Shen Yi took the initiative to speak with Qin Zhonghui. "Uncle Qin, my mom and I have to make a trip back to North City, but we’ll be back before the twenty-third of the lunar month. In the meantime, could I trouble you to help look after my grandfather?"

The twenty-third of the lunar month was the Minor New Year in Ping’an Town, an occasion that was taken quite seriously. Neither Shen Yi nor Du Liya wanted the old man to spend it all alone, so they planned to rush back before then.

Qin Zhonghui agreed in a heartbeat. After spending this time together, his family already saw the old man as one of their own. All this talk about "troubling" them was making them sound like strangers.

Shen Yi was speaking to Qin Zhonghui, but with Qin Jiao sitting between them, she could feel the warmth of his breath ghosting over her ear.

The tips of her normally fair ears flushed red.

Qin Jiao shot Shen Yi a meaningful look. Just last night, her parents had been discussing whether to return to their ancestral home early for the New Year. The house there was large and needed to be cleaned and prepared in advance every year.

Her first aunt had driven her third uncle’s family away with a torrent of abuse, which had created bad blood. Her first aunt even said she wouldn’t bring Xiao Lan back for the New Year. But her first uncle was a man who cared a lot about his pride. He had told Qin Zhonghui that he would definitely go back to celebrate the New Year with their parents.

So, Qin Zhonghui had been discussing with Su Yun the possibility of them going back as well.

Su Yun knew her husband’s temperament and was quite exasperated. But she had made her stance clear: they could go back, but if the third uncle and his wife stirred up any trouble or anything else unpleasant happened, she would immediately take her two children and return to Ping’an Town.

Qin Zhonghui had hastily nodded in agreement.

However, the question of which day to leave remained.

Qin Jiao glanced at Shen Yi. ’He’d just subtly roped her parents into staying until at least the Minor New Year.’ Of course, this was exactly what Qin Jiao had been hoping for. ’Why should her family go back early to clean the house for her third uncle’s family? The only reason they were going back for the New Year at all was out of respect for her grandparents.’

’Hopefully, after some time to reflect, her grandparents would realize which of their sons was actually dependable. Of course, if they remained obstinate, Qin Jiao would resolutely take her parents and keep their distance.’

When they arrived home, Shen Yi and Qin Jiao hopped out of the car on their side. Shen Yi said softly, "When are you going to give me my gift?"

"You! Who asks for their own gift? There are still ten-odd days until the New Year, what’s your rush? If you keep rushing me, I’ll give you another potted cactus!"

Seeing Qin Jiao’s slightly fierce expression, the corners of Shen Yi’s mouth lifted. He said softly, "That works too. Good things come in pairs."

Qin Jiao: "..."

’Good things come in pairs, my ass! I ought to shove both cacti on your head. How about I give you a Nezha-style hairdo?’

After saying this, Shen Yi politely said goodbye to Qin Zhonghui and turned to leave.

It was only after he left that Qin Jiao belatedly realized she had just been flirting with Shen Yi—and right under her father Qin Zhonghui’s nose, no less. ’I was careless. I underestimated him.’

’The Shen Yi of this lifetime was toxic.’

Back at their house, Qin Zhonghui and his family were taking a break. Since it was nearly the end of the year and they had worked hard all year long, they weren’t setting up their stall every day. Su Yun, who wasn’t actually keen on going back to their ancestral home, asked Qin Zhonghui which day they were planning to leave.

Qin Zhonghui said without missing a beat, "Let’s go back early. We can help Mom and Dad buy supplies for the New Year and help them clean the house."

Su Yun was speechless. "Eldest Brother might be going back, but he said he’s not going until the twenty-ninth of the lunar month. That’s only one day before New Year’s. What are we going back so early for?"

Qin Zhonghui said, "Third Brother and his wife aren’t the type to lift a finger. They don’t do anything. Don’t you remember that one time we went back on the twenty-ninth? There were no New Year’s supplies prepared at all, and Mom and Dad were still eating coarse flour buns."