Chapter 345 - 342: Catching Up with Happiness

Chapter 345: Chapter 342: Catching Up with Happiness

"Ah Ming, Xiaxia and Yanwan are getting engaged. What about you? Do you have a girlfriend?"

After teasing Jiang Xia and Lin Yanwan for a while, the parents shifted the conversation to Wang Ming. He was, after all, the only single one left.

"N-Not... not yet, Aunt Xia," Wang Ming stammered, his face turning red.

"Does that mean you don’t have a girlfriend, or that you don’t have anyone you like?" Ji Wanqiu chimed in, her tone teasing.

Old Wang was at a loss for words.

He liked Shen Ying, but she wasn’t his girlfriend yet. ’Speaking of which, how is Jiang Xia so thick-skinned? Does he not blush when he gets teased about his love life?’ 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

"Oh? So no answer means there *is* a girl you like? A college classmate, or...?" Ji Wanqiu continued to tease.

Li Weiya took a small bite of her food and glanced at her son, a gentle smile in her eyes.

’There’s only one college girl I know of,’ she thought. ’The one who came to the company and caused a scene. Zhang Yuanyuan, I think her name was. But Ah Ming said she was a scheming green tea bitch and was completely dismissive of her, so it can’t be her.’

’In that case, if my son really does have a girl he likes, it’s probably the one who rejected him before.’

Li Weiya’s thoughts drifted to Shen Ying. ’They’ve all known each other since high school and are extremely close. Jiang Xia and Yanwan ended up together... are the other two really just friends?’

’Besides, when he came home early not long ago, he secretly went to find Shen Ying. They traveled home together. The whole thing is rather intriguing.’

’Not to mention that in the past few days leading up to the new year, he’s been glued to his phone, giggling like an idiot. Does he really think his own mother is blind?’

’He’s always running off somewhere, too. In this city, Jiang Xia is with Yanwan. Who else could he be going to see but Shen Ying?’

’He can’t just be going to an internet cafe for no reason, can he? We have a computer at home.’

’Therefore, after eliminating the impossible, the person my son likes is most likely Shen Ying.’

Li Weiya became fairly certain.

She wondered if she should give her son a little push. She really did like Shen Ying.

Seeing Wang Ming hemming and hawing without an answer, the two mothers teased him for a bit longer before finally changing the subject.

After New Year’s Eve dinner, the family gathered around the television to watch the Spring Festival Gala. Jiang Xia used his phone to wish his employees a Happy New Year in the company group chat.

’Now that I think about it,’ he mused, ’it was during the 2014 Spring Festival Gala that Tencent leveraged the show’s massive viewership to launch its "Shake for a Red Packet" and "Grab a Red Packet" features. It made WeChat’s red packets an overnight sensation and helped WeChat Pay link 200 million bank cards in just two days.’

’After that, WeChat’s red packets blew up in popularity.’

Jiang Xia lamented that in this era, without WeChat’s red packets, he couldn’t even send his employees a New Year’s bonus to boost their sense of belonging to the company.

After bantering with his employees for a while, Jiang Xia started receiving New Year’s wishes from several of his university classmates. On the other side of the room, Lin Yanwan was in her dorm’s group chat, exchanging New Year’s greetings with her "sisters" from Room 520A.

The crackle of fireworks echoed intermittently from outside. Seeing that it was about time, Jiang Xia got ready to take Yanwan and his little sister-in-law out to set them off.

"Be careful with the fireworks. Don’t point them at anyone, and don’t set them off in a crowd," Xia Shanshan reminded them.

After all, it gets crowded during the holiday, and every year there are news reports about firework-related accidents.

"I know, Mom."

"Keep an eye on Xiao Man."

"Okay!"

After saying goodbye to the elders, the four of them left the house, carrying several bags of fireworks and firecrackers.

"These fireworks are for you," Jiang Xia said to Wang Ming after they left the apartment complex.

Wang Ming paused, stunned. He looked down at the bag in his hand; it was filled almost entirely with the kind of large fireworks that created spectacular displays. That guy Jiang Xia had clearly planned this when they were divvying them up.

"Thanks," Wang Ming said.

Jiang Xia gave a faint smile. No words were needed between good brothers.

"Old Wang, go for it. Muster up some courage and don’t miss your chance again."

Wang Ming took a deep breath and gave a slight nod. Then, bag in hand, he hailed a cab and left.

"Where is he off to?" Lin Yanwan asked.

"What does it look like he’s planning to do?" Jiang Xia couldn’t help but laugh.

Lin Yanwan blinked. "To find Yingying?"

"Mhm. Let’s hope his confession goes well today." Jiang Xia smiled and took his little sister-in-law’s hand. "Let’s go, Xiao Man! Your brother-in-law is going to show you some beautiful fireworks~"

"Yay! Yay!"

Watching the happy pair, Lin Yanwan glanced back in the direction of her home, then at the festive surroundings. A smile bloomed on her face without her realizing it.

’Reborn into a new life, with a wonderful family, a happy relationship, success in my studies, and a thriving career.’

’It’s truly wonderful.’

"Hey, wait for me, you two!"

She quickened her pace to catch up to her happiness.

◇

In the taxi, Wang Ming was chatting with Shen Ying on his phone.

"Shen Ying, have you had dinner?"

"I have! How about you all? I bet it was super lively over at Aunt Ji’s today! *twirls*"

"I’ve eaten too."

Wang Ming mulled over how to ask Shen Ying out. He typed out and deleted several messages before finally deciding to be direct: "Want to hang out?"

"Now?"

"Yeah... I hear it’s going to be really lively over at the new plaza."

"Are you with Jiang Xia and Yanwan?"

"No, we split up. That guy went to set off fireworks with his little sister-in-law. I didn’t feel like being a third wheel."

"So you’re the one who got left behind, huh?" Shen Ying couldn’t help but smile as she typed. "And then you thought of asking me out?"

"I’ve always wanted to," Wang Ming typed, his heart pounding.

Reading his reply, Shen Ying’s heart suddenly gave a heavy thump.

"Oh... well, give me a minute. I’ll be right out. The new plaza, right?"

"Right."

His direct approach had worked. Wang Ming couldn’t help but snap his fingers in celebration.

After getting out of the cab at the new plaza, he saw that a large crowd had already gathered. Many adults were there with their children, setting off fireworks. The air was filled with the faint smell of sulfur.

He saw a roadside shop selling roses and thought to himself, ’If this were Jiang Xia, what would he do right now?’

So, he bought a single rose and carefully tucked it into the back of his waistband. That way, Shen Ying wouldn’t see it, and he could suddenly pull it out later for a surprise.

Then he bought several of those ground-fountain fireworks that spray sparks everywhere. He figured if he arranged them in a pattern, it would look amazing with Shen Ying standing in the middle.

About ten minutes later, the two of them met up at the new plaza.

"You look really beautiful today." Old Wang was momentarily stunned by Shen Ying’s outfit.

She was wearing an off-white knit sweater with a beige A-line skirt, black thigh-high socks, and boots. Her shoulder-length hair was slightly curled, which made her face seem even more petite and delicate.

"Oh? You don’t look so bad yourself."

Shen Ying smiled. His slim-fit ensemble—a light-colored, thin sweater, a long black trench coat, and blue jeans—suited him perfectly.

"So, what did you ask me out here for?"

Wang Ming lifted the bag in his hand and gave it a little shake. Just then, a firework exploded in the sky, illuminating half the heavens.

"I was bored by myself and wanted to find someone to set off fireworks with. Would the esteemed Miss Shen Ying happen to be free?"