The thin black gauze curtains blocked out the sunlight exceptionally well, obscuring the lingering rays of the setting sun.
Lu Zhi slept deeply, face buried in his pillow. On the bare, pale skin of his upper back, scattered red marks dotted his flesh like vibrant plum blossoms.
Suddenly, the bedroom door was pushed open from the outside. A hand with well-defined knuckles appeared above Lu Zhi's head, gently stroking and soothing his hair. The next motion was a possessive lift of Lu Zhi's chin, followed by a deep kiss.
Lu Zhi's tightly closed eyelids fluttered. His lashes trembled as he opened his eyes, only to be forced to accept the other’s aggressive invasion. His voice, rough from sleep, murmured in dissatisfaction, "I still want to sleep."
Shen Qi’s hand slid beneath Lu Zhi’s back, pressing into his lower waist. "Alright, you continue sleeping."
Hearing this, Lu Zhi closed his eyes again, shifting his head to face the other way. He mumbled slowly, "A bit higher."
Shen Qi continued to massage Lu Zhi, then suddenly remarked, "It’s the 30th of the lunar calendar today."
Lu Zhi remained still.
Three seconds later, Lu Zhi’s eyes snapped open. He jolted upright in bed, a sharp pain in a certain sensitive area causing him to gasp.
Shen Qi frowned. "What’s the hurry?"
"Why didn't you say something sooner!" Lu Zhi fumbled for his phone. Good heavens, there were only two hours left until their flight back home, and the journey to the airport alone would take an hour and a half.
Lu Zhi and Shen Qi had officially married two months prior and had been traveling the world, enjoying their honeymoon.
Lu Zhi had promised his elder brother, Lu Chengxuan, that he would return for the New Year and had booked their tickets home.
It was only when Lu Zhi had finished packing and rushed with Shen Qi to the airport, boarding the plane just in the nick of time, that Lu Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief. He then kicked Shen Qi’s foot in annoyance, "You remembered everything, yet you didn't remind me? And last night you still messed around with me."
As he uttered the last sentence, Lu Zhi's tone held a distinct hint of gnashing teeth.
Shen Qi remained unperturbed, signaling a flight attendant to bring a cup of warm milk. He handed it over, "Drink it and rest for a while. We'll be there when you wake up."
Lu Zhi glared at him but still took the warm milk and took a sip. He shifted his position, yawned, and closed his eyes, quickly falling back asleep.
Shen Qi put down his magazine, gently cradled Lu Zhi’s head onto his shoulder, and carefully pulled the blanket over him. His fingertips lightly brushed the tears that had gathered on Lu Zhi’s eyelashes as he yawned. The focus in his eyes was a deep affection that anyone observing would envy.
After the plane landed, as they stepped out of the airport, the cold wind that greeted them made Lu Zhi shrink his neck. "Hiss, it’s so cold."
Shen Qi pulled him closer into his embrace, his leather jacket enveloping Lu Zhi. He looked down and teased lightly, "All for style, no warmth, hmm?"
Lu Zhi’s gaze darted away guiltily.
Having been a god for tens of thousands of years, he was hardly afraid of the cold or heat. He simply hadn't yet adapted to a mortal’s constitution.
"Xiao Zhi, over here." Inside a black SUV, Li Mei, seated in the driver's seat, waved enthusiastically.
"Wow, it’s really so cold." Lu Zhi got into the car, immediately feeling a surge of comfort from the car's heating system.
Shen Qi, after storing their luggage, got into the car and took Lu Zhi’s slightly cool hand.
Lu Zhi mumbled in dissatisfaction, "That's not right. Your clothes aren't thick either, why aren't you cold?" Suddenly, Lu Zhi caught sight of a talismannestled within Shen Qi's open collar. His eyes widened. "Aha! So you were the one deliberately showing off, using a spirit talisman to ward off the cold!"
Shen Qi was completely unfazed by being discovered. Unlike Lu Zhi, who was dressed like a penguin, his attire was that of a walking model. He said, "You forgot yourself, and you have the nerve to talk about me?"
Lu Zhi was momentarily speechless.
Indeed, he could have drawn a talisman himself for warmth, but he had forgotten.
"Your brother is busy with Chu Shiling and the others, so he sent me to pick you two up." Li Mei turned the steering wheel and sighed, "I was actually hoping to cook myself."
Lu Zhi: ...The ghost of terrible cooking suddenly attacked me.
Lu Chengxuan, as the elder brother, had made a wise decision. If Li Mei were to enter the kitchen, the New Year's Eve gathering would likely feature several dishes of dark cuisine, with anyone unlucky enough to partake possibly ending up in the hospital.
Lu Zhi exclaimed, "Big brother is truly making wise choices."
Li Mei: "Hmm? What did you say?"
Lu Zhi smiled, "I said I missed you all." He would never admit that he was afraid of her cooking.
The Kuang Ye Guild was bustling with activity at this moment.
To prepare for the New Year's Eve banquet, Lu Chengxuan had sent others to the supermarket early in the morning for groceries, and he was now busy in the kitchen.
Chu Shiling had also rolled up his sleeves and was helping in the kitchen.
In the living room, the large man Mu Sen was clumsily looking after a group of children.
"Ah, you stinky dog, you’re bullying me again." A three-year-old girl in a pink doll dress stamped her little feet indignantly at a blonde-haired little boy in front of her.
"I have more here, I have more here." Mu Sen hastily stuffed a handful of fruit candies into the little girl’s hand from the table.
"Don't climb up there, Uncle Mu Sen, he's going to climb the tree again." A little boy wearing overalls with a bull head embroidered on them grabbed the pants of a boy who was attempting to climb the cabinet.
"Get down quickly!!!" Mu Sen ran over in a panic.
The entire living room was in chaos.
When Lu Zhi pushed the door open, the children, who were all around the same age, suddenly turned their eyes towards Lu Zhi. They all dropped what they were holding and ran towards him.
"Brother Lu, Brother Lu."
"Lu Lu, Little Horse wants a hug."
Lu Zhi awkwardly squatted down, hugging one child after another, his expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Okay, okay, everyone gets a hug." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
These children were from neighboring families. Fate was truly miraculous; Lu Zhi never expected to be reunited with the reincarnated zodiac animals so soon.
Although they had no memories, the moment they saw Lu Zhi, they took an immediate liking to him. When their parents weren't paying attention, they would run to the Kuang Ye Guild to find Lu Zhi.
Shen Qi took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and entered the kitchen to help.
Chu Shiling, who was washing vegetables, called out, "Yo, you're back."
Lan Guoguo was squatting in a corner, peeling potatoes. He still had that cool expression and called out, "Brother Shen."
Shen Qi nodded, glanced at the ingredients, and began chopping vegetables with practiced ease.
Seeing Shen Qi’s skillful movements, Lu Chengxuan realized that Shen Qi was the one who usually cooked when they were out. He thought of Lu Zhi’s lazy nature and shook his head, saying, "You just spoil him too much."
Shen Qi raised an eyebrow and remarked meaningfully, "After bullying him so much, I have to spoil him with the small things."
Lu Chengxuan: ...Damn it, his younger brother was at a slight disadvantage.
Time quickly passed into the night. Fireworks and firecrackers lit up the sky outside.
Everyone was gathered around the dining table. The families of the neighboring zodiac animals came one after another to offer blessings and take their children home for the New Year's Eve vigil. However, one by one, they began to whine and pretend to cry. Helpless, their parents had no choice but to let the zodiac animals celebrate the New Year at Lu Zhi's home.
Bang, bang, bang—
The fireworks outside crackled with the spirit of the New Year. The countdown to the new year began.
A sudden knock on the door startled everyone. They exchanged confused glances.
Lu Zhi also found it strange. Who would come at this hour?
Shen Qi pondered for a moment and said, "An acquaintance."
Lu Zhi, puzzled, went to open the door. Upon seeing the person standing outside, his jaw dropped in surprise, "Dragon Dragon Dragon God?"
Outside the door stood none other than the Dragon God, in his human form, which even Lu Zhi had never seen before.
The Dragon God’s golden vertical pupils held a gentle warmth seasoned by time.
"Happy New Year."
At this moment, the twelve zodiac animals and the divine beings were truly reunited.