Chapter 961: with translation of chapter title

Shan Shan had no idea what Ao Jing was thinking right now; she just felt that Ao Jing really understood her, and being with him made her feel safe and happy.

Zhong Susu had already been waiting outside.

From afar, she watched her wooden son holding Shan Shan's hand, gazing at the speaking girl with eyes full of indulgence, her look turning all soft and silky... Zhong Susu pulled back her foot, grabbed Xiaoye who was about to greet her son, and instructed, "Later during the meal, speak less, and after eating, don't drag the son to the study."

Xiaoye was bewildered: "Why? I still have things to discuss with Jing'er."

"Not chatting for one evening won't cause a big problem." Zhong Susu gave him a sideways glance, "Just listen to me."

Saying that, Zhong Susu pulled Xiaoye back to the restaurant.

Xiaoye didn't understand.

But Xiaoye dotes on his wife.

Whatever his wife says is right.

In the restaurant, Ao Jing led Shan Shan in, and Shan Shan greeted them openly.

Ao Jing was busy back and forth, taking Shan Shan to wash her hands, pulling out a chair for her, waiting for her to sit, then starting to warm her utensils... everything was done smoothly.

Shan Shan sat obediently and chatted with Zhong Susu.

She seemed already accustomed to Ao Jing's attentive care.

Dishes full of color, aroma, and flavor were served one after another.

Then Xiaoye just watched his son busying about.

When the shrimp came, he peeled them.

When the fish came, he removed the bones.

When the soup arrived, he not only ladled it out properly but also stirred it, making sure the temperature was right before placing it beside Shan Shan...

At this moment, Xiaoye suddenly felt a sense of "children grown, not to be retained."

He also finally understood the deep meaning behind Susu's earlier advice.

This was because they feared he was too oblivious, which would delay his son's romance.

He was surely completely satisfied with Shan Shan in his heart; he just wondered whether these two kids were perhaps a bit too young.

For humans, being in their twenties is indeed the age to discuss marriage.

But they aren't humans...

After dinner, Shan Shan took her leave, and Ao Jing said he would see her off and return later.

Xiaoye watched the two figures depart, filled with mixed emotions.

Later, Xiaoye alone crouched by the Linghai shore and called Liu Junyan.

At that moment, in a small courtyard in the south, Xiao Jiu was lying on a chaise lounge cooling off, while Liu Junyan kept her company, chatting.

Upon receiving Xiaoye's call, he was somewhat surprised: "Brother, is there something you need me for?"

Xiaoye's mood seemed a bit off: "Can't I call you if there's nothing?"

Liu Junyan furrowed her brows and said, "Just chatting? How unusual."

"Not going to waste time with you." Xiaoye said impatiently, "I want to talk to you about Jing'er and Shan Shan—what do you think of these two kids?"

Liu Junyan blurted out, "Childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree—pretty good."

"Do you not think they're together a bit too early?" Xiaoye said, "They're barely in their twenties! At our age back then, we were still running around causing trouble and fighting!"

"That's you, not me!" Liu Junyan retorted, "You were notorious as a troublemaker in the Dragon Clan back then; I had a hard life, was honest and law-abiding, just wanting to save my mother."

Xiaoye was left speechless by the retort, at a loss for words for a moment.

Only after Liu Junyan's retort did he react.

During those days in the Feng Clan, he personally witnessed his precious daughter and that brat Ao Jing's feelings rapidly heating up; it seems Brother Xiao is belatedly realizing, noticing the two lovey-dovey, and wants to break them up?

Just thinking of that possibility, Liu Junyan became agitated and blasted into the phone: "Brother Xiao, what do you mean? Are you disdaining our Shan Shan for being too young? Looking down on our Shan Shan?"

"If that's really the case, then you'd better say it now—there are plenty of outstanding young men eager to date our Shan Shan; if it weren't for the fact that we grew up wearing the same pants, I might not even think highly of your son."

Xiao Jiu, upon hearing that, shot up from the chaise lounge.

She really wanted to cover Liu Junyan's mouth.

Listen, does this man even know what he's saying?

Whose son is Xiaoye's? Ao Jing, of course!

Even if Xiaoye provoked him, he couldn't belittle Jing'er!

What a fine child Jing'er is!

"Not to mention far off, just among those dragon sons of similar age in the East Sea, who upon seeing our Shan Shan wouldn't be unable to take their eyes off her? To be frank, at a banquet last year, the East Sea Dragon King already subtly brought this up with me; I didn't agree then, but looking back now... uh..."

Xiao Jiu finally couldn't hold back, one hand firmly covering Liu Junyan's mouth to stop her from spouting more nonsense, while the other hand grabbed the phone intending to say a few soothing words to Xiaoye, but the line had already been hung up.

Xiao Jiu released Liu Junyan and snapped, "I think you're getting more and more out of tune—do you even think before you speak?"

"It was he who provoked me first!" Liu Junyan exclaimed indignantly, "I was just stating the facts—how dare he dislike our Shan Shan for being too young!"

Xiao Jiu rolled her eyes and said, "That's not disdain; it's parental love—I also think our Shan Shan is still young, which is completely normal."

Liu Junyan then stopped being stubborn.

Yes, he also felt Shan Shan was too young.

In her brief twenty-plus years of life, he had been absent for a decade; parental love for children often leaves one feeling lacking.

Likewise, the one who forcibly hung up the phone on the other end was not Xiaoye, but Zhong Susu.

After dinner, Zhong Susu noticed Xiaoye's mood was off, felt uneasy, and followed him.

She never expected to hear Xiaoye's nonsensical ramblings.

After a scolding, Xiaoye stood before Zhong Susu with his head lowered, like a child who had done wrong, sincerely apologizing: "Old Seven really misunderstood me; I love Shan Shan and still haven't had enough—how could I possibly dislike her for being young? I just felt..."

"Don't dwell on it—this isn't for you to decide." Zhong Susu said earnestly, "Think back to when we got together—were we old? I personally set up a scheme to get you to marry the East Sea Princess; your father, the clan elders, and so on all advised you, yet you didn't listen to them?"

Xiaoye immediately replied, "Who I love most and who I want to spend the rest of my life with—I know it clearly in my heart! My days are my own; whoever tries to persuade me about the person I've chosen, it's useless!"

"Isn't that right?" Zhong Susu said, coaxing gently, "When you truly love someone, he will naturally consider everything for the other person. You think the two kids are still young, and each bears heavy responsibilities; talking about marriage now is a bit too early—wouldn't they consider this point?"

"Your son's temperament is far more mature than yours was back when you were a street loafer; he will consider Shan Shan even more. If things truly happen naturally, then it's just the two kids' deep affection—what's the point of us meddling?"

"If we cause a mess and make the two kids unhappy, leading to a breakup, I wonder how you'll cope then? How will you face your son, and Lao Qi and Xiao Jiu?"