166 Chopstick Knitting (1/2)
The two-meter-tall Christmas tree stood in the middle of the living room. It had taken plenty of effort to move it into the room when it arrived, but this thing that cost several hundred dollars would only be used once during Christmas. The Christmas dinner that had the roasted turkey as the main course covered the whole dining table. The heater in the house was on while the decorations and soft light added to the atmosphere. The room was filled with the smell of roasted food and the sweetness of cakes and pastries.
The baked bacon and eggplant quiche had a layer of cream cheese and egg on top. The top layer was cooked until golden brown. Once close, one could take a whiff of the bacon's saltiness and the eggplant's freshness. The turkey was golden and succulent. Its large body was filled with various stuffing, mushrooms, nuts, and vegetables. Just looking at it could make one's mouth water. The light brown gingerbread man cracked with a snap. The spiciness of the ginger was a perfect match with the sweetness of honey. The cookies were decorated with piped icing, and they looked so cute filling up the plate.
After Anthony cleaned the room, he also cleaned himself up. He took a bath and changed before exiting his room. By then, the sky had darkened. Han Chu nibbled on a cookie as he moved back to his laptop. He was looking through a page that was filled with words while Ye Shuang was happily unwrapping a present that was the size of one's palm. Anthony had not seen that before, so it was probably something that Han Chu had asked someone to prepare for his agent.
Han Chu's face was clean and handsome, his clothes new and net; Ye Shuang was pretty and elegant. Even though she only had on a casual outfit, it fitted perfectly under the soft light. Combined with the tableful of delicious meals and the delicious smell in the air…
Anthony was slightly taken aback. He originally just wanted to demand something for the sake of Christmas, but he did not expect to be given such a perfect Christmas Eve. As long as he did not leave the house, he could convince himself he was attending a family party in America.
”This looks perfect.” Anthony walked over and sneaked a piece of gingerbread man into his lips to test it. Like Han Chu, he snapped the head off first. He licked his fingers clean and asked with surprise, ”Xiao Shuang, have you lived in America before?”
”Nope, no money,” Ye Shuang answered as she pulled out a car key from the unwrapped present box.
”Brother Han, is this for me‽”
Are you sure you didn't have a mix-up somewhere‽
Han Chu raised his head. ”The car is still under my name, and I also have a key, but you can drive it in San Lin City. After all, I don't stay here often.”
Just like the house, this was one of the things that Han Chu needed in places that he might stop at temporarily. Even if he did not give the key to Ye Shuang, he would have given it to Yao Zhixing or Anthony. After all, if he did not use the car, it might just rust.
”That's good enough.” Ye Shuang smiled happily. Even though it was not her thing, the fact that she could use it freely was good enough.
”Where's my present?” Anthony puffed up his cheeks and asked with a cute smile, ”Han, I'm sure you've prepared a present for me too, right?”
”…” Han Chu chewed on the cookie silently, pretending like he did not hear Anthony. What present‽ He did prepare a gift for the agent, but it was a pair of diamond earrings. However, he had planned to collect them from the store the next day… Therefore, just like that. The naughty kid had no present, and he would gift the diamond earring to a family member.
”Han, you're so biased!” The lack of present depressed Anthony. He looked as despondent as a golden retriever who had been abandoned by his owner. Out of pity, Ye Shuang quickly put the car key away and handed the dog the plate of gingerbread cookies to hide the fact that she was the biggest winner that night. ”Here, your present.”
Who wants a cheap present like this‽
Anthony grabbed one of the cookie and bit on it angrily. Han Chu pretended like he did not see anything and moved his laptop away to grab the knife to slice a piece of the turkey to put on his plate. Anthony grabbed the knife after Han Chu and carved a larger piece for himself. Not long after that, the surprisingly scrumptious Christmas dinner got everyone's attention. They spent the joyful Christmas eve, fighting for food.
…
Han Chu went to take a bath before lying down for the night. When he came out of the bedroom to pour himself a glass of water, he was surprised to find Ye Shuang still at his place. The table was cleared up, and only half of the turkey was left. Wrapped up in plastic wrap, Ye Shuang shoved it inside the fridge. The spaghetti and sides were finished, and Ye Shuang placed the plates in the sink for the maid to clean tomorrow.
She had baked two trays of gingerbread cookies. Han Chu's oven was big enough to handle one large turkey, so one could imagine how many cookies Ye Shuang had baked. Other than the ones the trio finished, the remaining cookies could fill up ten small packages, each package having around ten cookies. Ye Shuang kept half of them in the fridge as a snack for Han Chu and Anthony while she took the other half home to be given away as presents.
Anthony had already returned to his room—perhaps he was sleeping or on the internet with friends. In any case, he was preparing to rest. Han Chu thought that Ye Shuang had returned, but he walked out to find the girl sitting beside the window at the corner of the room. A blanket was covering her legs as she lowered her head to focus on her needlework.