February 2, 2011.
Tonight was New Year's Eve, the biggest family reunion festival in China.
8:00 a.m.
Sunlight was already streaming onto the balcony. Although it was still a bit chilly, a Spring Festival without rain was bound to be a joyful one.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Blake Su, who had gotten up early, knocked hard on Mia Quinn's door. There was no way he was letting her sleep in today.
"Quinnie, get up now!!!"
"I know already!!!"
Mia Quinn shouted back from inside her room, but she still got up obediently. While she was in the bathroom, Blake Su moved the gifts and New Year's supplies he had bought yesterday into the storage room.
Then he placed a compartmentalized tray on the coffee table in the living room, filling it with snacks like sunflower seeds, nuts, and candy.
"Blake~ Come have breakfast. I made your and Mia's favorite dumplings and wontons. Eat them while they're hot, they won't taste as good once they cool down."
"Alright~"
"Wait, Blake~ Wait for me!!!"
Before she even came out, Mia Quinn's voice rang from the bathroom.
"Hehe~"
Charlotte Quinn shook her head with a smile and said to Dolores Su, who was setting out side dishes, "How did I end up raising such a gluttonous daughter?"
"That's not true~"
Mia Quinn quickly brushed her teeth, washed her face, and came out. Even without makeup, her skin was fair and flawless, her cheeks soft and delicate.
"It's not that I'm a glutton. It's just that Aunt Charlotte's dumplings and wontons, with her special sauce, are especially delicious. They're even better than the ones at dumpling restaurants."
Mia Quinn gave a thumbs-up as she ate.
"They're just ordinary dumplings and wontons. They're not as amazing as you're making them sound~"
Dolores Su laughed happily.
"Hmph~"
Charlotte Quinn, however, was not pleased and scolded, "So you're saying your mother's cooking isn't good? Fine then, from now on, just have Aunt Charlotte cook for you."
"No, no, no~"
Mia Quinn hurriedly apologized with a smile. "Mom's cooking is delicious too. It's just that since we're eating Aunt Charlotte's today, of course I should compliment her.
That's basic manners~"
"That's more like it!"
Hearing that, Charlotte Quinn brightened up again. Of course, she had not really been angry.
Mia Quinn covered her mouth with one hand and silently mouthed to Blake Su across the table, her eyes teasing, "It's clearly not as good as Aunt Charlotte's, and she won't even let me say it~"
"Hehe~"
Blake Su nodded in agreement without saying anything. Just watching them bicker was already enough to make him happy.
About half an hour later.
After finishing breakfast and changing into new clothes, Blake Su and Mia Quinn were ready to go.
"Wow! Blake! That outfit looks really handsome today~"
"Quinnie, you look very elegant too."
"Hehe~"
The two exchanged playful compliments.
Charlotte Quinn, standing nearby, laughed and said, "You're about to put up door couplets and do a bunch of chores. Aren't you worried about getting your new clothes dirty?"
Hearing this, Blake Su and Mia Quinn looked at each other and nodded.
That made sense.
So they went and changed out of them.
"Mom, we're heading out! We'll go to my place first to put up the door couplets. Blake, let's go!"
Mia Quinn called out as they set off. But after reaching downstairs and stepping outside, she suddenly realized she had forgotten her keys.
"Quinnie! I'll go grab them, and I'll get you some tangerines while I'm at it. Just wait here and don't move!"
"Okay~"
Mia Quinn agreed without thinking.
Only after Blake Su walked off with a smile did she feel something was off. After thinking it through, she suddenly realized.
"You sneaky Blake, how dare you trick me~"
Mia Quinn stomped her foot in annoyance.
A short while later.
Blake Su returned. From a distance, the lively and cheerful Mia Quinn was nowhere to be seen. Standing there alone, she exuded a cold, aloof aura.
It felt as though an invisible wall of ice stood before her, making her seem distant and untouchable.
Until Blake Su walked up to her.
The cold aura vanished instantly. She glared at him fiercely and threw a punch.
"You brat! How dare you mess with me!"
"Haha~"
Even though it was just a light, playful hit, Blake Su dodged while laughing. "Not bad, Quinnie. You've got some cultural knowledge after all."
"Hmph~ It's just common sense, okay?"
Mia Quinn pouted, looking completely justified.
"Hehe~"
Blake Su smiled and wrapped the scarf he brought around her neck. Mia Quinn reached out her hand.
"Where are the tangerines?"
"Ah, you really want them?"
"Why wouldn't I? You already teased me, so I might as well get something out of it."
"But I didn't actually buy any. How about this, Quinnie, I'll go buy you some now. Just stay right here and don't move!"
"Blake, you're asking for a beating!!!"
"Hahaha~"
The entire Xingdu Yuecheng was decorated with red lanterns and festive red banners, glowing with New Year cheer. The Yingbin City across the street looked just the same.
Amid the festive atmosphere, Blake Su and Mia Quinn laughed and bickered as they finished putting up the door couplets at her home.
On their way back, they stopped by the supermarket entrance and bought a large pile of firecrackers. Regulations were not very strict at the time, so setting off firecrackers during the New Year was still allowed.
Of course, they still had to be careful about fire safety.
Back home, they also put up door couplets and pasted "Fu" decorations on the doors of every room.
Since it was the Year of the Rabbit, Mia Quinn went to the storage room and brought out the fluffy rabbit-shaped cushions she had bought the day before, placing them on the living room sofa. She also took out four pairs of rabbit-themed cotton slippers for everyone to wear.
Of course, Blake Su needed an extra-large size, so she had gone to several stores to find a suitable pair.
Meanwhile, under Dolores Su's direction, Blake Su brought out a ladder and cleaned the dust from the corners of the ceiling that had not been properly swept.
After that, they tidied up the house together, with Mia Quinn helping out as well.
It was the New Year, after all.
The house had to be spotless to welcome it properly.
As for Dolores Su and Charlotte Quinn, they were busy in the kitchen preparing dishes. Originally, they had planned to keep things simple.
But for this New Year's Eve, no matter what, the meal had to be a feast.
...
Blake Su and Mia Quinn worked nonstop all morning, sweating from all the activity. They were glad they had not worn their new clothes, otherwise they would definitely have gotten dirty.
Afternoon.
Blake Su drove his mother's car, bringing joss paper along with food and drinks, and went with Mia Quinn to the cemetery to visit his late father's grave.
It had already been many years.
They were no longer overwhelmed with grief, but they still hoped their fathers were living happily in another world.
"Let's go, Quinnie."
"Mm."
After burning the joss paper and bowing, they left.
By the time they returned home, it was already 3:30 p.m., just in time for the New Year's Eve dinner.
...
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