253 — Visiting City A (2)
Li Yuchen shrunk under his father's gaze and went to hold Director Zhou's hand for protection before saying, "Grandma missed me a lot and is happy to listen to me, right Grandma?"
Li Chuanmo and Han Yichen almost rolled their eyes at the same time. Who are you showing off to?
Director Zhou nodded in amusement but added, "But your father is right. Let's not stand here, let's all go inside."
It was only after the boys went in with some luggage that Director Zhou was able to give her daughter a proper hug, "Ran'er, how are you doing?"
Pei Yueran walked into her arms and hugged tightly, "I've missed you very much Mum." For some reason, tears pricked her eyes.
"I have missed you too Baobei. Mum is here now." Director Zhou said, patting her back. She could feel that something was bothering her daughter, but she didn't know what. Even so, her heart began to faintly beat faster.
After they separated, she looked at her properly. Apart from a bit of red around her eyes, she looked otherwise fine. She had also filled out a bit more since the last time she saw her, and she looked elegant in her simple mint green outfit and flat shoes.
In her opinion, her daughter had always been as beautiful as a flower, but today, she was truly blossoming.
Still, she was bothered by the unsettled look in her eyes. Speaking gently, she asked, "Is something wrong Baobei?"
Pei Yueran nodded, then shook her head. She finally spoke after calming down, "Nothing Mum, I'm fine. I'm just glad to see you."
They hugged again, with Director Zhou asking Li Chuanmo—who stood to the side—with her eyes if everything was truly fine. Seeing him nod lightly, her tense heart relaxed somewhat.
They went in and put the luggage in their respective rooms. Li Chuanmo and Pei Yueran of course had one room, and the boys shared the other one.
Before anything else, they had Director Zhou sit down on a straight backed chair before they kowtowed to her one after the other as they gave her their New Year greetings. Director Zhou felt more gratified the more she looked at them, her heart full.
Each person got a generous red packet from her, except Pei Yueran. When Li Yuchen asked why his goddess didn't get one, Director Zhou explained that she didn't need it. She only gave Li Chuanmo because it was his first year of becoming her son-in-law.
Li Yuchen nodded in understanding. It was the same reason why his goddess received a red packet at the Li family yesterday and his dad didn't receive one.
He turned to Pei Yueran, almost patting his chest, "Don't worry my Goddess, I'll share mine with you."
Li Chuanmo gave him a warning look, "Is it your turn to give red packets to my wife? What do you take me for?"
Li Yuchen: "...."
What did he say, what was his father responding with?
His dad was really ungrateful. Just months before, he had hired him as his personal relationship coach. Now that he had gotten his wife, his father kicked him to the curb.
What was this called? Being a .... a one color animal ah!
If Li Yuchen was good at idioms, he would have known that the expression he was looking for to describe his father was "White-eyed wolf".
Director Zhou, Pei Yueran, and Han Yichen all had identical expressions of amusement on their faces.
From there, they moved to the dining room and had lunch together. Director Zhou had personally made a lot of dishes to welcome them. Everyone had at least one favorite on the table, showing how much thought and effort she had put in.
Needless to say, lunch was a beautiful affair.
Director Zhou insisted on washing the dishes and asked everyone to go and rest, but Pei Yueran was equally insistent on helping her.
The boys didn't argue, choosing instead to go over to the orphanage. Li Yuchen was eager to meet Han Yichen's friends there.
Pei Yueran didn't want her mother to wash the dishes alone.
Just before Director Zhou could agree, Li Chuanmo came in with a cup of brown sugar water for Pei Yueran and volunteered to do the washing, telling Director Zhou that his wife was inconvenienced and he didn't want her to touch water.
Director Zhou didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I wasn't asking your wife to do anything okay? She's the one that stubbornly wanted to help!
But it was good this way. She had something to say to him alone.
Pei Yueran blushed and shoved him lightly. He made it sound like she was going into labor or something equally dangerous.
Since both of her beloved people told her to rest, she acquiesced. Already, her abdomen had begun to cramp moderately, and she felt like curling up in bed with a good book.
The drink Li Chuanmo made in hand, she went straight to the already cleaned bedroom, drinking the slightly hot drink in small sips.
In the kitchen, Director Zhou and Li Chuanmo worked side by side. One person washed the dishes, while the other rinsed and wiped them with the kitchen cloth beside him before arranging it in the drawer.
Looking at his practiced movements, Director Zhou knew this was something he was used to doing. She smiled a bit, before remembering what she wanted to talk to him about.
"Chuanmo, I wanted to ask: Are you sure everything is okay with Ran'er?"
Li Chuanmo hesitated, basically confirming Director Zhou's suspicions. He then said, "There's indeed an issue, but it would be better for Ran to tell you herself, Mother."
Both of them had agreed that Pei Yueran would tell her everything later, in private.
Director Zhou nodded slowly in understanding. Both of them worked in silence for some time before Director Zhou started talking,
"Yueran is one of the most assertive children I have ever known. She was always ready to stand up for what she believed was right, even if it meant offending others."
Li Chuanmo listened patiently without interrupting her. Director Zhou had a faint smile on her face and a faraway look in her eyes, as if recalling something.
She then continued a moment later, "But she's also very fragile. Anytime she had a vulnerable look on her face, it made my heart break in pieces. I'm not shy to say it: She's such an angel. She's my precious baby."
Li Chuanmo nodded. No doubt, his Ran was perfect.
*****
Little theatre:
LYC: Dad, you stand no chance. Grandma likes me more than you!
LCM: (gloats) I have a wife and you don't. And my wife loves me best!
LYC: "...."
S_J: Li Chuanmo - 2; Li Yuchen - 0.