Chapter 279: Follow Me, Isn't That Good?

After finishing his meal, Youyou was taken down from the children's high chair by the nanny. He tugged at Sheng Hongyao's sleeve and said in a soft, childish voice: "Grandpa, stay with Youyou, play!"

Sheng Hongyao had just finished eating, wiping his mouth with a napkin, and glanced down at Youyou. In truth, he didn't particularly like children.

But Youyou was different.

Spending more time playing with him would also bring them closer, making it easier for the child to accept him in the future.

He smiled and said, "Alright."

He had just stood up to reach for the cane leaning against the table when his fingers slipped. Ning Huaiqing, sitting on his other side, reacted quickly and moved to support him. "Uncle Sheng, are you alright?"

To steady him, Ning Huaiqing leaned most of her weight against him, her soft chest pressing against his arm. He slightly narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling to her neckline, his Adam's apple bobbing as his voice grew slightly hoarse: "Help me pick up my cane."

"Alright."

Ning Huaiqing crouched down. From Sheng Hongyao's angle, he could see the top of her head, and looking further down, her chest was fully exposed—her youthful, beautiful figure.

Before Ning Huaiqing stood up, he averted his gaze, took the cane from her hand, and his fingertips unintentionally brushed hers—leaving no trace, barely noticeable.

"Thank you."

Ning Huaiqing gave a faint smile and shook her head. "Please take your time."

Sheng Hongyao only had one injured leg. If it weren't for Ning Huaiqing rushing forward in panic to support him, he would have realized he could stand on his own.

Sheng Hongyao leaned on his cane, one hand holding Youyou's as they walked toward the living room.

Ning Huaiqing watched their grandfather-grandson relationship grow closer, and she smiled with relief.

Giving Youyou another relative seemed like a good thing as well.

Moreover, although Sheng Hongyao was not a qualified father, he was undoubtedly a qualified grandfather.

The night before, before going to sleep, Youyou had still been holding her hand, saying he really liked playing with Grandpa and wanted Grandpa to come over again.

She thought that although Sheng Hongyao was no longer the Chairman of Sheng Group, he should still have his own affairs to attend to, and his injured leg made going out inconvenient, so she dared not call him to invite him over.

Furthermore, she had vaguely felt offended before, which had left her with some resentment, making her unwilling to have much contact with Sheng Hongyao.

But she hadn't expected him to come again that evening.

Not thinking only of herself, she should also consider Youyou, so her attitude toward Sheng Hongyao became warmer, she took the initiative to be friendly, and eased the awkwardness between them.

So far, the effect had not been bad.

The nanny took Youyou to bathe.

Ning Huaiqing sat at the tea table, brewing tea for Sheng Hongyao. Worried that drinking tea would make it hard for him to sleep at night, she switched the tea leaves to floral tea.

Her thoughtful nature was evident to Sheng Hongyao, and his eyes filled with admiration for her.

Ning Huaiqing placed the brewed floral tea in front of Sheng Hongyao, but she scalded her hand on the teacup. The cup rolled from her grasp and fell onto the saucer. At that moment, a broad hand reached out and grabbed her scalded hand.

"Did you get burned?" Sheng Hongyao said in a low voice.

Ning Huaiqing exhaled. "It's fine."

Sheng Hongyao let out a soft hum, grabbed her hand, stood up, leaned on his cane with his other hand, and led her to the bathroom on the first floor.

"If it's burned, rinse it with cold water, otherwise it will hurt more."

"I understand, Uncle Sheng. You sit and rest—I'll go myself." Ning Huaiqing hadn't expected Sheng Hongyao to be this thoughtful.

Sheng Hongyao released her hand. "Remember to rinse it for a while longer."

Ning Huaiqing nodded, turned, and entered the bathroom to rinse with water.

After she finished rinsing and came out, she saw Sheng Hongyao sitting at the tea table, brewing tea for himself.

She was about to walk over when the nanny came down from upstairs: "Miss Ning, Youyou wants you to tell him a bedtime story."

"Alright, I'll be right there."

Ning Huaiqing walked to the side of the tea table, slightly bent forward, and said: "Uncle Sheng, Youyou..."

"Go ahead, the child comes first." Sheng Hongyao said indifferently, turning his head to glance at the finger she had just burned, speaking in the tone of an elder caring for a younger: "Does it still hurt?"

Ning Huaiqing shook her head. "Then I'll go first."

Ning Huaiqing went upstairs. Youyou was rolling around on the bed, waiting for her to come tell him a story.

Seeing his adorable appearance, Ning Huaiqing's heart softened completely. Especially since Youyou looked somewhat like Sheng Yu, when she looked at him, she thought of Sheng Yu, and of how much time they still had ahead. She was determined to make Sheng Yu accept her, and accept Youyou.

Thinking about how well Youyou was getting along with Sheng Hongyao now, Ning Huaiqing felt that life had purpose, and everything was moving in a good direction.

She held Youyou and began to read him a picture book.

Youyou hadn't napped, and after a short while, he fell asleep.

Ning Huaiqing watched him sleep, couldn't help but smile, reached up to tousle his forehead bangs. Youyou turned over, facing away from her, and continued sleeping.

She adjusted the air conditioner to the most comfortable temperature, covered Youyou with a thin blanket, and left the room quietly on tiptoe.

Just then, the nanny came upstairs. Not knowing if she was tired, her complexion looked poor. "Miss Ning, Mr. Sheng has left."

Ning Huaiqing froze for a moment. "Alright."

Since Sheng Hongyao had left, she didn't go downstairs, turned back to her own room, prepared to take a bath, then come back to keep Youyou company while he slept. Previously, at their old place, Youyou could already sleep alone, but having come to a new environment, he felt unfamiliar and needed her to sleep with him again.

Ning Huaiqing finished washing in the bathroom, wrapped herself in a towel, and came out.

She sat at the dressing table to apply skincare.

She faintly heard the sound of the room door being opened. At first, she thought she had misheard, until she heard the door close again.

She turned her head, and her whole body froze.

Sheng Hongyao turned the door handle and shut it with a click, engaging the lock.

Ning Huaiqing felt as if all the blood in her body had frozen. No wonder the nanny had told her earlier that Sheng Hongyao had left, and her face had looked unwell.

She had thought the nanny was just tired, but now she realized the nanny had lied—it was an unnatural act!

She immediately stood up, moved the hair placed to one side, letting it fall loosely on both sides, blocking the view of her chest where the towel had tightened, revealing the tempting sight.

"Uncle Sheng, aren't you gone already?"

Sheng Hongyao said nothing, leaned on his cane, and took slow, deliberate steps toward her.

Ning Huaiqing instinctively stepped back, but the dressing table was behind her, her thigh bumped against the edge, she cried out in pain, and the next second Sheng Hongyao wrapped his arms around her waist, "Why are you so startled?"

"Uncle Sheng!" Ning Huaiqing cried out in panic, how could he hold her like this?

He clearly knew she was Youyou's mother, Youyou is Sheng Yu's child!

Sheng Hongyao set his cane aside, his fingers brushed aside the hair scattered over her chest, his fingertips lingered on her delicate neck skin, "Would it be so bad to follow me?"