"Stop crying, your crying is breaking grandpa's heart..." Old Mr. Zhang felt as if a knife was twisting in his chest.
Fortunately, each time that knife stabbed in, it seemed to cut away the rotten flesh in his chest cavity, bringing forth new tissue.
The wound that had not healed for years finally began to slowly close.
Sheng Yuxiao's chest was also filled with various emotions. He spoke hoarsely: "Let her cry. She couldn't cry before, she didn't dare to cry..."
Yes, that's right. Old Mr. Zhang recalled the contents of the reality show.
She almost never cried.
Even when Sheng Yuxiao was injured on the show, she only shed silent tears. Yet crying should be a child's nature...
Old Mr. Zhang immediately changed his tone. He carefully hugged Li Xiaoya, gently patting her back: "Go ahead and cry. You've suffered too much... It's been so hard, so hard to get to where we are today..."
As he spoke, Old Mr. Zhang felt tears welling up again.
Usually, doctors always advised him that grief and crying were harmful to his health, but at this moment he really couldn't care less.
Grandfather and granddaughter ended up crying together in each other's arms.
"Will... will the old gentleman's body really be able to handle this?" the Chief Inspector asked Qin Sui.
After all, Li Xiaoya's grandmother was only his stepmother, and their relationship wasn't particularly close. He could sympathize internally, but couldn't bring himself to cry along with them.
Beyond the shock, he was more worried about Old Mr. Zhang's health.
Qin Sui remained very calm, saying in a deep voice: "He'll be fine."
At this moment, an unfamiliar emotion echoed in his heart...
Was it empathy?
It seemed he was capable of empathy after all.
In the end, it was Li Xiaoya who stopped crying first. Her eyes were so swollen she could barely open them, looking even more disheveled than after her confrontation with Li Jiang.
She clutched Old Mr. Zhang's sleeve, hiccupping: "V-voice gone, not crying anymore."
Old Mr. Zhang's voice had gone hoarse from crying.
He lovingly stroked Li Xiaoya's head and said: "Alright, alright, no more crying. We'll do as you say."
Li Xiaoya got up from the floor, still clutching her notebook.
She said: "Need to wash face."
The Chief Inspector quickly called for the Filipino maid to bring water.
When the water was brought over, Sheng Yuxiao instinctively reached for a handkerchief, but then forcibly restrained himself.
Old Mr. Zhang took the handkerchief. Being elderly, his hands inevitably trembled a bit, but he still said: "Grandpa will wipe your face, grandpa will do it."
However, given his advanced age, the task of applying a cold compress had to be left to the younger folks.
Sheng Yuxiao applied the compress to Xiaoya's left eye, while Qin Sui took care of her right eye.
The Chief Inspector watched, slightly dazed.
This scene was quite... unique.
"Are you feeling better, Xiaoya?" Old Mr. Zhang asked with concern.
Li Xiaoya nodded slightly, then her stomach let out a gurgling sound.
"Hungry?" Old Mr. Zhang glanced at the clock on the wall. "No wonder I'm feeling dizzy too. It's already past one in the afternoon, we've been caught up in this until now without realizing..."
The Chief Inspector hurriedly said: "It's my oversight, I forgot to remind everyone! It's too late to cook now, let's go out to eat..."
Old Mr. Zhang was silent for a moment, then said: "Let's go to the Golden Osmanthus Hotel."
The food there might not be very good... The Chief Inspector swallowed the words that had come to the tip of his tongue.
After all, they were probably going there to eat memories.
The Golden Osmanthus Hotel hadn't expected to receive such distinguished guests again so soon.
"Chief Inspector, why..." The manager came forward to greet them, only then noticing the familiar face of Li Xiaoya behind them.
"Just having a casual meal with relatives," the Chief Inspector said concisely.
Even a few hours ago, he wouldn't have said it like that.
Who could have imagined?
Suddenly, a strange little girl had become his stepmother's granddaughter, and nominally, also his "niece."
And Old Mr. Zhang had transformed into the little girl's grandfather...
What a messy yet legitimate family relationship this was!
"Certainly, please, this way!" The manager led them into the Chinese restaurant.
As they walked, Old Mr. Zhang also felt quite emotional: "So this is the place Xinian visited..."
The manager listened, completely bewildered.
Who?
Old Mr. Zhang suddenly asked: "Is your business here struggling? With profits declining year by year, will it be difficult to keep going?"
The manager's face showed surprise, and he quickly said: "Not at all! Our business here is doing very well. We provide bilingual service, have hired Michelin-starred chefs, and we're even considered one of Jiang City's calling cards!"
"Why not tell the truth? Even local Jiang City residents hardly come here anymore. If it's in decline, just admit it," the Chief Inspector frowned.
The manager thought to himself, you don't understand economics, how could you know these things? If this news gets out, even fewer people will come! Investors would also shy away!
People only want to add flowers to brocade, who would send you charcoal in snowy weather? Only a fool would expose their true business situation...
Old Mr. Zhang paid no attention to their conversation. He looked around and said: "It is quite old..."
"But after all, this is a place where Xinian and your mother left shared memories. If it were to collapse and be sold to others, completely changing into something else, wouldn't that be a shame?"
This was directed at Li Xiaoya.
Li Xiaoya nodded in deep agreement.
Old Mr. Zhang said: "I still have some savings..."
He looked at the manager: "Notify your boss to come over. Let's talk about investment."
Some savings... that doesn't sound like much!
The manager thought to himself, does this old gentleman really know what kind of enormous sum it would take to invest in a hotel like this and bring it back from the brink of death?
Seeing the manager's hesitation, the Chief Inspector frowned slightly.
But Sheng Yuxiao spoke up first: "Hurry up and go make the call."
The manager looked at Sheng Yuxiao's attire, then at Qin Sui's outfit.
Then he considered the young master's tone of voice...
"Just for your sake, I'll make the call. Please wait a moment," the manager gave a smile to the Chief Inspector.
The Chief Inspector didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "He thinks we don't have money."
Li Xiaoya said: "I have money."
The Chief Inspector didn't take her words to heart.
But Old Mr. Zhang still remembered the cash Li Xiaoya had carried in a bag. Her grandfather's family must be quite wealthy...
In fact... Old Mr. Zhang had already vaguely guessed the identity of his in-law.
The dishes were quickly served.
Now everyone at the table appeared even busier.
Sheng Yuxiao, Qin Sui, and Old Mr. Zhang were all putting food on Li Xiaoya's plate.
The Chief Inspector thought to himself that he shouldn't be left out, so he joined in as well.
"I won't be able to finish it all," Li Xiaoya said worriedly, looking at them.
"It's alright, grandpa will help you finish what's left," Old Mr. Zhang said jubilantly.
As if the leftovers were some kind of delicacy.
Fortunately, at this moment, the manager arrived with their boss.
When the boss received the call, he had just woken up from drinking. He hurriedly took a cold shower, sprayed some breath freshener, and rushed over.
"I heard you want to invest?" He looked at the Chief Inspector.
"Not me, I can't afford that kind of money," the Chief Inspector shook his head.
Old Mr. Zhang began to speak: "It's..."
Before he could finish, Li Xiaoya jumped in: "It's me."
The newcomer's expression froze.
Huh?
Were they joking with him?
