You are my wife, don't doubt it!

"Sister, we are good friends, right?"

"Yes," Shen Jie said in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"I want to keep some distance from Xiao Yao in the future and just be ordinary classmates," Yu Luying said, "After all, he and I...had some...sex disputes before, and I still understand the principle of avoiding suspicion when in a melon field or a plum field. I think this..."

"What?" Actually, Shen Jie didn't feel too disgusted when she heard Yu Luying say that: "Come here quickly! What are you doing? Do you want me to go downstairs and invite you?"

Yu Luying was silent for a long time.

"Silly girl?"

"Well, I'll comb my hair, you guys eat first, don't wait for me."

At the same time, Xiao Yao was on the third floor: "Hello? Father Yu? Is Yu Luying's mother calling again--"

"I'm dealing with it." Yu Bo interrupted him.

"Oh, that's good." Xiao Yao felt relieved: "You two should come earlier. I'm waiting for you."

"Got it." Yu Bo said these three words and hung up the phone.

Xiao Yao went downstairs to his own soap room, exchanged information with Shen Jie about their respective phone calls, glanced at the time on his phone, and decided to start the dinner.

Because in the end they were unable to choose a suitable person to cook, and Shen Tianyun felt it was weird to invite someone to her home for dinner and order takeout, so in the end, she had no choice but to decide to eat hotpot.

Yes, a bunch of people were in a small cabin in the middle of summer, eating hot pot.

Xiao Yao helped Shen Jie bring in the induction cooker, big pot, bowls and chopsticks, seasonings, meat and vegetables in waves. Hairtail, Xiao Xiong and Zhao Xiaomei volunteered to help, and soon everything was ready.

There were high stools around the dining table, two on the sofa and three on the bed. The ones on the bed were still within reach, but the sofa was purely a spectator seat and could only be rotated.

Xiao Yao felt a little embarrassed when he saw this, so he said he was not hungry and asked everyone to eat first. Everyone refused to do anything and coaxed him to the table. In the end, he temporarily switched seats with Shen Jie.

They prepared two dozen bottles of Blue Bird draft beer for the party. Shen Jie also thoughtfully prepared large liters of Sprite, Coke and Orange Juice for the ladies. In the end, only Shen Bin and Chen Lu drank the beverages.

Because there were two bottles of imported champagne in Zhao Xiaomei's backpack, she used her eloquence to pour champagne for each girl personally, but she said she was not hungry, so she took a glass of wine, sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, looking well-behaved and sensible.

The air conditioner was turned up high. Half of the hotpot was made from Qing beef oil and the other half was tomato hotpot. The condiments ranged from Kawasaki to garlic sesame oil. Everyone ate the hotpot and sang songs, clinking glasses and chatting. Before they had even finished much of the food, the atmosphere had already become lively.

After all, Brother Long, Hairtail, Chen Lu and Ouyang were classmates. Xiao Xiong and Shen Bin often played basketball with the boys in Xiao Yao's class, so most of the guests were already familiar with each other.

Although it was the first time for Shen Tianyun to see so many "ancient people" at the same time, she was lively and outgoing by nature, and she quickly became friends with everyone - however, Xiao Yao couldn't help but worry that she would be too excited and let slip her identity and the era she lived in - fortunately, this situation has not happened yet.

Zhao Xiaomei is a social butterfly. When she first came, she didn't seem to know anyone well. Now, no one seems to know her well. Xiao Yao doubted that she could handle it well if she was thrown to the principal's table.

In short, the previous worry about a dull atmosphere and the need to guide the atmosphere did not occur at all. Xiao Yao even felt like he had become a bystander - despite this, he was still satisfied in his heart.

Daiyu suggested playing the King Game, but was vetoed by Shen Jie. Chen Lu said that they could play the Killing Game after dinner, and Xiao Yao agreed.

"Everyone, everyone," Daiyu stood up and knocked the edge of the table with his cup: "I suggest that we let the old birthday boy say a few words, okay?"

Everyone applauded.

Xiao Yao did not refuse. He stood up with a half-filled glass of champagne, walked to the dressing closet and leaned against it.

"I am very, very happy today," Xiao Yao said.

If it weren't for the Song Haijian incident, if I didn't have to worry about Yu Luying's condition, I would be in a better mood - Xiao Yao shook his head, forcing himself to dispel the anxiety that was spoiling his mood.

"As everyone knows, I used to study and live in Suzhou and Jiangnan. Every Spring Festival is the day I look forward to the most, because I can come to Shanghai and set off firecrackers and fireworks with my brothers and sisters."

Xiao Yao said as he looked around the room: "I remember that every year when we had the New Year's Eve dinner, this room was so crowded, more than a dozen square meters, more than a dozen people, like a Calcutta black hole.

"Grandpa, grandma, uncle, aunt, aunt, uncle, cousin, all the family members gathered together," when talking about the cousin, he nodded to Shen Jie and Shen Tianyun deliberately, "The sofa and bed are also used, there is no way to walk, and there are several seats for rotation when eating... Uncle likes to smoke, grandma and aunt won't let him smoke, every time they yell at him to go to the soap room over there to smoke...

"I noticed some of you had strange expressions on your faces," Xiao Yao smiled, and glanced around the room again. He saw Zhao Xiaomei sitting on the sofa, holding her composition book in her hands, with an encouraging look on her face: "You must be wondering why I am saying this? Actually, I just want you all to know that since my family broke up and since I came to Shanghai to study, I have never been able to expect to have such a New Year again.

"Yes, Shanghai was once my hometown that I longed for. When I was a child, I dreamed of living in Shanghai. But when I actually came here to live, it became a foreign land to me." Xiao Yao said emotionally: "It is you who made this city my hometown again. It is you who made today a New Year again, only without firecrackers. You, all of you, are my new family, Family."

"Wow, Dad...Brother, you're like a big dad, so corny!" Shen Tianyun hugged his shoulders and deliberately acted cold.

"And the root of all this comes from you." Xiao Yao said to Shen Tianyun affectionately.

Shen Jie looked at Xiao Yao uneasily.

"Well said!" The little bear was the first to stand up with the cup.

"Good!" Daiyu and Zhang Jialong followed suit, and then, I don't know who started to applaud first, and the applause soon became continuous.

"Brother Xiong! Master Xiong! I toast you!" Xiao Yao said loudly, "When I first came to Shanghai, when I was isolated by the whole class... No, when I didn't have many friends in the class, it was you, and you, Shen Bin, you guys, who extended the hand of friendship to me."

"I have never regretted it." Xiao Xiong said, and Shen Bin nodded silently.

"When my friends and I were in danger, you stepped forward and took risks to accompany me without asking for anything in return. Thank you!" Xiao Yao said.

"Didn't you drag me in?" the little bear laughed.

Xiao Yao, Xiong Ji and Shen Bin hugged each other tightly in turn.

"Brother Long, Brother Yu," Xiao Yao then turned to the other two: "Many people think that you two are the hooligans in the class..."

"We are just the gangsters in the class..." Daiyu showed a Stephen Chow-like smile.

"But I know you are not like that at all. I have known you for a year and I have never seen you bully anyone," Xiao Yao said passionately. "On the contrary, you two have justice in your hearts. When you see injustice happening around you, when you see the weak being bullied, you always can't help but shout. Just like this -"

Xiao Yao yelled, "Guan Te!"

"Xiao Yao, you've drunk too much!" Shen Jie said.

"No, let him talk. I love to listen." Zhang Jialong's expressionless face showed a hint of smile: "Hairtail, are we so great?"

"He's right," Hairtail declared. "We've always been great."

"How else can I be friends with you?" Chen Lu added to Zhang Jialong.

"Thank you for being my friends." Xiao Yao, Zhang Jialong and Daiyu hugged each other, and Zhang Jialong hammered Xiao Yao's back hard.

After Zhang Jialong and Daiyu sat down, Xiao Yao burped for a long time and staggered towards the two most important girls in his life.

"Shen Tianyun," Xiao Yao said gruffly, "Shen J-Rong!"

"Okay, don't say any more," Shen Tianyun interrupted him quickly, because she was really afraid that he would say something that was not suitable for outsiders in this state: "Me, Sister Tianyun and I, we are all your family, Family!"

"We are family!" Xiao Yao raised his arms and shouted, his left hand passed through the right armpit of "Shen Tianyun" and his right hand passed through the left armpit of "Shen Rong", and the three of them hugged each other tightly.

"Oh~~~~" The boys made a booing sound together, and some even started knocking on the bowl with chopsticks.

Xiao Yao knew what these guys meant by shouting, but at this moment, he knew clearly that he was by no means a free-spirited person with women in his arms - the two women in his arms were his family members, to whom he was closely connected by blood.

Xiao Yao hugged them tightly in his arms, silently savoring this peaceful warmth, with a sense of satisfaction welling up in his heart.

He didn't let go for a long time, until he felt someone pinching his waist gently, and said through gritted teeth: "That's enough."

Xiao Yao let go of his hand, and while recalling the feeling just now, he turned to Ouyang Qianqian.

"Classmate Ouyang Qianqian." Xiao Yao called out the name with a big tongue, organizing his words in his mind: "In my most..."

"Okay, don't say any more," Ouyang Qianqian suddenly put down the chopsticks in her hand and repeated half of "Shen Rong's" line just now: "Skip the process and fast forward directly."

"What?" Xiao Yao said.

Ouyang Qianqian stood up, walked around the dining table, and hugged Xiao Yao in her arms.

? ?

The small room suddenly fell silent.

Three seconds later, there was an overwhelming cheer that seemed to lift the roof off.

Hairtail pounded the table so hard that his voice was almost hoarse.

Shen Jie stood up from the sofa, but was dragged back by Shen Tianyun halfway and sat down angrily.

Ouyang Qianqian returned to her seat. Xiao Yao was stunned for a long time and still couldn't figure out what was going on.

He felt like he was almost sober.

"That..." His eyes accidentally swept across Chen Lu's face, and the latter shrank his shoulders, moved his chair back a little, and buried half of his face behind Zhang Jialong.

Zhang Jialong acted decisively, stood up and shouted: "I'll do Chen Lu's share, and I'll give you double the reward." Then he gave Xiao Yao a bear hug and held him tightly in his arms.

"Ah... Help..." Xiao Yao's groan made everyone burst into laughter, and Zhang Jialong let go of his hand.

"So is it finally Xiaomei's turn?" Zhao Xiaomei stood on the sofa with her arms open, looking excited, as if she was about to pounce down.

Xiao Yao took three steps back, made a "STOP" gesture with one hand, and held his forehead with the other hand, his face full of black lines.

Well, spare me.

Shen Jie quietly blocked the path that Zhao Xiaomei could take.

The sudden knock on the door saved Xiao Yao from embarrassment. He hurriedly ran to open the door: "Here I come! Here I come!"

As soon as the door of the soap room opened, Xiao Yao smelled the familiar scent of jasmine.

Even though she was wearing a mask and sunglasses, and even if the tall Father Yu was not standing next to her, Xiao Yao could recognize who she was at a glance.

"Xiao Yao, happy birthday." The girl said in a hoarse voice.

Chapter 113: Black Moon

2023-02-18

When Yu Bo and Yu Luying walked in, the meal had basically ended, and everyone was drinking, bragging and gossiping in groups of three or five.

"I've left some meat and vegetables. Please take a seat while I add some hot water."

"No need to bother. I've already eaten during the parish meeting." Yu Bo stretched out his hand to stop Xiao Yao's courtesy.

"I've eaten it at home too," said Yu Luying.

Everyone found it very strange and didn't understand why Yu Luying came so late after eating, but Xiao Yao knew that she hadn't eaten at all.

But since he was full = Yu Luying was full, Xiao Yao didn't care. He was more concerned about what Yu Luying had just experienced.

But behind him was a room full of ignorant onlookers, and in front of him was Father Yu's cold face. Xiao Yao opened his mouth for a long time, and finally said, "I'll pour you some juice."

"Brother Bo."

"Brother Bo."

"Hello, Bo."

"Well, sit down, sit down, eat and drink, eat and drink."

Father Yu has always been friendly and likes to mingle with young people, but he is an "adult" after all, and he looked fierce at the moment, so the classmates and friends present did not talk to Yu Luying too much. Even Zhao Xiaomei put on an "unfamiliar" face as expected and sat far away.

Now that everyone was present and had finished their meal, they took away the hot pot, remaining dishes and the revolving table, and Shen Tianyun brought out the birthday cake that had been prepared long ago.

To be honest, the cake didn't look very good, and the milk was not sprayed evenly. But when everyone knew that it was made by the two Shen "sisters", they all looked at Xiao Yao with envy.

"Don't be fooled by its appearance," Shen Jie explained a little embarrassedly, "We have already tasted it, and it tastes fine."

That’s for the best, Xiao Yao muttered to himself.

Shen Jie put 16 candles on the cake and everyone sang the birthday song together.

This was the first time Xiao Yao heard Shen Jie sing - he really admired her, she had such a beautiful voice, yet she couldn't even sing in tune.

Before blowing out the candles and making a wish, Xiao Yao wanted to ask Yu Bo to do a prayer or blessing ceremony or something, but then he thought, neither he nor most of the people present were church members, so he might as well just do it normally!

"I hope... I hope I can stay with Shen Jie forever, and never be separated. Then when we both reach age, we can get a marriage certificate immediately. Then I hope Shen Jie's father can accept me soon. God bless, Amen Amen!" Xiao Yao clasped his hands together, recited these words silently in his heart, and blew out the candle in one breath.

Shen Tianyun turned on the light again with a "click".

According to the rules, Xiao Yao made the first cut on the cake, and then the "sisters" Shen Jie and Shen Tianyun helped him divide the entire cake, put it on ceramic plates, and distributed it to everyone.

Yu Luying took a small piece of cake, retreated to a corner, scribbled the sign of a cross on her chest, turned her back to face the wall, pulled down her mask, and ate in small bites.

"It's so delicious!" Zhao Xiaomei shouted.

It’s really delicious, so delicious, Xiao Yao thought blankly.

He savored the sweetness coming from the tip of his tongue, and it was hard to imagine that such a delicacy was made by Shen Jie and Shen Tianyun. It was like——

"Eat it!" Shen Jie poked his arm, and Yu Luying's arm trembled: "You keep standing there in a daze, the poison won't kill you!"

Xiao Yao then realized that he had not yet started eating the cake, and hurriedly waved his chopsticks to fight.

Well... it would be a bit greasy to eat cake with Yu Luying at the same time.

After Yu Luying finished eating the cake, she put on her mask again, turned around, and stood leaning against the bedroom door.

Seeing the other party waving at him, Xiao Yao hurried over, crossed four legs on the road, squeezed past two people, and finally arrived at his destination with difficulty.

"How is it? Are you okay?" Xiao Yao asked in a low voice.