Closer to Revealing My True Self
Chapter 225 - 179 Can it be like this?_1

Chapter 225: Chapter 179 Can it be like this?_1

Feng Yi spent this Chinese New Year’s Eve to his satisfaction. It was the most relaxing one since he had left the Feng Family, and he enjoyed the New Year’s Eve dinner.

There were no worries, no heavy psychological pressures.

He checked in on friends’ New Year’s Eve updates in chat groups and on social media, interacting with everyone. The last few years hadn’t been so leisurely, either working or on the way to work.

Two friends from Rong City also video-called Feng Yi, having previously invited him to join them for the New Year’s Eve dinner. Feng Yi had told them he had plans. Now, with a video call, they wanted to see how Feng Yi was doing, and knowing he was fine put them at ease. But what they envied most was the warmer weather in Yang City. These past few days, it had reached over twenty degrees Celsius during the day in Yang City, while in Rong City, they had to wear down jackets.

Feng Yi’s chat app had friends and family as well as past collaborators, but there were very few blood relatives. He hadn’t contacted his real parents in years, and they had disappeared from his contact list.

Remembering last year’s most difficult times and the rejection from their side, Feng Yi paused while scrolling through his phone contacts and backed out of the page.

Let them be well on their own.

That evening, Feng Yi also received a call from Feng Chi.

This year, Feng Chi and the rest had their New Year’s Eve dinner at the old house; everyone went, including a few of the aunt’s families and some who often missed out due to busy work or study schedules in the past.

It was okay to be absent before, but this year was especially meaningful.

The struggle for the Feng Family’s inheritance had previously been behind the scenes; now, it was practically out in the open.

"Who knows what the old man is thinking? He even made a point to say in a conversation a few days ago that he would decide on the will after the New Year. It’s been turbulent lately, the back-and-forth at the dinner table. My goodness, that meal gave me indigestion," Feng Chi complained.

"Someone mentioned you, but the old man’s attitude was strange, obviously angry but not entirely so. That bunch is cunning; they probably have some other ideas about you, so be careful," Feng Chi advised, "If you want to enjoy the New Year peacefully, then avoid making a public appearance."

Feng Yi had no intention of making a public appearance; he had either declined or postponed all invitations for interviews about "Brother Se."

The online buzz about "Brother Se" and "Python King" had cooled off quickly due to the New Year bringing a slew of new popular topics, but that didn’t mean no one was keeping an eye on him.

Add to that the Feng Family’s inheritance battle, and Feng Yi certainly didn’t want to ask for trouble.

His venom glands were still strengthening, occasionally making his teeth itch, and he had to wait for this period to pass before traveling far.

He planned to reduce outings before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, only going to visit Mute Uncle on the first day and also to pay respects at the ancestral home. Xiao Feng Mountain was in the distant suburbs, likely unnoticed by many, and there had been few visitors there in the past for worship.

In the Florida python hunting group chat, he sent everyone wishes for the holiday. Steve, Director He, and others hadn’t returned to their home country for the New Year. Originally, Feng Yi should have been with them, but his venomous teeth and the python affair changed his plans.

The python hunting team had booked New Year’s dinner together, and Feng Yi watched the festive videos they posted in the group. Many hadn’t gone to the swamp today because of the time difference, so the New Year’s Eve dinner wasn’t synchronized, but the atmosphere they created was good, with even red lanterns hung up.

Feng Yi also sent a festive message to Mute Uncle, asking how he dined on New Year’s Eve and mentioned again that he would go to the ancestral house the next day.

Mute Uncle replied with, "Don’t come too early tomorrow! [video]"

Feng Yi clicked on the video.

Mute Uncle was somewhere with a mahjong table surrounded by people, with elderly men and ladies talking about something and the Spring Festival Gala in the background as festive noise. It was lively but not chaotic.

What a guy, my uncle! He really knows how to have fun!

Feng Yi smiled and replied to Mute Uncle that he would come over around ten in the morning and bring some meat dishes cooked by the family chef.

A nursing home near Xiao Feng Mountain.

Mute Uncle quickly sent a reply to Feng Yi and continued shuffling mahjong tiles. Given how fast he was at picking tea leaves, among his peers, only he waited for others; even while shuffling tiles, he could still text and browse the web.

An elderly man asked, "Who are you messaging now?"

Mute Uncle quickly composed a message on his phone, then read aloud with the voice function, "A junior~ the one who asked me to join for New Year’s~"

"That’s good, shows they remember you."

"Annoying! So clingy~"

With a smile on his face, Mute Uncle slapped down his tiles with a rascally snap on the table.

Next to him sat a one-armed elderly man, loudly calling out Mute Uncle’s moves, the two were old partners.

Many of the left-behind elderly here had received New Year’s goods from Mute Uncle, who shared the celebration with them.

Mute Uncle might be mute, but everyone at the nursing home knew that this silent old man was not to be trifled with.

Once someone at the nursing home had bullied him for not being able to speak, cursing him directly to his face and then fleeing.

The curse came in the morning; by the afternoon, Mute Uncle had a Bluetooth speaker blocking the door, with over two thousand words of fierce retorts typed on his phone converted to a voice message, set on repeat and played all afternoon. He even paid four young men to guard the speaker so no one could take it or allow the person inside to escape.

He had money, leisure, a carefree attitude and usually settled scores immediately, rarely putting them off until the next day.

This year, Mute Uncle was keeping watch at the nursing home. He had a room there, enjoying the New Year’s dinner and mahjong before a good sleep, planning to return to the mountain the following day.

The next day, the first day of the lunar New Year.

In many places, the north wind howled demanding down-filled cotton clothes for travel, but Yang City’s weather stirred envy with its pleasantness.

Feng Yi woke up at nine o’clock. Last night, some people he rarely had contact with sent him messages. It has to be said, once you’re famous, "friends" do multiply.