The last day of the year, in the words of the common people, was the so-called New Year's Eve.
Most people tonight would have the most sumptuous meal of the year and then give some New Year's money to their children. The children would put on new clothes, and the whole family could wait until midnight, setting off firecrackers. That would be the start of the New Year.
In the Divine Capital, undercurrents were surging. But today it seemed to have finally come to a halt, perhaps because everyone tacitly agreed to take a break today and deal with these matters tomorrow.
The Left Guard's office was also on holiday today, but only half of the people, the other half had to continue standing guard. They were celebrating the New Year, but the foreign cultivators did not care whether today was New Year's Eve or not. Therefore, even though it was today, they could not let their guard down. Originally, Chen Chao planned to stay at the Left Guard's office himself since he did not have a family in the capital. The New Year's Eve was just another day for him. However, Weng Quan who was usually not so bright unexpectedly said that he had nowhere to go too, so he wanted to remain in the office on behalf of Chen Chao.
Although Weng Quan was a native of the Divine Capital, he did not have many relatives. In previous years, he would usually spend New Year's Eve with Song Lian, but now that Song Lian was still in the Northern Frontier and had not returned, Weng Quan naturally had nowhere to go in the Divine Capital. Since that was the case, he might as well stay at the Left Guard's office.
However, with Weng Quan having nowhere to go, Chen Chao might not have anywhere to go either. He looked at Weng Quan with a complicated expression, wanting to speak but swallowing the words back.
Weng Quan probed, "It's the New Year, Lord Commander doesn't have anywhere to go either?"
Chen Chao gave Weng Quan a strange look, with a perplexed expression. In the Divine Capital, he had no relatives or friends. The only friend he had was probably Xie Nandu. However, since Xie Nandu was from the Xie Family, she would definitely be back at the Xie Family by now. Thus, he, alone, truly had nowhere to go. Could he go to Princess Anping's palace even now? In other words, even if the princess was willing to have him, Chen Chao did not really want to face Princess Anping at this moment.
After hesitating for a moment, Chen Chao was about to speak when a head popped out from the entrance of the Left Guard's office. Chen Chao turned to look, and it was none other than Liu Ye.
As Xie Nandu's personal maid, Liu Ye would only be away from her if Xie Nandu did not want her to follow. Now that she showed up here, it was very telling.
"Miss said she feels lonely spending the New Year alone. Do you want to spend the New Year with her?" Liu Ye spoke, sizing up Weng Quan, who was also looking at her, somewhat dazed.
However, their gazes only met briefly before Liu Ye withdrew her gaze and retracted her small head.
After thinking for a moment, Chen Chao was about to go out, but Weng Quan, who had just realized what was going on, grabbed his sleeve. Chen Chao turned his head, looked at Weng Quan's expression, and immediately understood something. He patted his shoulder and said with earnestness, "This is called lust at first sight, do you understand?"
Weng Quan grinned foolishly and said in a low voice, "This subordinate has been alone for many years. Can't Lord Commander show some understanding?"
Chen Chao shook his head in a serious manner and said, "Secular women are like tigers. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle her!"
Weng Quan wore a bitter smile, nervously rubbing his hands.
Looking at this guy, Chen Chao could not help but think of Song Lian, who had traversed far on the path of martial arts, but was also clueless about love. He wondered if this wooden-headedness was a genetic trait.
Without saying anything, Chen Chao walked out of the Left Guard's office under Weng Quan's somewhat expectant gaze.
When he turned around, Weng Quan could not see it, but Chen Chao was smiling.
……
……
Leaving the Left Guard's office, Chen Chao did not immediately head to that courtyard in the academy. Instead, he painstakingly found a firecracker shop that had not closed yet, as well as shops that sold couplets, and other festive items. After purchasing some, he finally over with his goods.
When he arrived at the courtyard, Liu Ye was nowhere to be seen. The small courtyard was silent and desolate. Xie Nandu sat by the stove under the eaves, quietly reading a book.
Chen Chao pasted the "fortune" character on the door, hung two red lanterns, and then approached the eaves with the red paper that had not been inscribed with couplets. He called out, "You write well, and you also read a lot of books, writing a pair of New Year couplets shouldn't be difficult for you, right?"
Xie Nandu raised her head and looked at the young man who was still dressed in black before New Year's. She furrowed her brows but did not refuse. However, she still did not get up. The young man then flashed into the house, laid the red paper on the table, and muttered to himself, "What to write?"
Xie Nandu walked in, made a remark about grinding, and sat down on her own.
Chen Chao chuckled and started grinding the ink.
In the end, after Xie Nandu wrote a pair of couplets, Chen Chao looked at the content and was at a loss whether to cry or laugh, "Can this work?"
Xie Nandu ignored him and looked at the couplets she wrote, nodding in satisfaction. She said, "Not bad."
Chen Chao was speechless. For this special girl, anything illogical happening to her seemed like it was not too illogical.
In the end, Chen Chao took the couplets to the door and pasted them with glue. But in the end, he could not resist taking another glance.
Afterward, the two returned under the eaves, facing each other.
Chen Chao looked at the sky, then asked, "On New Year's Eve, people usually eat something special. But it seems you don't care either?"
Xie Nandu nodded and said, "If I want to eat something good, I can go back home. Can you make something better than the Xie Family's New Year's Eve dinner?"
Chen Chao shook his head. When he went to the feast before, he had witnessed the delicacies eaten by the Xie Family. It was far beyond what ordinary people could enjoy.
"I only have some skill in roasting things. In your little courtyard, it seems like sweet potatoes are the only option."
Chen Chao narrowed his eyes, already feeling relaxed. It seemed like this was the only place in the world where he could truly unwind.
Xie Nandu said, "That's perfect. I happen to like them."
Chen Chao burst into laughter and teased, "But I heard that eating too many of these will make you fart."
Xie Nandu smiled, neither confirming nor denying it.
She just got up and walked into the house to light a lamp on the table.
The White Deer's Xie Clan had always been simple. Although not many people believe in this nowadays, there was still a tradition that persisted: lighting a lamp on New Year's Eve was considered the New Year.
Xie Nandu stood by the window, watching the black-clad youth who had brought two sweet potatoes and was now starting a fire in front of the stove. Her eyes were gentle.
A home was where one celebrated the New Year.
After leaving the White Deer's Xie Clan, Xie Nandu knew that it was no longer her home. The Xie Family in the Divine Capital was also a place she did not want to go.
This small courtyard had probably become her home.
As for Chen Chao, in such a vast world, where was his home?
