Franklin put his hands on his hips and kicked him. "Getting drunk and making excuses? Detox soup, my foot. Stay drunk!" Thinking about Lily's relationship with her family, Franklin checked the time. It was forty minutes to midnight. He called Lily.
"Are you going out tonight? Want me to accompany you for New Year's Eve? I can drive over to pick you up, still plenty of time."
Lily had just driven out of the old house. "You? Forget it. If Uncle Edmond invited me, I'd go."
Franklin:"..."
"Lily, that silly LED confession stunt made me want to yell at you!" Franklin tried again, sincerely.
"Stop this nonsense. You and my Uncle Edmond have no future. The day you suddenly realize this, you'll be embarrassed to death, and I'll die of second-hand embarrassment too. I've been speaking well of you in front of Uncle Edmond lately. If you piss him off one day, I'll be the one who suffers."
Gritting his teeth, Franklin appealed to their long friendship.
"How about this, we're all Zhous. Pick another one to pester—pester me instead. I can handle it. Just leave Uncle Edmond alone."
Lily:"Do you believe I can win over Uncle Edmond?"
Franklin:"If you marry him, I'll let you use my head as a football."
Lily:"Alright, say that again. I'll record it."
Franklin:"..."
...Lily was in a great mood tonight.
She had a fruitful time at the old house, and the dinner suited her taste. Initially, she planned to leave tomorrow to annoy Zoya.
After her bath, she saw Zoya and Mrs. Mei watching TV on the sofa. She called Old Jian to play chess beside her.
After the chess game, she checked her phone and saw Edmond's message among a pile of well-wishing texts. He had sent it at ten-thirty.
Edmond:[First New Year after our wedding, shall we spend it together at midnight?]
It was nearly an hour later, and Lily wasn't sure if he still had time. She replied, saying she had just seen the message.
Edmond quickly responded, [There's still time, want to come out now?] They agreed to meet at the central square.
Lily took a shortcut and reached the place in twenty minutes. However, the square was crowded due to a fireworks show. It took her ten minutes to find a parking spot, coincidentally as someone was leaving.
Ten minutes to midnight.
Lily ran towards their meeting spot.
Sweating, she regretted her choice. There were too many people; she should've picked a park.
The agreed spot was the fountain. She was still a distance away, and the countdown had started.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six..."
Lily ran faster, but when it reached 'two,' she was still a few steps short and was bumped by someone, stumbling forward.
Instead of falling, she landed against a broad chest.
A strong arm wrapped around her waist, another hand on her back, pulling her into an embrace.
"One!"
The final count resonated with excitement. Lily was jolted back to reality by the surrounding cheers. The next second, her heart skipped a beat at the intimate whisper in her ear.
As the countdown ended, the man whispered, "Lily, Happy New Year."
It was Edmond. Lily recognized his sexy, pleasant voice.
Edmond had caught her in the final second of the countdown.
Above their heads, brilliant fireworks painted the sky, more beautiful than any previous year.
After exchanging New Year greetings, Edmond made a wish.
"My New Year's wish is:From now on, may Lily have all her wishes fulfilled, stay safe and joyful, have a flourishing career, no disasters or illnesses."
When Lily had plunged into his arms, she had instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. Now, their bodies were tightly pressed together.
With her mind blank, she forgot to pull away and simply returned his New Year wish.
"My New Year's wish is:From now on, may Edmond have all his wishes fulfilled, stay safe and joyful, have a flourishing career, no disasters or illnesses."
As the countdown ended, people began to disperse. Only Lily and Edmond remained in place.
Edmond's hand still rested on her slender waist, not intending to let go.
The intense scent of his pheromones made Lily feel breathless. She pushed his shoulder.
"Let go first." Edmond released her, holding her arm. "Are you steady?"
Lily stepped back. "Yes, thank you."
Edmond detected the awkwardness in her tone and discreetly retracted his hand.
"Shall we take a walk?"
"Okay."
The square was crowded. To avoid being recognized, Lily wore a burgundy beret and a mask.
This was their signal for meeting up.
They walked along the cobblestone path, and Lily suddenly thought of something. She turned to Edmond.
"Is it okay for you to be out?"