In the morning, the sunlight kissed the ground, with the breeze through the window.
Zhan was awake, appreciating his pretty girl sleeping.
He kissed Fei’s little face.
Fei rubbed her eyes and opened them, “Mommy, you scared my Taehyung because you kissed him.”
“…” Zhan was surprised a little. It was obvious that he kissed his daughter. Why did she talk about Taehyung?
“I dreamed of Taehyung. We were grown up. He asked me to be his girlfriend. I was about to say yes when you kissed him…” Fei touched Zhan, “Mommy, you have to do something for me.”
“I brought you up. Is it for that daydream?” Zhan nipped her nose, “It doesn’t work. If you can be Taehyung’s girlfriend when you are grown up, that’s my girl.”
“Mommy, you don’t have to worry about that. Definitely I will be his girlfriend.” Fei brought out her necklace round her neck, “It’s a token of affection from Taehyung. I will take this to see him and ask him to be my boyfriend after I am grown-up.”
“There are many rivals in love to you. Good luck to you.” Zhan thought, it’s hard for his daughter to find her Mr. Right. Maybe she would be the rival of all the girls.
“I’m always the lucky one. Don’t worry. Mommy, I will bring back a tall and handsome son-in-law for you.” Fei promised so confidently.
Zhan didn’t know why his five-year-old girl was so obsessed with a boy, and even would like to be his bride in the future.
Of course, Zhan just thought it was a baby-talk, and she forgot this very soon.
Zhan and Fei got up, brushed teeth and washed faces together.
Zhan braided Fei beautiful hair, and dressed her in a pretty skirt. Then they went downstairs hand in hand together.
Tingyu was sitting in dinning room early, looking fresh today.
After seeing Tingyu, Fei let go her mother’s hand, and ran to kiss Tingyu, “Good morning, my great nanny.”
“My dear, good morning.” Tingyu touched her hair.
At this time, when Jianmin came there, Fei kissed him and smiled, “Good morning, Grandpa.”
Jianmin was somewhat overwhelmed by her kiss, “Good… good morning.”
Zhan asked Fei to sit down and then had breakfast.
“Where is Jingtong? I haven’t seen her since yesterday.” Tingyu asked Jianmin.
“She goes to Shanghai with Lingjiao, and maybe they will come back in a week.” Jianmin suddenly heard that from Jingtong yesterday.
“Fei came home. How can she be like her grandma like this?” Tingyu sniffed.
“It was a snap decision.” Jianmin spoke for his wife.
“It’s really coincidental.” Tingyu said when digging into her porridge.
Jianmin didn’t answer, just having breakfast quietly.
After breakfast, Tingyu said to Jianmin, “You should drive Zhan and Fei to company and kindergarten.”
“Mom, we are not on the same way.” Jianmin said, “And Fei has to go to the kindergarten. It’s a waste of time because of the traffic jam in the morning.”
“That’s your son and granddaughter. What’s wrong with you?” Tingyu was discontent.
“Grandma, don’t be mad. I think Dad’s right. It’s really a waste of time on the way.” Zhan agreed with Jianmin “strangely”.
Hearing this, Jianmin nodded with satisfaction, and thought Zhan was considerable this time.
“Grandma, how about buying a car for me? Then I’ll drive myself to work and Fei to school.” How could Zhan just let go his “Dear” father easily?
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” Tingyu totally agreed with that.
However, Jianmin just knew it’s deliberate. Zhan wanted to get a car without spending one penny.
“I don’t agree. There are driver and cars at home. He can drive any car if he likes.” Jianmin was not willing to spend his money for Zhan.
“The driver should stay at home just in case of need, and those cars are not right for me.” Zhan decided to buy a new car, “I remember that Dad and Mom bought a Ferrari for my sister. Dad, you can’t favor daughter more than son. I should have what my sister has. We’re both your children.”
Jianmin was so angry. How dared he! Did he deserve that?
“Yeah, it’s deal.” Tingyu decided, “Let’s buy it tomorrow.”
“Mom, it costs a lot of money.” Jianmin almost lost his temper.
If he bought it, Jingtong would get mad with him when she came back.
“So? Can’t you afford a car to your son, as a president of Xiao Group? You are such low-life?” Tingyu said ironically, “In a word, Buy a car or not?”
Jianmin knew that Tingyu had made up her mind. He reluctantly said, “Mom, I don’t have time now. Otherwise, let’s wait for Jingtong to come back and take him to an auto shop to have a look.”
He couldn’t deal with his mother, so he could only use a postponement strategy. When Jingtong came back to deal with it, he would not be too embarrassed.
“Since you don’t have time, I’ll take my grandson to buy a car, and then you only have to pay for it.” Tingyu stared at her hopeless son. She knew what her son was thinking-he was just afraid of his wife.
“Mom, it’s not easy to buy a car. You have to take it seriously.” Jianmin was very upset.
“It will be too late when you think about it.” Tingyu said. Obviously, Jianmin’s postponement strategy didn’t work for Tingyu. “Zhan and Fei didn’t have a car to drive for a week. Would you let them walk to work or school?”
“Then I’ll drive them for a week.” Jianmin compromised.
But Zhan didn’t want to take Jianmin’s car either. They disliked each other and were embarrassed to meet each other.
He must buy the car today, otherwise it wouldn’t be easy to buy a car when Jingtong came back.
“Grandma, Dad, please stop arguing. I’ll take a taxi with Fei. It’s just a week anyway, we will be fine. Fei, do you think so?” On the surface, Zhan was wronging himself. In fact, he was trying to force Jianmin into a desperate situation.
“Of course not! How can my baby great-granddaughter take a taxi when she is just home for only one day? The Xiao family would be a laughingstock. ” Tingyu couldn’t calm down after hearing Zhan’s words, “Jianmin, are you so henpecked that you dare not buy a car for your son? Why didn’t you hesitate at all when you bought a car for Lingjiao? Why are there so many excuses for buying a car for Zhan? Jianmin, if you don’t agree to buy a car for Zhan today, I will die in front of you.”
Tingyu picked up the fork on the table and pressed it against her neck, obviously threatening Jianmin.
“Grandma, don’t do that. I don’t want a car anymore.” Zhan finally understood that grandma just loved him hard.
He was moved. His eyes turned red in an instant, and tears filled his eyes.
“Great-grandmother, put down the fork. My mother and teacher said that it was too dangerous.” Fei was not scared, instead she persuaded Tingyu. This little child had a kind heart.
Tingyu was also moved. She felt it was worth it for them.
“Mom, you’re forcing me.” Jianmin wrinkled his face anxiously.
He looked at Zhan and was very angry. He wanted him to disappear.
“I’m just forcing you. If you were fair to Zhan, I wouldn’t be so!” Tingyu was too disappointed with her son.
“He just said he wouldn’t buy it.” Jianmin said.
“It’s me that want you to buy it now. It has nothing to do with Zhan.” Tingyu looked determined. She repeated again, “Will you buy or not?”
“Okay, I’ll buy it!” Jianmin felt that his brain was about to explode. He could only agree in the end.
“Remember what you said.” Tingyu took the fork away from her neck.
Jianmin left angrily. He didn’t want to stay for another second.
Zhan stepped forward, took his grandmother’s hand and said, “Grandma, I don’t want you to risk your life. Don’t do it for me. You will only make me feel unfilial.”
“I’m old and useless. I can only fight for you while I’m still alive.” Tingyu sighed, and said, “I must finish what I can do for you now. I’m afraid I won’t live long…”
“Grandma, I don’t want you to say that! You have to stay with me and Fei.” Zhan knelt at his grandma’s feet, hugged his grandma, his head on grandma’s knees, tears streaming down his cheeks.
“Great-grandmother will live a hundred years old.” Fei ran over and said naively.
“Ok.” Tingyu stroked them with a faint worry in her heart.
After a long time, Tingyu said, “you should go to work now, don’t be late.”
After adjusting his mood, Zhan said goodbye to his grandmother and left with Fei.
***
Fei went to kindergarten, which was handled by Song Jiyang. The tuition fee of this kindergarten for one year was the expenditure of an ordinary family for one year.
Without Jiyang’s personal connections, transfer students like Fei would not be able to attend the school, and there would be no discount on tuition.
Zhan sent Fei to the door of the kindergarten, and a teacher received them.
He waved goodbye to Fei and heard two horns behind him. He turned to see that it was a black Land Rover, and the driver was Lixian.
…
He sat in the car. Zhan saw his resolute face through the window.
“Mr Xiao, get in the car. I’m on my way to the company.” Lixian invited him to get into the car.
Zhan took a look at the time and didn’t refuse. It was not the first time to ride in Lixian car anyway. If he refused him, he would appear hypocritical.
He pulled open the car door and sat on it, “Thank you, Mr. Li. Are you sending your children to school?”
“Yes, my son is already in senior class.” Lixian drove the car slowly away from the crowded area. “Is Mr Xiao’s daughter also going to school here? Why didn’t I meet you a few days ago?”
“My daughter just transferred to the kindergarten. It was my friend who handled the procedures. He helped me deliver the children these days.” Zhan explained.
“No wonder…” Lixian grinned. After they arrived at the company, Zhan thanked Lixian and entered the company.
Zhan was busy with work in the morning and almost never rested.
In contrast, he had a leisurely afternoon. It was time to pick up Fei in kindergarten.
He packed up and was ready to get off work, but he received a message to add friends.
When he saw that the profile picture was Lixian, he accepted it.
A message came in. [Do you want to pick up the children in kindergarten together?]
[No trouble, I have something else to do, you could go first.] Although it was on the way, it was not good to always ride in someone else’s car.
[Is there much work.] Lixian sent another message, [Don’t keep the kids waiting. I’ll drive and wait for you on the side of the road.]
Zhan held the phone, typed and deleted. He didn’t know how to send the message properly, so he gave up in the end.
After work, he still lingered for some time. He didn’t want to be seen by the public, so he left the company after all the others had gone.
Lixian’s car stopped by the side of the road, waiting for him.
Seeing that there was no one nearby, Zhan hurried over and got into the car, “Mr. Li, I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
“It’s okay.” Lixian turned left and drove into the main road. “Are you afraid that others will talk nonsense after seeing us ride together?”
Zhan smiled. It seemed that Lixian guessed the reason, “I am mainly afraid of causing you trouble.”
“It’s okay, I’m not afraid of trouble.” Lixian said.
What did he mean?
Zhan didn’t dare to think deeply, nor did he dare to think nonsense.
He sat there, smiling but silent.
“I mean a man of moral integrity does not fear any slanderous attack, and we cannot control others’ gossip.” Lixian saw it very clearly.
“It is always right to be cautious.” Zhan knew the truth, but there would always be some people who liked malicious speculation and reckless invention in the society.
“Well, Mr Xiao is right. I have been thoughtless.” Lixian nodded and agreed, “I will be more careful in the future.”
“That’s OK. My father is going to buy a car for me, and I will not ask Mr. Li to give me a lift.” Zhan said it deliberately so as to keep appropriate distance away from Lixian, “Thanks very much, Mr. Li.”
“You are welcome, Mr Xiao. We are just on the same way home.” Lixian was driving attentively.
Zhan stopped disturbing him again, but watched the scenery outside the window.
The streetscapes that passed across his eyes were so familiar but also somewhat strange. After 5 years, the city where he was born and bred had changed quietly.
Just like him, he was still Xiao Zhan, but was no longer the Xiao Zhan of 5 years ago.
…
Zhan and Lixian arrived at the kindergarten to pick up their children, but they found that their children were in the same class.
There were only Fei and a slightly chubby boy in the classroom.
Fei was folding a paper crane and the little boy was watching Fei, “Could you teach me?”
“It is so complicated that you cannot learn.” Fei concentrated on folding the paper crane.
“How do you know if you don’t let me have a try? I will give the first one to you once I learn how to fold it.” The little boy didn’t know what to do with the paper in hand.
“I don’t need yours. I can fold it by myself.” Fei said with disdain.
“…” The little boy was somewhat unhappy.
Seeing this, Zhan said gently, “Fei, it will be more fun if you teach your friend and allow him to fold it with you together.”
“Mommy.”
“Daddy.”
Seeing their parents come, Fei and the little boy felt extremely happy.
“Fei, this is Mr. Li, boss of mommy.” Zhan introduced.
“Hello, Mr. Li. My name is Xiao Fei. You can call me Fei.” Fei’ voice was so tender and lovely.
“Hello, I am Li Yaxin’s father.” Lixian stretched out his hand to Fei.
Filled with surprise in the eyes, Fei looked at the little chubby boy, “Yaxin, your father is much more handsome than you. Are you really the biological son of your father?”
Yaxin sobbed and said with grievance, “Daddy, am I your biological son?”
“Of course, you are my son.” Lixian frowned and kept a straight face.
“But… but the adults said I was not your biological son.” The little boy felt sad and grieved.
“They were talking nonsense.” Lixian frowned more tightly, “Daddy will not love you if you keep crying.”
“You will abandon me just as mom did?” Yaxin bit his lips, full of worry in his innocent eyes.
“Never.” Lixian shook his head, “But daddy doesn’t like your crying. Just remember that we are men and we shouldn’t cry.”
“Yes.” Yaxin nodded hard with a hazy notion, with his face covered with tears.
Zhan roughly guessed what had happened hearing the short dialogue between the father and the son.
Lixian should have divorced from his wife and he had the custody of his child. Therefore, Yaxin thought his mother had abandoned him, which left a shadow in his heart.
Children were always sensitive and fragile, and Zhan began to feel sorry for the boy without mother.
Zhan bent down and whispered something in Fei’ ear. Then Fei walked up to Yaxin, took his fat little hand and put the paper crane folded just now in his palm.
“Yaxin, here you are, and we are friends from now on. If someone dares to say you are not Mr. Li’s son, I will beat him up.” Fei was very powerful and aggressive, just like an utterly tough girl.
Looking at the paper crane, Yaxin suddenly stopped crying and smiled, “Thank you, Fei. I have a friend now.”
“You are really not like Mr. Li’s son while crying.” Fei stretched out her hand to pat Yaxin on the shoulder, “You have to be a real man like Mr. Li. First of all, you shouldn’t cry easily.”
“Well, yes. I will never cry again in the future.” Yaxin quickly rubbed his tears away from his face.
“Well, let’s go.” Zhan took Fei by the hand.
Fei took Yaxin’s hand, and Yaxin took his father’s.
The two adults were on both sides and the two children were in the middle. The four of them left the classroom hand in hand until they walked out of the kindergarten.
Those who didn’t know the truth would think they were family.
“Fei, say goodbye to Mr. Li and Yaxin.” Zhan reminded Fei.
Fei loosened Yaxin’s hand and waved her hand to them, “Bye-bye.”
“Daddy, may I invite Fei to come over to our house?” Yaxin was unwilling to say goodbye to his new friend, and looked up at his father to come up with this requirement.
Lixian also saw that his son wanted to have more contact with Fei. Besides, Fei has a very nice personality, vivacious and innocent. He wanted his son to be optimistic like Fei.
“Why not? But you have to ask Fei if she’d like to come.” Lixian looked at Fei and Zhan.
Yaxin was a little timid and didn’t know how to express it, “Fei, will you come over to our house?”
“Not now. I will go later after we have more contact.” Fei refused euphemistically because it was impolite to go to the house of a new friend.
“Well…” Yaxin pressed his lips together and looked very disappointed.
He looked at his father and wanted to ask his father to help him, because he really wanted to play with Fei for a longer while.
Lixian raised his wrist to check the time, “Mr Xiao, it’s time to have dinner. How about we taking the children to have a meal together and let them have more fun. What do you think?”
“Mr. Li, it is so sudden.” Zhan hadn’t prepared himself to have dinner with his boss.
“Mr Xiao, last time you said you want to treat me to a dinner. There is no need to choose another day, and how about today?” Lixian had only this way to make Zhan and Fei stay.
Zhan looked at Yaxin and couldn’t bear to let the children down. In addition, he indeed owed Lixian a favor and promised to have dinner with him.
“Well, OK.”
“Uncle Zhan has agreed to have dinner with us.” Lixian explained to his son.
“Really? That’s so good. Thank you, Uncle Zhan and Fei.” Yaxin bent down to express his gratitude to them. He was so small and lovely.
“You are welcome.”
In this way, Zhan took Fei into Lixian’s car and Lixian drove them to a nearby pastoral restaurant, which was suitable for children.
…
Zhan sat down with the children and Lixian went to order the food.
Zhan cellphone rang. It was Yibo who made the phone call.
Looking at the words “Mr. Wang” on the screen, Zhan instinctively knitted his brows.
Why did he come to disturb me again after I relaxed myself for only one day? Now I knew what a lingering ghost meant.
Fei, who was sitting beside Zhan, saw Zhan just staring at the phone, without any intention to answer it, and Fei saw the name on the phone screen unconsciously.
“Mommy, it is handsome uncle. Why not answer the phone?” Fei urged her mother while playing with another folded paper crane in hand, “Mommy, it is impolite. Maybe he has something important to talk with you.”
“What important thing does he have?” Zhan hadn’t decided to answer the phone.
He called him so hurriedly for nothing important but definitely to ask their parents to meet for dinner.
“Well, he calls you for nothing important, but maybe he has something important to tell me.” Fei smiled while speaking, “Handsome uncle must be missing me.”
“…”
Zhan slightly opened his eyes to look at the lovely girl in front of him.
‘What a narcissistic girl:
“Doesn’t uncle miss me?” Seeing Zhan’s strange and funny expression, Fei asked rhetorically and primly. “Mommy, I have given it careful thought. Since handsome uncle and I can’t be a couple, but we want to be together so much, I have to give him away to you. Mommy, seize the happiness, for me!”
Nonsense!
Zhan didn’t know what his daughter was thinking about.
“Is he so good that you treat him this way?” Zhan put his cheeks between his hands and looked askance at Fei.
“Firstly, uncle is the most handsome man I have seen around you. Secondly, he helped me see the person I loved most, Taehyung. Besides, I have hugged him and received his gift. It was so cool.” Fei became more and more excited as she said, “Thirdly, he cherishes me very much. Since he cares me a lot, he will definitely treat you very well…”
Fei snapped her fair fingers to count Yibo’s merits or the reasons why she chose him.
Zhan was thinking carefully about what Fei said, while Fei, who had just finished talking, suddenly took up the phone from the table, “If you don’t answer it, I will.”
Seeing Fei take away his cellphone, Zhan moved a little but finally didn’t take it back.
Now that I didn’t know how to face Yibo, why not let Fei to deal with it?
“Hello, handsome uncle.” Fei’ voice was very brisk and happy.
“Baby girl, do you miss me?” As soon as Yibo heard the voice of the happy girl, the irritation of waiting for phone answering disappeared immediately.
“Of course.”
“How?”
“I miss you so much that I cannot eat well and become more and more emaciated…Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. How I miss you!” Fei said with grievance.
Zhan tilted lightly his head to look at his daughter, and lightly raised his eyebrow as if asking from where she learnt these words.
Fei replied with her eyebrow raised, looking naughty.
“Ha ha…” Hearing Fei’ lovely reply, Yibo laughed so brightly with happiness, and then he came back to his deep and attractive voice, “I miss you, too.”
“Well, how do you miss me?” Fei imitated Yibo’s tone naughtily.
“I miss you so much that I hope to stay with you every day and want to see your smile.” Yibo thought the love he had towards Fei would never change because of her identity.
After knowing Fei was Darren’s daughter, he really felt so distressed that he couldn’t accept it.
He had thought he should stop this like towards her, because she had her own biological father after all. As an outsider, no matter how he loved her, he couldn’t replace her father.
However, he couldn’t help thinking of her fair and lovely face and her smile like a glow of warm sunshine.
“Have you said that we can stay together once we become family? Come on, handsome uncle.” Fei turned around and said with a low voice, “I will help you to win my mother’s heart.”
“Fei, what are you saying?” An obviously “discontented” voice Zhan behind Fei, with a hint of coldness.
Fei turned around, with a smile on her face, looked at Zhan’s sharp eyes and swallowed, “Nothing. I just said I miss handsome uncle, which does not violate the law.”
“Don’t play the fool.” Zhan stared lightly at Fei so as to warn Fei not to talk nonsense.
“Have you eaten yet?” Yibo changed the topic when hearing Zhan’s reprimand towards Fei.
“We are having dinner.” Fei took up the glass and drank some water.
At this time, Lixian came over and sat down after ordering the food, “I have ordered some light dishes that are suitable for children.”
“Thank you, Mr. Li.” Zhan served some tea into his glass.
Yibo perceived Lixian’s voice sensitively, “With whom are you having dinner?”
“With a kindergarten classmate I’ve just known. He has become my friend, as well as his father, Mr. Li.” Fei said honestly.
When Yibo heard “Mr. Li”, he frowned, “Fei, give the phone to your mother. I want to talk with him.”
Fei handed the phone to Zhan, “He wants to talk with you.”
Zhan glanced at the cellphone and had no choice but take it up, forcing himself to be unperturbed, “Well, what’s the matter?”
“Zhan, we just separated last night. Dare you have dinner with another man without my knowledge? Does Mrs. Wang take me, your husband, seriously?” Yibo said with a joking tone, but the unhappiness reflected in his words was heard clearly by Zhan.
“Have you eaten yet?” Zhan didn’t answer, but asked.
“Not yet.” Yibo stretched his hand to adjust his tie, “Mr. Wang has to earn money for the family. What about Mrs. Wang showing some mercy on his husband and coming back home to cook dinner for him?”
“You’ve really done a hard work.” Zhan ignored the vagueness in his tone, “Then go back home to have a rest. I believe that the aunt has already prepared a rich supper for you.”
“The food prepared by my wife will be more delicious.” A hint of tiredness appeared in Yibo’s voice.
Hearing his hoarse voice, Zhan was moved with compassion, “It’s impossible to finish the work. Go to bed early.”
“Does Mrs. Wang care about me?” Yibo laughed lightly.
“…” Zhan kept silent.
“Is the father of Fei’ classmate pursuing you?” Yibo asked.
“How is it possible?” Zhan denied directly.
“Don’t eat out with other men in the future.” He said with possessiveness.
“Have you finished talking?”
“Not yet.” Yibo was like a naughty child at this time, “Do you miss me?”
He said it so soft and light that he seemed like a different person from Yibo, who had been so overbearing and powerful.
And he sounded so tired that anyone who heard him would feel bad for him.
It was noisy in the dining room, but Zhan felt quiet around him, and all he could hear was Yibo’s clear breathing and his own heart beating.
Zhan held the phone and listened to his breathing without feeling bored or uncomfortable. Instead, he felt so good.
What was wrong with me?
How could I think Yibo’s breathing was pleasant to the ear?
Zhan kept silent for so long that Lixian looked at him, whose mind had drifted away, and said gently, “Mr Xiao, the dinner is ready.”
“Oh.” Zhan came to his senses and said to Yibo, “I have to go now.”
“It can’t happen again next time.” Yibo softened his reprimand, “And go home with Fei after dinner. Don’t hang around. Keep it in your mind that you are married, you have to behave yourself.”
What was wrong with my behavior?
I just had dinner with my colleague, and we had kids with us.
Our marriage was about to end and there would be no chance that I could misbehave myself.
“I know exactly what to do and what not to do, and I don’t need you to remind me.” Zhan was unhappy that Yibo had some comments on his acts.
Zhan was not an easy man and he would only do what he was supposed to do.
“Well, that’s great.” Yibo didn’t have much energy to talk to him. He seemed really tired.
Yibo had always been an omnipotent person. Nothing could easily knock him down, but what made him so tired? Was he sick, or did he encounter problems in work?
Zhan had many questions, but it was not the right time for further discussion.
He’d better had dinner first and then went home. “Well, bye.” Zhan said, adding, “Take care of yourself.
“Okay.”
Zhan put away his cell phone and looked at the dishes on the table.
The dishes were light, but their colors were combined so well that they made Zhan feel appetizing at a glance.
“Is that your friend?” Lixian asked casually.
“Yes.” Zhan nodded, without saying much.
With a knowing look on his face, Lixian ladled two bowls of soup for Fei and Yaxin, and then he gave another bowl to Zhan..
“Do these dishes agree with you? You can order others if you don’t like them.” Lixian was as considerate and thoughtful as a gentleman.
“I like all of them.” Zhan thought the four of them couldn’t even finish the dishes in front of them.
Although he preferred spicy food, he used to have a light diet for Fei to eat nutritious and healthy food.
“Enjoy yourself.” Lixian picked the soup up. “It’s a nice soup with some nutritious food in it. It tastes good.”
Zhan took a sip of the soup. It was really delicious.
“Yes, it is delicious.” Zhan gently lifted his eyes to look at the man opposite him.
It was really a blessing to meet such a considerate and caring man.
Zhan wondered what kind of woman would leave a successful man like Lixian, who was attractive and responsible.
Lixian felt Zhan’s eyes and asked, “Is there something on my face?”
“No… No.”
Embarrassed, Zhan ducked his head and continued to have his soup.
At this moment, Yaxin seemed to remember something and asked Fei, “Fei, you just read a poem, didn’t you? What is that? Could you teach me?”
Yaxin looked at Fei admiringly.
Fei bit the radish, and said, “I’m hungry. Can I fill my stomach first?”
“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” Lixian replied, looking at his son’s curious face.
“You know it, papa.” Yaxin turned his head and looked at his father. “Dad, what does that mean?”
“It literally means that the author thought his lover was so lovely and cute just like a summer’s day, and she is even more beautiful than the summer.” Lixian explained patiently to his son, “It describes the author’s love for his lover.”
Yaxin looked confused.
“Where did Fei learn that?” Lixian asked Zhan, wondering if Zhan taught her this.
Zhan shook his head quickly. “I don’t know how she knew that.”
“I learned it from TV.” Fei said directly. “That’s what they acted in the soap operas. It is so sweet.”
“…”
Zhan felt speechless.
Lixian and Zhan looked at each other, saying nothing.
This girl was so funny.
“Don’t watch so many soap operas.” Zhan didn’t think it would be good for Fei.
“I didn’t want to watch them. I watched them with Jiyang uncle and Lulu aunty.” Fei shrugged to show her resignation.
Zhan felt guilty again, blaming himself for not spending enough time with his daughter. “Well, I won’t watch soap operas with them anymore.”
Fei understood what her mother was thinking. “I’ll read more books.”
Zhan reached out his hand and caressed his daughter’s head, feeling relieved.
Zhan wanted to pay for a meal, but Lixian beat him to the punch.
“Leave it to me.” Lixian handed the card to the clerk.
“But I owed you and promised to treat you to dinner. It should be my treat.” Zhan said.
“It is Yaxin’s father to treat his classmate and his classmate’s mother to dinner. The meal you owe me is between the two of us. There’s another chance for you to treat me.” Since Lixian said so, there were no reasons after Zhan to refuse him.
Lixian paid the bill, took the receipt, and took Yaxin and Zhan out of the restaurant.
They went to the parking lot to pick up their car, and not far from Lixian’s car, a woman in a black low-v skirt was flirting with a young man standing in front of a yellow sports car.
When Yaxin walked by them, his eyes fell on the woman. He held his father and asked in a low voice, “Dad, is that mom?”
His eyes were so eager, eager for his father’s answer, eager for maternal love.
“Yaxin, that is not your mother.” Lixian stood still and denied.
“But she looks just like mother.” Yaxin looked at the woman wearing delicate makeup and asked again.
“She is not your mother.” There was a note of displeasure in Lixian’s voice. “Mom’s gone home. She’s gone to Grandma’s. How could she be here??”
Yaxin bit his lip and did not accept his father’s answer.
“Come on.” Lixian pulled his son away.
But Yaxin looked back at the woman in black, with hope and deep expectation in his eyes.
And that woman happened to look over, with a gorgeous smile on her face, and when she saw Yaxin, she smiled more charmingly.
The young man put his arm around her waist and smirked, trying to kiss her.
She coquettishly pushed that man away, then gently said, “You are really bad.”
“Women love bad men, don’t they? Give me a kiss.” The young man put his arm around her tiny waist and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Would the woman be Yaxin’s mother, Lixian’s ex-wife? Zhan didn’t believe it at all.
It was not a problem to marry a good lady with Lixian’s conditions.
That woman just looked like a social butterfly who didn’t deserve Lixian.
However, Yaxin’s eyes and look told that he didn’t mistake his mother. A child would not mistake his own mother.
Lixian was colder than he had been. He was calm, horribly calm.
Zhan led Fei without speaking and followed Lixian to a Land Rover.
The children got in first, and then he followed. Lixian drove out of the parking lot without saying a word.
The woman in the mirror dwindled into a black dot bit by bit and then disappeared.
Lixian lowered the window a little to let some air in, which eased the suffocating atmosphere in the car.
After a moment, Lixian remembered something, “Mr Xiao, where do you live? I’ll take you home.”
“Mr. Li, just drop us off in the front corner.” Zhan could tell that Lixian was in a bad mood.
What Lixian needed now was calmness and Zhan didn’t want to disturb him much.
“Okay.” Lixian didn’t say much.
A few meters ahead, Lixian pulled over and Zhan took Fei out.
“Thank you, Mr. Li. Goodbye.” said Zhan, “Send me a message when you are home.”
Lixian just nodded. His face was hidden in the shadow. and his eyes were gloomy.
Zhan and Fei waved to them. Yaxin looked at Fei and choked back his tears.
“See you tomorrow, Fei.”
Yaxin leaned over the window.
“Yes.” Fei nodded heavily.
Lixian started the car until it merged into the traffic and disappeared.
Fei shook Zhan’s hand. “Mom, Mr. Li isn’t happy.”
“Everyone has their emotions.” Zhan looked at Fei. Even she was so sensitive, let alone Yaxin.
“Is it because of the woman in the black dress?” Fei asked.
“Maybe.” Zhan sighed gently.
“Is that woman really Yaxin’s mother?” Fei asked continuously.
“I don’t know.” Zhan pitied the motherless child, who longed for maternal love.
And Fei? She also was eager for paternal love, but she was more sensible than Yaxin and didn’t show her desire in front of me.
Not showing it didn’t mean she didn’t need a father.
Perhaps Lulu was right. An complete family was too important for children.
And for Fei, shouldn’t I try and talk it over with Yibo?
“Let’s go home.” Zhan took a deep breath and hailed a taxi.
In the car, Zhan held Fei, thinking about Yaxin and looking at Fei. He was so upset.
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I am obsessed with WangXian and YiZhan so much… currently love to read and write stories about them…
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I hope the author will finish this story. It’s almost two years yet no update