「New Year's Eve.」

The older generation sat on the sofa watching the Spring Festival Gala, while Zhang Yuxi and Lin Feng slipped into their room to count red envelopes as the babies slept.

Though the babies were still small, their grandparents had been very generous.

"Honey, my side comes to one hundred thousand. How about yours?"

"Fifty thousand."

Actually, it wasn't the amount of money inside that they cared about, but the red envelopes themselves. Having long passed the age of receiving them, getting these from their babies made them just as happy as if they'd received them for themselves.

"Honey, this is the first New Year I've spent with you," Zhang Yuxi whispered, snuggling into Lin Feng's arms. "I hope there will be a second, and a third… until we grow old together!"

Lin Feng held her. "Silly girl, of course we'll grow old together."

Suddenly, a series of firecrackers exploded outside.

BOOM! BOOM! The loud blasts startled them both.

Their heads snapped toward the cribs. As they feared, the babies all shuddered with fright.

Lin Feng leaped out of bed to close the window, but it did little to block the relentless sound of firecrackers, each volley louder than the last.

The fourth baby woke up with a wail.

Lin Feng drew the curtains, but the cacophony from outside still seeped through.

After the fourth baby started crying, the third baby soon followed.

Zhang Yuxi picked up the fourth baby to comfort him, covering his ears with her hands. "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Mommy's here…"

Lin Feng held the third baby, gently covering her ears and rubbing his forehead against hers, letting her feel her daddy's presence.

Hearing the commotion, the four elders hurried upstairs, with Lin Jie right behind them.

Suddenly, a volley of firecrackers as loud as thunderclaps went off outside.

The fourth and third babies trembled with fright in their parents' arms, a sight that tore at Lin Feng's and Zhang Yuxi's hearts.

In one of the cribs, the second baby woke up, his little face filled with terror.

"Uncle is here! Don't be scared, don't be scared!" Lin Jie said, picking him up. He imitated Zhang Yuxi and Lin Feng, covering the second baby's ears.

The second baby's lower lip quivered, on the verge of tears. Lin Jie quickly kissed him. "Nothing to be scared of."

Zhou Cuilan then picked up the fearless first baby.

The firecrackers outside continued to roar, and soon, the babies' collective crying joined the din.

The third baby was a little better, crying with a delicate whimper. Eventually, her tears stopped, and she seemed to be wondering if the sound of the firecrackers was actually quite nice.

"I'm going to see who's setting off those firecrackers! I'll go settle the score with them!" Lin Dashan declared, stomping downstairs.

Zhang Fuyong pulled him back. "That's not a realistic thing to do."

"Then what should we do?" Lin Dashan asked anxiously.

Zhang Fuyong sighed helplessly. "They'll be fine once they're a little older."

It was a joyous, lively New Year's celebration. Going out to pick a fight would only get you beaten up. On New Year's Eve, the firecrackers were bound to continue until midnight.

Lin Dashan pursed his lips. "I'll install some soundproofing later."

The babies, all wide-awake and frightened, couldn't fall back asleep. Everyone gathered in the living room, each person holding a baby and pacing around, trying to use the New Year's Eve program on TV to distract them.

Fatty hid under the sofa, refusing to come out no matter how many times Lin Dashan called.

The barrage of firecrackers outside would quiet down for less than half a minute before a new round began. The babies' just-soothed emotions began to crumble again.

The little ones trembled with fear in their arms, and Lin Dashan was sick with worry. It wasn't just him; they were all heartbroken.

BANG, BANG, BANG…

This must be the fireworks. Through the window, he could see their brilliant display.

The TV host began the countdown!

"10, 9, 8, 7…"

"3, 2, 1…"

"Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, may all your wishes come true…"

Along with the host's blessings, the system, which had been silent for a long time, sounded again.

[DING!]

[Because Host has accompanied the babies through New Year's Eve, fulfilling his duties as a father!]

[Reward: 500,000 in cash!]

[Reward: "Protective Barrier" skill!]

[Protective Barrier: When the babies encounter external disturbances or harm, it reduces the intensity of the disturbance and the amount of damage received.]

Lin Feng was overjoyed. Isn't this exactly what the babies need right now?

He immediately activated the [Protective Barrier] skill.

After activating it, he could see a transparent shield enveloping each of the babies.

The sound of firecrackers outside continued, but under the protection of the shields, the babies seemed as if they couldn't hear a thing.

"Huh?" Zhang Yuxi said, surprised. "The fourth baby doesn't seem to be afraid anymore."

"The second baby isn't scared either…" Zhao Lizhen added.

"The third baby too!"

The babies were truly unaffected by the noise outside. Everyone was baffled, completely unable to understand what had happened.

Lin Feng cleared his throat. "Maybe they got used to the sound after listening for a while."

Although the reason sounded a bit far-fetched, they couldn't think of any other explanation.

Ten minutes later, the babies fell soundly asleep, one after another. No matter how loud the firecrackers outside were, they slept sweetly.

Everyone, except for Lin Feng who knew the truth, was astonished.

"Maybe they were just exhausted," Lin Feng offered comfortingly. "You know how they say some people can sleep through a thunderstorm?"

At this late hour, it was time for everyone else to sleep too.

"Call us if anything happens," Zhou Cuilan reminded them as she left.

"Okay."

After the earlier incident, Zhang Yuxi couldn't sleep soundly. Lin Feng pushed the cribs right next to their bed.

"Honey, let's sleep," he said.

Is it because of the [Protective Barrier]? The babies didn't even wake up once during the night. When Lin Feng got up to make them formula, they all drank it groggily with their eyes still closed.

In the morning, Lin Feng woke up to find the [Protective Barrier] was still active.

Now, he no longer had to worry about the babies getting startled.

After the family finished their dumplings, Zhou Cuilan was eager to take her in-laws for a stroll around Meicheng. With the two grandmothers around, there was nothing for Zhang Yuxi and Lin Feng to do in terms of childcare.

Zhao Lizhen looked around. "Where's Lin Feng's BMW?"

Zhou Cuilan pointed to the RV parked nearby. "They drove back in this vehicle this year."

"An RV?" Zhao Lizhen recognized it immediately.

"This car is great!" Zhang Fuyong said, crowding closer. "Come on, open the door and let me see inside."

The moment they stepped inside, the couple fell in love with it.

"Lin Feng has great taste. This car is well-designed and has so much space."

"Whoa, look at this sofa! It's real leather, so comfortable to sit on!" Zhang Fuyong exclaimed, happily looking around and touching everything.

"When we're older, we should buy one and travel too," Zhao Lizhen said, full of anticipation.

"You bet!" Zhang Fuyong agreed joyfully.

Zhou Cuilan laughed. "That's what we were thinking too. When the grandkids are older, we can all go together."

"What a great idea!" Zhao Lizhen clapped her hands.

Once they were ready, Lin Feng started the RV.

Lin Daan called. "Youngest Brother, where are you? Are you guys heading out to shop?"

"We were just about to head out…"

"Let's go together! I've got the whole family with me, and I've called Second Brother too."

…

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