Taking Liu Yifei back to Northeast China for the Chinese New Year has sent the entire internet into

In the courtyard, the sweet aroma of caramel grew stronger and stronger.

Liu Yifei used to think that candied hawthorn was simply hawthorn berries rolled in a sugar pot, and that it didn't require much skill.

But Fang Yu squatted in front of the small stove, his eyes focused, revealing a craftsman's spirit.

He squinted, watching the color changes of the syrup in the pot.

Every now and then, use the tip of your chopsticks to pick up a strand and observe the length of the strand and the speed at which it breaks.

He was still muttering to himself:

"It's still one step away; it's not ready yet."

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.

"alright!"

Fang Yu suddenly picked up the iron pot and instantly removed it from the fire.

He tilted the pot slightly, letting the almost amber-colored viscous syrup gather to one side, picked up a string of prepared hawthorns, and flicked his wrist!

The bright red hawthorn skewers rolled around in the syrup.

When they were taken out again, each hawthorn was evenly coated with a layer of crystal-clear sugar coating, as thin as a cicada's wing, without any lumps or exposed bottom.

The entire process was smooth and quick, taking no more than two seconds.

He placed the wrapped hawthorn skewers onto the oiled wooden board next to him.

"Gah!"

With a crisp sound, the scalding hot sugar coating hit the cold board and instantly solidified.

Liu Yifei stood under the eaves, watching, her little mouth unconsciously opening into a small smile.

Fang Yu's hands didn't stop, one string after another.

Soon, seven or eight strings of freshly made candied hawthorns were neatly arranged on the wooden board.

The slanting sunlight of a winter afternoon shines on it, making the sugar coating dazzlingly bright, as if each red hawthorn has been covered with a glass shell.

Fang Yu picked up the first string of pearls, strode over to Liu Yifei, and handed it to her.

"Come."

He raised his chin, his face practically screaming "Praise me!"

Liu Yifei took it; the sugar coating had solidified and felt slightly cool to the touch.

She was so hungry her mouth was practically watering.

But the nation's goddess's final restraint prevented her from taking a bite immediately. Instead, she pretended to hold it up to her eyes and examined it for two seconds.

"The presentation... is alright."

She gave an extremely restrained assessment.

Fang Yu raised an eyebrow, but didn't expose her, just watched with a smile.

After Liu Yifei finished "examining" him, she finally opened her red lips and bit down.

"Click."

The thin, translucent sugar coating shattered with a snap, and then the soft, chewy flesh of the hawthorn emerged.

The intense sweet and sour flavors collided violently in my mouth, and a wonderful tingling sensation instantly swept over my tongue.

Liu Yifei's eyes widened suddenly.

She paused for half a second, then eagerly took a second bite.

This bite was much faster than before, and his cheeks immediately puffed out in a completely unrefined arc.

The sugar coating is crisper, the hawthorn is softer, and the sweet and sour ratio is perfect.

"How is it?"

Fang Yu stood with his hands in his pockets, his tone calm and nonchalant.

"...It's alright."

Liu Yifei gave a perfunctory reply, but her hands were already quickly reaching for the third one.

"Click—click—"

Under the eaves, only the continuous, crisp chewing sounds remained.

Fang Yu's smile stretched almost to his ears.

The chat room was filled with laughter.

[You say it's okay, but your hands are stuffing it in like a little hamster. Who are you trying to fool, Fairy?!]

[That speed, that accuracy... Did Fang Yu secretly work part-time selling candied hawthorns at some tourist attraction? He's so professional!]

[My mouth is watering! I can smell the aroma even through the screen! Why isn't there a candied hawthorn vendor downstairs?!]

Inside the house, Fang Zheng peeked out halfway out, drawn by the smell.

He stared wide-eyed at the string of glistening candied hawthorns in Liu Yifei's hand.

"Brother! I want one too!"

Fang Yu didn't even turn his head.

"You were quite capable when you were exposing my past, and now you want some candied hawthorns? Dream on! Go reflect on your actions!"

Fang Zheng opened his mouth, then pulled his head back in, looking utterly frustrated.

Under the eaves, Liu Yifei finished the whole string of skewers in just a few bites.

She licked the remaining sugar stains from her lips with lingering satisfaction and handed the bare bamboo skewer back to Fang Yu.

Then, she looked at him with her bright, sparkling eyes.

He didn't say a word.

But those eyes clearly said:

One more skewer, please.

Fang Yu was amused by her self-righteous little face.

"Alright, don't rush to eat, the best is yet to come."

Liu Yifei blinked.

"What do you mean?"

Fang Yu turned and walked towards the kitchen, a dangerous smile curving his lips.

"It was supposed to be a deluxe afternoon tea, and we've only just finished the appetizers."

……

at the same time.

Wuhan, thousands of kilometers away.

The New Year's Eve dinner at Uncle Hua Yu's house finally ended around 1 p.m.

It was more like a dignified retreat than a formal end to the event.

The relatives discussed every sophisticated topic they could at the dinner table.

From vintage differences in Bordeaux wineries to family trust structures at a Swiss private bank, and investment trends in contemporary Asian art.

Each topic is precisely positioned above the cognitive ceiling of ordinary people.

As the meal drew to a close, the eldest uncle picked up his wine glass and demurely glanced around.

"Alright, everyone go back and rest."

"I have an appointment to play golf with some old friends, so please excuse me."

With just that one sentence, the year is over.

There was no reluctance to part, no attempts to persuade someone to "sit a little longer," and no small talk about "when will we get together again next time."

The relatives stood up, straightened their collars, picked up their coats and scarves, and shook hands politely but distantly at the door to say goodbye.

Hua Yu and Ju Jingyi also got into the car to go back to their villa.

The drive was only ten minutes, and the two remained silent the entire way.

Ju Jingyi leaned against the car window, looking at the gray river surface flashing by outside, feeling a tightness in her chest.

I sat at my uncle's house for more than two hours, and she didn't say more than ten sentences in total.

Eight of the sentences are "Hmm", "Yes", "Yes", and "I will".

The other two sentences are to thank the aunt and praise the red wine.

Back at the villa, Hua Yu changed her clothes and sat down in the living room.

He glanced at the time; it was just past two in the afternoon.

The huge villa was completely empty.

There were no greetings from relatives, no children's noise, and even the deliberately elegant conversations at the dinner table had disappeared.

Hua Yu didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

This is how he has always spent the Spring Festival since he was a child.

Relatives gather together, chat for a few hours about respectable topics, eat a fine meal, and then go their separate ways.

Like a routine business dinner, it naturally ends when the time comes.

As for the scene of everyone crowding together, making noise, and refusing to leave.

Hua Yu had never seen it before, nor did she feel there was anything to envy.

He instructed the butler to prepare afternoon tea.

Since the live stream is still going on, we have to show the audience something.

Soon, a snow-white linen tablecloth was laid on the coffee table in the living room, and a gleaming three-tiered silver pastry stand was placed on it.

The bottom layer is a smoked salmon sandwich, the middle layer is macarons and lemon tarts, and the top layer is an English scones.

A pot of freshly brewed Earl Grey tea is placed next to it.

Hua Yu used silver tongs to pick up a scone, slowly spread it with cream, and then scooped on a spoonful of raspberry jam.

His movements were impeccably elegant.

Sitting opposite her, Ju Jingyi used a small silver fork to pick up a macaron and put it in her mouth.

sweet.

It's cloyingly sweet.

She put down her fork, picked up her black tea, and took a sip, trying to dilute the sweetness.

The live stream cameras faithfully recorded all of this.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is a gray river surface, while inside is an exquisitely arranged tableware that seems unreal, with two celebrities sitting opposite each other.

The composition is beautiful.

The atmosphere was cold.

At my uncle's house just now, at least there were a few people acting as a backdrop, creating some atmosphere.

Now that only two people are sitting opposite each other, the feeling of loneliness is even stronger.

Hua Yu's live stream chat was sparsely populated with comments.

Wow, this is so high-class... but so boring... it feels like watching a silent film.

[The relatives all went home after dinner? That's so quiet... During Chinese New Year at our house, relatives would stay until 10 pm and we couldn't get them to leave.]

To be honest, I feel a little sorry for Xiao Ju. She sat at her uncle's house for two hours like a decoration, and now she's back here to be a decoration again.

[Run! Fang Yu next door is about to make a deluxe version of candied hawthorn!]