I Deserve A Second Chance - Chapter 265

Shao Yan blinked at his praises. Her already blushed face turned a deeper shade of red.

‘You..” She stuttered, “You don’t look bad yourself.” Her voice was disappearing near the end; she felt so embarrassed while saying words of praises for him.

The man in front of her was looking as elegant as ever.

Li Xiqing had put on a long sleeves red shirt. It was a male version of qipao jacket. The jacquard material made him look more elegant and manly than before. The clothing was decorated with shades of ancient Chinese cloud motifs all over the shirt. It was even made more perfect with eight knotted buttons at his front, adding to the vintage charm.

The traditional pattern combined with the modern cloth made him look ethereal and yet worldly at the same time.

Li Xiqing had paired the sophisticated top with plain black dress pants. And now he was ready to capture every woman’s attention.

Hearing her words of praises at him, Li Xiqing could not help a little smirk to escape his lips. The woman in front of him was admiring him and yet at the same time, she was pouting. He was not sure of what she was thinking.

“Are you ready?” And so before Shao Yan ruined her own mood by thinking nonsense stuff, Li Xiqing quickly continued, “Tea is ready too, we should go now.”

Her mind was quickly distracted, and Shao Yan nodded right away. Her tiny hands were holding onto a small red purse in her hand. She pulled the chain from the purse and hung it over her shoulder, “Let’s go.”

———-

“Happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year to you too! May you achieve success, happiness, health, joy and prosperity this Chinese New Year!”

When they were walking to his parents’ apartment unit, Shao Yan and Li Xiqing would encounter other people who were also their neighbors around this area. Greetings were exchanged with one another. Luckily, Shao Yan had prepared a couple of red envelopes for small children in case she had encountered them.

She opened her purse and took out three small envelopes and passed them with both hands to the children.

They gave her a very bright smile; grinning from ear to ear as they received them with both of their hands as well.

“Thank you, pretty sister,” said the eldest.

“Thank you, sister!” The middle son also chimed in.

And the youngest one just stared at them with no words. Shao Yan guessed she was only about two years old.

The children looked amazed at the red envelopes in their hands and then they looked up at their parents who were standing at the side; smiling down at them with the same pride.

The building floors were decorated with red lanterns and wishing couplets for celebrations. The tiny papers from the fireworks last night were also still laying around untouched as it was a taboo to clean or sweep the floor during the first three days of Lunar New Year.

Shao Yan and Li Xiqing kept their conversation with neighbors as short as possible as they were rushing to not miss the auspicious hour to send their greetings.

———-

“Pa, Ma, Happy New Year!”

Axel and Mandy were kneeling on the floor with Li Xiqing and Shao Yan followed behind them. Axel was holding a tray with two tea cups on top of it.

Father Li and Mother Li were sitting on the couch with their backs straight up and a blissful smile was pasted on their face.

After Axel was done, Mandy took one of the tea cups on the tray and passed it to Father Li carefully; and then she took another one and gave it to Mother Li as well.

They quickly took a sip and put the cup to the side so that the children could quickly get up on their feet. But the four of them remained kneeling. Axel and Mandy each took a red envelope out from their pocket and gave them to Father Li and Mother Li.

“May this New Year be prosperous and joyful for all of us,” Axel said before passing the red envelope to the parents. After The Li’s accepted them, Axel quickly got up on his feet and helped Mandy to get up as well.

Li Xiqing and Shao Yan moved to the front and repeated the same procedures. Li Xiqing took out red envelopes and gave them to each of the parents.

“Pa, Ma, this is from Yan Yan and I,” With his two hands, Li Xiqing extended the red envelope in front of him towards his parents, “May this year bring more prosperity and happiness to your life.”

Father Li and Mother Li accepted his envelope. But unlike with Axel and Mandy, since Li Xiqing and Shao Yan were not married yet, The Li’s were still allowed to give red envelopes to the both of them.

Father Li took out two red envelopes and passed one to each of them, “Happy New Year too. May this year be a blessing to the two of you.”

Mother Li was also following suit. She took out two envelopes and passed them to Shao Yan and Li Xiqing.

“I hope this year is the last year for both of you to receive red envelopes,” She winked at them, and hurriedly told him to get up. Li Xiqing turned to the side and held Shao Yan by her upper arm to help her to stand up together with him.

In her heart, Shao Yan understood that wink very well. Mother Li’s words were indicating her wish for them to quickly get married. Because only married couples would not receive any red envelope during Lunar New Year celebration.

Shao Yan could feel her face was heating up.

A wish for them to get married.

She sighed softly in her heart. She was very sure that she would be hearing this wish during this whole Lunar New Year week from all of their family and friends.

(~_~;)

———-

“Xiqing, help me to send this parcel to Uncle Mao,” Father Li pointed at the gift basket on the table and passed him a piece of paper, “This is the address.” Father Li continued, “His house should be on the way to the Tea House, so you can drop this really quick on your way there, alright?”

Li Xiqing received the piece of paper from him and gave a quick read at the address that was written on it.

Uncle Mao was one of the few friends that his father had always kept in touch with. Every time Father Li visited Shanghai, he would always make sure to visit Uncle Mao to catch up. They were really best friends.

Li Xiqing looked at the paper. He recognized the location and nodded, “Yes, it is on the way. I can drop this really quick.”

Li Xiqing then turned to the side and addressed Axel, “All of you can go to the Tea House first. Grandma Wu and Yan Yan’s cousin will meet us there.”

Axel nodded and patted Li Xiqing on his shoulder, “Alright, don’t worry about us, you just drive carefully and meet us there.”

Li Xiqing nodded and then he glanced at Shao Yan before he gently took her hand, and then excused themselves, “Alright, Pa, Ma, we will go first, we will meet you shortly.”

Father Li and Mother Li nodded at them and waved, “En, drive safe!”