"Mom, Grandpa, Uncle."
Fang Cheng approached quickly with a bright smile, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
Li Biyun turned her head at the sound, her eyes full of concern as she said:
"Chengcheng, you went out to exercise so early, aren’t you tired? You look like you’ve lost some weight."
"Here, I specially got you your favorite beef buns, eat more, don’t go hungry."
With that, she pushed the food-laden plate towards Fang Cheng, and raised her hand to help her son tidy his slightly messy hair, freshly dried from a bath.
Li Zhenhua put down the spoon he was using to drink porridge, smiling warmly at his grandson, who despite wearing loose clothes, did not look frail:
"Young people are full of energy, it’s good to exercise more. Ah Cheng looks different now, surely more popular with the young ladies than before."
Hearing everyone discuss Fang Cheng’s recent changes, Li Dingjian also raised his head from behind his newspaper, teasing a bit:
"Ah Cheng, when it comes to exercising, apart from working out, eating is the most important. The hotel’s three meals a day are included in the room fee. I know you have a big appetite, so eat up and help your uncle get his money’s worth."
Fang Cheng nodded and laughed, his gaze sweeping over the array of sumptuous foods on the dining table.
There was soft and glutinous cucumber porridge, paired with buns, shrimp dumplings, vegetable pancakes, and ham, along with a fruit plate cut into delicate pieces that could serve as dessert.
Without hesitation, he picked up a large meat bun and took a big bite out of it.
The scalding juices burst out instantly, the rich meat aroma filling his mouth, making him feel utterly satisfied.
Watching Fang Cheng devour his food, his mother gently patted his back, softly saying:
"Slow down, don’t choke, no one’s fighting you for it."
The tone seemed reproachful, yet her eyes were full of affection.
Li Zhenhua and Li Dingjian also watched from the side, smiles spreading across their faces.
The hotel’s restaurant was warmly and elegantly set up, music and greenery dotted throughout.
The family sat around the table, eating and chatting, savoring the rare holiday moment.
Li Zhenhua recalled his experiences of traveling to the East Capital in his youth. His recount of those ordinary past events was vivid and engaging, drawing bursts of laughter from everyone.
Not one to be outdone, Li Dingjian took a sip of coffee, cleared his throat, and with spirited flair, shared tales of his travels all over the country and the peculiar people and events he’d encountered.
Such as the elderly woman living deep in the mountains, who appeared young and beautiful but was actually over a hundred years old, and the songs heard over the misty sea weather, along with mirage-like reflections of palatial buildings.
It was eye-opening, though it was hard to say if he was exaggerating.
Fang Cheng listened quietly, swallowing large bites of food, occasionally chiming in.
Amidst the cheerful conversation, a slightly jarring ringtone suddenly broke the peace of the family meal.
Fang Cheng’s gaze focused slightly. His phone was left in the room bag, it must be Uncle’s phone ringing.
Li Dingjian hurriedly put down his coffee cup, fetching a brand-new black phone from his leather clutch bag.
After a brief exchange, his expression turned somewhat grave.
He then hung up the phone, looking apologetically at everyone:
"A friend called, said there’s something very important to discuss with me."
He turned to Fang Cheng, instructing:
"Ah Cheng, after breakfast, can you take your mom and grandpa to Lingquan Temple for a visit? I really can’t get away."
Fang Cheng sat up straight, smiling as he replied:
"Uncle, I’m not a kid anymore, am I? I’m an adult, sure I can take care of Mom and Grandpa."
Hearing this, Li Dingjian smiled contentedly, standing up to pat Fang Cheng’s shoulder:
"Haha, that puts my mind at ease. You all have fun, Lingquan Temple is said to be bustling with incense, and the scenery’s nice too. I’ll catch up in the afternoon and we can go boating on the lake together."
With that, he downed the coffee on the table and stuffed a shrimp dumpling into his mouth.
Then he dialed a number and quickly made his way towards the restaurant’s exit.
Watching his uncle’s hurried departure, Fang Cheng felt a stirring in his heart.
The words from the phone call suggested that it was his uncle’s business partner summoning him for a gathering, with an urgent and pressing tone.
His uncle seemed somewhat unwilling, clearly indicating not all was well in their relationship.
Fang Cheng withdrew his gaze, turning to his mother and grandpa, continuing to play the role of a good son and good grandson.
As for other matters, he’d put them aside for now.
The sun shone brightly outside, a gentle breeze blew, and not far away, the fountain’s splashing droplets sparkled in the light.
Such a beautiful day, undoubtedly a perfect time for sightseeing and tourism.
The sunlight was obscured by clouds and tall buildings, casting patches of shadow on the streets.
Li Dingjian sat in the back of the taxi, tightly gripping his phone, his brow slightly furrowed.
The light from the screen reflected on his somewhat solemn face, showing the detailed address of the current team gathering.
The text message had just arrived not long ago, and the car stopped at the entrance of a narrow alley.
After paying, Li Dingjian adjusted his collar, put on the fisherman hat he bought on the way, and deliberately pulled the brim down before getting out of the car unhurriedly.
The alley looked old and desolate, with hardly any pedestrians in sight.
Most of the shops along the street were closed, some even had their shutters down, exuding an air of abandonment, like a district about to face demolition.
Li Dingjian walked briskly along the alley, occasionally glancing at the street numbers on either side.