Chapter 210: Setting Off

Outside the window fine snow was drifting; inside, the heating was ample. Xiang Fei sat on the living room sofa, watching his son Xiang Yang lying on the carpet stacking blocks.

"Yangyang, we're going to Xiangjiang tomorrow. Are you happy?" Xiang Fei asked with a smile.

Xiang Yang looked up, blinking his big eyes: "Daddy, has Mummy already been waiting for us in Xiangjiang?"

"That's right," Xiang Fei walked over and ruffled his little head, "Mummy went ahead to prepare Aunt Mei's concert."

Xiang Yang suddenly put down his blocks and threw himself into Xiang Fei's arms: "Daddy, I miss Great-grandpa and the others."

Xiang Fei was briefly stunned, then gently held his son: "When the New Year comes, the whole family will go back to the old house to see Great-grandpa together, okay?"

"Okay!" Xiang Yang nodded hard, then tilted his face up and asked, "So tomorrow it's just the two of us taking the plane?"

"There's also Uncle Bai Long and Uncle Black Tiger," Xiang Fei pinched his little nose, "they'll protect us."

Xiang Yang's eyes lit up: "Then can I have Uncle Black Tiger lift me up high?"

Xiang Fei burst out laughing: "You, always bullying Uncle Black Tiger."

The next morning, Bai Long and Black Tiger arrived at the villa right on time.

"Brother Fei, the car is ready," Bai Long said respectfully.

Black Tiger, meanwhile, squatted down and spread his arms toward Xiang Yang: "Yangyang, did you miss Uncle?"

"Miss you!" Xiang Yang happily threw himself at him, "Uncle Black Tiger, lift me up high!"

Black Tiger laughed heartily, hoisting the little fellow up over his head, making Xiang Yang giggle nonstop.

Xiang Fei walked out carrying the luggage: "Alright, stop fooling around, time to go."

On the way to the airport, Xiang Yang pressed against the car window, excitedly watching the scenery outside: "Daddy, is a plane much faster than a car?"

"That's right," Xiang Fei fastened his seatbelt, "you'll find out in a bit."

Arriving at the airport VIP lane, Xiang Yang suddenly pointed at a billboard not far away and shouted: "Daddy, look quick! It's Mummy!"

Everyone looked up to see a huge electronic screen playing a jewelry advertisement endorsed by Zhou Huimin.

Bai Long laughed: "Ah Min really is the center of attention wherever she goes."

Black Tiger teased Xiang Yang: "Yangyang, is your Mummy very beautiful?"

"Of course!" Xiang Yang proudly puffed out his little chest, "My Mummy is the most beautiful in the world!"

Xiang Fei couldn't hold back a laugh, ruffled his son's hair: "Let's go, little flatterer."

Once on the plane, Xiang Yang curiously looked around: "Daddy, why can this chair lie down?"

"This is first class," Xiang Fei helped him fasten his seatbelt, "once we take off Daddy will show you."

A flight attendant walked over and asked with a smile: "What drink would the little one like?"

Xiang Yang blinked: "Is there orange juice?"

"There is," the flight attendant said gently, "I'll bring it right over."

After the drink arrived, Xiang Yang held the cup and suddenly asked: "Daddy, will Aunt Mei's concert have a lot of people watching?"

"That's right," Xiang Fei took the coffee the flight attendant handed him, "Aunt Mei is one of the best singers in Xiangjiang."

"Then will Mummy go on stage to sing too?"

Xiang Fei smiled and shook his head: "She will, Mummy's going as a guest performer."

Xiang Yang nodded as if half-understanding, then suddenly lowered his voice: "Daddy, I'll secretly tell you a secret."

"Oh?" Xiang Fei cooperatively leaned in, "What secret?"

"I've learned to sing 'Two Tigers'!" the little fellow said proudly, "Mummy taught me!"

Xiang Fei looked at his son in surprise: "Really? Then sing it for Daddy?"

Xiang Yang cleared his throat and began singing in a childish voice: "Two tigers, two tigers..."

Though a little off-key, the child's voice was clear and sweet, and even Bai Long and Black Tiger in the row ahead couldn't help turning around to smile.

When the plane landed at Xiangjiang International Airport, it was already afternoon.

Just out of the gate, Xiang Yang's sharp eyes spotted Zhou Huimin who had come to pick them up: "Mummy!"

Zhou Huimin was wearing a beige trench coat and sunglasses; hearing her son's call she immediately opened her arms: "Yangyang!"

Xiang Yang ran over and threw himself into his mother's arms. Zhou Huimin picked up her son and kissed his cheek: "Mummy missed you to death!"

Xiang Fei walked over and asked with a smile: "How are the concert preparations going?"

"Everything's going smoothly," Zhou Huimin handed her son to the assistant beside her, looped her arm through Xiang Fei's, "

Bai Long and Black Tiger came over pushing the luggage: "Ah Min."

Zhou Huimin smiled and nodded: "Thank you for your hard work."

Xiang Yang squirmed in the assistant's arms: "Mummy."

Xiang Fei checked his watch: "Oh right, is Brother Da also in Xiangjiang?"

"That's right," Zhou Huimin laughed, "when he heard you were coming, he insisted on treating us to seafood."

Black Tiger's eyes lit up: "Wu Mengda treating? Then we definitely have to go!"

Bai Long shook his head helplessly: "All you think about is food."

In the evening, the group arrived at Xiangjiang's famous "Jumbo Floating Restaurant."

Wu Mengda had been waiting in the private room early; seeing Xiang Yang he immediately beamed: "Oh, our little handsome boy is here!"

"Hello Uncle Da!" Xiang Yang greeted him obediently.

Wu Mengda was so delighted he couldn't close his mouth, pulling a red envelope from his pocket: "Here, this is New Year's money from Uncle!"

Xiang Yang looked at his parents; only after seeing Xiang Fei nod did he take the red envelope: "Thank you Uncle Da!"

Back at the Repulse Bay villa, Xiang Yang was already so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open, and was carried off by Zhou Huimin to bathe and sleep.

Xiang Fei stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the night view of Victoria Harbour.

Zhou Huimin walked over and handed him a cup of hot tea: "What are you thinking about?"

"When I think of our first meeting," Xiang Fei took the teacup, "you were standing under the power pole, and I thought you were a fairy."

Zhou Huimin leaned against his shoulder: "Now it's so nice, the three of us together."

Just then, the bedroom door quietly opened a crack, revealing Xiang Yang's small head: "Daddy, Mommy, why aren't you sleeping yet?"

Zhou Huimin walked over and picked up her son: "We're going to sleep now. Why did you wake up, Yangyang?"

"I dreamed that Aunt Mei gave me her autograph," Xiang Yang rubbed his eyes, "but when I woke up, it was just a dream..."

After soothing their son to sleep, the couple exchanged a smile.

The lights of Xiangjiang outside the window blazed brilliantly; tomorrow would be an even more wonderful day.