Chapter 301: Peace at Home

The plane landed smoothly at Xiangjiang International Airport. Xiang Fei put on his sunglasses and walked out of the VIP corridor with Bai Long, one in front of the other.

Outside the airport, a black Mercedes-Benz had been waiting for a long time.

"Fei-ge, straight back to Shallow Water Bay?" Bai Long took the luggage and asked in a low voice.

"Mm." Xiang Fei nodded and got into the car. "You head back early to rest too. Tomorrow's New Year's Eve—spend it with your family."

Bai Long smiled. "Alright, I'll get going then."

The car drove into the Shallow Water Bay villa district. The moment Xiang Fei pushed open the car door, he heard a crisp child's voice—

"Daddy!"

A tiny figure dashed out of the villa like a little cannonball and crashed into Xiang Fei's arms. Xiang Fei bent down and scooped up Yangyang, smiling as he pinched his little cheek. "Did you miss Daddy?"

"Missed you!" Yangyang wrapped his arms around his neck and said in a milky voice, "Did Daddy bring me a present this time?"

"Of course." Xiang Fei pulled out a delicate little box from his pocket. "See if you like it?"

Yangyang couldn't wait to open it. Inside was a tiny airplane model, exquisitely crafted, with his name engraved on the wing.

"Wow! Thank you, Daddy!" Yangyang excitedly waved the little airplane and planted a kiss on Xiang Fei's face.

At that moment, Zhou Huimin came slowly out of the house, one hand supporting her waist. She was wearing a loose maternity dress, her belly already noticeably rounded, a gentle smile on her face. "You're back?"

Xiang Fei, holding Yangyang, walked over, gently wrapped an arm around her waist, and kissed her forehead. "Mm, I'm back."

Zhou Huimin smiled and swatted him. "Stop it, Yangyang's watching."

Yangyang immediately covered his eyes. "I didn't see anything!"

Xiang Fei stayed with Yangyang in the living room playing with the newly bought airplane model. Yangyang lay on the carpet, his little hands pushing the airplane while making "zoom zoom" flying sounds, and Xiang Fei sat on the sofa, every now and then chiming in with "engine roaring" sounds. The two played all day.

In the evening, Xiang Fei was still playing games with Yangyang on the sofa when Zhou Huimin walked over carrying a plate of freshly cut fruit, smiling and shaking her head. "You two—put together, are you even grown-ups?"

"Daddy is eight, I'm ten!" Yangyang raised his little hand, dead serious.

Xiang Fei raised an eyebrow. "Then wouldn't I be younger than you?"

Yangyang blinked. "Then... Daddy is ten, I'm eight?"

Zhou Huimin couldn't hold back a laugh. She set the fruit on the coffee table. "Alright, stop playing. Yangyang needs his bath and bed."

Yangyang immediately pouted. "But I wanna play a little longer..."

Xiang Fei ruffled his hair. "Be good. Daddy will play with you again tomorrow."

"Really?" Yangyang's eyes lit up. "Pinky swear!"

Xiang Fei held out his little finger and hooked it with his. "Pinky swear, a hundred years no take-backs."

Zhou Huimin watched the father-and-son interaction, her eyes full of tenderness. She took Yangyang's hand. "Come on, Mommy's taking you for a bath."

After Yangyang fell asleep, Zhou Huimin returned to the living room and saw Xiang Fei standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the night view. She walked over and leaned gently against his shoulder. "Tired?"

Xiang Fei shook his head and reached out to wrap his arm around her waist. "Not really. Just missed you guys a little."

Zhou Huimin laughed softly. "Yangyang talks about you every day, asking when Daddy's coming home."

"And you?" Xiang Fei looked down at her. "Did you miss me?"

Zhou Huimin's face flushed red. She gave him a light punch. "Don't be so full of yourself."

Xiang Fei smiled, and the two quietly leaned into each other.

The next day was New Year's Eve. Early in the morning, Xiang Fei took Zhou Huimin and Yangyang back to the Xiang family old mansion.

The old mansion was decked out in lanterns and decorations, brand-new Spring Festival couplets pasted at the door, the servants busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner. The moment Yangyang stepped inside, he excitedly ran toward the living room. "Great-grandpa! Grandpa! Grandma!"

Xiang Butong was sitting in a Taishi chair drinking tea. Seeing his great-grandson run over, he immediately beamed from ear to ear. "Oh, my little Yangyang, come let Great-grandpa hold you!"

Yangyang threw himself into Xiang Butong's arms and said in a milky voice, "Great-grandpa, Happy New Year!"

"Good, good, good, Happy New Year!" Xiang Butong pulled out a thick red envelope from his pocket. "Here, New Year's money!"

Yangyang took the red envelope and sweetly thanked him. "Thank you, Great-grandpa!"

At that moment, Xiang Yan, Wu Li, and Dong Xiaolan also came downstairs. Xiang Yan smiled and patted his son on the shoulder. "Back?"

Xiang Fei nodded. "Dad, Mom."

Dong Xiaolan took Zhou Huimin's hand and asked with concern, "Ah Min, how's your health lately? Any discomfort?"

Zhou Huimin shook her head. "Pretty good, just a little drowsy."

"That's normal, totally normal." Dong Xiaolan said with a smile.

The whole family chatted happily together, while Yangyang sat on Xiang Butong's lap, listening with great interest to Great-grandpa's stories of the past.

At lunch, the dining table was laden with a lavish spread of dishes. Xiang Butong raised his wine cup and said with a cheerful grin, "Come on, cheers!"

Everyone raised their cups and clinked them together. Yangyang also raised his juice cup, imitating the grown-ups. "Cheers!"

During the meal, Xiang Yan asked about Xiang Fei's work situation on the mainland. Xiang Fei briefly explained.

Dong Xiaolan picked up a piece of fish and placed it in Zhou Huimin's bowl, smiling as she said, "No matter how busy work is, you have to look after home too. Huimin's about to give birth any day now—you need to spend more time with her."

Xiang Fei nodded. "I'll do my best."

Zhou Huimin gently squeezed his hand under the table, her eyes full of tenderness.