The old lady’s vision had declined, so she could not see the displeasure and anger on Kang Ruicheng’s face. She just vaguely felt that he looked somewhat serious.
However, this did not affect the old lady’s enthusiasm.
The elders had gone through a lot in their lives and had seen too many vicious people. For them, Kang Ruicheng was just a man who looked serious.
They would not have any prejudice against Kang Ruicheng because of this!
The elders were still smiling and looking at Kang Ruicheng curiously.
According to Kang Ruicheng’s personality, if it were in the past, he would have asked someone to drive these people out of the small park.
He was Kang Ruicheng, not the monkey in the park!
Just as Kang Ruicheng was about to lose his temper, Xu Youning held his hand hard.
Kang Ruicheng knew what Xu Youning meant.
Xu Youning wanted to tell him that this was a public place, and he should restrain himself.
Besides, it would not be good for him if he made a big deal out of it and attracted Mu Sijue’s attention.
Kang Ruicheng took a deep breath quietly and decided to listen to Xu Youning.
Xu Youning had been observing Kang Ruicheng’s expression silently. Seeing that he looked better, she was relieved.
She touched Kang Ruicheng’s arm again and said, “Since so many people have greeted you, you should at least say ‘Nice to meet you’, right? Mumu is so polite. If you have such a grim look on your face, everyone will think that Mumu was actually abducted by you.”
“Polite?”
Kang Ruicheng never knew what it was like to be polite. He lived in this world by relying on his strength, and he did not need to be polite.
Seeing that Kang Ruicheng did not respond, Xu Youning nudged him with her elbow to urge him.
“Ahem!” Kang Ruicheng could not stand Xu Youning. After hesitating for a long time, he finally squeezed out a sentence. “Madam, good morning.”
“Good morning.” The old lady greeted him enthusiastically. She pointed to a tree, not far away, where a group of old men gathered. “They are playing Chinese chess. Young man, do you want to join them?”
“Young man, do you want to join them?”
Kang Ruicheng suddenly felt a little confused. “Did he seem like the type to play with the elderly?”
At the thought of this, Kang Ruicheng’s expression nearly soured again.
Xu Xu Youning knew that Kang Ruicheng did not like such statements. She coughed and reminded him to control himself.
Kang Ruicheng finally accepted Xu Youning’s suggestion reluctantly. He tried to say in a gentle tone, “Madam, I can’t play Chinese chess.”
“Well, it’s a pity!” The old lady shook her head with a look of regret. “I wanted to go over and show those old men what a fine young man’s aura is like!”
Kang Ruicheng could not help sneering in his heart and thought that it was better for these old people not to know what he was like.
Once they saw his actual self, they would definitely regret greeting him today!
Xu Youning guessed that Mu Sijue was about to lose his temper. She pulled Mumu’s hand and said, “Boy, go and save your daddy.”
Mumu blinked. He had a mischievous look on his face and said with a smile, “Daddy looks so miserable. I still want to stand by and watch him suffer for a little longer.”
Xu Youning was speechless for a moment. She suddenly understood what it meant to “kid his father”.
After that thought, she pulled the little boy and said patiently, “Go and save your daddy now. In the future, no matter what you ask for, he will grant it to you.”
Mumu’s big black eyes widened. “Really? Alright, I’ll go and save Daddy.”
He ran over and took Kang Ruicheng’s hand. “Daddy, I want to go and see the ducks. Can you go with me?”
Kang Ruicheng looked at the little boy. For the first time, he took the initiative to hold his hand as he nodded and said, “Okay.” He kept his serious expression and smiled apologetically at the old lady. “Madam, excuse me.”
The old lady liked Mumu very much. Since the little boy asked his father to accompany him to watch the ducks, how could she ask Kang Ruicheng to stay?
“Go ahead.” The old lady waved her hand. “Have a good time.”
“Okay.” Mumu smiled like an innocent and harmless angel. “Goodbye, Madam.”
As soon as Kang Ruicheng and Mumu left, Xu Youning followed them to the lakeside.
There were a few white-feathered ducks raised in the lake, which were the common pets of the children in the old city area.
With their white feathers floating on the water, the ducks paddled around the pond, leaving ripples on the green water, which looked particularly pleasing to the eye.
Mumu was not there to see the ducks. He released Kang Ruicheng’s hand, jumped in front of him, and said seriously, “Daddy, I helped you. You have to agree to one of my requests in the future even if it’s excessive!”
Kang Ruicheng frowned. How dare the little boy bargain with him?
He reached out his hand and suddenly pinched the little boy’s ear. “What do you want from me?”
“Wah, wah, wah, wah!” Mumu screamed as his cute little face puckered in pain. “Auntie Youning, help, waaa…”
If it hadn’t really hurt, the little boy would not be screaming like this.
Xu Youning walked over and tapped Kang Ruicheng’s hand. “What are you doing? Let go of Mumu.”
Kang Ruicheng also cared about the little boy, so he soon released him.
Mumu stopped crying, but he kept his head raised. No one knew what he was looking at.
Xu Youning raised her hand and waved it in front of the little boy’s eyes. “Mumu, what’s wrong with you?”
Mumu’s voice had returned to normal. He pointed at a big red lantern with the word “Spring” pasted on it and asked, “Auntie Youning, what’s that? What’s on the picture?”
He had never seen lanterns before, so he naturally did not know what they were.
Similarly, the little boy did not know Mandarin, so he directly regarded the word “Spring” on it as a picture.
“This?” Xu Youning smiled. “This is a lantern.”
Mumu still could not understand and blinked “What’s the lantern for? Why do we have to hang it up? Will it feel uncomfortable?”
Xu Youning really did not know how to answer the little boy’s last question. She could only tell him, “The lantern was originally used as a light. But now, people hang it up as a sign of celebration. When you see it lighting up, it means that a festival is coming soon.”
“It’s lighted up now!” Mumu jumped up and down curiously. “Auntie Youning, is there any festival recently?”
“The Spring Festival. We’re going to celebrate the Spring Festival, just like Christmas day in country A.” Xu Youning rubbed the little boy’s head. “Do you want to know about the Spring Festival?”
Mumu nodded. “Yes, yes.”
Xu Youning carefully explained to Mumu about the Spring Festival and also its importance to Chinese people, and told him about the fireworks and firecrackers going off at midnight.
Mumu did not like lively places, but he liked all the celebrations during festivals. Because only during festivals, would Xu Youning and Kang Ruicheng go to country A to see him.
After Xu Youning finished telling him the facts, the little boy’s eyes lit up. He asked expectantly, “Auntie Youning, can we celebrate the Spring Festival together?”
“Of course,” Xu Youning said with a smile, “We can go back and decorate the house and hang up the lanterns. Oh, we can also post couplets on the doors!”
“Great!” Mumu looked excited and eager. “Shall we go back now?”
Xu Youning motioned for Mumu to look at Kang Ruicheng. “You have to ask your daddy for permission. If he agrees, we’ll go back and prepare for that.”
Mumu immediately pounced on Kang Ruicheng. “Daddy, shall we celebrate the Spring Festival together?”
Kang Ruicheng looked at Xu Youning unhappily, as if he blamed her for telling Mumu about the Spring Festival. She should know better than anyone that Mumu could not stand the temptation of any festivals.
Xu Youning came over and calmly explained, “Mumu may live in China in the future, so it’s a good idea for him to experience the traditional festivals in the country. Besides, you just came back this year. It’s been many years since you last celebrated the Spring Festival, right?”
Kang Ruicheng did not reply.
After his father’s death, all the festivals in the world were meaningless to him, let alone the Spring Festival which was a family day.
Xu Youning knew what Kang Ruicheng was thinking. She thought about it and continued, “You lost your father, but Mumu did not. Don’t you want to give Mumu a warm and happy childhood?”
“Warm and happy?”
Something in Kang Ruicheng’s heart seemed to be touched.
Yes.
He had lost his father, but his son’s father was still alive in this world.
He had no way to celebrate a family day anymore, but he could let his son celebrate a family day.
In the end, Kang Ruicheng’s expression changed and he did not look so stern anymore. “Let’s go back now. You can decorate the house at your will.”
In other words, he promised to let Xu Youning and Mumu celebrate the Spring Festival.
Mumu widened his eyes in disbelief. When he came to his senses, he rushed over to hug Xu Youning, exclaiming, “Yeah! Auntie Youning, it is great, isn’t it?”
Xu Youning touched the little boy’s head and said with a smile, “Yeah, it’s great. Well, let’s go back and prepare for that now.”
“Okay!”
Mumu obediently held Xu Youning’s hand and walked toward the old house.
Kang Ruicheng sent Xu Youning and Mumu to the door of their house. Instead of entering, he just watched them from the outside.
Mumu turned around and asked curiously, “Daddy, aren’t you coming in?”
“I don’t have time to decorate the house with you. I’ll leave it to you,” Kang Ruicheng said, “I’ll come back and have dinner with you in the evening.”
“Okay.” Although Mumu was a little disappointed, he did not pester Kang Ruicheng. He just waved at Kang Ruicheng and said, “Goodbye, Daddy.”
After that, Mumu took Xu Youning’s hand and hopped into the room.
Kang Ruicheng stood at the door and did not get in the car until he could not see Xu Youning and Mumu anymore.
Dongzi started the car and said while controlling the steering wheel, “Brother Cheng, Ah Jin told me that he had almost finished his business in country C and wants to come back.”
Kang Ruicheng lit a cigarette and said, “Tell him to come back as soon as he’s done with his work. We’ve been busy recently.”