“Is this another bonus?”
Ye Zhiqiu could tell from the thickness of the red envelope that there was definitely a good amount of money inside.
Yue Mingyuan’s salary was always sent straight home with someone else as soon as it was paid out.
He didn’t actually get many bonuses either—only when he placed well in exercises or went on especially important missions.
“No.”
“Then where did this money come from?” Ye Zhiqiu looked at Yue Mingyuan. “Can you not say?”
“It’s not that I can’t say. This is extra money I earned from drawing blueprints.”
Yue Mingyuan pulled Ye Zhiqiu into the car. “I occasionally help improve weapons and equipment or design new ones.”
Ye Zhiqiu’s eyes were filled with admiration. “Mingyuan, you’re amazing.”
“This isn’t exactly a secret, but I can’t go around telling everyone either. From now on, I’ll definitely be bringing money home regularly.”
“Take care of yourself.”
Ye Zhiqiu knew that Yue Mingyuan and his team trained an enormous amount every single day. And as their captain, he also had administrative matters to handle, plus exercises and missions to participate in. With the blueprint drawing on top of all that, she was really worried he’d overwork himself.
“I’m not tired. I know my limits.”
Yue Mingyuan felt a warmth in his heart and gave Ye Zhiqiu a firm hug. “Go on back in.”
“I’ll watch you leave.”
Just like every time they parted, the two of them stood there, watching each other grow farther and farther apart.
The next morning, people went from house to house to exchange New Year’s greetings and give lucky money to the children.
Both Yue Guohuai’s and Huo Yingnian’s homes were bustling with activity, with a steady stream of visitors coming to pay their respects.
Yaya sat right beside Yue Guohuai, collecting red envelopes until her little hands got tired, and she stuffed them all into her small bag.
After her afternoon nap, she sat by the window and started counting how much lucky money she’d received.
Huo Jiusi snapped a photo of her looking like such a little money-grubber.
Then he sat down in front of Yaya and waited for her to finish counting. Looking at her, he said, “Yaya, you still haven’t wished me a Happy New Year.”
“I did.”
Huo Jiusi was a bit confused. “When?”
He had a great memory, especially when it came to anything involving Yaya—there was no way he’d have forgotten.
“At midnight last night.”
Huo Jiusi was even more bewildered. “But we were both asleep at that time.”
“I said it to you in my dream.” Yaya tilted her head. “Little Demon, did you say it to me in your dream too?”
“I…”
Huo Jiusi had dreamed last night, but he’d dreamed about his mother.
Ever since she passed away, every dream he had of her was of the horrific way she died.
But last night, she was standing right in front of him, healthy and whole. She even reached out and patted his head.
He was so incredibly happy that he told her all about Yaya.
“Or you could just say it to me this morning.”
Yaya pulled a very thick red envelope from her little bag and handed it to Huo Jiusi. “Little Demon, Happy New Year!”
“Yaya, Happy New Year.”
Huo Jiusi smiled, and a small dimple appeared at the corner of his mouth. He also handed her the red envelope he’d prepared for her.
Yaya gave it a little squeeze with her small hand and could tell right away that Huo Jiusi’s envelope was even thicker. Delighted, she accepted it and pulled out the money inside. “This is… pounds?”
She’d never seen pound sterling before, but she still recognized the old lady on the notes.
The exchange rate between pounds and yuan was pretty high. A stack of these would be the equivalent of several thousand yuan, right?
Yaya didn’t actually know the exact exchange rate—she was just guessing roughly.
But Yue Minghui did know. She came over for a look, asked Yaya how much Huo Jiusi had given her, and after Yaya told her, Yue Minghui did the math right away: “Whoa, Jiusi, that’s eleven thousand.”
Yaya’s eyes went wide. The little demon had actually given her eleven thousand yuan in New Year’s money.
But even though it was a lot, she wasn’t going to give it back. He’d be happy that she accepted it, and if she tried to return it, he’d definitely be upset.
Besides, he’d given her so many things already—every single one of them worth a pretty penny. She was used to it by now.
“Jiusi Gege!”
Suddenly, a little girl’s voice called out Huo Jiusi’s name from outside the courtyard gate. Yaya stood up to look, but her little legs were too short—she couldn’t see a thing.
Huo Jiusi came over and scooped her up. Yaya saw a little girl she’d never met before and turned to ask Huo Jiusi, “Little Demon, who’s that?”
“No idea.” Huo Jiusi’s gaze toward the girl was icy cold.
“But she knows you.”
Yaya gave Huo Jiusi a gentle push. “Go out and take a look. It’s so cold out, and she’s not dressed very warmly—she might catch a chill.”
“If you’re that curious, come out with me.”
Huo Jiusi helped Yaya bundle up, then took her hand and slowly walked to the courtyard gate. The little girl was startled for a moment, then pointed at Yaya. “Jiusi Gege, who is she?”
“Who are you?” Huo Jiusi really didn’t like the way this girl was pointing at Yaya.
“I’m Qiqi! Your cousin. Don’t you remember?”
Liu Qiqi rubbed her hands together and stomped her feet. “Guojing is so cold! Not like Jiangning—the flowers are already blooming there this time of year.”
“Then why didn’t you stay in Jiangning instead of coming all the way to Guojing?”
Huo Jiusi crouched down and picked up Yaya, rubbing her little hands, then cupped her cheeks. “Are you cold?”
“I’m fine. I’m bundled up thick.”
Huo Jiusi had all of Yaya’s clothes custom-made with the best materials, so she didn’t feel cold at all.
Yaya wrapped her arms around Huo Jiusi’s neck. “Little Demon, I want an apple.”
Before Huo Jiusi could answer, Liu Qiqi burst out, “Why are you ordering my Jiusi Gege around? And why do you call him ‘Little Demon’? That doesn’t sound like a nice thing to say at all!”
“Jiusi Gege, she’s insulting you!” Liu Qiqi thought that by defending him like this, he’d definitely be happy.
But to her surprise, Huo Jiusi wasn’t appreciative at all. Instead, he found her meddlesome. “What’s it got to do with you?”
Watching Huo Jiusi turn around and carry Yaya back inside, Liu Qiqi wanted to follow. But after all, this wasn’t her house, and she remembered that this was Grandpa Yue’s home—the one who was close to Great-Uncle Huo.
“So annoying!”
Liu Qiqi stomped her foot, turned around, and ran back crying.
“Grandma.”
Back inside, Liu Qiqi went straight to Huo Yingyue. Huo Yingyue wiped her tears. “Weren’t you going to find your Jiusi Gege? What happened? Who upset you?”
“It was Jiusi Gege who upset me!”
Liu Qiqi sobbed. “Jiusi Gege said it’s none of my business and told me to go back to Jiangning.”
“Jiusi would never say something like that.” Huo Yingyue said that out loud, but deep down, she felt her granddaughter had been wronged.
“Brother, why haven’t we seen Jiusi come back at all since we arrived?” Huo Yingyue didn’t like Huo Yun, and she liked Huo Jiusi even less.
She always felt there was something off about that child. But unfortunately, Liu Qiqi was obsessed with him.
Last year, she’d brought Qiqi to pay New Year’s respects to Huo Yingnian, and Qiqi had seen a photo of Huo Jiusi. She’d been going on and on about wanting to meet him ever since. So when she heard he’d be spending the New Year here this time, Qiqi dragged her along again.
Normally, she only came to see Huo Yingnian once every three years for the New Year.
