Ryan said, "Don''t worry. I won''t knock on your door and intrude. I''ll wait for you near your house and we''ll count down to the new year together tonight."


    "I don''t need you to have a countdown with me. The reason I returned from Canberra is to celebrate the new year with my parents."


    Freya was so annoyed that she wanted tosh out at someone.


    The other side of the phone went silent. After that, Ryan said resignedly, "I''ll look


    for a hotel and stay there for a night, then. I''ll see you tomorrow."


    He backed down all of a sudden. Freya was not used to it. "Are you going to be alone tonight?"


    "It''s okay. I didn''t think things through.


    Apanying your parents is far more important."


    "Since you know that, why don''t you go celebrate New Year''s Eve with your parents?" Freya wished to persuade him to return. She would feel guilty if she left him alone when he came to look for her from a distant ce. "Go back. I''ll pay for your ne tickets."


    "I''d admire you if you''re able to get tickets to Canberra at this hour." Ryanughed. He consoled her, saying, " Forget it. Actually, I don''t want to go back alone. At my


    age, my family will only talk about my marriage whenever they gather. It''s quite annoying."


    "No matter how annoying it is, they''re still your family."


    "Mm. Go and be with your family. I''ll search for a hotel on my phone," Ryan said.


    After the call ended, Freya heard her aunt calling her from below.


    "Freya,e down quickly. We''re going to have our meal."


    When Freya went down, there were two tables in the dining area. A feast was spread out, and it was apanied by wine. Even Dani, a baby who could not even crawl, beamed happily as she sensed the atmosphere.


    However, on such a night, Ryan was going to eat and celebrate New Year''s Eve alone because he came to Melbourne to look for Freya.


    Should she... go over and visit him?


    No, no. How could she go over to him? It would seem like she cared about him.


    However, that did not really count as caring for him either. Ryan simply seemed pitiful as he was alone.


    After being in a dilemma, Freya sent a message: [Have you found a hotel?]


    Ryan sent the hotel''s address over: [I''m in a taxi


    heading toward the hotel now.]


    Freya searched the address. It was a hotel near her house. It was about two to three kilometers away by car.


    After dinner, Freya helped bring the leftover food to the kitchen. After hesitating for some time, she went to Mrs. Lynch''s side. "Mom, can you take care of Dani for me? I have a few friends from school who came back for the new year. They want to meet up. I''ll be back in an hour."


    Mrs. Lynch nced at the time. It was only 8:00 p.m." You can hang out with your friends longer as long as you return before 11:00 p.m. Dani is still too young. I can''t put her to bed."


    "Well... There are a lot of leftovers. I''ll bring some over for everyone." Freya was nervous. She was afraid Mrs. Lynch would overthink. "We can''t finish the food anyway."


    Mrs. Lynch red at her. "Why didn''t you say so earlier? These are all leftovers. We could''ve kept some aside before eating..."


    "I didn''t think of it then," Freya exined weakly.


    Mrs. Lynch took a few containers out. She filled them with baked potatoes,


    chicken chop, pork ribs, and steak...


    Freya thought that the food was more than enough for four people.


    Before she headed out, she sent a message to Ryan asking for his room number and saying that she would visit him out of kindness as he seemed pitiful.


    Ryan quickly replied: [I''ll wait for you at the entrance.]


    Freya: [Don''t. Wait in your room. There are many people in Melbourne, and


    they''re all very gossipy. If someone sees us and word reaches my parents, they''ll think that I have a boyfriend]