Chapter 126 - Uncle Was Divorced

Chapter 126: Uncle Was Divorced

Tiger was a good-natured man and was a novice in the love arena. How was he able to tolerate the flirty behavior of Mi Xiaoxiao who was a veteran in the love battlefield!

To top it, Tiger was a skilled fighter. What if he got annoyed and hurt Mi Xiaoxiao?

Mi Xiaoxiao smirked and whispered. “I just want to tease him because he looks like a piece of hardwood! Nothing else. He looks like someone who can be teased easily, hehe…”

Shangguan Ning felt helpless. Mi Xiaoxiao had never seen Tiger displaying his strength, otherwise she would not have dared to tease him.

…

It was Huang Lihan’s birthday the following day.

It happened to be a weekend and Shangguan Ning left home with Jing Yichen, early the next morning.

As Jing Yichen was driving, Shangguan Ning made a phone call to her uncle.

Huang Lihan had forgotten that it was his own birthday on that day, so he couldn’t stop beaming with happiness when Ning told him that she and Jing Yichen were coming over to celebrate his special day.

Huang Lihan was eagerly waiting at the gate, when Shangguan Ning and Yichen drove into the compound of the villa where he lived.

Seeing her uncle after such a long time, she noticed how much he had aged. The hair at his temples was grey and he didn’t stand as sturdily as before. Shangguan Ning couldn’t help feeling emotional.

She took a deep breath, got off the car quickly and handed her uncle his present, namely the purple tea set she had recently purchased, and a lovely birthday cake that was customised to suit his taste. She wished him with a smile. “Happy Birthday, Uncle! I bought this especially for you. I hope you like it!”

Huang Lihan took the present and smiled. “Of course I like it. I like whatever you give to me, because you do it with so much love. I ate all the food you made all those years ago, even though it tasted terrible. I did it for you, did I not?”

While they were talking, Jing Yichen pulled the car over and parked it. He got off the car as well.

Huang Lihan got a bit surprised when he saw him. He asked Ning, “Isn’t that Old Jing’s boy? What is he doing here?”

Shangguan Ning grinned and said bashfully, “Aha, Uncle, you know Yichen? I brought him here so we could all celebrate your birthday together.”

Before Huang Lihan understood what she meant, Jing Yichen already went up and greeted him with respect. “Hello Uncle. Wish you many happy returns of the day. Ning wanted to spend your birthday with you, so I thought I’d join in the celebrations as well. I hope that’s alright with you. I should have visited you earlier but I have been too busy with work to spare any time. Here is the present I got you for your birthday.”

He handed the present over to him, with a smile.

Shangguan Ning didn’t know that Jing Yichen had taken the effort to get another gift for uncle. She smiled when she realized how thoughtful Jing Yichen was, to have done that. Her heart was full with joy.

Huang Lihan was confused and surprised. It was only after a while that the reality of the situation struck him. He said with disbelief, “Ning, what is it going on? Did you…”

Shangguan Ning went up to her uncle and held his arm. She said happily, “Uncle, Yichen and I are married!”

Huang Lihan glanced at his niece and then looked at Jing Yichen, as if sizing him up. After a few minutes, he sighed. He was probably trying to ascertain if they were playing a prank on him.

Only after he was sure that they were indeed serious, he mumbled, “Old Jing was right. His wish has finally come true…”

Her uncle’s words were inaudible to her. Shanguan Ning asked him, “I beg your pardon, uncle? What did you say? Who was right?”

Huang Lihan shook his head instantly, “Oh no no.. it’s nothing.” He patted Shangguan Ning’s hand with love said with a smile, “It’s nothing. I am very happy!”

He took Jing Yichen’s present from him and said to him, looking him in the eye, “Ning is like my own daughter. I have brought her up. She is a lovely girl. I hope she has made the right choice.”

Jing Yichen certainly understood what he meant. He nodded and said respectfully “Oh, it is I who has made the right choice, because she didn’t pick me… It was I who picked her.”

What he meant was that it was he who chased Shangguan Ning and he was certainly going to treat her well and keep her happy.

However, Jing Yichen had overheard Huang Lihan mumbling his father’s name. Jin Yichen was confused. He already knew that his father had met Shangguan Ning before. Could it be possible that his father had professed his desire to have Ning as his daughter-in-law, sometime in the past? Why did Huang Lihan say something about “his wish came true?”

Shangguan Ning didn’t want Jing Yichen to be lectured by Uncle, on not being told of her marriage earlier. She changed the topic deftly and said to him, “Ah, Uncle, let’s not stand outside. It’s too windy here. Let’s go in.”

Huang Lihan was aware of what she was thinking. If he were to be honest, he was definitely a little upset with Ning for not letting him know about her marriage to Jing Yichen. She may be his niece, but he had brought her up with so much love and effort. She was closer to him than his own daughter. She didn’t think it important to let him know when she was about to take such a huge step in her life?

“Ning, listen to Uncle for a minute, will you? Why didn’t you say anything about getting married? You didn’t know this boy for long, right? Why did you get married so soon? Do you know if he is a good person or not? Do you know the issues in his family? It’s a terrible mess, I tell you. Have you forgotten all that your uncle has taught you? Think before you act! When are you going to learn?”

Jing Yichen was speechless when he overheard what Huang Lihan said. He didn’t even know Jing Yichen on a personal level. Why was he saying such rude things about him?

Shangguan Ning pursed her lips unhappily. “I’m learning, uncle. You’ve taught me well. Life has made me a lot smarter, in the last few years. Yichen is very nice to me. Please get to know him before you judge him so ruthlessly.”

“Aha! I have just said a few words and you have already started to defend him! You don’t even want to listen to your Uncle now?”

Huang Lihan said, as he pinched her nose. “A girl who has attained marriageable age, can’t be kept at home anymore! I am so sad. Well, I really need to have a fight with Jing Zhongxiu. He kidnapped my niece and made her a part of his family. He didn’t mention a word, when we met yesterday. That old guy is getting more and more secretive, everyday.”

Shangguan Ning held her uncle’s hand and leaned her head against his broad shoulders. She said earnestly, “You are talking nonsense, Uncle. I have always loved you. I am closest to you because it is you who brought me up. Don’t worry Uncle, Jing is very kind to me too.”

Uncle had always been her biggest supporter. She would not have had such a happy and healthy childhood, if it wasn’t for him.

Huang Lihan’s heart felt at ease after listening to his niece’s reassurances.

He had brought her up since she was a little girl. She was now married and she never even told him about it. He couldn’t help feeling upset.

The only thing that gave his heart some consolation was that Shangguan Ning was living a happy married life. That was all he wanted. As long as she was happy,he would be happy.

He knew Jing Zhongxiu very well. He was a man with a heart of gold. He was kind and loving. He had great willpower and was a stickler for discipline. It was only now that Huang Lihan realised how much Jing Yichen resembled his father.

When they went into the living room, Shangguan Ning noticed that the house was all quiet.

She turned to Huang Lihan and asked him, “Uncle, where are Aunt and Cousin? Aren’t they at home today?”

Huang Lihan was silent for a moment and then said, “We are divorced. You don’t need to call her Aunt now. She is not worthy of being called your aunt. I have sent your cousin abroad, for further studies. She lives in a boarding school and is only allowed to come home only once a year.”

Shangguan Ning was extremely surprised and cried out, “How did this happen? Uncle, could it have been because of me?”

Huang Lihan patted her shoulders and said. “Don’t think too much. It has nothing to do with you. I just couldn’t live with her any more… she has changed, and she has even imparted her bad behaviour to your cousin. She never respected me. There was no other way. I had to divorce her.”