Chapter 1626: Stunned
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“But I’ll make it clear that you guys can go, but you can’t leave the two of us alone to celebrate the new year alone. The triplets must stay behind to accompany me and Old Zhai.”
Since she could not hold her son and daughter-in-law back, having her three grandchildren around was good too.
“…” Miao Jing’s words made Zhai Yaohui, who had been slightly happy, upset. Why would the two of them not be able to celebrate the new year alone? He had even been considering bringing Miao Miao out on the first day of the new year for a date if there was no one else at home. That would be a perfect arrangement, but everything was ruined the moment Miao Miao spoke.
“…” The triplets who had been unwittingly brought into the matter were resentful. Why was their grandpa looking at them with such a strange gaze? They had not chosen to be a third wheel. In fact, they were more interested in being a third wheel to their parents!
Qiao Nan wiped out the juice that had made her hand sticky. “Mom, it’s not like that. I don’t really like these events either. Haven’t you seen that in all these years that I’ve always been at home for my meals apart from the ones that I have no choice but to take in the office? Even when it comes to department celebrations, I try hard to avoid them too. I love our family.” Of course, one could also describe her as a homebody.
“All right, so we’ll still be celebrating the new year as a whole family this year!” Miao Jing grew happier, and her tone expressed her excitement. Er Bao and San Bao, who had grown curious about the New Year’s Gala, kicked their feet in frustration. Sigh, they were going to be disappointed yet again this year.
Qiao Nan quietly tussled with Er Bao and San Bao’s hair. These two children were still young. There would be an abundance of opportunities in the future. When that time came, the three children would not even need to rely on their relations.h.i.+p with Zhai Sheng to enter but would be invited in based on their own capabilities. That would be even more meaningful for the children. “Don’t be unhappy. We’re advanced in age. How can we be as energetic as you kids? If I didn’t have to go to work every day, you guys know very well that I’m the epitome of a homebody!”
The best-behaved Da Bao sat by Qiao Nan and peeled a mandarin orange for Qiao Nan. “Mom, the way you speak is so hip. Don’t bother about these two monkeys. Our school organizes quite a few cultural and literary activities too, but the two of them never ever partic.i.p.ate in them. Worse still, they often sleep through them! The New Year’s Gala may be more expensive in terms of its facilities and organization, but in essence, it’s almost the same. They won’t even like something like this!”
After peeling the mandarin orange and pa.s.sing it to Qiao Nan, Da Bao started to lecture Er Bao and San Bao. “Have you forgotten what great-grandpa taught us in the past? We have to look past the appearance of things to see their true essence. Don’t act like a three-year-old and just join in wherever the fun is at!” It was more important to stay by their elders’ side and ensure that they were in good moods.
Da Bao’s words warmed the hearts of everyone sitting there. Miao Jing could not help but wrap Da Bao within her embrace. She paid no heed to Da Bao trying to hide in embarra.s.sment or Zhai Yaohui’s piercing gaze at Da Bao. Instead, she continued shouting, “You’re such a good boy, Da Bao. You’re a good grandson! Grandma is so pleased to hear what you just said! You’re grandma’s darling! How could our Da Bao be such a good boy? You’re the best!”
Da Bao was truly shy because he had already learned about the differences between genders. Now that he was being hugged by his grandma like that, Da Bao was feeling embarra.s.sed. Da Bao pleaded Qiao Nan to rescue him, but Qiao Nan only returned a comforting gaze. Son, just treat it as though you’re pleasing your elders. Since it’s the new year, just let your grandma be happy.
Er Bao and San Bao, who had been disciplined by Da Bao earlier, were gloating at Da Bao’s predicament now. After disciplining them, karma was coming back for Da Bao now!
Would Da Bao allow his younger siblings to step all over him? No way!
Da Bao s.h.i.+fted his gaze and immediately tried to s.h.i.+ft Miao Jing’s attention. “Grandma, don’t just hug me! Think of how much Er Bao and San Bao love you! Don’t just hug me in front of them! If you hug only me and don’t hug them, they’ll get upset and jealous and throw a tantrum!” Since it was unavoidable, they might as well ‘suffer’ together.
It was not as though grandma was his grandma alone. If they needed to coax her, the three of them should do it together. None of them could escape and laugh in a corner as a bystander. Humph! Did they think it was so easy to take advantage of him?
Miao Jing’s eyes twinkled. “Hug! All three of you! You three are all grandma’s darlings, grandma’s precious little one! Come! Let grandma kiss you.” With all three children within her embrace, even if she could not entirely embrace them, Miao Jing was overjoyed.
Miao Jing would not trade the world to have this: to have her three grandchildren together and to spend time together as a family.
Even the three others who were not involved in this smiled along. Zhai Sheng hugged Qiao Nan, with the widest smile. It was indeed true that mothers were a blessing to their children even at his age. With his mom around to take care of the three rascals, there was no one to fight over Nan Nan with him.
Zhai Sheng had never given in to anyone over the owners.h.i.+p of his wife, not even to his own daughter, San Bao. Seeing Zhai Yaohui with empty arms and bitterly and aggressively downing tea, Zhai Sheng felt as though he was in heaven when he felt that figure within his arms and smelled that fragrance.
Zhai Yaohui’s lips twitched. He had just helped Zhai Sheng settle Qiao Dongliang’s problem. Was this rascal going to kick him to the curb now that he had outlived his usefulness?
Feeling Zhai Yaohui’s gaze turning dangerous, Zhai Sheng did not forget that he was the father of the three children and smoothly rescued the children from their grandpa’s piercing gaze. “It’s late. You children should head to bed. Children should go to bed early and wake up early. Only then will you be healthy and grow up well.”
The triplets felt that they had been ‘ravaged’ by their grandma, and their father’s words had undoubtedly saved them from their grandma’s ‘evil grip’. The triplets had never listened to Zhai Sheng so well. “All right, Dad. Whatever you say. We’ll return to our rooms and go to bed early so that we can wake up early. That’s great!”
The three children were escaping after having started a fire. But they had learned this skill under the cold gazes of Zhai Yaohui and Zhai Sheng.
When they went to bed that night, Qiao Nan had only just laid within Zhai Sheng’s embrace when she immediately grabbed onto Zhai Sheng’s elbow and asked, “My dad hasn’t looked for me in a long while and hasn’t seen the triplets either. That’s really strange.”
After forcefully planting a kiss on Qiao Nan’s lips, Zhai Sheng laughed with that low voice of his. “Are you suspecting that I did something to your dad? Why? Does your heart ache for him? Do you pity him?” If he had really done something to Qiao Dongliang, that would be understandable too. He viewed Nan Nan as his treasure, but Qiao Nan was not even worth as much as a stalk of gra.s.s in Qiao Dongliang’s eyes!