Austin's message said, "I like her."
"Ah!" Michelle was so ecstatic that she screamed, pumping her fist in the air. The sudden noise woke up her father.
Adams squinted at his daughter who was doing a little crazy dance, but he just chuckled. As long as she was happy, he was happy.
A few seconds later, he was asleep again.
Elaine and Tim both looked at her questioningly.
"I have a piece of good news, and I need to call Lydia." Michelle ran out of the living room to make the phone call.
Elaine shook her head and smiled. "Someone looks happy. Anyway, aren't you sleepy, Tim? If you are, you can go ahead upstairs to sleep in the guest room. The bed's already been made. No need to stay up with us."
"I'm fine, I want to." Tim's smiling face was flushed, perhaps because he had something to drink. He looked much gentler, and even his tone was friendlier than normal.
"I never really celebrated New Year's before, so I've never stayed up waiting for the countdown. So, if it's alright with you, I'd like to wait up with you."
A tinge of pity flashed through Elaine's eyes. She smiled kindly and said with sincerity, "Come over more often. I'll cook you a nice, warm meal."
"Is that okay?" Tim perked up slightly.
"Of course it's okay," Elaine said with a cluck of her tongue. "You're always welcome here."
The corners of Tim's mouth tightened. After a while, he was finally able to squeeze out one word. "Okay."
His voice trembled.
When Michelle came back from her phone call, she found Tim discussing the sketch comedy with her mother. Elaine threw her head back and laughed heartily, and even Tim looked at ease and was smiling.
Michelle could see that although it was only a slight smile, it was a genuine one.
The way the two got along with each other was like mother and son, which made her feel a little strange.
She felt somewhat moved for a second.
But before she could think about it some more, her phone buzzed.
It was a text from Austin. "Was Lydia the one who told you to ask me?"
Michelle hesitated for a moment. Before she could type out a response, a new message appeared.
"Yes or no?" it read.
Michelle decided to tell the truth. "Yes."
After a moment, Austin replied, "Thank you.
Also, do you know Lydia's home address? I need to send something to her."
Michelle sent him the address.
"No specific house number?"
"Lydia's house is in the countryside, so just send it to this address."
Austin replied, "I want the specific address."
Without thinking about it too much, Michelle sent Austin a detailed address. Then she took a screenshot and happily sent it to Leon.
She shared every aspect of her life with Leon.
Not all stories about unrequited love had unhappy endings.
Her story and Lydia's were cases in point.
There was only ten minutes left before midnight. Michelle ran to the bathroom to pee after having drank too much juice.
In her haste, she left her phone on the coffee table.
At 11:55 in the evening, Leon requested a video call. Tim happened to see her phone buzzing, and when he saw the caller ID, he subtly turned off the phone.
Then he put it back on the table, as though nothing had happened.
When Michelle returned to the living room, the clock struck midnight and the bell started ringing, announcing the arrival of the New Year.
Elaine rushed to wake up her husband
while the news anchors on TV greeted cheerily, "Happy New Year!"
Michelle threw her hands in the air and shouted, "Happy New Year! Happy New Year, Mom and Dad! Happy New Year, Tim!"
"Happy New Year!"
Michelle threw her arms around her parents and hugged him tight. Tim expected he would get a hug too, but Michelle just stopped in front of him and raised her head. "Happy New Year, Tim!"
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