The voice gradually faded, and the bedroom was filled with the warmth of spring.
Xiao Qiqi hadn't even thought to call Chen's mother when her call came in. Her voice, still gentle, seemed much older. "I'd like to invite you back for a meal, is that alright?"
Xiao Qiqi said respectfully, "Yes, we...we will come. When?" Her voice trembled slightly.
"This weekend, um, what does Xixi like to eat? I'll ask Auntie to make it."
Xiao Qiqi smiled. A woman is always a woman, a mother is always a mother, and an old person is always an old person. No matter how strong or outstanding she was when she was young, when she gets old, she will only return to a pure and sincere heart. "Just like her father, she eats everything except vegetables with great relish."
Over there, Chen's mother was clearly infected by Xiao Qiqi's laughter and relaxed a bit. "That's good, I understand. We'll wait for you on Saturday."
"Okay." Xiao Qiqi hesitated for a moment. "Goodbye, Mom."
Chen's mother was clearly frightened and remained silent for a long time.
Xiao Qiqi panicked a little, "No, I didn't... If you don't like it, I won't call you that."
“It’s okay, I like it very much, Qiqi.” Chen’s mother finally spoke, her voice choked with emotion. “Come back, let’s talk about it when you come back.”
"Okay." Xiao Qiqi was relieved. "Mom, you don't need to prepare anything too elaborate. Or, how about I cook when I get back?"
"That won't do, you're a guest."
"Mom, I'm not a guest," Xiao Qiqi gently reminded her.
Mrs. Chen quickly realized, "Right, you're not a guest. Then come back early on Saturday."
"Okay, I understand." Xiao Qiqi hung up the phone, touched her flushed face, and realized that it wasn't that hard to accept, was it?
Six months later.
In the conference room on the tenth floor of the Huayuan Building, Chen Yuanxing had just stepped out the door when a burst of laughter erupted behind him. Chen Yuanxing resisted the urge to turn around and returned to his office, checking his clothes hundreds of times. What was wrong with his attire?
Finally, the call connected with the secretary. Secretary Cai suppressed a laugh, "Mr. Chen, is there something you need?"
Chen Yuanxing tapped his fingers, his face cold and extremely serious. "If you want to laugh, just laugh out loud. Holding it in will hurt your spleen and stomach."
Secretary Cai quickly straightened her face and said, "Mr. Chen, you're joking."
"I'm not joking!" Chen Yuanxing looked at Secretary Cai with a relaxed, boss-like expression. "Tell me, what are you laughing at?"
Secretary Cai, seeing Chen Yuanxing's serious and cold face, couldn't take it anymore and burst into laughter while clutching her stomach. Chen Yuanxing finally frowned, sensing something was wrong!
"Have you laughed enough?" Chen Yuanxing smiled slightly.
Secretary Cai nearly drowned in that captivating smile, but Chen Yuanxing quickly reverted to his aloof and cold demeanor. "Speak!"
"Do you really want to say it?" Secretary Cai adjusted her breathing; secretaries are always the ones who end up as cannon fodder!
Chen Yuanxing didn't speak again, only squinting at Secretary Cai. Secretary Cai shuddered and cautiously extended a delicate pinky finger, "Mr. Chen, behind you..."
Chen Yuanxing could no longer maintain his cool, mature, and elegant demeanor. He jumped up abruptly, thinking, "Damn it!" He quickly ripped off his suit jacket and slapped it across the face. A yellow note was neatly pasted on his back, with crooked, childish handwriting that read, "Takeout, phone 82534715."
"Ugh~~" Chen Yuanxing slumped into the large boss's chair, groaning and covering his head. Secretary Cai, seeing the usually serious CEO Chen so frantic for the first time, continued to watch with curiosity.
"What are you looking at? Get out there and get to work!" Chen Yuanxing suppressed his urge to explode and snorted. Only then did Secretary Cai hop out like a little rabbit.
Xiao Qiqi was in a meeting and sneaked out to answer a phone call when she was startled by a ghostly scream. Oh no, what had Little Cricket done to drive her dad crazy again?
"Xiao Qiqi, you definitely won't see your precious daughter when you get home today, because I've already sent her on a plane to Africa!" Chen Yuanxing said through gritted teeth as he sat in the car returning from the airport.
Xiao Qiqi responded with a few amused words and then went back to continue the meeting.
But when she got home, her daughter was really gone! She called Chen Yuanxing, who proudly replied, "Sent her to Africa!"
Xiao Qiqi immediately called her parents. Her aunt answered and said that her grandparents had taken Chen Xi on a trip abroad. Xiao Qiqi breathed a sigh of relief. She smiled wryly; this must have been Chen Yuanxing's doing. Sending his daughter away was probably his intention. But it was for the best. The two elderly people had never had a good relationship; perhaps taking their granddaughter on a trip could mend things a little. After all, they were getting old, and their spouse was still the most important person.