In this household, only Tang Yu's attitude towards Tang Zhongcheng was slightly better.
No matter what he did, this relationship remained unchanged.
"I... I came to see," Tang Zhongcheng said.
Actually, he wanted to say that he came to gather with them for the New Year.
But he knew that at this critical juncture of Zhang Meiyu's illness, they would not allow him in.
Tang Yu understood Tang Zhongcheng's intentions and really wanted to help him. But during the New Year, he didn't want Tang Zhongcheng's arrival to cause further discord.
Tang Yu hesitated to speak and send Tang Zhongcheng away.
Just then, Tang Zhongcheng suddenly said, "Tang Yu, wait. I bought some gifts for you. They're in the car. Take them back."
Tang Zhongcheng took out several shopping bags of various sizes from the back seat, all carefully selected from the mall before his arrival.
"These are New Year's gifts I bought for you. Everyone has one."
"Here are three watches, one for each of the three brothers."
"This is a necklace for Wang Na. She married into our family, and we can't treat her poorly."
"This is a gold lock for the baby. It's pure gold. He can wear it after he's born."
"This is for Xiao Min. I bought her a car. It's at the dealership, and she can pick it up anytime."
"Finally, this ring is for your mother. Tang Yu, find a way to give it to her, but don't let her know it's from me, or she'll probably throw it away again."
...
In previous years, Tang Zhongcheng would give New Year's gifts to everyone in the family.
Last year's family upheaval had interrupted this tradition.
Looking at the dazzling array of gifts, Tang Yu felt a mix of emotions.
At this moment, he felt lost.
His father had always loved only his mother.
But he had made a grave mistake, leading to the current broken state of the family.
Should he forgive him or not?
He was not his mother; he couldn't feel her pain and was not qualified to forgive on her behalf.
"Okay, I understand. I'll give it to my mother."
They stood in the night, wanting to say something, but unable to.
The villa door opened, and Wang Na poked her head out, calling to him.
"Tang Yu, why are you standing outside? Come back quickly."
Tang Zhongcheng instinctively took a few steps back, worried about being seen and causing more trouble.
"Okay, I'll be right there."
Tang Yu replied, picked up the large pile of items, and walked back.
He walked to the side, then suddenly returned, handing back everything Tang Zhongcheng had given him.
Seeing this, Tang Zhongcheng's face turned anxious.
"I just wanted to give you some New Year's gifts. Don't you even want to accept them? I made mistakes, but my intentions are sincere."
At this moment, Tang Zhongcheng felt worse than death. But who could he blame?
"Dad, I didn't mean it like that."
"How about this? After Mom goes to rest, you come back. The gifts you brought should be given by you personally. How does that sound?"
"This..."
A turn of events. This was an opportunity Tang Zhongcheng had only dreamed of.
"Good, good, that's great."
"Tang Yu, you truly are my good son."
"Dad, I'll go home first. After Mom goes to rest, I'll come and open the door for you."
"Alright, hurry up. I'll be waiting for you."
Thus, they reached a happy agreement.
Back home, Tang Xiao Min had already prepared a lavish New Year's Eve dinner, and Yan Jue was also present.
Although he hadn't married Tang Xiao Min yet, thanks to the influence of money, the Tang family welcomed him to celebrate the New Year with them.
They ate the New Year's Eve dinner, watched the Spring Festival Gala, and the atmosphere was harmonious, making it a warm and lively New Year.
After eating their fill, Yan Jue suggested setting off fireworks. He had brought a truckload of fireworks with him beforehand.
Dressed in thick down jackets, they went outside. Yan Jue lit several boxes of fireworks with a lighter. This was something that was more fun to light oneself.
The continuous "bang bang" sounds of explosions filled the air, and dazzling fireworks bloomed in the sky above the villa, bathing them in colorful light.
Xianfu Group, due to its business needs, had a dedicated atmosphere department, which included professionals for setting off fireworks.
As the big boss, Yan Jue was quite adept at setting off fireworks.
"Min Min, is it pretty?"
Tang Xiao Min nodded like a pecking chick.
"It's beautiful, let's set off more."
Tang Yan suddenly interjected, "Setting off too many of these pollutes the environment and incurs fines."
He always had to pour cold water on a good atmosphere.
Tang Xiao Min retorted immediately, "What do you know? Fireworks contain sulfur. When sprayed into the sky, it's like spraying sulfur. It's beautiful and also disinfects. The sound can also scare away the Nian beast."
"There's no such thing as a Nian beast. That's just to trick children. You believe that too?"
"No one would think you're mute if you didn't speak."
For some reason, whenever Tang Xiao Min and Tang Yan spoke, nine out of ten sentences were arguments, and the remaining one would escalate to questioning ancestors.
"Xiao Min, come here quickly. I have something fun to show you," Yan Jue called out to Tang Xiao Min.
He was holding a Gatling-style firework and introduced it to Tang Xiao Min.
"This can be held and fired. Try it."
Then, Tang Xiao Min and Yan Jue stood aside, engrossed in setting off various fireworks, having a blast.
At first glance, they looked like two minors playing together.
"Tsk! Immature," Tang Yan pouted. Sudan Novel Network.
Wang Na took videos with her phone and posted them on her Moments.
"Mom, it's cold outside. Let's go back," Tang Yu said.
Zhang Meiyu nodded.
"They are so carefree, it's really nice."
She had also experienced such beautiful moments, but alas, things had changed.
In a car by the roadside, Tang Zhongcheng gazed longingly at the lively family.
Even so, he felt a sense of happiness.
He watched for a long, long time until they gradually returned.
After the festivities faded, he was left alone in his loneliness.
At this moment, he felt unprecedented loneliness, solitude, and cold.
The feeling pressed down on him so intensely that he could barely breathe.
At ten-thirty in the evening, the villa door finally opened again, and Tang Yu came out.
"Dad, Mom has gone to rest. Come home with me."
Tang Zhongcheng couldn't help but shed tears of joy, unable to believe it.
"Can I really go back?"
"Of course. I've spoken to everyone, and they all agreed."
"Okay, okay..."
Afterward, Tang Zhongcheng followed Tang Yu into the villa.
The villa was well-heated, a stark contrast to the cold weather outside.
Apart from Zhang Meiyu and Wang Na, all four siblings were present.
Tang Yu said, "Dad, please sit down and wait. I'll go warm up the food."
Tang Ye took the initiative to pour Tang Zhongcheng a glass of warm water.
Tang Yan said nothing and changed the channel with the remote.
Tang Xiao Min silently played with her phone, texting Yan Jue.
No one had changed, but the invisible barrier had long since driven them apart, and they were no longer the same as before.