Traffic jam.
Chen Mo stared out the window at the motionless sea of cars, a helpless look on his face. They weren't making it home tonight—this New Year's Eve would have to be spent on the road.
After hours stuck in the car, Xiao Yu had dozed off in his arms, fast asleep with a peaceful expression.
It was already ten at night, and the long line of cars hadn't budged much.
"Black Hawk, let's not try to head back tonight. Find a hotel nearby where we can stay," Chen Mo said in a hushed voice, careful not to wake Xiao Yu.
Black Hawk, seated at the wheel, had been quietly staring at the traffic, his eyes distant and a bit melancholic. When he heard Chen Mo's voice, he blinked out of his daze and nodded.
"Alright."
He slowly turned the wheel and steered them off the main road.
"You okay?" Chen Mo asked, picking up on Black Hawk's gloomy mood.
"It's just... today was the death anniversary of two comrades. Brings back a lot of memories," Black Hawk said quietly. He glanced at Xiao Yu in the rearview mirror, then lowered his voice again. "There are many lives behind the stability we enjoy—sacrifices that most people never know about."
"Can I hear the story?"
Chen Mo gently pulled his coat up to shield Xiao Yu's ears, not wanting her to wake or overhear something upsetting.
Black Hawk thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Last New Year's Eve, we were sent on a special mission—our last one before retirement. We teamed up with Wang Hai's fiancée's unit. They'd already picked their wedding date—Lantern Festival. The plan was to get married right after the mission."
He paused for a breath.
"We completed the mission. But two comrades were lost—on New Year's Eve."
His voice was calm, but Chen Mo could feel the weight behind the words.
"Wang Hai's fiancée died in his arms. He was the toughest guy I knew, never cracked during hellish training, but that broke him. He fell apart. Drank every day for a month straight."
Chen Mo stayed silent, listening.
"The country might look peaceful on the surface," Black Hawk continued, "but there's always a shadow war. People fight in the dark so others can live in the light. Most folks never see it—but it's real."
Chen Mo nodded slowly. His mind drifted to the classified Cobra mission he'd read about—this must have been it.
Before long, they reached a nearby hotel and checked in for the night.
The next morning, the roads had cleared. Chen Mo and Xiao Yu woke early and headed back.
Xiao Yu seemed nervous. Her hand, tightly held in Chen Mo's, was clammy with sweat. They were pulling into a luxury residential estate, and her mind was spinning.
How should she address Chen Mo's parents now?
Back when she was just the girlfriend, she could casually say "Uncle" and "Auntie." But now… things were different.
As they approached the door, Chen Mo's mother opened it with a wide smile, greeting them warmly.
"Mom."
The word slipped out of Xiao Yu's mouth before she could stop it. For a split second, the air froze. Even Chen Mo was stunned.
"...Ah, I mean, Auntie." Xiao Yu quickly corrected herself, flustered.
"You've already got the ring on. No need to call me Auntie anymore." Chen's mother glanced at the diamond on Xiao Yu's finger and smiled even more warmly.
"Mom." Xiao Yu finally said it again—this time with more confidence.
"Aiya! Good girl," Chen's mother beamed like she'd just won the lottery. "Come in, come in, daughter-in-law."
Completely ignoring her own son, she took Xiao Yu's hand and happily pulled her inside.
"Dad." Xiao Yu greeted Chen's father a little more shyly.
"Welcome back." His face lit up instantly, and with that greeting, he had officially accepted her as family.
"Here, this is your New Year red envelope." Chen's mother handed over a thick red envelope before Xiao Yu could even sit down.
"It's not much, just a token for good luck. Whatever you want to buy, let Xiao Mo pay. We don't have any family heirlooms, but yesterday we went out and picked up a nice set of jade bracelets just for you."
She took out a gift box and placed it in Xiao Yu's hands.
"Thank you, Mom."
Xiao Yu was touched. The third time she called her "Mom" came naturally now, without hesitation.
"This one's from Dad," Chen's father added, handing her another red envelope.
"Thank you, Dad."
"You're part of the family now," he said kindly. "No need to be nervous. Treat this like your own home."
"What about mine?" Chen Mo protested, half-joking. "Where's my red envelope?"
"You left yesterday afternoon. You should have been home by evening. If you didn't bring Xiao Yu back, you could've been early. No red envelope for you." Chen's mom gave him a mock glare.
"We were stuck in traffic!"
Chen Mo looked exasperated, as if his parents had traded him in for a better model. Turning to Xiao Yu, he saw her grinning while holding both red envelopes like trophies.
They set their luggage down and rested for a bit before heading out again—to Xiao Yu's home this time.
Both families were small, and each year, they'd rotate who hosted the New Year. Last year, Xiao Yu's family had come to them. This year, it was their turn to visit.
The Jian family lived right next door. When Chen Mo had helped his father buy a home, he bought an extra unit for the Jian family as a thank-you. Both homes were luxury-sized, nearly 30 million yuan each, fully furnished and decorated.
The community was high-end, safe, and perfect for their aging parents. Being neighbors made visits easy and lively.
"Zhenzhen, Uncle, Happy New Year!" Xiao Yu said cheerfully as they walked in.
"Ah, Xiao Mo and Xiao Yu are here!" Zhenzhen greeted them with joy. She had introduced Xiao Yu to Chen Mo and always liked her.
"Perfect timing. The food's just ready. Come on in!"
"This is your New Year red envelope from Uncle and me," said Zhang Yang, handing one to Xiao Yu.
"Thank you, Uncle," Xiao Yu replied with a smile.
"Brother! Xiao Yu!" Zhang Xinxin ran over with a grin. "Happy New Year! Where's my red envelope?"
Chen Mo handed her one. "So why didn't you join us for the holidays this year?"
"I didn't want to be the third wheel," Xinxin grinned. "You two are practically glued together. I didn't want to be the oversized light bulb tagging along."
Everyone laughed as they sat down for the reunion dinner. Unlike previous years, this time there was one new person at the table—Xiao Yu.
At first, she had been nervous, but now she had adjusted. It felt good to be accepted by everyone around Chen Mo.
"Xiao Mo, you two better hurry up," Zhang Yang teased. "Your parents are eager to be grandparents. Xiao Yu, what do you think?"
"I listen to Chen Mo," Xiao Yu said with a flushed face, her voice soft but sincere.
"She's all yours," Zhang Yang joked, chuckling.
"We're not rushing," Chen Mo said. "They waited over twenty years for a son. Two more years for a grandson won't hurt."
"Who said we're not in a rush?" Chen's mom countered from the side. "I'd hold a grandson tomorrow if I could!"
"Yeah, let's go!" Xinxin chimed in. "Have a big fat baby soon—I want to be an aunt!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
The reunion dinner was warm and joyful. After the meal, Chen Mo and Xiao Yu went out for a walk. The square and flower market were bustling, full of families and celebration.
People smiled as they passed, enjoying rare moments with loved ones.
Chen Mo held Xiao Yu's hand and silently followed behind his parents, his heart full of peace and contentment.