Chapter 196.1
Editor: Jodi
Cheng Xiao was taking a nap.
He’d been waiting all morning for Lin An Lan and Cheng Yu to arrive, but in the end, he was getting up there in years, so after a while, he drifted off waiting and went back to his room to rest.
Holding Cheng Lin in his arms, Cheng Feng whispered to him, “Great-grandpa’s sleeping right now, so why don’t we wait until he wakes up, hmm?”
Cheng Lin nodded obediently.
Cheng Yu walked up to Cheng Feng with Lin Cheng beside him and introduced, “This is Xiao Qi, he’s Lin Lin’s big brother.”
Cheng Feng smiled at the slightly shy child in front of him, a gentle look in his eyes. “Xiao Qi, you’ve grown so much, haven’t you? Come, Grandpa has a gift for you.”
Then he picked up a box from the table, pulled Lin Cheng over, and opened it, revealing a silver bracelet that was engraved with a qilin.
“Your little brother has one of these too, so it’s only right for you to have one as well, since you’re the big brother.”
He helped him put it on, and Lin Cheng looked down at it while Cheng Lin held his left hand up, “I have one just like it!”
“That’s right. One for each of you.” Cheng Feng chuckled.
Cheng Lin giggled happily.
While Lin Cheng glanced up at Cheng Feng with a soft, warm, “Thank you, Grandpa.”
“You’re welcome.” Cheng Feng gave him a gentle pat on the head.
And watching them, Cheng Yu couldn’t help but think back to when he was a child. Before he’d grown up enough to realize that Cheng Feng had other women out there, he used to look up at his father with the same innocent gaze, his heart full of trust. And Cheng Feng would ruffle his hair, smiling just like this, like any father with warmth and affection.
But all this shattered into pieces bit by bit as he grew older.
Cheng Yu sighed in his heart, feeling little need to dwell on past grievances. After so many years, Cheng Feng had worked hard to make amends. Back before he’d become a father himself, he hadn’t felt like they needed any kind of reconciliation. After all, there were so many fathers and sons in the world, and not all of them had to be a picture of harmony and devotion, right?
But then, after he had Cheng Lin, he’d look down at his own son, and somehow, found himself starting to understand, just a little, what Cheng Feng might have felt.
He was Cheng Feng’s only child, so when his father came back around after all those years of indulging in life’s fleeting thrills, wanting to rekindle the family bond, Cheng Yu was the only one there, the only choice left.
The people Cheng Feng cared about most in this world, apart from himself, were really just Cheng Xiao, who had raised him, and Cheng Yu, whom he had raised.
Cheng Yu knew this very well, what’s more he was doing fine now, really fine. He was happy, and so he’d chosen to let go of the past and make peace with Cheng Feng.
He was very content with his current life, and he had enough joy in his life that he could afford to let go, to open up, to offer forgiveness to someone who had once hurt him.
And although they weren’t the kind of father and son who could be called a classic example of devotion and filial piety, they had at least managed to reach a point where they could meet up every now and then, far more often than those once-a-year holidays he used to stick to. Compared to his younger days, it was a huge step forward.
Meanwhile, Cheng Lin was chattering away to Cheng Feng, introducing his big brother proudly, while Lin Cheng, looking a bit embarrassed, whispered quietly, “It’s not really like that, I only know a few things, not that much, really.”
“You do know a lot! You know way more than I do!” Cheng Lin piped up in his soft, childish voice.
Cheng Feng chuckled, watching them with a smile. “Xiao Qi, you’re amazing. Xiao Lin, you should learn from your big brother.”
“Mhm.” Cheng Lin responded with a smile.
They kept chatting for a while, while Cheng Xiao woke up from his nap slowly.
And the moment Cheng Lin saw him, he pounced on him eagerly, calling out sweetly, “Great-grandpa!”
Cheng Xiao reached down to stroke his little face. “So this is why the house is so lively today. It’s because my little qilin has come to visit, hmm?”
Cheng Lin tilted his head up, looking at him, “And my big brother and daddy, we’re all here! You haven’t met my big brother yet, right? He’s amazing!”
He pulled Cheng Xiao over to Lin Cheng, almost like he was showing off a treasured gift.
Lin Cheng greeted him politely, “Hello, Great-grandpa.”
Cheng Xiao nodded, “Lin Cheng?”
Lin Cheng nodded.
Cheng Xiao hadn’t expected the boy’s name to really be that, so he turned back to look at Lin An Lan and Cheng Yu. “You two seriously just went with that? So simple?”
Cheng Yu held his head up, “Why not? That’s exactly how I got my name, right?”
“If you’d had a younger sibling, they definitely wouldn’t have been named ‘Yu Cheng’.” Cheng Xiao said with a sigh. “I named you that so people would know you’re different from the other Cheng children, and that in your generation, all the family’s hopes have been placed on you.”
“Mm, I feel the same way.” Cheng Yu replied smoothly. “I just want these two to know that in this generation, all my hopes are on them too.”
Cheng Xiao shook his head, unconvinced. “Oh, is that really what you mean? To me, it just looks like you want everyone to see at a glance that these two are your and An An’s kids.”
“So what if I do?”
“Childish.” Cheng Xiao muttered, then looked at Lin An Lan with a hint of resignation. “And you’re just going along with him.”
Lin An Lan laughed lightly, “It’s not so bad. I kind of like the idea that people will know right away that these are my and little flower’s children.”
Cheng Xiao: …..
Letting out a sigh, he sat down on the sofa.
Then he pulled out a red envelope, slipping it into Lin Cheng’s pocket. “Here’s a little meeting gift for you.”
Lin Cheng looked to Lin An Lan, and only when he saw him nod, did he dare to accept it, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Cheng Xiao smiled at him. “Are you hungry? We can eat if you are.”
“Great-grandpa, are you hungry?” Lin Cheng asked softly.
Cheng Xiao was actually a little hungry, and so called out to the kitchen to get started on lunch.
“Xiao Lin, didn’t you say you wanted to put on a little performance for Grandpa and Great-grandpa today?” Lin An Lan reminded him with a smile.
Cheng Lin’s face lit up as he remembered. “I’m going to sing!”
Then without another word, he stood up and began swaying his little hands to the rhythm of his own tune, throwing in a few random dance moves as well that had everyone laughing out loud.
And once his performance wrapped up, he didn’t forget to brag about his brother, “My big brother can recite ancient poetry too!”
Caught off guard, Lin Cheng blushed and leaned into Lin An Lan, nodding shyly.
“Then, how about giving us a little recital then?” Lin An Lan gave his hair an encouraging ruffle.
And seeing Cheng Lin’s bright eyes fixed on him with such hope, Lin Cheng took a deep breath, found some courage, and started to recite in front of everyone.
When he finished, Lin An Lan and Cheng Yu joined in with a round of applause, making sure to cheer him on.
Cheng Lin clapped his little hands excitedly too, adding on, “My big brother can sing as well!”
Lin Cheng’s cheeks instantly flushed even redder.
While Lin An Lan wrapped an arm around him and smiled down at Cheng Lin, “You don’t have to tell everyone all of your big brother’s talents without asking him, you know. Did you even ask if he wants to sing?”
Cheng Lin blinked, confused. There were people who didn’t want to sing?
“Big brother doesn’t like singing?”
Lin Cheng shook his head. “It’s not that.”
Cheng Lin’s eyes brightened again. “Then big brother, let’s sing together!”
And before Lin Cheng could answer, Cheng Lin was already singing, leaving Lin Cheng little choice but to join in softly, gradually matching his little brother’s tempo.
Their voices blended together—one a bit louder, one a bit softer—but somehow, they struck a sweet harmony.
Lin An Lan and Cheng Yu couldn’t help but smile, warmth filling their faces as they listened.
The adults played along with the kids for a while longer, and before they knew it, lunch was ready.
They all took their seats at the table, with Cheng Lin and Lin Cheng settled cozily between Lin An Lan and Cheng Yu, each parent doting on one child.
Glancing over, Cheng Feng watched as his son helped his grandson with his food patiently, encouraging him to eat properly, and even thinking of something to serve Lin An Lan occasionally. It was almost surreal for him.
He sat there quietly, catching little moments, like Lin An Lan and Cheng Yu’s hands brushing against each other as they reached for something, the quick smiles they exchanged, and how they’d each turn back down to check on the child sitting beside them.
They looked like a real family of four, warm and whole, even without any blood ties, somehow united perfectly.
This was the kind of family he’d never given Cheng Yu, a happiness Cheng Yu had managed to build all on his own.
In that moment, he felt a pang of guilt. When it came to being a father, he had to admit, he didn’t measure up to his son.
And as a partner…..well, there was no contest.
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