At the Hao Mansion, Hao Yan Que was sitting on a sofa reviewing reports. Suddenly two figures appeared in front of him.

‘Xiao Che,’ Qiu Li Luo called. ‘Mummy really missed you.’

Qiu Li Luo wanted to hug her oldest son who grew more handsome by the day. But Hao Yan Que held her waist too tightly.

‘Mum, why are you and dad here?’ Hao Yan Che asked coldly.

‘Are you saying mummy and daddy can’t see you unless it’s important?’ Qiu Li Luo asked.

‘Isn’t it the truth?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

Hao Yan Che’s parents’ burning love for each other, let him live independently at an early age.

Qiu Li Luo glared at Hao Yan Que. She wanted to visit her sons often, but Hao Yan Que didn’t let her.

‘Mum, tell me why you and dad are here,’ Hao Yan Che said.

‘Tomorrow, mummy will bring a loveable young woman here to be your maid,’ Qiu Li Luo said.

Qiu Li Luo waited thirteen years for Yuan Gun Gun to be with Hao Yan Che.

‘I don’t need a maid,’ Hao Tan Che said.

‘Even if you don’t need her, you have to accept her,’ Qiu Li Luo said. ‘Mummy wants her to be my daughter-in-law.’

‘Mum, Hao Yan Ming is your son too,’ Hao Yan Che said.

Hao Yan Che signed a reviewed report.

‘No,’ Qiu Li Luo said. ‘This young woman is suited to you. Xiao Che, if you’re not good to her, mummy will make you suffer.’

Qiu Li Luo snatched the reports out of Hao Yan Che’s hands.

‘Mum, what makes you think I’ll agree?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

‘Because I’m your biological mother,’ Qiu Li Luo said.

Hao Yan Che silently looked at Hao Yan Que. Qiu Li Luo hid behind Hao Yan Que’s back.

‘Because… Que is your biological father,’ Qiu Li Luo said softly.

Qiu Li Luo pulled Hao Yan Que’s shirt sleeve and she looked pitifully into his amber eyes.

‘Three years,’ Hao Yan Que negotiated. ‘Xiao Che, after three years, you’re free.’

‘Dad, what do you mean?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

‘Let the little girl stay with you for three years,’ Hao Yan Que said. ‘If after three years, you feel nothing for her then I’ll give the CEO position of Hao Yan’s company to someone else.’

‘Deal,’ Hao Yan Che said.

‘Good,’ Hao Yan Que said. ‘If you love the little girl then you need to be CEO of Hao Yan’s company until you have an heir.’

‘Dad, that day won’t happen,’ Hao Yan Chen said. ‘After three years I won’t be CEO of Hao Yan’s company anymore.’

‘Xiao Che, what have I taught you?’ Hao Yan Que asked. ‘Don’t be too cocky before the end. There are no guarantees in life.’

Hao Yan Che looked at the reports Qiu Li Luo put back on his desk.

‘The little girl’s name is Yuan Gun Gun,’ Hao Yan Que said.

Hao Yan Que and Qiu Li Luo disappeared from the room.

Hao Yan Che reviewed the reports like nothing happened. Except he thought Yuan Gun Gun’s name was a laughable name.

***

At night at the Yuan Mansion, Yuan Gun Gun listened to the animals snore. She wasn’t sleepy.

The animals saw Na Liu Ting Du walked into Yuan Gun Gun’s bedroom, and they hid under the bedsheet.

Na Liu Ting Du laid on Yuan Gun Gun’s bed, and he hugged her from behind.

‘Big brother Du, didn’t you say I can’t sleep with you?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

‘Didn’t I say you’re not allowed to sleep with them either?’ Na Liu Ting Du asked.

Yuan Gun Gun turned around and hugged Na Liu Ting Du like she did when she was younger.

Na Liu Ting Du stroked Yuan Gun Gun’s hair and she cried.

‘Big brother Du, does daddy not love me anymore?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

‘Impossible,’ Na Liu Ting Du said. ‘Don’t you know how much dad loves you?’

‘If daddy loves me, why is he forcing me to live in another person’s home?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked. ‘I don’t want to leave. I want to stay her with everyone.’

‘Gun Gun, three years will fly by,’ Na Liu Ting Du said.

Na Liu Ting Du felt he was comforting himself more than comforting Yuan Gun Gun.

‘What happens when I miss home?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

Na Liu Ting Du let Yuan Gun Gun play with his long hair.

‘I’ll come and visit you,’ Na Liu Ting Du said.

‘What happens when I miss my small friends?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

‘I’ll take you home to visit them when I’m free,’ Na Liu Ting Du said.

‘OK,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘Gun Gun, when you’re living in Hao Yan Che’s home, you need to be careful,’ Na Liu Ting Du said. ‘Hao Yan Che has a bad temper. You should keep your distance from him.’

‘Who is Hao Yan Che?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

‘He’s the young master of the place you’re going to,’ Na Liu Ting Du said.

‘Is he scary?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

‘Yes,’ Na Liu Ting Du said.

‘Does he hit people?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

‘I don’t know,’ Na Liu Ting Du said. ‘If he hits you, tell me straight away.’

‘I will,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘Go to sleep,’ Na Liu Ting Du said.

‘Big brother Du, are you sleeping here with me tonight?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

‘Why?’ Na Liu Ting Du asked. He pinched Yuan Gun Gun’s nose. ‘Can’t I sleep here?’

‘But you said I had to sleep on my own,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

Na Liu Ting Du glared at the animals behind Yuan Gun Gun.

‘Tonight’s an exception,’ Na Liu Ting Du said. ‘You’re leaving tomorrow. Don’t you want to sleep with me tonight?’

‘Big brother Du, you’re the best,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘I love big brother Du the most.’

‘Um, I love Gun Gun too,’ Na Liu Ting Du said. He patted Yuan Gun Gun’s back. ‘Go to sleep.’

Na Liu Ting Du listened to Yuan Gun Gun’s steady breathing. He suspected his feelings for Yuan Gun Gun surpassed a brother’s love, he loved her like how a man loved a woman.

***

End of Chapters Sixteen to Seventeen