Zhang Keqin, wearing an apron, bustled back and forth; the table was already covered with neatly folded dumplings, and Zhang Yang and Mi Xue were busy helping out as well.

This was the first Lunar New Year Zhang Yang had spent with Zhang Keqin in ten years.

Zhang Yang’s stepmother was also present, though she spoke very little. If Mi Xue hadn't kept her company with conversation, she might not have uttered a single word; being devoutly Buddhist, she had prepared quite a few vegetarian dumplings.

For this year's celebration, Zhang Keqin remained in Changjing, as did Zhang Yang and Mi Xue. This was also the first New Year Zhang Yang had experienced since his rebirth.

Though the gathering was small on New Year's Eve, Zhang Keqin was in high spirits, even producing a bottle of Monkey Wine that Zhang Yang had gifted him.

Aside from a few given by respected elders, he rarely touched this fine liquor, taking only a small sip each time. He knew well that such a precious vintage was scarce, and even Zhang Yang didn't possess much of it.

This time, he had guessed incorrectly. While Zhang Yang's supply wasn't vast, it was certainly not meager; the Li family had sent him their remaining stock, more than enough for their own small celebration.

Flurries of delicate snow drifted down outside, lending a unique brilliance to the New Year's Eve night. Zhui Feng, Shan Dian, and Wu Ying, the three little ones, were all playing in the snow.

Long Feng was there too. He was equally occupied but spoke sparingly, looking for all the world like an ordinary person at that moment.

“Dinner is served!”

Zhang Keqin boomed, and together they carried the dishes to the table.

Zhao Min had intended to stay and spend the New Year with him, but Zhang Keqin had firmly sent him home. Zhao Min had his own family, and it was difficult enough serving Zhang Keqin throughout the year; he deserved a few days off for the holiday and shouldn't be overworked.

The meal was simple: four meat dishes, four vegetable dishes, and, of course, the fragrant dumplings. Zhang Yang turned on the television, and everyone gathered around the table to eat while watching the screen.

As the sound of firecrackers heralded midnight, the year passed. After making their New Year's calls to Zhang Daofeng and Zhang Yunan, Zhang Yang and Mi Xue returned to their room to rest.

The two were not yet married but were engaged and living together, which was perfectly fine.

Zhang Yang often teased Mi Xue about their arrangement. When she first agreed to share an apartment with him, he had only done so because his mission required him to protect her at closer range. At the time, Mi Xue had said she would only stay for a month, leaving once Zhang Yang had recovered from his injuries.

Neither of them could have predicted that she would stay for a lifetime, never to leave.

Whenever this memory was brought up, Mi Xue would blush with shyness while simultaneously displaying a sweet, knowing smile.

Although Old Man Liu’s old place wasn't large, it marked the warmest beginning for her and Zhang Yang. Fortunately, Zhang Yang had since bought that property, and they could return to visit and relive the past whenever they had the chance.

After the New Year, the most hectic time was visiting relatives and friends.

Zhang Yang had expected a lighter schedule, but from the second day of the New Year through the tenth, he was constantly busy receiving guests at home, only managing to take time off once to visit his old home with Mi Xue. Visitors came almost daily.

Su Zhantao was the first to arrive. His visit was twofold: to offer New Year greetings and to express gratitude because Zhang Yang had cured Su Shaohua's asthma. Su Zhantao had to come, and in fact, Su Shaohua had insisted he do so. Having suffered from asthma for so many years, Su Shaohua was incredibly grateful to Zhang Yang for the complete cure.

Following Su Zhantao, Xie Hui, Wu Zhiguo, and Wang Chen all paid visits—most of them people Zhang Yang had treated. Furthermore, Hao Xin, now working at Baotuo Hospital in Shanghai, called specifically to offer his repeated thanks.

He was thriving at Baotuo Hospital. Being a top student from Tongji Medical College, he faced no discrimination there. Coupled with working close to home, he was bursting with enthusiasm daily, a complete transformation from his time at Lieshan Hospital. Moreover, he had lightning-fast success in finding a girlfriend; life for him now was nothing short of paradise.

He knew exactly who to thank for this turn of events. He had wanted to visit in person, but Zhang Yang had declined the invitation, so a phone call sufficed.

After the tenth day, Zhang Yang finally had a moment of respite. He took Mi Xue and Zhui Feng with him to Shanghai.

The restaurant business was being capably managed by Xiao Dai and Nan Nan, so it made no difference if Mi Xue stayed away for a month. Taking this opportunity, they decided to stay in Shanghai for a while.

This time, Zhang Yang also brought Qu Meilan along. Since he planned to stay in Shanghai for some time and wouldn't be returning soon, there was no need to leave her alone to look after the house.

“This... this is the home you mentioned?”

Standing before the imposing gate of the Shanghai villa, Mi Xue's eyes widened in disbelief. She pointed a finger at the colossal entrance and asked Zhang Yang skeptically.

Zhang Yang had told her he owned a villa in Shanghai, but she had imagined something akin to the smaller house they had been staying in—a villa of that scale would have already satisfied her. But upon arrival, she realized this was vastly different from her expectations; the sheer size of this residence utterly surpassed anything she could have conceived.

Zhang Yang smiled and nodded. He hadn't elaborated before, anticipating Mi Xue’s reaction.

“This—this is a bit too big, isn't it?”

Mi Xue stared with wide eyes. Zhui Feng trotted down from the Hummer, while Long Feng ran ahead to ring the doorbell. It truly was immense; the driveway could accommodate four cars side-by-side, and one could glimpse elements of the interior from outside. Mi Xue was already stunned before even stepping inside.

The gate opened quickly. The man who answered saw Zhang Yang, immediately stepped aside, and respectfully ushered him in.

Zhang Yang rarely visited, but his status as the owner was ever-present. These staff members were, essentially, employees working for Zhang Yang, though they saw him infrequently.

“Sir, you have returned!”

Butler Nan Cheng soon appeared. This professional butler, holding a British butler certification, was impeccably dedicated; regardless of whether Zhang Yang was present, he maintained the estate perfectly.

“Uncle Nan, thank you for your hard work!”

Looking over the impeccably clean grounds, Zhang Yang nodded with satisfaction. Having a professional managing things saved a great deal of trouble. Had it not been for Nan Cheng, or if someone else had been in charge, he didn't know what state the place would be in upon his return; the garden paths, at least, would certainly not be this pristine.

“Sir, you are too kind; this is my duty!”

Nan Cheng bowed slightly, then glanced at Mi Xue and Qu Meilan. He presumed one of them was the future mistress. He knew about Zhang Yang’s engagement but hadn't been permitted to attend, so he had remained here.

Zhang Yang introduced Mi Xue and Qu Meilan to Nan Cheng. Nan Cheng’s guess was correct; Mi Xue was indeed Zhang Yang’s fiancée.

However, at that moment, both Mi Xue and Qu Meilan were still staring somewhat mechanically. The size of this villa truly exceeded their wildest imaginations. Even Qu Meilan, an internal energy practitioner, was momentarily stunned. It wasn't that she hadn't seen fine estates—she had visited the Wu family compound—but the Wu residence couldn't compare to this.

As for Mi Xue, she felt as though she were dreaming, unable to believe this was their home.

Noticing their stunned expressions, Nan Cheng offered a slight smile and began his introductions. He was a competent butler, and his simple, clear explanations quickly gave Mi Xue a deeper understanding of the place.

Once inside, Shan Dian and Wu Ying, the two little ones, immediately leaped into the shrubbery and began hopping around joyfully. Zhui Feng did the same. The other staff members looked on with surprise at the beautiful Zhui Feng; none of them had ever seen such a magnificent white horse.

Their surprise was evident, but they didn't seem overly astonished; owning such a villa was a symbol of wealth in itself, so keeping a beautiful white steed was considered normal. Alas, they had no idea that this particular horse was not something just anyone could afford to keep.

Nan Cheng finished the tour of the main villa with Mi Xue, and only then did her heart begin to settle somewhat. At least she was starting to accept this place.

With such a new home, Mi Xue was naturally thrilled. While she didn't crave material luxury, a small degree of competitive spirit resided in everyone’s heart; everyone wished to be slightly better off than others—it was only human nature, and Mi Xue was no saint.

Since it was already their home, there was little to unpack upon arrival.

After moving to Shanghai, Zhang Yang settled into the villa. Mi Xue spent a full two days exploring every corner of the massive residence before gaining a reasonable grasp of the layout. Watching her run around excitedly, Zhang Yang often couldn't help but shake his head.

While this place was excellent, it still couldn't compare to the new villa he was investing in and constructing in Changjing. The blueprints for the new estate were complete, and construction was set to begin after the New Year. That sprawling mansion, designed in a Sino-Western fusion style, was significantly larger than this one, featuring its own golf course, both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sizable garden, and a private hot spring.

Additionally, it would have a helicopter pad for take-offs and landings. Many foreign estates had such facilities; Zhang Yang hadn't initially planned for one but decided to include it after consideration. Helicopters were expensive, but Zhang Yang could afford them. Private aviation was still an emerging concept in this era, and staying ahead of the trend suited Zhang Yang, a man who enjoyed the finer aspects of life.

Unfortunately, building that villa would take time, especially since the design included a secure underground vault for important medicinal herbs he had collected. This made construction more complicated; factoring in both building and decorating, it would take nearly a year, meaning he wouldn't move into this new home for another year. Zhang Yang was already contemplating transferring Uncle Nan and the staff over then, having Uncle Nan arrange for a new butler here. Between the two properties, Zhang Yang valued the Changjing estate the most.

Time passed quickly. After visiting the maternal grandfather of Gu Fang and the elders of Cai Zheling’s family, the Lantern Festival quietly slipped by.

These few days had flown by, and Mi Xue was extremely content because Zhang Yang had spent them all by her side, even accompanying her on shopping trips. Shanghai was much larger than Changjing, making the shopping experience here much more vibrant.

“Ring, ring!”

A phone rang beside the bed. Mi Xue drowsily opened her eyes, revealing an arm as soft as jade. She swayed slightly, letting out a soft hum, and turned over to go back to sleep. It had been the Lantern Festival the night before, and Zhang Yang had taken her out to watch the fireworks, returning very late. After coming back, they were both energized; Mi Xue, in her excitement, had agreed to several new positions she had never tried before, greatly increasing Zhang Yang’s ardor, and they had kept at it until the middle of the night. The last few hours yesterday had been tiring yet blissful for Mi Xue. However, with Zhang Yang’s stamina, several hours—even a whole night—was nothing. Zhang Yang had immense energy, but Mi Xue did not. Fortunately, Zhang Yang had channeled some internal energy into her to regulate her system, allowing her to keep pace.

“Hello, this is Zhang Yang. Who is this?”

Because they had been so engaged, Zhang Yang had uncharacteristically foregone his early morning cultivation session to sleep in with Mi Xue. The call was from the landline in Changjing. Zhang Yang answered without hesitation, directly asking who it was. Few people knew his number; callers were usually acquaintances, yet this number seemed unfamiliar.

“Zhang Yang, where are you? It’s Zhu Daoqi!”

A clear, hearty laugh came through the receiver. Zhang Yang’s nose twitched slightly, and he sat up.

“Dean Zhu, it's you! I’m in Shanghai right now. Why are you calling me so early?”

He checked the time—it was only 7:30 AM, well before official working hours. Zhu Daoqi’s call was indeed early.

“I woke up a little early today, so I gave you a ring first. I hope I didn't disturb you? You’re in Shanghai; do you happen to have time in the next few days to accompany me to Hangzhou? There’s an inter-school exchange activity, and I want you to attend with me as a representative!” Zhu Daoqi said, smiling. He was the Vice Dean of the Medical College, and for a Vice Dean to speak so politely to a student, Zhang Yang had certainly set a precedent at Changjing University.

Zhang Yang glanced back at Mi Xue, who was still sleeping, and nodded gently. “I have time, but I won't be alone!”

“The number of people doesn't matter, as long as you can come is what counts. I’ll be in Hangzhou the day after tomorrow. You can head straight there from Shanghai; we’ll meet in Hangzhou around noon!” Zhu Daoqi’s voice grew cheerful. After a few brief exchanges, he hung up.

Listening to the dial tone, Zhang Yang shook his head slightly again. It seemed his extended period of leisure and inattention to his research project had not gone unnoticed by the school. Otherwise, Zhu Daoqi wouldn't be speaking to him this way. Even though the school was aware, they hadn't revoked his holiday. They understood perfectly that a student like Zhang Yang was far from ordinary. As long as his name remained registered at the university, he was a resource; where he chose to spend his time was no longer their concern.

Zhang Yang recognized this, but the school had granted him considerable privileges, and now that they needed him for something, it wouldn't be right to refuse. From Zhu Daoqi’s tone, this was an activity between several schools; if only the two of them attended, it likely wouldn't be a major affair. Hangzhou was very close to Shanghai, so he could easily bring Mi Xue along for a side trip. Hangzhou was a renowned tourist city, most famous for West Lake, though winter wasn't the best season for it compared to summer. Still, Hangzhou had plenty of delicacies worth sampling.

He had two days before the trip, so Zhang Yang wasn't in a rush to prepare. He let Mi Xue continue sleeping and headed out to the courtyard for a run. This time, it was purely for physical exercise, without using any internal energy. A lap without using Neijin was quite refreshing, but his physique was so excellent that he barely broke a sweat. If he had sweated a bit, a hot shower afterward would have been supremely comfortable.

Meanwhile, Zhu Daoqi, having hung up, also wore a slight smile. Zhang Yang’s guess was correct: the school knew he hadn't been heavily involved with the research center lately. Whether Zhang Yang participated or not, the project was progressing well and already had successful proof-of-concept cases. This was a project highly likely to succeed, and if it did, the university would gain immense honor simply by having participated and having a student as the lead figure. Zhang Yang’s physical presence at the school was now largely irrelevant.

Furthermore, this activity was indeed minor—a simple exchange event among major medical colleges, this being the eighth iteration. Such events were typically forums for exchanging institutional achievements, posing no significant issues, culminating in a small evaluation. The evaluation covered more than a dozen major categories and forty minor classifications, meaning nearly every school could take home a medal—a satisfactory outcome for everyone involved.

Normally, such a routine activity wouldn't require Zhang Yang’s presence; Zhu Daoqi could have gone alone. However, yesterday he had suddenly heard news: his arch-rival, Wang Jinhui from Jinling University, was also attending, arriving with aggressive intent to thoroughly defeat Changda in the rankings, seeking revenge for the previous student exchange meeting where Jinling had been thoroughly humiliated. Even for such a small event, they wouldn't let the opportunity pass. If it were any other school, it might be one thing; Changda had already had its moment in the spotlight, and conceding some ground in an unimportant activity might be acceptable. But not against Jinling University—wherever they were present, Changda would never yield an inch.

Lacking preparation, Zhu Daoqi felt uncertain. He suddenly remembered that Zhang Yang was free and decided to call him, asking him to come along. In his mind, Zhang Yang was a young man skilled at creating miracles; with him present, even without proper preparation, they certainly wouldn't let the Jinling University contingent prevail. That was why he had called Zhang Yang so early that morning. Securing Zhang Yang’s agreement instantly eased Zhu Daoqi’s mind, greatly boosting his confidence for the Hangzhou event.

Mi Xue woke up and was overjoyed to hear about the trip to Hangzhou, wearing a smile all day. Her schedule was currently light; the last half-semester of her senior year was very relaxed, mostly just waiting for the term to end and collect her diploma. Many classmates were already busy looking for jobs, as placements weren't assigned automatically. Mi Xue had no such worries; she already owned a decent-sized restaurant, and running it profitably earned her far more than a typical job. With free time and nothing pressing, she had hoped Zhang Yang would spend more time accompanying her on outings. Before she could even voice this desire, the opportunity to go to Hangzhou arose, so she naturally had no objection.

The two days flew by. After breakfast, Zhang Yang and his group set off. Shanghai was indeed very close to Hangzhou; the drive on the expressway took just over an hour. For such a short distance, hardly any preparation was necessary. After loading Zhui Feng and Shan Dian into the vehicles, the two cars departed the villa.

This time, Zhang Yang had intended to leave Long Feng and Zhui Feng behind, but Zhui Feng absolutely refused to stay. While the villa was large, it was still too small for him. Having lost the novelty of the place, he was eager to leave and jumped at the chance to go out. Zhang Yang had no choice but to take him. If they left him behind, Zhui Feng might cause a spectacular fit of temper that no one could manage—a far more troublesome scenario.