Qin He stayed at the Gu family's old house until evening before driving home.
After having dinner with Ming Yuzhu and Qin Yun, the three of them sat in the living room chatting.
Qin Yun chuckled, "Mom, Wanwan will be here tomorrow to celebrate the New Year with us."
"Wanwan is coming? Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, how can the Xu family bear to let her go?" Ming Yuzhu was in a very good mood. "Since that's the case, I'll have the kitchen prepare some dishes and pastries that Wanwan likes tomorrow. Hmm—and on the first day of the new year, you shouldn't stay at home, you should go to the Xu family's house to celebrate the New Year."
According to Qingcheng customs, after getting engaged, the groom's family must visit the bride's family with gifts to express their regards on holidays.
This is called festival gifts.
Qin Yun's festival gifts had already been delivered the day before yesterday, and he had stayed at the Xu family's house for a day then.
Qin He smiled at Qin Yun, "Brother, you miss Wanwan so much that you still want to be together during the New Year. You'll be at our house on the eve and go to her house on the first day—"
Qin He looked teasing, grinning mischievously.
Ming Yuzhu, sitting beside them, reached out and patted her daughter, "Don't tease your brother. Your brother is successful, he found himself a wife. What about you?"
Qin He said weakly, "I have Lele."
After chatting for a while, they each returned to their rooms to sleep.
The next day.
New Year's Eve.
The weather was fitting, and it began to snow heavily. When Qin He woke up, her windowsill was already covered with a layer of soft snow.
She chose a bright red Chinese-style yuanbao collar coat and a pleated skirt from her wardrobe.
Then she went to Lele's room to check on him. Two nannies were dressing Lele.
The clothes were chosen by Ming Yuzhu, red clothes embroidered with golden fu characters.
Qin He covered her face, finding her son amusing.
"Lele dressed like this, he can be a New Year painting doll."
The two nannies smiled, "Miss, you look like you could be in a painting too."
Qin He coughed lightly.
"It's a time for bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, so one must dress festively."
Qin He carried Lele downstairs. Downstairs, Ming Yuzhu had also decorated the living room festively.
On the table were boxes of pastries and some sunflower seeds and dried fruits.
The television was on.
Qin He, holding Lele, smiled, "Lele, wish Grandma a Happy New Year."
She gestured as if gently poking Lele's little head from behind, making Lele look like he was kowtowing.
Ming Yuzhu glared at Qin He, then looked at Lele with a radiant smile.
"Our Lele is only half a year old, don't poke his head randomly!"
Ming Yuzhu held Lele and sat on the sofa, looking content. She took a toy from the table and handed it to Lele.
Qin He sat beside Ming Yuzhu, resting her chin on her hand and watching Lele.
Lele played with the toy, his large, black grape-like eyes darting around, his long eyelashes like two small downy fans.
Qin He stared at Lele. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but now she could see some of Gu Qichen's features on Lele's face.
Qin He whispered to Ming Yuzhu, "Mom, does Lele look a bit like that person—"
That person?
Ming Yuzhu immediately understood and examined her grandson.
"He does look a bit like him, but he's much cuter!" Ming Yuzhu smiled and teased Lele.
Qin He felt a pang of worry.
The more Lele looked like Gu Qichen as he grew older, the more it wasn't a good thing!
What if Lele grew up to be even more like him, or even more so?!
With one large and one small, it would be too easy for people to notice the discrepancy.
Qin He frowned.
"Alright, you don't need to think too much. In Qingcheng, everyone thinks Lele is Lu Mingxi's child, right?" Ming Yuzhu said, holding Lele.
"But he doesn't look like Lu Mingxi at all, and I'm not going to really marry Lu Mingxi, it's just a cover," Qin He said with concern. "I'm worried about the future."
"We'll worry about the future when it comes. Today is New Year's Eve. It's the end of the year, you should be happy, understand?"
Qin He nodded, casting the troublesome thoughts aside.
"Mom is right, today is New Year's Eve, let's not think about anything else."
As Qin He spoke, her gaze drifted to the window.
"Mom, it seems to be snowing harder. Did my brother go to pick up Wanwan?"
"There's a lot of traffic during the New Year, he's probably stuck."
As the two sat on the sofa chatting, Lele, in Ming Yuzhu's arms, suddenly let out a sound.
"Mia—"
Qin He blinked, and immediately looked at Lele.
"Mom, did Lele just say 'Mama'?"
Ming Yuzhu had also heard it, "He's only six months old, this early?"
Qin He was overjoyed, "I read online before that many clever children can say things at six months. This shows the baby has language talent and high intelligence."
This appearance, coupled with this intelligence.
It was indeed her and Gu Qichen's genes, Qin He suddenly thought.
Immediately, she frowned.
Why was she thinking of Gu Qichen again?
"Lele, say it again, Mama—Mama—" Qin He smiled and teased Lele, wanting him to say it again.
But Lele was engrossed in the toy in his hands. His small, cute mouth opened and closed, only making soft "ah ah" sounds.
Before long, Qin Yun returned with Xu Wanwan.
Xu Wanwan entered the house with great fanfare and went straight to Qin He, "He'er! Did you miss me!"
"I did, but you went to Haicheng a while ago, so I couldn't see you anyway," Qin He said with a happy smile.
Xu Wanwan turned to Ming Yuzhu and greeted her with a smile, "Hello, Auntie."
"Wanwan, come and sit."
The four of them, plus the baby, sat on the sofa. Ming Yuzhu and Xu Wanwan chatted, and the conversation eventually turned to the wedding arrangements after the New Year.
Ming Yuzhu was determined to give her daughter-in-law the wedding she would be most satisfied with, but she didn't want Xu Wanwan to know the details in advance, so she could only ask indirectly.
Qin He found it amusing and held Lele while chatting with Qin Yun.
"Brother, Lele just called Mama."
Qin Yun's eyes widened in surprise, "Really?"
"Really, Mom heard it too."
"He's only six months old and he can speak already?" Qin Yun reached out, "Here, let Uncle hold you!"
Qin He handed Lele to Qin Yun.
When Lele was first born, Qin Yun had been extremely tense.
He had refused to hold Lele at first, saying that the baby looked so small and fragile, he felt like he would hurt him by touching him.
But now, Qin He watched with a smile as Qin Yun skillfully held Lele, a smile on his handsome face, "Lele, come on, say Uncle."
Lele blinked his dark eyes and grabbed Qin Yun's hair with one hand.
Qin Yun: "...Lele, be good, let go."
Xu Wanwan and Ming Yuzhu looked over.
Ming Yuzhu laughed, "Uncle is a difficult word to pronounce. If you teach him now, he definitely won't be able to learn it."
Qin Yun persevered. After Lele let go of his hand, he continued teaching.
"Say Uncle, Un—cle—"
Qin He silently turned her face away, her gaze sweeping across the room.
The smiles on her mother's and brother's faces were genuine. Wanwan and her brother were finally about to get married.
A smile bloomed on Qin He's face. She now had Lele's companionship.
This year, it had actually been quite good.