During the meal, although Su Xiaoqi was talking to Shen Yun, she also paid attention to Xiao Ze's reactions.
Seeing him in such an environment, from his initial discomfort to gradual adaptation, and finally to integration.
Su Xiaoqi felt that this New Year's Eve dinner had initially achieved her goal.
Let Xiao Ze feel loved, and feel that life is not just about romantic relationships.
There is also brotherly affection, friendship, and the love of elders.
Xiao Ze met Su Xiaoqi's gaze and quickly looked away.
He looked at the others at the dining table.
Among them were brothers and sisters who had accompanied him for many years.
And elders who had just met but had given him immense warmth.
He felt a faint sadness and an unforeseen sense of relief in his heart.
After the meal, Madam Zhao had Mama Zhao bring out many gifts she had prepared for Xiao Ze, Xiao Yi, and their group.
Each person received two sets of clothes, a cloak, and a large box of pastries personally made by Shen Mingzhu.
Xiao Yi and the others occasionally visited Madam Zhao here, and they were accustomed to her warmth and hospitality, so they accepted the gifts generously.
Only Xiao Ze hesitated, unsure whether to accept them.
"Child, it's cold in the capital. Your clothes are too thin. These are down jackets made by Xiaoqi; they will keep you warm."
Madam Zhao said as she pushed them into Xiao Ze's hands, as if she wouldn't let go if he didn't take them.
Xiao Ze's heart stirred, and Su Xiaoqi smiled and said, "Accept them. This is our mother's thoughtful gesture."
Xiao Ze was momentarily stunned and then accepted.
Warmth gradually spread from his hands to the depths of his heart.
He looked at everyone again and thought that having a family like this might not be so bad.
Madam Zhao was unaware of the complexities and schemes among young people.
She simply looked at the young people in front of her with affection, including a boy not yet sixteen years old.
They came from Chenghuang Temple and had been beggars.
Life had tempered them too early.
It made them more mature than children from ordinary families.
Although they could now support themselves and even live better than ordinary people, all of this was achieved through their own efforts.
They did not benefit from unearned gains.
These children were all likable and endearing. She warmly invited them to visit more often in the future.
Just give them a heads-up, and there would always be a meal waiting for them.
These heartfelt words brought tears to the eyes of Xiao Yi and the others.
Xiao Xique, the most sentimental among them, was already in tears.
If it weren't for the rule that one shouldn't cry casually on New Year's Eve, she would have already wailed loudly.
That night, everyone gathered to stay up for the New Year.
Su Xiaoqi brought out the poker cards, mahjong, and Werewolf board games she had prepared earlier. They formed several groups.
However, in the end, those playing poker and mahjong found it uninteresting and joined Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun's group for Werewolf.
They welcomed the New Year amidst laughter and joy.
The next day, New Year's Day, they visited nearby relatives and friends.
The Shen family had only been in the capital for less than a year. They knew many people, but none were particularly close.
The main visits were to the Princess Regent's manor, the Duke of Yu's manor, and the Du manor.
There were also a few Grand Academicians whom Shen Yun had met while working in the Hanlin Academy.
And his colleagues whom he had met after joining the Ministry of Rites.
He went out early in the morning with Shen Er Dan, who had been renamed Shen Zhao.
Leaving Su Xiaoqi, Madam Zhao, Shen Xiaomei, and Mei Xin at home.
Mei Xin was in a very bad mood. Although she had attended the New Year's Eve banquet last night, she didn't know anyone there, and everyone was talking about topics that didn't interest her.
Furthermore, an unfamiliar man had been staring at her fiercely, making her very uncomfortable.
It felt as if all her schemes were seen through by him.
So, after eating the New Year's Eve dinner, she returned to her room to rest, citing discomfort.
She was unaware of how much fun they had afterward.
Of course, no matter how much fun they had, it had nothing to do with her.
They were not from the same world.
She could tell that Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi were very wary of her.
Even Shen Mingzhu and Shen Zhao, the younger siblings, held prejudices against her.
Normally, when they saw her, apart from greeting her, they wouldn't say an extra word.
She could see that she was very unwelcome in this family.
She wanted to leave.
She had asked to leave many times.
But the superiors disagreed with her leaving like this.
Mei Xin sighed.
Since joining the organization "Wang," her previous missions had been very smooth.
This was the first time she had encountered a difficult mission.
She had spent so long in the Shen family, not only making no progress but also losing a contact person.
And she had even brought in people from another group. The reason for all this was
likely inseparable from Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi.
And for some reason, now whenever she saw Su Xiaoqi, she felt a sense of unease and uncertainty.
Even when she encountered her beloved brother Yun, she felt a sense of fear.
Especially when his gaze turned to her, she felt a chill in her heart and a coldness on her back.
She felt an indescribable fear.
Even sitting with their family, she was somewhat absent-minded.
As a result, she didn't pay attention when Shen Mingzhu spoke to her.
"Sister Mei Xin, do you like this pattern?"
Mei Xin said, "Ah," and came back to her senses. Shen Mingzhu was talking to her.
She was holding a handkerchief embroidered with peonies and asking if she liked it.
"Uh, I like it, I like it," Mei Xin said guiltily.
She hadn't been listening to them at all.
She was lost in thought.
She secretly glanced at Su Xiaoqi and saw her looking at her with a half-smile from across the table.
Her eyes twinkled with understanding, as if mocking her.
She couldn't sit there any longer. She quickly took the handkerchief from Mingzhu's hand and got up to leave.
"Hey, Sister Mei Xin," Shen Mingzhu called out, chasing after her.
But the more she called, the faster Mei Xin walked.
Shen Mingzhu looked helplessly at Mei Xin's disappearing back and stuck out her tongue at Su Xiaoqi, giving her a big smile.
Su Xiaoqi smiled without saying anything.
She was very satisfied with Shen Mingzhu's performance.
She could almost see Mei Xin being unable to stay in their house.
It was just a matter of when she would leave.
A moment later, Zhang Yu came over and quietly said that Mei Xin had quietly gone out.
Su Xiaoqi smiled slightly, "Follow her and keep a close eye."
Shen Mingzhu heard this and leaned closer to Su Xiaoqi, whispering:
"Sister Xiaoqi, Sister Mei Xin... why is she so bad?"
As for this question, Su Xiaoqi blinked and said, "Perhaps she doesn't think she's bad.
It's just that the forces behind her are different, and they require her to do different things."
Shen Mingzhu said, "But she hurt others, and she doesn't feel bad at all. I feel like she's just bad."
How can someone without empathy, who arbitrarily uses and harms others, be a good person?
Su Xiaoqi originally didn't want to comment on Mei Xin in front of Shen Mingzhu, to avoid giving the impression of gossiping.
But seeing that Shen Mingzhu had a clear understanding, she no longer held back and said in a low voice:
"Some people are born to care for others, while some are not.
They only think that they are the most important in this world, and everyone else is insignificant, to be toyed with at their whim."
Mei Xin was such a person.
She would resort to any means to achieve her goals.
It didn't matter who that person was.
Anyone in front of her could be used.
Therefore, there was no need to be nice to such a person.
Naturally cold-hearted.
Madam Zhao, standing by, watched the two sisters-in-law whispering and asked with a smile, "Xiaoqi, Mingzhu, what are you talking about?"
Shen Mingzhu looked at Su Xiaoqi.
Su Xiaoqi said, "We were talking about Mei Xin.
Tomorrow is the second day of the New Year. I don't know if she has any relatives to go to."
Madam Zhao sighed, "She said it seems like she has no family left."
Su Xiaoqi's eyes flickered. Before she could speak, Shen Mingzhu said, "Then where did she go on New Year's Day?"
Madam Zhao then realized Mei Xin had gone out.
She shook her head, saying she didn't know, but after thinking, she wondered if she had gone to find her maternal relatives.
Madam Zhao told Su Xiaoqi that Mei Xin indeed had no family, but there should be people on her maternal side.
Because when the Mei family encountered disaster, her maternal family had severed ties with them and thus managed to escape the incident.