"Aunt Chen misunderstood," Shi Lingyan interrupted her endless chatter, furrowed his brow slightly, and said in a deep voice, "We’re husband and wife. Whatever we do behind closed doors, does Aunt Chen need to know?"
Old Mrs. Shi’s eyes lit up, "What do you mean?"
Shi Lingyan stood up, remained silent, and strode away.
Old Mrs. Shi immediately followed him, insisting, "Really?"
Shi Lingyan gave a low acknowledgement and pushed open the bedroom door.
Old Mrs. Shi was persistent, asking, "Have you two done ... the things between husband and wife?"
Her voice wasn’t loud, but Shi Mei was inside just about to take a bath; the door wasn’t closed yet, and she heard Old Mrs. Shi’s voice.
Shi Mei pricked up her ears, waiting for Shi Lingyan’s answer.
But Shi Lingyan was silent as the dead.
Old Mrs. Shi was getting desperate, urging, "Come on, say something! How can you not understand an old person’s feelings!"
Shi Lingyan, somewhat impatient, raised his eyebrows and countered, "What do you think?"
"Whether I can hold my great-grandchild or not, just give me a straight answer!" Old Mrs. Shi said in a fit of resignation, "I’m not narrow-minded. If you really fool, then so be it. Anyway, you don’t fancy anyone else!"
"Yes," Shi Lingyan said, and then he pushed Grandma Shi out by the shoulders, "I quite like fools, so don’t worry about it. Go to sleep early."
"It’s still daytime in the United States, I can’t sleep!"
"Then go bother Grandpa."
Grandma Shi: "... Am I not your dear grandson anymore? Your grandpa isn’t as healthy as I am."
In response, she was met with a solid door panel.
Old Lady Shi looked at the door panel, not upset, but rather excitedly rubbed her hands together and sang, "Aye aye aye, I’m gonna hold a great-grandchild, aye aye aye~"
Meanwhile, inside the room.
After seeing Grandma Shi off, Shi Lingyan heard a song from inside, "Dear husband, hug me tight~ If you love me, give me hugs~ Hugs~ Hugs~ Oh oh oh~"
The youthful voice was sweet and full of joy.
Aunt Chen: "Don’t blow bubbles everywhere, they’re hard to clean up!"
Shi Mei: "Ying ying ying, Aunt Chen is peeking at someone bathing, naughty naughty!"
Aunt Chen: "Who’s looking? I just came in to turn off the water!"
Shi Lingyan rarely was present when Shi Mei bathed, and hearing such noises now, he felt completely helpless.
And yet, at the same time, he found his mood had reached an unprecedented level of relaxation.
Having her at home seemed pretty good, too.
Apart from the times he spent with Tang Wu, Shi Lingyan had rarely felt this relaxed.
Loneliness and longing often swallowed him with ease.
Then, he would succumb to endless nightmares, over and over again.
Shi Lingyan suddenly realized that since Shi Mei had come to his home, he was thinking of Tang Wu less and less.
And while Shi Mei was like a child, she was slowly edging Tang Wu out of his heart, little by little.
Even though he only saw her as a child.
But this thought, as soon as it emerged, still made Shi Lingyan’s heart ache sharply.
It had only been three years since she left.
The world was already getting used to her absence.
Now, was he beginning to forget her too?
"Dear husband, play the flute~ Shi Mei listens and soars~ Dear husband, play the flute~ Shi Mei listens and wants to sleep~"
Shi Lingyan: Who allowed you to change the lyrics?
Shi Mei: Ying, can’t a husband play [the flute]?
Wan Lili: Hehe~ Of course [serious smiley face]