CH 73

Knock knock.

:

Li Cheng’s dad threw a fit. He told Li Cheng off for divorcing Su Xiao Ya, he disapproved of Li Cheng marrying Zi Lan and he told Li Cheng was useless for losing the business development deal to Tan Tu Hang.

Su Xiao Ya’s dad came to Qua Qua’s home to demand money from Su Xiao Ya after he found out Su Xiao Ya’s engaged to Huyen Di. Huyen Di’s busy on a mission. Huyen Di sent Cheng Yi to get rid of Su Xiao Ya’s dad and take Su Xiao Ya to the hospital to check up on the baby.

***

At the hospital, Cheng Yi was surprised to see Chu Gian had an appointment with an obstetrician.

‘Chu Gian, why do you look so lost?’ Cheng Yi asked.

Chu Gian stared at her pregnancy test results.

‘I’m pregnant,’ Chu Gian said.

‘Does the Bai fox know?’ Cheng Yi asked.

‘I don’t want to have a baby this soon,’ Chu Gian said.

Chu Gian didn’t think she would be married. She wasn’t used to being a good wife to Bai Yu Tian. She wasn’t ready to be a wife and a mother.

‘Chu Gian, talk to the Bai fox,’ Cheng Yi said. ‘He’s your husband and the father of your baby.’

‘I’ll tell him when I’m ready,’ Chu Gian said.

Cheng Yi was worried Chu Gian would abort her baby in secret. If that happened and Bai Yu Tian found out he knew and didn’t tell Bai Yu Tian, there would be no place for him to hide.

At the Yue Household, Zhen Zhen spring cleaned the mansion. She didn’t want a messy mansion to scare away her future daughter-in-law.

‘Mum, if keep cleaning, you’ll scare off big sister,’ Yue Ni said. ‘She’ll think you have a germ phobia.’

Usually Zhen Zhen was easy going about her family members’ eating habits. But Yue Ni eating snacks in front of the TV minutes before Zhen Wu and Lucy’s arrival made Zhen Zhen anxious.

‘Xiao Ni, stop eating snacks,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘There are crumbs everywhere. Your big brother and big sister will be here soon.’

‘Mum, big sister isn’t here yet but you’re already favoring your daughter-in-law over your daughter,’ Yue Ni said.

Yue Ni continued to snack and watch TV.

‘Xiao Ni, I’ll go see if your dad needs help in the kitchen,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘Oh, I forgot to tell you. Tonight, your small dad and small mum are coming over for dinner too.’

‘Mum!’ Yue Ni said. ‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Is the little boy Shu Tang Li eating dinner here too?’

‘Xiao Ni, if I told you sooner, you would have ran away by now,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘You and Xiao Li are like cat and mouse. I think Xiao Li’s a good boy. He’s respectful to his elders, and he treats you and everyone fairly.’

‘Mum… you don’t know what the little boy Shu Tan Li is really like,’ Yue Ni said.

Zhen Zhen ignored Yue Ni, and she walked into the kitchen.

‘Gu Zai, do you think I’m underdressed?’ Zhen Zhen said.

Yue Gu Zai thought Zhen Zhen looked as young as the day he married her. She didn’t look like someone old enough to be a mother-in-law. The only difference between her and her younger self was her hair being short instead of long.

Yue Gu Zai put the knife on the kitchen bench. He hugged Zhen Zhen, kissed her and he helped adjust her clothes.

‘Zhen Zhen, you look beautiful,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘Relax, you’re too tensed.’

‘Really?’ Zhen Zhen asked.

‘Yes,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘You met our daughter-in-law before.’

Yue Gu Zai had investigated Lucy since she transferred to Zhen Wu’s college.

‘Mum, someone’s knocking on the door,’ Yue Ni yelled.

‘Xiao Ni, why can’t you open the front door?’ Zhen Zhen asked.

‘Mum, I know you’re anxious to see big sister,’ Yue Ni said.

Zhen Zhen ran toward the front door.

The guests who arrived first were Bai Yu Tian, Chu Gian and Cheng Yi.

‘Have you told the Bai fox yet?’ Cheng Yi asked Chu Gian softly.

‘I’ll tell him later,’ Chu Gian said. ‘He’ll be suspicious if you don’t be quiet.’

‘Mrs Yue,’ Bai Yu Tian greeted.

Bai Yu Tian, Chu Gian and Cheng Yi walked inside.

‘Young mistress, why are you sitting here so free when boss is slaving in the kitchen?’ Bai Yu Tian asked Yue Ni.

Yue Ni put her snacks down, jumped off the sofa and linked arms with Bai Yu Tian.

‘Uncle Bai, I’m tired from completing my mission,’ Yue Ni said.

‘Oh?’ Bai Yu Tian asked. ‘Young mistress, I heard old man Huyen Di is taking on your missions for six months.’

Bai Yu Tian pitied Huyen Di, because he didn’t want to be in Huyen Di’s shoes. He would be depressed if he had to be separated from Chu Gian for six months.

‘Uncle Bai, you understand me the best,’ Yue Ni said.

‘Sucking up to me isn’t going to help,’ Bai Yu Tian said.

‘Uncle Bai, what about I assign missions for you and aunt Chu to go to Italy together?’ Yue Ni asked.

‘Alright,’ Bai Yu Tian said.

Bai Yu Tian got what he wanted so he would let Yue Ni off the hook for bit longer before he ask her to give Huyen Di a break.

‘Mum, someone’s knocking on the door again,’ Yue Ni said. ‘I’ll go open the door.’

Yue Ni ran to the door. She wanted to close the door when she saw Shu Tang Li.

‘Xiao Ni,’ Shu Tang Li called.

Shu Tang Li was happy to see Yue Ni.

‘Why are you smiling?’ Yue Ni asked. ‘You don’t need to show off your white teeth. You can’t call me Xiao Ni. Call me big sister. I’m older than you.’

Shu Tang Li was used to Yue Ni acting like she was older than him by years even though she was only a couple of months older than him.

‘Aunty Zhen, I got you the latest microscope,’ Shu Tang Li said. ‘I hope aunty Zhen will like my gift.’

‘Xiao Li, you shouldn’t have,’ Zhen Zhen said.

Zhen Zhen would have ran into the lab and test out the microscope if she wasn’t excited to meet her future daughter-in-law.

‘Mum, don’t accept a gift from a robber like little boy Shu Tang Li,’ Yue Ni said.

Shu Tang Li held Yue Ni’s wrist quicker than she could evade his hand.

‘Xiao Ni, don’t you know my heart by now?’ Shu Tang Li asked.

Yue Ni blushed because Shu Tang Li’s face was too close to her face.

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Yue Ni denied.

‘Xiao Ni,’ Shu Tang Jue called from the door.

Yue Ni was saved by Shu Tan Jue. She ran to Shu Tan Jue and Nan Ma.

‘Small dad, small mum,’ Yue Ni greeted.

‘Xiao Ni is small dad’s good daughter,’ Shu Tang Jue praised.

Yue Gu Zai walked out of the kitchen, and he shot a chopstick at Shu Tang Jue’s pig hand that was rubbing Yue Ni’s head.

Everyone were used to Yue Gu Zai and Shu Tang Jue fighting over which father loved Yue Ni more. They were grateful Yue Gu Zai and Shu Tang Jue stopped fighting with guns and knives.

Shu Tang Jue caught the chopstick, and taunted Yue Gu Zai.

‘Xiao Ni, your dad’s jealous again,’ Shu Tang Jue said.

‘Small dad, stay away from dad,’ Yue Ni warned. ‘Dad is having that time of the month again.’

Yue Gu Zai put the dinner dishes on the dining table.

‘Xiao Ni, if you don’t want to be separated from your small dad then there is a simple solution,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘I’ll marry you off to Xiao Li, and you can see your small dad every day.’

Yue Ni ran to Yue Gu Zai and she hugged Yue Gu Zai.

‘Dad, today you look handsome like a model,’ Yue Ni praised.

Yue Gu Zai looked smugly at Shu Tang Jue. Shu Tang Jue knew Yue Gu Zai wanted to brag that only a true father would understand a daughter’s heart.

Upstairs, Yue Di Yi woke up from a nap and his old nanny carried him downstairs to play with Zhen Zhen and Nan Ma.

A third knock on the front door was heard. The guests of honor Zhen Wu and Lucy arrived.

***

End of Chapter Seventy-Three