As the sun set, the sky darkened slightly.
In the long corridor, Chu Liyue looked at the aged and dignified Xiao Qianshan opposite her, her expression inscrutable.
The last rays of the setting sun outlined her slender, perfect figure; her stunningly beautiful face was elegant and magnificent, breathtakingly beautiful, and exuding the aura of an empress.
A flicker of emotion crossed her eyes, and she nodded slightly: "Thank you."
Xiao Qianshan gently waved his hand, turning his gaze to the window. Looking at the setting sun, his eyes gleamed, and he chuckled softly.
"Though the sun sets late in the year, its afterglow still fills the sky."
"The ancients were right; my old bones came in handy at a crucial moment."
Just as the setting sun was about to be completely swallowed up, a streak of firelight pierced the sky, and magnificent fireworks burst forth.
A strange light flashed across Xiao Qianshan's eyes. It wasn't completely dark yet, and nothing major had happened at home, so why were fireworks suddenly being set off?
Chu Liyue looked up at the sky outside the window, her eyes flashing, and then she suddenly chuckled softly:
"Something might happen."
Xiao Qianshan raised his eyebrows slightly, and after only two seconds, a look of deep surprise suddenly appeared on his face.
Chu Liyue turned around and walked gracefully outside: "Why don't we go out and see for ourselves?"
"Little girl!" Xiao Qianshan suddenly called out to her.
As Chu Liyue turned around, Xiao Qianshan, leaning on his cane, stood still, pondered for a moment, and said in a low voice:
"For now, it's fine for just the two of us to know about this."
"Don't tell Wu Jie yet."
"I will speak with Shui Han and the other two once everything is ready."
Chu Liyue pursed her red lips slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.
Following the sound of fireworks, Xiao Qianshan and Chu Liyue walked towards the restaurant, where they encountered Xiao Yuxuan and Xiao Linzui along the way.
They both noticed the strange looks and suspicions in each other's eyes, and immediately quickened their pace toward the restaurant.
Sure enough, rows of fireworks were neatly arranged outside the restaurant, with sparks constantly shooting up from the cannons.
At the same time, a large number of servants were moving the solid wood chairs out of the restaurant and carrying soft sofas and chairs into the restaurant in an orderly manner.
With an air of authority, Xiao Yuxuan coldly and seriously questioned a servant:
"What's going on?"
The maid placed her hands folded in front of her and bowed respectfully, replying, "Third Master said he's in a good mood and wants to set off fireworks."
"He also said that the wooden chair was too hard, and that the young master was uncomfortable sitting on it."
Upon hearing this, everyone except Chu Liyue's pupils dilated in shock, followed by a surge of intense joy.
Xiao Qianshan gripped his cane tightly and murmured, "This unfilial son has finally done something decent."
Xiao Linzui smiled broadly and urged gently, "Father, this third brother is showing off to us, waiting for us to have the family reunion feast. Let's go in quickly."
Xiao Qianshan tapped his cane on the ground with a somewhat hurried "thump-thump" sound, and his usually steady steps became more impatient.
At this moment in the restaurant, Xiao Shuihan was tracing Xiao Wujie's eyebrows and eyes with her fingers, her face full of amazement:
"Ah Lan, how come your son is more handsome than me?"
"Your nose and mouth are like mine, and your eyes are like yours."
"It's a perfect combination of our looks; it would definitely make any young girl swoon."
Luo Yilan removed his hand, somewhat speechless, her eyes filled with helplessness.
"That's enough for you. Your son just woke up not long ago, don't disturb him."
"The fireworks outside should probably stop soon."
Xiao Shuihan's face immediately showed a look of grievance at being rejected, but before he could speak, Luo Yilan turned her gaze to Xiao Wujie, whose eyes were lowered, and asked softly:
"Goodness, what are you thinking about? You seem so engrossed."
Xiao Wujie slept for two hours in the afternoon. Since Chu Liyue wasn't there, he didn't sleep very well. He was thinking about Chu Liyue. He hadn't seen her since he woke up in the morning, and he felt a little uncomfortable.
But he was too embarrassed to say it outright, so he said without changing his expression, "I'm thinking about how to greet Grandpa and the others later?"
Luo Yilan gently stroked his head and comforted him in a soft voice, "Don't worry, they all like you very much. You can just call them by their names."
Xiao Shuihan waved his hand nonchalantly: "Good son, it's alright. Shout if you want, or don't."
"They are not important. Your mother and I are enough."
"If you don't like this place, I'll take you out tomorrow."
The first thing Xiao Qianshan heard upon entering the room was this speech of filial piety.
For a fleeting moment, he wanted to dig his wife, who had passed away many years ago, out of the ground and ask her if she had eaten something wrong when she gave birth to this rebellious son.
Xiao Shuihan turned around when he heard the voice. After his face turned ashen, he stared intently at Xiao Wujie with deep eyes, as if a complex mix of emotions was churning within him.
He placed his hand on Xiao Wujie's shoulder and said calmly, "Old man, try to look normal, don't scare the child."
Xiao Qianshan ignored him, but his eyes flickered with emotion because of his actions.
The child, who had been away for twenty years, was finally going home.
Xiao Wujie's gaze toward Xiao Qianshan was also somewhat complicated.
Xiao Qianshan was the first relative he met. When they first met in Boston, the old man gave him a sense of closeness he had never experienced before.
His return to the Xiao family was also meticulously planned by Xiao Qianshan, who spared no effort.
He gave him the utmost respect, choosing not to immediately reveal everything to him, nor to force him in the slightest, but instead trying his best to give him time to adapt and an opportunity for a soft emotional landing.
He was filled with gratitude and respect for the seemingly cold and stern old man who was actually a tender and affectionate person.
He stood up, his back straight, and under Xiao Qianshan's deep yet turbulent gaze, bowed respectfully and softly called out:
"Grandson Xiao Wujie greets grandfather."
His gentle voice mingled with the sounds of fireworks outside, causing a glint to flash in Xiao Qianshan's eyes.
This was the first time Xiao Wujie had seen a genuine smile on his face.
A deep voice rose slowly from his throat, initially with a slight vibration, then gradually grew louder, and finally turned into a laugh.
The laughter wasn't loud, but it was full of power, even drowning out the fireworks outside, echoing between the four walls.
His shoulders trembled slightly with laughter, his weathered eyes gleamed with tiny sparkles, and his voice, though heavy with life, was filled with the purest joy.
Despite his titles as the head of the Xiao family, chairman of God, and military scientist, he is now just an ordinary old man, overjoyed and excited to see his bloodline return home.
In an instant, everyone's gaze softened unconsciously.
Xiao Qianshan's eyes flickered, his gaze fixed on Xiao Wujie, his withered hand gently pressing on Xiao Wujie's shoulder:
"Great! That's wonderful!"
"Good boy!"
"That's wonderful!"
In his twilight years, he was able to find his lost family members, watch his son, who had been depressed for twenty years, reunite with his family, and even hear him call out "Grandpa".
Nothing could make him happier than this.
He has lived a life without regrets.
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