“What happened?” Lin Xinyan asked her son, who was sulky and standing in front of the sofa.
Zong Yanchen pointed at his sister, who was wailing loudly. “She wanted to play cat and mouse with me but cried after she lost.”
“Yanchen is irritating!” Zong Yanxi wiped the tears off her face, ran to her parents’ side, and complained, “He is so irritating!”
Lin Xinyan looked at her daughter and was at a loss for words.
It seems like she is back to her normal self now. And here I am, so worried that she might have been in too much shock to not have spoken for such a long time.
“When are you going to kick the habit of complaining?”
Zong Jinghao caressed her head. “You should admit defeat.”
Meanwhile, Sang Yu was picking up the cushions which the kids had thrown onto the floor during their game just now, as well as the toys that were lying around the entire living room.
Zong Yanxi had imagined that her daddy would side with her and chide her brother. After realizing that her daddy was not planning to be on her side, she pouted and ran to Sang Yu to help her pick up the toys.
“You mustn’t spoil this kid, or she will keep crying whenever she doesn’t get her way,” Lin Xinyan told Zong Jinghao.
“Are you implying that I have spoilt her?”
“You know it best.”
With that, Lin Xinyan approached Sang Yu and said, “Just leave the toys there. Aunt Yu will keep them later.”
Sang Yu stood up and grabbed the flank of her shirt awkwardly. “It’s nothing. I’m not tired.”
Lin Xinyan smiled. “Are you not used to staying here?”
Sang Yu bowed her head. “I’m fine.”
But Lin Xinyan could tell from her nervous state that she was not used to staying with them. Well, it is understandable. After all, we are practically strangers to her.
“Sorry, the two kids are very noisy.” Lin Xinyan tried to start a friendly conversation with her to ease her nerves.
Sang Yu smiled. “They are very adorable and smart.”
Lin Xinyan sat down on the sofa and gestured for Sang Yu to join her.
“I should help with the clean-up.” Sang Yu squatted down before the toy storage basket and joined Zong Yanxi to pick up items from the floor.
The toys were scattered all over the living room floor from the cat-and-mouse game that the kids were playing just now.
“When will Uncle Shen return?” Zong Yanxi asked Sang Yu.
Sang Yu had no idea. Shen Peichuan had not called her up, so she guessed that he must be still busy. She did not want to add to his troubles by questioning him on his whereabouts.
“I also don’t know.”
Zong Yanxi blinked her eyes innocently. “I thought you are his girlfriend? Why don’t you know where he is?”
Sang Yu was amused with Zong Yanxi. She’s merely a child, but she seems to know a lot of things beyond her years.
“Well, I can’t demand him to spend all his time with me even if I’m his girlfriend. He has to attend to some matters personally.”
But Zong Yanxi could not comprehend.
“You adults are so complicated and keep changing girlfriends.”
Sang Yu’s smile froze on her face immediately.
She is talking about Song Yaxin and me.
“She’s only a kid and doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” Lin Xinyan added immediately, fearing that Sang Yu might get the wrong idea.
Sang Yu shook her head vehemently. “Actually, it’s my fault.”
Come to think of it, I’m the third party who broke up Shen Peichuan and Song Yaxin.
After Zong Yanchen helped his sister return the toy storage basket to its rightful spot, he suggested, “Let’s go into the room.”
Zong Yanxi nodded. “Is Grandpa in the study? I want to see what they are up to!”
“Let’s go.” With that, the two children held hands and headed into the study, seemingly having forgotten about their earlier argument.
Sang Yu joined Lin Xinyan on the sofa. “Has Peichuan told you about my situation?”
Lin Xinyan replied that he had briefly mentioned it before.
Sang Yu laced her fingers together and fell into silence for a long time before speaking up, “I am an orphan without any prominent family background. I can’t help Peichuan much…”
“Peichuan is not someone who relies on others to further his career. You only need to take care of him,” Lin Xinyan cut her off.
In Lin Xinyan’s mind, nothing mattered so long as both of them were in love. There was absolutely no need to consider any other factors.
Sang Yu smiled. “Thank you.”
She was enlightened by Lin Xinyan’s words. Although she had chosen to come back with Shen Peichuan, she was unsure if she had done the right thing. But now, she was convinced that she was right.
Because Peichuan loves me, and I love him, too. So what if we have a large age gap?
Lin Xinyan patted Sang Yu’s hand. “Rest earlier.”
Sang Yu nodded.
Lin Xinyan headed upstairs and pushed open the bedroom door. She caught sight of a familiar silhouette on the balcony on the phone. Overhearing the word “doctor”, she tiptoed over, hoping to eavesdrop on his conversation. But alas, Zong Jinghao had hung up the call and turned around to face her. He was stunned for a second before asking, “When did you come into the room?”
“I just came in. Who are you talking with on the phone?”
Zong Jinghao had bathed and was dressed in his silk pajamas. Lin Xinyan could smell the fragrance of his shower gel as she went closer to him.
“An employee from M Nation just contacted me and told me that he’s helped us arrange for a consultation with specialists from Mayo Medical Center. We will head over tomorrow afternoon.”
Lin Xinyan nodded. “Okay.”
Zong Jinghao put his arm over her shoulder and led her into the room. “Let’s sleep.” But she asked him to sleep first by claiming that she needed to bathe first.
The next morning, the entire household woke up early as it was the first day of school for the kids. Sang Yu helped Aunt Yu to prepare breakfast.
After breakfast, Lin Xinyan checked again to ensure that she had packed into their school bags the documents necessary for the kids’ first day of school. The kids were excited as they carried their school bags.
Lin Xinyan smiled at the sight of their adorable faces. There are no books in their bags yet. I wonder why they are so excited?
After helping them wear their uniforms, Lin Xinyan reminded Zong Yanxi as she braided her daughter’s hair, “Remember, now that you’re starting school, you are now a big kid…”
“And I cannot behave like a spoilt kid and must be polite and respectful to everyone. You have said it so many times that I can memorize the entire speech. Mommy, don’t nag at me.” Zong Yanxi grumbled with a tinge of impatience.
Zong Yanchen pinched his sister’s cheeks. “Look at that impatient look on your face. It’s so ugly.”
“You are the ugly one!” The one thing that Zong Yanxi hated most was being called ugly.
Lin Xinyan sighed resignedly. I don’t know what to do with these kids.
At the restaurant.
Zong Jinghao told Zong Qifeng and Cheng Yuwen at the table, “I want to bring Yan abroad.”
“Now? It’s not convenient for her to go abroad at this point.”
Zong Qifeng agreed with Cheng Yuwen.
“You can go overseas with her after her delivery.”
Zong Jinghao said frankly, “She is not in very good health, so I want to bring her abroad for an examination.”
“What happened?” Zong Qifeng asked; he was worried for Lin Xinyan and her unborn child.
“I’m not sure yet, and will only know more after the examination. I will update you guys again.”
“We will take care of the kids for you. Don’t worry.” Cheng Yuwen assured him.
But Zong Qifeng was not as optimistic as Cheng Yuwen. It must be a serious matter if they have to go overseas for an examination. Standing up, he put his hand firmly on Zong Jinghao’s shoulder. “You must tell me about the truth after the examination, no matter if it’s good or bad news.”
“I will,” replied Zong Jinghao.
The chauffeur drove while Zong Jinghao and Lin Xinyan sat at the back of the car with the kids. They were on the way to school.
Zong Yanxi had been grinning since she woke up in the morning.
She was looking forward to starting school.
Outside the school, many luxury cars had stopped by the roadside and blocked the road, while policemen were busy redirecting incoming traffic. Zong Yanxi pulled Zong Jinghao’s hand and ran through the crowd. Zong Jinghao frowned and called out to her, “Slow down.”
It’s so crowded here. She may get knocked down accidentally.
Unbeknown to Zong Yanxi, someone was standing inside the school building and observing her every move with clenched fists, furious at the sight of that blissful look on the girl’s face.
