The Dickens family had a custom. On the first day of the lunar new year, the whole family must getup early and have the lotus seed sweet soup in the dining room

However, Christina was not up yet.

Mrs. Dickens was not so particular and decided not to wake her up. The light in Christina's room hadbeen on last night, so she probably hadn't fallen asleep all night.

Betty helped Donald to the table. Donald had suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage and hemiplegiabefore. After treatment and rehabilitation, he could walk slowly with a cane instead of sitting in awheelchair, although his left hand and feet couldn't move freely yet.

The three of them sat around the table. Betty spooned three bowls of lotus seed sweet soup, butthey all had no appetite.

"We shouldn't have refused Senior Mr. Hopkins’ invitation of visiting his family..." Mrs. Dickens putdown the spoon and suddenly sighed.

"Those two children are also our relatives. I really want to see them. I've been thinking about themfor the past few days..."

Mrs. Dickens was depressed and had no appetite, muttering to herself.

"Betty, what about aggressively urging the Hopkins family to let us raise a child?"

Betty had been in a daze for several days after knowing that the children were still alive. She hadbeen guilty of killing the kids and was eager to have a look at them.

Betty was also distressed. "How could the Hopkins family allow us to do so?"

Mrs. Dickens was reluctant. "Anyway, they have the twins. The Hopkins family has the only grandsonPatrick, and we only have Christina as well. They lack children, and so do we. Who doesn't want thehouse to be noisy? Why do the Hopkins family possess two children?”

A week before the new year, Christina returned from A City. After entering the house, she told themcalmly, "The kids are alive. They are in the Hopkins family now. *

The news came as a shock.

They wanted to ask more, but they were afraid to mention the children in front of Christina.

"How could the Hopkins family do so? It can never be tolerated! How could they put the children atrisk. They really don't care about us. If Christina lives with the Hopkins family, she will be bullied todeath!" Mrs. Dickens was more excited.

"Mom, don't mention the word “death’ on the first day of the lunar new year."

Donald, who had been silent, suddenly spoke calmly. Then his right hand took out his phone fromhis coat pocket and put it on the table. He tapped the screen and opened WhatsApp after a while...Next, he played a short video.

Mrs. Dickens wasn't interested in the video at first, but she suddenly heard a baby crying.

Betty's expression changed and she quickly got closer to have a look.

Mrs. Dickens’ and Betty's eyes fixed on the twin in the short video which lasted only 9 seconds. Thetwo babies cried hard in their small bed with big eyes open wide.

Betty clicked the screen to repeatedly play the video. She was in a daze, not knowing what to say fora moment. Gradually, tears welled up in her eyes.

"They are so handsome and energetic.”

Mrs. Dickens said happily, with her eyes fixed on the screen and her eyebrows curved. It had been along time since Mrs. Dickens was so happy.

"Donald, you've done a good job. We've been taking care of you all day. Where did you get thevideo? Why don't you tell us!"

Betty turned around and looked at the expressionless man with some annoyance, complaining."Donald, you know that Betty and I are extremely worried, and we don't dare to ask Christina. Youshould have told us about it earlier.” Mrs. Dickens agreed that her son was excessive.

Donald was innocent. He was seriously ill and taken good care of by his family. Suddenly, the newsthat his twin grandchildren were alive came. It made his status in the family lower than the babiesthey had never seen before. Last time, he had resolutely refused the Hopkins family's invitation. TheDickens family looked calm, but in fact, they were frustrated.

He had just hidden some information about the children and he finally became a public enemy."Mom, I just noticed this short video on WhatsApp."

"What is WhatsApp?"

Mrs. Dickens snatched the phone to figure it out.

"Charles and the others went to the Hopkins family this morning and shot this short video..."

Mrs. Dickens didn't understand what exactly WhatsApp was. She just cared about the twins.

"See if there are other photos. Why did Charles only shoot the video when the babies were crying?They must be cute when sleeping. Find more videos..."

Christina woke up in a daze. She went downstairs and saw her grandmother and father using theirphones with a serious look. It seemed that they didn't eat the sweet soup.

"What are you doing?"

Hearing Christina's words, Mrs. Dickens and the others panicked as if they were thieves who werediscovered.

Christina realized that something was strange. They had been in a low spirit for the past few days,even at the new year. However, they were so excited early this morning.

"Actually, it's... We're studying how to play with the social apps that your young people use." Mrs.Dickens felt guilty and stammered.

Christina examined them doubtfully. Betty looked hesitant, but Donald suddenly said sternly, "Enjoyyour lotus seed sweet soup.”

The new year was nothing special for the Dickens family. Without spending much money, theysimply hung several big red lanterns in the yard and decorated the glass walls with paper cuts."Grandma, wish you good health.”

Christina had bought a jade pendant for Mrs. Dickens when she went out with Betty for specialpurchases for the new year.

Although it was not a top-grade jade, everyone was happy to receive a gift for the new year.Christina also had bought a set of fashionable clothes for her aunt Betty. It was a rose-red short suitand skirt. Betty usually wore plain clothes. The rose-red clothes would make her look better andyounger.

"Christina is more and more likeable. I'm so happy to receive your gift." Mrs. Dickens liked thejadeite very much. In fact, their family normally didn't exchange gifts.

Christina had been improved a lot. She had been more tender, and she finally put grudges downand cherished her life.

But she wasn't meticulous enough. She chose and bought gifts, just to divert her attention.

Finally, Christina handed Donald a dark gray deerstalker hat.

Donald held it in his hand. Although he looked stern, he was actually touched. In the past, they hada poor relationship. It was unexpected that after these affairs were exposed, Christina was willing tostay with them.

"Dad, may your bald head regrow hair quickly.” Christina looked at her father seriously.

Donald's eyes widened in a rage and he was no more moved.

Mrs. Dickens and Betty turned back at the same time, looked at Donald's bald head because of theoperation, and then burst into laughter.

Although Christina had a load on her mind, she had a good time at the beginning of the year.

The next day, Larry unexpectedly visited the Dickens family with a fruit basket and gifts.

Christina was surprised when seeing him.

"Are you Derek's uncle?" Betty asked with a smile.

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