Shen Xinyao turned around and looked at him. “Why?”
Zhuang Jiawen continued to pull her back without saying a word. It looked like he was just being a baby.
Shen Xinyao bent down and shook his hand off. “Stop fooling around.”
“Stay with me a while longer.” Zhuang Jiawen lifted his gaze to look at her. Worried that she would refuse him, he even gave her sleeve a child-like tug.
Despite finding it amusing, Shen Xinyao had no choice but to agree. “Fine.”
She put down her pillow and lay on the bed. Hugging her, Zhuang Jiawen told her stories from his childhood. Before he knew it, he had already fallen asleep.
By the time Zhuang Jiawen awoke, he was alone in the room. Shen Xinyao had left sometime in the night.
After washing up, he went downstairs and saw that everyone was already up.
Zong Yanxi and Shen Xinyao were in the kitchen preparing breakfast while Su Zhan was watering the plants on the balcony.
“Where’s everyone? Where did they go?” Zhuang Jiawen asked as he descended the steps.
Su Zhan turned around and glanced at him. “They’re already up. Both your fiancée and sister are in the kitchen.”
“I meant Mom and Dad.”
“Your Mom and Qin Ya went out for a walk. They probably have something to talk about. As for your Dad, he went out early in the morning. But I’m not sure what for.” Su Zhan put down his watering can and came over. “When are you going pick up your parents-in-law?”
Zhuang Jiawen poured a glass of water before slumping on the sofa with his legs crossed. “It’s still early. They told me over the phone that I don’t have to. Instead, they will travel here by themselves. They mentioned that it’s too troublesome for me to do so.”
Su Zhan sat on the sofa and looked at him. “Your parents-in-law are really considerate.”
Just as he spoke, he let out a sigh. “It would be good if your brother could make it back.”
“I’ve already called Uncle but he said that he couldn’t get in contact with brother and is still trying.”
Wen Xiaoji and Lin Xinyan were cousins. Hence, Zhuang Jiawen addressed him as Uncle as they were close.
“Sigh, your parents have plenty to worry about with regards to the three of you,” Su Zhan remarked.
Zong Yanxi had just gone through a traumatic incident while Zong Yanchen was in the special forces, which was dangerous by nature.
To pray for her children’s safety, Lin Xinyan built an altar in their home in Thailand so that she could pray often.
Regardless of whether her prayers would come true, she found some solace in doing so.
“Uncle Su, what did you just say?” Zong Yanxi asked as she walked out.
Her eyes were still red and it was obvious that it was from crying last night. However, no one mentioned it as everyone knew full well what had happened.
Su Zhan smiled. “You have really sharp ears to even hear me from the kitchen. Were you eavesdropping?”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping. You were simply talking too loudly.” Zong Yanxi looked at Zhuang Jiawen. “You should help your fiancée, I’m going to inform Aunt Qin Ya and Mom that breakfast is ready.”
Zhuang Jiawen stood up. “Right away.”
“A good man knows how to pamper his wife.” Su Zhan remarked with a smile. Zhuang Jiawen turned around and shot him a glance. “I learn from the best.”
Su Zhan burst into a hearty laugh.
Outside the house, Qin Ya and Lin Xinyan had returned. The reason they went for a stroll was to prevent Zong Yanxi from hearing their discussion.
Other than Zhuang Jiawen’s upcoming wedding, Zong Yanxi’s matter was the only other topic at hand. They were worried that she might still feel sensitive over it.
When both of them saw Zong Yanxi approach, they stopped their conversation. “Breakfast is ready, please come back in.”
“Alright,” Qin Ya replied with a smile. She didn’t ask about last night, let alone other personal details of her life.
It was as if nothing happened between Zong Yanxi and Jiang Mohan at all.
Zong Yanxi threaded her hand around Lin Xinyan’s arm. There was a tinge of guilt in her tone. “Mom didn’t sleep well last night.”
In truth, she didn’t sleep a wink.
Lin Xinyan held her daughter’s hand and didn’t say a word. None were needed at all.
When they entered the house, breakfast was already served. After taking their seats, everyone knowingly avoided talking about Zong Yanxi and Jiang Mohan.
“Did Dad go out first thing in the morning?” Zhuang Jiawen placed a glass of milk in front of Lin Xinyan.
Lin Xinyan replied. “He went out to look for someone.”
“Who?” Zhuang Jiawen asked.
“Tawan.”
Zong Jinghao knew that it was Tawan who took care of Zong Yanxi in Thailand. Given that both of them were already close and Tawan was visiting the country, he invited Tawan out for breakfast first thing in the morning.
They were due to meet at the hotel restaurant.
“I want to thank you for the care you have shown my daughter.”
Both of them were sitting by the window inside. The aura Tawan emitted was similar to that of Zong Jinghao’s during his younger days. Sitting opposite him, Tawan’s presence was in no way diminished by Zong Jinghao’s.
“I should be the one to thank you.” Tawan paused for a moment before he continued, “If not for your help last time, I wouldn’t have survived unscathed.”
The Thitipoom family had not only gathered immense wealth but also owned many businesses. Despite being focused on politics and doing well in his career, he was still prone to the occasional mistake.
However, it wasn’t a mistake that cost him the last time. Instead, it was sabotaged by a political adversary. Only with Zong Jinghao’s help did he manage to salvage his businesses and emerge unscathed.
