Chapter 954: Chapter 642: Marcus Shaw’s Lucky Red Envelope Misadventure

When Marcus Shaw came downstairs, the aunt had already served the New Year’s Eve dinner on the table.

Nora Scott, Pedro Langley, Ernesto Scott, and Oliver Scott were there, divided into two groups playing games. Nora and Pedro were on one team, while Ernesto and Oliver were on the other, all having a great time.

"Brother!" The character Oliver was controlling got tortured, and he called out, seeking help when he saw Marcus, "Come on, help me!"

"..."

Marcus ignored him.

Ever since he had seen Oliver and Nora play games a lot, he had learned to watch and do nothing, helping no one.

— Helping anyone would get you schooled.

— Moreover, neither of these siblings could play well.

After this round, Ernesto called them to the table, sneaking into the study for a moment, and when he came out, mysteriously handed each of them a big red envelope.

This man surely played favorites—

Everyone got a thick stack of cash, but for Nora, in addition to cash, there was also a bank card.

Marcus instinctively glanced at Oliver.

Oliver seemed to sense it and nonchalantly patted Marcus on the shoulder, "You’ll get used to it. In front of my dad, I don’t have a heart."

Marcus: "..." As long as you can handle it.

Fireworks were banned throughout, and the villa area was even stricter, so no fireworks were bought this year.

However, Ernesto bought a pile of photography equipment to fit in with the young folks, filming the New Year’s Eve dinner and entertainment activities to make a vlog, editing a bit, and uploading it online.

"..."

Nora looked at the video, her expression a bit wooden.

Pedro, knowing she was shocked by Ernesto the photography rookie, comfortingly patted her shoulder, "It’s okay, your dad’s not as good-looking as you."

"..."

Nora turned around and stepped on his foot.

Thanks so freaking much.

— Constantly reminding her she was just a pretty face.

Pedro winced at being stepped on, helplessly amused, "We are still cultural heritage inheritors."

Nora squinted at him, "I am." Then added, "No ’we.’"

Pedro: "..."

Suddenly he felt like he was a head shorter than his wife.

Later that night, some official publicly announced— Pedro Langley, CEO of Victor Technology, was named one of the nation’s top ten outstanding youths.

"..."

The whole family looked at each other.

A few seconds later, silently took out the cards, deciding to play a round of dou dizhu.

*

Nora always had the habit of staying up all night on New Year’s Eve. The Scott family didn’t, but because of her, they did now.

As a senior, Ernesto insisted on staying up with Nora and the others until dawn, and only when he couldn’t hold on any longer did he return to his bedroom to sleep.

Nora and the others also went back to their rooms to catch up on sleep.

At noon, Nora woke up, yawning as she went downstairs, and discovered Pedro, Oliver, and Ernesto, like kids, were in the courtyard building a snowman with the snow from last night.

"Marcus hasn’t woken up yet?" Nora stood at the doorway, watching the three from a distance.

Oliver waved at her, smiling as he answered, "Brother went out."

"Where to?" Nora asked.

"To pick up Andrew to come and wish you a Happy New Year."

Nora: "..." She just casually mentioned it when teasing Andrew Hughes.

"But he said he won’t be back until evening," Oliver paused, then said, "There’s still a little matter in the afternoon."

"...Oh."

Nora felt the red envelope in her pocket.

Late in giving it.

*

Elsewhere.

"Andrew will be in your care. We’ll come pick him up later." Crystal Hughes stood at the door, instructing Marcus Shaw while putting gloves on Andrew.

"Hmm."

"Here," once the gloves were on, Crystal stood up and took out a red envelope for Marcus, "New Year’s money, Happy New Year."

Marcus paused slightly, not taking it.

Crystal smiled as she stuffed it into his hand, "A gift from your sister, take it. Wishing you good results in the college entrance exam."

"Oh."

After thinking for a moment, Marcus accepted the envelope.

Andrew walked over, jumped a little, tested his new shoes, then proactively took Marcus’s hand.

He turned around, waving at Crystal, "Mom, goodbye."

"Mm. Goodbye," Crystal smiled, "Take good care of your brother."

"Got it."

Andrew replied earnestly.

Marcus: "..."

He said goodbye to Crystal, leading Andrew to the elevator door, and pressed the down button.

Andrew swayed Marcus’s hand as he held it.

Marcus looked down at him.

Andrew freed one hand, struggled to take a red envelope from his pocket, and handed it to Marcus, "Marcus, here’s your red envelope, I secretly kept some aside for you."

"..."

He glanced at him indifferently, and Marcus Shaw pretended not to see or hear, retracting his gaze.

The elevator doors opened.

He led Andrew Hughes inside.

Andrew, with his little short legs, caught up and stuffed a red envelope into his hand, "Marcus Shaw, Happy New Year."

The cool little face couldn’t hide its joy, eyebrows dancing in delight.

Then he took the initiative to press the elevator button.

"..."

Marcus Shaw stared at the red envelope in his hand for a long time, frowning slightly.

As they walked out of the elevator, Andrew suddenly asked, "Marcus Shaw, are you happy?"

"Hmm?"

Marcus Shaw was puzzled by his abrupt question.

Andrew said, "Someone is spending the New Year with you, and there’s a New Year’s red envelope."

"Oh."

"Marcus Shaw, are you happy?" Andrew asked again.

"It’s okay."

Andrew nodded, "Then you are happy."

"..."

Marcus Shaw led him out into the wind and snow.

*

Leaving the community, Marcus Shaw called a car at the gate and gave the address of First Affiliated High School.

Andrew heard it, swung his little short legs, and turned to look at the young man next to him, "Marcus Shaw, are you going to your grandfather’s house?"

"Hmm."

"Aren’t you bringing anything?" Andrew looked at Marcus Shaw’s empty hands.

Marcus Shaw said, "I’ll buy something when we get there."

"Oh."

Andrew nodded.

When he said "buy something when we get there," actually Marcus Shaw didn’t manage to buy anything.

First, today is the first day of the New Year, almost all shops are closed, with very few open, especially around the school.

Second... not long after he got off the car with Andrew, they ran into Peter Hughes, who had just finished an overnight job and was leaving his post.

Peter Hughes had a cigarette in his mouth, wearing a Lei Feng hat, with his hands tucked up his sleeves like an old man strolling along the street. As soon as he looked up, he saw two kids standing dazedly in the wind and snow, which gave him a headache.

"What’s up with you two?" Peter Hughes gestured at them with his chin, "Lost or kidnapped?"

"Grandpa!"

Andrew let go of Marcus Shaw and ran over, grabbing Peter Hughes’ clothes.

Peter Hughes took his hand out of his sleeve and held Andrew’s hand, "What’s the matter?"

Marcus Shaw looked over and said, "Came to pay New Year’s visit."

Peter Hughes stubbed out his cigarette and tossed the butt into the trash can, standing quietly and examining Marcus Shaw for a couple of seconds before incredulously asking, "You came empty-handed to pay New Year’s visit?"

Marcus Shaw: "..."

"Come on, come on," Peter Hughes patted Marcus Shaw on the shoulder, laughing heartily and looking extremely happy, "Let’s go home, us two boys will have a couple of drinks."

Marcus Shaw: "I’m not even an adult yet."

Peter Hughes: "You can take a thousand cups without getting drunk, what’s there to be afraid of?"

Andrew looked up at them and instinctively sped up to keep pace with them.

*

In the past, Peter Hughes would always stay home for New Year’s because of Andrew. No matter how busy he was, he would shamelessly get some time off.

This year, since Andrew was taken by Crystal Hughes, he simply spent it at work, just happened to have some things to deal with, was delayed a bit, and only just took the subway back.

Fortunately, he came back in time and happened to run into Marcus Shaw and Andrew at the door.

"Have you had lunch?" Peter Hughes opened the fridge, looked at the sparse ingredients, and asked Marcus Shaw, "What would you like to eat?"

Marcus Shaw stood next to him, looked at the fridge, and indifferently said, "I’ll have noodles."

Peter Hughes sighed, "That’s considerate, knowing not to make it difficult for your uncle—"

Marcus Shaw immediately retorted, "The only ingredients in your fridge are for making noodles."

"..."

"You should go to sleep," Marcus Shaw took out the noodles and found two eggs, saying, "I’ll cook."

"No need—"

Glancing at him, Marcus Shaw said softly, "Last time you stayed up all night and used sugar instead of salt."

Peter Hughes: "..."

What’s up with this kid, if he’s worried just say it straight, why make annoying remarks!

Peter Hughes grunted in frustration, rubbed Marcus Shaw’s head, mumbled a couple of words, then let Marcus Shaw go while he didn’t go to the bedroom but laid on the living room sofa and fell asleep.

Just as he lay down, Andrew came over with a blanket, somewhat clumsily draping it over him.

Enjoying his grandson’s care, Peter Hughes patted Andrew’s head, "Little Andrew is indeed sensible."

Andrew laid on the sofa, then slyly took out a small red envelope, and whispered to Peter Hughes, "Grandpa, Happy New Year."

Peter Hughes glanced at the red envelope, accepted it with a clear conscience, and then whispered back, "Giving grandpa a red envelope isn’t a bad thing, why do it so sneaky."

"The red envelope I gave you is a little more than Marcus Shaw’s." Andrew admitted shyly.

"Oh..." Peter Hughes realized, then shamelessly said, "Grandpa is two generations older than him, it should be a bit more."

"..."

Andrew blinked his eyes.

Marcus Shaw, who overheard everything: "..." not knowing who usually acted like they were his brothers.