BAI YE pouted when he saw everyone laughing after what he said.He glanced at Yan Yan, 'she' was the only one not laughing.He knew it.'She' was the best.But what was there a troubled expression on 'her' face?Did 'she' not want to be his bride?

There was a girl in his class who told him that she wanted to be his bride.He didn't know what the word 'bride' meant.But since he found the girl annoying, he immediately rejected.That girl cried so loud which was even more annoying.He couldn't understand why she would cry like that.

So, when he returned home, he asked his mother what 'bride' meant.His mother only chuckled and told him that it's the person that he would be living with for the rest of his life once he became an a.d.u.l.t.Like how she was to his father.Hearing that, he was glad that he rejected that girl.How could he live with that girl for the rest of his life?It would just annoy him to no end.

But when he saw Yan Yan, Bai Ye felt like he could do that with 'her'.After all, 'she' was so pretty.Seeing 'her' everyday would surely be a delight.But what if 'she' didn't feel the same?Was it because 'she' was bigger than him?But he would soon grow up and be taller than 'her'.

Bai Ye pouted even more when he thought that that was the case.

Luo Jin pinched Bai Yes's cheek."Hey, brat.You can't marry, Yan.He's your cousin and you're both boys, so that's a no go."

"He probably still thinks that Xiao Yan is a girl," Bai Ze said with a teasing tone.

Sun Xiulan looked amusedly at his youngest son."Well, Xiao Ye, even if your Brother Yan is a girl, you still can't marry him because you are cousins."

Bai Ye held his cheek that had been pinched.Frowned and looked as if he was about to cry.

Luo Yan patted Bai Ye's head. "Don't cry. I'm sure Xiao Ye will find a prettier bride in the future."

"No!How could there be a girl prettier than Yan Yan?"

Luo Yan suddenly felt like he would have a headache.Should he just go n.a.k.e.d here so this kid could see his 'little brother' down there.Then, he would probably finally believe that he's a boy.He couldn't be responsible in breaking the three views of such a young kid as this.And he also happened to be his cousin to boot.

"Okay, Xiao Ye, don't throw tantrums," Bai Chen scolded gently.

Bai Ye looked like he would cry even more.

Sun Xiulan then crouched down and held Bai Ye up.She turned to her husband."Hey, Bai Chen, no bullying my baby."

Bai Chen only raised both hands as if in surrender."Yes, yes."

Sun Xiulan smiled at her youngest. "Now, let's have you clean up before lunch. You don't want Brother Yan to think that you're smelly, right?"

Bai Ye secretly glanced at Luo Yan before hugging his mother's neck."Okay."

Sun Xiulan turned to their guests."Lunch will be served shortly, please wait just for a short while."

Once Sun Xiulan and Bai Ye left, Luo Wei Tian turned to Bai Chen.

"Where's Father-in-law?I think I and the kids should greet him first," he said.

"Dad is in the garden with his nurse."

Luo Yan's ears perked up when he heard the word 'nurse'.So, he's already at the stage where he needed to be constantly monitored.

"Is he alright?"

"Well, better than most days," Bai Chen said.He was smiling but one could immediately see the visible sadness that enveloped him.

"That's good," Luo Wei Tian could only say.

"Before we go to him," Bai Chen turned to Luo Yan."Xiao Yan, whatever reaction your Grandpa shows, I hope you wouldn't be scared."

"I won't, Uncle," Luo Yan didn't hesitate to say."How could I be scared of Grandpa?"

Bai Chen smiled and patted his head gently."That's good."

Bai Chen then led them towards the garden.

It was at the back of the villa.The place was filled with different kinds of flowers.There was also a relatively large koi pond.Near that pond was a pavilion.Inside it was an old man sitting on a wheelchair.A young man in white was standing not far but also not too close to the old man.Giving him the proper space he needed.

Luo Yan stared at the old man on the wheelchair.He was thin and his face was full of pleats.His hair was gray and even thinning.But most of all, his eyes almost looked empty.As if all the lights in them had already been extinguished.

No one would believe that this old man was once the powerful patriarch of the Bai family – Bai Zhen.

Somehow, seeing him like this, there was some kind of pang in Luo Yan's heart.

"Dad," Bai Chen called when they walked near the pavilion."Look who's here."

It seemed Bai Zhen still recognized his son's voice.Because he reacted and turned his head towards their direction.

"Father-in-law," Luo Wei Tian respectfully greeted.

"Granpa," Luo Ren and Luo Jin also followed suit.

Bai Zhen barely showed any reaction to them.But when Luo Yan stepped up, smiled, and greeted him, his whole body started to tremble.He slowly raised his hand, as if trying to reach him.

"H-Hua-er…" he called in a feeble voice.

Luo Yan unconsciously reached out to Bai Zhen – no, to his grandfather.Holding his hand firmly.He could feel the bones in his hand, showing just how thin he was.And for some reason, the feeling of this bone-like hand brought an unprecedented sadness into Luo Yan.

He knew that at this moment his grandfather was already mistaking him for his mother.But if it could bring some kind of temporary peace in him, then he wouldn't mind playing the part.

So, he smiled and said, "Yes."

His grandfather's eyes suddenly came to life and big drops of tears slowly fell from it like raindrops."Hua-er… Hua-er… you finally came home.I've been waiting… I've been waiting for so long…"

As he said those words, he gripped Luo Yan's hand tightly.As if confirming his existence.

The only thing Luo Yan could do was to engulf him in his arms and embraced those thin and trembling shoulders.