Chapter 111
Xu Yue stumbled, turned his head sharply, and his face twitched.
Is this... a family reunion?!
Xu Yue's Adam's apple bobbed. "He acted first and reported later."
Fireworks were exploding outside. The three siblings, who knew what had happened, fell silent and stared intently at their five-year-old father.
--However
Qiao Wen was mostly focused on the little girl in her arms and didn't pay much attention to Xu Cheye, passing by the soft "Mom" that came from behind her.
She slightly raised her hand, and Uncle Zeng understood immediately, taking out a red envelope from his coat pocket.
Qiao Wen nodded indifferently, gesturing for Xu Cheye to accept the red envelope: "Happy New Year."
Hey, Grandma isn't responding? Did she not hear me?
The four adults' eyelids twitched, they exchanged glances, and held their breath, waiting for Xu Cheye's next move.
Xu Cheye stepped forward with a smile, as if he hadn't said anything at all, and casually accepted the red envelope with a sincere expression.
Thank you. I wish you a happy new year and good health in the coming year.
"Yes, you too."
Then silence.
The four people: ...He just left like that, all fresh and clean? Isn't he going to say anything else?
Xu Yirou lost her sleep halfway through because of the arrival of Xu Cheye and his nephew. When she groggily opened her eyes, she saw two familiar people in her field of vision.
Hmm.
Xu Yirou got up and rubbed her eyes: "Cheche, when did you get here? Am I dreaming?"
On such an important holiday as Lunar New Year's Eve, why would Cheche be at her house?
Xu Cheye raised his eyebrows and said matter-of-factly, "I'm here to give red envelopes to the kids."
Despite being only five years old, he was dressed in a cool and mature black trench coat, and as he spoke, he pulled out a large handful of red envelopes from his pocket.
At first glance, each red envelope has a different design, with a cute golden dragon pattern paired with flowing dragon and phoenix strokes and vigorous handwriting, showing that it was made with care.
Xu Yirou's eyes lit up immediately; they were drawn to the pretty red envelopes.
The little red dumpling wiggled its bottom as it got off the chair.
"Cheche, are you going to send me a red envelope?"
Xu Cheye precisely picked out the thickest and cutest red envelope from a stack of red envelopes, the kind that could be used as a brick.
"Happy New Year, little Rou Rou." A preference expressed openly and honestly.
Wow, it's so thick!
Xu Yirou was shocked when she held the red envelope in her hand and felt its weight. How much is this? Is it filled with small gold bars?
"This...this is all for me?"
"That's right, it's all yours."
Xu Yirou couldn't hide her smile, but at the same time she was very conflicted. It was such a big red envelope; she really wanted it but didn't dare to actually accept it.
In just a few seconds, the little expressions on his face were so rich that it was impossible not to laugh.
Xu Cheye: "What's given to you is yours, spend it however you like."
He couldn't resist gently rubbing her chubby cheeks: "Well, I'll give the next kid a red envelope now."
Qiao Wen's eyes darkened slightly as she witnessed his actions.
What kind of behavior is this?
Xu Cheye felt a chill run down his neck for no apparent reason. He quickly walked over to the sleeping Bubble and stuffed the red envelope he had prepared in advance into her pocket.
He then pulled out the third red envelope and handed it to Jiang Yan, looking up and saying, "Happy New Year."
Xu Cheye handed out red envelopes one by one, with a very generous amount, fully demonstrating the fact that a rich second-generation has no concept of money.
The three siblings never expected that their father would sneak out of the Xu family home to give them New Year's money.
In front of their grandmother Qiao Wen, they couldn't act too casually, so they pretended to refuse several times before reluctantly accepting and then giving her an even bigger red envelope in return.
When it came to the last red envelope, Xu Cheye walked towards Qiao Wen without hesitation.
Under Qiao Wen's surprised gaze, he approached step by step, raising both hands to offer it: "This is a small token of my appreciation, please accept it."
Compared to the red envelope given to Xu Yirou, the red envelope given to Qiao Wen returned to a normal level.
It's a thin, light piece with almost no weight.
"No need." As expected, Qiao Wen refused, her attitude indifferent. "I appreciate the thought."
Xu Cheye looked at her with his dark, round eyes, his clear, childlike voice rising at the end: "If you don't answer, I'll be sad, the kind of sad that makes me cry. Will you comfort me?"
Qiao Wen: "?"
A crack appeared in Qiao Wen's indifferent expression as she looked at him with barely concealed surprise.
Is this child being affectionate?
Do baby boys also act cute?
Qiao Wen was in a daze for a moment, and a cold little face involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
Xu Cheye touched the scarf around his neck, secretly glad that he was wearing it, otherwise they would definitely have seen his neck turn as red as Zhou Hei Ya (a famous brand of braised duck neck).
However, it's rare to see her with such a surprised expression.
"Grandma He," he said, pressing his voice even further, "since you don't want to coax me, then just accept the red envelope."
Hearing the boy's soft urging, Qiao Wen's prepared words of refusal stuck in her throat.
Perhaps she shouldn't have been so strict. She should have been more lenient with the child at times. After all, coaxing a child is a world-class problem, so why take it so seriously?
Qiao Wen didn't refuse again, and for the first time, she looked at the boy in front of her carefully.
Xu Cheye stood upright, accepting his mother's inspection with composure.
Qiao Wen's unapproachability stems from her innate personality. In addition, after years of immersing herself in the business world, even her family members who live with her day and night often find it difficult to withstand her pressure.
She was fully aware of this.
However, the boy in front of her was not frightened to tears; on the contrary, he remained calm and composed, even more so than the younger generation of the He family.
After a few moments of contemplation, Qiao Wen frowned slightly: "Aren't you afraid of me?"
Xu Cheye touched his nose and honestly said, "I used to be afraid, but I'm not anymore."
“Including today, I’ve seen you twice in total.” Qiao Wen tapped the table lightly with her fingers, looking at him intently. “I remember the last time we met, you didn’t seem afraid of me.”
She is old, but not senile.
Qiao Wen's keen observation made the others tense up.
“You are a kind elder, I shouldn’t be afraid of you,” Xu Cheye replied, avoiding the main point, but his words were sincere. “Also, I find you very kind.”
Qiao Wen's furrowed brows suddenly stopped, her first reaction being that she had misheard.
Xu Cheye pushed his four-year-old wife, who was counting small change, forward and smiled brightly:
"Rou Rou often brags to me about having a good mother. She says you are a particularly kind and gentle mother who can raise such an obedient child as Rou Rou. This shows that you are a very kind elder. In short, you are not a bad person. So why should I be afraid of you?"
Qiao Wen remained silent.
Xu Yirou hugged her bag containing a huge sum of money tightly, paused for a moment, and then nodded vigorously in agreement: "My mom is not a bad person, my mom is the best."
Qiao Wen's eyes flickered slightly, and she reached out her hand: "Rou Rou, come here."
Xu Yirou hugged her bag and snuggled into her arms, the soft, sweet scent of milk brushing against Xu Cheye's nose.
Before Xu Cheye could even savor his moment, Qiao Wen's cold voice crashed down on him:
“Xu family boy, I allow you to be friends with Rou Rou, but I don’t allow you to have any other improper thoughts.”
Don't think she can't tell; from the moment she walked in, the child's eyes never left Rou Rou.
The chubby little thing is adorable, innocent, and pure. She's a real joy to be around, and her natural charm is an innate quality.
Qiao Wen wouldn't be so strict as to interfere with the friendships between the cubs.
but--
She observed it carefully.
Xu's son is cunning and glib; he's good at making girls happy, so she has to be careful.
There's no need to beat around the bush with cubs; it's inefficient. So she chooses to speak her mind.
Xu Cheye: "...What do you mean by 'unreasonable thoughts'?"
Qiao Wen: "For example, thoughts like wanting to marry Rou Rou when I grow up."
Xu Cheye found it outrageous: "Can't I even think about it?"
"no."
Qiao Wen frowned, vaguely sensing that something was amiss. She suppressed her thoughts for the moment and said firmly and sternly, "You two are still young, it's not appropriate."
Xu Cheye laughed: "Then I'll think about it when I'm older."
Qiao Wen's eyes suddenly sharpened, radiating coldness that sent shivers down the spines of the younger generation around her.
He Nianzhu crossed her arms and clicked her tongue inwardly, thinking, "Dad, really. Why does he have to argue with Grandma? Doesn't he worry that Grandma might get so angry that she'll just send the guests away?"
It will be difficult to see my mother again in the future.
Well, speaking of which, if Grandma and Dad were to argue, whose side would he take?
Well, respecting the elderly and caring for the young, then let's help Grandma.
After making that joke, Xu Cheye belatedly shrank back, saying, "I was just kidding, please don't be angry."
Even after five years of death, he could not escape the terrifying suppression of his bloodline.
Qiao Wen glanced at him and nodded slightly: "It's getting late, you should go back and rest early."
Xu Yue quickly jumped in to smooth things over, pulling his uncle away as they fled the scene.
As soon as the uncle and nephew left, the living room returned to its previous liveliness. Qiao Wen looked down at the bewildered toddler who was still counting money, her feelings a mix of emotions.
Seeing her serious expression, Xu Niancheng mustered her courage to comfort her, "Grandma, we're here to take care of Mom, so don't worry too much."
Qiao Wen looked up.
Xu Niancheng's spine is stiff.
“I’m worried about more than just Rou Rou,” Qiao Wen said, “I’m also worried about you and Pao Pao.”
Xu Niancheng: "???" Huh?
Qiao Wen did not answer immediately. She sat upright on the sofa, her neatly trimmed and rounded fingertips gently pinching her brow in deep thought.
The group dared not disturb her.
After a moment, she stopped tapping the table and said in a gentle voice, "I have an idea and would like to hear your opinions."
"Grandma, please tell me."
Qiao Wen dropped a bombshell: "The He family girls will not be married before the age of thirty."
"I support keeping the son and removing the father."
A thunderous roar followed.
Xu Qingyan coughed out a long string of words: "Go, Father, Stay, Son."
Jiang Yan poured water and patted his back, her gaze wandering away from Xu Qingyan: Hmm... The night is nice tonight.
He Nianzhu jumped up excitedly: !! Great minds think alike! I knew it! His ideas were so insightful and full of practical information.
Xu Niancheng was stunned: My goodness, where did you go for further studies? Your thinking is way too advanced!
"What do you think?" Qiao Wen didn't speak unilaterally. "If you have different ideas, you can speak up."
He Nianzhu and Xu Niancheng cautiously observed their elder brother's expression.
Bubble is the eldest brother's only daughter and the only young lady in the He family. The main decision-making power rests with him and Jiang Yan.
Without a doubt, Jiang Yan's attitude is supportive.
Xu Qingyan himself was forced to leave his father behind and keep his son for five years, making him a truly unjust victim.
Therefore, the most crucial opinion fell to Xu Qingyan.
Xu Qingyan was in a real bind, but he couldn't show it. He kept a straight face while his brain worked at a breakneck pace.
After weighing the pros and cons, he suddenly understood and calmly stated, "I have no objections."
He has the means to provide his daughter with a life of luxury, so whether she gets married or has children is not a problem.
As long as my daughter is happy and doesn't get snatched away by that blond-haired boy that Niancheng used to complain about, that's all that matters.
Mom doesn't need to worry at all. Dad is back, so how could Mom be led away by some other young punk?
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