The next day, Yan Luoxi was jolted awake by the sound of firecrackers. Banshan Villa was in the suburbs, beyond the reach of the city inspectors, so fireworks and firecrackers had gone off all night, and at dawn that morning, the explosions rose one after another.
She hadn't been sleeping very well lately. Once the firecrackers woke her, she couldn't fall back asleep, but the man beside her was still sound asleep. She carefully lifted the hand he'd draped over her waist and quietly got out of bed.
She stretched lazily, slipped on her slippers, and walked toward the door.
Downstairs was silent; apart from the light spilling out of the kitchen, the whole villa was very quiet.
Yan Luoxi held onto the banister as she went downstairs. At the kitchen door, she saw Aunt Tong kneading dough. She walked in, took out a bulging red envelope from her pocket. "Aunt Tong, Happy New Year!"
