New Year seemed to arrive very fast. It had been
a busy year, and just like that, another year had gone.
It was a yearly tradition for the brothers to spend New Year‘s Eve at their own homes. Everyone would
gather at Rosa Garden on the second day.
Before the new year, Sage had been traveling back and forth from Nadeem City and Salem City. The Y
uriel family invited her to spend New Year‘s Eve with them instead of going back to Salem City.
Sage declined politely and went back to Salem City anyway. She also brought Wayne
and Yale back to Rosa Garden.
For New Year‘s Eve, Sage put on her apron and cooked a feast for
her family. She served all kinds of food, including chicken, duck, fish, and other kinds of meat.
Yale loved her cooking. His eyes sparkled at the delicious food. It was his first time eating Sage‘s food.
He never knew her cooking was so good. Sage came out of the kitchen with a tray. She always dresse
d nicer to match the New Year‘s festive spirit. She dressed up grandly in a red dress with her long hair t
ied up behind with a wooden hairpin. She looked like a beautiful woman walking out of an ancient
painting. “It‘s hot, and I’m sweating.” Just as Sage said this, Yale handed her a handkerchief made of bl
ue silk
Sage was stunned. “Yale, you carry a handkerchief with you.”
She did not use it to wipe her sweat. Instead, she unfolded the folded square handkerchief and looked
at the embroidered pattern on it. She found it interesting. “Is this embroidered in Old Script?” Yale answ
ered with a soft hum, “It‘s my name. My mother embroidered it.” “This is a really good embroidery.” Sag
e caressed the embroidery carefully to feel the stitches. Zamora came over and had a look too. “Yeah, t
his is pretty good. It‘s vintage embroidery.” “Yes.” Yale said, “My mom learned it from
an old nanny. That nanny‘s ancestors learned vintage embroidery.”
“I see.” Sage laughed and returned him the handkerchief. “It‘s too good to use to wipe off sweat. Yale, k
eep it.”
Then, she pulled two tissues and wiped her sweat. “You guys eat first. There‘s still soup. It‘ll be ready s
oon.”
Yale watched Sage walk into the kitchen again. A trace of disappointment flashed in his light grey eyes
as he held the handkerchief in his hand. He forgot to mention that he had not used the handkerchief.
Wayne sipped on his whiskey and said with a smile, “Yale, you may not know this, but in Salem, a man
can‘t just give a woman his handkerchief.” Yale was puzzled. “Why not?”
“Because a handkerchief is also considered as a token of affection.” Wayne said, “If she accepts the ha
ndkerchief and keeps it, that
means she‘s interested in you. It‘s the same when women give a handkerchief to men.”
Yale‘s eyes flickered. “Ah, is that so?”
“Don‘t overthink.” Tim shook the glass of red wine in his hand and looked at Yale, “She‘s not sophisticate
New Year‘s Eve was getting lesser and lesser. It reminded her of the old days when her parents were st
around. Although she always wanted to vomit at their public display of affection, it was really lively.
Her mom always had all kinds of ideas in her head and enjoyed tormenting the children. She would neve
Sage sighed. She was still not her mother‘s age, but her heart had aged.
She
always had the habit of staying until midnight on New Year‘s Eve. The New Year Gala programs were pl
Sage did not bother watching it in the past, but she paid attention to it this year. Yale sat on the sofa nex
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