Chapter 499: Chapter 499

Deng Zhaoyan could learn, but she probably wasn’t satisfied being buried in obscurity for so long.

A person who’s just learned how to walk already wants to run, there’s no such good luck!

Luo You patted He Jinxia on the shoulder, "You don’t need to understand, as long as I do. You’re joining the ’Youth X3’ cast on New Year’s Day, so do your best and don’t lose face for our Hua Country!"

Racial and regional discrimination exists all the time, even in foreign countries that claim to be egalitarian and value freedom and democracy.

Although she was only going to act, unforeseen circumstances could arise, and Luo You couldn’t follow her, so he had to repeatedly remind her.

He Jinxia nodded, indicating that she understood.

On December 31st of the year 8012, the last day of the year, snow began to flutter down in Imperial City.

Upon waking up and opening the window, the whole world seemed to have turned into a land of pure white, dressed in silver, without a single flaw. Googlᴇ search novel fire.net

He Jinxia nestled in her blanket not wanting to get up, and upon stretching her hand out of the covers, hiss—so cold!

"Jinxia, hurry up and get out of bed, it’s time to make dumplings and sweet rice balls!" Mrs. He’s voice came from outside the door, accompanied by a firm knock.

He Jinxia responded and resignedly got up to get dressed.

The central heating wouldn’t come on until tomorrow; she had spent most of her days resting at home, wrapped up in her blanket.

Mrs. He couldn’t help but chide her for this comfortable lifestyle, too idle!

He Jinxia didn’t care and continued to comfortably roll herself like a cocooned silkworm in her blanket.

Unfortunately, the good times were coming to an end. Tomorrow on New Year’s Day, she had to attend the launch of Huami’s latest smartphone model, "Youth X3." Once the launch event was over, she’d have to fly to M-country to join the film crew.

Even though the director had said that shooting wouldn’t begin until January 2nd of the following year, He Jinxia couldn’t possibly arrive at the set on January 2nd. It was only right for her to get there a day early.

Since she wouldn’t have time tomorrow, Mrs. He decided to treat today as New Year’s Day and let Jinxia celebrate the holiday early.

After getting ready and going out, after wrapping a dozen or so dumplings, Aunt Rui came upstairs with Sheng Yan for a visit.

Uncle Sheng wouldn’t be back until tomorrow, so Aunt Rui and her family would make their dumplings then; they had come over today especially for Jinxia to celebrate the holiday.

Upon arrival, Sheng Yan automatically took a seat next to He Jinxia and started helping her wrap dumplings.

He Jinxia sent him to wash his hands first. Even if he was going to wrap dumplings with disposable gloves, Sheng Yan had to wash his hands. With raised eyebrows, he did as he was told.

Aunt Rui and Mrs. He sat at another table, chatting about family matters—what vegetables were getting expensive, which fruits were delicious and cheap, and which dances they couldn’t do at the plaza anymore...

After Sheng Yan washed his hands, He Jinxia took his hands and taught him how to make dumplings. He’d never made them before, and his first dumpling turned out somewhat ugly.

He Jinxia felt a little smug, finally overshadowing Sheng Yan in one thing, feeling very proud.

"You’re supposed to fold it , your technique is wrong."

"That’s not how you do it, watch carefully, I’ll do it once more for you to see."

"Sheng Yan, you’re so clumsy. Look at your slender and beautiful hands, you should master these things with ease; it’s very simple, just study it more seriously!"

After making a dozen dumplings in a row, He Jinxia looked up and suddenly realized, why were they all dumplings she had wrapped?! This, this wasn’t logical!

Turning her head to look, Sheng Yan was leisurely picking up a piece of dough, slowly scooping a spoonful of filling into the center, then lazily picking up chopsticks to dab some water on the edges of the dough. Finally, he began folding the dough like an old man.

The folding was too gentle, and as soon as the dough stuck together, the creases vanished, making it look nothing like a dumpling, devoid of any dumpling aesthetics.

Having finished a dumpling, Sheng Yan placed it to the side, and He Jinxia followed his gaze, only to see he’d made just five!

Good heavens, so all that talk of hers was just hot air?

He Jinxia’s eyes darted around, she huffed lightly, and set down the dumpling wrapper in her hand. She wasn’t going to wrap anymore, instead, she stared straight at Sheng Yan.

Sheng Yan noticed He Jinxia’s gaze and his mouth corners curved imperceptibly, his movements remaining leisurely.

Her inability to stand his nonchalant manner, He Jinxia began to instruct him.

Under her watchful eye, Sheng Yan’s dumplings started to take shape, and his speed increased too.

He Jinxia felt reassured inside, and patted Sheng Yan, exclaiming, "A teachable lad, indeed!"

Sheng Yan smiled at her, but said nothing.

Just then, Mrs. He came over with a tray of dumplings and seeing He Jinxia doing nothing while Sheng Yan wrapped dumplings alone, she couldn’t help but give a critique.

"Jinxia, why are you letting Sheng Yan wrap all by himself? Get moving, we’re almost done here, no slacking off!"

Aunt Rui spoke up in her defense, "Jinxia finally has a day off, let her rest for a bit."

Mrs. He nagged, "You don’t know how lazy she has become in these past few days, almost as bad as a pig, burying herself in the covers all day. I thought she was diligently practicing in her room, but turns out she was lying in bed playing on her phone!"

Sheng Yan curiously asked, "Playing on the phone?"

Mrs. He: "Hmm, watching TV series, scrolling through Weibo, listening to songs, and such. Far too lazy!"

He Jinxia blushed with embarrassment under Mrs. He’s words, as her life resembling that of a pig’s hadn’t exactly been days of indulgence!

She quickly cooed, "Mom, I’m just observing. My new role is dance and singing-related, so I have to do plenty of research."

Aunt Rui quickly chimed in, "Yes, Jinxia needs to do her research properly."

She turned to Mrs. He and began to chat, "Actually, the lifestyle Jinxia is leading is quite normal. Didn’t I see on the news just a few days ago? It showed the daily lives of contemporary youths, quite a few are like her. Oh, those are the college life..."

Mrs. He was drawn into Aunt Rui’s topic and let go of her grip on He Jinxia.

Jinxia breathed a sigh of relief, but when she turned her head, she met Sheng Yan’s half-smiling gaze, and her heart faltered.

Sheng Yan spoke softly, "Lately you’ve been too busy to chat with me, hmm?"

He Jinxia cleared her throat, averted her eyes, and murmured, "Yeah, I’ve been quite busy, observing the lives of the youth!"

Sheng Yan: "So lying in your quilt watching TV shows and variety shows makes you too busy to talk to me, hmm?"

He Jinxia faltered again, "I considered that you’re busy too, I didn’t want to bother you..."

Sheng Yan: "So when I try to chat with you, you don’t engage, hmm?"

He Jinxia couldn’t take it any longer, and in a small voice, she pleaded, "I’m wrong, all right? Is that not enough?"

At the end, she added, "I was on vacation, but you’re not. You have to work every day, which is so exhausting. I really didn’t want to bother you."

Sheng Yan glanced at her, saying indifferently, "You coming over to chat with me will never be a bother."

Upon hearing this, He Jinxia felt even more guilty. She had indeed been neglecting Sheng Yan these past few days. Ah, it was all the fault of that little demon, the smartphone~

She said softly, "I was wrong. What would you like? I’ll get it for you."