Take Me Away, My Love - Chapter 48 - Harmonious Joy

As they emerged from the underground parking garage and were finally greeted by the sunlight, Li Minchun sighed and said, “Husband, you’ve changed so much, I can hardly believe it anymore.”

While driving, Jian Yiqing wore a radiant, proud smile and replied, “You’re just realizing this now? I’ve got quite a few tricks up my sleeve.”

As they spoke, the car headed towards their home.

Along the way, they picked up Jian Qingtian from kindergarten. The family of three, filled with joy, drove home together.

“What are we eating today? We bought so many delicious things.” Jian Qingtian’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the bags full of food.

Li Minchun smiled and said, “Of course, we’re having barbecue tonight.”

“Barbecue?” The child was always full of curiosity about such food and eager to learn more. However, for parents, the safety of street food barbecues was indeed a worry.

Even though Jian Qingtian sometimes really wanted to try it, under his father Jian Yiqing’s strict gaze, he never dared to entertain the thought.

Now, Li Minchun had actually brought the barbecue into their home, and for a moment, he wondered if his dad only thought of his wife and not his son.

Why could his wife’s requests always be fulfilled, but not his son’s?

As he thought this, a pair of scornful eyes turned towards Jian Yiqing.

But as the saying goes, a father knows his son best, and Jian Yiqing was well aware of his son’s petty thoughts.

Clearing his throat helplessly, Jian Yiqing said, “Actually, this time it was me who wanted to eat it, it has nothing to do with your mother.”

“You?”

Jian Qingtian looked astonished.

If the previous picnic had already been an eye-opener for him, his father’s words now truly shattered his expectations.

Jian Yiqing made no attempt to hide his feelings as he pulled Li Minchun into his arms, a sweet smile spreading across his face. “When we were expecting you, your mom and I used to eat barbecue a lot, all kinds of flavors. But after your mom disappeared, just the sight of barbecue would remind me of our days on Zhenmu Island. So, to avoid stirring up emotions, I wouldn’t let you have any. Now that mom’s back, that rule is naturally abolished.”

As he spoke, he planted a kiss on Li Minchun’s cheek.

Meanwhile, Uncle Ru Long and Jian Qingtian were trembling, each with a hand on their cheek, looking as though they were in pain.

“You guys…”

Li Minchun asked in astonishment.

“Our teeth are almost dissolving from the sweetness,” Uncle Ru Long said helplessly.

Jian Yiqing laughed even harder at this, holding Li Minchun even tighter.

However, as Uncle Ru Long watched the happy family of three, he couldn’t help but think of Chen Zhen. Being a single woman raising a child must be tough.

As he thought this, the smile that had been on his face slowly faded.

“Are you thinking about Aunt Chen?” Li Minchun, noticing Uncle Ru Long’s preoccupation, asked. As she spoke, two other pairs of eyes also turned towards him.

Especially Jian Qingtian, who knew well that Uncle Ru Long had feelings for Aunt Chen, the mother of that little weirdo.

Jian Qingtian and Jian Ru had been at odds since they first met, behaving like enemies for years, their rivalry and anger only deepening their animosity.

“If you’re thinking about Chen Zhen, and if you don’t mind, you could invite her and her son over.”

It was surprising to hear such words from Jian Yiqing, who had always disliked Aunt Chen.

Wasn’t he always against her?

“Alright, if dad says so, I have no objections, as long as that little weirdo doesn’t cause me any trouble.”

With both parents agreeing, Jian Qingtian, as the youngest man of the family, naturally didn’t want to be left behind. He showed his magnanimity, which was as far as he could stretch it.

Ru Long’s expression became agitated. He knew all too well the grievances between Chen Zhen and Jian Yiqing’s family. Now, for Jian Yiqing to let go of the past for the sake of brotherhood was something quite rare and admirable.

Gratitude was clearly written all over his face.

He playfully called out to Jian Yiqing, “Babe, why are you so adorable? Can I give you a hug?”

As he spoke, he actually moved to embrace Jian Yiqing. His lips puckered up, aiming for a kiss.

Jian Yiqing pushed him away in disgust and urged, “If you waste any more time, by the time you get back, we’ll have finished eating.”

Snapped back to reality, Ru Long dared not fool around any longer and quickly grabbed his car keys and dashed out.

He wasn’t sure if he could successfully invite Chen Zhen this time.

Li Minchun, for one, was very unsure.

Ru Long felt the same uncertainty.

When he drove up to Chen Zhen’s apartment, he coincidentally met her as she was returning home with her child.

Seeing Ru Long standing there, a flash of surprise crossed Chen Zhen’s face, but she quickly composed herself. Pretending not to see him, she took her son by the hand and headed towards her apartment.

Ru Long hurried after her, eagerly saying, “I want to invite you to have dinner at Li Minchun’s home, would that be okay?”

“No,” Chen Zhen responded, her demeanor as cold as ever.

In the past, Ru Long might have been ready to give up, but now, remembering the encouraging words Li Minchun had shared with him, he mustered the courage to continue blocking their path, saying, “Please, do me this favor; they are all waiting for me. We prepared a barbecue at home today, and Jian Yiqing said we should feast.”

Chen Zhen frowned slightly, yet with a hint of surprise, she asked, “You’re saying Jian Yiqing sent you to find me?”

Considering the past incidents that almost got Jian Yiqing and Li Minchun killed because of her, how could he possibly agree to have her over?

Ru Long nodded vigorously like a pecking chick, repeatedly saying, “Yes, it was Jian Yiqing who sent me. Look, your child hasn’t had barbecue in a long time, right? The food outside isn’t clean, and all the ingredients and condiments were personally prepared by them… Li Minchun also said she wants to share a meal with you, to let you taste her cooking…”

Finally, seeing that Chen Zhen was still hesitant, Ru Long had no choice but to bring up Li Minchun as well.

Sure enough, upon hearing Li Minchun’s name, Chen Zhen’s expression softened slightly.

She crouched down, looked at her son gently, and asked, “Son, would you like to go?”

“Whatever.”

Even facing his own mother, Jian Ru maintained a cold demeanor, exuding a heavy sense of hostility despite his young age. At the kindergarten, other children were too intimidated to approach him. His stern expression alone was enough to silence anyone.

“Alright, we’ll go,” Chen Zhen finally said, taking her son towards Ru Long’s car. Ru Long, trailing behind, watched her graceful figure in disbelief, his eyes nearly popping out.

As they reached the car, Chen Zhen turned back to chide Ru Long, “Are you coming or not?”

Ru Long, thrilled, quickly opened the car door and started the engine, eager to please. However, Chen Zhen felt increasingly uneasy with his attitude, and Jian Ru’s expression grew even darker. He looked down on such a sycophant.

Back at home, Jian Yiqing and Li Minchun were betting whether Chen Zhen would actually come. Auntie Chen, excited, rushed to the door and announced, “Miss Chen Zhen and the young master are here. It seems like-” She stopped abruptly, leaving Jian Yiqing with a blank look while Li Minchun and Jian Qingtian stifled their laughter.

“You’re here!” Li Minchun greeted enthusiastically as Chen Zhen arrived. She even crouched down, offering a fruit to Jian Ru. “First time visiting our home? Feel free to enjoy yourself.”

Jian Ru’s response was merely a cold stare. His expression was as unfriendly as ever.

“Hey, Jian Ru, that’s no way to behave! My mom’s talking to you, why act deaf? Are you hard of hearing or something?” Jian Qingtian, having always disliked Jian Ru, finally snapped. He refused to let anyone, not even Jian Ru, disrespect his long-lost mother.

This outburst only made Jian Ru’s face darken further. His eyes blazed with anger as he glared at Jian Qingtian, a murderous look in his gaze. The intensity in his little eyes could send chills down anyone’s spine. It was clear that this kid was not to be trifled with.

“Sweetheart,” Chen Zhen gently reprimanded as she took the fruit from Li Minchun’s hand, apologizing, “I’m sorry, he just…” She trailed off, mindful of Jian Ru’s feelings.

“It’s all right. Kids will get used to things over time,” Li Minchun replied graciously.

Meanwhile, Jian Yiqing quietly went to chop onions. As he brought the knife down, the onion juice sprayed up, stinging his eyes to the point he could barely keep them open. Yet, he diligently continued chopping.

Ru Long was surprised and asked, “I thought you hated onions? Why are you cutting them now?”

Having known Jian Yiqing for years, Ru Long was familiar with his habits.

“None of your business,” Jian Yiqing replied, irritated, as he continued to chop the onions relentlessly. Despite the tears welling up from the sting, his determination remained unshaken.

Watching from the side, Jian Qingtian looked smug, finally seeing his father getting a hard time. Usually, that proud demeanor of Jian Yiqing’s quite annoying, but now, with Mom around, he was tamed like a stubborn old bull.

He couldn’t help but recall how confidently his father had boasted earlier in front of Mom that he wouldn’t lose, and the expression he wore was priceless when the Chen Zhen family showed up at their door, resembling someone who’d just swallowed something unpleasant.

And now, chopping onions, he seemed so pitiful yet trying to act tough. Such rare expressions had to be memorized and cherished for posterity.

If Jian Yiqing knew that Jian Qingtian would use this against him in every argument from now on, he probably would have reconsidered betting with Li Minchun today.

Overconfidence leads to arrogance, and now Jian Yiqing finally understood the true meaning of that saying. Alas, it was too late for regret.