Chapter 1418: Watching Fireworks With You

“Why can’t girls set off fireworks? Hmph, mom, you’re discriminating against women!” Curly retorted sharply.

“Women? You’re just a little kid.” Sienna Johnson gently poked her forehead, joking.

“I’m not a little kid, Hugo’s the little kid.” Curly considered herself a big child now.

“Listen to yourself talking like you’re much older than your brother.”

Curly stuck out her tongue at her mom, and Sienna smiled at her dotingly.

Seeing Pauline Briggs enter the kitchen, Sienna followed to help out – with so many family members, there’s so much to prepare for the New Year’s Eve dinner.

It had always been Pauline and Rose Collins bustling around, and Sienna didn’t want them to overwork, so she joined in to help.

In the kitchen, the three women chatted and laughed, finding joy even in preparing the feast.

“Adrian Desmond isn’t returning to Abyanabad?” Rose Collins asked.

“Yeah.”

Rose Collins was pleased, “That’s great. You guys are so young, always being apart isn’t a good thing.”

Rose only implied, voicing concern that Adrian might not withstand loneliness in Abyanabad and end up doing something unfaithful to Sienna.

Sienna wasn’t worried at all. Their relationship was stable, and no one could break them apart now.

“Yes, I never expected Adrian to decide to settle in Sileria City.”

Adrian’s concessions and sacrifices deeply moved Sienna. She never verbalized her feelings but etched his kindness strongly in her heart, reciprocating it in earnest.

…

At eight o’clock, the whole family gathered to enjoy a reunion dinner and watch the Spring Festival Gala, Sienna drinking Osmanthus wine, slightly tipsy.

Outside was freezing cold, but inside was warm and lively, with everyone chatting animatedly.

Everyone shared their New Year wishes. Sienna told Samara, “Work hard for next year’s exams.”

Samara was eating dumplings and almost choked, “Sis, it’s just an exam. Can you not be more nervous than I am?”

Adrian teased, “You’re meddling too much.”

Sienna retorted, “She’s my sister. How am I meddling?”

Samara said, “Sis, I beg you, can we not talk about the exams? I wasn’t nervous at first, but you keep saying it, so now I am. One senior in the class above us did well usually but got nervous before the exam, didn’t perform well. Sis, if I don’t do well, it’ll be all your fault.”

Sienna said, “Alright, alright, I won’t say it anymore. You also need to be attentive.”

Other families’ seniors seem nothing like Samara, who comes home and either takes care of children or cooks, and Sienna hardly saw her touch a textbook.

“Okay, got it.”

Adrian asked, “Has Aaron been tutoring you lately?”

Samara blushed a little, “Brother-in-law, can you tell him not to tutor me anymore? My studies are fine.”

Adrian glanced at Samara, seeming to see she wasn’t appreciative.

“Okay, sure.”

The topic moved away from Samara to Nana, who brought it up herself, hoping to give the Robertson Family a grandson.

Pauline Briggs teased, “You’ve been married just a few days and already want a child… Look at you being in such a hurry.”

Nana blushed and said softly, “Mother-in-law has always wanted a grandchild…”

Rose Collins chimed in, “I do want a grandson, but this sort of thing isn’t urgent, just let it happen naturally. Don’t burden yourself too much.”

“Mm.” The shy Nana nodded her head.

Pauline said, “After I married Sienna’s father, it took two years before I had Sienna. This sort of thing can’t be rushed.”

Speaking of children, it was a sore spot for Pauline Briggs.

The Johnson Family had few offspring; Dexter Johnson was an only child, without a sister or brother. Two years into marriage, she hadn’t conceived despite not using birth control, worried there was something wrong with her health.

Luckily, Dexter was considerate, not pressuring her. Even after having two daughters, he never treated her lightly or disliked her for not bearing a son.

Pauline glanced at Sienna, couldn’t help but think of Dexter, think of Sabrina, those bygone memories like from a past life, haunting and unresolved.

If it weren’t for her foolishness, Dexter wouldn’t have died!

Pauline fell silent.

“Drink less, later we’ll go see fireworks.” Adrian said to Sienna.

“Okay.”

“Daddy, I’m full. Let’s go set off fireworks.”

Curly was half full and stopped eating, dragging Adrian to set off fireworks early; Adrian was taken away by his clingy daughter.

Feeling happy, Sienna drank a few cups of Osmanthus wine. Slightly tipsy, she sat by the window, watching the fireworks, feeling life was very complete.

A while later, Adrian suddenly came in from outside, bringing a chill with him.

“How much wine have you drank?”

“Only a few cups.”

Adrian helped her with her coat, saying, “You, behaving like this, hardly look like you had just a few cups; if you’d said a bottle, it’d be believable.”

“The mood today was good.” Sienna smiled at him happily.

“…”

“Why are you dressing me?”

“To watch fireworks! Mrs. Desmond, how can you miss such a romantic moment?”

Adrian knew this woman feared the cold, even compared to him who lived in the tropics, so he wrapped her tightly, making sure she had a hat, scarf, leaving only half her face visible.

She obediently followed Adrian outside, a gust of cold wind hit; it was so cold he couldn’t help but tighten his clothes around him.

The kids were excitedly chattering, Sienna watched them, her gaze turned very tender.

Adrian then took her hand, leading her afar, “Where are we going?”

“To watch fireworks.”

“Can’t we watch from here?”

“There’re too many people here, it’s noisy.”

Sienna turned her head to look briefly; Pauline, Kiya, Paige, children… many people came out to see the fireworks.

Cloudscape Mansion’s outside area was gathered with many people too. Hearing there would be fireworks here, they came out after dinner.

Adrian led Sienna to a small hill at Cloudscape Mansion, a place with a great view, perfect for watching fireworks.

Suddenly, bursts of explosions sounded, the blue night sky bloomed with a firework, chrysanthemum-shaped, soon more fireworks soared, diverse in form, brilliant and stunning.

Embraced, watching the fireworks together, Adrian and Sienna didn’t speak.

Fireworks soared, transforming into vibrant colors, illuminating the entire sky, making it almost heavenly.

Sienna was transfixed, the fireworks were so beautiful.

Adrian asked, “Do you like it?”

“Like it! Very much.”

Adrian looked at Sienna, kissed her forehead, the fireworks display lasted a full hour till it was all finished.

Yet Sienna remained there, gazing at the night sky’s lingering smoke, reluctant to leave.

“Let’s go, we’ll come back next year for more.”

“Okay.”