Chapter 52: Happy New Year

construction fees, totaling 2.8 million yuan, to Wu Dezhong's personal account. However, this does not mean that Wu Dezhong embezzled this money. 。At that time, to evade taxes, the finance departmen...When Shu Tinglan found the cleaning work incredibly difficult, he carried it out in an orderly manner. Within twenty minutes, the kitchen was spotless and fresh. 。During that time, Shu Tinglan couldn't help but be curious about the insulated food container on the table. She opened it, and a wave of fragrance wafted out, making her even hungrier. 。Finally, when he had everything packed up, he took out the food from the insulated container and got ready to heat it up. 。"Just eat it like this, no need to worry about getting cold." 。She couldn't wait. 。Zhuo Yu'an glared at her, reheated everything that needed heating in the microwave before bringing it to the table. 。The insulated cooler, though small in appearance, contained a wide variety of dishes: golden fried rice, bamboo shoot and old duck soup, steamed grouper, crystal shrimp, cold mixed seasonal vegetables, and lotus root stuffed with glutinous rice and osmanthus. 。"Is that your New Year's Eve dinner" she asked. 。No, have the chef make it separately. 。"If I don't come tonight, you'll starve" he asked her menacingly, ladling a bowl of soup. 。

"Well, I'm used to it" 。"

It's a bad habit, I changed it.

" 。"Overbearing"

The broth was delicious, and the dishes were also tasty. Shū Tinglan hadn't had a proper New Year's Eve dinner in many years. The table was filled with fragrant aromas, and the lively sounds of the Spring Festival Gala echoed around them. It was brimming with festive cheer, and her heart felt warmer than ever before. 。"Why aren't you home for New Year's" she asked. 。"Well, our family doesn't have any New Year's Eve traditions. Having a reunion dinner together is enough." 。"

Oh" 。"Do you have any plans for the holiday" he asked. 。"No, I'm planning to rest at home. Things will be very busy after the new year." 。Zuo Yu'an stopped asking and quietly accompanied her as she ate, not taking a single bite himself. 。"Since you won't be home for the New Year, are you really alright" Shu Tinglan asked again. She didn't know about Zhuo Yu'an's family situation and just assumed he came from an ordinary well-off family. 。

"It's okay" 。Eat quickly, I'll take you out to play after. 。"Where did '

' go"

"You'll know when you get there" 。Shutinglan, having eaten her fill, felt the afternoon's frustration dissipate. She realized that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and not being a good cook wasn't a big deal – she wouldn't starve! 。Who says girls have to know how to cook

She happily changed her clothes and went out with Zhuo Yu'an. 。On New Year's Eve, the streets of Mori City were nearly deserted, except for a few cars. He drove her smoothly all the way to the city center. Compared to their suburban home, the city center was bustling with activity. Young boys and girls dressed in fashionable attire frolicked in groups, radiating youthful energy on their faces. 。There are also young couples playing in the playground with their children, or families walking home after having their New Year's Eve dinner together. 。This city, has its own kind of bustling. 。Zuo Yu'an parked the car in the parking garage of a high-end residential complex in the city center, then led Shu Tinglan into the elevator. 。"Go to your place" Shu Tinglan asked belatedly. 。"Well"

It seemed like since they had met, Zhuo YUAN'an would just show up at her house uninvited to stay overnight. She had never been to his house. 。And today, I accompanied her to ring in the new year at his place. She thought that many things didn't need to be explicitly stated; they were already quite clear. 。The elevator went straight up until it reached the top floor. 。Stepping out of the elevator, you're greeted with a panoramic view. The entire city of Morzhou unfolds before your eyes. 。Zhuo Yu'an stood at the door fiddling with the lock, "Come over" 。He pressed his fingers against Shu Tinglan's hand several times on her fingerprint, and a voice prompt said "fingerprint recorded". 。Then, he glared at her and pointed at the camera on the door lock, saying in a robotic voice, "Recording." 。。Shu Tinglan let him lead her into his home. She had originally thought it was where he lived, but inside it was empty, only with basic renovations. There wasn't any other soft furnishings at all. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed; it wasn't his real home after all. 。The living room has floor-to-ceiling windows on one side and a patio on the other. No matter where you stand, you can see the city skyline. 。Shu Tinglan thought, this location, this type of house, at least over nine figures, so grand. 。...I wonder what he brought her here for

Outside, the giant electronic screens on the skyscrapers in the distance were ablaze with dazzling fireworks. Down below, men and women on the square were all shouting the countdown together. 。10, 9, 8, 7.....

It turns out it's already 12 o'clock, the Lunar New Year has arrived. 。When she counted to one, Zhuo Yu'an hugged her from behind and whispered in her ear: "Shu Tinglan, Happy New Year." 。"Happy New Year!" Even though he was high up, standing on the balcony, he could clearly hear the joyous sounds of people greeting each other in the square below. 。

The fireworks on the electronic screen burst with brilliance, their light flashing across their faces from time to time. 。Zhuo Yu'an turned her around and kissed her deeply and lightly. 。He enveloped her entirely in his coat, holding her close. 。After a long time, kissing until their tongues met... Her hair stood on end, she was almost breathless, then he finally let go. 。Shutinglan, would you like to be in charge of decorating this house Do it the way you like!" His voice was hoarse, but his eyes looked at her with water-like gentleness, waiting for her answer. His words were clear enough; he wanted her to decorate it according to her preferences before they moved in. 。Shutinglan shook her head in his arms, again and again. 。My aesthetic sense isn't great, and I don't have the energy. I'm very busy with work. 。"Though her current house is in the suburbs and not large, it was decorated by her and her mother, making it warm and giving her a strong sense of security. She has never considered moving out." 。"It's close to the company, so you can save a lot of time commuting." 。He explained 。"Want to cage me" she said, feigning amusement. 。"Can I"

"No." 。They progressed from a simple friendship with benefits to having an emotional connection, but neither of them dared to break the unspoken barrier. Even though Zhuo Yu'an invited her to move in at this point, he never explicitly defined their relationship. 。Shutinglan couldn't guess his intentions. Should they continue as sleeping buddies, or develop into a romantic relationship He didn't say, and Shutinglan was also weighing the pros and cons without voicing her thoughts. 。

Zhuo Yu'an sighed faintly, and continued to hold her for a while before returning to the living room. 。The house doesn't have any furniture yet. It's not livable tonight, so the two of them drove back to Shu Tinglan's residence. 。Back and forth, it was already two in the morning. Shu Tinglan was so tired that she fell asleep as soon as she lay down, but she couldn't resist Zhu Yu'an's antics and ended up going crazy with him again. She didn't truly fall asleep until four in the morning. The two held each other and slept soundly until the sun was high in the sky before waking up. 。The winter noon sun was too warm, bathing the bed in a comforting glow. The person on the bed lay languidly, their eyes locking with each other for a long moment, "Shu Tinglan, happy New Year" 。He had said that during the New Year's Eve, and now it was the first day of the new year. 。Happy New Year 。After they had finished speaking, they couldn't help but laugh. 。"Do you have any plans for today" Shu Tinglan asked. 。"How do I get to Huienyuan Temple" He pondered for a moment before giving his suggestion. 。to a retrial. Plus, collecting evidence is incredibly difficult, the timeline is long, and in the end, it's usually nothing but wasted effort....it seems that someone, perhaps Xu's mother, leaked the...