Chapter 254 - 251: New Year’s First Kiss [1]
Chapter 254: Chapter 251: New Year’s First Kiss [1]
"You’re such a smooth-talker," Ye Feng grumbled, kicking Ye Ling.
"Hehe," Ye Ling chuckled slyly, not even trying to dodge. He was tough enough to take it.
"Hmph!"
Ye Feng snorted softly.
"So, Dad, what did you really want to talk to me about?" Ye Ling suddenly got serious and asked.
"It’s nothing serious. I mainly wanted to talk about you and Xiaoxi."
Ye Feng said, pausing for a moment before asking,
"When are you two planning to get married?"
"Mar... Marriage??"
Ye Ling’s eyes shot open, his face a picture of sheer bewilderment.
"What? You’re not planning to get married?"
Seeing Ye Ling’s expression, Ye Feng glared right back, looking as if he would crack Ye Ling’s skull if he dared agree.
"No, no... Of course not!"
Ye Ling immediately shook his head.
To be honest, luring—er, *marrying* Ning Ruoxi was something he’d been thinking about all along, but he’d never brought it up, mainly due to a few concerns.
First, there was the issue with Ning Tianliang, but that wasn’t the main problem.
Although Ning Tianliang had previously said he hadn’t fully approved of Ye Ling yet, if Ye Ling and Ning Ruoxi really wanted to get married, he definitely wouldn’t stand in their way.
Not to mention that the current Ye Ling was already infinitely close to meeting Ning Tianliang’s so-called ’requirement.’ And with Ning Ruoxi’s heart completely set on Ye Ling, could he really stop her from marrying him?
The main reason, in truth, was that Ye Ling felt it was still too early.
’We’re only freshmen, and we’re supposed to get married already?’
’Wouldn’t that mean we’d have a kid by graduation...?’
"I think we should wait a bit longer. At least until after we graduate from college?"
Ye Ling voiced his thoughts.
No one knows a son better than his father.
Before he even asked, Ye Feng had likely already guessed Ye Ling’s thoughts: he felt he was still too young and needed to focus on his own ventures, so it would be better to marry later.
"Let me tell you, Xiaoxi is completely devoted to you right now. You’d better seize this chance, or if you lose her, you’ll be crying your eyes out."
Ye Feng said.
"Can’t you say something more encouraging?"
Ye Ling couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Seeing that his dad was about to say more, he quickly cut in, "Alright, alright, I get it. I’ll think about it after meeting Ning Ruoxi’s parents."
"Good. I’m very pleased with this daughter-in-law. So whatever you do, don’t mess this up."
Ye Feng said, adding a soft snort.
Ye Ling couldn’t be bothered to retort about his father already siding with an outsider. He just sighed internally.
’He felt... it really was better to get married later.’
’If he’s like this before we’re even married, what will happen once we are?’
Of course, that was just a passing thought. Deep down, Ye Ling was actually very eager to make Ning Ruoxi his wife.
Getting married might just be a matter of going to the Civil Affairs Bureau, paying a small fee, and getting a certificate, but the significance was entirely different!
Once they had the certificate, it would mean this little kitten belonged to him completely.
Ye Ling felt that sense of ceremony was still important.
"Alright, head on up. We still have to stay up and see the new year in," Ye Feng said, patting Ye Ling’s shoulder.
The so-called tradition of seeing the new year in was, for the Old Ye Family, simply a matter of sitting in front of the TV, snacking on melon seeds and fruit, watching the Spring Festival Gala, and setting off a round of firecrackers at midnight.
"Watch the Spring Festival Gala?"
Ning Ruoxi blinked as she heard what Ye Ling said.
Watching the Spring Festival Gala was a popular custom from long ago. At least, very few families still did it these days.
This was mainly because there were more and more forms of entertainment available; it wasn’t like the old days when the Gala alone was considered a special treat.
"That’s right. Watch the Gala and see the year out," Ye Ling nodded.
Ning Ruoxi didn’t object. Since this was a tradition in Ye Ling’s family, she would naturally do her best to adapt.
And so, the three of them sat in front of the TV, chatting and snacking while watching the Spring Festival Gala.
To be honest, this year’s Spring Festival Gala was rather mediocre. But Ye Ling and the others were very happy, and the room was filled with occasional bursts of laughter.
There’s a saying that gets passed around online that is very true: it’s not what you do that’s important, but who you do it with.
If you were watching the Gala alone, it would definitely be boring. You might as well pull an all-nighter in the Rift!
But when you were sitting with family, it was a completely different story. The Gala was just background noise; the main characters were the people in front of the television.
’This is the best Spring Festival Gala I’ve ever seen,’ Ning Ruoxi thought. ’Or maybe I should add "so far"?’
’After all, there would be many, many more Spring Festivals, and many, many more Galas to watch...’
As time passed, midnight finally arrived.
Ye Ling had his arm around Ning Ruoxi, who was so drowsy her eyes were already half-closed.
"Silly girl, wake up."
Ye Ling gently pinched Ning Ruoxi’s cheek and planted a kiss on her pouting lips.
"Mmm... Is it midnight?"
Ning Ruoxi opened her eyes and woke up a little. She looked around and suddenly asked, "Where’s your dad?"
"He went downstairs to set off firecrackers. Wake up a little. I’m going to cook some tangyuan. We can sleep after we eat."
Ye Ling said, pinching her cheek again.
"Tangyuan?"
Ning Ruoxi’s eyes instantly lit up.
"The sesame-filled kind. The really sweet ones."
Ye Ling said with a smile.
"Okay! I’ll help!"
With that, Ning Ruoxi happily skipped toward the kitchen.
Most girls have a sweet tooth, after all.
And obviously, Ning Ruoxi was one of them!
"This girl..."
Ye Ling shook his head, a resigned smile on his face, and followed her into the kitchen.
On the table, plump, round, tender white tangyuan were already laid out, ready to be cooked.
"Boil the water first."
Ye Ling instructed.
"Okay!"
Ning Ruoxi nodded immediately.
Perhaps it was the allure of a delicious treat, but she was now full of energy.
Right as the clock struck midnight, the tangyuan floated to the surface, and a burst of firecrackers echoed from outside, as if to announce to the world—
The new year had arrived!
Ye Ling stood by the window, watching the fireworks bloom outside. With Ning Ruoxi in his arms, he felt an incredible sense of contentment wash over him.
"This is our second year together,"
Ye Ling said with a soft chuckle.
Ning Ruoxi pressed against Ye Ling’s chest and nodded.
Suddenly, a playful glint appeared in her eyes. She tilted her head up and said with a beaming smile, "Lower your head a little."
"What for?"
Ye Ling gave her a curious look, but still slowly lowered his head.
"Mwah~"
Ning Ruoxi hooked her arms around Ye Ling’s neck, stood on her tiptoes, and gave him a peck on the lips.
"What was that for?"
Ye Ling asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That was the first kiss of the year!"
Ning Ruoxi immediately replied with a laugh.
"Do you know what I’m thinking right now?"
Ye Ling asked, also chuckling.