Zhiyuan and Xinyi looked at her in horror. Their shock knew no bounds.
"What!?"
Their shocked loud voices woke Siying up. He groggily opened his eyes and blinked at Xinyi. "Mama…"
Xinyi realized it and quickly patted his head. "Sorry, dear. It's nothing. Sorry for waking you up. Don't worry. Ho back to sleep."
Siying was already drowsy with the medicine's effects so he nodded and nested his head back in Xinyi's neck and dozed off to sleep.
Zhiyuan said, "You put him to sleep in the next room. I will see what is going on here."
---
Xinyi hurriedly rushed to Zhiyuan's side, who was in a heated argument with Han Huizhong.
"Grandpa, what is the meaning of this! Where have you locked up Chyou? Why!?"
"Grandpa!"
Xinyi came rushing in. "What happened to Chyou?"
Han Huizhong lazily rested his head in his palm and looked at them. "What? Why are you two looking at me like that?"
Xinyi was aghast. "Grandpa, how can you lock a little girl like that in a room all alone!? What is wrong with you?"
"Well, if they can pour soy sauce in Siying's food and make him sick so bad that he had to be admitted to the hospital, then I am just locking her in a room. The severity is nothing as compared to what the esteemed An family did," he chuckled.
Zhiyuan gritted his teeth. "Grandpa, it's all An Meiying's doing. Chyou has nothing to do with it."
"So did Siying. Did they stop? And you don't talk to me, young man," he narrowed his eyes, "I will only speak to Xinyi."
He rubbed his brows in frustration.
"Alright, then talk to me," Xinyi flared. "Where is Chyou? Please let her out."
Han Huizhong shrugged. "She won't be out until Siying is fit and fine again."
"Grandpa-"
"Listen granddaughter-in-law. In the first place, neither was Siying supposed to go to that woman's place nor her daughter was supposed to come to ours. This whole teaching thing is nonsense in itself. I don't care what the kids think or feel. Considering the past, we should steer away from each other."
"But you fools went ahead with it anyway. And look what happened? You got your son in trouble and…"
His gaze turned cold. "I never said that I am merciful enough to leave Chyou unharmed. They started it. I am ending it."
"Grandpa!"
"And it wasn't purely An Meiying's doing. Don't think that I know nothing. It was that woman's fault for not administering his medicine."
Xinyi and Zhiyuan had no retort to that.
"She already apologized," Xinyi said.
He smiled. "Too late for that. Didn't you remember when Ah Cy had asked me how I agreed to this arrangement? I had subtly mentioned that Chyou is on our side too."
Zhiyuan couldn't take it anymore. "Grandpa enough. Do you have any idea how frightened she could be right now? She could even fall sick!"
Han Huizhong snorted.
Xinyi clenched her fists. "Grandpa please don't make things difficult. Siying is out of danger now. Just because Mrs. An went far doesn't mean that we drop to her level too."
Han Huizhong smiled. "I believe in tit for tat. And you don't have to do anything. I have already called someone to let her out."
Zhiyuan and Xinyi glanced at each other in confusion.
Suddenly, they heard someone's rapid footsteps rushing in full speed towards his study. The door banged open and Xiaosi stormed in, his eyes red in anger and his chest heaving up and down in sharp breaths.
His jaw was tightly clenched as he spoke through gritted teeth, "Where is my daughter!?"
Zhiyuan and Xinyi were shocked.
Han Huizhong smiled. "Yo beggar. You came fast."
Xiaosi snapped in anger and rushed towards him to grab him. But Zhiyuan quickly stopped him from attacking Han Huizhong.
"Stop it Xiaosi!"
Xiaosi harshly pushed him back, making Xinyi gasp. "Zhiyuan…"
He raised his palm. "Stay away, Xinyi."
Xiaosi was very dangerous right now. He didn't want her to get hurt accidentally.
"Don't fucking stop me Zhiyuan! I handed my daughter to you and you have the galls to lock her up in a room!? You dare treat my daughter like that!?"
Han Huizhong smiled. "We handed my great-grandson to you and you have the galls to make him sick? You dare treat my great-grandson like that?"
"That was An Meiying's doing!!" He roared.
"And Caihong's part in it was to ignore Xinyi's instructions and failing to give him his medicine. She is a culprit as much as her stepmother. Siying was Caihong's responsibility and she failed miserably. And Han Huizhong holds grudges, Zhu Xiaosi."
Xiaosi gnashed his teeth in hatred. His eyes seemed terrifying and the killing intent oozing out of him was unmistakable.
"Give me my daughter back! If she gets as much as a scratch on her, I will kill you!"
"Sure. After you beg for forgiveness and plead to me. Better if you lower your head," Han Huizhong's eyes glinted with light.
Xiaosi froze.
Suddenly, he felt as if he couldn't move. His gaze bore into Han Huizhong's as he clenched his fist in anger.
He clutched his head as a sharp pain shot in it.
"Ughh…"
Xinyi and Zhiyuan widened their eyes.
"Xiaosi?"
Why does he look in pain?
Han Zhiyuan kept looking at him with no comment.
"Ughhh!! You will pay for this!" Sweat formed on his forehead and his breaths grew restless.
Xinyi urged him. "Grandpa, please stop this! Hand over Chyou to him."
He clicked his tongue. "So pitiful as always Zhu Xiaosi."
Han Huizhong typed a message on his phone. A minute later, Chyou ran into the room and brightened seeing Xiaosi.
"Dada!" She clutched his leg hard and laughed. "Dada, you came! I missed you."
Zhiyuan and Xinyi were taken aback.
Huh? How is she smiling?
"Chyou!" Xiaosi quickly bent down and checked on her. "Are you alright? Are you scared? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Before his daughter, he forgot the glaring pain in his head.
She blinked her eyes. "Dada? Why will I be hurt? I am fine!"
Xiaosi was shocked. "You-you were locked in a room…"
"No, Dada. I was playing with Siying's toys in Aunty's room!"
Han Huizhong chuckled and seemed to enjoy himself.
"Isn't it right, Chyou dear? Xinyi suddenly left us all alone and we played a lot, isn't it?"
"En!" Her tiny head bobbed up and down with the pigtails fluttering up in the wind. "Dada, Grandpa, and I played a lot. He taught me many board games too!"
Her eyes gleamed and shone in happiness.
Xiaosi was dumbstruck. He couldn't speak a word next. His fingers silently clutched his coat as he dangerously eyed the old man.
He lied to me…
Even Zhiyuan was frustrated with his behavior. This wasn't a thing to be joked upon and he was enjoying everybody's reactions here.
The most relieved was Xinyi. She imagined her crying and worst case, going into a trauma. For a moment she wondered that Han Huizhong really did it, but thankfully that wasn't the case.
She smiled. "That's awesome. I am glad you enjoyed your time even when I couldn't be here. I am really sorry, dear that I had to leave. Siying got sick so…"
Chyou's little face gasped in shock. "Sick? What happened to Siying? Where is he? I want to meet him!"
Zhiyuan ruffled her head. "Siying is now alright and already recovering. No need to worry. If you want to see him, he is in the other room on the right side. But he is sleeping."
"I promise I won't wake him up!"
"Ch-Chyou-" Xiaosi tried to hold her shoulder, but she already trotted away.
He sharply jerked his head towards Han Huizhong. "You-"
"Happy April Fool's Day," he Han Huizhong sneered. "Did you forget that today is the first of April? People play pranks all over the world. Well, at least I was generous enough to keep this only as a prank as compared to your dear mother-in-law and wife. But it wouldn't be the next time."
Xiaosi was about to warn him but once again, a dull pain shot in his head and he stumbled on his knees a bit.
"Xiaosi!" Zhiyuan held his arm to help him but he shook it off.
"Get lost! I don't need your help!"
He tremblingly got up, supporting his body on his right foot.
Xinyi seemed a little hesitant. "A-are you alright? You look pale..."
He chuckled in disdain. "Somebody played a horrible joke on me regarding my daughter and you expect me to be alright? That's some nerve you got there, Mrs. Han."
"No, I didn't mean it that way…"
"Let it be, granddaughter-in-law," Han Huizhong waved his hand, "People just don't appreciate good humor."
Xinyi shot a disappointed glare at him. "Grandpa, please."
"I am taking my Chyou away! I will end these stupid classes!"
"Tsk. You asked us to let her stay with us, so don't raise your voice against us, young man," he narrowed his eyes.
He angrily laughed. "Right. It's my fault. How can the great Han Huizhong ever be wrong? Whether a joke or reality, you are always right, aren't you?"