Billionaire's Long Journey of Chasing His Love-Chapter 776 - 648: Settling Down, It Makes a Home (Three Updates)
Connie didn’t bring up the matter again. The next day, she went to the office with Tong Aino. She wanted to find out who was trying to create conflict between the couple, but after observing for several days, she couldn’t detect anything suspicious.
A few days later, the Queen of Haotian arrived in Xiawu on the first high-speed train. She came to visit her daughter and grandson.
Haotian was improving by the day, and the Queen’s mental state had also significantly improved compared to before.
Yi Luowa was delighted as she listened to her mother talk about the latest happenings in Haotian.
However, the mention of Ruan An Yang brought a frown to both mother and daughter’s faces.
"Did you call Danton? Did you figure anything out?"
Yi Luowa pursed her lips, "Danton said he didn’t have such thoughts. That day, he was just tired and lay down on the sofa for a while. An Yang happened to have a math problem she couldn’t solve, so she asked him for help. Since there was no surface to write on, she leaned over him to write something. Also, he said it wasn’t as serious as you made it out to be. An Yang was crouching on the floor and wrote on his chest."
"I’m not blind yet! That little rascal even dared to lie to you."
Yi Luowa chuckled, "If he’s lying, it means there’s something going on."
The Queen of Haotian frowned slightly, "The only problem is that he likes An Yang. If he likes her, fine, but why hide it from us?"
"Maybe he knows An Yang is too young, and he’s afraid we won’t approve and might even send An Yang back," Yi Luowa blinked and said with a smile. "Mom, I have an idea. The Ruan family has business dealings with us, right? Why don’t you let Ruan Hanmo stay at the palace frequently? If he’s there, those two little mischiefs might behave better."
The Queen of Haotian sighed, "Han Mo does check on An Yang whenever he comes to Haotian, but I can see it—no one in their family can control her. As for Han Mo, he doesn’t live at our place. I heard from someone the other day that he keeps a long-term hotel room and might be secretly keeping a woman there behind his parents’ backs."
Yi Luowa asked skeptically, "Could that really be true?"
"At his age, still unmarried—it’s not impossible." The Queen of Haotian glanced at her daughter, "I even entertained some thoughts, but now I’m a bit worried."
Yi Luowa stifled a laugh and asked, "You really plan on having Danton wait for An Yang? Don’t you want to hold a grandchild sooner?"
"I already have a grandson." The Queen of Haotian swayed Zi Xi in her arms. "Zi Xi, isn’t that right? You’re Grandma’s little sweetheart."
"Goo goo..." Zi Xi laughed, waving his tiny hands.
The Queen of Haotian kissed Zi Xi’s pudgy cheek. "The kids are almost out of school. Go pick those two up for me."
Yi Luowa checked the time, "No rush, we’ve still got five minutes. I’ll leave then."
The Queen of Haotian raised her eyes to look at her daughter. "Luowa, your mother-in-law manages four kids on her own. Why don’t you quit your job?"
Yi Luowa hesitated, "Didn’t I already send two off? Once this one turns one, I’ll send him to kindergarten. By then, my mother-in-law will be free."
"Or should I take Zi Xi with me?" The Queen of Haotian said this while cautiously observing her daughter’s expression.
Yi Luowa laughed. "Mom, Zi Xi is still too young. Without me around, he wouldn’t make it. When he’s a bit older, how about letting him stay at both places?"
The Queen of Haotian pouted, "I knew you’d change your mind!"
Yi Luowa hugged her mother’s shoulders and laughed. "I haven’t changed my mind. I’m just worried about you. You’re busy with state affairs every day. Taking care of Zi Xi might wear you out."
The Queen of Haotian glared at her, "You just don’t want to give up Zi Xi now that Danton’s back!"
Yi Luowa pouted.
The Queen of Haotian nudged her arm with a laugh, "Alright, alright, no need to be scared. I won’t take your son. Hurry and go pick those two up for me."
"Hehe..."
"Stop giggling. I’m a mother too. I know kids can’t be away from their moms, and moms can’t be without their kids. But, Zi Xi must visit Haotian often to see your father and me. He’s the third in line to the Haotian throne, after all. He needs to start understanding Haotian customs and traditions from a young age."
Yi Luowa nodded with a smile. "Tong Airui already said we’d hire a private tutor for Zi Xi to teach him Haotian language and culture from a young age."
"No need to hire one. I’ll send Danton’s private tutor over."
"That works too." Yi Luowa checked the time. "Mom, I’m off to pick up the kids."
"Go ahead."
Yi Luowa quickly stepped out of the room. Once outside, she let out a long sigh. Back when she and Tong Airui agreed to let her mother take care of Zi Xi, she didn’t expect to have second thoughts. Now, she felt a bit guilty. Thankfully, her mother understood her feelings. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have known what to do.
At the kindergarten gate, Yi Luowa recounted what her mother had said to Tong Airui.
Tong Airui smiled and ruffled her hair, "Your mom understands you. What’s there to worry about? Just let Zi Xi visit Haotian often to see your parents."
"Ah... This is the first time I’ve gone back on my word."
"Not the first. You’ve never kept your word with me." Tong Airui chuckled and walked towards the teacher as he saw three kids holding hands and coming out.
On the way home, Yi Luowa drove while Tong Airui sat in the back and discussed with the kids. "Zi Yan, Sang Yu, since Grandma’s here, shouldn’t you spend a few days keeping her company?"
Zi Yan and his sister exchanged glances and both lowered their heads.
Pengpeng crossed his arms and said defiantly, "You two stay home. I’ll do it myself."
Tong Airui looked at him, "Your great-uncle is coming for the New Year. Aren’t you going to spend time with him?"
Pengpeng blinked. "Who’s my great-uncle?"
Tong Airui grinned and nudged him, "Your great-uncle is Tong Yehua!"
Pengpeng huffed, "Great-Grandpa said he doesn’t know Tong Yehua."
Yi Luowa couldn’t help but laugh, "That’s just something Great-Grandpa said out of anger. You shouldn’t repeat it."
"But Grandma said so too!" Pengpeng sulked, sticking out his lower lip in defiance.
"Watch your attitude!" Zi Yan puffed his cheeks and smacked Pengpeng’s arm.
Pengpeng pursed his lips and fell silent.
"Is Uncle coming alone?" Yi Luowa glanced at Tong Airui through the rearview mirror.
Tong Airui sighed, "If he dared come alone, Grandpa would chew him out."
"What’s going on with him and Xin Ru?"
"They’ve been going back and forth for years but haven’t made it to the point of discussing marriage. This time, they’re supposedly putting on another show. Let’s give them a little push."
"We can give them a nudge, but we still need to see if they’re genuinely interested in each other. Don’t go pairing people up willy-nilly."
"A woman her age, working with Uncle to put on this act twice? If she wasn’t interested, I wouldn’t believe it."
"You’re right." Yi Luowa nodded and turned the car onto a side road.
"By the way, I heard—one time, Uncle got injured..." Tong Airui glanced at the kids and stopped mid-sentence.
Yi Luowa understood immediately and didn’t press further.
When they got home, the three kids bolted inside. Only then did Tong Airui continue, "Uncle got injured during training once, and Xin Ru took care of him for seven days and nights. She even did things as menial as handling his bedpan. But as soon as he got better, he kicked her out." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Yi Luowa frowned slightly. "Uncle doesn’t seem like the type to do something like that."
"Tingting told me. It can’t be false."
"Where’s the problem, then?"
"Don’t know."
Tong Airui patted her shoulder, "Come on, let’s go inside. We can ask Uncle when he gets here."
"Alright."
On New Year’s Eve morning, Tong Yehua finally arrived with Xin Ru, bringing along plenty of gifts for the family.
Tong Jiaqi finally showed a rare smile when he saw his son bringing along his "daughter-in-law."
After lunch, Yi Luowa and Connie accompanied Xin Ru upstairs while Tong Airui and Tong Aino took Tong Yehua into the first-floor study.
They were clearly planning to gather information from both sides.
"Tong Yehua, this time you brought her over. Are you still just pretending?" Tong Aino spoke first.
Tong Yehua chuckled, "Why can’t you behave and call me Uncle?"
Tong Aino gave him a sideways glance. "Bring home an Auntie for me, and I’ll call you Uncle. Look how worried you’ve made Grandpa and Grandma. Even No. 8 is a dad now—aren’t you the least bit anxious?"
Tong Yehua smiled helplessly, "What’s there to be anxious about? I spend more than 200 days a year in the air. Having a family would be the same as not having one."
Tong Airui frowned slightly. "If you don’t want to settle down, don’t keep using a girl as a shield, bringing her home time and time again. How’s she supposed to get married in the future?"
Tong Yehua raised an eyebrow, "She doesn’t plan to get married."
"What do you mean?" Tong Airui and Tong Aino were both stunned.
"After I brought her to our home that year, I suggested we make do and start a family. What did she do? She turned and walked away and didn’t speak kindly to me for a year. Later, when some Major proposed to her, she said she’d never get married."
Tong Airui and Tong Aino looked at each other and burst into laughter.
