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*****
Today is New Year's Eve.
Due to the time difference, Mike got up early in the morning and watched the Spring Festival Gala.
As someone nostalgic by nature, he watched it every year—it just wouldn't feel right otherwise.
After preparing breakfast for Gwen and dropping her off at school, he leisurely began making preparations on his own.
In the afternoon, when Gwen returned from school and saw Mike busy at work, she eagerly joined in to help.
Curious yet excited, Gwen asked, "Dad, what day is it today?"
"Spring Festival, an ancient holiday from Huaguo."
Standing at the door, Mike explained while sticking up a couplet.
"Spring Festival?" Gwen repeated the words, then broke into a cheerful smile.
She didn't care where the festival came from—so long as there was a celebration, she was happy.
"Hey! Luke! Uncle John!"
Gwen turned and waved excitedly at the father and son. "We're celebrating the Spring Festival!"
"Spring Festival?"
Luke looked at his father in confusion.
John smiled and said, "It's a holiday from Huaguo."
Then, turning curiously to Mike, he asked, "Mike, why do you celebrate this holiday?"
Mike smiled and replied, "Because it's important to me."
John nodded. "Anything I can help with?"
Mike lifted the couplets in his hands and said, "Come on, help me put these up—they bring good luck."
Good luck, huh?
John pondered for a moment before grinning and walking over.
Once they finished putting up the decorations, John was about to leave, but Mike thought it would be too lonely to celebrate with just him and Gwen. So, he invited the father and son to stay.
As night fell, Mike busied himself in the kitchen.
For tonight's New Year's Eve dinner, he had even crafted a special character card the night before.
Finally, when he brought out a jade-green dragon carved from vegetables and a phoenix made entirely from bean sprouts, Gwen and the others were stunned by the dishes, which looked more like works of art than food.
"Haha! Don't just stare at it!"
Mike set down drinks and alcohol. "Come on, dig in!"
"I almost don't want to ruin it," John sighed in admiration. "This is pure artistry, Mike. You should enter a cooking competition."
Mike chuckled. "Food is meant to be eaten."
With that, he was the first to move, picking up a piece of beef and placing it in Gwen's bowl.
Gwen, completely ignoring her loose tooth, stuffed the meat into her mouth immediately—only to find it scorching hot. She fanned her mouth with her little hands, sucking in cool air, but no matter what, she refused to spit the beef out.
"You little glutton!"
Mike chuckled, handed her a drink, and watched her take a sip, exhaling in relief. When she noticed John and Luke looking at her, her face flushed slightly. She carefully picked up another piece of meat, blew on it twice, and then—
Plop!
A baby tooth flew out and landed on the table.
The room fell silent. Gwen turned to Mike in a daze.
Mike's mouth twitched, but in the end, he couldn't hold it in.
"Hahaha!"
John and Luke burst into laughter as well.
Gwen's already red face turned as bright as a monkey's behind.
Suppressing his laughter, Mike said to John, "I'll take care of this."
John smiled, picked up the tooth, and handed it to Gwen. "Keep it safe. They say the Tooth Fairy will come at night to collect it, and then your new tooth will grow in."
Gwen's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Of course!" John nodded. "But she only comes when you're asleep, so you have to get a good night's rest!"
Gwen nodded enthusiastically.
"Come on, let's rinse your mouth."
Mike dragged Gwen into the bathroom, and after she finished rinsing her mouth, he found a small bag to carefully store her tooth and handed it back to her.
Gwen took it, carefully tucked it away, and smiled with her mouth open, revealing a gap where her front tooth had been. Her smile looked especially cute.
Back at the dinner table, Gwen continued her battle with the delicious New Year's Eve feast.
Meanwhile, Mike pulled out two glasses and said to John, "Want to try some? Chinese white liquor."
John hesitated for a moment, then said, "Sure."
With a single gulp, John drank a bit too fast, choking slightly and turning red in the face. However, as the spicy heat rushed down from his mouth to his stomach, he suddenly became quite taken by the sensation.
It was a bit painful, yet strangely pleasant.
He liked it.
Unable to resist, he took another sip from his glass.
Mike raised an eyebrow and said, "John, take it easy."
John nodded, his face flushed, and they both continued drinking while chatting.
The more they drank, the more Mike felt no effect, but his neighbor seemed to be getting a bit tipsy. John's words began flowing more freely as he started telling his story.
Their family had once been perfectly happy, but one morning, like any other, the peaceful day was shattered by the sudden arrival of the police. In front of him and Luke, they arrested his wife for "murder."
Although all the evidence pointed to his wife, she insisted she was innocent.
John and his son Luke both firmly believed her and, for the past two years, John had been searching for evidence to clear her name.
"Mike, do you know?" John looked down at his glass of clear liquor, his gaze distant. "Every time I visit her in prison, it's agony—for her, for me."
Luke lowered his head, his mood quickly darkening.
Mike raised his glass, clinking it gently against John's. "I believe in you both."
John tensed slightly. "Thank you."
Mike raised his glass slightly higher, glancing at the clock. "This is the last one. No more for tonight."
John gave a silly smile and picked up his glass.
Mike paused briefly, then at exactly eight o'clock, lifted his glass and said, "Here's to a better tomorrow."
John replied, "Tomorrow… better!"
At the same time, Charles from X Academy, Eric far away, and Clark, who had been wandering the world, all raised their glasses with smiles on their faces, offering a distant toast as the clock struck eight.
In the jungle, Clark put down his water bottle and took a bite of the grilled fish he had made himself, nodding in satisfaction.
Over the years, he may not have grown in many ways, but his cooking skills had certainly improved.
He had nearly traveled the entire world, and his heart, like a polished gem, had grown brighter and purer.
Meanwhile, Charles also set down his glass.
The Black Queen was about to make her move, and their plan was set to begin. If successful, not only would X Academy be built, but Eric would also take control of Hellfire, and then the two brothers could move on to their next step.
To prepare for the upcoming operation, they had formed a small team.
The team members were already in place, just waiting for Eric's signal.
"Let's hope things go smoothly."
Charles murmured to himself, then suddenly slapped his forehead and muttered, "I wonder if Dad has prepared any lucky money for us today."
(End of Chapter)