The mansion was lively with many people, the twin dragons were very excited.

They managed to endure the whole banquet, even letting several ladies take turns holding them.

Even after seeing the guests off, there was still a lingering sense of enjoyment.

Xie Yunzhen took out the red envelopes given by Xi Yu and placed them in the hands of the little ones.

The little ones’ hands were too small and couldn’t hold them steady.

Zimu, being smart, simply hugged them with his short, chubby arms, showing a toothless grin.

Xie Yunzhen called him a little miser.

"If Liu Xu came and influenced him, wouldn’t Zimu fall into the eye of money?"

How many people in life can view money like dirt?

Ji Mingzhu thought her daughter was smart, knowing to hold onto good things tightly.

She asked Xie Yunzhen, "As a dad, didn’t you prepare any red envelopes for them?"

Xie Yunzhen, without any personal stash, confidently replied, "You and I aren’t distinct, your gift suffices."

Ji Mingzhu took out two sachets from a jewelry box, each containing a peace charm.

She put them on the little ones, "They won’t spend money, this is better."

Having experienced reincarnation, Ji Mingzhu held a deep reverence towards such things.

Whether the peace charms worked or not, having them on the children gave her much peace of mind.

Xie Yunzhen grasped Ji Mingzhu’s hand, "Where’s my New Year gift?"

Ji Mingzhu said nothing.

"Didn’t prepare one for me?"

Ji Mingzhu continued to remain silent.

Xie Yunzhen felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, the children had gifts to receive, why shouldn’t he?

He couldn’t even bother to play with the kids.

His arms wrapped around Ji Mingzhu’s waist, teasingly asking, "Is this sachet sewn by you personally?"

The man’s strength was great, his arms solid.

Ji Mingzhu was tightly bound, could only tease him, "Yours is ready, just not completed. I’ll give it to you on the Lantern Festival."

"Really?"

"What else could it be."

The man’s soft laughter reached her ears, "You understand the consequences of deceiving me."

In Ji Mingzhu’s view, she and Xie Yunzhen were already an old married couple.

Xie Yunzhen occasionally gifted her things, and sometimes, on a whim, she would make soup or sew clothes as gifts for him in return.

No fixed days, giving gifts as the mood struck.

This year during New Year, all she thought about was, it was the children’s first New Year celebration, to prepare gifts for them.

Besides the sachets and peace charms, the clothes on the kids also were sewn by her stitch by stitch.

With Xie Yunzhen... this wasn’t their first New Year.

Ji Mingzhu didn’t have the heart to prepare a gift for him.

Luckily, making sachets wasn’t troublesome; there were just over ten days left until the Lantern Festival, if she hurried, she could still sew one.

Xie Yunzhen wasn’t foolish, wasn’t fooled by Mingzhu.

He kissed her hair top, "I want a gift different from the children’s."

Ji Mingzhu tilted her head to look at him, "What do you want?"

Xie Yunzhen tightened his hugging arms, naming a sweet soup.

"Let’s eat wine-brewed tangyuan, it’s very fitting."

In the past life, Mingzhu made many sweets for him, none of which he tasted with care.

Among them were tangyuan that hadn’t been cooked by Mingzhu in this life.

Xie Yunzhen wanted to gradually reclaim the things previously missed.

After pondering, "Teach me, we will make it together."

Back then, it was Mingzhu’s one-sided contribution.

He wanted to be present from now on.

Ji Mingzhu didn’t overthink it, thought Xie Yunzhen didn’t want her to spend time sewing sachets.

His demands weren’t unreasonable, Ji Mingzhu nodded, "Then the wine must be prepared ahead."

Xie Yunzhen made a request, "Add some osmanthus too."

He remembered the wine-soaked tangyuan Mingzhu made contained osmanthus.

The aroma was rich, the finished dish looked appealing.

Too bad, at that time, he misunderstood Mingzhu, not tasting a single bite.

Even though time had passed so long since, thinking about the mistakes made, Xie Yunzhen still felt upset.

Often felt like he owed Mingzhu.

No matter how much he tried to make amends, that feeling didn’t dissipate.

Quietly embracing Ji Mingzhu, wasn’t causing her further agitation.

Sensing his mood down, Ji Mingzhu turned her head to look at him, "Every holiday brings thoughts of loved ones, are you missing your family in the capital?"

Xie Yunzhen had a cold disposition, never knowing the sentiment of missing family.

If Zimu and Zishan were to leave them in the future, perhaps he might miss them.

On second thought, Mingzhu was also his family.

When he went to suppress the rebellion, he missed Mingzhu dearly, wished he could sprout wings to fly back to her side.

Not answering Mingzhu’s question, he commanded, "Never leave me again."

This person didn’t stay normal for long, and started talking nonsense again.

Ji Mingzhu, a bit annoyed, nudged his abdomen, "Let go."

"No. I’m resting for three days, not handling work, I want to accompany you properly."

Saying that, he picked Ji Mingzhu up in his arms, placing her onto the beauty couch by the window.

Then he carried the two little ones to her side, placing one to her left and the other to her right.

"This year’s family portrait hasn’t been painted yet."

Just today Mingzhu was dressed up elegantly, Xie Yunzhen thought it was perfect for painting a family portrait.

Once Mingzhu and Zimu Zishan were painted nicely, adding himself is fine.

Hearing this, Ji Mingzhu became interested.

Hugging the little ones in her arms, "Hurry and paint, or else they will fall asleep."

"Hmm."

Xie Yunzhen prepared the drawing paper, holding the brush with his well-defined fingers, seriously started painting.

The two little ones didn’t know what was happening.

The younger one was fine, though not understanding, obediently sat in Ji Mingzhu’s embrace.

His little head leaned against her, looking straight ahead without moving.

The older one was lively, not so easy to restrain.

Kept burrowing against Ji Mingzhu, wailing for milk.

It wasn’t her feeding time yet, Ji Mingzhu softly comforted, "Be good, wait for your dad to finish painting before drinking milk."

The older one wasn’t complying.

Skillfully reached out, trying to pull Ji Mingzhu’s collar.

From time to time, soft baby noises slipped out of her mouth, making Ji Mingzhu feel tender-hearted, unable to forcibly confine her in her arms.

Maybe displeased that her sibling took up space, Zimu gently patted Zishan’s body with a soft hand.

Although it wasn’t painful, the little one’s eyes welled up with tears.

Golden teardrops almost fell, looking pitiful.

Zimu softly groaned, kicked her little foot, still wanting to push Zishan out of Ji Mingzhu’s arms.

So young, already had the demeanor of a little tyrant.

Ji Mingzhu was amused and exasperated, "Look at your daughter!"

Xie Yunzhen had been watching for quite a while.

Sure that the daughter wouldn’t fall nor hurt Mingzhu or the younger one, he didn’t come to help.

His mouth curled up, "Like me!"

Ji Mingzhu: "..."

The older one was rowdy, with no choice, Ji Mingzhu had to feed her milk first.

The glow cascaded one layer after another upon her, the sun was perfect, even seeing the particles floating in the air.

She slightly lowered her neck, gently patting her daughter’s back, enveloping her in maternal glow.

Xie Yunzhen looked deeply, and fell into fascination.

"Xie Yunzhen!"

The woman’s soft call pulled Xie Yunzhen’s thoughts back.

Looking down, the paper indeed had images drawn on it.

But apart from Mingzhu with her collar loosened, where were the figures of the children? 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Xie Yunzhen felt his face heat up.

Tightened his grip on the brush, "I’ll finish soon."