Chapter 79 First Snow in Chang'an (3)
A busy yet peaceful Lunar New Year's Eve.
In the middle of the night, firecrackers could still be heard from time to time outside. Zhou Qishen, who had trouble sleeping, rarely closed his eyes in Zhao Xiyin's arms, but he would still be startled by the sudden firecrackers and frown.
Zhao Xiyin stayed by his side, and when the firecrackers went off, she would gently cover Zhou Qishen's ears.
He looked gentle and unguarded as he slept soundly.
Zhao Xiyin patted his shoulder gently, soothingly saying, "Sweetheart, go to sleep."
The next day, both of them woke up late.
Their curtains weren't dark enough, and Zhao Xiyin glanced out the window, knowing it was already late. Zhou Qishen was sleeping even more soundly than she was, and it took him a while to reluctantly open his eyes. Zhao Xiyin planted a kiss on his forehead, "Happy New Year, Zhou-ge'er."
Zhou Qishen smiled and intertwined his fingers with hers.
After a quick wash, Zhao Xiyin said from the side, "What's wrong with you? You didn't even give out red envelopes. Boss Zhou is so stingy."
Zhou Qishen opened his suitcase and took out dozens of red envelopes. Zhao Xiyin smiled and held out her hand, but Zhou Qishen said, "Yours isn't in there. You brought a bag, right? I'll leave it with you."
Zhao Xiyin's face fell, and she shoved him, "You jerk."
After the two opened the bedroom door, the chattering sounds from downstairs became very clear. The spacious living room was filled with people of all ages. They were all talking amongst themselves, while Zhou Boning sat to one side smoking.
Upon seeing them, they immediately stood up and greeted them warmly, "Oh, Happy New Year, Qi Shen!"
Zhao Xiyin was startled by the scene, while Zhou Qishen seemed used to it, nodding slightly but showing no joy. He simply tilted his head and whispered, "Send red envelopes."
She secretly checked before coming down; it cost 1,000 yuan each.
There are at least twenty people here, including three or four infants.
Zhao Xiyin understood that they were all there to ask Boss Zhou for good luck.
Zhou Qishen seemed particularly generous in this regard, possessing a magnanimous heart that repays evil with good. Knowing she was uncomfortable, after being a generous benefactor, Zhou Qishen took her hand and led her out the door.
After getting in the car, Zhao Xiyin hesitated for a moment, having wanted to ask this for a while, "Didn't you say before that you would tell your family that we were divorced? Won't they find it strange when they see me?"
Zhou Qishen turned the steering wheel with one hand to straighten the car. "I don't know how."
“Because I never told them I was divorced,” he said calmly. “Zhao Xiyin will always be my wife.”
Zhao Xiyin was stunned for a moment, hiding the sweetness in her heart, and pretended to be resentful, "You have to compensate me for the damage to my reputation!"
Zhou Qishen stepped on the gas, and the car sped up. "Did I say something wrong? Aren't you my wife?"
Zhao Xiyin pouted, "At least not yet."
Zhou Qishen nodded, "But I am your husband."
Bah! Zhao Xiyin should have known that he has the thickest skin.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Let's drive around the city, and I'll take you and Xiao Liu out for dinner tonight."
Zhou Qishen's friends in Xi'an were quite boisterous and outgoing. They immediately called Zhao Xiyin "sister-in-law" to him. They egged him on to drink, but Zhou Qishen refused to touch a drop, saying that his sister-in-law wasn't familiar with Xi'an and he didn't trust her to drive.
It made everyone so jealous!
Xiao Liu, a shameless fellow, emboldened by alcohol, came up with a terrible idea: "Brother Zhou, you don't have to drink! Then let's compare our pectoral muscles!"
Is that a problem?
Xiao Liu and the others who were just egging him on had already started taking off their clothes to show off. The young and energetic guys were quick and decisive, pulling up their short sleeves to reveal glimpses of their waists and abdomens. Zhou Qishen was quick-witted and pulled Zhao Xiyin, who was staring in a daze, behind him. Then he reached out and pressed the back of her head, pulling her onto his shoulder without saying a word.
Her vision was completely blocked, to prevent her from being led astray.
When they get drunk, they lose their sense of proportion, and the air becomes wild.
Zhao Xiyin was still somewhat attracted to good looks, and she twisted and turned, trying to break free from this jealous person.
Zhou Qishen sighed helplessly, "Stop looking, none of them are as good as mine."
Without even thinking, Zhao Xiyin said, "Who knows if you've neglected your exercise these past few years?"
Zhou Qishen was so angry that his nose twitched, and he turned around and scolded unhappily, "All of you, put your clothes on!!"
Zhao Xiyin was puzzled; this man's G-spot was really strange.
Knowing that Xiao Liu and the others would go crazy, Zhou Qishen simply took Zhao Xiyin and left early.
The nights in Xi'an weren't as cold as in Beijing. There was a lantern festival at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and since it was nearby, the two of them treated it as a stroll. Zhao Xiyin asked, "So when you go home for the New Year, do you always go with Liu Liu and the others?"
Zhou Qishen nodded, "They're so thoughtful. They'll come to keep me company whenever I go back to Xi'an."
Zhao Xiyin said "Oh," and added, "You were always very well-behaved when I came back with you before."
Zhou Qi glanced at her and said indifferently, "Back then I had a family, so I had to be a good man, didn't I?"
Zhao Xiyin pinched him, "Look how capable you think you are."
The two strolled through the ancient city streets, their breath turning into white vapor, like wisps of smoke. Though the temperature was cold, their hands, clasped tightly together, felt so warm. The stone path stretched far and wide, lined with joyful red lanterns whose bright light rose upwards, weaving a lampshade across the night sky.
The lamplight casts flickering shadows, and people stand in pairs.
Every step I took embodied the human emotions and desires of everyday life.