Even though Yue Yao drove to pick them up, with Li Yan around, of course, she didn't need to drive. She was alone and could only bring one car over, and the two of them wanted to go back to the Zhang Family's house. She couldn't go back on her own, so Li Yan drove, taking her along to the Zhang Family's.

As Yurong's friend and a guest at her house, Yue Yao had also been to the Zhang Family's. In fact, even if she hadn't met them, with Sister Liu around, Zhang Tianyi and his wife were aware of Yue Yao.

While in the car, the two started talking about the New Year. Yue Yao said Sister Liu also went home for the New Year, leaving her alone. Sister Liu told Zhang Yurong's mother, who feared she might feel lonely, inviting her to the Zhang Family's for the New Year. But Yue Yao didn't go, choosing to stay alone at the villa. She ate very little on her own and was able to cook, thus spending the New Year alone.

This surprised Yurong, puzzled as to why Yue Yao would rather spend New Year alone at a friend's house rather than going home. However, suspecting there was more to the story, she didn't ask further and changed the subject, talking about Li Yan's various experiences.

Yue Yao listened intently to her encounters, which were about Li Yan's experiences she hadn't been aware of, and situations she couldn't formally be part of. Driving up front, Li Yan almost didn't need to look to sense her well-hidden envy.

Seeing them return, Zhang Tianyi and Yang Yun were very happy. Their daughter, having grown so much, spent New Year away from them for the first time, making them feel uneasy. If not for a year of allowing their daughter to live independently, gaining some experience, it would have been even harder.

Even so, Yang Yun complained multiple times, blaming Old Zhang for not inviting the Li Tang couple to their house for New Year. Since there weren't many people, everyone could be together. However, Zhang Tianyi had his own thoughts; he understood a man's dignity. Last year, they brought Li Tang's family over for their wedding due to necessity during illness. If he called them over for the New Year now, wouldn't it seem like their son was marrying into the Zhang Family? He didn't want his old friend feeling suffocated.

After they returned, the house immediately became lively. As a mother, she dearly loves her children. Even with Yue Yao as a guest, Yang Yun unabashedly held her daughter close, asking all sorts of questions like eating habits, comfort, and whether she was coping with the cold weather.

Li Yan, along with Yurong, also took out the local specialties his mother had prepared for the Zhang Family, feeling somewhat like a poor relative visiting wealthy kin for New Year. However, a year of interaction made him understand that Zhang Tianyi and his wife weren't that kind of people. They wouldn't look down on his family, so the thought passed quickly.

Even though the Zhang Family lacked nothing, they happily accepted the gesture from Li Tang's family. In truth, both giving and receiving are merely gestures of goodwill; the old couple couldn't consume much anyway.

They didn't neglect Yue Yao either. In their eyes, this gentle and quiet child got along well with Yurong, which was quite rare. Although not familiar, they had a bit of intention to treat her like a goddaughter. The fact that she didn't come over for New Year and was alone at the villa made them sigh.

After having lunch at the Zhang Family's and staying through the afternoon, the three of them finally returned to their villa at dusk.

Entering the house, Zhang Yurong stretched comfortably and shouted, "We're back!"

Going to Li Yan's hometown, she cooperated and accommodated well, but switching to such a completely different environment was still uncomfortable. Though she had only stayed for a year, apart from occasionally visiting her mother's home, she had never been away so long. Returning now, she felt an inner serenity and peace, like a ship returning to port after months at sea.

At that moment, she suddenly realized that this somewhat empty big house had unknowingly developed into something emotional in her heart, upgrading into "home"! This little "home" belonging to her and him had begun to rival her lifelong home, her parents' "home"…

"We——are——back? Woo——ha——ha——"

Following Yurong's cheerful shout of "We're back," a terrifying hoarse voice eerily drifted into her ears, as if it was uttered right next to her, along with a slight chill around her neck.

"Get out!" Yurong was slightly startled at first but quickly realized it was Li Yan pretending. She immediately turned around and raised her fists, poised to hit him.

Seeing Li Yan couldn't help but laugh, Yue Yao smiled at the side. She playfully scolded, "You like pretending to be a ghost, huh? Well, okay. Since Sister Liu isn't back yet, Yue Yao and I will go back to my house, and you can pretend all you want here alone. Maybe you'll actually attract some ghosts to find you!"

"That won't do! What if a bunch of lecherous ghosts come and ravage me?"

Amidst the joking, they all went to the living room, too lazy to tidy things up, and lay on the familiar sofa.

"I'll make tea for you."

Yurong quickly grabbed Yue Yao's hand and had her sit beside her, "All of us are family, no need for anyone to take care of everything."

She then pinched Yue Yao's hand and rubbed her shoulder, "You previously got hurt, you should rest and replenish your nutrition. You spent New Year alone, you aren't eating instant noodles daily for convenience, right? Look, you've lost weight!"