Chapter 550 - One Day

Grandfather Xiang had to tilt his head to look at Xiang Weimin's face. The latter was quite tall and it wasn't surprising. Whether it was Grandfather Xiang or Xiang Hulin, they both were around the same height. 

"You're here," finally Grandfather Xiang spoke up but his words shook Xiang Weimin. "Grandfather has been waiting for you for so long." He sighed and took Xiang Weimin's hand in his own as he smiled at him like a loving and kind old grandpa, "It's good that you're here. Welcome home!"

Mu Chenyan clapped her hands saying, "Yes, yes! Welcome home! This home and its people had been waiting for you for a very long time now."

Xiang Weimin suddenly fell on his knees before Grandfather Xiang, and burst into tears, "I'm sorry, Grandfather. I made you wait. I'm really sorry it took me so long."

Grandfather Xiang had a concerned look on his face as he patted his head and shook his head, "What nonsense! There is no need for an apology. Grandfather is already happy that you are here."

"You shouldn't cry," said Mu Chenyan. "Don't you know you'll get dehydrated if you shed too many tears?" 

"Huh?" Xiang Weimin looked up at her in confusion.

"That's what my Elle says and she is always right," said Mu Chenyan proudly making Xiang Weimin smile a little. She smiled along and added, "Oh, look how handsome you are. Why shed ugly tears? It doesn't suit you."

Grandfather Xiang looked around the living room as if he was looking for something or rather someone and couldn't help asking, "You came alone?"

Xiang Weimin paused when he heard that question and pursed his lips. Noticing his reaction, Mu Chenyan tried to save the situation saying, "Oho, Elder Xiang! Do you think your grandchildren are free?"

Grandfather Xiang realized that he shouldn't have questioned that. He had waited so long for Xiang Weimin and Xiang Wai, who said he couldn't wait more? Well, he would love to but he wasn't so certain about his life. It was still unknown whether life would give him enough time. However, he was still willing to wait.

"Grandfather, Wai had to attend a wedding of a friend," said Xiang Weimin. 

Grandfather Xiang smiled at him and didn't say anything about this anymore. "You should get up now from the ground. Your legs are injured. Don't strain them like that." Then he turned to Mu Chenyan and raised his brows, "Chenyan?"

"Yes?"

"Usually, you love to feed people. Today, you aren't even asking if he is thirsty or not?"

Mu Chenyan gasped at the realization and knocked on her head, "How can I forget that?" She looked at Xiang Weimin and asked, "Wei, what do you want to eat?"

"I already had lunch," he told her.

"Oh? Then what about drinks? What do you want to drink? Cola? Water? Tea? Coffee? Fresh orange juice? Vodka? Some beer perhaps?"

"That's what you are craving, don't put it into his head," said Grandfather Xiang.

Xiang Weimin silently chuckled, "Anything would do, Aunt."

"It's been a long while someone called me aunt," commented Mu Chenyan.

"Really?" asked Xiang Weimin in surprise. 

Guessing his thoughts, she said, "Elle doesn't call me aunt. She never did. I've always been just Yanyan to her." She had a doting look in her eyes when she talked about her Elle. "Forget it. I'll bring you something to drink and some snacks as well. Even if you had lunch, there is always space for snacks."

"You don't have to," Xiang Weimin tried to stop her but how could Mu Chenyan listen now?

"Let her be," said Grandfather Xiang. "Chenyan is happy to see you here. And now that she found her target to feed, you are in for one hell of a ride." He was always helpless when it came to Mu Chenyan. He could neither control her nor was he able to keep up with her after all these years. 

And he could see how after coming back to the country and especially after Raelle's marriage, Mu Chenyan's obsession with feeding people was getting out of hand. Just yesterday she and Yue sent a food box to Lin Zhen's house since he was living in the same residential area. And since he was Hyson's groupmate, they couldn't just not take care of him.

Grandfather Xiang didn't know what to talk about with Xiang Weimin and neither did he know what to say. For the first time ever, Grandfather Xiang thought how easy it was to interact with Raelle. He always had something to talk about with her and even if he didn't and they just sat together in silence, it was always peaceful. 

"How is your health?" asked Xiang Weimin.

Grandfather Xiang replied, "I'm old now. Not as hearty and healthy as before but still doing good." He took a pause and added, "How about you? How are your injuries?"

"I've recovered," said Xiang Weimin.

"That's not what your doctor says," said Grandfather Xiang. "Take better care of yourself. I know you're still at the age where these injuries don't seem to matter but trust me, it won't be the same forever."

Xiang Weimin could tell that he was genuinely concerned and this realization made him purse his lips. "I'll take better care of myself."

"Weimin," called out Grandfather Xiang to him making him look up at him. 

"Yes?"

"We are very proud of you," said Grandfather Xiang. "Although I never wanted my grandchildren to carry on the so-called legacy of our Xiang family, I was still proud of you when I heard that you had chosen to join Air Force. Grandfather would have been proud of you no matter what you had chosen but this, still touched my heart."

Xiang Weimin didn't even realize that he was smiling happily right now.

"When you were just 4, I took you to an air force training drill. You saw those planes flying and said, 'Grandpa, I'm gonna fly up there one day.' I didn't take your words seriously. Who knew you were really serious."

To be very honest, Xiang Weimin didn't remember that. He was just four. He hardly remembered anything from that age. But he was also surprised to know that even his younger self was as obsessed with those planes as he was now.. Indeed, a child's childhood shaped their future.