"Oh, my little darling, long time no see. You’re still so adorable." Ning Xian sat down next to her niece and gently pinched Youyou’s fair, pink cheeks with her hands, which were adorned with exquisite nail art. "You’ve grown."
"Auntie." Youyou hugged her in response.
At this moment, Auntie still truly loved her.
"Is Ning Yi not back yet?" Ning Xian’s husband, Fang Jin, asked.
"He just called, said he’s on his way, rushing back for the New Year’s Eve dinner," Gu Xihuo replied.
"He’s been so busy this year," Fang Jin laughed.
"Who knows what he’s busy with, he’s been away from home for months." Thinking of her son, Gu Xihuo felt a headache coming on again.
"Isn’t he filming a movie? How’s that going?" Ning Xian asked.
"You’ll have to stay a bit longer and ask Pipi when he gets back; we don’t know." Gu Xihuo said.
Pipi is Young Master Ning’s nickname, and nowadays, only his mom dares to call him that.
"Mom, can we stay until Little Uncle comes back before we go home today?" Fang Han, who was half a year older than You Guang, asked.
She often visits Grandma’s house and comes more frequently than Ning Youguang, who is temporarily staying at Grandpa’s house as the legitimate granddaughter of the Ning family.
She is also more familiar and closer to the Ning family than You Guang.
Her favorite person is her handsome and interesting Little Uncle.
"What do you think, dear?" Ning Xian threw the question to her husband.
"Sure, everything’s fine." Fang Jin nodded.
"Wow, then I can see Little Uncle later, that’s great," Fang Han said.
You Guang saw her little cousin staring at the carrot toy in her hand and casually handed it to him. The little fellow was delighted.
"Thank you, Sister Youyou," said Fang Huai, who was five this year, a chubby little bun just like Xia Dai was when she was young.
"Brother, we have this toy at home, don’t we? Why don’t you play with it?" Fang Han asked upon seeing her brother interact with her cousin.
"Ours is ours; this is what Sister Youyou gave me," Fang Huai said earnestly, holding the big carrot toy.
"Aren’t they all carrot toys? What’s the difference?" Fang Han said, looking exasperated.
"Of course they’re different," Fang Huai said with a look that suggested she didn’t understand.
"Kids will be kids," Ning Xian laughed from the side.
"Sister Youyou, would you like some milk tablets? I have some in my pocket," Fang Huai, unlike his sister, favored his less-seen cousin at Grandma’s house.
"No thank you, Huaihuai," You Guang softly patted her cousin’s wiggling little head.
It would be wonderful if children never grew up; they would always remain this adorable.
"Sister, when did you come back?" Fang Han asked You Guang.
"I came yesterday," You Guang said.
"Oh, then when do you go home?" Fang Han asked.
As soon as her cousin said this, You Guang noticed her grandmother’s face turn pale.
"Which home are you talking about?" she smiled and asked back.
"Your own home, of course!" Fang Han said.
"This is my home," she replied.
"Oh, I thought your mom’s place was your home," Fang Han said, tilting her head innocently.
"Hanhan, who told you my mom’s place is my home?" Youyou asked with the same innocence.
The two children chatted back and forth, and while the adults didn’t participate, they were paying attention.
"Hanhan, your sister’s mom’s house is her home, and this is also her home; she has two homes, and either one is her home." Ning Xian corrected timely.
"Oh, mom, I know now," Fang Han nodded obediently.
You Guang smiled at her cousin and aunt, then turned to her cousin and said, "I want to play outside for a while, do you want to come?"
Of course, little Fang Huai was delighted to go play with his cousin.
After the two children left,
Ning Xian said to Gu Xihuo, "Mom, stop reading those messy news reports; it’s bad for your mood."
"Do you think I want to read them? It’s these media outlets, putting out all sorts of stuff all day long."
"Then why not just stop looking at them?" Ning Shizhao picked up his cup and took a sip of tea.
"How do I know what’s in them before I look?" Gu Xihuo said, feeling frustrated.
"Have the workers put them away; when Yi’er comes back, he won’t be comfortable seeing them either," Ning Shizhao, who reads newspapers every morning, knew a bit about his former daughter-in-law’s news.
"Do you think he won’t know?" Gu Xihuo asked.
"He might know, but let’s not let these things dampen his spirits anymore; it’s New Year after all," Ning Shizhao said.
Gu Xihuo thought about it and agreed, then called the workers over.
"Take these away," she instructed.
After the workers removed the newspapers and magazines,
Gu Xihuo said to the group, "I have an idea, see if you think it’s feasible."
"Are you planning to?" Ning Shizhao had a rough idea of what she intended.
"I plan to bring the child back."
"Bringing her back is not impossible, but we should also consider the Xia family’s attitude."
"Well, I don’t care. Xia Youqing already has someone, so the child certainly can’t stay with her. Our Ning family granddaughter can’t be calling someone else dad in the future, can she?"
"I have no objections; let’s ask Yi’er about it later." Ning Shizhao didn’t have as many concerns as Gu Xihuo.
However, he felt it was better for the granddaughter to come home.
"What about you two?" Gu Xihuo turned to her two daughters.
"It would be great for Youyou to come back," Ning Wan loved her little niece and had neither a close nor distant relationship with her former sister-in-law, so she didn’t comment.
"We have no objections," Ning Xian and Fang Jin exchanged a glance.
Ning Yi came home at around three in the afternoon, now thinner, darker, and sporting a scruffy beard, which made Gu Xihuo feel both pained and exasperated.
"Little Uncle, you’re back!" Fang Han was the first to greet him when he entered, launching herself onto him.
Ning Yi picked her up.
"Heavier, taller," he said with a smile.
His spirit was great, though.
"Little Uncle hasn’t seen me in a long time, I’ve grown a bit," Fang Han said, coyly hugging Ning Yi’s neck.
"Yes, yes," Ning Yi laughed heartily, his gaze landing on his daughter sitting on the sofa.
"Okay, okay, you’re a big girl now, don’t cling to Little Uncle. Little Uncle is covered in dust, aren’t you afraid of getting dirty?" Ning Xian teased with a smile.
"Hmm..." Fang Han pinched her little nose, wrinkling it with dislike at Ning Yi, "Little Uncle does smell a bit."
"Then I’ll go clean up first."
Ning Yi put down his niece and went to his daughter’s side.
"Dad will take a quick shower and be right back."