Since the relief efforts for the Shaocheng snow disaster were entirely handled by the First Prince, it had little to do with the Prince Li's household.
Moreover, given the tense relationship between the First Prince and Prince Li's faction, Gu Yanshu and Qin Lu couldn't show too much concern over the matter to avoid misinterpretation by those with ulterior motives.
Under the circumstances, it was better for the Prince Li's household to focus on celebrating the New Year.
This was Gu Yanshu's first New Year's Eve in Tianqi, and also the first time in nearly a decade that he wasn't spending it alone.
The significance of the New Year seems to be ingrained in the blood of every Chinese person over millennia.
No matter how great the difficulties or disasters faced, the Spring Festival remains special—a ritual belonging to every Chinese person.
Even during the apocalyptic disasters, even in the hardest first year, on New Year's Eve, survivors would celebrate—if only by cooking an extra bowl of noodles—and pray for a better year ahead.
Since the apocalypse began, Gu Yanshu's life hadn't been too difficult.
The Gu family owned both traditional and emerging industries, including their own supermarkets and shopping malls, so he never lacked supplies.
Although physically weak, he had loyal subordinates who awakened abilities early and could protect him.
He also had a few close friends he'd grown up with—unbreakable bonds where they supported each other and offered help in times of need.
But this relative comfort couldn't mask the loneliness he felt over those ten years.
After all, loyal subordinates and good friends were not family.
On ordinary days it might not show, but during holidays the difference became clear.
Especially during the New Year, when subordinates and friends all had their own families to celebrate with.
Yet Gu Yanshu's parents had been traveling the world before the apocalypse and never returned after it began.
For ten years, despite never giving up the search, he found no trace of them.
As for the rest of the Gu family… after the struggle for family leadership, what affection remained?
As for a partner…
That went without saying. In his previous life, Gu Yanshu lived nearly forty years. Though many had thrown themselves at him before and after the apocalypse, none had suited his taste.
He would rather stay single than settle, so he never accepted any of them.
Over the decade, some had invited him to celebrate the New Year together, but he always declined.
During such a special time, everyone preferred to be with family.
Even if his friends' families didn't mind, being around other people's happy families and partners only made his own solitude feel more pronounced.
So, Gu Yanshu spent ten New Year's Eves completely alone.
That was why this year felt especially significant to him.
After all, he was no longer alone.
Thinking this, he couldn't help but glance toward the person beside him.
At that moment, as if sensing something, Qin Lu also looked up and met his eyes:
"What is it?"
"Nothing," Gu Yanshu smiled slightly. "I was just thinking… how fortunate I am to have met you."
Love at first sight is always rooted in physical attraction.
Gu Yanshu never denied that he was initially drawn by Qin Lu's face, which perfectly matched his ideal.
But after this time together, what attracted him to Qin Lu was no longer just his appearance.
Perhaps because of the sudden declaration of affection, or perhaps because of the focused look in Gu Yanshu's eyes, Qin Lu's ears slowly turned pink:
"Why say that so suddenly?"
Even after all this time, after everything they had done—appropriate and not—Qin Lu would still, at unexpected moments, react with endearing innocence.
The slight melancholy Gu Yanshu had felt moments earlier, thinking of his past life, instantly vanished at Qin Lu's reaction:
"Naturally, because seeing you makes me unable to hold back."
The faint pink on Qin Lu's ears deepened.
Yet he kept a straight face:
"Mm. This Prince understands!"
Then, he directly found an excuse to stand up and leave.
This was already a habitual tactic of his.
Whenever flustered by Gu Yanshu's teasing and unsure how to respond, Qin Lu would make an excuse to escape.
And Gu Yanshu loved nothing more than seeing Qin Lu's ears turn red whenever he heard affectionate words, even while maintaining a serious expression—it always made him want to tease him more.
After repeating this dynamic, it had become a silent understanding between them.
But this time, it seemed a little different.
Just as he reached the doorway, Qin Lu paused.
Just as Gu Yanshu was wondering why, he heard Qin Lu's low, slightly hesitant voice from the entrance:
"What my Consort feels is also what this Prince feels in his heart."
To have met Gu Yanshu was equally a stroke of luck for Qin Lu.
By the time Gu Yanshu processed the meaning of these words, all he saw was Qin Lu's hurriedly departing figure.
Perhaps unaccustomed to such direct and emotionally open words, the usually poised Prince Li's steps were uncharacteristically flustered.
Even from a distance, Gu Yanshu could clearly see the Prince's brightly reddened ears.
Only after Qin Lu disappeared from view did Gu Yanshu slowly withdraw his gaze, softly chuckling to himself:
How could there be someone as adorable as Qin Lu in this world?
Meanwhile, Qin Lu, who had only left the main courtyard because his Consort's words made his heart race uncontrollably, hadn't gone far.
He simply took a short stroll around the estate.
Qin Lu was usually busy with official duties and rarely had time to wander idly through his own residence.
Now, as he looked around, he suddenly noticed that his palace seemed to have undergone significant changes.
In Qin Lu's memory, his residence had been rather plain.
Compared to the intricate corridors, pavilions, and towers in the Fifth Prince's estate, the Prince Li's residence was more like a commoner's home.
The Fifth Prince had often nagged at him to decorate and refurbish his estate, but Qin Lu had never taken it to heart.
To him, a house was merely a place for rest—its outward appearance didn't matter.
But now, looking up, he saw many decorations that hadn't been there before.
The once plain courtyard walls now featured subtle carvings.
The estate no longer had only pine and cypress trees—peach and pear trees had been added as well.
Though it was winter and nothing was in bloom, he could imagine how beautiful the peach blossoms would be when spring arrived.
Additionally, the previously empty courtyards now had small gardens, and a pond had been dug in the once barren backyard.
"All of this was the Consort's idea. He said the original estate was too plain," explained a servant of the household.
When the main courtyard was being renovated, Gu Yanshu had mentioned wanting to make some changes to other parts of the estate as well.
At the time, Qin Lu had agreed without a second thought—after all, Gu Yanshu was also master of this household.
But he hadn't expected that "some changes" would bring such a transformation.
Looking at the estate, now so different from his memory and almost unfamiliar, Qin Lu felt a strange yet not unpleasant emotion rise within him.
No wonder that back in the army, no matter how bad-tempered a man usually was, whenever he mentioned his wife, his tone and expression would soften.
At the time, Qin Lu had thought they were merely indulging in sentimental attachments.
But now, whenever he thought of Gu Yanshu, he understood exactly how those soldiers felt.
Gazing at the frozen surface of the nearby pond, Qin Lu suddenly felt a strong desire to see Gu Yanshu—even if they did nothing but share the same room, it would be enough.
Once this thought took hold, he couldn't suppress it. Without overthinking, he turned and walked back toward the main courtyard.
Before even entering, he heard his Consort's voice:
"How did you manage to do it like this? Never mind—set that aside for now and bring me that bowl of water over there!"
"You've put too much filling! It's definitely going to fall apart when we boil it!"
…
Even without seeing Gu Yanshu's expression, Qin Lu could imagine it from his tone—slightly exasperated yet undeniably joyful.
Entering the room, he indeed found Gu Yanshu sitting cheerfully at the table, wrapping dumplings.
The table was covered with filling and dough wrappers. Baizhu, Zhige, and Xingren were also standing nearby, each holding a piece of dough.
"Your Highness is back?"
Hearing the movement at the door, Gu Yanshu looked up, his smile unchanged:
"Your Highness, look—Zhige and the others are so clumsy they can't even learn to wrap dumplings properly!"
"What made you decide to wrap dumplings yourself?"
Qin Lu stepped closer to Gu Yanshu.
A quick glance showed that only two or three dumplings had been finished—clearly, they had just started.
"Dumplings on New Year's Eve are more meaningful when made by hand," Gu Yanshu replied, smiling at Qin Lu.
This was actually a habit from his previous life.
The Gu family was vast and wealthy. Although his parents loved him deeply, they were often too busy with work to spend time with him.
During particularly busy years, the three of them might meet only a few times.
Eventually, his parents made a rule: no matter how busy, they must spend New Year's Eve together!
Later, to strengthen their bond, they decided to make dumplings together on New Year's Eve.
Both of Gu Yanshu's parents came from wealthy families and had never done manual work—making dumplings was entirely new to them.
The first few years were messy, and the dumplings weren't pretty.
But those imperfect dumplings brought a warmth that servants' perfectly made ones never could.
The tradition had continued ever since.
Even after the apocalypse began and his parents were lost, Gu Yanshu kept the habit alive.
When Xingren had earlier asked about the dumpling filling for tonight, Gu Yanshu had asked for the ingredients and dough to be brought so he could make them himself.
Now that Qin Lu was back, Gu Yanshu didn't hesitate to invite him:
"Would Your Highness like to join?"
Qin Lu's eyes swept over the table once more, then settled on Gu Yanshu's smiling face. He nodded slightly:
"Yes."