Gaining it, I am fortunate. Not gaining it, it's my fate.

Yurong silently recited these two lines, perhaps this attitude towards striving and the outcome suited her, suited anyone! 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

...

The next day, all three of them were physically fine, just that Zhang Yurong and Qiao Huanxuan's faces were still a bit uncomfortable. But given the cautious attitude of the resort manager, neither of them demanded any private settlement or compensation like a lion's big mouth. After learning that they had already fired Zhao Yipeng and that person with the surname Fang, Li Yan did not pursue the matter any further, and drove the two of them home.

In terms of the Lunar New Year, crossing into the New Year on New Year's Eve marks a turning point. Before the New Year, perhaps due to anticipation or waiting, time seems to pass slowly. But once it's over, everyone has to face the work of the new year, and time seems to fly by.

Because they had already bought return tickets, they didn't have to rush, accompanying their parents to visit relatives and friends for a few days.

For Li Yan, memories of visiting relatives during the New Year would take him back to his childhood, as it became less frequent after he started school. This time, he naturally wasn't interested, but having not returned for so long and now visiting with his wife, his parents were very happy. At their request, he reluctantly went along to visit relatives he had long lost touch with.

Just like how Qiao Huanxuan heard news of his return, some of his former classmates from middle school lived nearby, and the news spread through other people's mouths. Some classmates heard about it, some even heard about Li Yan appearing at a gathering in S City before, wanting to see how Li Yan had turned out. But since not many had Li Yan's contact details, and unlike Qiao Huanxuan they didn't know where he lived, and everyone was at the age of starting families and careers without the time to play around, no one tracked him down like Qiao Huanxuan did. Those who were in contact suggested verbally to organize a class reunion.

He Zhexia had contact details for Li Yan and had also returned for the New Year. He called, saying Li Yan didn't make sense; he brought his wife back for the New Year without telling him and wanted to meet up. But Li Yan politely declined; he had forgotten most of his old classmates, as it was only the last time he encountered a few of them. Meeting them would inevitably lead to questions about where they've been and what work they've been doing over the years, which for him, would mean repeating lies he didn't want to hear, an annoying experience. He simply said that they could occasionally get together after returning to S City and that he would not get involved in class reunions.

Old He, despite his position as a small-scale boss, also had many social engagements when returning home for the New Year, so he agreed. He was just curious about which wife Li Yan brought back, as the girlfriend he saw at the airport last time seemed like a tender university student, not likely to become a wife so soon.

After several days of social engagements, the return date finally arrived. Since they left right after the holiday, they hadn't stayed long at the Zhang Family home. Yurong, experiencing the New Year away from home for the first time, was very homesick. Qiao Huanxuan, after returning from the ski resort, hadn't visited Li Yan's house again, but she exchanged phone numbers with Zhang Yurong and kept in touch by phone, knowing everyone was well upon their return and feeling at ease.

On the day of departure, Li Tang and Wang Suzhen were very reluctant. After more than ten years, they finally had the happiest New Year, and their departure would leave them unaccustomed. But they also understood that young people grow up and need to have their own careers and can't be around all the time. Yurong managing a big company goes without saying, and their son staying in S City could lead to greater prospects.

When seeing them off, Li Yan's mother Wang Suzhen, apart from having moist eyes, prepared many packages, making it seem as if there was a famine in S City. She said it was to bring some local specialties for the relatives and friends over there. Her mother's sincere intentions made it hard for them to refuse, despite the trouble.

Bidding farewell to their cold hometown, they took a flight back to relatively warm S City, where Li Yan and Zhang Yurong felt a different kind of sensation. It wasn't just a piece of familiar land, but also an environment with a different atmosphere.

Getting out of the airport, Yurong glanced back and sighed, "Once back here, it seems like I've entered work mode. I feel like I did nothing the whole holiday, and soon there will be a busy period."

Li Yan pondered for a moment, "Is the slower pace of life in the hometown better, or is the high-efficiency pace here better? From a competitiveness perspective, high efficiency here is definitely better, but here I see you always tensed up, working with a cold face. Yet during this holiday, I've seen more of your smiles."

"Is it the same?" Zhang Yurong rolled her eyes at him. Every day facing Li Yan's parents, of course, she had to smile, even if accompanying them to visit relatives made her feel bored, she had to force a smile. At home and in the company, she didn't have to please anyone.

Li Yan thought slightly, understanding as he whispered, "You've had a tough time!"

Hearing this, Yurong felt a bit guilty, "Between us... there's no need to say such things, right? Aren't your parents my parents too? As for relatives, it's not like it's every day."

Li Yan was about to say something more, but Yurong excitedly pointed forward, "Look who's here!"

Looking up, Li Yan saw Yue Yao in a black trench coat, wearing sunglasses, and waving at them. Yue Yao knew their itinerary and had come by car to pick them up.

Yurong ran over excitedly, and Li Yan followed with the luggage, hearing her laugh and ask, "Yue Yao, did you learn to act cool? That's so unlike your style."

Li Yan chuckled inwardly, thinking Yue Yao's style goes beyond just this; rather, the dreamy style she showed in front of Yurong was something he hadn't seen before.

Yue Yao shyly smiled, "It's to prevent guys from hitting on me."

... (To be continued, for more, please visit www.qidian.com, support the author, and support legitimate reading!)