Alex raised his glass and downed his drink in one gulp, while Director White, out of habit, took a small sip, savoring the taste. When she noticed that Alex had already finished his glass, she raised an eyebrow and took another sip, smiling to herself. After setting her glass down, she gestured toward the dishes in front of them and invited them to start eating.
"Alright, let's dig in. It's time to enjoy the food" she said with a warm smile, picking up her chopsticks.
As they prepared to eat, Director White carefully picked up a piece of mandarin fish with her chopsticks and placed it gently on Alex's plate. Surprised by the gesture, Alex chuckled and held up his hands to stop her.
"I can do it myself, really! You don't have to treat me like a guest," he said, smiling. "This is too polite."
Director White shook her head, still smiling. "It's not about politeness, Alex. It's tradition. The first bite of our New Year's Eve dinner has to be fish. It's considered a good omen. In my hometown, we say, 'The fish rises with the wind, and you get what you desire.' This is my blessing for you—a wish for success in the year to come."
Touched by her thoughtfulness, Alex felt a sense of warmth spread through him. He smiled softly and nodded. "Well, with blessings like that, how can I say no? Thank you, Sister. Honestly, I don't need anything more if I can spend the New Year with family like this."
Her expression grew more serious as she looked at him. "That's a bit aimless, don't you think?" she asked, setting her chopsticks down and leaning forward slightly. "Don't you want a career? A family of your own? A man should have goals, Alex. Ambition, a strong will. I'm not saying you should wear yourself out chasing success, but a little hardship builds character, you know? Stagnation isn't the way to live. What are your plans for the future?"
Alex blinked, a bit taken aback by her sudden shift in tone. He hadn't expected the conversation to turn toward his future so abruptly. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could gather his thoughts, Emily chimed in from across the table.
"She's right!" Emily said, nodding enthusiastically.
Director White turned to her daughter with a raised eyebrow. "I'm talking to your uncle, young lady. Don't interrupt."
Emily giggled and stuck out her tongue playfully. "I'm almost 17 this New Year, Mom! I'm practically an adult now! I'm even a member of the Communist Youth League. When will I finally be an adult in your eyes?"
Her mother laughed, shaking her head fondly. "You'll never be an adult in front of me, no matter how old you get," she teased.
Emily grinned, clearly enjoying the banter, and leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms behind her head in an exaggerated pose. As she did, she pushed her breast forward, saying that she grew up.
"See? All grown up," Emily teased, playfully wiggling her shoulders.
Director White glanced at her daughter's antics and laughed, shaking her head.
Alex, feeling a little flustered, chuckled awkwardly and quickly shifted his gaze from Emily to Director White. Both women, in their own way, were striking. Emily's youthful energy and developing figure contrasted with Director White's mature elegance, her confidence and curves giving her an undeniable allure. Alex found himself caught off guard by the contrast and shifted in his seat, trying to suppress any reaction. He cleared his throat, smiling through the slight discomfort.
"You've raised quite the young lady, Sister," Alex said, hoping to steer the conversation away from anything too awkward.
Before the director could respond, she picked up her glass, raising it once more. "A toast to new beginnings," she said with a soft smile. "To another year of happiness, success, and good health."
Alex, grateful for the shift in mood, raised his glass as well, and Emily followed suit. The three of them clinked their glasses together, the soft sound echoing the warmth and camaraderie between them. They drank together, the sweetness of the wine complementing the joy in the room.
Just as Director White set her glass down, her cell phone rang, interrupting the peaceful moment. She glanced at it, her expression shifting as she saw the caller ID. Picking up the phone, she exchanged New Year's greetings with someone on the other end.
"We're spending New Year's in Haverbrook this year, so we can't visit," Director White explained, her tone polite but warm. She wished the caller a happy New Year and sent her best regards to their family before hanging up.
No sooner had she ended the call than another phone began ringing from the bedroom. Director White excused herself, a soft sigh escaping her as she hurried to answer it. From the formal tone of her voice, Alex guessed it was an important call, likely a minister or a high-ranking official exchanging holiday pleasantries.
As he listened to the murmur of her conversation in the other room, Alex couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration. Director White was clearly a woman who balanced many responsibilities. Even during the holidays, her life was filled with the demands of her work and her personal relationships. Despite everything, she still managed to exude grace and warmth.
Another call came in just as the first ended, and Alex realized this would likely continue for some time. He glanced over at Emily, who had already resumed nibbling on a piece of tofu.
"Looks like your mom's pretty busy."
Emily shrugged, not seeming too bothered. "Yeah, it happens. She's always juggling a million things, even on New Year's Eve. But she'll be back soon. In the meantime, let's eat! These dumplings won't finish themselves!"
Alex chuckled, picking up his chopsticks. "Alright, let's get to it."
As they continued eating, Alex found himself reflecting on Director White's earlier words about ambition and success. Maybe she had a point. He had spent so much time coasting through life, unsure of his next steps. Maybe this new year was the perfect opportunity to refocus, to set new goals and push himself forward.