Chapter 581 - Cautious

Waking up early in the morning, both Xiang Weimin and Xiang Wai found a pair of workout clothes and put them on. Although Xiang Weimin couldn't go for a run with his condition, he still wanted to take a walk to stretch his nerves. As soon as he stepped out of the door, the door opposite him also opened and Xiang Wai came out.

"Ge, you should be resting," was all Xiang Wai said once she looked at how her brother was dressed.

"I'll get moldy if I continued to rest," said Xiang Weimin. 

Then in silence, they both descended the stairs. As they reached the ground floor, both of them paused when they heard some voices.

"Chenyan, stop pacing around," Grandfather Xiang was saying.

"Elder Xiang, should I go up or not?" asked Mu Chenyan uncertainly. "What if they are still asleep? Won't I be ruining their sleep if I went up to check on them?"

"I don't think they are asleep," said Grandfather Xiang. 

"Well, you don't know that. We don't know anything about their sleeping habits."

"But they both are in the army. What makes you think they'd have the habit of sleeping for so long?"

"However, it's their first time sleeping over. It's a new place. Different bed and all. Maybe they didn't get to sleep so well."

"Chenyan, I'm really doubting your intelligence right now," stated Grandfather Xiang. "Don't speak like that in front of Raelle or else she'll also start doubting you." He almost rolled his eyes at Mu Chenyan. She was really overthinking on her own. What new place and different bed? Didn't those in the army have to even sleep in the cold desert or even in snow? How could a bed be any less comfortable than that?

Xiang Weimin and Xiang Wai finally came down. When Mu Chenyan noticed them, she instantly perked up, "Oh, you guys are up? Did you have a good sleep?"

"It was fine," answered Xiang Weimin for both of them.

Seeing how they were dressed, Mu Chenyan said, "Do you wanna go out for a run? There is a park here. Or if you want to hit the gym then it's upstairs. I can show you the way."

"No, we'll be going out for a run," said Xiang Weimin.

"Will that be okay?" asked Mu Chenyan in concern. "What about your injury?"

"Aunt, I'm fine now. I just want to exercise a little," said Xiang Weimin feeling a little helpless before this aunt of his.

"Chenyan," Grandfather Xiang called out from behind. "He is old enough to know what's best for him. Don't stand in his way."

"When did I stand in his way?" grumbled Mu Chenyan unhappily. "Then how about breakfast? What do you usually like to eat for breakfast?" She looked at Xiang Wai who had been silent and asked her, "Wai? Do you want anything?"

Xiang Wai felt awkward even interacting with this enthusiastic aunt of hers since she didn't know how to react. It was easier to interact with anyone from the Song family. All she had to do was wear an ugly face and give them sarcastic remarks. But she couldn't do the same to Mu Chenyan. You can't possibly slap a smiling face, right? 

But it was truly difficult for her to interact normally with Mu Chenyan. "Anything is fine. We are not that particular about food."

Mu Chenyan sighed out, "Why are you all siblings the same?" And when she said 'all siblings' Raelle was definitely included in that since that lady was also not particular about food. "Fine, then I'll see what to make on my own. You should go now."

Xiang Weimin and Xiang Wai stepped out of the door but they could still tell that Mu Chenyan's eyes were on their backs. 

"Ge," Xiang Wai called out to her brother. "I'm a little..."

"Not used to being treated this way." Xiang Weimin completed her sentence for her.

"Right," agreed Xiang Wai. "And it seems like whether it's aunt or grandfather, they both are..."

"Cautious and quite careful around us," Xiang Weimin again helped her in completing her sentence.

Xiang Wai nodded her head, "For the first time in my life, I..."

"Don't know how to react to this."

Xiang Wai looked at her brother, "Ge, do you have to act like the worm in my stomach? Why do you even know what I'm thinking about?"

"Because I'm going through the same feelings," said Xiang Weimin. "I've noticed that longing in Aunt's eyes and also how happy she was to see us there. I've also seen how grandfather looked at us with pride in his eyes. And I could tell that he is genuinely very proud of us." He took a deep breath as he continued, "When I sat with him yesterday, not even once did he ask me why I chose to join the air force. But he did tell me he was proud of me."

"I felt really envious of Raelle when grandfather put his hand on her head," said Xiang Wai. "There was no hesitation on his face when he hugged her. And when it came to me, I could tell he wanted to hug me but he held back. Even though it's Raelle who doesn't like physical touch and yet, he was hesitant to approach me."

"He must be thinking we might not want it," said Xiang Weimin. "But it's different when it comes to Raelle. He knows what is allowed and what is not allowed when it comes to her. We... We met him after so many years. He must be careful so as not to do anything that might push us away." He rubbed Xiang Wai's head and added, "And you, stop scowling so much in front of him. Even if you don't want to smile, at least don't look like you're ready to get into a fight."

"That's what Papa said as well," told Xiang Wai.

"You told Dad?" asked Xiang Weimin.

Xiang Wai hummed in reply, "I wanted to learn something about his father and sister from him."