49 Welcome

While Wang Ming was hugging Meng Hao and his two uncles, Peng Tong still standing in front of the restaurant clenched his hands hard. He was jealous of Meng Hao and his power; he isn't a power hungry person nor a person with high ambitions. But when Wang Ming was in trouble, Peng Tong couldn't do anything and was only a burden. He felt disappointed in himself and powerless.

What would Wang Ming think about him now, he had promised that he would help Wang Ming live with him through thick and thin, but when danger came he had to run away instead? But his thoughts were all unfound, Wang Ming waved at him for him to join the group hug. This gesture seemed like a small thing, but for Peng Tong it reaffirmed how close he and Wang Ming really stands.

Running towards them excitedly, Peng Tong, Wang Ming and Meng Hao hugged each other like brothers. After they separated Wang Ming hooked his arms around Peng Tong and Meng Hao. Which looked funny since Meng Hao was a head higher than Peng Tong and Wang Ming, so he had to bend his knees. Then Wang Ming announced.

"From today us three are best brothers, Little Tong you are the third brother, I'm the second brother and Meng Hao since you are the biggest and most likely older so you are the big brother. Does anyone disagree?"

"Yes!"

Funnily enough, both Peng Tong and Meng Hao disagreed and answered at the same time. Both also had the same reasoning behind disagreeing.

Seeing them both disagree, Wang Ming felt disappointed, but he needed to know why.

"Peng Tong, why do you disagree?"

"Big brother, I can't be the third brother, and Meng Hao can't be the big brother. If I'm not wrong, he is younger than both me and you. He looks old, but he's turns 22 later this year!"

Hearing that Meng Hao was younger than him, made Wang Ming confused. He was certain that Meng Hao was older than him, with his face and body Wang Ming thought he had to be at least 30. Seeing Wang Ming's face, Meng Hao couldn't help but laugh. He laughed so hard that he had to hold his stomach.

Which surprised Uncle Fu and Uncle Hou, they had never seen Meng Hao act like this in public. He's usually very restrained when people could see him. But at home he would be a little rascal and pull pranks on his uncles, but they had never seen him so comfortable with people his age before.

Seeing him laugh so much, Wang Ming got annoyed, so he lightly punched Meng Hao. But instead of hurting Meng Hao, he felt his fist hurt. Which set Meng Hao off again, this time laughing even louder, Meng Hao's laughter was so infectious that it even set Peng Tong off.

Seeing them both laughing at him, Wang Ming got even more annoyed, so he pulled their necks in even tighter to his body, not strong enough to hurt them but enough to get their attention.

"Laughed enough? Want me to brake both your necks so you can laugh in the underworld instead?"

Wang Ming then stared at them with the most menacing glare he could muster. Wang Ming looked more like a fierce tiger than a human. The people around also got chills hearing what Wang Ming said. Peng Tong's underlings even readied themselves to save him, but stopped when Wang Ming then started laughing.

"I'm just joking! Now, Meng Hao, you become 22 this year, right?"

Seeing that Meng Hao affirm it, Wang Ming said.

"Peng Tong is also 22 years. And so am I. Which means we all was born the same year. Now we only need to die the same year. Since you are the youngest Meng Hao, you are the third brother, Meng Hao you are younger than me by some months you are the second brother and me I'm the big brother. Happy?"

After saying this, he lightly tightened his arms around their necks again. If they even dared to joke with him again, he wouldn't mind giving them a light punishment.

Seeing how serious Wang Ming was, they didn't dare to joke with Wang Ming and hurriedly nodded their heads.

Seeing that they both were obedient, Wang Ming then released their heads and slapped them hard on their backs. He put more power in the slap on Meng Hao's back since his body was like a rock. His hand was red after the slap, but hearing both of them scream out in pain he smiled satisfied.

"Ok, no more joking. We are brothers from now on, so let's treat each other well!"

Peng Tong and Meng Hao both massaged their back and replied.

"Yes, big brother."

Meng Hao didn't want to be Wang Ming's brother, but he then thought it isn't too bad, as he would have even more reasons now to hang with Wang Ming. Maybe later they would have more brother on brother time and then become something more than brothers.

While laughing at Peng Tong and Meng Hao, Wang Ming suddenly felt a pair of hands over his eyes, which obscured his vision.

"Guess who?"

Hearing the voice, Wang Ming instantly knew who it was. He hadn't spoken with this person many times, but the last time they spoke with each other in person they talked for over an hour. He didn't know that she was so playful, covering his eyes and playing games with him.

Grabbing the arms, Wang Ming realized the arms that had covered his eyes were small, a little too small to be the person he thought of. Turning behind him, he hugged the person who was playing games with him.

"Ming Ming!"

Hugging not only Ming Ming but Fu Ya into his arms, Wang Ming felt delighted. Fu Ya felt uncomfortable being hugged so suddenly by Wang Ming, but since Ming Ming was so happy she did nothing about it.

"Daddy! Daddy!"

Hearing her call him daddy again, Wang Ming tried to hush her, but that only made Ming Ming think he was playing with her. So Ming Ming did what kids do, she laughed louder and kept shouting. Giving up on stopping Ming Ming, Wang Ming just looked helplessly at Meng Hao and the others and started explaining.

"She's not my daughter, Fu Ya, and me are only friends. Ming Ming has been like this ever since I first met her, she keeps calling me Daddy. So please don't spread false rumors, Fu Ya is a single woman, such rumors can ruin her life."

Seeing Wang Ming protect her like this, Fu Ya felt sweet. She couldn't remember the last time a man stood up for her, even if there were they only had ulterior motives. Though she wasn't sure that Wang Ming wasn't one of them. But seeing how much Ming Ming liked Wang Ming, it became hard for Fu Ya to doubt him.

Though seeing what happened next something stirred inside Fu Ya, something she hadn't felt in a long time. Jealousy.

Lang Lin had also arrived at the restaurant. It stressed her out she was late. Her car had broken down on the way to Wang Ming's restaurant. So she had to take a taxi instead, which made her late. When she was walking towards the restaurant, she saw Wang Ming holding a child and saw that the firecrackers had still not been lit.

Which meant that the opening ceremony hadn't started yet. Feeling happy, she ran to Wang Ming and gave him a big hug to congratulate him.

"I'm so sorry for arriving late! My car broke down, so I had to take a taxi. This here is a small gift from me I hope you will accept it."

Feeling Lang Lin giving him a bear hug, Wang Ming's face went red. He could feel her body tight up to his, which reminded him about the dream he had. But luckily Ming Ming squirmed around as they were squeezing her, which made him come back to reality.

Taking a step back Lang Lin presented her gift, which is a very common gift to give to business owners as almost all Chinese shops and restaurants have one and that was a golden-colored cat. But when Wang Ming took the gift from Lang Lin, he felt surprised by how heavy it was. So he looked at Lang Lin with a puzzled face.

"It's mostly made of gold, so it can't wave its arm."

The cat wasn't too large, but it weighed at least 1kg, which would cost a roughly 300 thousand yuan. The cat was too valuable for a gift, so Wang Ming tried to hand it back to Lang Lin. But she refused to take it back, so Wang Ming could only accept.

Then walking back to his restaurant to the ribbon with Ming Ming in his hands, Wang Ming could finally announce.

"Since everybody is here, let's start the opening ceremony. I only have 5 scissors, so Fu Ya and Lang Lin can cut and hold the scissors with me. Meng Hao, Peng Tong, Uncle Fu, and Uncle Hou please take a scissor each."

After saying this, Wang Ming lined everybody up in front of the shop. Looking at the crowd that was in front of his shop now. Wang Ming felt like this had to be the weirdest opening ceremony in the history, since most of the people watching were Peng Tong's underlings.

Letting Ming Ming, who was still in his arms to light up the firecrackers, Wang Ming hurriedly grabbed her and ran back to Lang Lin and Fu Ya, then counted down.

"3."

"2."

"1."

Then all of them cut a piece of the red ribbon at the same time and put it in their pockets, since Wang Ming's group was three. Wang Ming cut two pieces each and gave it to Lang Lin and Fu Ya, while he gave the ribbon to Ming Ming, who was now sitting on his shoulders.

After the firecrackers ended, Wang Ming got Peng Tong to disperse all of his underlings, then opened the door after putting Ming Ming down on the ground and said.

"Welcome to Wang's family restaurant!"