Jin adjusted his collar, feeling uncomfortable. He was confused and troubled the whole time because of his inappropriate behavior that day, wondering what message he should send her to apologize.
She seems to not mind it so much. That's good then…
Suddenly, he felt like an idiot for overthinking something that Shui seemed to have let go of.
"Jinnnnn!"
His brow twitched upon hearing his grandfather's familiar booming voice. "What are you doing here all alone at a side!?" Liu Hai gasped as if it was an impossible scene to digest.
"Nothing."
"No, no! Something must be the case!" He narrowed his eyes, making his detective mode on. "Let's see, why are you acting so suspicious…"
"How about wanting some peace?" Jin dryly suggested.
He smacked his head. "Today is a celebration day! How can you demand peace when it's supposed to be a fun day!? Nana dear, you have completely spoiled this brat," he harrumphed.
Jinhai and Nana followed after Liu Hai. Nana pouted and pinched his cheek. "Indeed Jin. Everybody is over there and you are here all alone."
He peeked at Shui once and gave a tense smile. "Mom. Yeah, I was just about to go there…"
Liu Hai complained. "How come you always talk so gently to your Mom and not your handsome grandfather!"
"Dad…" Jinhai gave him a warning.
Nana blinked and patted her son's head. "Are you okay? You look a little strained."
"Ah? No, no…" Jin waved his hand, quickly dismissing it off. "I am fine. After all, today is a special day for Bro Jun haha. Where is Grandma?"
Jinhai narrowed his eyes.
Liu Hai burst into tears. "My Chunhua is coming in a separate car! I feel so heartbroken…"
"You must have done something," Jin accused him.
"I…! I-I did not!"
It was then Liu Hai found his salvation in the form of Ai approaching them. "My granddaughter-in-law!!"
After Nian, it was his turn to smother Ai into his hug. "I missed you so much!"
"Grandpa. I missed you too. Have you been doing well?"
He beamed. "I am! I am all fit and fine!"
Jin snorted. "Yeah sure after all the sweets you secretly hog into your stomach."
"..."
"Shut up, brat!"
He got busy in pulling Jin's ear while Ai greeted the other two. "Mom, Dad," she slightly bowed.
"Ai!" Nana pulled her into another hug, smiling brightly. "It feels so long since I have met you," she pouted. "You should visit the villa too sometimes. Don't tell me that Jun doesn't allow you."
Ai chuckled. "Well, Jun wouldn't certainly want me there if the twins and Grandpa were there."
Jinhai inwardly thought it to be a good idea.
Liu Hai's ears perked up. "What? So that brat is imprisoning you in the condo!? How dare he not let you meet me! I will give you justice, granddaughter-in-law, worry not!"
"No, I didn't say imprisonment-"
"Liu Jun, show your face to me! How dare you snatch my fun away from me!" He let go of Jin's ear and ran to find his other grandson to scold.
Nana sighed. "Leave him be."
Ai lamented Jun's fate and nodded. "Mom, I am sorry I couldn't visit you all earlier…"
She pursed her lips, thinking of all the hidden truths to uncover. "But I promise I won't slack on it."
"Aish, I know how hard you are working. You don't have to push yourself," Nana patted her head.
Ai asked with a sparkled gaze, "Will you teach me how to cook more dishes?"
Nana beamed in return as if she got a heaven to explore. "It would be my pleasure, dear! We will have all the fun in the kitchen and then I will show you some of Jun's childhood pictures that we secretly took hoho~"
That was a mouth-watering deal for Ai to which she readily accepted.
"Mooooom! Come here quickly! Grandpa is causing chaos! Stop him please!" Nuo's cries for help came from the other side.
"..."
"Let me check what has happened now," Nana released another sigh and went to diffuse the situation.
When it was only Jinhai, Jin and Ai left, Jinhai could easily bring up the topic which nobody else knew. "You both don't look so well."
Jin stiffened. "Huh? I am fine."
He averted his eyes, feeling his father's squinted stare upon him.
"I thought you had stopped running away from things, Jin."
"...I am not running away anymore."
Jinhai glanced at Shui once and then back at Jin. "Really?"
"Yeah," he felt a little uncomfortable in his throat.
He raised his brow. "Good. Then there is a business trip planned next week for the project you are working on with Shui. It's for five days. You and Shui will handle it."
Jin stared at him, wide-eyed, "What!? A trip with…Shui? No, t-that's…"
"I suppose you don't have any problems with the trip since you have stopped looking away from the things that matter," he tilted his head. His sharp and to-the-point argument left Jin defenseless.
Jin wanted to protest but didn't know how in front of his father. "...Yeah. I will go."
I will just let myself fall sick at the time and let someone else-
"Making yourself fall sick isn't going to work so start packing your bags once you return home."
His mouth heavily twitched. Then he smiled. "I wasn't thinking that."
Jinhai gave him a side glance. "You are my son. I know exactly what you think."
Jin clenched his fist in his pocket and then excused himself. "I will meet up with Bro Jun."
Ai asked after he walked away, "Will it be fine? The trip?"
Jinhai said, "It won't be. Jin has to put in effort to make it fine. He accepts now that he loves Shui but doesn't know what to do about it. Since he doesn't know, he is unconsciously repeating the whole cycle of running away from his feelings once again."
Ai felt a little pitiful for Jin.
"Don't feel pitiful for him. I don't want my children to be cowards. Jin should learn something from the twins. They are very bold in that sense of knowing what they want and acting upon it."
She admitted that it was true. She had personally seen Nian chasing after Xing Bi. What Jin needed now was that confidence aspect from the twins.
"Now your turn. Why don't you look well?"