Chapter Ninety-Five: New Year's Eve

Onstage, Zhou Miao sang with such blazing intensity that he felt as if he himself were about to catch fire, yet the old men in the audience still wore the same blank expressions, reacting not at all from start to finish. When the song ended, they only gave him two perfunctory claps.

Zhou Miao scratched his head. Had I really messed that up? That should not have happened...

As he came down from the stage, Huang Chengxi slapped him hard on the shoulder and praised him, saying, "That was insane. No matter how many times I hear that song, it still feels unbelievably hype!"

Zhou Miao frowned in confusion. "Then why did those people below not react at all?"

"Ah, ignore those old-timers. Their tastes are on a completely different wavelength from the general public. It is always like this at the New Year Gala. Last year when I sang, they did not react at all either. I still do not know why the Gala invited them. Feels like they were brought in just to kill the mood." Speaking of it, Huang Chengxi was also deeply frustrated.

"Young people just do not understand." The old musician who had come down with Zhou Miao wore an air of profound wisdom as he pointed toward the stage.

"The Gala tickets are not sold to the public. The people who can attend in person are all distinguished figures: relevant officials, the broadcaster's sponsors, media representatives, national athletes, model citizens, and the like. Ordinary people simply cannot watch the Gala live."

Zhou Miao shrugged. "But this atmosphere is way too awkward. At least give a little reaction, would you? Forget it, I will not talk about it anymore. I have to hurry back and have New Year's Eve dinner with my teacher. Happy New Year, everyone!"

After exchanging New Year greetings all the way out of the Gala studio, Zhou Miao found that Old Wang, the driver, was still waiting by the roadside. He got into the car and fastened his seat belt. "Thanks for your trouble, Old Wang. Tomorrow I will go get a driver's license, and next year at New Year you will not have to work so hard."

Old Wang laughed. "What trouble? I am a driver. I earn my keep by working hard. If all of you drove yourselves, would I not be out of a job?"

Zhou Miao could not help laughing. Old Wang really was easygoing.

On New Year's Eve, the streets of Beijing were much quieter. The drive from the studio to Guan Yu's place went smoothly all the way, and they arrived in just over half an hour.

Before getting out of the car, Zhou Miao took out a thick red envelope. "Happy New Year. Head home early and spend it with your family."

Old Wang did not refuse. He took it with a grin. "All right. Shall I come pick you up again tomorrow morning?"

Zhou Miao waved a hand. "No need. I will take a taxi myself tomorrow. Enjoy the New Year in peace."

Watching Zhou Miao walk away, Old Wang felt warm inside. He had driven for many celebrities, yet it was Zhou Miao, the one with the fiercest temper and the most mixed reputation, who made him feel the most human.

When Zhou Miao opened the door and went inside, he found that Zuo Qiu was just carrying dishes out of the kitchen. He froze. "You still have not eaten?"

Zuo Qiu rolled her eyes at him. "And who else were we waiting for, young master?"

Zhou Miao grinned. "Then I am really sorry."

Guan Yu came out of his room holding a bottle of sorghum liquor. "Want some?"

Zhou Miao quickly waved him off. "Beer is fine, but baijiu really burns the throat. I will just have some soda."

"You really do not know how to enjoy yourself." Guan Yu poured himself a generous cup with great satisfaction. The table was covered with rich New Year dishes, their fragrance making one's mouth water.

"Xiaoqiu, your cooking is really excellent. Whoever marries you someday will be very lucky."

Zuo Qiu served food to both of them and said calmly, "Who has time to think about that? Right now I am focused on getting the company running properly. Once it is finally on track, I will think about other things."

"And what if it never gets on track?" Zhou Miao asked.

Hearing that, Zuo Qiu lifted her chopsticks as if to smack his head. "It is New Year's Eve, and you are already cursing me? Spit, spit, spit!"

Guan Yu took a sip of liquor, his eyes narrowing into contented slits. The sounds of the New Year Gala on television mingled with the chatter and bickering of Zuo Qiu and Zhou Miao, and somewhere outside, some little rascal was secretly setting off firecrackers. The noise was chaotic, yet full of the flavor of the New Year.

By the time Zhou Miao got home, it was already ten o'clock. Dinner had not finished until well past eleven, and his phone had been ringing nonstop with all kinds of New Year greetings.

His father also called on video. When the call connected, Zhou Ye's tipsy face filled the entire screen, with a number of relatives standing behind him. Zhou Ye was beaming, clearly in very high spirits.

"It connected, it connected. Hey, when are you coming back?"

"I booked a flight for tomorrow. I should be home by evening. Where is Mom? Put Mom on."

The moment Zhou Miao said that, Zhou Ye's face fell. All day it is just Mom, Mom, Mom. Do you even still have your father in your eyes?

Hong Xue snatched the phone away. "Hello, son! We watched the Gala. You sang beautifully..."

Even though they would see each other tomorrow, Hong Xue still dragged Zhou Miao into chatting for more than half an hour. Only after much effort did he finally manage to hang up.

No sooner had that call ended than Hu San called in. Zuo Qiu placed a plate of sliced apples in front of him. "Quite the busy young master, are you not?"

"You would not understand the happiness of a young master." Zhou Miao picked up a piece of apple and tossed it into his mouth, then collapsed onto the sofa and video-called with Hu San.

On the screen, Hu San was wearing pajamas and leaning against the headboard, her complexion rosy as though she had just taken a bath, her hair still faintly damp.

"Who were you talking to just now? It took so long."

"My mom and the others. We had relatives over tonight, and they called to tell me to give the family my New Year greetings."

As he said that, Zhou Miao suddenly remembered something. "Did you take those local specialties you bought for my parents and deliver them yet?"

Hu San shook her head shyly. "No. I was embarrassed to go by myself. I will bring them over when you come back."

"Have your parents heard about us yet?" Zhou Miao asked.

"Not yet. I was afraid that if they found out, they would accidentally tell someone else and cause trouble for you," Hu San said softly.

In truth, she had wanted to tell her mother on the very first day they confirmed their relationship, but in the end she held back. She did not want to cause Zhou Miao any trouble.

Ever since they began dating, Hu San had always been so sensible that Zhou Miao could not help feeling a little sorry for her.

"It is fine. You can tell them. This New Year, I will come visit your home."

Hu San's eyes lit up at once. "Really?"

Zhou Miao smiled. "Yes, really."

At that, Hu San wriggled happily on the bed with a foolish grin on her face. Then she glanced at the time and cried out in alarm, "It is already this late. You have to get up early to catch a flight tomorrow. Go to sleep early."

Zhou Miao had actually been feeling sleepy for a while already, so he nodded. "You should sleep early too. Stop playing on your phone."

"Mm. Bye-bye!"

After hanging up, Hu San hugged her phone and was so happy that she could not sleep at all. In the end, she simply sat up, took out her diary, and wrote down everything that had happened that day.

Zhou Miao yawned sleepily, and Zuo Qiu brought out a quilt from the room and tossed it over him.

"You are sleeping on the sofa tonight. Uncle Guan does not have any spare rooms."

This unreasonable woman, Zuo Qiu, had simply occupied the room Zhou Miao usually slept in. But since she had cooked tonight, he did not bother arguing with her.

After a quick wash, Zhou Miao hurriedly crawled under the covers and went to sleep. Tomorrow he still had to wake early and catch his flight.