There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 376 Breaking Inside

New Year's Eve

Li Shuchen got up early and sent people to deliver all five bracelets, and then went to the market to buy New Year's goods and ingredients.

Then he drove Li Wanbai back to his own little home.

Ye Bingli carrying a basket was seen at the door.

She wore a thick, indigo-blue dress with a collar adorned with soft silver fox fur and cuffs embroidered with blue hydrangea patterns. A wicker basket slung over her arm contained red paper and scissors.

Despite his cold demeanor, his eyes were filled with tenderness.

"It's amazing how some people can even look so good carrying a basket."

"Shu Chen, you're back."

Li Shuchen jumped off the carriage and quickly walked to Ye Bingli's side.

"How long have you been waiting? Are you freezing?"

The door creaked open, and the two stepped inside.

I just arrived too.

"Give the grapes a few charcoal braziers"

"Okay, Miss."

Upon entering the main house, Li Shuchen immediately set up the soft couch.

"Have a seat first. I'll sort out the things in the car and then come learn how to cut paper snowflakes with you."

"it is good"

After tidying up everything—throwing the ingredients in the kitchen, placing the fruit on the table, and setting the firecrackers in the yard—I brushed the snow off myself and sat down on the soft couch.

The candlelight flickered as Ye Bingli used silver scissors to slice open the red paper. Her fingertips moved swiftly, the cold light gleaming, and shards of red paper scattered across the table.

After a while, Ye Bingli put down the scissors and unfolded the red paper.

It turned out to be a pair of magpies carrying twigs, stepping on the ice cracks, their eyes carved with two extremely small, perfectly round holes.

Li Shuchen took the paper-cut window decoration, his eyes meeting the two empty holes, and held it up to look at the snowflakes fluttering outside the window.

"Bingli, you're so skillful!"

Ye Bingli smiled gently, "Shu Chen can learn it too."

Li Shuchen put down the magpie window decoration and shook her head.

"I know my own limitations, this is too difficult. Teach me how to cut a horse haircut, something like Wanbai's will do."

"Can"

What are you doing? You didn't even call me.

A crimson cloak slammed open the curtains, and gold-embroidered roses suddenly bloomed in the snowy wind. Princess Changning entered the room, her face filled with resentment and pitiful accusation.

"You don't even need to call her? She came running as soon as she heard the sound and smelled the aroma, without needing anyone to invite her," Li Shuchen teased her with a smile, then picked up the scissors and earnestly practiced Ye Bingli's first cut.

"Hmph, I'm just trying to save you trouble," Princess Changning said, sitting down at the table and picking up some fruit to eat.

"What's the point of saving trouble?"

A figure in pale purple gently lifted the curtain, her gaze tenderly sweeping over the crowd.

Gu Ziying took off her white fox fur cloak and placed the things in An Lan's hands on the table.

Princess Changning: "If we come to find Li Shuchen ourselves, it will save her the trouble of looking for us. What is Ziying carrying?"

"I noticed our front door was bare, so I wrote a few Spring Festival couplets to add some festive atmosphere."

Li Shuchen looked up from her paper-cutting. "Spring Festival couplets are great! I'd completely forgotten about them. I have a whole basketful of auspicious sayings."

Princess Changning: "It's a good thing it wasn't you who wrote it. Your handwriting is like a dog's scribbles; no one could recognize it if it were pasted up. Then the gods wouldn't even know what to bestow blessings upon us."

Li Shuchen tilted his head: "That's perfect. If you don't know what to bestow, just bestow anything. I don't mind having too much."

Princess Changning: "Of all of us, you have the thickest skin."

Everyone burst into laughter

Li Shuchen suddenly slapped his head.

"Oh dear, if I had known you would all come to see me so early today, I wouldn't have sent anyone to deliver New Year's gifts to you."

"What New Year's gift did you give me? Food?" Princess Changning asked excitedly.

Gu Ziying: "Giving gifts is a happy thing, why is Shu Chen so upset?"

Princess Changning: "I'm so annoyed that I wasted my money."

"Should I go home first? What if the person who delivered the gift can't find me?" Ye Bingli put down what she was holding and stood up.

Li Shuchen nodded: "I had them delivered to the shops you usually work at. Only Bingli's gift was sent to her home. Why don't you have someone pick it up and we can all celebrate New Year's Eve together?"

"Carrying it? Could it be one of your new inventions for carrying around to ward off evil spirits?" Princess Changning guessed.

"Why ward off evil spirits during the New Year? It's not the Ghost Festival. You'll see when you get it; it'll definitely suit you."

Li Shuchen said confidently

Ye Bingli has already left the house and gone home.

Gu Ziying and Princess Changning also sent people to retrieve it.

A short while later, Ye Bingli entered the house with a big smile on her face, raising her right hand and waving it.

"Such a sparkling aquamarine! How can it be so dazzling?" Princess Changning asked in surprise.

"It's definitely going to light up! I spent all night working on it; it would be a waste of all my hard work if it didn't."

Gu Ziying also exclaimed, "The shimmering blue light intertwines with the soft white pearly halo, both cool and gentle, it suits Bing Li perfectly!"

Ye Bingli looked at Li Shuchen earnestly and happily, and said, "Shuchen, thank you, I really like this New Year's gift."

Li Shuchen waved his hand: "No need to be so polite, we're all friends."

"I can't wait for my New Year's gift," Princess Changning said, resting her chin on her hand, already daydreaming.

Ye Bingli returned to the soft couch and continued cutting paper snowflakes, then suddenly paused and said...

"How about I cut us into paper-cut window decorations?"

Gu Ziying: "Should the five of you cut your hair together, or separately?"

Ye Bingli: "Cut them together"

Li Shuchen: "That's great. Let's cut it out and stick it on our window. We want to celebrate the New Year together every year."

Princess Changning: "Give me a nice haircut, I want to be next to Li Shuchen."

The group chattered excitedly about their positions, postures, and expressions, creating quite a lively atmosphere.

The Cheng residence was rather deserted at this time.

"Please, Brother Cheng, let's send a visiting card to Miss Li. Let's go see her today and say we're wishing her a Happy New Year."

Ruan Jingshang clasped his hands together and made a sincere prayer.

Cheng Zhian said lightly, "It's the same to offer my congratulations after the New Year."

"Can't we go ahead of time?"

"No"

"Why? Doesn't Brother Cheng want to spend New Year's Eve with his beloved girl?"

Ruan Jingshang sat down angrily to one side, turning his head to look at the snow scene outside the courtyard, but secretly watching Cheng Zhian's reaction out of the corner of his eye.

Cheng Zhian didn't say a word, calmly drinking his tea.

"Hmph," Ruan Jingshang snorted loudly, trying to get someone's attention.

As if he hadn't heard, he finished his tea and started eating pastries.

Seeing that the person was ignoring him, he softened his tone and said

"Brother Cheng, it must be very lively at Miss Li's place. Don't you want to go and take a look?"

"I don't want to"—that's a lie, a complete rip-off.

"Young master, Miss Li has sent you some things through someone."

Upon hearing the name "Miss Li," Cheng Zhi'an abruptly stood up.

"Did Miss Li invite Brother Cheng to spend New Year's Eve together?"

Cheng Zhi'an took the brocade box and opened it. Inside was a pearl bracelet. The white jade in the center was polished smooth and round, clearly showing that it had been made with care.

He then took it out and put it on his wrist, a smile spreading across his face.

"What does it mean that Miss Li gave you a bracelet? Is she inviting you to spend New Year's Eve with her?"

"don't go"

"You're so happy, why don't you go find her?"

Ruan Jingshang frowned, his gaze falling on the pearl bracelet on Cheng Zhian's wrist, and murmured.

"I must infiltrate Miss Li's inner circle and become her friend, so that I can openly and legitimately approach Princess Changning."

……

After the four people finished cutting the paper-cut window decorations, they immediately pasted them on the windows of each household, and also put up the Spring Festival couplets for each household.

Li Shuchen looked at the paper-cut window decorations and asked, "When is Yuying coming?"

Princess Changning: "She's busy; she probably won't come until dinner time."