Chapter 50 Do You Like the New Year?
"Dad rarely drinks with others," Caroline said.
"Of course not! But what kind of relationship do we have? We worked in the countryside together, shared hardships, and then returned to the city together. He tells me things he wouldn't tell anyone else." Xander thumped his chest proudly. "We go way back. I didn't make this year's duty roster—by the time I saw it, it had already been sent to the group chat. That Aaron is the kind of guy who can't stand seeing others succeed. If you're below him, he mocks you; if you're above him, he's jealous. I know he deliberately scheduled you for the New Year's Eve shift."
Aaron, as Xander mentioned, was the person responsible for staffing arrangements, and he had single-handedly determined who would be on duty during the New Year holiday.
Caroline understood what Xander meant. "It's really not a big deal. Every shift is the same to me. I'm not married and don't have kids, so it makes sense to let those with families spend time together."
Xander knew he hadn't misjudged Caroline. Her mindset and perspective made her a leadership material.
"Alright, I'll leave you to it. My wife is busy cooking at home—I should head back and lend a hand."
"It's New Year's Eve. You should show off your cooking skills too," Caroline teased.
She walked Xander to the stairwell, where he said, "Go back inside."
"It's fine. I was just sitting around with nothing to do anyway. This gives me a chance to stretch my legs."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Xander's eyes widened. "You know better than to say that! Have you forgotten what I taught you?"
Caroline immediately realized her mistake and covered her mouth.
You should never say you have "nothing to do" or that you're "not busy" while on duty. It was an odd superstition.
Why? Legend had it that saying you weren't busy during your shift would inevitably make things chaotic.
Back in her office, Caroline messaged Elysia on Messenger.
Caroline: [Mom, what are you up to?]
Elysia: [Preparing the chicken for stew. I'm saving the wings for you.]
Caroline's eyes crinkled with a smile as she replied: [You always take care of me best.]
A second later, Caroline received a money transfer from Elysia.
Elysia: [For your hard work during the New Year's Eve shift.]
Caroline immediately accepted the money.
Caroline: [Thanks for the extra-large portion of love, Mom.]
Elysia: [Alright, I need to get back to cooking.]
Caroline: [Okay, my beautiful mother.]
She then opened her chat with Elijah.
Caroline: [Dad, even though work is busy during the holiday, don't forget to eat and take care of yourself.]
One minute passed, then five, fifteen... half an hour.
As expected, waiting for Elijah's replies was always a gamble—they would eventually arrive, just never promptly.
Just as she was about to contact Leopold, Erica called.
"Is this my heavenly, beautiful, elegantly cool, smoking hot bestie Caroline?"
Caroline laughed. "Yes, it's me. And is this my breathtakingly gorgeous friend who makes men weak at the knees with just a hair flip, my amazing bestie Erica?"
Erica's laughter rang through the phone.
"It sure is!"
Caroline asked, "You're looking for me during the holidays? What's up?"
"Are you free on January third?" Erica asked. "From the third to the sixth."
Caroline replied, "Tell me what it's about first, then I'll know if I'm available."
"As I'd ever lead you astray," Erica said. "My company's annual party had a raffle, and I won two tickets for a trip to Pinecrest. Let's go together!"
"What about your parents?" Caroline asked.
"Don't even get me started," Erica sighed. "They've already booked a tour to Crestview without me. Can you believe how savage they are? Going on vacation without their daughter because they want 'couple time' without me cramping their style."
Given how open-minded Erica's parents were—they even supported her decision to remain child-free—their holiday plans without her weren't entirely surprising.
"I should be able to make it," Caroline said.
Erica feigned distress. "You absolutely have to! If you don't come with me, the company will take back both tickets."
"We can't have that," Caroline perked up at the mention of company policy. "Count me in."
Erica said, "Great! Send me a photo of your driver's license later so the travel agency can book our flights and hotel."
They chatted about random topics for a while until Erica, learning that Caroline was on duty, insisted on coming to keep her company at the office.
Finally alone, Caroline opened her chat with Leopold.
Caroline: [Are you busy?]
Meanwhile, at the Emerald Elegance Hotel in Solstice Mountain.
Leopold was coordinating check-in arrangements for a surprise tour group, leaving him no time to check his phone messages.
Half an hour later, Caroline received Leopold's reply.
North: [Just caught up in work. How about you? Busy?]
Remembering her conversation with Xander, Caroline replied: [Not too bad. Are you guys still doing fireworks tonight?]
Leopold replied: [Fireworks aren't allowed—we're too close to the forest, so there's a fire risk. The fire department even came by for an inspection today.]
Caroline sighed in disappointment: [It feels less festive without fireworks.]
North: [I know. I loved fireworks as a kid. We'd stick them in the snow, light them, and run. The snow would explode like flowers, leaving black gunpowder marks on the ice. The next morning, you could still smell that distinctive scent in the air—that's how you knew it was a holiday.]
With just a few words, he painted a vivid picture.
Caroline said: [You were quite mischievous as a kid.]
Leopold asked: [Who took you to see fireworks when you were little?]
Caroline: [Me and all the kids in my family—my brothers and sisters.]
Leopold: [So you had your own little gang.]
Caroline laughed: [What about you? Didn't you have your crew?]
Reading those words, Leopold's smile faded, his lips pressing into a thin line as his brow furrowed.
He replied: [Of course I did when I was young, just like you.]
Caroline could almost picture the scene—Leopold leading a group of children, playfully setting off fireworks.
She asked: [What desserts does your family usually have for New Year's?]
Leopold's knuckles turned white as he gripped his phone, switching from voice messages to text.
North: [Brownies. How about your family?]
Caroline replied: [We're three people with three different tastes. I love chocolate cake, my dad's into apple pie, and my mom craves red velvet cake. Every New Year's Eve, Mom prepares all three desserts, which is quite a lot of work for her.]
Leopold asked: [Does your dad help with the food prep?]
Caroline said: [He used to, back when he wasn't as busy as he is now. On New Year's Eve, he'd prep the ingredients while my mom cooked. Later, I learned how to help too, and would prep alongside my dad.]
Leopold watched a few children chasing each other below, sparklers in their hands, while parents filmed them on their phones, smiles lighting up their faces. But his own reflection in the glass looked forlorn.
Another message appeared in the chat box: [Do you enjoy the holiday season?]