Chapter Seventy-Five: Christmas (Part 2)

  "Brother" Gu Huanli woke up from his dream, with a faint sweat on his forehead. In his mind, some distant past events were tangled together in a confusing yet clear manner.

  A gloomy sky, a faint and pale white light spills in from the high floor-to-ceiling windows, quietly spreading across the carpet, the scenery in the room is somewhat hazy.

  Cassidy stood with a tray laden with breakfast in both hands, not far from her bed.

  "Clumsy angel, what are you doing?" Gu Huanli said in a somewhat annoyed low voice.

  "Miss's morning temper, it seems to be only for me." Cassidy said, placing the tray in front of her, "The young master had something urgent and went out, letting me take care of you having a good breakfast."

  Gu Huanli rubbed her temples and sighed, the lingering aura of the nightmare still entwining her heart. "Cassidy, I'm extremely sorry about what happened earlier."

  "Miss, is there something unpleasant in your heart? If you're willing, can you tell me about it?" Cassidy pulled over a chair and sat down beside Gu Huanli, with an expression that said "it's up to you whether or not you speak, but I won't leave until I've heard".

  Gu Huanli didn't immediately respond to him, she just slightly tilted her head upwards towards the sky and looked at it for a long time before murmuring to herself, "Nothing, it's just that Christmas is coming soon."

  It is said that it was the day when God bestowed blessings upon humanity.

  Today is Christmas Eve, and the streets are filled with a joyful Christmas atmosphere. Everywhere you can see beautifully decorated Christmas trees, children wearing cute Santa hats running around, and shop windows displaying a dazzling array of Christmas gifts. Occasionally, snowflakes gently fall from the sky, adding a touch of magic to the scene.

  The romantic and warm atmosphere has also infected the old Gu's house, which had been deserted for many years. The once-abandoned mansion finally welcomed a grand festival and was dyed with a layer of vibrant colors.

  The maids were either busily preparing dinner in the kitchen, or intently polishing the silverware for Christmas Eve until it shone brighter, or hanging garlands of crimson and green, pure white and golden yellow throughout the mansion.

  "On every Christmas tree, countless hopes hang because the dreams of each child condense there. Even trees that don't understand blooming and bearing fruit will have the most beautiful harvest on that night, which is their unique glory." Cassidy stood beside Gu Xiangli who had finished her breakfast, smiling brightly.

  "I didn't used to believe in angels, but now one is standing right next to me. So, Cassidy, tell me, does a Santa Claus who delivers gifts on a reindeer sleigh really exist? Gu Huanli had always thought that Christmas was just like the Spring Festival, a day for people to gather together and enjoy each other's company."

  "Ah..." Cassidy leaned in, looking at her with a lazy and cunning tone, "Miss's bad mood seems to be continuing?"

  Gu Huanli's eyebrows furrowed in displeasure, her tone filled with a hint of childish petulance. "Don't you have anything else to do?"

  "Yes. YZUU" Cassidy nodded slightly, completely ignoring Gu Huanli's gnashing teeth, "Just before Miss wakes up, I received many letters, in order not to affect my time guarding Miss, I had to deal with them first in the study."

  "Letter?" Gu Huanli was taken aback. "Mine? Why didn't you show it to me first? You said you'd handle it, but surely you didn't read all of them on my behalf?"

  Cassidy smiled but didn't answer, instead using two fingers to lightly hold up an envelope and show it to Gu Huanli. The color of the envelope was a bright and festive Christmas hue, clearly an invitation related to Christmas.

  "Oh, that's enough." Gu Huanli turned her head away in disgust, "I don't want to see this kind of thing, you can just watch it for me instead."

  "Hehe, Miss thought, is exactly what I did just now." Cassidy smiled, but his usual gentle face also showed a faint worry. "After all, Master not only hopes that I can be Miss's private home teacher, but also hopes that I can serve as Miss's attendant."

  Gu Huanli regained her usual smiling expression and replied slowly, "Well, besides following the master's orders, one must also take the lead in everything before the master."

  "Only miss, I never knew you disliked Christmas so much. The letters that came included those from your classmates, teachers, and new friends. Of course, among them were also invitations for you to attend various banquets." Cassidy chuckled lightly, but his meaningful laughter left Gu Huanlin feeling perplexed.

  "Do you know what plans your brother has?" Gu Huanli looked up at him with a gaze.

  "Since Master will be back before 7 pm in the evening, I have already declined all invitations on your behalf."

  "Hmm, Cassidy, if you really become a steward, I'm afraid it might make some people feel uncomfortable."

  "Hehe... No matter how sharp I am, I'm still just a small guardian. You are the only one who is supreme." Cassidy bowed elegantly and left with a flourish.

  Looking down at the people still bustling below, Gu Huanli let out a soft sigh. "Christmas... everyone's smiling so happily, it's really something to look forward to, reuniting with family. Unfortunately, I think believing in Santa is a privilege reserved for children, and as for me..." From a young age, she had been living without parents, without a childhood, and Christmas was just a cruel joke where she could only watch others' happiness with envy and force a smile.

  "Miss." Cassidy handed her a cup of Keemun red tea as he walked out of the tearoom, smiling and handing it to her. "Now, it's time for your lesson."

  "Yes, my dear private tutor." Gu Huanli took the tea and drank it all in one gulp - the temperature was just right, sweet and refreshing, her private tutor could indeed brew the best red tea in the world.

  By the afternoon, the intermittent snow had turned into a heavy snowfall. Now looking around, it's already a silver-clad expanse, with delicate snowflakes still fluttering down, falling silently on the vast and fine white carpet; the scattered and elegant fir trees and snow pines are also adorned with elegance...

  The surroundings were eerily quiet.

  "Cassio, how did you spend Christmas Eve and Christmas in the past?" Gu Huanli suddenly asked.

  Cassidy, sitting by the window, lifted her head and smiled slightly, "Having a perfect Christmas tree at home, decorated with exquisite white silk flowers, white silk ribbons fluttering everywhere, white wall hangings on the walls and white carpets..."

  Wait

  White?

  Gu Huanli suddenly had a very strange feeling, and the Christmas decorations that were supposed to be festive and joyful seemed to have a hint of eeriness. Was Cassidy's aesthetic sense for Christmas really on this level? A chill ran down her spine as Gu Huanli suddenly realized she was judging Cassidy with Eastern color theory again. Well, the differences between East and West were indeed not trivial. "Hearing you say that, I'm even more certain that I like colorful styles, at least they're easier for people to accept than the style you described."

  "Actually, my own room is arranged like this." Cassidy gazed at Gu Huanli, his blue eyes occasionally flashing with a hint of confusion as if shrouded in a thin mist. "Miss, would you like to take a look?"

  She would rather not have this interest.

  However, Gu Huanli let out a soft sigh and followed Cassidy to his room. As expected, the white ocean, plus Cassidy's white suit, made her warm pink dress stand out even more. A hint of gloominess flashed across her face as she walked towards the dining table with a steady pace. On the silver decorated vase on the dining table, a large bouquet of white roses that seemed to be deliberately arranged to match the overall color tone, without a single green leaf...

  A drop of cold sweat trickled down her forehead and fell silently.

  "Uh..." Gu Huanli carefully chose her words, "This color combination..."

  "It gives people a huge color impact and visual shock, it's really unforgettable." Emotional words came from He Muyang, who passed by the corridor and occasionally stopped his feet, "Miss wants to say so, right?" And then returned to calm tone.

  "That's right, it is." Gu Huanli looked at He Muyang who suddenly appeared, with a slightly puzzled expression on her face. Didn't her brother go out? Wasn't he supposed to be following him around?

  "I didn't expect the young lady to like it too, this is truly my honor." Squinting his bright green eyes, looking at He Muyang's all-black outfit, Cassidy suddenly laughed extremely happily.

  Seeing such a holy smile that can save the world in front of him, Gu Huan Lian suddenly felt a warmth, is it the festival of "Love, Peace, Forgiveness"?...

  When the night fell, Gu Huanli finally finished her studies for the day. She changed into a new set of clothes and headed downstairs. The moment she stepped into the living room, Gu Huanli was stunned. The living room, which had been slightly chilly during the day, had completely transformed into a different scene.

  Deep red carpet, under the yellowish candlelight on the silver candelabra, is subtly tinged with orange, giving off a warm and cozy feeling that reaches deep into one's heart. Dark green and silvery white are alternately arranged in every corner of the living room, sparse yet elegant. On the walls of the corridor, there are finely woven holly wreaths, with red berries embedded here and there.

  The most dazzling thing is the Christmas tree in the middle of the living room.

  Hundreds of candles shone softly among the branches, the whole tree seemed like a huge glowing body. Silver and pale gold decorations hung densely or sparsely among the dense leaves, swaying gently, silver bells ringing "ding ding". The largest star at the top of the tree was shining brightly. Under the tree, there was a small pile of exquisitely packaged gift boxes that seemed to be placed randomly.

  "Do you like it?"

  Gu Huanli suddenly turned around, looking at the gentle smile on Gu Tianxi's lips and the softness in his eyes. She immediately turned around and threw herself into his arms. "This is the most beautiful Christmas tree I've ever seen, this is the happiest Christmas Eve I've ever experienced."

  "This is the first time we're spending Christmas together." Gu Tianxi's voice had a calming power to it, low but not husky, with a soft magnetism.

  Accompanying Gu Huanli to the living room, beside the warm fireplace. The room didn't have its lights on, only a cluster of flames dancing in front of them. Outside the window, nearby were snowflakes fluttering about, like feathers dropped by angels, slowly falling from heaven, flying over the street's sea of lights. In the distance, the accumulated snow reflected the moonlight, radiating soft silvery white rays.

  Gu Tianxi suddenly produced an exquisite cake box and placed it in front of Gu Huanli.

  Her eyes lit up, and she smiled sweetly, "Although brother doesn't allow me to eat snacks, but I know that brother is the best." As she spoke, she carefully untied the ribbon on the box, and indeed it was her favorite chestnut cheesecake.

  Gu Tian Xi looked at her excitedly cutting the cake, then carefully placing it on the tableware, with a satisfied expression savoring the cake, and couldn't help but reveal a doting smile on his lips.

  Looking at her brother staring at her but not eating the cake, Gu Huanlin shook his head and sent a spoonful of cake into her own mouth. After feeling the sweet aroma filling her mouth, she slightly raised the corner of her mouth with cake crumbs on it, "Brother, come on and eat quickly. If you don't move your chopsticks soon, I'll finish them all off."

  "Xiao Li, have you heard the story of Berth, the God of Peace?" Gu Tian Xi saw that his sister, who was sitting across from him, had finished eating her own cake and was staring at the plate in front of him with wide eyes. He smiled faintly and pushed the plate towards her.

  "Huh?" The Goddess of Peace? Gu Huanlin didn't understand, took a bite of cake, and thought for a moment before responding, "Legend has it that the Yew is the only thing in the world that can harm Bird. The evil god Rochi used it as an arrow to shoot and kill the Goddess of Peace, Bird."

  "This story, Cassidy has told her many times recently, and she can recite it with her eyes closed. Gu Huanli continued, "Burd's mother - Aphrodite was heartbroken when she found out, so she and the other gods tried every means to save Burd's life, and finally managed to revive him."

  Fu Lijia was extremely grateful for the help of the gods, "so promised that whoever stood under the mistletoe would give that person a kiss, and thus formed the symbolic meaning of mistletoe: love, peace, and forgiveness. These three are also the spirit of Christmas." Gu Tianxi's lips curled up with a doting smile, his voice was light and affectionate, "so there is also a tradition, on Christmas Eve, whoever stands under the mistletoe, the people around them can kiss her."

  "Is there such a saying? I didn't know." Gu Huanli made an effort to swallow the bitter yet sweet cake, responding vaguely with her eyes narrowed into a slit due to satisfaction.

  "Come over." Gu Tianxi stretched out his hand, and on the mantelpiece above his head, several branches of unknown plants were proudly displayed. The dark green leaves that remained so in the severe winter, paired with bright red fruits, unexpectedly harmonized. "Although it's a legend, what's the harm in trying? After all, today is Christmas Eve..."

  His voice was somewhat deep, and Gu Huanli was momentarily unsure of how to react. By the time she came back to her senses, she had already snuggled into her brother's arms. "Brother?"

  "When eating, always so careless, not even a bit of elegance." Gu Tianxi let out a soft sigh, her hands gently cupping Gu Huan's face as if holding his most precious treasure, slowly leaning in towards him.

  Long accustomed to being intimate with her brother, Gu Huanli felt Gu Tianxi's tenderness and was almost drowning in those two amber-colored deep pools. Just as she was about to speak, Gu Tianxi's breath made her ears itch, and she couldn't help but shrink back a little.

  Gu Tianxi smiled lightly and said, "My little Li, so cute." After finishing speaking, he leaned down and kissed her lips, slowly licking away the scattered whipped cream with his tongue.

  Gu Huanli felt a strong urge to scratch and hide, but suddenly she felt something lightly touch her lips.

  The two of them were stunned, yet neither of them moved, only maintaining the quiet touch of their lips. This kind of intimacy was too beautiful to be true. Gu Huanli was the first time she had seen her brother's eyes at such a close distance, and she knew that her brother was handsome, but she never knew his handsomeness could take someone's breath away.

  After a long time, Gu Tianxi finally let go, with a smile on his face, "What if my little Li grows up and remembers her first kiss was lost like this, will she cry and ask me to compensate?"