Brothers and sisters, today's post is up. Thank you for your support. I won't say any more nonsense. I'll write my speech tonight. Now, I only want to do one thing.
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One more.
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Thank you to "_ Six Roots Impure" and "LiuShiJianShan" for your tips!
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Although Sylvia's father, Weiss Slott, was not in good health, he forced himself to treat the guests with great enthusiasm.
There was a sumptuous dinner on the table in the dining room. In fact, it was similar to Chinese New Year. Westerners' Christmas dinner was also based on meat. Just like the Chinese saying, "Who doesn't eat dumplings for New Year's?"
Mr. Slott proudly told Qin Xiong that this dinner was personally cooked by Sylvia.
Qin Xiong tasted the turkey, salmon, and vegetable platter. It was hard to imagine that she had personally made Christmas pastries.
Just like how Chinese people would wrap a coin in their dumplings to predict who would get rich in the New Year, Westerners would also hide a lucky charm in their Christmas pastries. Some were almonds, some were other things. In the Netherlands, people who ate lucky pastries at Christmas would be blessed by the God of Luck, Little Black Peter.
The temperature in the room was warm enough. George wore his new jersey and shoes and happily ran up and down the stairs. He ate the most pastries. When he ate the pastries with the lucky charm, he was very excited.
But two minutes later, Qin Xiong casually took a piece of biscuit and took a bite. As he chewed, his expression suddenly became strange.
He seemed to have eaten it too.
Sylvia saw his expression and knew that Qin Xiong also ate the lucky pastries. She whispered to him, "In order to let this little guy eat the fortune cookies, I made three pieces. I ate one just now. You ate one too. Don't tell him."
Qin Xiong smiled and winked, giving Sylvia a reassuring look.
"Now the Dutch clubs have entered the winter break. If I remember correctly, it should be about a month. Aren't you going back to China?"
Weiss Slott asked kindly.
Qin Xiong picked up the napkin and wiped his mouth. He was always very formal when talking to elders. On one hand, it was to show respect. On the other hand, he was not very familiar with this uncle in front of him.
He said seriously, "To be honest, China's traditional holidays start when the winter break is about to end. Plus, I don't have many friends in China, and I don't have any real relatives. Maybe you don't know, but I'm an orphan. Therefore, I don't plan to return to China during the winter break. I plan to use this time to travel around the Netherlands and relax. "
Slote nodded and suggested, "Why don't you let Sylvia be your guide?"
Sylvia's expression froze as she said, "Dad, I don't have that many holidays."
Slott shook his head slightly. His expression became more serious as he said, "You should relax. You have holidays, but I know that you're preparing to work. Listen to me. This year's Christmas holiday, go out and have fun. Don't worry about other things."
Sylvia wanted to say something but stopped. Qin Xiong seemed to understand something.
Capitalist society did not mean that it could really satisfy all the needs of a family. Of course, there were many ordinary families who lived in poverty and had difficulties.
The situation in Sylvia's family was clear at a glance.
Her mother had passed away early. She did not know what kind of illness her father had, but he must have lost the ability to work. The social welfare system would provide some assistance, but it could not provide enough support for the family.
In particular, Sylvia was also in university, and her younger brother, George, had a future to consider.
Therefore, Sylvia had always worked hard. If she was good at her studies, she could get a considerable scholarship to support her studies. If she worked outside of her studies, she could help alleviate the family's financial difficulties. In particular, Qin Xiong believed that with Weiss Slott's body, regardless of whether he needed long-term treatment, the cost of health care would definitely not be low.
The difficult life did not crush Sylvia, nor did it make her surrender and turn to sit in the sports cars of her pursuers to seek help.
Qin Xiong suddenly felt a deep sense of respect for her. He felt that he had said something wrong.
He should not have said that he was planning to go on a trip. What right did he have to disrupt her life plans?
Slott had heard about Qin Xiong from George before, but he did not believe it. After all, Qin Xiong was Ajax's star player. However, when he really met Qin Xiong and interacted with him, he confirmed that the reliable and caring big brother that George had mentioned really existed.
George seemed to have heard something. He ran from the living room to the dining room. He pressed his hands on the dining table and asked with bright eyes, "Trip? Are you going on a trip? Is Dad coming too? Where are we going? "
Weiss Slott looked at George and then at Sylvia. His eyes seemed to be able to say, "Look, your brother also wants to go on a trip."
Sylvia turned her head to look at Qin Xiong. After hesitating for a moment, she finally nodded and said, "Okay."
In fact, she was excited. Taking her brother and Qin Xiong on a trip? They should be able to have a carefree holiday.
However, when she looked at her father, she hid her worries.
After dinner, George sat under the Christmas tree and watched entertainment programs on TV. Qin Xiong and Sylvia stood by the window. Sylvia lit a candle, opened the curtains, and placed the candle on the windowsill. Although the candlelight was weak, it could still slightly illuminate the street outside the house.
Qin Xiong asked curiously, "Why does every household light a candle or put a small light on the windowsill?"
Sylvia smiled and explained, "This is a tradition in our old neighborhood. It means that on Christmas Eve, we light the way home for those who go out."
"Yes, it's a beautiful tradition. It warms my heart just hearing it."
Sylvia was silent for a while. Suddenly, she looked at George, who was not far away, and said to Qin Xiong, "Thank you."
Qin Xiong also turned his head to look at George and shook his head.
He did not think that he deserved gratitude.
Sylvia was in a daze. She said lightly, "George has no memories of his mother. Six years ago, his father's health began to deteriorate. As his elder sister, I should spend more time to take care of him and accompany him. But, I didn't do it …"
A person's energy was limited.
Qin Xiong could imagine that Sylvia had sacrificed a lot, but she was still blaming herself. Perhaps it was because she had to shoulder too much.
Qin Xiong suddenly said, "Sorry, I didn't prepare a Christmas present for you."
Sylvia gazed at his face and revealed a gentle smile. However, she winked playfully and said, "No, I've already received your present."
After saying that, she retracted her gaze and looked up at the hazy moon outside the window. The corners of her mouth curled up.
Qin Xiong did not understand her words for a moment. However, he was attracted by her gentle and beautiful side profile and did not think too much about it. After a while, he realized that it was not good to stare at her like that. So, he also looked at the night sky outside the window.
When it was eleven o 'clock at night, Qin Xiong chose to leave.
Sylvia personally sent him off. When they parted at the entrance of the neighborhood, the two of them wished each other a Merry Christmas.
Qin Xiong did not take a taxi. He was not tired at all. His heart was happy and sweet.
He had a good memory. He walked back the way the taxi driver had driven him.
When he walked past a commercial area at midnight, he did not go home. The young people who spent Christmas Eve outside gathered in the square. They drank, sang, and listened to the music playing in the commercial area. Then, when it was twelve o 'clock, everyone counted down in unison.
"Three!!!"
"Two!!!"
"One!!!"
"Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! "
Qin Xiong, who was passing by, could not help but stop to watch. Then, he walked past with a smile on his face and his hands in his pockets. From time to time, strangers would take the initiative to say Merry Christmas to him or invite him to celebrate with a drink. Qin Xiong would often wave his hands or shake his head to refuse.
Christmas was a time of reunion, warmth, and passion.
Qin Xiong, the first Christmas in his life spent abroad. It was a Christmas in the true sense of the word. He began to like this holiday.
He walked briskly and could not help but hum a Christmas song. He wanted to go back to his apartment, lie in bed, and fall asleep happily.
Sylvia was already lying on her bed. She tossed and turned. Although the lights were off, her eyes were always open. Qin Xiong's figure kept appearing in her mind.
She held the necklace around her neck in her hand and stared at it in a daze.
It was a gift from her mother. It used to belong to her beautiful and gentle mother.
She could not help but mutter to herself.
"Mom, I might have fallen in love with a man. What should I do?"
.....
How many people could not sleep on Christmas Eve?
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