Chapter 129: Warmth

A red SUV veered off the road and glided slowly toward Qiu Fengyu’s house, coming to a gentle stop in the front yard. Once the vehicle was steady, the door opened, and a long leg stepped out, followed by a woman dressed in an orange trench coat and sunglasses. Her movements were elegant, graceful in every detail.

The passenger door then swung open, and another woman emerged—not with the same poise, but raising her hands and shouting exuberantly, “Wow, it’s really beautiful!”

Only April could shout so loudly with such enthusiasm. The elegant woman was her best friend, Reese Lassett, a major Hollywood star known for her role as the heroine Diana.

“Hi, Miss Lassett! It’s so nice to see you!” Tim suddenly appeared out of nowhere, spreading his arms wide as if to give Reese a big hug. But Qiu Fengyu grabbed him by the collar and pulled him aside, positioning himself firmly between the two.

“Hello, Miss Lassett,” Qiu Fengyu said, extending his hand.

“You can just call me Reese. Didn’t we use to do that?” Reese smiled as she reached out, and they shook hands before Qiu Fengyu quickly withdrew his.

“Not going to hug me?” April grinned cheekily, opening her arms toward Qiu Fengyu.

Qiu Fengyu tilted his head and offered a hand instead. “Let’s shake hands.”

April turned to Reese, shrugged with a knowing look, and the two exchanged smiles, sharing a silent understanding over the gesture.

“Let’s go see your room,” Qiu Fengyu said to April, shaking his head slightly. “But... they picked from what was left over, so... you should be prepared.”

Leftover picks? April cocked her head, staring at Qiu Fengyu silently. She remained quiet because she had already chosen her room long ago.

“It was Tim and Ryoko Mikura—the Japanese girl you know, now my partner. So...” Qiu Fengyu led them inside. The living room was reasonably well arranged: clean and tidy, not lavish or grand, but its simple neatness earned approving nods from the two women.

“Your room is upstairs,” Qiu Fengyu said.

April followed him up, glancing at the room he showed her, then frowned, looking at Qiu Fengyu and shrugging. “I don’t remember choosing this one…”

“I know, but remember what I said earlier? Ryoko Mikura, my partner,” Qiu Fengyu reminded her.

“That’s not fair!” April huffed, clearly displeased.

“I know... but you’re not here all the time, and I’m not your room guardian... so first come, first served,” Qiu Fengyu said, completely indifferent to April’s frustration. He wasn’t pursuing her, so he acted freely without concern.

Reese stood by the door, arms crossed, smiling quietly. Spectators often displayed such calm detachment. Qiu Fengyu didn’t care either. Whether she was a big star or not, to him, she was just a prettier girl.

“Alright, you’re right. I’ll take this one,” April finally relented, knowing deep down she had no other choice. Forcibly reclaiming her original room might not be stopped by Qiu Fengyu, but it would only sour her relationship with the Japanese girl.

She didn’t live here often, so she wasn’t naive enough to think that occupying a room now meant it was hers forever. With Ryoko’s personality, if she could claim a room once, she could do it twice. Actually, this room was quite nice—a suite with its own bathroom and shower. Spacious, with a comfortable big bed and a TV—what more could she ask for?

“I’ll go get the luggage!” April said to Reese. “We’re staying here tonight.”

Reese looked around the room, especially pleased to see the two sets of toiletries and two sets of towels in the bathroom and shower. She smiled, glancing at Qiu Fengyu. “I didn’t expect you to be so thoughtful. Few men pay attention to these details. You’re the first.”

“Do you often notice these things about men?” Qiu Fengyu shook his head and didn’t linger. Turning, he headed downstairs. “I’m going to make dinner. Feel free to explore on your own.” Without looking back, he left.

Reese was a little stunned. She had never met a man who didn’t want to chat with her. Was he deliberately playing it cool? Just as she was about to say something, April came up the stairs carrying two large bags.

“What a strange guy!” April said as she brought the bags into the room. Reese smiled and told her about Qiu Fengyu’s behavior. “Is he always this cool? Or just pretending in front of me? Honestly, I’ve seen too many men put on an act for me.”

April set down the luggage and clapped her hands. “You’d better believe it—that’s just how he is.”

“Alright, I’ll admit it: my charm is fading,” Reese laughed. “But... he is a very attentive man. Are all Chinese men like this?”

“If I were Chinese, maybe I could answer that,” April said as she pulled clothes out of the bags and opened the wardrobe, then turned to smile. “He even prepared hangers and clips? You’re right—Chinese men really are this thoughtful, I admit it!”

Reese smiled thoughtfully. The two began arranging the wardrobe. Everything was well-prepared; they barely had to lift a finger. Even the slippers had notes to distinguish them, which made the two women laugh.

“You really should hold on to a man like this,” Reese said warmly to April.

April pouted. “No, men like that aren’t for me. Maybe you should try? I can tell you like him already.”

While the two women joked upstairs, Qiu Fengyu went downstairs and entered the kitchen to start on the Christmas feast. Tim joined him, washing vegetables while asking, “So, which one do you like?”

Qiu Fengyu turned to him and said, “Don’t ask about who I like. I want to ask you: do you want revenge?”

Tim fell silent for a moment, then nodded firmly. “Of course. I dream about it. How could I forget? But... this is my business. I won’t let you get involved.”

“I know,” Qiu Fengyu nodded. “That’s why I haven’t interfered. Judging by my experience, the people you want revenge on might be very powerful. In that case, how could you afford to like a girl?”

“Of course not. Even if I liked someone, I wouldn’t get close, because it could put her in danger. That’s why I rejected that girl from my school,” Tim said, pursing his lips. Suddenly he looked at Qiu Fengyu. “Boss, you’re not like that, right? You don’t have enemies...”

“Yes, but sometimes I do dangerous things,” Qiu Fengyu nodded. “No matter how meticulous the plan, nothing is foolproof. If I slip up, those close to me will suffer. That’s why I don’t want to get involved in relationships. Buddy, we’re cut from the same cloth!”

Qiu Fengyu extended his fist, bumping it with Tim’s. “Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Today should be a happy Christmas.”

“Yes, Merry Christmas!” Tim smiled, and they continued preparing dinner.

After a while, dusk gradually fell. There was no wind, nor more snow, but the snow on the ground hadn’t melted, giving the evening a rich, festive Christmas atmosphere.

“Dinner time!” Tim called loudly from downstairs.

The two women came down, radiating elegance. Reese had changed into a high-class-looking wool dress with a small cape, her aura outshining everyone in the room. Tim opened his mouth but said nothing, captivated by her beauty.

April was simpler in jeans and a wool sweater. The fireplace crackled with burning wood, filling the hall with warmth, so no one felt the cold.

“Wow—” April exclaimed in surprise.

Indeed, the Christmas feast was sumptuous, a blend of Western and Chinese dishes. Not only April, but even the refined Reese couldn’t help but lick her lips—a subconscious reaction to the delicious food laid out before them.

There were Western staples like steak, pasta, turkey, vegetable salad, and various sauces, alongside Chinese classics such as sweet and sour ribs, braised beef, and fish head with chopped chili—an abundant spread. The mingling aromas filled the air, drawing the women in with eager anticipation. At that moment, elegance and decorum melted away.

“My goodness... it tastes amazing,” Reese said, sweating slightly but eagerly reaching again for the plate of chili fish head. The sour, spicy, and tender flavors were irresistible.

“Shall we toast together?” April, sitting beside Reese, popped a bone from the sweet and sour ribs before raising her glass. “To this special Christmas, let’s celebrate.”

“Merry Christmas!” Reese also raised her glass and exclaimed loudly before gasping from the spice.

“Merry Christmas!” they all echoed, clinking their glasses together with a crisp “ting.” The joy spread with the meal, warming everyone present.

For Reese and April, this place was a tranquil refuge from their hectic daily lives, a peaceful sanctuary where they could forget their troubles. That was why April insisted on having her own room.

For Qiu Fengyu and Tim, the gathering was more about circumstance, yet sharing this lively Christmas brought warmth to their hearts. Though their reasons and feelings differed, the happiness was shared.

This joy filled the house on Christmas Eve, enveloping everyone inside in its comforting embrace. (To be continued.)