On New Year's Eve, the villa was bustling. At 6:00 pm sharp, after preparing food, the whole family started having dinner together.

  Having dinner in the big yard during Chinese New Year, there is always one thing that can't be missing on the table - hot pot. Various kinds of balls, meat and mushrooms are boiling vigorously in the pot, with waves of delicious smells wafting through the air. The other dishes on the table are also full of color, fragrance and flavor, while people add raw meat and vegetables to the hot pot, they also don't forget to taste the other food.

  Shang Yiqi's parents are both spicy food lovers, and Shang Yiqi also eats some. As for the other heavyweight figure at the dinner table, Shang Yiqi's sister, Gu Xiyuan's older sister - Shang Yaru, she is even more of a "no spice no happiness" type!

  It was very cold outside the villa, but inside, the heating was on, and with a table full of steaming hot food, everyone's face was flushed red. Seeing everyone enjoying themselves, Gu Xiuyan couldn't help but think that many years ago, she wasn't even allowed to touch spicy tofu. But from what time did everything slowly change?

  Things I didn't like before are now gradually being accepted. Things that used to be light and refreshing can no longer be eaten.

  "Grandfather's, grandmother's, auntie's, father's... and mother's too." A piece of beef appeared in the bowl, Gu Xiyan lifted her head and saw that Xiao Yatou was smiling brightly.

  "Yan'er is so well-behaved." The little girl's grandmother gave the little girl a small piece of meat as a reward.

  "See, Yan'er, how good Grandma is to you!" Shang Ya Rou's words had a hint of sourness.

  Xiao Yatou's grandmother couldn't help but chuckle: "Alright, Xiao Ya, what kind of vinegar are you and Yan'er eating? Didn't you see that Yan'er also gave you something?"

  "Yes, come on, baby. Auntie will give you one." After peeling a few shrimp, Shang Ya Rou handed them to Xiao Yan Tou.

  "Thank you, Auntie." The little girl was sweet-tongued and could easily win people over by casually leaning against anyone at home.

  Shang Ya Rou ate a few pieces of mutton with chili sauce, and her gaze swept towards Gu Xi Yan. After deliberating for a moment, she suddenly spoke in a mysterious tone: "Xiao Yan, can I ask you something?"

  Shang Yi raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, "You're not usually one for beating around the bush, sis!"

  Gu Xiyan was somewhat taken aback by the favor, so she hurriedly responded: "Sister, go ahead and ask, I'll answer as much as I know."

  "Hmm." She took another bite of her food, glanced at her brother and then at Gu Xiyan, her voice intentionally lowered, yet astonishingly: "Xiao Yan, Xiao Qi has been growing up in the army since he was a kid, I'd say his physical strength isn't bad, right?"

  She blinked ambiguously at the two of them, and her eyes were full of curiosity.

  Perhaps it was the heat at the dinner table, but when Gu Xiyan heard her elder sister's question, her face turned even redder, and she lowered her head, not daring to speak again.

  Shang Yi didn't seem to have any intention of saving the situation, and Shang Ya Rou's words seemed to have struck a chord. She rubbed her chin with her right hand, then suddenly nodded: "Xiao Yan, this won't do, I've decided - you need to toughen up a bit. After the New Year, you'll follow me to the army base for some training. Xiao Qi, lend me your wife for a while, no objections?"

  Shang Ya Rou's voice was not small, and originally Xiao Yao Tou and her grandparents hadn't paid much attention to the situation here. But when Shang Ya Rou shouted, the three of them were all drawn over.

  "What's Xiaoya saying?" asked Little Swallow's grandmother first.

  "Hey, Commissioner's wife, I'm talking to your daughter-in-law, don't interfere!" Shang Ya Rou whispered and slightly turned her body to have a conversation with her own mother.

  "How did I hear you say that you want to take Xiaoyan to the troops?" The commissioner's wife was apparently not very satisfied with Shang Ya Rou's words.

  "It's time for you to practice." Shang Ya Rou was about to respond when Shang Bai Ke suddenly spoke up.

  Gu Xiyan heard her father's words and paused, holding the chopsticks. She looked at Shang Yueqi, but saw that he was smiling silently. After staring at Shang Yueqi for two seconds, Gu Xiyan turned around and obediently said, "Got it, Dad."

  Shang Ya's gentle and pleasant demeanor was a sight to behold, but in her heart, she thought that indeed, an old general's emergence from retirement would not be an ordinary affair.

  The New Year's Eve dinner lasted for about an hour, and after everyone had eaten their fill, Gu Xiyan and Shang Yaru took the initiative to clean up the table, while others went their separate ways to have fun.

  In the kitchen, Shang Ya rubbed her eyes and put on a pitiful expression: "Xiao Yan, aren't you still mad at me?"

  "Sister, you're thinking too much, how could that be?" Gu Xiyan smiled slightly. She still had some understanding of her elder sister.

  Shang Ya Rou's name sounds soft and gentle, but who would have thought that such a woman with a simple and delicate face is the commander of the Beijing Armed Police Special Police Unit? Due to years of training, Shang Ya Rou's skin has a healthy bronze color, and because she always runs at the forefront whenever there is a mission or danger, the female soldiers in the unit have given her the nickname "Desperate Sister".

  "Xiao Yan, tell me, how's your relationship with Xiao Qi now? How far have you two gone?" Shang Ya Rou continued to ask while re-rinsing the plate in her hand.

  Gu Xiyan felt a sense of despair upon hearing Shang Ya's words, and quickly put away the clean dishes. She hastily added, "Sister, I'll go take a look at what Yan'er is doing, you should hurry out too."

  Gu Xiyuan walked away, and Shang Yaru's eyes narrowed slightly - Ah, Xiao Qi's wife is really shy, unlike the sisters in the army who are straightforward. However, Xiaoyan and Xiaoqi, one being shy and the other being introverted, are actually a perfect match in terms of personality.

  In the past two years, everyone would gather in front of the TV waiting for the Spring Festival Gala to start, but this year because Xiaoyao wanted to go outside to watch the fireworks, Shang Xi took Xiaoyao and Gu Xiyen to stroll around outside the villa.

  "Brother." Just as the three of them were strolling in front of another villa, a sudden voice of surprise rang out.

  Gu Xiyan turned her head and saw a man wearing a windbreaker running towards her through the snow.

  The man stood in front of Shang Qi, patted his shoulder heavily and said, "Brother, it's been a long time since we last met, right? I almost thought I recognized the wrong person just now. Ah, who is this?" He asked in surprise when he saw Gu Xiyan.

  "Your sister-in-law." Shang Yi's expression was calm and didn't have the kind of excited and joyful look that men usually had, only his eyes revealed a flash of excitement.

  "Oh, sister-in-law, is your brother married? I didn't expect that after a few years of not seeing him, he's quite speedy! Nice to meet you, I'm Xue Fu Xun, just call me Xunzi like your brother does." The man was quite familiar with himself.

  Gu Xiyan saw Shang Yi Qi didn't object and simply called out: "Xunzi."

  "Uncle, what about me?" The little girl was unwilling to be ignored, with her hands on her hips, her two small braids swung back and forth, looking innocent and lovely.

  "Huh? Are you... Little Yan'er? Is that really you?" The man's voice suddenly dropped.

  "Yes, I'm Yan'er. Uncle, why don't you seem happy?" The little girl looked puzzled, her pink lips pouting slightly.

  "How is that possible? Uncle is so happy! Yan'er has grown up to be such a good girl!" He patted the little girl's forehead and invited the three of them into the house.

  At night, she soaked in a hot bath again. Once her mind relaxed, Gu Xiyan actually fell asleep in the bathtub. Shang Qi waited for a long time and didn't see Gu Xiyan come out, so he went to find the bathroom key to open the door.

  When Shang Yi picked up Gu Xiyan, the water in the bathtub had already cooled down. Fortunately, Gu Xiyan turned on the heating as soon as she entered the room, and it was no longer cold inside now.

  Shang Yiqi had just finished taking a bath and went downstairs to chat with his family for a while. When Shang Baikuo asked, "Xiaoqi, when are you going back to the troops?", Shang Yiqi fell silent.

  "Dad, don't rush Xiao Qi either. Xiao Qi is doing well now, having a job and a house." Seeing that Shang Qilei was slow to speak, Shang Yaru hurriedly came out to mediate.

  "Xiao Qi, don't forget you're still a soldier. You remember saying you wanted to be a special forces soldier since you were young? You've already escaped for five years, how many more fives do you want to avoid? I'll stop talking today, if you haven't returned to the team in five years, and after New Year's you still don't return to the team, then don't blame me for canceling your military status. Don't forget what a soldier's mission is."

  After Shang Baikuo left, Shang Yaru was also worried: "Xiao Qi, it's been so many years since the incident, and it wasn't your fault back then. Don't keep taking responsibility for everything on yourself. If Lin Jingxuan were still alive, he would not want you to give up this opportunity to join the army because of this. Think about it carefully, if you really can't figure it out, go hug your wife and take some comfort, who knows when you'll suddenly understand."

  When he returned to the room, Shang Yi stood with his back against the door for a long time. Gu Xiyan woke up in a daze and saw Shang Yi holding his head in his hands, looking painful.

  Without thinking much, Gu Xiyan lifted up her quilt and rushed to Shang Yi's side.

  "Xǐ, xǐ..." Gu Xīyǎn shook Shāng Yìxǐ's hand back and forth, trying to wake him up from his nightmare.

  "...Alas..." Cold sweat dripped from his temples, and when Shang Yi opened his eyes, Gu Xiyan saw weakness in this man's eyes for the first time.

  "It's okay." She hugged him and comforted his emotions.

  "It's a pity, don't leave like this." His head buried in her neck, Shang Yi's words were full of exhaustion.

  "Okay, don't leave..." Gu Xiyan gently patted his back, as if comforting a wounded child.