Chapter 473: New Year’s Eve Dinner After Marriage

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

New Year's Eve.

Xu Xi, as before, visited everyone in the Qiuhuo Army, as well as Li Wanshou and the Red Dragon who were far away in the capital.

He presented New Year's gifts that carried auspicious blessings.

As for the parents of the Princess and the Hero, he planned to visit them at a later date.

Whoosh— Whoosh—

The northern wind was like a blade, rolling up the scattered leaves and dust on the ground, mixed with a chilling aura, whistling as it rushed across the wide road.

Xu Xi had just returned from the capital.

He looked at the snow-covered Yanshan City, subconsciously taking a breath, feeling the cold air circulate in his lungs, bringing a slight stimulation to his whole body.

Afterward, the hot air he exhaled turned into white mist.

It dissipated quickly in front of his face.

The cold winter could not affect Xu Xi's health; he was simply enjoying the tranquility of this winter.

"The first New Year after marriage…"

"What should I make for this year's New Year's Eve dinner…"

Pondering the menu for tonight's New Year's Eve dinner, Xu Xi walked towards the Courtyard. On the way, a cold wind blew, rolling a small cotton hat over.

He bent down and picked it up.

Xu Xi scanned left and right.

Soon, a small figure hurried over.

"Is this yours?"

"Mm-hmm!"

"Don't lose it next time," Xu Xi smiled. Standing under the pale winter sun, he returned the cotton hat to the little girl.

"Thank you, big brother!"

Watching the other party run away excitedly, Xu Xi subconsciously touched his face.

Although the years within the simulation would not affect his body in the real world.

But the accumulation of the soul was real; those were the wear marks left by time.

"Being called that, I suddenly feel thousands of years younger."

Xu Xi laughed.

He pushed open the gate of the Courtyard and walked along the winding brick path towards the house.

With every breath.

A puff of hot air was sent out from his nose and mouth.

Then it condensed in the outside air, forming a clear white mist, diffusing in the dry, cold air.

"Are Klisa and Ele not home?"

Xu Xi was a bit surprised.

In the past, the Courtyard would be swept clean, tidy, and orderly.

But today, the Courtyard looked a bit messy, with fallen withered leaves everywhere, as well as branches broken by the weight of the snow.

This scene.

Was actually very rare.

This meant that both the Witch and the Mech-Servant were busy and had left the Courtyard temporarily.

"Where did the two of them go?" Thinking this, Xu Xi picked up a broom and gently swept away the snow in the Courtyard.

Compared to instantly solving it with extraordinary power.

This "primitive" manual labor was more in line with Xu Xi's habits.

"Mm, that's about it," looking at the cleaned Courtyard, Xu Xi nodded slightly and turned to walk into the house, preparing for tonight's New Year's Eve dinner.

After pushing the door open.

What came into view was the spacious living room.

Usually, there would be one or two people sitting here, but today the living room was as empty as the outside, with no one present.

"Are Mo Li and the others not here either?"

Xu Xi let out a soft sound of surprise.

Looking around, apart from the bright white ceiling lights, there were only the newly replaced coffee table, sofa, and other items in the living room.

"Bang bang—"

"Crackle—pop—"

Xu Xi was just about to use his abilities to find where the girls had gone.

But he discovered.

From the kitchen ahead, came the sound of pots and pans clashing, as well as familiar tones of speech.

"Let me! Let me!"

"The first dish is almost ready!"

Walking down the hallway, Xu Xi saw the kitchen entrance, bright with all the lights on, and several busy figures moving about.

His confusion was resolved at this moment.

The five girls hadn't left the Courtyard.

Instead, they were gathered in the kitchen, cooking together.

"Brother, you're back?"

Seeing Xu Xi standing at the kitchen door, the girls stopped what they were doing simultaneously.

Xu Xi scanned them and found that everyone was making different food.

The younger sister was making sweet and sour pork ribs.

The Witch was making a celebratory cake.

The Princess was making salt and pepper Dragon meat.

The Mech-Servant was brewing a large pot of special golden nourishing soup.

The Hero didn't choose to roast fruit but instead made a hometown flavor dish.

"Mm, I'm back. What are you all…"

"Ahem, haven't I married you, Sir?"

Facing Xu Xi's confusion.

Wu Yingxue answered first: "After all, it's the first New Year after our marriage. I thought it should be more meaningful, for example, making a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner for you to taste my cooking."

"I thought so too, Brother…"

The others nodded slightly.

According to the plan, they intended to finish the New Year's Eve dinner before Xu Xi got home.

However, except for Klisa and Ele, the progress of the others was quite slow.

By the time Xu Xi got home.

The New Year's Eve dinner hadn't been finished yet.

"It's fine, I'll handle the rest," Xu Xi walked into the kitchen, smiling as he took the spatula from Xu Moli, while telling the others to go rest.

"Eh, Brother."

"Only eating and not cooking is not my style. Alright, go take a break."

The girls wanted to make a meaningful, sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner for Xu Xi as his wives.

Coincidentally.

Xu Xi had a similar idea.

As a husband, to make a table of delicious food that could remain a beautiful and warm memory.

He casually turned on the new range hood, and amidst the constant rumbling, Xu Xi prepared to start cooking officially, only to find the girls were still in the kitchen.

They were very stubborn.

They wouldn't let Xu Xi do it alone no matter what.

Ele stepped forward, her words logical: "Master, I have already mastered the essence of glowing cuisine. Please let me help."

"Lord Wizard, perhaps, can I use my holy sword to help chop vegetables?"

"Brother, I can help out!"

"Mentor, as your wife, I cannot let you work alone."

"Uh, that… how about I try the food?"

Seeing everyone finding their own position, Wu Yingxue hesitated and proposed a tasting position for herself.

"…"

"…"

"I'll just continue roasting the meat then."

Facing the gazes of everyone, Wu Yingxue decided to make a dish of roasted Dragon ribs in addition to the salt and pepper Dragon meat.

Speaking of barbecue.

This was her specialty.

Yingxue, sortie again!

In the busy kitchen, time passed unknowingly, several figures moved in coordination, firelight and cooking fumes weaving into a bright scroll.

Those sounds that should have been noisy, the crackling and popping.

As the sound of firecrackers outside rang out one after another.

Gradually converged into a symphony.

"Click—" As Xu Xi turned off the valve, the last glowing dish was served, the aroma spreading throughout the Courtyard.

"Is something wrong, Ele?"

Xu Xi saw the Mech-Servant in a daze.

The darkening sky highlighted the bright white light inside, as well as the brightness of her silver-blue eyes.

She looked at the steaming dishes on the table and replied:

"Master, it's so strange."

"It's clearly not the first time I've spent the New Year with you."

"But this year's New Year's Eve dinner makes my heart feel very strange," Ele covered her heart with her hands, and what appeared on her face was not a look of confusion, but a calm smile of peace.

Xu Xi pulled out the dining chair for her.

Then he also pulled them out for his sister, the Witch, the Princess, and the Hero.

His voice was still as gentle as ever.

"I think it's probably because this year, we have truly built a home."

There is a difference between [Home] and [Home].

The mutual support of the past, huddling together for warmth in the cold winter, had followed the passage of time and become a new home between husband and wife.