When Shao ChengZe hurried over, William had just explained the misunderstanding caused by the language barrier to Cheng Shanhe in their native tongue, avoiding a fierce beating. The misunderstanding was clarified, but Cheng Shanhe's attitude towards William did not improve much. Seeing Shao ChengZe come over, he was even more upset. He threw the bracelet at Shao ChengZe and gave him a single word - "Get out!" - signaling him to leave as far as possible.
A bracelet was not enough to trick his daughter away. What was he thinking? He might as well try to pluck the moon with his bare hands.
William looked at Shao ChengZe sympathetically. He had misunderstood the man of this house. The man's attitude was already considered good. There was a saying, what was it again? William remembered and said to Shao ChengZe, "We are both stranded souls in this world." He wanted to pat Shao ChengZe's shoulder to show sympathy.
Shao ChengZe dodged to avoid his hand. He recognized his voice. This was the man who called her "Lan" that night. He was also in every photo Liu Qi had sent, including the one from last night.
William's hand swung at empty air, but he did not think much of it, assuming the other man did not like physical contact.
Shao ChengZe casually chatted with him for a few sentences, finding out why he had come so early in the morning. William knew he was a new neighbor and invited him to the party that night. Shao ChengZe did not confirm nor decline, only saying he would see about the timing.
After Cheng Jinlan and Fei Zuhui came out from the bedroom, Cheng Shanhe had already sent away all the people he needed to. Fei Zuhui asked Cheng Liuqi if she had heard William's voice. Cheng Liuqi only told her grandmother that William's family was also hosting a party tonight and had invited them. She did not mention anything about the bracelet, engagement ring, or proposal. She blinked at her grandfather. Her grandmother had her grandfather, her mother had her father, and as for William, he was just a very handsome uncle.
Cheng Shanhe placed the peeled egg into his granddaughter's plate. Cheng Liuqi smiled sweetly at her grandfather, "Thank you, Grandpa."
Cheng Shanhe peeled another egg for his wife, but Fei Zuhui put down her chopsticks and said she was full. She asked her daughter and granddaughter if they wanted to go next door to the party again tonight.
Cheng Jinlan drank her milk and nodded. Since her mother wanted to relax, she would definitely accompany her.
Cheng Liuqi swallowed her egg and excitedly raised her arm, also saying she wanted to go. She wanted to go play with the cute Golden Retriever, Freedom.
Cheng Shanhe silently finished the egg in his hand in one bite.
Compared to last night, tonight's party was even livelier. Cheng Liuqi held her mother's hand with her left and her grandmother's hand with her right as the three of them walked in.
As soon as the three appeared, they attracted the attention of the entire venue. Cheng Liuqi wore a fluffy white princess dress, sweet and cute. Cheng Jinlan wore a snowy white silk strapless dress, cool yet alluring. Fei Zuhui wore an almond white cheongsam, gentle and graceful with elegant poise.
Cheng Shanhe, who had been walking behind them, took a step forward to stand next to Fei Zuhui. Although his wife was unwilling to take his arm, anyone with eyes could see their relationship.
Yet some people were blind. Someone came over to ask Fei Zuhui for a dance. Cheng Shanhe stood up to stop it, but Fei Zuhui silenced him with one sharp look. Cheng Shanhe could only watch as someone else led his wife away.
Cheng Liuqi patted her grandfather's arm. "Grandpa, don't worry. Grandma is dancing to feel happier. When Grandma is happy, she won't be mad at Grandpa anymore."
Cheng Shanhe gave a wry smile and ruffled his granddaughter's little head. If only it could be that simple.
Cheng Liuqi bit on her straw, sipping sweet fruit juice. Looking up, she saw the person standing at the entrance. She waved excitedly, "Dad, over here!"
Seeing his daughter, the coldness in Shao ChengZe's eyes softened into a gentle smile. He strode over and took his daughter's little hand, greeting Cheng Shanhe first, "Uncle."
With Cheng Liuqi present, Cheng Shanhe begrudgingly grunted in response.
Cheng Liuqi patted the spot next to her for her dad to sit. "Mom went to the restroom. She'll be right back."
Shao ChengZe sat down next to Cheng Liuqi. All day today, he had messaged her, and while she did reply, her responses were perfunctory, never exceeding three words. If he called, she would immediately hang up. Clearly, she was still upset about last night. Shao ChengZe rubbed his brow with his fingertip. He had gone too far last night, extremely so. Her anger was justified.
Cheng Jinlan returned from the restroom and saw him. Her footsteps faltered for a moment. Just then, William came over to ask her to dance. Cheng Jinlan looked at Shao ChengZe, the corners of her lips curling into a smile. She smiled at him coquettishly, throwing Shao ChengZe off balance for a second. The next moment, Cheng Jinlan extended her hand to William.
Shao ChengZe smiled helplessly. It was blatant provocation, making him both love and hate her - love her so much he wanted to go over right now, take her in his arms, and kiss her, yet also hate her enough to want to press her back into bed and make her submit again.
Cheng Shanhe stared at his wife, eyes motionless.
Cheng Liuqi occasionally wiggled her little feet and sipped more fruit juice. How could her mother and grandmother be so beautiful?
The three men sat side by side, each thinking about their own matters, just like their silhouettes last night looking out at the ocean, only today they were looking at the party scene.
A young boy in a black tailcoat suit approached Cheng Liuqi and very gentlemanly asked if he could have the honor of a dance. Cheng Liuqi looked at her grandfather then her father. Seeing their encouraging smiles, she nodded at the boy, agreeing to his invitation.
With the three women of the family gone to dance, the two men were left on the bench, and the atmosphere returned to the awkwardness of last night.
The two men, one young and aloof, the other middle-aged and refined, each had their own charm. From time to time, women would come up to chat or ask for a dance, only to be rejected before they even spoke.
Cheng Shanhe disliked how the other man could attract attention just by sitting there and said indifferently, "If you want to go, then go. My wife looks like she's having fun too. Parties are for fun after all. Don't mind me sitting here and pretend to behave just for appearance's sake."
Shao ChengZe replied, "I can't dance. I'm bad at all dances, no coordination. I must have inherited it from my grandma. My dad said I'm very much like her - similar habits, personality, and looks."
Cheng Shanhe had been sneering but went silent after hearing this.
Shao ChengZe took a glass of wine from the bar and held it out to Cheng Shanhe. "Uncle, have you met my grandma before? She didn't like taking photos, so we don't have many at home. The ones we do have are all group shots where you can barely make out her face."
Cheng Shanhe did not take the wine glass. After a long silence, he spoke, "You really do resemble her a lot."
He knew what this brat was trying to do, maneuvering the conversation skillfully to his advantage without causing resentment.
Cheng Shanhe liked clever people, but he did not like an overly clever son-in-law. His daughter should be the one handling him, not the other way around. The crux of the issue was that if the man was not clever, his daughter probably would not like him either, having inherited his preference for intelligent people.
It seemed finding a son-in-law had always been difficult since ancient times.
Cheng Liuqi returned from her dance, cheeks rosy red like a crisp apple.
Shao ChengZe brought his daughter a glass of coconut juice. Cheng Liuqi drank it all in one go. Shao ChengZe gently wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin and asked, "Did you have fun?"
Cheng Liuqi nodded. Her eyes were brimming with joy.
Cheng Shanhe observed them surreptitiously. He picked up the wine Shao ChengZe had left by his hand and took a sip, then looked again at his still happily dancing wife. He drank a large gulp.
Shao ChengZe leaned in to whisper something to Cheng Liuqi. Cheng Liuqi happily got up and pulled her dad's hand. She told her grandpa, "Grandpa, let's go dance!"
Cheng Shanhe never refused his little princess’s requests. “Sure,” he agreed, taking Cheng Liqi’s hand in his. He then frowned slightly, having assumed it would just be him and his cute granddaughter dancing together. Who would have thought there’d be another person as well.
Cheng Liqi held her grandfather's hand with one of hers, and her father's hand with the other, leading them into the hall. Though she said they would be dancing, they really just circled around together, or more accurately, didn’t even manage to make full circles, as there was still quite a gap between Shao Chengze and Cheng Shanhe.
As the three spun around, they soon rotated to Fei Zuhui’s side. When the music ended, Cheng Liqi called out, “Grandma, come dance with me!”
Seeing her little granddaughter, Fei Zuhui’s eyes lit up, the rest of the people around her fading away. She declined her previous dance partner’s invitation for another dance, joining Cheng Liqi’s side instead. One of her hands was grasped by her granddaughter, while the other was tightly held by Cheng Shanhe. Fei Zuhui glared at him, but didn’t struggle free.
Cheng Liqi was elated to be dancing with her grandma, grandpa, and dad. Her laughter was like the tinkling of wind chimes blown by the sea breeze – crisp and charming. Her joy spread through the room, the atmosphere becoming even more energetic. Even those who had been off to the side joined in, people gathering in groups of three or four and swaying along with the music.
The group spun closer to Cheng Jinlan. Cheng Liqi called out, “Mom!” Shao Chengze nodded slightly at William, then extended his hand towards Cheng Jinlan.
William understood what was happening. With some regret, he let go of Cheng Jinlan. She gave Shao Chengze a smile as she took his hand, not holding back as she stepped on his foot several times, feigning clumsiness.
Cheng Shanhe watched the two discreetly, the corners of his lips quirking up uncontrollably. Though his daughter wasn’t wearing high heels today, having her stomp on his feet several times probably still didn’t feel too good. Don't ask how Cheng Shanhe knew what that felt like, he just did.
Shao Chengze endured the pain in his feet, looking towards his daughter. Cheng Liqi understood her father’s hint and turned to say to her mother, “Mom, I need to go to the bathroom urgently.”
Shao Chengze bent down to pick up Cheng Liqi. “Let’s go, I’ll go with you and mom.”
Cheng Jinlan knew what little play they were putting on. She was happy to go along with it. “Mom,” she said to Fei Zuhui, “I’ll bring Liqi to the bathroom. You keep dancing with dad.”
Cheng Shanhe tactfully put his arm around his wife’s waist. Their little five-person circle dance had now become a couple’s dance. Cheng Shanhe decided that until he had properly explained the misunderstanding, he would keep dancing with his wife all night. After pondering it over for two days and one night, he had figured out what the issue was – it was probably because of that female friend of hers.
Leaning against her father’s shoulder, Cheng Liqi smiled knowingly at her mother. “Mom, aren’t dad and I so smart?”
Cheng Jinlan pinched her little nose. “You’re just a sly little thing. Do you really need to use the bathroom?”
“No, let’s go to the beach and look for pretty shells instead!” Cheng Liqi said, turning to her father. “Dad, can we?”
Shao Chengze held Cheng Jinlan’s hand and replied to his daughter, “Okay.”
Cheng Jinlan scratched his palm lightly. Shao Chengze grasped her hand tighter.
The night sea was blue, the waves were white. Cheng Liqi ran ahead, stopping now and then under the moonlight and lamplight to pick up pretty shells. Shao Chengze and Cheng Jinlan strolled leisurely behind her. Shao Chengze squeezed the hand in his. “Does it still hurt?”
Cheng Jinlan stomped on his foot again. “Quiet.”
Shao Chengze chuckled lowly. Cheng Liqi ran back to them, handing over the shells she had collected for her dad to hold. She then raced off to find more shells.
Cheng Jinlan and Shao Chengze watched their daughter’s back as they both spoke at the same time, “Don’t run so fast, be careful not to fall.”
Cheng Liqi yelled loudly back at her parents, “I know, Mom. I know, Dad.”
The moonlight stretched their shadows long across the sand, the two tall figures enveloping the small one between them. The sea breeze caressed their faces, waves lapping at the shore then receding slowly. The sounds of the sea were like the loveliest lullaby, tugging uncontrollably at their heartstrings.
Before long, Cheng Liqi came running back, hands full of shells again. Seeing her dad’s hands were empty, she asked, “Dad, where are the shells I gave you?”
Shao Chengze took the shells from Cheng Liqi’s hands, gently saying, “Liqi, shall I do a magic trick for you?”
“Yay! I want to see magic!” Cheng Liqi jumped up excitedly. She loved watching magic tricks.
“Then close your eyes, Liqi.” Shao Chengze looked at Cheng Jinlan. “You too, dear.”
Cheng Liqi obediently shut her eyes, but Cheng Jinlan didn’t. She wasn’t a six-year-old child to be so easily fooled. She wanted to see what tricks he was playing.
Shao Chengze smiled and pulled her into his embrace, leaning down to kiss the corner of her lips. Cheng Jinlan stabbed him with her eyes.
“Dad, is it done?” Cheng Liqi asked.
“Count loudly to twenty, then open your eyes,” Shao Chengze instructed.
“Okay!”
As Cheng Liqi started counting, Shao Chengze covered Cheng Jinlan’s eyes with his hand. She twisted his waist in retaliation, feeling him slip something onto her other wrist. It was hard and cool to the touch.
The moment Cheng Liqi counted to twenty, she opened her eyes. Seeing the pretty pink shell bracelet around her wrist, she grasped her dad’s sleeve excitedly. “Dad, you’re so amazing! How did you turn the shells into a bracelet?!”
Shao Chengze ruffled her hair. “How it’s done is a magician’s secret. I can’t tell you, Liqi.”
Cheng Liqi was even more impressed. Her dad was an actual magician!
She noticed her mom was also wearing a bracelet that looked like the one she had seen that morning. So the bracelet was her dad’s gift to her mom, not William’s. Was her dad going to propose to her mom?
She blinked meaningfully at her father.
Shao Chengze blinked back at her.
Father and daughter communicated silently.
Cheng Jinlan lowered her gaze to the bracelet on her wrist, seeing the ring nestled among the shells, and the words etched onto them.
The lively music from the villa softened into something mellow. Fireworks blossomed in the distant sky. Waves rolled up foamy silver sand to their feet before retreating slowly. Everything around them seemed to drift away, leaving just the three shadows huddled together on the beach.
Cheng Liqi let out a soft “Ah”, having discovered a glittery ring hidden among the shells of her bracelet as well. The pale pink diamonds adorning it shone brightly. “Dad, there’s a ring in mine too!”
“That one’s for you, Liqi. Yours is pink and mom’s is blue,” Shao Chengze explained.
Cheng Liqi compared her pale pink ring to her mom’s pale blue one. The diamond on both was a water droplet shape. She looked up at her mom. “Isn’t it so pretty, Mom?”
“Very pretty,” Cheng Jinlan agreed gently.
She couldn’t deny that it was indeed beautiful.
Cheng Liqi turned to her dad. “Dad, take the rings out and help put them on for me and Mom.”
Hearing her daughter’s words, Cheng Jinlan’s eyelashes fluttered. Shao Chengze’s heart skipped a beat as he watched them move.
The rings could easily be removed from the bracelets. Shao Chengze first helped his daughter put on her ring. The size was perfect, not loose or tight. Cheng Liqi admired how the ring looked on her hand, thinking her dad had great taste.
It had been easy to take the ring off her daughter’s bracelet, but with Cheng Jinlan, Shao Chengze’s hand slipped several times, his palms damp with nervous sweat. He finally managed to remove the ring and slowly lifted her hand.
Cheng Jinlan’s breath stilled, all other sounds fading away except for the pounding of her heart, or maybe his.
The ring touched her fingertip and she instinctively drew her hand back slightly. It persistently chased after her finger. Cheng Jinlan looked up, wanting to glare at him, but met his taut gaze first before noticing the fine beads of sweat on his brow. Her heart softened and in the next moment, the ring was slipped onto her finger.
Slender fingers, smooth band, pale blue water droplet – simply beautiful.
Shao Chengze gently stroked her fingers. Stepping forward with his left leg, he was about to kneel down. Actually, he should have knelt first before putting on the ring, but Shao Chengze was nervous and was also being cheeky. He was afraid that if he said those words first, she would refuse him. So it would be better to put the ring on her finger first. As long as she accepted the ring, everything else would be easy to say afterwards.
Cheng Jinlan sensed his intention and took a step forward. The distance between them became very close, but it also stopped his kneeling action. Her heart was beating too fast now and her mind was a bit blank, so he should not say it yet. She needed more time to think.
Shao Chengze held her hand tightly and turned his head to look for her eyes. He didn't expect to succeed in one try. He just wanted to know what she was thinking right now. Cheng Jinlan first avoided his eyes, then looked back at him, justified and proud. What, just because he proposed to her, she had to agree?
Cheng Liqi saw that Dad had put a ring on Mom's finger. She had been holding her breath, ready to cheer, but the atmosphere between Dad and Mom suddenly seemed a little stiff. She went to Mom and said, "Mom, let me see how the ring looks on your hand."
Both Shao Chengze and Cheng Jinlan took a step back, increasing the distance between them. The tense atmosphere also dissipated.
Cheng Liqi placed her fingers side by side with her mother's, "Mom, doesn't it look even more beautiful with the ring on?"
Cheng Jinlan stroked her cheek with the back of her hand, but did not say anything.
Cheng Liqi held her mother's hand and said in a very soft voice, looking as if she was speaking to her mother but actually to her father, "Mom, the ring is beautiful, but if Dad proposes to you, you shouldn't agree."
Cheng Jinlan and Shao Chengze looked at Cheng Liqi at the same time. Cheng Jinlan was a little surprised. Shao Chengze squatted down, looking into his daughter's eyes, and cautiously began to speak, "Little Liqi, why don't you want Mom to agree to marry Dad?"
Cheng Liqi said seriously to her dad, "Dad, how could you only propose once? I'm six now, and you've only just appeared, so Dad, you have to propose to Mom at least six times before she can agree. Right, Mom?"
Shao Chengze breathed a sigh of relief. Forget six times, even sixty times would be fine. As long as she and their daughter accepted him in the end, he knew he had rushed today.
Cheng Jinlan hooked her little finger with her daughter's, and they smiled at each other.
Cheng Liqi touched the ring on her mother's finger. "But Mom, you can accept the ring. Boyfriends and girlfriends have couple rings. The ring on me and Mom - " she thought for a moment, "Let's call it a princess ring, the big princess and the little princess's ring. Does this name sound good, Dad?"
Shao Chengze picked her up and stood up. "It's not just good, it's amazing," he held the hand of the woman beside him, "Our little princess is so smart, and our big—"
He didn't finish because someone covered his mouth. A faint blush appeared on Cheng Jinlan's face. Little princess was little princess, but she didn't want to hear him call her big princess.
The long corners of Shao Chengze's eyes leaked out a delighted laugh. His eyes looked at her, and his lips lightly touched her fingers and the ring on them. Cheng Jinlan's hand seemed to be scalded by fire and quickly jerked away. The smile in Shao Chengze's eyes deepened.
The waves suddenly grew bigger, rushing rapidly towards the shore. Cheng Liqi patted her dad's shoulder, laughing and shouting, "Dad, run quickly! The big sea is coming to eat us!"
"Dad will definitely not let the sea eat us up." Shao Chengze held his daughter in his arms, held her hand, and ran against the sea breeze with big strides.
Cheng Jinlan followed his footsteps and ran with big strides too. The shells on her wrist rustled noisily and her skirt hem brushed her calves, seeming to tickle her heart. She could hear her daughter's cheerful laughter and his breathing. The corners of her mouth slowly curled up. Shao Chengze turned his head to look at her, and she was looking at him too. The stars and moon in the sky fell into the sea, and the sea fell into her eyes.
She was smiling, he heard it.
Not far away, Fei Zuhui and Cheng Shanhe watched this scene. Fei Zuhui's eyes were a little wet. Cheng Shanhe sighed lightly and put his arm around his wife's waist. Some things were just fate.
Fei Zuhui said to Cheng Shanhe, "Seeing how happy he makes our granddaughter, don't be too hard on him. Go easy when you should. What could be more important than our daughter's happiness?"
Cheng Shanhe replied, "No, I still have to make things difficult when I should. You didn't see just now, he was just sitting there, less than five minutes, and three women approached him. He's more attractive than a butterfly. When I'm around, he behaves himself, but when I'm not, who knows how fickle he is."
Fei Zuhui glared at him. "You're no less attractive than him. Does that mean you're fickle too? Just a plane ride, and you were chatting someone up. Did you get her number too?"
Cheng Shanhe quickly grasped his wife's hand. "How did we get to talking about me again? I already explained it clearly to you. I didn't know anything. I just thought she was your friend. Meeting your friend, I had to exchange a few polite words. I didn't say more than three sentences to her."
In fact, Cheng Shanhe was wrongly accused in this matter. If his wife hadn't told him, he really wouldn't have known Ms. Liu's intentions. Fei Zuhui didn't know before either. She had always considered her a decent friend. One day when she was visiting, Fei Zuhui accidentally discovered her smelling Cheng Shanhe's clothes ecstatically. Fei Zuhui was disgusted. She confronted her immediately and kicked her out of the house. She didn't want to tell Cheng Shanhe about something so nasty, so she had kept it bottled up. The plane incident made her want to take it out on him. Who made him her husband?
Fei Zuhui viciously pinched the back of his hand. "If you run into her again next time, and you dare talk to her, don't even think about coming into my room again."
Cheng Shanhe swore, pointing to the sky, "I won't run into her again, because she's just air to me now. I won't even see her, how could I talk to her?"
Fei Zuhui kept a straight face, but couldn't help laughing. She quickly put the straight face back on. "You say he's slick, but you're no better. You're the big brother, and he's the second brother. How can you look down on him?"
Cheng Shanhe saw that his wife had laughed and was in the mood for joking too. "It can't be big brother and second brother. That's the wrong seniority."
"What's wrong with it? You don't recognize him as your son-in-law."
"Recognizing him or not is one thing, but seniority can't be wrong."
Fei Zuhui didn't want to indulge his stubbornness. "Let him come home for Liqi's birthday dinner."
Before Cheng Shanhe could say anything, Fei Zuhui cut him off. "I've decided. Don't you dare say no, or I'll lock the windows tonight too and make you crawl through again."
Cheng Shanhe stroked his nose. His wife had already decided, so what more could he say? Of course whatever his wife said goes.
Cheng Liqi saw her grandparents and excitedly waved at them.
"It looks like Grandpa has appeased Grandma." Cheng Liqi said to her mother, tilting her head.
The three of them moved away from the beach, slowing down from running to walking. Cheng Jinlan hadn't ran like this for a long time. Although she was panting, she felt an unexpected sense of exhilaration and lightness in her body. She saw her parents looking in their direction and wondered how long they had been watching. She wasn't afraid of being seen by her parents, she just felt a little embarrassed.
Cheng Jinlan struggled free from his hand. "Let go."
Shao Chengze didn't let go.
Cheng Jinlan looked at him and said again, "Let go."
Shao Chengze sensed the threat in her eyes and obediently let her hand go.
Cheng Liqi cupped her dad's face. "Big uncle said Grandpa rules the outside world but is henpecked at home. It looks like Dad will become henpecked like Grandpa in the future."
Cheng Jinlan: ...!
