For the next week or so, Xu Lin was abroad handling some matters, starting to lay out plans for the game’s entry into the North American market.

He was quite busy, running around several times.

He also took the time to update the game.

In short, this week was quite fulfilling for Xu Lin.

On the night of January 31, Xu Lin landed at Jiangdu Airport.

At this time, even Chi Linyue was not in Jiangdu; she had gone to Qionghai with her family to celebrate New Year.

Seeing that he was the only one left in Jiangdu, Xu Lin felt quite bored.

On the afternoon of the 1st, Xu Lin drove back to the provincial city.

New Year is on the 6th, and it’s just a few days away.

Ms. Ren also had a holiday at this time and was relaxing at home.

On the day Xu Lin returned, Ms. Ren and Lin Yajing, along with two other women, had gone to play mahjong, but without gambling, just purely playing mahjong, which is one form of entertainment for middle-aged women.

Xu Lin also drove back at five in the afternoon to pick up Ms. Ren, and incidentally, picked up Lin Yajing as well.

"Xu Lin is back?"

Lin Yajing was a bit surprised to see Xu Lin.

"I just returned from abroad yesterday, came to the provincial city today."

"I see."

"Auntie, where are you celebrating New Year this year? Provincial city or hometown?"

This hometown is not the small city where Xu Lin used to live, but rather a rural area.

"We’ll go back to the hometown the day before New Year’s Eve, then come back on the fifth day of the new year, but your uncle might need to return earlier on the second day. How about you guys?"

"Where are you spending New Year this year?"

Xu Lin looked at Ms. Ren.

"We’ll go back to our hometown for a few days, clean up a bit, and after the New Year’s we’ll wait for Yanyan, and then go together to grandpa’s place."

"So it’s the same as last year."

"Yep."

"Yan, when will your daughter return?"

Lin Yajing had heard from Ms. Ren before that Rong Xiyi was spending New Year at her place this year.

"She’ll be back on the third day of the new year, and Xu Lin will drive to pick her up."

Speaking of Rong Xiyi, Ms. Ren couldn’t help but say: "Now that I’m alone at home, it feels quite lonely. Suddenly realized that a large flat isn’t that great to live in. Just me alone, it’s nothing like your place, Jingjing. Although it’s just the three of you, even if your daughter isn’t home, you two still see each other every day. My eldest, I see him only a few times a year, and the younger one, don’t even mention."

The younger one naturally refers to Xu Lin, who is often like he has disappeared from the human world.

Xu Lin: "Once I graduate and have kids, you’ll have plenty of noise around."

"That’s still quite far off!"

Ms. Ren presumed Xu Lin’s marriage partner to be Ning Yuhuan.

But currently, Ning Yuhuan is only twenty, still has to go to graduate school, and having kids would at least have to wait until after settling into a stable job, wouldn’t it?

That time, she would probably be twenty-five or six.

So wouldn’t that be five or six years later?

However, Ms. Ren underestimated Xu Lin; it wouldn’t be long before she’d have the chance to babysit.

Xu Lin was driving, while in the back were Ms. Ren and the other two.

Since Lin Yajing suggested having dinner at their place this year, Xu Lin drove to the market for them to buy groceries.

A little after six, Xu Lin and Ms. Ren followed Lin Yajing upstairs.

On the third floor, they went straight up the stairs.

Ms. Ren was observing the neighborhood’s environment along the way, as it was her first time there.

This residential area, the tallest building has only five floors, and the environment is lovely.

Other places, no matter how prosperous they look, seem inferior, each space like a pigeon cage.

"This neighborhood is really nice!"

Ms. Ren couldn’t help but comment.

Xu Lin: "It’s a cadre residential area, what do you think?"

"Xu Lin, when did you come back?"

Yu Xinyan, who was reading in the room, quickly ran out upon hearing Xu Lin’s voice.

The moment she saw Xu Lin, Yu Xinyan was naturally pleasantly surprised.

"Just returned today."

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

"Didn’t I come directly to your place?"

"Hmm!"

"Yanyan, pour a cup of tea for Auntie and Xu Lin!"

Lin Yajing said.

"Oh, oh!"

Yu Xinyan hurriedly went to pour tea.

Soon.

"Auntie, have some tea!"

Yu Xinyan handed the tea to Ms. Ren.

Ms. Ren hadn’t seen her for almost half a year, couldn’t help but say: "Has Yanyan become prettier?"

"Really, Auntie?"

"Seems like she’s really grown prettier, matured compared to before, Yanyan is growing up!"

Ms. Ren squinted her eyes.

Approaching twenty, Yu Xinyan indeed had blossomed a bit, gradually shedding the youthful innocence, becoming increasingly charming.

Actually, Ms. Ren was somewhat greedy; she watched Yu Xinyan grow up and had hoped she and Xu Lin would be together.

Now, it’s probably not possible.

"Auntie is also very pretty!"

"Yanyan sure knows how to talk."

"But Auntie is really pretty!"

"Yanyan too, only becoming prettier in the future!"

"Hmm!"

Then, Yu Xinyan poured a cup of tea for Xu Lin.

While Xu Lin was drinking tea, Yu Jianhua sat by his side, and the elder and younger casually chatted.

As for Ms. Ren and Lin Yajing, they were cooking in the kitchen.

Yu Xinyan couldn’t help much; the kitchen wasn’t very large, and three people made it crowded.

She went to the living room but saw Xu Lin and Yu Jianhua chatting.

For a moment, Yu Xinyan didn’t know what to do.

Soon it was time for dinner.

The five of them happily ate together.

After they had eaten and drank to their heart’s content.

At seven-thirty in the evening, everyone headed out for a walk.

Yu Jianhua walked in front, Ms. Ren and Lin Yajing in the middle, Xu Lin and Yu Xinyan at the back.

"Xu Lin, are you going back to your hometown for New Year this year?"

"Yeah, going back in a couple of days."

"My mom says we’ll head back the day before New Year’s Eve."

Yu Xinyan asked: "Is Rong Xiyi at your house?"

"She’s going back home this year."