556 Grand-Niece

It was the second time Xin Zemin had seen his brother in such a powerless condition. Usually, Xin Zimen was a very guarded person. He had always been an inscrutable person. The first time when Xin Zemin saw his brother crumbling down like this was the night he lost his daughter.

But after that, he went back to his previous self rejecting any help from anyone. Only Xin Zemin knew that his brother had never gotten over that incident. Even if he had two sons, they never were able to fill the place of that one precious daughter.

"What is he saying?" asked Ah-Si.

"Forget it." Xin Zemin didn't answer Ah-Si. "Oh, I came to meet my granddaughter. Where is she? Bring her out."

Ah-Si smiled seeing his uncle's excitement. "You should have told me you're coming. Ava went to her mother's place. If you told me, I wouldn't have sent her there."

"Oh," Xin Zemin was visibly disappointed to hear that. "Right after landing, I came running over to see my granddaughter. How was I suppose to inform you first?"

"Then let me call Nora, she'll bring Ava in a moment."

"There is no hurry," said Zhao Huan.

"Why is there no hurry? I came all the way just to see that grand-niece of mine." Xin Zemin retorted to his wife. 

"Husband, don't argue with me over this."

"Huanhuan, I wasn't arguing though." 

Ah-Si was amused seeing how his uncle sealed his lips when his aunt gave him a side-eye look. Even though he was very young when his mother died, he could still recall that his own parents never shared this kind of a relationship.

"Ah-Si..."

"Yes, aunt?"

"What's going on between you and your daughter's mother? Are you guys together? Or not? What's really the deal?"

Ah-Si was quiet when he heard his aunt's straightforward question.

"We are currently together," he answered in a small voice.

"Is it serious? I mean are you both thinking about marrying?"

Ah-Si nodded his head, "I want to."

"And what about her?"

"Nora also thinks the same way."

Zhao Huan nodded her head. "Don't take me wrong. I just don't want you to compromise because of your daughter. I know you want to give her a complete family but don't compromise on your own happiness for that."

Ah-Si smiled at her gratefully, "You don't have to worry at all. I do love her. It has nothing to with Ava. Or it does but not so much."

"It's good as long as you love her," said Zhao Huan.

"You both are coming to bro's wedding, right?"

Zhao Huan looked over at her husband who was looking at her. 

"We will come," answered Xin Zemin. "I have to meet my grand-niece."

"Aren't you very excited about meeting Ava?" asked Ah-Si.

"Why wouldn't I be? My favorite nephew didn't even tell me that he became a father. I just heard after coming back. I feel so proud."

"Dad is waking up," said Ah-Si as he saw Xin Zimen's eyes opening slowly.

Meanwhile, Xin Zemin was stunned. He hurriedly left his brother's hand and got off his bed. Almost as if running for his life, he went out of the room but didn't leave. He was still leaning against the wall. "Close call!" He said to himself while rubbing his chest.

Inside the room, Ah-Si was dumbfounded at his uncle's reaction. But he didn't think about it as he leaned over to help his father sit up. He used the pillows to support the back and asked, "Dad, how are you feeling now?"

Xin Zimen was still slightly drowsy. He had a strange look in his eyes when he looked at his hand. He could feel the warmth that was still lingering. He looked at the concerned faces of his son, his sister-in-law, and Xin Kuan. But his eyes didn't stop moving as he looked all around the room to find someone else.

When he didn't, his eyes drooped down. That's when he looked at the extra pair of shoes beside his bed. His lips curled up slightly as he shook his head.

"Sister-in-law, when did you come?"

Zhao Huan huffed, "You scared me, idiot! Is it your age to give me so much stress? I've gotten a dozen more wrinkles in the last couple of hours because of you."

"You still love to exaggerate, huh? Doesn't your husband say anything?"

"Ha! He can say anything if he dares to bear the consequences."

Xin Zimen smiled at his sister-in-law's words and said, "Did Brother Kuan called you here because of me?"

"Of course not!" Zhao Huan glared at Xin Kuan as she went on, "This brother Kuan of yours wasn't even letting me see you. I still haven't settled our accounts for that." Then she squinted her eyes at Xin Zimen, "Xiao Zi, don't tell me, you instructed him to not let me in?"

"How can I dare disrespect you like that?" Xin Zimen was amused to see his sister-in-law's worry. It was her strange way of showing her worry by acting like she was angry. "It's just that nobody is allowed to enter my bedroom. That's why he must have stopped you."

"Since you're the one saying it, I'll reluctantly let it go."

Xin Zimen smiled at her and said, "You can leave now. I'm really fine. Sorry for worrying you all."

"Xiao Zi, if wedding preparations are stressing you out, you can ask me for help. We are a family. Don't always hold back."

"Sister Huan, it's nothing like that. I'm truly sorry for worrying you but it has nothing to do with Xiao Li's wedding."

"Then how come you suddenly got sick?"

Xin Zimen stayed quiet in reply. Zhao Huan turned to look at Ah-Si as she said, "Ah-Si, can you go down and ask someone to prepare soup for your father?"

"Okay," with that Ah-Si left because he knew his aunt was just using an excuse to talk to his father. Taking the hint, even Xin Kuan stepped out of the room.

Zhao Huan took the photo frame from the drawer where she placed it earlier and said, "You think I didn't see you hugging it?"