Ning and Yichan’s place.

“But why?” Instructing Yichan to take out the groceries from the bag, Ning stepped out of the kitchen for a while. ​​

“I have something important to do tonight, I am so sorry for ditching you guys.” Ziying apologized.

Scrunching her brows, Ning complained, “I knew you people will have plans, that is why I told you about this a couple of weeks ago.”

“I know Ning, I am really very sorry.” Without waiting for her reply, Ziying said, “I have a really important meeting now, I’ll talk to you later okay?”

“But—” she stopped midway and frowned. She couldn’t understand why Ziying cancelled the plan all of a sudden.

“What happened babe?” Yichan inquired before sitting beside her.

Keeping the phone on the table, she sighed, “Ziying just cancelled the plan, she won’t be coming.”

“Huh? I thought she was excited for dinner, didn’t she ask you to make some black bean noodles for her?” When she nodded her head, he frowned, “Do you think something happened between her and Chen?”

Widening her eyes in shock, she gasped, “Yes, why didn’t I think of that?” Grabbing her phone, she quickly called Chen. “Seriously, I am going to kill Chen if he did something.”

Caressing her back, Yichan sighed, “Calm down honey, maybe she is really busy.”

“Hello Chen?”

“Hello little sister, you know I was about to call you but—”

Cutting him off, she snapped, “Ziying just told me she isn’t coming for today’s party, what did you do?”

“Wait, what? What do you mean? How am I responsible for that?” Chen inquired.

“Chen, don’t try to act innocent. I know you definitely did something, now will you tell me what exactly happened or do you want me to force it out from you?” she fumed.

Helplessly shaking his head, he breathed a sigh of dejection, “I am your brother and yet you don’t trust me.”

“You are my brother, this is why I don’t trust you.” Taking a deep breath to calm herself down, she remarked, “Chen, Ziying is my friend. I told you this earlier and I am saying it again, you are not allowed to play with her feelings.”

“But I did not do anything Ning, trust me.”

Keeping quiet for quite some time, she sighed, “Fine, are you coming tonight?”

“Yes, I am coming and I am also bringing someone with me.”

Scrunching her brows, Ning snapped, “Someone? Who are you bringing?”

“A partner—”

Cutting him off, she yelled, “Partner? What do you mean? What happened to Ziying?”

“Nothing, we are still good,” he casually answered.

“So you are with Ziying and bringing someone else at the party?” When he did not say anything, she snapped, “How can you do that with her? What is wrong with you?”

“You seriously need to chill Ning and I have a really important meeting to attend.” Without waiting for her reply, he added, “I will see you tonight, don’t forget about the extra plate.”

Tossing the phone aside, Ning pinched the space between her brows. “Brothers are a pain in the ass.”

Placing his hand on her shoulder, Yichan tried to calm her down. “Don’t stress about it, they both are adults and I am sure they will handle everything with maturity.”

“You think so?” When he nodded his head, she added, “Alright, I’ll start making the dishes. Grandpa said he will come early today.”

“Early? Why?”

“He wants to be here when grandpa Jiang arrives,” she chuckled.

“I guess he just wants to mark his territory and show grandpa Jiang that he is more important than him.”

“Maybe, grandpa really behaves like a small kid at times.”

…..

Meili and Guiren’s place.

“What are we having for dinner today honey?” Guiren inquired.

“We are going to Ning’s place for dinner, did you forget about the invitation?”

Nodding his head, he sighed, “I have become very absent minded these days.”

“Uh huh, you are forgetting many things these days,” she remarked.

Raising his brows, he asked, “What’s with that tone? Did I forget something important?” Thinking for a while, he added, “It’s not your birthday and our anniversary is a couple of months away, I don’t think I am forgetting any important date.”

Placing her head on his lap, she closed her eyes. “You forgot to use protection so many times in the last couple of months and now I am a couple of weeks late.”

When he did not say anything, she sighed, “Being quiet is not going to help Mr.Zhang, say something.”

Keeping quiet for quite some time, he stated, “You were late a few months ago as well but when we took the test, you were not positive so maybe it’s the same.”

“Maybe.” Placing her hand on her stomach, she asked, “But what if I am really pregnant?”

“Mei, are you freaking out?”

Sitting up straight, she shook her head. “No, are you?”

Vigorously shaking his head, he answered, “No I am not, in fact I wanted to talk about this for a really long time.” Pausing for a while, he added, “I think it’s time for us to expand our family, what do you think?”

“You are talking about having a baby, right?” When he nodded his head, she pounced in his embrace. “I am so glad you started this conversation, I wanted to talk to you about it but I didn’t because I thought you were not ready.”

“We have been married for almost four years now, I don’t think we can avoid this any longer. Though mom has stopped pestering us to have a baby, it doesn’t mean we can avoid it for life. And after reading so many baby books, I feel like I am ready to be a father.”

“And what if I am really pregnant? Do you think we are gonna be okay?” she nervously inquired.

Cupping her face, he smiled, “Of course honey, we don’t have any financial problem and i think we are emotionally ready too. I just feel like a baby will complete our little family.”

“Should we take a test at home?”

“I’ll go get the kit, wait for me.” Without waiting for her reply, he grabbed his wallet and rushed out of the room.

…..

Evening

Ning and Yichan’s place.

“What did you bring for me?”

“Many things and I also bought this for myself.” Pulling out a white t-shirt which had ‘World’s Best Great-Grandpa’ written on it, Grandpa Yang grinned, “Don’t you think this is perfect?”

Taking the t-shirt in her hand, Ning chuckled, “This is really very fascinating, where did you get this from?”

“It’s a customized t-shirt, even Quan got one for himself but the difference is, he is really going to become a great-grandpa unlike me,” he sighed.

“Don’t worry grandpa, you will get a great-grandchild when the correct time comes.” Looking at the red marks all over his hand and face, she frowned, “You have sun burns all over your face and hands.”

“I know, this happened when old Zhang and I fell asleep on the beach all afternoon.”

“Well, at least you had fun.” Walking towards the kitchen, she added, “The food is almost ready and everyone will arrive soon too, do you want something to eat while you are waiting for them?”

“Did you make tortillas for me?” he inquired.

“Of course I did, how could I forget? Let me get some for you to taste.”

Glancing at the watch, he scoffed, “When is that new grandpa of yours coming?”

“He will be here any minute.” Without waiting for his reply, she added, “He was asking about you in the morning.”

“So you talk to him over the phone as well?” before she could say anything, he quickly approached her. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he narrowed his eyes. “Tell me Yang Ning, if we both call you together, whose call will you receive first? His or mine?”

“What kind of question is that? How can two people call me at the same time?” she chuckled.

“I am talking hypothetically.”

“Okay so hypothetically, how can two people call me at the same time? That isn’t possible grandpa.”

Scrunching his brows, he snapped, “That was not the answer I was expecting from you.”

Helplessly shaking her head, Ning sighed, “Grandpa, you have to understand something which is really very important.” Pausing for a while, explained, “You and grandpa Jinag have different places in my heart. You are the one who raised me and grandpa Jiang is my maternal grandpa whom I just met a few months ago. I have known you since I was born, you are the only person I have upon and the only one who knows me inside out. How can you even compare yourself with anyone? Even Yichan cannot compare himself with you, forget about anybody else.”

Giving him a hug, she added, “You are special, my special old man.”

“I am not old, I am still young.” Hugging her tightly, he sighed, “You are special too.”

…..