Yun Jinnian chuckled dryly, folded the bellyband neatly, and placed it in the cabinet before turning to Mrs. Yuan and asking, "Have you all eaten?"
"What would you like to instruct, Miss?"
"Grandmother sent Ming Liu to invite me for a late-night snack at Cixin Academy. Afterwards, we’ll watch the fireworks. Nanny, will you come?"
Mrs. Yuan waved her hand dismissively, "I won’t go. Let the girls go. I’ll stay and watch over Niannian Garden!"
Ming Yang, Ru Yue, and the others came over giggling, excited to learn that they were going to Cixin Academy for a late-night snack and then to watch fireworks, each of them looking forward to it eagerly.
Yun Jinnian gave a small smile, left Mrs. Yuan to watch the house, and led the girls to Cixin Academy.
Mrs. Yuan watched Yun Jinnian leave with a faint sigh. Although she did not know what Yun Jinnian was hiding, Mrs. Yuan felt it was certainly not anything good, but she also did not dare to tell Mrs. Han.
In her heart, Mrs. Yuan still favored Yun Jinnian.
When Yun Jinnian arrived at Cixin Academy, all the Yun Family members were there, including Yun Qi.
But he seemed to have been drinking, his eyes hazy as he drunkenly watched Mrs. Han sitting to one side, smiling foolishly.
Mrs. Han’s face was quite displeased.
Yun Jinnian greeted everyone in turn, then approached Yun Qi, "Father, have you been drinking?"
Yun Qi looked at Yun Jinnian, "Ah, it’s Jinnian girl!"
He patted his thigh, gesturing for Yun Jinnian to sit.
Yun Jinnian’s complexion shifted slightly.
She was about to turn twelve, no longer a two-year-old toddler; she couldn’t just sit on her father’s lap anymore.
"Yun Qi!" Mrs. Han shouted angrily.
Yun Qi immediately reined in his laughter, "Mrs. Shu, don’t be angry, I won’t make trouble!"
His aggrieved and endearing look pained the eyes of the old lady and sent shivers down the spines of Aunt Su and Aunt Hua, who had been kneeling for hours.
Mrs. He was both envious and jealous.
Aunt Cui remained silent, her eyes downcast.
Yun Chen sighed and turned his head away.
The younger generation was in disbelief.
The usually stern and unsmiling Second Master was behaving in front of his wife, Mrs. Han!
Mrs. Han had initially wanted to scold him, but seeing the presence of many people, especially Yun Jinnian, she took a deep breath and said softly, "Does it hurt?"
Receiving Mrs. Han’s care, Yun Qi immediately brightened up, "With Mrs. Shu by my side, it doesn’t hurt at all!"
The old lady truly couldn’t bear to watch anymore, "Where is the late-night snack? Why hasn’t it been served yet?"
At her command, Nanny Tian immediately replied, "Old Madam, the late-night snack will be served shortly!"
The late-night snack was a simple bowl of porridge with over a dozen ingredients, of which half was eaten and half left behind to symbolize an abundance that could not be consumed entirely.
Yun Qi did not eat; he just watched Mrs. Han, hoping she would feed him.
Mrs. Han was inwardly irritated, moved closer to Yun Qi, and whispered, "Eat on your own, you can come to my room later tonight!"
Yun Qi’s eyes immediately lit up, "Really?"
With the answer he had hoped for, Yun Qi quickly sat up straight and began eating from his bowl in small bites while looking at Mrs. Han’s bowl, "Are you going to eat that red bean? If not, could I have it?"
Mrs. Han did not like red beans.
But she did not want to give them to Yun Qi either. However, seeing Yun Jinnian holding her bowl and looking at her indifferently, Mrs. Han hurriedly said, "I won’t eat it!" and picked out the red beans to place them into Yun Qi’s bowl.
Yun Qi immediately ate with relish.
Yun Jinnian, watching this, felt even more perplexed.
It seemed like her father wanted to make up with her mother, but her mother remained unmoved. What was really going on?
After the late-night snack, they went to the garden to set off fireworks.
The group was exceptionally lively, with Mrs. Han holding Yun Jinnian’s hand and Yun Qi walking behind them like a guardian deity.
Yun Jinnian glanced back at Yun Qi and gave him a gentle, tender smile.
Her eyes shone brightly, striking straight to Yun Qi’s heart...