scoff.
"Go to bed early."
It was already late, and Ruan Tang urged her daughter and sister to get some sleep. Even though they didn’t have any relatives to visit for New Year’s greetings tomorrow, it was a new year and a fresh start. They couldn’t just laze in bed, could they?
Ruan Tang went to take a shower first.
As she lay in bed reading, Xu Lai lay down beside her, his hand gently resting on her lower abdomen, rubbing it continuously.
Ruan Tang glanced at him. "What are you doing?"
"Your belly seems a bit cold. I’m warming it up for you."
"..."
Ruan Tang fell silent, but the scoundrel’s hand began to creep upward. She asked, her expression darkening, "Now what are you doing!"
"Today’s a doubly auspicious day. Shouldn’t we draw a little turtle to celebrate?"
"...Turn off the light."
Ruan Tang placed her book on the nightstand. Her face flushed, she burrowed under the covers, and Xu Lai switched off the light.
Not long after, just as they were about to hit a home run, she whispered, "Xu Lai, didn’t I tell you? It’s that time of the month."
"???"
Xu Lai was stunned. "You didn’t say anything..."
"Well, now you know. Go take a cold shower and cool down."
"..."
Xu Lai let out a long, frustrated sigh. Who said today was a good day? Heavenly Dao, get out here and take this beating!
It was a good thing the Heavenly Dao was unaware of Xu Lai’s thoughts, or it would have coughed up a mouthful of blood. This had absolutely nothing to do with it.
...
...
「The first day of the new year.」
The new year began with a joyous atmosphere filling Haitang Court. The home, which they expected to be quiet, welcomed wave after wave of visitors.
There were leading figures in medicine like Li Shouzhong, Yan Gui, and Lin Qiu. Besides coming to give New Year’s greetings, they were also excitedly discussing the numerous awards they had recently won. Medical research in Hua Country was making leaps and bounds on the international stage, already on the verge of leading the industry. This was particularly true for brain research, where the team including Li Shouzhong and the others had become an international authority.
Zhou Feng and Liu Nanwei also came, but seeing how crowded it was, they quickly left.
Beyond them were visitors like Su Daiyi, Old Jiang Ba, and Wan Yuanshan, a whole group of people carrying hefty gifts for their New Year’s visits.
It was only then that Ruan Lan finally realized just how formidable her brother-in-law truly was. Here in Jiangnan, his influence was so great that the heads of the major wealthy families had to come bearing gifts and pay their respects. Of course, the members of the Martial Dao Association actually held even higher status and influence, but Ruan Lan didn’t recognize any of them.
The rest of the visitors were familiar faces, like Luo Chu and Xu Yaoyao, who had come "seeking refuge." Both women were pregnant, and their own homes were flooded with well-wishers. They had hoped Haitang Court would be quieter, but it turned out to be even livelier than their own places.
In a room on the second floor, Luo Chu complained with a headache, "Ruan Tang, you have way too many guests. There’s no room to even sit downstairs."
Xu Yaoyao also sighed. "Suddenly, my house doesn’t seem so crowded."
Ruan Tang shot Xu Lai a look. "You sure are popular."
Xu Lai was helpless. People were coming to pay their New Year’s respects. Could he really turn them away?
But this was just the beginning. Soon, even more people arrived to give New Year’s greetings to Ruan Tang—mostly business partners, the young women from her company, and quite a few international associates.
Xu Lai smiled at Ruan Tang. "Looks like you’re quite popular too, honey."
