Chapter 998

As soon as they arrived at the courtyard house, Keira could already feel the festive atmosphere before even stepping out of the car. Large red lanterns hung on both sides of the entrance, and strings of New Year's lights were wrapped around the wooden fence walls.

“I had everything set up in advance, but I left one special spot for you, the lady of the house, to personally complete,” Hayden said, leaving her in suspense.

With her belly this big, Keira obviously couldn’t do much, but he understood her desire to be involved in decorating for the New Year. Keira had to admit—he was becoming more and more of a perfect husband. He could anticipate her thoughts without her even saying a word.

Supporting her carefully, he led her into the courtyard. To her surprise, even though it was New Year’s Eve, there were still guests there. Most of them were alone. Some sat in silence, lost in thought. Others were reading, while a few were quietly jotting things down in notebooks.

On a night meant for family reunions, these people had chosen to go there instead. Keira didn’t have to ask to know why.

“Let’s prepare some desserts for them,” Keira said to Hayden.

He understood her intention. After settling her into a chair, he went inside to fetch the desserts and handed one to each guest. He even brought a portion for Keira. “Eat something first. We’ll get busy later.”

Keira glanced around the courtyard, taking in the decorations. Red lanterns were strung everywhere, even on the trees. The chairs had festive red cushions, and new greenery had been placed on the tables. The contrast of red and green made the entire scene feel both vibrant and celebratory.

“You already did everything. What’s left for me to do?” Keira asked, looking around.

He smiled. “Of course, there’s something left. And it’s the most important part. Everything I set up involved climbing and reaching high places—not exactly suitable for a pregnant woman.”

That was true.

After resting for a while, Keira held her belly and let Hayden guide her inside. The young girl who had been working at the shop greeted her cheerfully. “Boss, Happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year,” Keira replied warmly. “Pack up and head home for the holiday.”

With Hayden and Keira there, they could take care of any guests that came by. The girl’s eyes lit up with joy. “Thank you, Boss! Thank you, Ma’am!”

Keira laughed as she took a red envelope from Hayden’s hand and handed it to her. Her grin grew even wider. “Wishing Boss and Ma’am a prosperous New Year!”

As Keira turned and walked further inside with Hayden, she teasingly asked, “Who do you think she was referring to as Ma’am? You or me?”

Hayden caught her playful tone but didn’t seem to mind. “As long as I’m by your side, I don’t care what title I hold.”

As long as he was hers.

He led her to the sofa and helped her sit down. Then, he opened a cabinet and two large red envelopes. “Wife, these are for you.”

“Wow, such big envelopes,” Keira said excitedly as she reached for them. But just as she was about to open them, Hayden pulled out a set of calligraphy brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone.

Keira glanced inside the envelopes and saw blank couplets—traditional New Year’s banners, but without any writing on them. She understood immediately. He wanted her to write their own blessings for the new year.

Keira chuckled. “Aren’t you afraid my handwriting will be ugly? If we put it up, people might laugh at it.” Hayden smiled and reassured her, “Not at all. This is the work of the lady of the house herself. If it weren’t for the New Year’s occasion, others wouldn’t even have the chance to see it.”

His words filled her with warmth. Other women might experience mood swings or depression during pregnancy, but with him by her side, she felt nothing but happiness.