Xiao Yanzhi wrapped his arms around Jiang Li from behind, pressing her shoulders hard with his big hands. He seemed more nervous than her.
"Are you okay?" His eyes fell on her face, eagerly and worriedly capturing every expression on her.
"I'm doing great."
"Surprised? All this is real."
Jiang Li took a deep breath. Stubbornly, she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, but she couldn't hide her tears of joy no matter what. She wiped and wiped, but the tears just kept coming. Finally, she had to wipe them on Xiao Yanzhi's sleeve.
She felt dizzy, as happy as if she was on a cloud, softly surrounded by it. She looked at Xiao Yanzhi and then at the others in the room. It took her a long time to stutter out a complete sentence: "It's so real."
It was no longer illusory, no longer a dream that might shatter at the touch, and definitely not a fragile bubble.
Her relatives and friends cheered for her. Her lover stood by her side, repeatedly telling her that all this was real. From then on, she didn't have to fear losing.
There was no moment happier than this.
There was no moment more real than this.
Everyone happily shared the celebration cake they had bought in advance and raised their glasses to celebrate this wonderful New Year's Eve.
Since Cheng Yingchun was old, Sheng Shuocheng didn't bring her here, but the old lady still prepared a thick red envelope and asked him to give it to Jiang Li.
Xiao Ye was holding the cake and always felt that this scene was a bit familiar.
She poked Jing Yi, hoping she could help her recall.
It would have been fine if she hadn't mentioned it. As soon as she did, Jing Yi got angry: "Of course. You even leaked the secret that we were preparing a surprise for Sister Jiang Li in advance back then."
"A real hero never dwells on past glories. Didn't I keep my mouth shut this time?" Xiao Ye argued unconvincingly.
"Yes, yes, yes. After all, you were the last one we informed. You only knew about it an hour earlier than Sister Jiang Li." Jing Yi whispered and complained, "Moreover, Sister Chen specifically asked Sister Jiang Li to turn off her phone in advance. You didn't even have a chance to tip her off."
This surprise was not a sudden decision but a pre - arranged plan.
Jiang Li looked back at Xiao Yanzhi. His eyes were deep, with a smile that showed he had everything under control.
Not long ago, Jiang Li had said that Xiao Yanzhi was too rational. He had to arrange everything well or make sure everything was within his prediction. He was really not romantic enough.
But today, it seemed that this rationality had its merits.
It was even a bit charmingly attractive.
After Sister Chen finished eating the cake, she poked Xiao Ye and asked her to say the previous celebration speech again. It was quite appropriate for today.
Xiao Ye was never shy in public. Hearing Sister Chen's order, she immediately put down the fork in her hand, clasped her hands in front of her chest, with a big smile on her face and a loud and firm voice.
"Sister Jiang Li, I wish you that every day in the future will be like today. May you always be beautiful and passionate, always happy and joyful, and always be the most—popular!"
...
After everyone's celebration, it was quite late. Sheng Shuocheng said that he was too old to endure the excitement and left at a little after eleven.
With Jiang Li's encouragement, Sheng Jingxi finally summoned up the courage to say that he would send Jiang Shi back.
When leaving, Jiang Li whispered something to Jiang Shi. A suspicious blush appeared on Jiang Shi's face, but it quickly returned to her usual cold look.
"What did you say to her?" Sheng Jingxi asked uneasily.
Jiang Li put her finger in front of her lips: "It's a secret."
Sister Chen, Jing Yi, and Xiao Ye stayed to help them clean up the mess after the celebration and then left together.
In the whole villa, only the two of them were left.
Jiang Li took a shower, changed into a loose nightgown, and sat on the sofa waiting for Xiao Yanzhi.
The joy tonight came so suddenly and strongly that her energy was quickly used up. Leaning on the sofa, she fell asleep with her eyes closed after a while.
When Xiao Yanzhi came out, he happened to see this scene.
She was hugging the pillow on the sofa, her body nestled softly in it. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly with her breathing, as if she was having a wonderful dream, with a smile on her face.
Would he be in her dream? Xiao Yanzhi wondered.
He tried to be as quiet as possible, but the girl on the sofa still woke up. Her voice was muffled and soft, "Why did it take so long? I've fallen asleep."
It was a bit of a complaint, but more of a coquetry.
Xiao Yanzhi lowered his eyes and quietly looked at her for a while, then picked her up in his arms.
"You're too tired today."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, rubbed her nose against his chin, and burrowed into his arms: "I'm so sleepy."
Xiao Yanzhi let out a chuckle, "It's not even twelve o'clock yet."
"But I'm so sleepy." Jiang Li said reluctantly, her voice muffled in his arms, "Can't I go to sleep yet?"
She recovered quickly.
Before, when experiencing such a huge surprise, she would be afraid to sleep, worried that everything would disappear when she woke up the next day.
But tonight, she was so tired that she was clamoring to go to sleep.
She was starting to feel secure about the happiness in her life. She no longer feared losing, nor did she fear falsehood. Therefore, she could have a good sleep.
Xiao Yanzhi hooked his lips into a smile: "You can sleep, but there will be another surprise left for tomorrow."
He deliberately whetted her appetite, and immediately she perked up: "There's another surprise?"
Her eyes sparkled like a child looking forward to a gift.
Xiao Yanzhi had a faint smile on his face. He rubbed her face: "There is. Do you want it?"
"Yes." She answered without hesitation, showing a kind of innocent cuteness.
"Aren't you sleepy? Do you want to go to sleep first?"
"I'm not sleepy at all." Her eyes were clear. Where could you see any trace of sleepiness?
Xiao Yanzhi smiled without saying a word. He carried her into the bedroom, turned off the light, and drew the curtains of the master bedroom.
The snow started to fall again outside the window, and the open space outside was a vast expanse of white.
In the pitch - black environment, Jiang Li couldn't help but become even more excited, and her eyes were especially bright.
She had a hunch, but she wasn't quite sure.
This sense of anticipation made her heart beat faster. She involuntarily clenched her hands, and her eyelashes gradually drooped to hide her flustered state of mind.
"Look outside."
Jiang Li was sitting in his arms, staring intently at the snow - covered ground in the yard outside.
The snow was pure white, and there was nothing on it.
A few minutes later, Jiang Li suddenly let out a cry of surprise—
A gust of wind, coming from nowhere, blew away the thin layer of snow, revealing the bright red and gorgeous roses that were spread out beneath.
Each one seemed to have just blossomed, without any sign of withering. There were still snowflakes that hadn't been blown away on the petals and branches.
The white snow dotted the red roses, making their blossoms look fuller and more beautiful. It was a kind of charming allure that still bloomed brightly after experiencing hardships.
Looking at the roses that covered the entire yard, Jiang Li's already calmed - down mood was stirred up again, and her eyes began to gradually moisten.
The roses stood even more proudly because of the wind and snow.
They couldn't be blown down or defeated. They always stood upright with their high - held branches.