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Psst! We're moving!
“I absolutely have to gather all of you today!” Song Lang sent a voice message in the group chat and added Huang Yuandao to the group.
Qin Yuan: “Big announcement?”
Song Lang: “Yes, we’re drinking tonight.”
Tang Xizhou: “For your sake, I won’t work overtime today.”
Yan Qingming: “I’m not working overtime either. I’m off today and can be there by the afternoon.”
Jiang Beibei: “Me too!! Are you two going to announce something big? I’m coming! You must let me witness it! Yuandao took leave today! What did you two do?!”
Chu Yao: “I’ll come after work. Should I bring anything?”
Song Lang: “I’ll handle everything. Just bring your appetite.”
Meow Meow Mi was decked out in lights today. Song Lang had organized a big promotional event, and thanks to his recent episode of The People Around Us , the shop had become an internet sensation. In the afternoon, Song Lang forcibly closed the shop and instructed everyone to enter through the kitchen door.
Though he said no gifts were needed, everyone seemed to know what Song Lang was about to announce, so they all came prepared.
Jiang Beibei arrived early and saw Huang Yuandao sitting cross-legged on the floor, combing Song Da Miao’s fur.
“The whole family’s here,” Jiang Beibei rubbed her hands together. “Since we’re close, give me a heads-up—are you two officially engaged?”
Huang Yuandao cleared her throat and said nonchalantly, “Today’s my birthday.”
“…What?!” Jiang Beibei jumped up. “Why didn’t you say earlier?!”
“Big Song wanted to celebrate my birthday and…” Huang Yuandao extended her hand, palm down, toward Jiang Beibei. “Look at my hand.”
A shiny ring gleamed on her finger.
Jiang Beibei’s jaw dropped.
“Ah!!” She howled, causing Song Da Miao to join in with a loud bark.
Song Lang placed a freshly cooked dish on the table and gently pushed her jaw shut.
“Calm down.”
Jiang Beibei grabbed Song Lang’s hand and spotted the matching ring. She screamed again: “So envious!!”
Huang Yuandao teased, “If you’re envious, get your man to wear a pair too.”
“He can’t,” Jiang Beibei sighed regretfully. “He can’t wear anything on his hand.”
As soon as Tang Xizhou walked in, his sharp detective instincts immediately honed in on the key detail: “Oh, an engagement ring, huh?”
“Second Brother’s eyes are as sharp as an eagle’s!”
Jiang Beibei recalled that Tang Xizhou had been wearing a ring a few days ago but hadn’t seen it recently. Curious, she asked, “Second Brother, weren’t you and Eldest Brother wearing matching rings a few days ago?”
“Don’t mention it,” Tang Xizhou sighed dramatically. “Old Yan lost his after wearing it for less than three days.”
“…We collectively condemn Eldest Brother today!”
“Nah, no need.” Tang Xizhou waved his hand dismissively. “With his job, constantly taking it off and putting it back on, it wouldn’t last long anyway.”
Jiang Beibei suggested mischievously, “Why don’t you put a collar on him?”
Tang Xizhou chuckled, “Shut up. If Old Yan finds out you suggested that, he’ll definitely beat you up.”
“Hahaha, Eldest Brother wouldn’t do that!”
“What?” As if summoned by name, Yan Qingming walked in just in time to hear Tang Xizhou say he’d beat Jiang Beibei. “What bad thing has my little sister done now?”
Jiang Beibei cooed sweetly, “Big Brother, would I ever? I’m such a good girl…”
“You wish!” Huang Yuandao rolled her eyes. “You’re the cheekiest one here!”
“Hey! Now that you’re following my Fourth Brother, you’re abandoning me? Pick a side!”
“She’s extremely mischievous!” Huang Yuandao pointed accusingly at Jiang Beibei. “This girl takes on heaven and earth. She’s undefeated in exposés at CCTV. Remember last year’s investigation into that black-market workshop?”
Jiang Beibei immediately interrupted, “Please, don’t bring that up!”
“Fine, I won’t.” Tang Xizhou clamped his hand over Jiang Beibei’s mouth and pulled her aside.
Qin Yuan and Chu Yao entered, arms slung over each other’s shoulders, and Huang Yuandao began recounting Jiang Beibei’s famous breakthrough incident.
Last year, after successfully suing the lecherous director, Jiang Beibei’s confidence soared. Coupled with her innate sense of justice and her parents’ legacy, she always charged ahead to report illegal activities.
That summer, while investigating a black-market workshop, the boss sent a group of workers wielding iron hooks to surround their car. The situation escalated when they tried to force the reporters out of the vehicle. After calling the police, Jiang Beibei fearlessly recorded audio and berated the lawbreakers.
When the workers threatened to smash the car, Jiang Beibei’s temper flared. She grabbed the safety hammer from the car, glared at them, and shouted, “I’m staying right here. Let’s see who dares!”
The daughter of a public security officer radiated righteousness, her fearless demeanor forming a solid defense line.
Huang Yuandao continued, “When she returned, the boss nearly fainted after hearing the cameraman’s account. The buzz from when you five brought down that old thief director hadn’t even died down yet. Knowing her family background, the leadership held a special meeting with her, urging her to tone down her fiery attitude.”
“Cough,” Jiang Beibei interjected. “You can’t be soft on bad guys…”
“Beibei doesn’t look like a tough girl,” Huang Yuandao remarked. “But her reports always expose the darkest sides. The leadership discussed transferring her to another department.”
“No way!” Jiang Beibei protested. “I once dreamed of being a war correspondent!”
“Don’t even think about it!” Tang Xizhou exclaimed. “If you became a war correspondent, Second Brother would never sleep a wink.”
Chu Yao added, “She really applied once.”
Jiang Beibei froze. “Eh? How do you know?”
“I saw your application form,” Chu Yao admitted. “Those days, I was restless. I wanted to stop you but didn’t dare…”
Qin Yuan was shocked. “Yao, what are you saying? Why didn’t you stop her? You should’ve stopped her!”
“This kind of thing…” Chu Yao murmured softly, “What right did I have to stop her? Deep down, I still wanted her to follow her heart and pursue what she desired.”
“Where did you apply?” Tang Xizhou asked Jiang Beibei.
“…Wherever there’s conflict, depending on our unit’s assignments,” Jiang Beibei replied. “But in the end, I wasn’t selected. They investigated my family background and said I didn’t meet the criteria. I thought being an orphan, single, and childless would give me priority, but the leadership told me that neither my image nor my family background fit. Sigh.”
She sounded slightly regretful.
Tang Xizhou flicked her forehead. “Stop dreaming about flying to the heavens!”
“I just have high aspirations,” Jiang Beibei defended herself. “I have this burning passion inside me to do meaningful work. Anyway, I’m single and unattached—I have no worries. My grandmother is open-minded, so I just want to chase my dreams and burn brightly. Alas, they won’t let me burn… So being an investigative journalist exposing corruption isn’t bad either!”
Huang Yuandao summarized, “Her personality is very fiery. That’s why I don’t understand why she used to be so shy around me when talking about pursuing Chu Yao.”
Jiang Beibei blushed slightly, awkwardly defending herself. “…I’m actually quite timid at home.”
Huang Yuandao turned to the five older men. “Look at what you’ve turned this perfectly good girl into. Anyone who doesn’t know better might think she’s abused at home.”
The five older brothers fell into deep contemplation.
After dinner began, Song Lang announced a major development: “I’ve met Yuandao’s parents, and it went exceptionally well. Her parents are very satisfied with me.”
Huang Yuandao teased, “Look how smug you are!”
“Today, on Yuandao’s thirty-second birthday, we’ve decided to make it work and spend the rest of our lives together!”
“How old?” Tang Xizhou frowned and slapped the table. “Thirty-two and you call it a ‘big birthday’? Should I be considered ancient already?”
Song Lang: “…Brother, those of us nearing thirty are different from you folks approaching forty. Calm down.”
Yan Qingming clutched his chest. “Ouch, don’t remind me.”
“In a few years, we’ll all have gray hair,” Qin Yuan said casually. “My dad used to pluck his white hairs at forty, gave up at forty-five, and now, nearing sixty, he’s completely given up.”
“Eh? But Uncle Qin’s hair looks great!”
“It’s dyed,” Qin Yuan explained. “How could he possibly still have black hair at nearly sixty?”
“…So all the uncles dye their hair?” Jiang Beibei turned to Chu Yao. “What about your parents…?”
“Dyed,” Chu Yao replied. “I’ll probably start soon too.”
“Bullshit!” The other four men collectively exclaimed, “Yao, don’t make us beat you!”
Huang Yuandao laughed. “Boys, stop talking about age. Think about the ladies’ feelings.”
After dinner, they played drinking games and eventually moved on to Truth or Dare.
When Jiang Beibei saw the dare cards involving kissing and barking, she consistently chose truth, spilling numerous secrets during the rounds.
“Answer this: Which underwear of your partner’s do you like best?”
Jiang Beibei whined, “Spare me.”
Chu Yao: “Tell me, and I’ll wear more of them.”
“Uh… cough, black triangle briefs.”
Huang Yuandao was curious, “Does Chu Yao only own clothes in one color? What color are your bedsheets?”
Chu Yao: “Pink.”
“Eh?”
“Not joking,” Jiang Beibei quietly explained. “His parents bought them to help him change his mood…”
After several more rounds, Jiang Beibei again chose truth, and the question came: “If you had to kiss someone of the opposite sex other than your boyfriend here, who would you choose?”
Jiang Beibei panicked. “Are you trying to kill me?!”
Huang Yuandao slammed the table. “You must answer this!!”
Qin Yuan: “Beibei, don’t feel pressured.”
“I’m under immense pressure!” Jiang Beibei was losing her mind. “How am I supposed to choose?! Can’t I just kiss everyone?!”
Huang Yuandao burst out laughing. “Beibei, you’re such a pervert!”
“…If I really have to choose, I pick Song Da Miao.”
Song Lang: “Da Miao doesn’t count as male! He’s a neutered dog!”
“You guys are so strict…” Jiang Beibei tugged at her hair. “Alright, honestly, I don’t care—it’s all the same. I’ll probably flip a coin to decide.”
Tang Xizhou chuckled. “Wait, tell me first—your coin only has two sides. Besides Yao, there are four of us. How will you choose?”
“Elimination rounds,” Jiang Beibei declared. “Flip twice, then once more.”
“Flip it!” Qin Yuan snatched the box of coins from Song Lang’s shop. “Let’s flip it here and see my luck.”
Tang Xizhou: “Three, you’re hopeless—you won’t even make it to the finals.”
Jiang Beibei took the coin. “Alright, let’s go in order.”
Tang Xizhou: “Let Three open his eyes and see if he can make it to the finals.”
Jiang Beibei: “Eldest Brother and Second Brother first. Heads for Eldest Brother, tails for Second Brother.”
She flicked the coin, and it spun.
Yan Qingming said, “My luck isn’t as good as Xizhou’s.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the result appeared.
“Tails.”
Tang Xizhou grinned. “See, Eldest Brother called it.”
“Heads for Three, tails for Four,” Jiang Beibei spun it again. Chu Yao stared intently at the coin, tapping his fingers on the table.
“Tails.”
Qin Yuan shouted, “The coin’s broken! Use a different one!”
Song Lang burst into laughter. “Hahaha! My luck has always been good! Three, give up!”
Qin Yuan groaned. “I’m done! This is no fun! Flip the table! Don’t even give me a chance to reach the finals!”
When Jiang Beibei lost again, her brothers insisted: “Pick dare!”
Chu Yao’s expression grew tense.
Huang Yuandao drew a golden card with a flourish. “Here it comes! For the dare, spin a spoon. Whoever the handle points to, kiss them for three minutes!”
Jiang Beibei howled, “I’m not doing this!! Yuandao, spare me!! These are all my brothers—I’ll offend whoever I kiss!”
Tang Xizhou laughed. “Then just perform a three-minute suffocation act with Chu Yao!”
Song Lang applauded.
Qin Yuan leaned over and spun the spoon. “Let’s test it!”
To Jiang Beibei’s shock, the spoon stopped perfectly, pointing directly at Chu Yao.
Chu Yao stood up and bowed deeply to Qin Yuan. “Thank you, Third Brother.”
Qin Yuan sighed dramatically. “Get out of here!”
“Now, please welcome the couple upstairs to perform a three-minute kiss!”
Huang Yuandao exclaimed, “Wait, let me set a timer!”
Chu Yao pulled Jiang Beibei into his arms, kissed her deeply, and lifted her waist, turning away.
“Wow!” Huang Yuandao cheered. “Real men stick to three minutes!”
Qin Yuan muttered, “Let’s eat. I’ll change seats.”
Kissed for the first time in front of friends and family, Jiang Beibei melted in Chu Yao’s embrace.
After the gathering ended, Jiang Beibei walked home holding Chu Yao’s hand. At her doorstep, Chu Yao pulled an envelope from his suit pocket.
“For you.”
“What is it?”
“Read it at home.” Chu Yao gently kissed her forehead, released her hand, and went inside.
After washing up, Jiang Beibei sat on her bed, opened the envelope, and pulled out a card.
On the front was a sketch Chu Yao had drawn of her—a black-and-white portrait of her under a magnolia tree, smiling sweetly.
Jiang Beibei smiled and flipped the card over. On the back were words Chu Yao had written for her:
“All the beauty in this world exists because of you. You are my goddess, my salvation. Loving you is my greatest happiness.”
As she read, Jiang Beibei’s eyes welled up with tears.
She reread the words over and over, then jumped off the bed and ran to his door.
The door pushed open easily—Chu’s family had always kept their door open for her.
“Chu Yao!”
Jiang Beibei threw herself into his arms. Chu Yao, holding a toothbrush, looked slightly startled.
“I feel the same!” Jiang Beibei exclaimed. “I feel the same!”
My greatest happiness is falling in love with you.
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