Chapter 385: Extra (9)

“First Uncle, do you guys have to be so dramatic!”

Hearing Li Xiangrui’s wail, Li Miao raised an eyebrow and said coolly, “Your parents are going to be back in their hometown for a very long time. Don’t you go causing trouble. If you dare pull any stunts, I guarantee your dad will rush back overnight to sort you out!”

“Auntie, don’t you dote on me the most? Why are you being like this now?” Li Xiangrui looked at his elders’ expressions and knew that further objections were useless, so he didn’t bother trying to persuade them. He was now in the mood to joke around with his relatives. Although he was a sixteen-year-old boy with the air of a refined young gentleman, in front of his family, he was just a playful little boy who loved to talk, laugh, and cause a ruckus.

Li He reached out, pulled her nephew to her side, and ruffled his hair, scolding him with a laugh, “Go on, now. Your younger siblings are still little. They need to rest early. Hurry up and have someone prepare their rooms and get them to bed.”

“Let the little ones go rest first,” Li Xianglin said with a smile, looking at her younger siblings and cousins, who were getting sleepy. “Aunt Fang has already tidied up the house. Uncles and aunts, please go get settled in. We can talk more in a little while. My two older cousins, you too. Go get freshened up, and we’ll talk later.”

‘These elders in the family meant well, but sometimes they were a bit unreliable. As for the security of their family home, while it couldn’t compare to the Imperial Palace, its safety rating wasn’t far behind. After all, to her father, everyone living here was someone he cared about most—especially their mother, whom he cherished above all else. If this house wasn’t safe, Li Xianglin felt, then even living at the police station wouldn’t be much better.’

As Li Bao, Li Cui, Li He, Li Yuan, Li Miao, Zhou Huaitai, and Zhang Yizhen returned, the siblings Li Xianglin and Li Xiangrui shared an almost imperceptible shake of their heads. ‘We’re still so far behind Father.’ Li Xiangrui had already prepared the tea. He poured a cup for each of them before saying, “First Uncle, Fourth Aunt, Fifth Aunt, Aunt He, Youngest Aunt, and my two cousins, please have some tea.”

Li Xianglin watched her brother, who didn’t even seem to want to talk, a smile in her eyes. She couldn’t help but reach out and ruffle his hair, too. After Li Xiangrui protested with a shout of, “Sis!” she soothed him with a gentle, “There, there.”

“First Uncle, Aunts, Cousins, my brother and I understand what you’re trying to do. It’s just that this arrangement would be inconvenient. Our elders all have jobs, and so do our cousins. It would also be inconvenient for the little ones to get to school. Please don’t worry. My dad has already arranged everything. If you don’t trust the two of us, don’t you at least trust our dad? You can stay for a week and see for yourselves. Rest assured, we can take care of ourselves. Besides, here in Capital City, there really aren’t many people who would dare to touch the two of us.”

Li Xianglin’s gentle voice carried a domineering air as she continued, “My dad is the most thorough person there is. Great-Grandma can’t be left alone right now, so Dad and Mom will definitely have to stay by her side. We all have our own things to do. Mom has already taken leave from work. When it comes to these things, no one is more meticulous than my dad. Please rest assured. If Dad is letting me and Yanyan stay in Capital City alone, he has certainly made foolproof plans.”

Although everyone understood Li Xianglin’s words and knew that Li Xiu would have certainly made foolproof arrangements for his son and daughter, they were still worried about these two children—one not yet an adult, and the other having just come of age. Even though they all knew nothing would likely happen, they were still worried!

Li Xiangrui glanced at his sister, a faint smile playing on his lips as he said, “Sis, the house is big enough for everyone anyway. It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together as a family. It’s a good chance for a reunion. School starts in a couple of days. Once our uncles and aunts see that we’re fine, they’ll be at ease. Right, cousin?”

“You little rascal. Alright, we know you’re afraid of troubling us,” Zhang Yizhen said, looking at his younger cousin’s roundabout way of speaking. He couldn’t help but shake his head, but he still gave a firm answer so as not to make things difficult for him. “Once school starts in a couple of days and we see everything’s fine, Huaitai and I will be at ease. It’s settled. It won’t get in the way of our work.”

Li Xiangrui’s joy was plain to see, a smile filling his eyes. He nodded at his two cousins, then turned to his uncles and aunts, his gaze full of hopeful expectation. Seeing his expression, Li Miao couldn’t help but soften. She thought for a moment and said, “We know you and Nuonuo are worried about troubling us. Your dad has always been thorough in his planning. Don’t worry, we’ll just stay for a few days. It won’t interfere with our work, and it won’t keep the little ones from their school.”

“Great! Auntie Miao, are you letting Uncle get our little cousin to sleep? Can he actually do it?” Li Xiangrui was relieved now that Li Miao had given a clear answer. ‘These relatives of ours are all so busy. If they really moved in, it would be inconvenient for their jobs. Besides, my eldest uncle’s wife is one thing, but those few uncles-in-law… they don’t say anything, but who knows what they’re really thinking? Even if they usually act nice enough.’

Li Miao glanced at the two siblings, paused, and realizing they had something to discuss with Brother Bao, she went along with it and said, “Alright then. It’s getting late. We can talk about anything else tomorrow. Don’t stay up too late and make the grandparents worry.”

“Don’t worry, Auntie Miao. I already spoke with Grandma and Grandpa on both sides,” Li Xiangrui said, his tone growing much more serious at the mention of the older generation. “I told them to rest easy and that they can chat with you all tomorrow.”

…

When only Li Bao, Li Xianglin, and Li Xiangrui were left in the room, Li Xiangrui poured a cup of tea, offered it to Li Bao with both hands, and said softly, “You’ve worked hard during this time, Uncle.”

“You’re too polite. We’re all family, so there’s no need to talk about hardship,” Li Bao said in a grave and earnest tone, taking a sip of the tea his nephew had poured. “Your father and mother are back home fulfilling their filial duties by taking care of Grandma. The least we younger siblings can do is not be a burden to them. I know your father has surely made arrangements for everything, but you two are still young. Even knowing that nothing is likely to happen, we can’t help but worry as your uncles and aunts.”

Li Xianglin nodded and said seriously, “Uncle, Yanyan and I know. We just don’t want you all to neglect your own work. I know you’re bound to worry with Mom and Dad away, so why don’t you stay for a while, and we’ll see. We’re family. If something really happens, this niece of yours won’t be shy about asking for help.”

“That’s good to hear!” Li Xianglin’s words made Li Bao smile. But then, as if remembering something, he asked, “What’s the situation with the Ping Family? What did Ping’an say? Your father and mother won’t be back in Capital City for a while, so the Ping Family’s side…?”

“Dad has already arranged everything. He handed many things over to Aunt Shengnan. Uncle Ping was angry, but you know my father’s temperament, Uncle. Uncle Ping knows it too. Once Dad makes a decision, he doesn’t change it. Uncle Ping understood what Dad meant and accepted it, though reluctantly. Besides, Dad has worked so hard for so many years. Even Uncle Ping doesn’t have the heart to make him keep at it.”

Li Xianglin’s words made Li Bao nod. ‘My older brother really has had it tough. He never hid the truth about his relationship with the Ping Family and Ping’an from me. Although he didn’t let me get involved in many matters, he still let me know the history and secrets behind them. It’s a good thing that he can slowly extricate himself now.’