131 Abstract Ar

Just as he arrived at home, he was met with silence. He looked around for his grandfather and found him in the study room with his grandmother. Leaning against the door frame, he continued to gaze at the harmonious scene before him.

Grandmother Zhai was a traditional Chinese painter. She was a renowned person in her field with plenty of her paintings being exhibited in art centers. Currently, her painting brush was galloping on the silk fabric that was placed on the table before her. While grandfather Zhai was just sitting beside her with his gaze focused on his wife's attentive face.

Zhai Yanjun chuckled silently to himself. It seemed, his trip was really unnecessary. This couple had already reconciled.

"Grandpa, did you trick me into going out of the house so that you can enjoy your time with your wife?"

Hearing their grandson's voice, the elderly couple turned to look at him and a warm and welcoming smile bloomed on their faces. Unlike Grandfather Xiang, Grandfather Zhai had a mellow and easy-going personality. There was no intimidation in his eyes or in his aura. He looked like just a loving and gentle grandfather who would do anything to spoil his grandchildren.

"I didn't trick you," said Grandfather Zhai. "I really wanted my darling to have her favorite dessert."

Grandmother Zhai didn't even spare him a glance as she looked at her grandson and inquired in worry, "Junjun, what took you so long? Grandma's been waiting for so long now."

Zhai Yanjun slowly walked over and placed the bag of food before his grandfather before he hugged his grandmother from the side saying, "I met with Xian there, that's why I was delayed."

"Xian?" Grandmother Zhai raised her brow at him. "What was he doing there?"

"He was having a romantic date with his wife," replied Zhai Yanjun. "And I unintentionally became the lightbulb between them."

Grandfather Zhai scoffed at him, "You both are of the same age but so different. You are here going back and forth with the same girl for years and he already married twice!"

"Why are you telling me that?" retorted Zhai Yanjun. "Besides, it's not like he is my friend. Why should I follow in his footsteps?"

Grandmother Zhai put the painting brush down and took off her gloves before she rubbed her grandson's head saying, "For someone who claims to be 'not friends', you both certainly know when to look for each other." Zhai Yanjun raised his brows as his grandmother went on, "Whenever you're upset, you call him out for drinks. When he had his divorce, the first person he looked for was also you."

"Your point is?" asked Zhai Yanjun.

Zhai Yanjun couldn't find a way to refute their words. His relationship with Shui Xian had always been like that. They neither hated each other nor did they like each other. And yet, they both had an understanding between them.

Grandfather Zhai went out of the room with the bag of food to get it served while Zhai Yanjun was left with his grandmother. "You should have invited Xian home. I haven't seen him in months now."

"I did invite him out for a meal," Zhai Yanjun told her. "I'll just bring him home for that meal. Is that okay?"

Grandmother Zhai nodded at him. Soon, Grandfather Zhai came back with the tray of food and placed it on the small table in the corner. Zhai Yanjun was amused to see how his grandfather didn't even bother asking any maid to serve the food but instead, he did it himself. Of course, even at this age, he'd like to serve his wife on his own.

And as always, Grandmother Zhai gave the first bite to her grandson who didn't even both acting polite. Grandfather Zhai gave his grandson a hard and long look. One could practically see daggers shooting towards Zhai Yanjun but the latter was unfazed because he was content with what he got.

"Xian married Raelle Xiang, right?" Grandfather Zhai suddenly brought up the topic, reminding Zhai Yanjun about what Raelle did with him.

"Oh, isn't that Xiang Tianyu's granddaughter whom you wanted to introduce to our Junjun?" asked Grandmother Zhai in surprise. She had heard from her grandson that Shui Xian got re-married but she didn't know who his wife was.

"Yes, and this beloved grandson of yours didn't even have the courtesy to reject her on her face. He never even showed up making me lose face before Tianyu. He had been in the country for months and I can't bring myself to go over to meet him. That's how ashamed I am because of your beloved grandson!"

Grandmother Zhai gave her husband a dissatisfied gaze, "Stop blaming my grandson all the time. That girl's fate was tied to Xian. No one could change it."

Zhai Yanjun took this moment to interject as he nodded along with his grandmother, "I agree with that. They make an interesting pair." Seeing his grandparents' inquisitive gaze he went on, "Xian and Raelle are like yin and yang energy. Both are different but they somehow look good together. Or should I say, they complete each other." He shook his head as he continued, "They both look like a mismatched pair, and yet they have a feeling of accordant between them. Such a contradictory pair, I must say."

Grandmother Zhai smiled gently, "In abstract art, usually the colors are mismatched but they blend well and they give the feeling of harmony. We call it, a piece of art. I believe Xian has finally found his piece of art that fits him well."

Before Zhai Yanjun could say anything to agree, his phone rang. He took a look at the caller id and his face hardened. He immediately went to a side to take the call. When he came back, he informed, "I have to leave tonight."

"Huh? Don't you still have a few days before your vacation end?" asked Grandmother Zhai in worry.

Zhai Yanjun pursed his lips and looked apologetically at her, "Something urgent cropped up. I have to go back to the base now."

Grandmother Zhai sighed out, "This is why I didn't want you to join the army. Couldn't you follow your grandfather and become a scholar? Or you could have become a businessman like your father. Why choose such a dangerous profession? I only have one grandson. Half of my life is drained away worrying about his safety and health!"

Zhai Yanjun tried to placate her like a kid. It always happened whenever he had to leave for work, she'd always complain about why he chose to go to the military when he could have had an easy life.

"Grandma, do you think running a business is simple? That's also a battlefield. Managing a company, running a project, and conquering other companies, it's all the same as a battlefield. One must learn to deploy troops, repatriate people, integrate resources, allocate and utilize resources and one must also understand the situation of the enemy, along with the current situation, and must have means to have courage and planning." He heaved a sigh as he added, "In fact, running a business has become more dangerous than the actual battlefield. Here, people are fighting against people. Just because you can't see smoke, doesn't mean there is no fire." He patted his grandmother's hand softly as he concluded, "We are living in the era of peace. So, the real battlefield is now called business. I'm at much safer place."

"Let him go," said Grandfather Zhai. "Stop worrying our grandson by making that sad face."

"Yes," agreed Zhai Yanjun. "Stop worrying me like this. Now, that you've moved so close to the base. I'll find every chance to come back home to you."

Grandmother Zhai pouted but she still had to reluctantly let him go. She was never able to stop him from doing what he wanted, how could she do it now?