Chapter 177: Like a little brat

Zhou Yinhe really lowered his eyes and seriously thought for a moment.

Seeing him so serious, Wen Ling lunged into his embrace, pinching Zhou Yinhe's cheeks and shaking them several times.

"You really went and thought about it—do you want to get hit, want to be domestically abused?"

Zhou Yinhe laughed loudly.

After all that fuss, there was no point sleeping; Wen Ling simply got up to look for her grandfather and maternal grandfather.

The two old gentlemen hadn't returned yet; Wen Ling had intended to go look for them, but just as she reached the villa gate, a deep blue sedan drove in through the open doors and parked rudely in the lot.

Wen Ling furrowed her brows; the car was somewhat unfamiliar, yet its brazen manner made her feel it was somehow familiar.

Sure enough, the familiar man who stepped out of the driver's seat after the car stopped was Lu Zhaoye, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.

"How did you suddenly come?"

Lu Zhaoye pushed his sunglasses up onto his forehead, the bangs in front caught by the lenses, and retorted: "I can't come?"

Wen Ling rolled her eyes, was pulled over by Lu Zhaoye, who said: "Come carry the gifts for Grandfather Wen and Grandfather Qin."

"Why make them carry it and insist I do?" Wen Ling unwilling, tried to shake off Lu Zhaoye's hand, but he wouldn't let go.

As they approached, the trunk opened automatically, and Lu Zhaoye rudely pulled out each gift box and shoved them into Wen Ling's hands.

"These are for your grandfather and maternal grandfather—if you don't carry them, who will?"

Wen Ling silently took them, hesitated when a servant stepped forward to take them, then refused and carried them herself.

The foyer door wasn't closed; after Zhou Yinhe went downstairs he was drinking water in the dining room, hearing voices, at first thinking Wen Ling was speaking with Qin Lao and Wen Lao, he frowned, feeling the voice sounded somewhat young.

He and Lu Zhaoye weren't well acquainted, separated by walls, he couldn't tell it was him.

Zhou Yinhe set down his cup, walked out of the villa, and upon seeing Lu Zhaoye, his face instinctively fell.

"How did you come?!" he said, tone questioning.

Lu Zhaoye curled his lips, knowing Zhou Yinhe disliked smoke, deliberately lit a cigarette in front of him; after the smoke swirled, he said: "I came to see my good sister and Grandfather Wen—any problem?"

Though the distance wasn't close, Zhou Yinhe felt he could smell that pungent tobacco.

He stepped back, brows tightly furrowed, glaring at Lu Zhaoye.

Wen Ling jabbed her elbow at Lu Zhaoye, whispering: "What are you doing?"

Lu Zhaoye laughed, moved two steps aside until Wen Ling couldn't reach him, then continued puffing smoke.

Seeing Wen Ling carrying things, Zhou Yinhe covered his mouth and nose, walked over to take the box from her hand, then strode farther away before shouting back: "What are you doing? Come along."

His tone was flat, but Wen Ling sensed a faint threat in his words.

She gave an "oh," hurried to keep pace with Zhou Yinhe; Lu Zhaoye glanced at her, withdrew his gaze, expression indifferent, finished the remaining half of his cigarette, then entered the villa.

Wen Ling and Zhou Yinhe leaned by the table chatting; Zhou Yinhe said: "They'll be here soon—Grandfather Wen and Grandfather Qin haven't returned yet, I've sent someone to look for them."

"Those two who argue at the slightest provocation went out and still don't want to go home." Wen Ling pressed her lips, unable to stop laughing.

Lu Zhaoye stood not far away, silently watching the two; though they made no move, the atmosphere was very intimate, his steps paused in place for a long before he approached them.

He casually snatched the newly opened water from Wen Ling's hand, twisted the cap, and took a few sips.

Zhou Yinhe glared angrily at him; although Wen Ling hadn't drunk yet, what if?

"Do you know what you look like now?" Lu Zhaoye raised an eyebrow, smirked, and without waiting for Zhou Yinhe's reply, said outright: "Like a little brat."

"You!" Zhou Yinhe flared, but just as he got angry, Wen Ling grabbed him.

Wen Ling first glanced at the trouble‑loving Lu Zhaoye, then softly comforted Zhou Yinhe: "Don't mind what he said; just think he's addled from working overtime and staying up late."

Zhou Yinhe pressed his lips, his eyes still full of grievance toward Wen Ling; she tiptoed, stroked his soft hair, and chuckled: "Don't be angry, Baobao."

Seeing that, Lu Zhaoye deliberately gagged, rolled his eyes, turned, and walked to sit on the living‑room sofa.

Zhou Yinhe also gave his back a white eye, then bent to hug Wen Ling, whining: "He's bullying me."

"Don't take it to heart with him; he's just teasing you on purpose—the angrier you get, the happier he is." Wen Ling returned the embrace, soothing him softly.

Zhou Yinhe pursed his lips, then sneakily gave Lu Zhaoye another glare.

Qin Lao and Wen Lao walked into the courtyard laughing, chatting as they went; the topic seemed to be the two old men they'd just met in the park playing chess, who had made a misstep.

Wen Ling pushed away the clinging Zhou Yinhe who wouldn't let go, turned and walked to the door; seeing the two old gentlemen's faces lit with smiles, she found it amusing.

Introducing these two old gentlemen who chatted endlessly over a single chess game—one from the Qin family, one from the Wen family—no one would believe it.

Wen Ling trotted up, linked arms with the two, and asked with a smile: "Grandfather, Grandfather, where did you go to play?"

Wen Lao said: "It's not that the park behind us has few people today; your maternal grandfather took me to a more distant plaza."

"Oh, you said you'd take him to other provinces—this way, just playing in Sijiucheng would take ages to schedule." Wen Ling cooed: "Grandfather, are you still planning to go out of province with us?"

"Go, why not—worst case we stay a few extra days; anyway the Wen family has your father and Zhuo here, I'm at ease." Wen Lao laughed heartily at her teasing: "You and Xiao Wu just don't mind me being a bother."

Qin Lao said sourly: "You're her biological grandfather; she'll annoy me but won't annoy you."

Wen Ling quickly soothed: "No one's annoyed, no one's annoyed."

Only then did Qin Lao smile, patting the hand Wen Ling had resting on her wrist; looking up, he saw Lu Zhaoye was also there.

"Yo, Zhaoye, how did you suddenly come?" Wen Lao asked first.

Lu Zhaoye smiled gently, explaining: "I went to the Qin family to visit you two; the Qin family's servant said you and Qin Lao were here, so I came."

"This young Lu is really thoughtful, still keeping you in mind." Qin Lao turned to Wen Lao and said.

Whenever Lu Zhaoye arrives at such times, his mouth is just sweet.

"It's not just to see Grandfather Wen; I also came to see you. I and Ah Ling grew up together; I've always treated Ah Ling as my real sister, and since you're her maternal grandfather, you're also my maternal grandfather—I've always regarded you as such, as long as you don't dislike me."

Upon hearing that, Qin Lao couldn't stop laughing, stepped forward, and walked toward the villa together with Lu Zhaoye.

Passing by Zhou Yinhe, who stood aside unable to interject, his lips opened and closed, silently saying two words.

Zhou Yinhe understood, and then anger surged up to his forehead.

"Idiot."