Chen Lan put down his bowl and chopsticks,

"Cancel the afternoon’s work. I’ll deal with what can be resolved, and leave the rest for later."

"..."

"Whether or not you come in for a day, the company won’t stop running. Go home and be with those two little darlings."

"Chen Lan, you’re doing this for my sake, not deliberately trying to undermine me, right?"

"..."

These days, it’s really hard to be the good guy.

"Haha! Thanks a lot! I’ll leave everything else to you, I’m heading home!"

Su Xiaomeng instantly beamed with joy.

Chen Lan hesitated; was Su Xiaomeng’s earlier look of worry and remorse just an act for him to say this?

Looking at Su Xiaomeng again, Xiao Meng had already picked up her bag and phone, briskly heading out.

"Thank you, Mr. Chen! Good deeds have good returns! You’re working hard!"

Su Xiaomeng effortlessly slipped out of the office.

For a moment, Chen Lan was truly at a loss, Su Xiaomeng acted like she got a day off from the boss.

"Tsk tsk..."

The most troublesome thing is, Chen Lan damn well felt being the boss was quite nice!

————

Xiao Meng left the company, thought for a moment, and made a call,

"Third Sister... Um, have Mom and Dad left yet? Not yet right? I’m heading back from the company now, I’ll go pick them up... I have an idea... Um, alright, see you soon."

The driver stopped the car in front of Xiao Meng.

After getting in the car, Xiao Meng made another call to Yin Meng,

"Free today?"

After calling Yin Meng, she called Ming Lang and Ming Xu,

"Stop playing outside, come back home."

"Can you answer your phones? Um... nice, not at the base, free right?"

Xiao Meng made several calls, just as she was about to call her parents, another call came in — it was Grandpa, she hurriedly answered...

"Grandpa?"

"Xiao Meng, today is the two little ones’ birthday, haven’t forgotten, right?"

"I haven’t forgotten, I haven’t forgotten! Grandpa, your call is timely, let me tell you..."

...

At home, Bai Sixian was clearly surprised to receive Xiao Meng’s call and asked suspiciously,

"Is there enough time?"

"There’s enough time, there’s enough time, just bring Shuangshuang and Huang Huang."

"Alright then."

Bai Sixian hung up the phone, stared at Su Chengji’s wide eyes,

"What do you say?"

Bai Sixian looked at her husband... she thought that if she told him about Xiao Meng’s call...

"Haha! I told you, Xiao Meng never forgets! You just scolded me, regret it?"

"..."

"Si Xian, I really understand our daughter! Aiya... ah ah ah..."

Su Chengji, gloating with pride, suddenly turned into cries of pain.

Bai Sixian twisted his ear,

"Care to repeat?"

"I was wrong, I was wrong."

Bai Sixian let go of Su Chengji’s ear, walked past him, lips curled, heading to Shuangshuang and Huang Huang’s room,

"Shuang’er, Huang’er, dinner is at Great-Grandpa’s tonight!"

Shuangshuang and Huang Huang were lying on the bed, looking at children’s storybook pictures.

Hearing Grandma’s shout, they weren’t too excited; Prince Huang sat up,

"I don’t want to go..."

"But Great-Grandpa misses you guys."

Bai Sixian sighed.

Shuangshuang scratched her head, poked her brother’s back, then grasped her own feet like she was pondering with her brother,

"Great-Grandpa misses us..."

Prince Huang furrowed his brows, his head swaying left to right.

Shuangshuang said again,

"Brother, Great-Grandpa misses us..."

"Well... okay then."

Prince Huang reluctantly agreed.

Bai Sixian couldn’t help but smile, the siblings truly behaved like little adults, thinking a lot.

Xiao Meng had them bring Shuangshuang and Huang Huang to Yijing Manor for dinner.

Seeing the time, there was no need to rush.

She specially picked out some pretty and lively outfits for Shuangshuang and Huang Huang from the wardrobe.

Shuangshuang wore a strappy crop top, paired with little shorts, her hair now reaching just behind her ears, clipped with an exquisite pearl hairpin.

Prince Huang wore a Superman t-shirt, matched with baggy jeans, sporting his usual cool demeanor — a full-on hip-hop little cool guy.

After dressing the kids, Bai Sixian hurriedly tidied up her husband too.

Su Chengji could now stand, just couldn’t bear too much weight.

The wheelchair was still on hand.

Around four, they left downtown, heading up Jiuling Mountain.

Shuangshuang agreed because Great-Grandpa missed them; she couldn’t let down his longing, thus got dressed and left.

Prince Huang seemed pretty detached, with heavy thoughts throughout the journey, staying silent.

Bai Sixian asked several times, but Prince Huang didn’t respond, his listless eyes looking out the car window.

Until they reached the foot of Jiuling Mountain, the little one couldn’t hold back his thoughts any longer, whispered in Bai Sixian’s ear,

"Mom... what’s for dinner?"

"..."

"Mom’s going home... alone..."

"..."

"After dinner, I want to go home..."

Prince Huang fiddled with his fingers, quietly spoke with his emotions.

Bai Sixian ruffled Prince Huang’s hair,

"Don’t worry, Mommy will take care of herself. After dinner, you can decide if you want to go home. If you do, we’ll go home."

Grandma’s words seemed to satisfy Prince Huang; he nodded in approval.

His gaze still lingered outside the window, occasionally glancing back.

Bai Sixian thought, if it weren’t for Shuangshuang repeatedly reminding him, "Great-Grandpa misses us," Prince Huang wouldn’t have left the house, let alone climbed the mountain.

They arrived at Yijing Manor at six.

The sun was setting over the western mountain.

Though it’s the height of summer, Jiuling Mountain was refreshingly cool.

Bai Sixian put jackets on the siblings.

"Brother, it’s so beautiful..." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Shuangshuang stood in the middle of the small mountain path, pointing at the big, setting sun on the western horizon...

Prince Huang followed Shuangshuang’s gaze.

Indeed...

The scenery was stunningly beautiful.

Yet Prince Huang wasn’t in the mood.

Bai Sixian gazed at the sunset seemingly burning half the sky red, reflecting on the verdant mountain; it was beauty enough to still one’s breath.

Su Chengji leaning on a cane,

"Let’s go inside; Great-Grandpa is waiting at home!"

Bai Sixian held Shuangshuang’s hand with one hand and Prince Huang’s with the other, entering Yijing Manor, greeted by Ah Bu.

Ah Bu was getting old, especially this year, his physical strength visibly declined, but seeing Bai Sixian and Su Chengji arrive, he eagerly came up!

No longer does he pounce as he used to, as if trying to knock people down.

He ran to Bai Sixian, affectionately rubbing his head against her leg, making baby-like noises.