Chapter 127 Sit on My Lap

The hall was quiet for a moment. Pei Yuning realized that her grandparents might not be able to answer her questions, and was about to change the subject.

Grandpa said: "On Xiaoci's tenth birthday, we invited his classmates to our house to celebrate. The child at that age didn't know much, and after seeing the family photo on the wall, he asked why Xiaoci's parents were not in the photo. Since then, Xiaoci has stopped taking family photos."

Grandpa went on to say, "Daichi passed away not long after giving birth to Xiaoci. Your grandmother and I didn't want our daughter's only bloodline to be brought back to China, so Xiaoci grew up in France. His father would come here many times every year, even during the Chinese New Year, but in the first few years, your grandmother and I had some resentment towards him because of Daiichi, so there were only three of us here."

Pei Yuning felt sorry for reminding the two old people of their sadness: "Grandpa and grandma, I'm sorry."

Grandpa: "We don't talk about this as a family."

Grandma stroked her long curly hair tenderly and said, "Good girl, eat your cake."

She hummed softly, holding the fork in her hand, and ate without any taste.

Pei Yuning felt extremely sad. He felt sorry for his grandparents who lost their only daughter, sorry for Chu Daiqiu who was unable to support her parents and could not see her children grow up, and sorry for Mr. Shang who lost his loving wife who had shared his joys and sorrows with him.

What I feel most sorry for is the young Shang Yanci. What was he thinking after hearing what his classmates said?

Would you hate your birth, feeling that your existence deprived your mother of her life?

Do you envy other children who have a complete and happy family and can lie in the arms of their parents and act coquettishly?

Shang Yanci was only one year older than Pei Yuchen, but he was much more calm and orderly. He was even more considerate and polite than Pei Yunzhi was when he was 27 years old. His way of dealing with people was impeccable.

His young parents were not able to accompany Shang Yanci to let him grow up slowly and steadily. Looking at his elderly grandparents, he could only make himself sensible and obedient, be a praised good child, and use his clumsy and tiny running to catch up with the years that passed by his grandparents' fingers.

Pei Yuning felt like she couldn't breathe. The more she thought about it, the more upset she felt. Why did she treat Shang Yanci like this? Why did she give him happiness so fleetingly and then immediately take it back? Why couldn't she let him have a complete and happy family? Why couldn't she let him grow up slowly?

For a person as good as him, all the good things in the world should belong to him unconditionally.

Pei Yuning kept blinking her eyes to prevent the tears from falling. She tried hard not to cry. Once she cried out loud, her grandparents would definitely be infected by her emotions. If they all cried, Shang Yanci would not be able to comfort them.

The aroma of the coffee in the opera house cake gradually turned bitter. Pei Yuning couldn't swallow it, but this was a dessert made by her grandfather. She praised it when she first ate it, and it would be inappropriate if she didn't finish it later.

After thinking about it, she continued eating. She wanted to spend more time with Shang Yanci in the evening to make up for the "bitterness" she was going through.

Grandpa and grandma tried to lighten the dull atmosphere in the hall and told Pei Yuning a lot of gossip and interesting things they had heard recently. She listened cooperatively while eating the opera house cake in her hands.

When Shang Yanci came back, the hall was already filled with laughter and joy. There was no trace of what had happened before, as if it had never been heard.

Grandma: "Xiaoci is back, wash your hands and have dinner."

Shang Yanci: "Okay."

Pei Yuning raised her eyes and met his gaze.

Shang Yanci had a gentle look on his brows and a faint smile on his face. He walked over with his long legs, first pinched her shoulder lightly, then took up the dessert plate in her hand and ate the remaining half of the Opera House cake.

Grandpa pointed at the dessert on the table and said, "There's so much on it, you don't want to eat it?"

Shang Yanci chuckled softly, "Ningning's is delicious."

Grandpa was speechless and walked towards the restaurant with his hands behind his back.

Grandma smiled and followed me tactfully.

Pei Yuning took Shang Yanci's hand, looked around, stood on tiptoe, kissed his cheek, and asked softly, "Cici, how do you know I don't want to eat?"

Shang Yanci lowered his eyes and looked at her, saying softly, "We are in sync."

Pei Yuning smiled with a smile on her face and led him to the restaurant.

After a delicious dinner, the family prepared to take a walk in the back garden.

While everyone was changing their shoes, Shang Yanci walked to the counter and took out a bottle of mosquito repellent spray.

Shang Yanci: "Ning Ning, come to me."

Pei Yuning walked up to him puzzledly: "What are you doing?"

"Repel mosquitoes." Shang Yanci carefully sprayed mosquito repellent on the skin exposed outside her long skirt.

Grandma realized belatedly and said, "It's a good thing Xiaoci remembered. Ningning, the mosquitoes here are particularly poisonous. One bite from them can leave a fist-sized bump. You are so delicate and you can't stand it."

Pei Yuning asked: "Grandpa and grandma, aren't you going to spray?"

Grandma: "Your grandpa and I can't stand the smell of mosquito spray, and mosquitoes aren't interested in us."

Pei Yuning nodded. No wonder Shang Yanci had just asked him to go to his place.

"Okay." After carefully spraying Pei Yuning, Shang Yanci sprayed himself a few times casually, put the mosquito repellent spray back, and changed his shoes.

The family walked towards the back garden.

At this moment, the sky is painted a deep blue ink, the moonlight is bright, the stars are shining, and the evening breeze brings bursts of elegant floral fragrance that are refreshing to the heart.

Under the warm yellow street lights, there are pairs of shadows, holding each other's hands and walking slowly.

Pei Yuning really liked this kind of leisurely and comfortable life. With her grandparents walking in front of her, she would secretly discuss some poems from time to time, thinking she had hidden it well.

Grandpa and grandma were happy to watch the two of them being lazy and didn't remind her that her shadow under the street light reflected her actions clearly.

The corners of Shang Yanci's mouth curled up slightly, and when Pei Yuning stood on tiptoe again, he bent over and turned sideways, letting her kiss his lips.

Pei Yuning looked into his amused and smiling eyes, and the kiss ended immediately. She took a step back, first glanced at her grandparents who were walking in front of her, then turned her head to look at the clusters of flowers on the side. She looked at everything except Shang Yanci.

Shang Yanci chuckled and said nothing.

My grandparents walked with me for more than half an hour. My grandmother said she wanted to catch up on some TV series, so my grandfather went back with her.

Pei Yuning didn't want to leave either, but the stars were beautiful tonight and she didn't want to leave the back garden yet.

Her eyes fell on the swing not far away. She pointed at the swing and shook her hand that was tied to Shang Yanci's: "A Yan, let's go sit on the swing for a while."

Shang Yanci: "Okay."

The two walked over and Pei Yuning was just about to sit down.

Shang Yanci sat on the swing before her, and with his large hands he easily lifted her into his arms and held her, whispering, "Baby, sit on my lap."