CHAPTER 205: CHAPTER 205 VISITOR (3)_1

All night long, the family was full of laughter and chatter. Third Young Master Ye mingled with Shangguan Yu and Shangguan Hao as if they were old friends, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Shangguan Qing enticed Shangguan You to join him in the courtyard and set off fireworks together.

The dazzling fireworks cast brilliant lights across the sky, bursting forth with resplendent beams. As Shangguan You covered her ears and watched Shangguan Qing light the fireworks in the courtyard, his warm smile and his graceful figure beneath the bright beams brought an even broader smile to her face.

This was her first New Year after being reborn, and she felt incredibly fortunate, surrounded by love. She had a loving family, a doting father, uncle, aunt, grandfather, and Shangguan Qing, her cherished ’Big Brother Qing’.

"Are you happy?" Suddenly, the charming voice of Third Young Master Ye sounded beside her ear, and before she knew it, his dark figure had appeared by her side, with Ye An trailing a few steps behind them. Third Young Master Ye watched the slight smile on her lips and her eyes, shining as they followed Shangguan Qing.

A fleeting sense of sourness arose in his heart. She had never looked at him with such tenderness before; whenever she looked at him, it was with guardedness and indifference.

"Yes," Shangguan You nodded and glanced at Third Young Master Ye before running over to Shangguan Qing’s side. She took the fireworks from his hands, lit them, and watched them shoot straight up into the sky, exploding into a blossom of lights.

"Big Brother Qing, let’s set them off together."

"Sure, but be careful. Don’t burn yourself, or I’ll be the one you’ll come crying to if you burn your hair. Then you’d go from a silly girl to a burned girl, HAHAHA," said Shangguan Qing, looking at Shangguan You’s radiant smile with fondness and letting her gleefully set off fireworks all around the courtyard.

"HAHAHA, Big Brother Qing, how could I possibly burn my hair? What you’re saying is just a joke. Humph," Shangguan You teased, arching her eyebrows and laughing loudly, her clear laughter echoing through the courtyard.

From the second-floor balcony, Shangguan Zhi and his two sons watched the cheerful scene below, the corners of their mouths lightly turned up. The Shangguan Family hadn’t experienced such lively festivities in a long time. Since the arrival of Li Wanying and her daughter, a cloud of gloom had hung over the family, and some matters couldn’t even be dealt with openly at home.

Now that the mother and daughter had left, the air seemed clearer. They had long anticipated this day, and now it had finally arrived. It was also time to go out and about the next day.

"Dad, seeing lass You so happy makes me happy too. Even if I suffer greatly or get exhausted in the military, it all feels worth it," said Shangguan Hao, his gaze following the figures below, a light smile on his lips. The austere air about him was gone, and he looked unusually relaxed—every inch the doting father.

"Yes, as long as lass You is doing well, our family will follow suit," Shangguan Yu agreed, his eyes on his son and Shangguan You below, then sweeping over to his busy wife, Liu Ruoling, his eyes brimming with laughter and contentment.

"Yes, let’s not talk about other things during the New Year. Let’s just have a happy celebration. We have five days, so spend them well with her. After five days, both she and Qing will go to the military for two weeks. We can discuss further matters afterward," Shangguan Zhi nodded, comforted as he observed the figures below.

The thought of spending the New Year holidays with lass You, while the Lin Family’s old man could only glare and fume, made all the anger Shangguan Zhi had felt from being ’bitten by a dog’ earlier that day inexplicably dissipate.

「While this household was filled with joy and harmony, two others were steeped in gloom and worry.」

In Xiangyang Villa, at Shen Mansion, Duan Mei and Wanqian were busy all night preparing a table full of delicious dishes. Shen Jia’s family of three, plus Shen Cheng and Wanqian—five people in total—joyfully shared their New Year’s Eve dinner.

After dinner, Shen Jia was excited to take Shen Cheng outside to set off fireworks. As night fell, Shen Cheng and Wanqian, driven by their biological clocks, yawned incessantly and finally could not stay up any longer. They went upstairs to rest together while Shen Jia, puffing her cheeks at the two departing figures, sulkily ran back to her room.

Duan Mei and Shen Congming shook their heads. This daughter of theirs was truly problematic. They were currently living at the mercy of others; how could she act so willfully? Besides, everyone knew about Shen Cheng and Wanqian’s relationship; she was only making things difficult for herself.

Upset, Shen Jia paced her room. It was New Year’s! Why did Brother Shen Cheng have to go to bed so early? Couldn’t he keep her company a little? Seeing Wanqian clinging to Shen Cheng’s arm as they went upstairs, her heart bubbled with rage. Ever since they were little, Brother Shen Cheng had always doted on her, holding her in the palm of his hand. But now that he had someone he liked, he completely ignored her! She was naturally heartbroken.

Since that night, the Qi family’s grandparents had also departed, and neither Shen Cheng nor Wanqian had seen Wanyou since. Except for the nightmares that persisted until dawn, their complexions appeared much better compared to the previous days when they were so frightened they could hardly sleep.

Shen Cheng, wrapping his arms around Wanqian, had barely touched the bed before they both fell into a deep sleep, their breathing steady and serene. In his sleep, Shen Cheng’s handsome face unconsciously furrowed.

In his dream, on a yacht, Shen Cheng and Wanqian, both bare, intertwined on the deck, emitting sounds that made one’s heart race. Shen Cheng felt himself floating in ecstasy, lost in a rapturous, all-consuming pleasure. This version of Wanqian deeply moved him, setting his whole being ablaze.

「The scene shifted.」

It was the same yacht, the same location, and two figures were tangled together again. It was Wanqian once more, but this time with another man. Shen Cheng only saw the man’s back, his bronze skin glistening. Shen Cheng tried to approach, attempting to discern the man’s face, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make it out.

The feeling of ecstasy in Shen Cheng’s heart disappeared, replaced by surging anger. His eyes widened as he watched Wanqian joyously submit to this man, hearing her continuous moans. He could vividly sense how thrilled Wanqian was.

He had seen this side of Wanqian before, but now she was beneath another man. Shen Cheng’s hands clenched tightly, and veins throbbed visibly on his forehead.