Chapter 66

Cheng LiQi held a fresh red rose in one hand, and pulled Shen ChuQi along with the other hand, running fast towards her dad. These past few days, her mom went on a business trip, so every day her dad came to pick her up from school.

"Dad, look! Isn't this rose so beautiful?" Cheng LiQi ran into her dad's arms, and held up the rose in her hand for her dad to see, "Shen ChuQi gave this to me, he made it himself, he's so awesome, he made it look exactly like a real one, no, even better than a real one."

Shen ChuQi stood to the side, scratching his head, smiling shyly. He wasn't that awesome, he had followed a video tutorial to make it, and it took him seven tries before he folded one that looked decent enough. He didn't know if she would like it, so he held onto it until school was over before giving it to her. He didn't expect her to like it so much, he's going to go home and fold some more tonight, so he can give them to her tomorrow at lunch.

Shao ChengZe looked at the rose in little LiQi's hand, to be fair, it was pretty impressive for a little kid to be able to fold it to this level. The only problem was, this wasn't folded to give to just any kid, but to give to his daughter specifically. But seeing how happy his daughter was, he could only reluctantly agree with her, "It does look really beautiful."

Cheng LiQi smiled brightly, "Dad, Shen ChuQi said he's inviting me over to his house for dinner tomorrow night, I'm going to bring this rose with me when I go."

Shen ChuQi also smiled brightly at Shao ChengZe, "Uncle, tomorrow is Qixi Festival, I wanted to have dinner with little LiQi, my mom has grape vines at home, we're going to sit under the vines to see if the Cowherd and Weaver Girl are whispering to each other."

...Shao ChengZe wanted to twist Li PeiFeng's neck, who was standing next to him. Li PeiFeng looked up at the sky. He couldn't offend the uncle-in-law, but he also couldn't let his son be unhappy. He had no other choice but to look at the sky. It wasn't easy being the man in the middle.

But he could call Shen Xi Wen tonight to discuss their son's growth and development issues, and also discuss in passing whether you could actually hear the Cowherd and Weaver Girl whispering under the grape vines on Qixi festival. Although he already knew when they got to this part of the conversation, she would definitely hang up on him. But people must keep trying no matter how many setbacks, persevering tirelessly, and daring to explore.

Shao ChengZe really wanted to twist Li PeiFeng's neck, looking up at the sky.

Cheng LiQi hugged her dad's neck, "Dad, let's go home, I want to show Grandma this rose."

Shao ChengZe forced out a smile, "Okay, let's go home."

Officially Shao ChengZe was still living at the Pine Court apartments. The house next door was being renovated, and was nearing completion. He would occasionally spend the night at the Cheng's, not often, about once a week, hmm...this was according to Cheng LiQi's account. Other than Saturdays, her dad would tuck her into bed with a story every night before leaving.

He did leave, the question was where did he go after. The lights at the Pine Court apartment were on only about once a week, and the backyard was now connected through the renovated house, so he didn't need to climb over walls or crawl through tunnels, he could freely go back and forth every night.

Although they were now open about their relationship, sometimes sneaking around still had its benefits. When he stayed over openly, little LiQi was still at the stage of finding it novel and exciting to have dad stay home, insisting on sleeping with both mom and dad, one hand holding mom's arm, the other holding dad's, sleeping soundly through the night.

When Shao ChengZe tried to pull his arm back, she would wake up. Cheng Jinlan told him not to try anything funny, when their daughter held something while sleeping, she wouldn't let go all night. Shao ChengZe wanted to say he wasn't trying anything funny, just that, if he said it out loud, not only would she not believe him, even he wouldn't believe himself. To prove he wasn't up to anything funny, he would be extra well-behaved that night, of course only limited to that night.

Cheng Jinlan had been away on her business trip for almost a week now. Her flight would be landing tonight. The week she was gone, after dropping little LiQi off, Shao ChengZe would stay and have dinner here. Of course Cheng Shanhe wasn't thrilled to have him staying for dinner, but whether guests stayed for dinner was up to Fei Zuhui to decide. No matter how unhappy Cheng Shanhe was, he couldn't openly oppose his wife.

When Cheng Shanhe came home, hearing voices from the kitchen, his brow furrowed. How could he be so free, to come over everyday to cook? But seeing his granddaughter, his brows immediately relaxed.

Cheng LiQi was also very happy to see her grandpa. She held up the rose in her hand for grandpa to see, "Grandpa, look, this is the rose Shen ChuQi folded for me, isn't it pretty?"

Cheng Shanhe's brows furrowed imperceptibly this time. He picked up his granddaughter, "Grandpa can fold an even prettier one than this."

Cheng LiQi happily hugged her grandpa's neck, "Grandpa you're so awesome, can you teach me how to fold them? I was going to video call Shen ChuQi to have him teach me, I want to fold them for mom, grandma, Aunt Qu, and granny, one for each of them. Tomorrow is Qixi festival, I want to give them roses."

...Of course Cheng Shanhe didn't know how to fold roses, he just said it without thinking. He didn't want his granddaughter to be fooled by a paper rose. But he didn't expect to be calling his own bluff.

It just so happened that Cheng Jinchuan walked in at that moment. Cheng Shanhe passed the hot potato to his son, "Little LiQi, your big uncle also knows how to fold them, why don't you let him teach you?"

Cheng Jinchuan had just gotten home and hadn't even caught his breath before his own dad shoved this problem at him. He had no idea how to fold anything, and by the time he realized it was about folding roses, he really wanted to say, we're rich, whatever kind of roses you want, I can get them for you immediately, gold, crystal, anything you want, big uncle can have them delivered right away. Why do you want an origami rose, big uncle doesn't know how to fold that.

Cheng Jinchuan also didn't want to lose face in front of his niece. He ruffled her little braids, "Little LiQi, big uncle has something to discuss with grandpa, why don't you let your dad teach you?"

Cheng LiQi thought about it, that's right, her dad was so awesome, he could even cook delicious meals, what couldn't he do? "Big uncle, go talk to grandpa, I'll go find dad to teach me."

The truth was, Shao ChengZe could be a good CEO, a good cook, but couldn't fold a rose to save his life.

Seeing his daughter's bright eyes, Shao ChengZe couldn't come up with a good excuse on the spot.

Fei Zuhui came downstairs at that moment, and said to Shao ChengZe, "Your uncle-in-law wants you upstairs, he has some work matters to discuss with you."

Mother-in-law's eyes held a hint of laughter. Shao ChengZe realized mother-in-law was helping him out. He thanked mother-in-law first, then told little LiQi that after discussing work with grandpa, he would come teach her how to fold roses.

Cheng LiQi caressed her dad's face, everyone was so busy today, being an adult must be so tiring, still having to work after getting home. "Okay dad, go talk to grandpa first, I'll wait for you." This was the first time Shao ChengZe felt a little guilty in front of his daughter. When he knocked on the study door and saw the scene inside, he finally understood why mother-in-law had that smile. Father-in-law and big uncle were watching a tutorial video projected on the screen, learning how to fold roses.

Seeing him come in, Cheng Shanhe and Cheng Jinchuan knew he was another one who didn't know how to fold roses. They wanted to say something but held back. Oh well, why make things difficult between men.

Finally, the two men squeezed together in the study, seriously watching the tutorial video to learn how to fold roses.

When Cheng Shanhe and Cheng Jinchuan heard from Shao ChengZe that Shen ChuQi invited little LiQi over for dinner at his house tomorrow, they stopped folding the roses. Aside from going over for dinner on any other day being unacceptable already, absolutely not tomorrow. Do they even know what day tomorrow is, it's Valentine's Day, no drinking or eating allowed at another boy's house.

For the first time the two men reached a consensus on something. They must stop little LiQi and Shen ChuQi from having dinner together tomorrow, but it had to be done without little LiQi realizing anything or being upset. And the question of who was to take on this task, well, who else could it be, as the father you're not stepping up at this critical time, going out of your way to play the bad guy? Unless Cheng Shanhe and Cheng Jinchuan wanted to remain the best, most open-minded grandfather and uncle in little LiQi's eyes forever.

The burden on Shao ChengZe's shoulders was heavy. Father-in-law and big uncle told him his mission was only allowed success, failure was not an option.

After dinner, Shao ChengZe gently taught his daughter how to fold roses while tactfully telling her that they should cancel their dinner plans at Shen ChuQi's house tomorrow night. Instead, he suggested taking her and her mom to her favorite restaurant tomorrow for a special dinner. They could invite Shen ChuQi over for dinner the day after tomorrow.

Cheng LiQi replied, "Dad, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. You and mom should go out to celebrate the holiday. I can't tag along. Just take mom out on a date and don't worry about me. Aunt Shen will keep me company along with Shen ChuQi."

Shao ChengZe couldn't help but worry. He compromised and asked, "How about we invite Shen ChuQi over to our house for dinner tomorrow night instead?"

"But we don't have a grape vine tree. We're supposed to listen to the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl under the grapevine tree."

...The grapevine tree was key. They didn't have one now but could get one tomorrow.

"What do you mean we don't have a grapevine tree? I've been wanting to plant one in our yard for a while now. I already asked the gardener to come first thing tomorrow morning to plant a big grapevine tree. Aunt Shen will probably go on a date with Uncle Li tomorrow night, so she won't be able to keep you two company. You can invite Shen ChuQi over, listen to the Cowherd and Weaver Girl's whispers under the grapevine tree while having dinner, and your mom and I can have a date night dinner at the restaurant. Doesn't this sound even better?"

Cheng LiQi tilted her head and pondered. It did seem better. "Dad, will we really have a grapevine tree in our yard tomorrow?"

Shao ChengZe assured her, "Definitely."

Getting a grapevine tree was no big deal. After putting his daughter to bed, Shao ChengZe planned out where to plant the tree and asked the gardener to come first thing in the morning to plant a big one. He then headed to the airport, bringing along the paper roses folded by his daughter and one he folded himself.

Despite the late hour, the airport was still bustling with people. Just standing there was enough for Shao ChengZe to draw attention, not to mention the two paper roses he held. Whispers circulated that diamonds must be hidden in those paper roses. Others readily agreed, convinced that a man of such elegance must have tucked in some diamonds.

Not far away stood a nouveau-riche man holding 99 roses, also waiting to pick up his girlfriend. Scoffing at Shao ChengZe, he thought to himself: Just a good-looking gigolo without money, pretending with two paper roses. Imagining they have hidden diamonds? Ridiculous. Let's see if his girlfriend will be happy when she sees these shabby paper roses.

Oblivious to the gossip around him, Shao ChengZe concentrated on replying to messages. She had landed and he texted that he was waiting for her at the exit.

The moment Cheng Jinlan emerged, she spotted him. Taking his outstretched hand, she asked, "Have you been waiting long?"

Her flight was delayed over 30 minutes.

"I have been waiting a long time, since the day you left," Shao ChengZe replied, handing her the roses and taking her bag.

Cheng Jinlan gave him a sidelong glance. His mouth was always so slick. Looking at the roses, she asked, "You folded these?"

"One is folded by me, one is by our little LiQi."

"I guess the ugly one on the left is yours."

She was right. He really couldn't argue against that. His was markedly inferior compared to their daughter's.

As the couple walked away, the whispers grew louder behind them. "There must be diamonds hidden in those paper roses. Otherwise, why would that pretty lady be smiling so sweetly?"

The nouveau-riche man looked at the 99 roses in his hands, wondering if paper roses could be more endearing than real ones. He pulled out his phone to look up origami rose folding tutorials. But even if he managed to learn quickly, he couldn't procure paper on such short notice.

Behind them, Tang Yicheng maintained a poker face, walking steadily, though grinning inside. The partnership between the Cheng and Shao clans had just been officially announced. He was collaborating with Shao's assistant on wedding planning. His boss's happiness was directly tied to his own. The more blissful his boss was, the more leisurely his own future would be.

By the time the couple reached home, it was almost midnight. Too late to visit Cheng LiQi at her grandma's place, Cheng Jinlan just left a message that she had arrived home safely.

Shao ChengZe asked her, "Hungry? Want something to eat?"

She hadn't eaten since boarding her evening flight and had been up all night. She must be starving.

But Cheng Jinlan shook her head. "I'm full. I ate too much at lunch and my stomach's still bloated."

Shao ChengZe pulled her into his embrace. "Thank you," he said.

"What for?"

"Accompanying my mother for lunch and shopping. She said she spent 20 years raising a son, and it's only after I met you that she feels her efforts were worthwhile - having such a thoughtful daughter-in-law who's even more attentive than her own son." During her business trip to Cheng Jinlan had purposely set aside a day to visit his mother, having lunch and spending half a day shopping together.

Shao ChengZe had suggested a few times that his mother move out of her rural hometown to live with him, worried about her living alone. But she wasn't ready yet. Retired, she had opened a flower shop, enjoying a busy, fulfilling lifestyle surrounded by old lady friends. She had her own life just as her son had his. "No need to thank me. I enjoy your mother's company, nothing to do with you," Cheng Jinlan murmured, resting her chin on his shoulder. Out and about she seemed fine, but once home, she was utterly spent, leaning limply against him. "Carry me to the bathroom, I can't move."

Shao ChengZe's breathing instantly grew ragged. Sweeping her up, he leaned down to her ear, voice darkly husky. "Too tired? Want me to help wash you?"

Eyes closed, Cheng Jinlan clung to him, just to keep from sliding down. Her hand found his face, softly tracing his long lashes, proud nose, and thin lips, fingers gently caressing the corners. In a breathy whimper she managed, "If... if you want..."

Shao ChengZe's eyes darkened with desire, Adam's apple bobbing. Did he want to?

Warm water cascaded down. Where it flowed, so did his hands. Cheng Jinlan leaned back against the marble wall for support but her legs were jelly. She could only cling fiercely to him so as not to slip down.

Shao ChengZe nibbled her ear, asking hoarsely, "Did you miss me?"

Her throat choked with sobs she couldn't restrain. Tears blended with the water trickling down her cheeks. Gasping deeply, trying futilely to ease the unbearable throbbing, she lifted her misty, bewildered eyes to meet his. "Did you... miss me?"

"Terribly. Even dreamed of you," Shao ChengZe rasped, devouring her lips, urgent and forceful. "And you? Did you miss me?"

She mumbled incoherently, "A little..."

"Just a little?"

"Just a little..." Though desperately uncomfortable, she couldn't bring herself to say it, only clutch his hair, giving a slight tug. "Not enough?"

Shao ChengZe enfolded her lips, chuckling low. "More than enough."

Beyond whimpers and moans, Cheng Jinlan could utter not another word.

The next day, the sun was already high when Cheng Jinlan awoke. Cheng LiQi lay on the bed folding roses. Seeing her mother awake, she crawled over, clinging to her. "Mama, you're up!"

Cheng Jinlan moved her sore waist and gathered her into her arms. "Did my LiQi miss Mama?"

Cheng LiQi nuzzled against her neck. "So much! All the time, even dreamed of you! Did Mama miss me too?"

Cheng Jinlan smothered her chubby cheeks in kisses. "Mama missed her darling girl so much! Thought of you every day, even dreamed of you."

Leaning in the doorway, Shao ChengZe watched mother and daughter on the bed, smiling tenderly, eyes gentle. He shouldn't be jealous of his own daughter getting some affection.

That afternoon, Cheng Shanhe took Fei Zuhui out on a date, leaving Cheng LiQi in the yard watching the gardener set up supports for the grapevine tree, handing him pliers and occasionally bringing water.

Shen ChuQi arrived early in the morning. He didn't ring the doorbell, but stood at the door calling Cheng LiQi's name. As soon as Cheng LiQi heard Shen ChuQi's voice, she ran over to open the door. She was eager to show Shen ChuQi the new grape vine her family had planted.

When Shao ChengZe heard the noise, he came out from inside the house. Seeing the two children running hand-in-hand, his brow furrowed. He didn't dislike Shen ChuQi, he just disliked Li PeiFeng who was behind him.

Li PeiFeng pretended not to see the impatience in his brother-in-law's eyes. He smiled and greeted Shao ChengZe, saying he would come to pick up Shen ChuQi at nine o'clock. He hoped Shen ChuQi could stay here a bit longer. Shen XiWen's studio had just opened recently. She had started her own fashion brand, and there were all kinds of messy things to deal with. He couldn't get a date with her, so tonight he would bring food and drinks over to her house to deliver a caring meal. With his son not around, even if he got kicked out, there was nothing embarrassing about it. Li PeiFeng left breezily. Shen ChuQi and Cheng LiQi played happily in the yard. Only Shao ChengZe couldn't relax his furrowed brows. Every few minutes he would come out of the kitchen and stand by the window to take a look.

Seeing him worrying like an old father, Cheng Jinlan found it a bit amusing. "Just go make your food. The two kids are playing fine."

Shao ChengZe's brows furrowed even deeper. It was precisely because they were playing so well that he felt more annoyed.

Cheng Jinlan walked over to his side and looked out into the yard. "I think it would be great if our LiQi ends up with ChuQi as our son-in-law in the future. Childhood friends who grew up playing together, knowing each other inside and out - there really couldn't be a better son-in-law candidate."

Shao ChengZe turned to look at her. "You think childhood friends are good?"

Cheng Jinlan nodded. "You don't think so?"

No, not good at all. She wasn't his childhood friend, so what was good about it? Shao ChengZe half hugged and half pulled her into the kitchen. He didn't let her go until he kissed her and made her change her mouth to say childhood friends were no good at all, and that she didn't like his childhood friend either.

He didn't like childhood friends. Her childhood friend, he didn't like. Their daughter's childhood friend, he also didn't like.

At dinnertime, Cheng Jinlan set up a small table for the two children under the grape trellis. She even put a candle stand on the table and lit the candles, creating a very romantic candlelight dinner atmosphere.

Shao ChengZe wanted to set up another table next to the small one, but Cheng LiQi didn't allow it. "Dad, today is your and mom's anniversary. You should accompany mom well. You two go eat inside."

How could Shao ChengZe eat? He kept coming out to take a peek. When he saw the two children whispering with their heads together, he couldn't stand watching anymore. Carrying a chair over, he sat right between the two children. "LiQi, dad will just eat with you."

Cheng LiQi blinked, looking at her mom then her dad. "But dad, when you and mom were dating, grandpa didn't sit with you either."

Shao ChengZe: ......

Cheng Jinlan couldn't help bursting into laughter. She thought her daughter made a lot of sense.