My Soul card is a Reaper

Penelope.

Happy New Year from Brazil.

Elena paused only briefly before replying with a polite greeting. The message was set aside like a postcard from a distant traveler.

Soon after, her phone rang again.

Yang Xia.

"Oh my god, Xiulan!" Yang Xia exploded the moment Elena answered. "The elders are unbearable! They've been criticizing you nonstop! Saying you're unfilial for not attending! And they're targeting Big Brother Fu too!"

Elena leaned back comfortably.

"Are they now?"

"They shut up when Uncle Tengfei walks by, but the moment he leaves, it's like a pack of hyenas!" Yang Xia huffed. "If I didn't want to stay with my aunt, I would've left! I'd rather celebrate with you than with that circus!"

Elena smiled faintly.

Firecrackers burst outside again, bright and loud.

Inside the mansion, laughter rose.

Elsewhere, in banquet halls heavy with tradition and tension, words sharper than sparklers cut through silk-clad air.

But here, under red lanterns and golden light, the night felt warmer.

And for now, that was enough.

;

Dragon Palace Home 10 – New Year's Night

Elena listened quietly as Meimei continued her fiery rant about the Zhang family banquet.

Apparently, the elders had spent half the evening criticizing her absence and the other half criticizing Zhang Fu's press conference. According to Meimei, the moment Zhang Tengfei stepped away from the table, the insults flowed like cheap liquor.

Elena only hummed occasionally in response.

None of it really touched her.

To her, those people were little more than distant strangers whose opinions carried all the weight of dust on a windowsill.

When the call finally ended, Xie Mei announced dinner.

*

The meal was served buffet-style again, just like their Christmas celebration earlier with the Lau family. Plates were laid out across a long table loaded with festive dishes. The atmosphere felt lively and informal, more like a joyful gathering than a strict household banquet.

Everyone ate together.

The penthouse staff were already used to Elena's relaxed way of treating employees like extended family. The mansion staff, however, were still adjusting to the unusual arrangement. Some of them were stiff at first, unsure whether they should really sit and eat beside their employer.

But Elena simply filled her plate, sat down among them, and started chatting as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Eventually, the tension melted.

Laughter followed.

*

After dinner, they returned to the living room to watch the Spring Festival Gala.

Less than an hour before midnight, the program finally reached one of the most anticipated performances of the night.

Jin Yang appeared on stage.

He delivered a mash-up of several of his greatest hits in a high-energy performance filled with lights, dancers, and dramatic stage effects. The arena erupted with deafening screams.

It was obvious that a large portion of the audience belonged to his fiercely loyal fan army.

Simon nearly dropped the bowl of snacks in his hands.

"Prince Yang Yang never disappoints!"

While everyone's attention stayed on the television, Lu Zihao leaned closer to Elena and spoke quietly.

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. That paparazzo joined my Black Cipher."

Elena blinked.

It took her a moment to connect the pieces.

"You recruited him?"

"Not exactly," Lu Zihao said lazily. "He recruited himself."

Her brows lifted.

"He has good instincts. Guessed we were Black Cipher and offered his services. Said he's extremely useful."

Elena tilted her head. "So that's why the police didn't arrest him with the rest of the tabloid staff."

Lu Zihao gave a casual shrug. "I made sure he stayed off their radar."

"And now he works for you."

"For now, he's only on probation," he said. "I placed him in a surveillance unit. He'll keep working as a paparazzo too. Someone inside the media industry is valuable."

Elena studied him. "Big Brother… please don't do anything dangerous."

For a fraction of a second, he froze.

Then he laughed lightly. "What are you talking about? I told you before. Black Cipher exists for justice."

He gestured toward the television. "Enough serious talk. It's New Year's Eve."

She could tell he had deliberately changed the subject.

But she let it go.

For now.

*

A few minutes before midnight, Elena's phone rang.

Jin Di.

He couldn't leave the Jin banquet yet, but he still wanted to count down the new year with her.

Soon, the mansion filled with noise as some of the staff stepped outside to ignite firecrackers. The explosions cracked across the night sky like a thousand tiny thunderclaps.

Ice Cream and Popcorn instantly panicked.

Both cats curled themselves tightly on Elena and Lu Zihao's laps like furry emergency rations.

Little Fei had already fallen asleep on the couch, exhausted from earlier playtime. Simon and Song Yuqing continued commenting on the performances on television.

Then the final countdown began.

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Simon immediately started jumping up and down like a rubber ball.

"In the Philippines, we jump during New Year to grow taller!" he declared proudly while bouncing again.

Thankfully, the commotion didn't wake Little Fei.

"Happy New Year, love," Jin Di said through the video call. "I'll come home soon. Wait for me."

"Happy New Year, darling. I'll wait."

Elena and Lu Zihao exchanged an awkward greeting afterward. Neither of them had celebrated holidays like this in their past life.

Still… they liked it.

Then Elena began distributing red envelopes.

They were extremely generous.

Everyone received one.

Little Fei technically received the largest, though Elena handed it to Song Yuqing for safekeeping.

The room filled with laughter and grateful thanks.

*

About thirty minutes later, the front doors opened again.

Jin Di had returned.

And he wasn't alone.

At the village entrance, he had encountered Zhang Fu, who had been stopped by the guards while trying to enter.

Jin Di immediately walked straight toward Elena and pulled her into a tight embrace before kissing her firmly.

Then he nodded toward Lu Zihao. "Thanks for keeping Xiulan company, Fifth Brother."

"She's my sister," Lu Zihao replied simply.

Jin Di nodded once.

Meanwhile, Zhang Fu moved toward the couch where Song Yuqing sat beside their sleeping son.

He gently brushed Little Fei's hair.

"Happy New Year, son," he whispered.

Song Yuqing blinked quickly, clearly surprised.

"Happy New Year," he said softly to her next.

"I didn't know you were coming," she replied.

He kissed Little Fei's forehead before sitting beside her. "I wanted to start the new year with my son… and with you."

Her heartbeat quickened.

"I meant everything I said at the press conference," he continued quietly. "Yuqing… I want another chance. Even if it's just for our son."

She trembled.

"Zhang Fu…"

"I love you."

Her breath caught.

"I didn't realize it until I lost you," he continued. "But I do. I want our family back."

Tears began forming in her eyes.

"C-can I ask you something first?" she whispered.

"Anything."

"If… if I asked you to give up being the heir of the Zhang family… would you do it for me and our son?"

He stared at her, stunned. "Is that your condition?"

"No… I just want to know."

Zhang Fu held her gaze.

"I've spent my entire life preparing to inherit my father's legacy," he said slowly. "But if I had to choose between that… and losing you and our son…"

His voice softened. "I'd choose you."

Her tears finally fell. "Are you telling the truth?"

"Yes."

He wiped her cheeks gently. "Yuqing… do you love me?"

The room had fallen completely silent.

Everyone was listening.

"Y-yes…"

His face lit with joy.

"Say it again."

"Zhang Fu…" she whispered. "I love you."

He burst into laughter, the sound bright and unrestrained.

Then he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, as if afraid she might vanish again.

For a moment, she stiffened.

Then she melted against him.

Behind them Simon was already clapping and cheering like he had just witnessed the final scene of a romance drama.

Song Yuqing buried her face in Zhang Fu's chest, embarrassed but unable to pull away.

"Thank you," he murmured against her hair.

"I won't let you and our son down." Zhang Fu gently lifted Song Yuqing's chin, coaxing her to look at him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Their eyes simply held each other's gaze, filled with everything that had been left unsaid for years.

Then he lowered his head and kissed her.

Song Yuqing clutched the front of his shirt, her hesitation melting away as she returned the kiss. It felt strangely familiar, as though the years they spent apart had only been a brief pause instead of a painful separation.

Their bodies remembered.

Warmth spread through them instantly, a spark reigniting something that had never truly disappeared.

"Mommi?"

The small, sleepy voice cut through the moment like a bell.

Song Yuqing stiffened.

No matter what she was doing, her son's voice would always reach her first.

Reluctantly, she pulled away from Zhang Fu and hurried over to the couch.