Mu Linjing said she hadn't seen Wen Yulan much, and Uncle Mu didn't doubt her.
"Jing'er, remember, being a wife in a wealthy family is not easy. Although our family's conditions are not as good as theirs, if you two really get married, you can't belittle yourself. If you are wronged, come home. Mom and Dad will always be your haven."
These words made Mu Linjing's eyes turn red. She knew that no matter where she was, her parents would always worry about her.
It was the New Year, and she managed not to cry. The family cleaned the house, and they were quite efficient.
As soon as they finished cleaning, someone came to visit. Mu Linjing was curious who it was, but she didn't expect it to be the sister she disliked, Zhang Xinyi, her maternal uncle's daughter.
If asked why she disliked this sister, it was definitely not because her parents were vampires, but because Zhang Xinyi herself was very vain. She was still in high school, a time when she should be diligently studying, but this little girl's mind was occupied with dressing up every day.
Although she was in puberty and the desire to be beautiful was natural, and having high standards for her appearance couldn't be definitively labeled as vanity.
However, given her family's financial situation, she still wore designer brands from head to toe. If this wasn't vanity, what was it?
Not to mention that her parents didn't have any proper jobs, and how could they afford such expenses? Even wealthy families wouldn't be so superficial. High school students should just focus on studying. With so many distracting thoughts, Mu Linjing simply couldn't like her.
Seeing it was her, Mu Linjing didn't have a good expression. "It's you. What are you doing here?"
Zhang Xinyi, like her parents, treated this place as her own home. Without asking for permission, she walked in and looked around.
"I heard you were back, so I came to see you. Where are my parents? Didn't they go to see Auntie? Why didn't they come back with you?"
Zhang Yi and his wife were still detained and couldn't contact their family. Zhang Xinyi naturally didn't know where her parents were.
Mu Linjing didn't tell her either, otherwise, she would definitely make endless trouble.
"Your parents have some matters to attend to and can't come back for a while. Do you have any business? If not, you should go back."
She tried to stop Zhang Xinyi, but the other party seemed to have been prepared and smoothly avoided her attempt, slipping into the house.
"If my parents can't come back, then I'll have to spend the New Year here. It's too quiet with just me at home."
She said it as a matter of course, her demeanor exactly like her parents, which made Mu Linjing's dislike for her increase significantly.
"What are you doing in my house? Why should we take care of you?"
"Because you are my sister, and these are my aunt and uncle. And I'm not yet eighteen."
When it came to these things, she was quite articulate. However, when it came to her studies, she was completely clueless.
Mu Linjing suppressed the urge to slap her a couple of times and still asked her to leave first. "You can come over for dinner on New Year's Day, but you can't stay at my house. We don't have a room for you."
This was exactly what Zhang Xinyi intended. However, she had perfectly inherited the vampiric nature of her parents. Moreover, her parents had taught her since she was young that the Mu family should provide all conveniences for their lives. She naturally made other demands.
"If I don't stay at your house, that's fine, but during the time my parents are away, you have to provide me with three meals a day."
Mu Linjing almost fainted from anger. Aunt Mu agreed, "We'll provide it. You go back now and study hard."
Only then was she finally sent away. Mu Linjing was furious. Why should they take care of this family so much?
Aunt Mu told her to calm down. "Don't mind her too much, she's just a child. It's just like making one extra meal a day anyway."
Even so, it wasn't just about one meal. It was their family's habit of taking advantage and considering it their due. If it were someone else, they wouldn't have such thick skin.
Fortunately, the debt of over eighty thousand yuan couldn't be repaid overnight. Zhang Yi and his wife would have some difficult days ahead. Thinking of this, Mu Linjing felt a little less angry.
Days passed quickly amidst the busyness. In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve. The adults of the Zhan family took the children to watch fireworks in the courtyard.
Zhan Lin loved it immensely. He held Wei Yumeng's hand in the courtyard, jumping and hopping.
He had been getting along very well with Wei Yumeng these past few days, and Old Master Zhan saw all of this and was very pleased.
"Mohan, I have great confidence in entrusting Lin'er to your care. Yumeng is a good girl, and I believe she will educate Lin'er well."
Family education has a great influence on a child's personality. If Wen Yulan were to raise this child, who knows what kind of person she would turn him into.
Hearing his grandfather's high praise for Wei Yumeng, Zhan Mohan was also very pleased. "Don't worry, Grandpa. Not only Lin'er, but Jinzhi and Shiqing will also be good children educated by Yumeng."
Old Master Zhan nodded. "Go and bring out all the fireworks from the storeroom. Let's have a grand celebration this year."
This year, with Wei Yumeng bringing two bright children into the family, it was a very meaningful year and deserved to be commemorated well.
Zhan Mohan had people bring out all the fireworks from the storeroom and led everyone to set them off in the courtyard.
Wei Yumeng used to dislike fleeting things, feeling they were meaningless. But tonight was different. Perhaps it was because of the people accompanying her, she found the fireworks tonight exceptionally beautiful.
She looked at Zhan Mohan beside her. In the years to come, they would be together, month after month, year after year. And with her two children, their family would live happily together forever.
Looking back on the past year, she had finally weathered the most difficult times. From now on, there would only be happiness.
This was the last night of the year. She hoped that the misfortunes of the past would be burned away like the fireworks tonight.
She stared blankly at the sky, just as Zhan Mohan was also staring blankly at her. Beneath the fireworks, her gentle features and contours were tinged with a layer of brilliant color, making her look impossibly beautiful.
After tonight, their wedding would officially enter the countdown. He would finally give Wei Yumeng a complete and perfect marriage. He didn't want to see Wei Yumeng envy anyone; he would give her everything he could, and strive to satisfy even what he couldn't give.
Behind them, Zhan Yichen held Zhan Lin's hand, watching the two of them whose eyes were only for each other. He was also looking forward to their wedding next year.
Because after the wedding, it would be his engagement ceremony with Mu Linjing. Of course, he was looking forward to it.
As the clock struck midnight, everyone stepped into the new year with anticipation.