novelraw Chapter 579 - 578: Yang Family (Part 1)
Chapter 579 - 578: Yang Family (Part 1)
Because there was prior communication, the next day, when the Old Master’s eldest son called back, saying he wanted to bring the siblings and their families to the main house to meet the little niece they’d never met, the Old Master unusually agreed and instructed Uncle Jing to ask the chefs in the kitchen to prepare a feast for dozens of people.After the Old Master hung up the phone, Yang Sheng explained to Le Tong. "Grandpa always complains that it’s noisy and chaotic when they come back, so he rarely agrees to let them all come back together."
This means that Yang Sheng being able to freely enter and stay long-term at the main house was only possible because he had the Old Master’s approval.
The Old Master, thinking about Baobao and Nuonuo sunbathing in the backyard, got up to go to the backyard to play with Baobao.
Le Tong then asked Yang Sheng, "Brother, was it really because Grandpa caught you with something that you were forced to come back?"
After spending a few days together, Le Tong felt that Yang Sheng’s relationship with the Old Master wasn’t as bad as she’d imagined.
Yang Sheng glanced at her, not directly answering, "What do you think?"
"I think, well, your relationship with Grandpa is quite good. You see, he won’t let anyone else stay, but he allows you to stay by his side."
Yang Sheng neither confirmed nor denied Le Tong’s viewpoint, but instead asked her, "Then you tell me, before you were so resolute, why did you come around to forgiving him later?"
"You guess!" Le Tong playfully winked at Yang Sheng.
Yang Sheng shook his head, "I won’t guess, but if I didn’t misunderstand, the reason you forgave him is probably the same as the reason I chose to come back."
The pair of siblings, in the end, neither expressed their reasons, but it seemed they both silently acknowledged each other’s guess as correct.
Yang Sheng chatted with Le Tong and Ji Rui in the living room for a while, then his assistant called, saying there was an urgent matter that required his return. Yang Sheng had no choice but to hurriedly leave Ji Rui and Le Tong.
Ji Rui was handling work on his laptop, and Le Tong originally wanted to help out. Ji Rui hugged her close and gave her a kiss, glancing at the bright scene outside the courtyard, "The weather outside is nice, it shouldn’t be too cold. You should go accompany Baobao and Nuonuo."
Le Tong thought about it and agreed. Rarely having a chance to visit Beijing, it’s only right to spend more time with the Old Master.
Under Ji Rui’s supervision, Le Tong dressed warmly, and upon heading out, she bumped into Uncle Jing, who told her, "The Old Master and Baobao are in the North Garden Rose Garden."
Le Tong remembered the vast area of roses she passed last time, "Uncle Jing, is the rose garden you’re talking about near that parking lot at the main entrance?"
"Yes, that’s the one. Does Miss Tongtong recognize the way, or should I find someone to accompany you?"
Le Tong waved her hand, "No need, I’ll just take a stroll myself. It’d be best if I find it, and if not, I’ll just treat it as a walk."
Seeing her so insistent, Uncle Jing didn’t force the issue and simply pointed her in the general direction to walk.
Le Tong wasn’t in a hurry and strolled leisurely on the grass.
Though it was winter, the sun was shining brightly, so it didn’t feel very cold. The flowers and grass along the path were obviously tended by professional gardeners, lush and green without showing any signs of decay.
Le Tong admired the scenery along the way, occasionally taking photos with her phone and posting them on Weibo. Seeing in front of a flower bed, a flower whose name she couldn’t recall was blooming splendidly, Le Tong leaned in to find a good angle for a close-up shot.
"Oh, in such a good mood!"
A deep male voice reached Le Tong’s ears, but she didn’t pay attention, snapping a few pictures in quick succession before leisurely straightening up to look ahead.
A man stood in front, about fifty to sixty years old, with familiar features. This familiarity reminded Le Tong of her father.
Yesterday, the Old Master had shown her many photos of her father, and the man in front of her resembled her father, though older, with at least fifty to sixty percent similarity in facial features.
It seemed this person was likely one of her uncles.
Yang Sheng had privately briefed her, her grandfather had five children—four sons and one daughter. Her father, Yang Weikang, was the youngest.
Though she’d learned from Yang Sheng and the Old Master that none of her uncles and aunts were kind or good, for now, Le Tong had no grudges with them, and as a junior, she still had to display the proper courtesy.
Le Tong quickly pondered which uncle this man might be, and finally decided on a vague form of address, "Uncle?"
The man smiled, and his smile bore some resemblance to Yang Sheng’s.
"Second Uncle?" Le Tong tentatively called.
"Really smart, indeed Weikang’s daughter!"
Le Tong smiled and extended her hand to him, "Hello, Second Uncle, I’m Tongtong."
To Le Tong, it was better to gain a friend than make an enemy. Before the other party acted against her, pretending to be a gentle and docile lamb was safer and more reliable.
"Hmm, I heard Xiao Sheng mention you a few days ago, but I’ve been busy, so I didn’t make it back in time. Tongtong won’t blame Second Uncle, will she?"
Le Tong shook her head with a smile, "Why would I? As the niece, I should’ve visited you, Second Uncle, so please don’t blame me!"
Le Tong knew little about this Second Uncle aside from what Yang Sheng mentioned the previous night. However, upon this initial encounter, he didn’t leave such a bad impression as her cousin Yang Hao did.
Maybe, partly because he was Yang Sheng’s father, Le Tong subconsciously regarded him as more approachable.
"Ah, what a sweet talker, no wonder Xiao Sheng likes you so much."
As the man said this, his eyes seemed to convey a faint bitterness, which Le Tong noticed but didn’t understand.
"Second Uncle, it’s just that I keep troubling him, he’s got no choice, it’s embarrassing," Le Tong courteously responded.
"Dad, why are you walking so fast? Why didn’t you wait for me, my feet hurt!"
A clear voice came from behind the man, Le Tong turned slightly, seeing a corner about ten meters away with a girl around ten, walking briskly towards them.
"Xiao Jing, come here." The man turned around and waited for the girl to approach, bringing her in front of Le Tong.
"This is your Sister Tongtong." He said this, then told Le Tong, "Tongtong, this is my daughter, Xiao Jing."
The little girl, shorter than Le Tong, was quite cute. She curiously looked at Le Tong for a while before smiling and holding Le Tong’s hand.
"Sister, you’re really pretty."
Le Tong couldn’t decide if she liked or was put off by the little girl’s naturally friendly nature, so she gave her a bright smile out of politeness.
"Xiao Jing is what’s truly pretty."
"No, I’m just cute." The little girl continued smiling cheerfully. Such innocent and carefree children, even if Le Tong wanted to dislike her, she couldn’t.
Even though she knew well that this little girl was Yang Sheng’s half-sister.