My girlfriend is from the future!

The brothers' gathering was a great success, and everyone had a great time. However, as the end of the year approached, He Tianran felt increasingly lost and disoriented.

During this period, he put down all his work and contacted each other less. Even Yu Naoqiu visited him less often, probably because she wanted to spend time with her family. She only said that she would go to Nanshan Jiadi to wish her uncle and aunt a Happy New Year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and that her father's birthday was on the eighth day, so He Tianran should not forget to prepare.

Perhaps already aware of He Tianran's complicated family situation, this scheming woman asked one last question before leaving: would Bai Wenyu be with He Tianran during the Spring Festival, and who would the man spend New Year's Eve with, whether he would spend it outside or in Nanshan Jiadi?

This question really stumped He Tianran, because in the "writer's" memory, he rarely went home for the Spring Festival. So, faced with this question, he could only reply with a simple, literal, but emotionally complex, answer:
"Let's see how they arrange it."

With his owl by his side, He Tianran also gave him a holiday and a big red envelope. Although the other man lived next door, his wife and daughters had to go back to their hometown for the New Year. This man's life had finally started to improve and he had found a way to make a living, so he naturally had to go back to report to his elders.

So suddenly, He Tianran became a person again.

This should have been the state he was most familiar with, but after getting used to his current life, he always felt that something was missing.

This situation was finally broken two days before New Year's Eve by several messages, the first of which came from Wen Liang, who was filming in Hengdian.

The Moon Never Closes: "What are your plans for the Lunar New Year? Can you manage?"

Noah: "What can be handled and what can't?"

The Moon Never Closes: "Aren't you afraid of making a fool of yourself at that little potato's house during the New Year? Aunt Bai and President He aren't as accommodating as I am! (Disdain) (Disdain)"

Wen Liang is currently filming and is not yet aware of the extent to which He Tianran's condition has improved, even though the man had mentioned it a few times in their previous messages.

"I have schizophrenia, not cerebral palsy..."

He Tianran muttered to himself as he typed, but thinking back on the "young man's" actions the last time he showed up, he realized how incredibly stupid they had been, and felt utterly ashamed. So, he deleted what he had typed and replaced it with a rhetorical question:
"So what do you think I should do?"

The Moon Never Closes: "Given your situation, it's best not to go home for the New Year. Just find an excuse to stay at home or outside~ I've already come up with an excuse for you!"

Noah: "What reason?"

The Moon Never Closes: "Just tell them you're coming to Hengdian to visit the set~"

Noah: "Which boss would visit the film set during the Lunar New Year and then have to give a red envelope and spend money? I'd rather stay home and play video games."

The Moon Never Closes: "Look at you, acting all mischievous (covers mouth and laughs) (covers mouth and laughs), it's broad daylight, and you're all alone at home? Didn't you go back to Nanshan Jiadi?"

Noah: "If I'm not home, where am I? What would I go back to? Why would I make myself uncomfortable?"

The Moon Never Closes: "That's true. To be honest, your dad will definitely be spending the New Year with your stepmother, and you probably don't want to go. As for Aunt Bai, after your fight with Cao Aiqing at home the other day, her opinion of you probably isn't good either. So you're not really going to spend the New Year all alone, are you?"

The three of them had discussed what happened at the family dinner in private, so Wen Liang knew about it. Now that He Tianran and Cao Aiqing were not in a position to make any big moves during the New Year, especially since the latter had to deal with his family, Wen Liang naturally assumed that He Tianran would be alone, which happened to be true.

Noah: "What, you messaged me just to mock me?"

The Moon Never Closes: "What do you mean by mocking me? I was just worried you'd be lonely, so I came to keep you company and check if you're alone."

Noah: "Hehe, I really appreciate the big star's kindness (eye roll) (eye roll)"

The Moon Never Closes: "Hmph, I'm not talking to you anymore, I have to go to filming! Talk to you later~"

After reading the message, He Tianran put down his phone without replying. He had planned to continue his battle in the game world, but his phone vibrated again the next second.

Mia: "(ω)~ What are you doing!"

He Tianran was taken aback, not expecting it to be an emoticon notification from Cao Aiqing.

Noah: "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

Mia: "Yu Hui shared some interesting stories with me about your gathering a few days ago."

Noah: "Why would this kid contact you out of the blue, and you replied?"

Mia: "No, I know it's not convenient to contact the people around you right now, but he occasionally talks to me about you privately. This time, it seems like Sister Peach encouraged him to send a message to test the waters. It feels like... your two colleagues really want us... to get back together?"

Noah: "Sigh~"

He Tianran looked at the message the girl sent and was speechless. Even though his relationship with Cao Aiqing had never been widely known and most people around him didn't know what the current state of this young boss He's love life was, for the group of colleagues in the company who saw each other every day, Yu Naoqiu would come over every few days, and anyone could guess some clues.

Mia: "Those two...are they together?"

Cao Aiqing pressed on with a touch of gossip.

Noah: "It's still very early, but it feels like it'll happen soon. I recently gave my car to Yu Hui, and he's going to take Sister Taozi back to Northeast China to meet her parents. I guess they're still on their way."

Mia: "That's indeed quite far, but we're about to meet each other's parents, how come it's still not even close to happening?"

He Tianran smiled knowingly as he recalled what Yu Hui had mentioned to everyone at the dinner party.

Noah: "It's actually quite funny when you try to explain it..."

As he typed, the man caught a glimpse of the word "parents" between the lines, and his heart sank. He asked:

"...Have your aunt and uncle found out about us...?"

This time, the other party's reply came a little hesitantly, probably after some revisions and careful wording. It took about half a minute for the message to arrive:

"After they came back from Nanzhi Island, they went on a trip to another place and only came home a while ago. Last time, I brought our ski suits home, and when my mom came back, she found two extra clothes. So I told them about our skiing trip. But it's almost Chinese New Year, and I was afraid they would be upset, so I didn't dare to say much to them for the time being..."

He Tianran looked at the carefully sent text, pursed his lips, sighed, and echoed:
"That's right, it's the Lunar New Year, so we shouldn't go out of our way to offend our elders..."

Mia: "...They asked if you would come to visit during the Chinese New Year. They prepared red envelopes for you, but they didn't know your specific work schedule. I told them that you were on set during the Chinese New Year and couldn't even go home, so my mom asked me to send you a message to comfort you."

Surprisingly, Cao Aiqing and Wen Liang were on the same page when it came to finding excuses for He Tianran.

Noah: "Please give my New Year's greetings to my uncle and aunt."

Mia: "(ó﹏ò)"

Noah: "What's wrong?"

Mia: "...Has Yu Naoqiu been bothering you lately?"

He Tianran was taken aback, and replied:
"No... I guess it's the Lunar New Year, even the villains need a break...?"

The man waited a moment, and seeing no response from the other end, he assumed the chat was over. Just as he made a move, his phone vibrated again. He picked it up and his breath caught in his throat. Cao Aiqing had sent a message:
"Then I'll come find you."

Noah: "Not spending time with your family?"

Mia: "I just finished shopping for New Year's goods with my dad for the day after tomorrow. I don't have anything to do for now. Are you going back to Nanshan Jiadi for the New Year? Or are you going to stay with Aunt Bai?"

Okay, it seems everyone knows that deciding where He Tianran should go for the holidays is a big problem.

Noah: "See, let's talk about this when you get here."

Mia: "Okay, I'm heading out now."

Noah: "Okay."

After sending the message, He Tianran immediately stood up from his seat, looked at the takeout trash beside him, the messy bedroom, the dirty clothes casually draped over the back of the chair, and the delivery box he had kicked into the corner and hadn't had time to tidy up yet...

It contained all sorts of strange and unusual game merchandise that the "young man" had bought on a whim.

He Tianran glanced at the time, silently rolled up his sleeves, first stuffed all the takeout boxes into a garbage bag and tied a tight knot, then threw all the dirty clothes into the washing machine, regardless of whether they were washed or not, he just wanted to hide them first.

Then, he picked up the vacuum cleaner and, like he was clearing mines on a battlefield, began spraying the floor with it. While he was working, he didn't forget to fix his hair in front of the mirror.

Although they were at home, and wearing only loose loungewear, everyone in front of Cao Aiqing—whether they were "writers," "young people," or even the "lead singer" who had never appeared before them—instinctively wanted to present their best selves.

Half an hour later, the house was finally transformed.

He Tianran looked around with satisfaction, and even changed the water for the bunch of lilies in the vase, which was about to wither, in a rather pleasant mood.

at this time.

"Ding-dong-"

The doorbell rang.

He Tianran's heart skipped a beat. He took a deep breath, adjusted his expression, and even straightened the collar of his pajamas a little before quickly walking towards the entrance.

"I'm coming……"

As he spoke, he opened the door with a broad smile.

However, the person standing outside the door made his smile freeze instantly, like a piece of frozen pork belly.

That was not Cao Aiqing.

Instead, she was dressed in all black, wearing black sunglasses, and even had her hoodie pulled up over her head... Wen Liang.

"Surprise—!"

Wen Liang took off her sunglasses, revealing a face that was still bright and beautiful even without makeup. She was carrying two huge supermarket shopping bags, which were filled with various hot pot ingredients and snacks.

"Oh, you're really happy to see me, aren't you? Your grin is practically reaching your ears!"

Clearly, the female celebrity was pleased with the expression on the homebody's face when he saw her, while He Tianran stood frozen in place, his brain going blank for a full three seconds.

"No...no...aren't you...aren't you filming in Hengdian?"

Wen Liang shoved the bag she was carrying into He Tianran's arms and squeezed into the house without any hesitation, complaining as she changed her shoes:
"Come on, it's the Lunar New Year, it's not that hard to take two days off to go home! I'm the leading lady now, I have some privileges. I can just flirt with the director a bit, it's not like I'm filming multiple projects at once, so how could he not agree? Besides, I was just teasing you. Who would really leave you alone at home during the Lunar New Year? I was just worried that you, this mental patient, would get moldy at home, so I specially flew back to bring you warmth."

She walked into the living room, took off her coat, revealing a tight black knit top underneath that accentuated her perfect curves.

"Wow, not bad at all. Your house is quite clean. I thought I'd see a mess of trash when I came in." Wen Liang looked around and clicked her tongue in amazement. "Looks like your 'writer' persona does have some use. At least your living habits are good."

He Tianran stood in the entryway, holding two large bags of groceries, looking like he was about to cry.

no……

It's Chinese New Year...

This prelude, this unfolding...

Something's not right...

"No...that...Wenliang..."

He stammered as he tried to explain, but didn't know where to begin.

"What's wrong? Don't you want me to come?"

Wen Liang turned her head, her eyes carrying a warning that seemed even more natural than that of He Tianran, the homeowner.

"No, no, no! Absolutely not!" He Tianran shook his head vigorously. "How could I have the guts..."

"That settles it then!" Wen Liang rolled her eyes at him and opened the refrigerator on her own. "I need some water, do you have any? Hey, did you buy these flowers? They're quite romantic..."

at this time.

"Ding-dong-"

The doorbell rang again.

To He Tianran, that sound was like the knocking of death.

Wen Liang paused, her hand holding the bottled water, then turned to look at He Tianran with a half-smile:
"Oh? You're quite busy, Director He? Didn't you say you were working alone?"

A layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out of He Tianran's forehead.

He glanced at the door, then at Wen Liang, and finally could only steel himself and say:

"That...maybe...a delivery person..."

"A delivery person? Hmm, that would be best, but if you can't come up with a reason, you'd better not hire one."

Wen Liang clearly didn't believe her. She put down her water bottle, crossed her arms, and looked on with amusement: "Go open the door! What are you standing there for? It's not good to keep the delivery guy waiting."

He Tianran swallowed hard, feeling as if he were walking to his execution.

He moved to the doorway and peeked out through the peephole.

really.

Standing outside the door was Cao Aiqing, wearing a beige down jacket, a red scarf, and carrying some New Year's goods.

It’s over.

Barbie is Q.

He Tianran let out a wail in his heart, but the doorbell kept ringing persistently.

He reached out his hand shakily and grasped the doorknob.

"Click."

The door opened.

But it wasn't him who opened the door. Cao Aiqing herself had He Tianran's fingerprints, and ringing the doorbell was just a symbolic gesture.

Cao Aiqing's pure and lovely face appeared before him, her expression gentle. Seeing that her movement as she opened the door had collided with He Tianran's, she smiled faintly, about to speak:
"Natural, I..."

However, the next second, her gaze passed over He Tianran's shoulder and landed on Wen Liang, who was holding a bottle of mineral water and looking at them with a playful expression in the living room.

The air seemed to freeze at this moment.

Cao Aiqing's smile froze, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes...

Inside, Wen Liang raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile curving her lips. She raised her bottle of mineral water and offered a distant toast to Cao Aiqing at the door. Then, adopting a dramatic air, she mimicked Lin Daiyu's tone, saying plaintively:

"What a coincidence, Ai Qing, you're here to bring warmth to the 'mentally ill' too? If I'd known you were coming, I wouldn't have come~"

Standing between the two, He Tianran felt like the filling in a sandwich, and one that was about to burst.

He looked at Cao Aiqing, then back at Wen Liang, and finally could only manage a smile that was more like a grimace:
"Um... if you don't mind... how about we all... have hot pot together?" (End of Chapter)