Night.
9 pm.
Dong Xuebing and the rest left for Qian Lihua’s house from the hospital. Her neighborhood is quiet as most people had returned home.
Liu Chenlong asked Yu Meixia about her life after they entered the house.
Qian Lihua hugs Yu Qianqian on the sofa, and she keeps kissing her. She likes her granddaughter a lot.
Yu Qianqian felt uneasy and is blushing. But Qian Lihua is hugging her tightly.
The family had been reunited, and Dong Xuebing became an outsider. He looks at them, chatting warmly, and they have forgotten about him. He smiled and went to the kitchen. He got a cup and fetched a cup of water before standing by the kitchen windows to smoke. He is happy for them and wants to let them chat.
“Dandan, are you thirsty?”
“No. I am not.”
“This will be your home in the future. Oh, are you used to us calling you Dandan?”
“A little, but it’s fine.”
“You are grown up now. Your mother and I will call you Meixia from now on.”
“Ok.”
“I had forgotten to ask you about your husband.”
“He passed away.”
“What happened? Did he fall sick or what?”
Yu Meixia told them about her life, including her husband, Qianiqan, and how Dong Xuebing helped them. Qian Lihua and Liu Chenlong were heartbroken after hearing her story. Their daughter had endured all sorts of hardships since they were separated. They sighed and told her how hard they searched for her and why they divorced.
Half an hour later.
The family is still chatting.
“Oh, where’s Xiao Dong?” Liu Chenlong suddenly remembers Dong Xuebing. He looks around. “Xiao Dong…. Xiao Dong….”
Qian Lihua slaps her lap lightly. “Ah, I was so happy that I had forgotten to get a drink for Xiao Dong. Xiao Dong!”
“I’m here.” Dong Xuebing heard them and threw his cigarette butt out of the window before walking out. He thought to himself. You all finally remember about me.
Qian Lihua stood up and apologized. “Sorry, Xiao Dong. I had forgotten about you.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “It’s alright. I was smoking in the kitchen.”
Liu Chenlong went over and patted Dong Xuebing’s shoulders. He pulled him to a chair. “Sit. I will make tea for you.”
“Uncle Liu, I can make it myself.”
“We get to meet Meixia again because of you.” Liu Chenlong squeezed Dong Xuebing’s arm. “If you had not helped Meixia and Qianqian when they are begging on the streets, we might not know what will happen to them. Meixia had told us you gave her a job and helped Qianqian return to school. You had been taking care of them the past two years.”
Qian Lihua added. “If you had not saved me today, I would have been killed by that car and will not get to see my daughter and granddaughter again. Xiao Dong, thank you very much.”
“That’s right.” Liu Chenlong patted Dong Xuebing’s shoulder. “No words can describe how grateful we are.”
Dong Xuebing smiles. “I had not done much. It all happened coincidently. Maybe it’s fated for me to meet them and help your family reunite. My mission is completed. Hahaha….”
Qian Lihua suddenly says. “Oh, my daughter had borrowed money from you.” She took out her wallet and took out a bank card. “There’s 200,000 inside. The pin is…….”
Liu Chenlong stopped his ex-wife immediately. “I will return the money. Stay out of this.”
Qian Lihua pushed her ex-husband’s hand away. “Let me pay for it. You are earning so little.”
Liu Chenlong and Qian Lihua’s positions are about the same. A few decades ago, they would be holding the same rank and getting the same salary under the government. Their ranks might be the same now, but their salaries are different. The head of the City’s ICBC is earning a lot more than the City’s Power Company’s General Manager.
Liu Chenlong is unhappy, and he frowns. “This is not about how much we earn. She is my daughter.”
“She is also my daughter.” Qian Lihua rolled her eyes. “Can you stop fighting with me in front of our daughter?”
“I don’t want to argue with you. I will return this sum of money.”
“Liu Chenlong, are you done?!”
“What do you mean?!”
All couples will fight, let alone a divorced couple. Both of them started quarreling over a small disagreement.
Dong Xuebing smiled helplessly as he could not stop them.
Yu Meixia panicked and wanted to stop her parent’s argument. But she doesn’t know what to say. After all, they had only met for around one hour.
It was Yu Qianqian who managed to stop them. She saw her grandparents arguing, and her tears started flowing. “You all…. Stop fighting….”
Liu Chenlong saw her precious granddaughter crying and quickly consoled her. “Don’t cry, Qianqian. I will stop arguing with your grandmother now.”
Qian Lihua went over and hugged Qianqian. She kissed her forehead. “Don’t cry, my precious baby. We are only joking and not fighting.”
Liu Chenlong laughed. “That’s right. We are only joking.”
Yu Qianqian sniffled and nodded.
Qian Lihua pinched Yu Qianqian’s nose lightly. “You are the same as your mother when she is young. She will start crying whenever your grandfather argues with me. Haha….”
Liu Chenlong recalled those times and smiled.
Yu Meixia blushed and felt embarrassed.
“Ok, you will return the money.” Liu Chenlong looks at his ex-wife.
Qian Lihua glanced at Liu Chenlong and nodded. She pushed the bank card to Dong Xuebing. “Xiao Dong, keep this card. If you find it troublesome, tell me your account number, and I will transfer the money tomorrow.”
Dong Xuebing did not accept it. “Aunt Qian, let’s not talk about this.”
“Just take it.” Qian Lihua pushed the card into Dong Xuebing’s hand.
“I helped Sister Yu is because I treated her as a friend. I was there when she had difficulties, and I had to help her. I had never wanted her to return the money. Furthermore, you should know I don’t need this sum of money. Please keep it.”
Qian Lihua knew Dong Xuebing was wealthy as he had driven her back in his Cayenne. “This is not about how wealthy you are. We must return this sum of money to you.”
“You don’t need to return it.”
Qian Lihua refused. “You got to take it.”
“That’s right. Xiao Dong, you must accept it.” Liu Chenlong added.
Dong Xuebing simply refused to accept it, but Qian Lihua and Liu Chenlong insisted.
In the end, Yu Meixia said something to stop them. “Mum, Dad, I will work and repay Xiao Bing slowly in the future. I cannot use your money.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “See…. Sister Yu says she will return the money slowly in the future.”
Qian Lihua and Liu Chenlong finally stopped insisting.
Suddenly, Yu Qianqian yawned and rubbed her eyes. “Mum, I’m sleepy.”
Qian Lihua immediately says. “You all had rushed over from Yan Tai County and must be tired. Let’s go to bed, and we will continue chatting tomorrow.”
Yu Meixia asked. “Then we….”
“Just stay at my place.” Qian Lihua smiles and holds Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian’s hands towards the bedroom. “Let’s tidy up the room. I want to hug you to sleep tonight. Hmmm…. I had forgotten you are no longer five years old. The bed is not big enough. Hahaha…. Alright. You and Qianqian will sleep in the guest room. I will not join you all.”
Yu Meixia paused for a second and looked at Dong Xuebing. “Xiao Bing, we are going to stay here tonight.” She relies on Dong Xuebing a lot and will seek his opinions for everything.
Dong Xuebing is speechless. Damn! Why are you asking me this now? Your parents are beside you, and they might get the wrong idea. He immediately explains to Liu Chenlong and Qian Lihua. “I had booked a hotel for Sister Yu tonight as I was afraid they don’t have a place to stay. I will cancel the booking.” This tells them the reason why Yu Meixia is asking his opinion.
Liu Chenlong nodded. “How can she stay at the hotel when they are home?”
Qian Lihua agreed. “Meixia, I will accompany you back to Yan Tai County tomorrow to get your belongings. Both of you will live with me in the future.”
Yu Meixia nodded.
Liu Chenlong suddenly remembers something. “Lihua…. What about me?”
Qian Lihua glanced at him and did not reply.
The apartment only has two rooms. Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian will be staying in one room, and Qian Lihua will be staying in the other room. There’s no more room for Liu Chenlong. Her sofa in the living is also not suitable for sleeping. Liu Chenlong sighed when he saw his ex-wife not replying. “Alright…. Go to bed. I will come back tomorrow morning.” He doesn’t want to leave as he finally finds his long-lost daughter. But he got no choice as they had been divorced for many years.
Dong Xuebing blinked. “I will be going off too. Uncle Liu, I will walk you down.”
Liu Chenlong nodded and looked at Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian before reluctantly walking towards the door. “Let’s go.”
Qian Lihua, who was giving Qianqian a new toothbrush in the bathroom, looks out and says. “I will not stop you if you want to go back.”
“Huh?” Liu Chenlong stopped. “Are you allowing me to stay?”
Qian Lihua replied without looking at him. “You better be prepared. If you still snore like how you did in the past, I will kick you off the bed.”
Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian laughed.
Liu Chenlong is overjoyed, and he quickly walks back into the apartment.
Dong Xuebing is also happy for them.
