Cheng Jinlan saw that he was standing still at the window sill, staring blankly, and asked hazily, “What’s wrong?”
Shao ChengZe turned back to soothe her, “Nothing, go back to sleep.”
So Cheng Jinlan didn’t bother him anymore. She slowly closed her eyes again. She was so tired that the moment her head hit the pillow, she just wanted to sleep.
Shao ChengZe weighed the current situation. To pretend not to see each other and continue on their separate paths should be the best choice for both of them.
But obviously, this was not his decision to make.
Cheng Shanhe, who had already put one leg up on the window sill, calmly placed it back down to the ground. The look in his eyes through the pitch black night was like a sharp blade, pinning Shao ChengZe in place. Cheng Shanhe asked himself, in his decades of experience in the business world, he rarely encountered a situation as embarrassing as today. But no matter how embarrassed he felt inside, he absolutely could not show it on his face. Instead, he had to overwhelm the other party with absolute majestic aura, leaving them no room to fight back.
Shao ChengZe came down from the window sill and gently closed the window. He walked to a place not far from Cheng Shanhe, prepared to be beaten or scolded. The key was, these were not the most important things.
The most important thing was that he had to pretend not to know about his future father-in-law's attempt to climb through the window just now. He would pretend Cheng Shanhe was just unable to sleep in the middle of the night, and had come out for a walk to enjoy the moonlight, nothing more.
The two men who had climbed walls and slipped through windows in the middle of the night had both made up their minds about how to deal with the situation before them. But neither had figured out what to say first.
Cheng Shanhe was thinking, you broke into my house in the middle of the night and came out of my daughter's room, you should give me an explanation first.
Shao ChengZe was thinking, he couldn’t escape the blame anyway, so he might as well let his father-in-law speak first to see which way the wind blows before responding accordingly. In any case, he must not let his father-in-law lose face tonight.
In such dead silence, the most unbearable thing was tranquility, especially this kind of quiet in the dead of night without even the barking of dogs.
The two men of similar height stood at opposite ends of the corridor, facing each other in awkward silence. Even the fish dozing off in the sea could feel their awkwardness.
Seeing that his father-in-law wasn't speaking, Shao ChengZe was about to open his mouth when Cheng Shanhe spoke up as well.
"Uncle—"
"You—"
They both started talking at the same time, and stopped at the same time.
Even the crows sleeping in their nests couldn't stand it anymore. They flew out in circles cawing a few times before going back.
Even immortals probably couldn't save this situation.
In the midst of this silent awkwardness, a small head suddenly popped out of the half-open window next to Cheng Shanhe.
"Grandpa, do you want to come in?" Cheng LiQi whispered through the window to Cheng Shanhe outside.
Cheng LiQi had just woken up thirsty from her sleep. In a daze, she took the glass of water on the bedside table and drank most of it. Then she saw Grandpa standing outside the window. She climbed out of bed, put on her slippers, and tiptoed over so as not to wake Grandma up. If Grandpa wanted to come in, she could help him.
Cheng Shanhe's expressionless cold face instantly softened when he turned to see his little granddaughter. He reached out and stroked Cheng LiQi's little head, whispering, "Did Grandpa wake up little LiQi?"
Cheng LiQi shook her head, and saw Shao ChengZe not far away. Her eyes lit up, "Dad, what are you doing here?!"
She looked at Dad, then at Grandpa. She felt they both looked a little strange, not like they were fighting, but something seemed off. What were Dad and Grandpa doing in the hallway so late?
She had question marks popping up in her head when her eyes were drawn to the big moon in the sky. The moon was so big tonight, perfect for sitting by the seaside and moon viewing.
Suddenly she realized, and asked Shao ChengZe, also asking Grandpa, "Dad, were you and Grandpa moon viewing out here?"
Before Shao ChengZe and Cheng Shanhe could say anything, Cheng LiQi stretched out both little arms, and said in a soft, faint voice full of delight, "Grandpa, come hold me and take me out to see the moon with you. I want to see the moon while swinging on the swing."
Although they had not actually been moon viewing, if the granddaughter wanted to see the moon, Cheng Shanhe would certainly oblige. He reached out and lifted the sweet granddaughter from the room, firmly shutting the window after.
Once outside, Cheng LiQi didn't want Grandpa to carry her. She wanted to walk by herself. She climbed down from Grandpa's arms and took Grandpa's big hand in one small hand. She held out the other to Dad, asking him to come hold her hand too.
Shao ChengZe took three big steps over and gently clasped his daughter's tiny hand in his palm, not daring to grip too hard.
Holding Dad's hand in one and Grandpa's in the other, Cheng LiQi looked around the yard. Where was the best place for moon viewing? Ah! She found it. Cheng LiQi pointed at the swing not far away, "Grandpa, Dad, let's go over there to see the moon. I want to swing while looking at the moon."
After saying this, she strode off first on little legs. Cheng Shanhe and Shao ChengZe matched her pace and walked with her toward the swing.
Shao ChengZe felt his daughter was a little angel sent from heaven, always able to pull him out of dire straits.
Although Cheng Shanhe still found the man beside him an eyesore, most of his attention was occupied by his sweet granddaughter, leaving little mind to care about that annoying man.
Cheng LiQi sat on the swing with a long wooden bench on either side. She told Dad and Grandpa to sit over there. But neither Cheng Shanhe nor Shao ChengZe sat, standing guard on either side of the swing instead like bodyguards for the little princess.
Cheng LiQi rocked lightly on the swing, gazing at the moon for a while before turning to Shao ChengZe. "Dad, when did you arrive?"
Shao ChengZe glanced at Black-Face Package Grandpa on the other side, then replied to his daughter, "Dad arrived this morning."
"Grandpa arrived this morning too. Did you and Grandpa come together?"
"No, Dad and Grandpa came from different places."
"Oh~~" Cheng LiQi suddenly recalled something. "Dad, this afternoon, Mom said she was going to see a friend and would be back very late. Was Mom going to see you? Are you only just sending Mom back after your date?"
Shao ChengZe gave a light cough, but facing his daughter's earnest eyes, could not give any other answer.
Hearing Dad's cough, Cheng LiQi realized her mistake. She covered her mouth with both hands—Dad seeing Mom was not something Grandpa should know about.
Cheng Shanhe's face grew as long as the swing's suspension ropes. In his heart he knew one thing, but hearing little LiQi say it out loud was another matter altogether.
Cheng LiQi thought about how to change the topic. She turned to Grandpa, "Grandpa, have you still not coaxed Grandma over?"
The corner of Cheng Shanhe's eye twitched. His sweet granddaughter really knew how to stab the knife in. If he had coaxed Grandma over already, he wouldn't have had to climb through the window.
Cheng LiQi continued asking, "Didn't Grandpa's 'woe-is-me' act work this time either?" Usually Grandpa's 'woe-is-me' act could make up with Grandma in under five minutes.
The corner of Cheng Shanhe's eye twitched again. His sweet granddaughter's jab was right on target. The 'woe-is-me' act didn't work this time either. He had tried it yesterday afternoon but his wife simply treated him as if he didn't exist, not even glancing in his direction once.
Cheng Shanhe felt a mix of many emotions at that moment. In the end he could only look towards the sea with a somewhat troubled expression—a woman's heart, the hidden reefs of the sea floor!
Cheng LiQi leaned her head on one hand with a light sigh, also gazing towards the seaside. It seemed Grandpa had made a very big mistake this time. He would probably have to climb through the window again tomorrow night too.
From the conversation between granddaughter and father-in-law, Shao ChengZe understood something. His pitch black eyes flashed as he too looked out at the boundless sea.
The three gazes upon the sea composed a still life under the moonbeams and night breeze.
Cheng Jinlan stood at the window watching them quietly for a while before turning back to bed and drifting off to dreamland again.
The calm sea surface suddenly stirred up waves as dark clouds gathered to obscure the big moon. It looked like rain was coming. Shao ChengZe and Cheng Shanhe turned at the same time, each taking a step closer to the middle to block the wind blowing in from the sea.
Cheng Shanhe bent down and said to Cheng LiQi, "Let's go back to sleep, it's going to rain."
Cheng LiQi nodded. She was getting sleepy too.
She climbed off the swing so Grandpa could carry her. Turning to look at Dad, she asked, "Dad, where will you sleep?"
Shao Chengze looked at the sea that had become turbulent in just a few minutes. Even if it rained heavily by the seaside, it wouldn't last very long. He could stay on the yacht for a while until the rain stopped, then leave.
Cheng Liqi understood that her father had nowhere to sleep at night. She put her arms around her grandfather's neck and whispered in his ear, "Grandpa, can Dad sleep here tonight? It looks like there's going to be a big storm and Dad has nowhere to go."
Hearing his daughter's words, Shao Chengze stopped what he was about to say. As long as his father-in-law agreed to let him stay, even if he had to sleep under the eaves, he had no objections.
Cheng Shanhe scoffed at Shao Chengze in his heart, but he didn't want to disappoint his beloved granddaughter. He reluctantly said, "Let him sleep in the room next to Liqi's bedroom."
Cheng Liqi shook her grandfather's neck coquettishly, "I knew Grandpa is the best. I love Grandpa the most in the whole world."
Cheng Shanhe had always been unable to resist his granddaughter's coquettish pleas. He smiled and patted her head affectionately. If it weren't for the weather forecast of heavy rainstorms tonight, he would have let Shao Chengze sail back by himself, let alone let him stay indoors.
Shao Chengze squeezed his daughter's ankles and said to Cheng Shanhe, "Thank you, uncle."
Cheng Shanhe ignored him and walked forward with his granddaughter in his arms. When they reached the door, Cheng Liqi whispered to her grandfather and father, "I'll go sleep in my room. After Dad tucks me in, he can go sleep in the room next to mine." She moved even closer to her grandfather's ear and said in an even softer voice, "Grandpa, go sleep in Grandma's room. Grandpa, you have to take good care of Grandma and not let her be angry tomorrow."
Cheng Shanhe stroked his granddaughter's hair indulgently. She was a little schemer who knew everything. With his eyes, he warned Shao Chengze not to try anything funny under his nose. Just go to bed in the room obediently and leave when the rain stops.
Cheng Liqi brought her father to her room quietly and asked him to tell her a story to help her fall asleep. As for how Grandpa got into Grandma's room, probably only the rain hitting the windows knew.
The sun rose very early by the seaside. Last night's rain lasted quite a long time. Shao Chengze didn't go back to the next room until after the rain stopped. He had napped for less than an hour before waking up. Since it was still early, he decided to go for a morning run, then return to the yacht to take a shower and change clothes before coming back to make breakfast. He had to leave before his father-in-law woke up.
He still needed to show thoughtfulness and deference, as well as read the situation properly.
After running around the island, Shao Chengze returned to the pier where the yacht was docked and saw a row of seashells laid out on it. His heart stirred. Weren't these the seashells she had arranged here yesterday? After a night of heavy rain, they were still there. Shao Chengze picked up the seashells one by one and went back to the beach to look for more nice seashells.
It was already an hour later when Shao Chengze came out of the yacht again, later than he had originally planned. He quietly returned to the house, and just as he was about to open the door to Cheng Jinlan's room, Cheng Shanhe happened to come out from the other end of the living room.
Their eyes met again. Shao Chengze knew he wouldn't get through that door today. He quickly hung the seashell bracelet on the doorknob of the bedroom before nodding to Cheng Shanhe to indicate he was leaving.
This time, Cheng Shanhe didn't even bother to scoff at him. He just waved his hand to tell him to get lost. He had a headache dealing with the lawsuit and had no time to settle accounts with him now.
In fact, Cheng Shanhe had just been kicked out of the bedroom by his wife. Cheng Shanhe felt that he was facing the biggest crisis in recent years, and this crisis left him completely confused.
Cheng Liqi woke up to the smell of food being cooked. Grandpa was making breakfast while the bed in the next room was neatly made. It looked like Dad had already left. Mom and Grandma's door was still closed, so they were probably still sleeping. Cheng Liqi didn't want to disturb them and sat at the bar counter watching Grandpa cook. After a while, she ran out to the yard to swing on the swingset. It felt best to swing in the morning.
Cheng Liqi leaned back on the swing, swaying slowly. Suddenly she heard someone calling her name and looked up to see the handsome uncle from the neighbor's house with his cute little golden retriever puppy. Cheng Liqi jumped down from the swing and ran over to greet the puppy.
Cheng Shanhe heard the voices and came out. Cheng Liqi introduced them to her grandfather, "Grandpa, this is our neighbor William. His dog is called Freedom."
William was learning Chinese and thought his Chinese was pretty good. He greeted Cheng Shanhe and explained his visit - first to bring over some homemade desserts, and second to deliver invitations to a party they were hosting that evening.
Cheng Liqi remembered the scene at that party and complimented William, "William, you dance so well, just like my grandma!"
William grinned, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth. "I don't dance as well as her. She's beautiful and dances beautifully."
When Cheng Shanhe heard "her" come out of his mouth, then heard what he said next, his gaze sharpened.
Cheng Liqi didn't notice her grandfather's displeasure. The puppy kept circling around her, nudging her arms and legs. Cheng Liqi suddenly remembered something. "William, I have a gift I want to give Freedom."
William was delighted. "Little Liqi, you're so nice." What he wanted to express was "you're so thoughtful."
Cheng Liqi went back into the house to get it. The puppy followed her inside. William handed the leash to Cheng Liqi, "You hold him."
Cheng Liqi excitedly took the leash and led the puppy into the house. Yesterday, she and Grandma made a flower crown that she had left in Mom's room to give to the puppy.
Mom's door was already open and there were sounds coming from the bathroom, so Mom was probably showering. Cheng Liqi reached up to the table to get the flower crown and put it on the puppy's head - it fit perfectly. Cheng Liqi wanted to take a picture of the puppy with Mom's phone, but the puppy broke free of Cheng Liqi's hold and ran out of the house still wearing the flower crown.
Cheng Liqi ran out after him. The puppy had already run back to William, who smiled widely when he saw the flower crown. "Thank you Little Liqi, very beautiful."
Cheng Shanhe was taking a phone call not too far away. William had an uneasy feeling that the man of this house didn't seem to welcome him. He said goodbye to Little Liqi, welcomed the family to come over and play tonight, then waved to Cheng Shanhe, who nodded slightly back.
William had just taken a few steps when he noticed the seashell bracelet with a diamond ring hanging from the flower crown on the puppy. He took it off to examine it closely, then turned back and returned it to Cheng Liqi. "Little Liqi, this is for your grandma or mom. It's precious, don't lose it, keep it safe."
What he actually meant was to return it to whichever lady of the house it belonged to. Something so valuable must belong to one of the two women.
Cheng Liqi watched William's retreating figure, then looked down at the seashell bracelet in her hand, feeling a little confused. It didn't feel heavy at all though.
Cheng Shanhe hung up his phone call and came over to ask Cheng Liqi what was going on.
Cheng Liqi handed the bracelet to her grandfather. "William said to give this to Grandma or Mom."
As soon as she finished speaking, Cheng Liqi noticed the diamond ring tucked inside the seashell bracelet, and the words written on the shells.
Cheng Shanhe saw it too. Clutching the bracelet, he went to chase after William.
At that moment, Cheng Liqi's phone rang. It was her dad calling.
Shao Chengze was calling to see if Cheng Jinlan was awake yet. She hadn't replied to his messages either, so he didn't know if she had seen the seashell bracelet he left.
"Dad, the handsome neighbor came to our house to propose today."
There was a pause on the phone before Shao Chengze asked his daughter for confirmation. "What?"
"The handsome neighbor came to our house this morning and brought a seashell bracelet with a huge diamond ring inside. The shells had 'will you marry me' written on them. Handsome neighbor said it was a gift for Mom and Grandma."
Shao Chengze: ......!
