Chapter 176: Chapter 169: Stand Firm and Remain Unyielding
"Shixiu, I’m really sorry, I didn’t manage the kids well... Almost caused a big disaster."
Yin Shixiu looked at his brother, and the usual gentle smile he used to disguise himself was nowhere to be seen. Above him was a moon like white jade, its light reflecting in his eyes, adding a touch of cold indifference.
Yin Shiqing sighed and walked to his side, continuing, "I’ve been outside for years, indeed I’ve paid little attention to family matters, but Bowen and Ah Lan—"
"Big Brother."
Yin Shixiu interrupted him.
"Hm?"
Yin Shiqing met his gaze.
"What do you think about the next head of the Yin Family?"
Yin Shiqing’s expression froze for a moment, but it quickly vanished. He smiled and said, "Shixiu, our father is still healthy, there’s no need to bring this up, right?"
"Nanny Chen."
Yin Shixiu took a deep breath and stepped forward, standing side by side with Yin Shiqing, "My son fell seriously ill once, and at that time I received two examination reports..."
"Shixiu, what do you want to say?"
Yin Shiqing, much older than Yin Shixiu, wore a worldly face though showing a faint smile of innocence.
Yin Shixiu blinked, casting a sidelong glance at him, "We all know what kind of personalities our parents have, especially mom, stringent and critical to the point of being picky, but when it comes to the sons and grandsons of the Yin Family, she genuinely loves them."
He inhaled deeply and then slowly exhaled, "She won’t keep Xiao Meng outside forever, but if a daughter-in-law whom she already doesn’t favor can’t even take care of her grandchildren... it would be hard to say."
"Shixiu, aren’t you overthinking this?"
"There was actually only one examination report, and when I received it, it clearly stated: consumption of trace elements unfavorable to infants, damaging the immune system, leading to decreased resistance..."
"My son has always been under Nanny Chen’s care..."
"It seems... you think Big Brother did something to your son—"
Yin Shixiu hurriedly raised his hand, signaling him to stop, his side glance projecting a sharp light.
"Consider your words, Big Brother. After all, there will be a second examination report, precisely because I haven’t concluded anything..."
"Haven’t concluded?"
Yin Shiqing looked at him, "Are you suspecting your elder brother?"
"But I let everything stop at suspicion."
"Because you are the elder brother. But if even you can’t manage your children well, and they bully my wife, then I probably won’t be able to call you Big Brother."
Yin Shiqing’s face turned somewhat pale.
"I’ve never been keen on the family head position, but now that I think carefully, even for long-term considerations..."
Yin Shixiu smirked slightly, his eyes growing heavy, not looking at Yin Shiqing, but the words he spoke almost pierced into his ears, "Letting your children ride over my wife and children, isn’t that... a bit too dangerous."
After speaking, Yin Shixiu walked from the balcony into the living room.
Leaving Yin Shiqing behind, whose expression was iron-blue, heavy with solemnity.
In the living room, Zhu Lan held her seven-year-old son, glanced at Yin Shixiu, and then withdrew her gaze.
Yin Bowen hurried over, "Shixiu... I’m really sorry, did I scare you? I didn’t know that was your wife..."
"Bowen, we’re about the same age, but in terms of hierarchy, you’d better call me Little Uncle, I don’t mind the longevity."
Yin Bowen froze for a moment.
Because they were about the same age, Yin Bowen had never called Yin Shixiu Little Uncle, and Yin Shixiu had never minded the title.
At this moment, suddenly bringing it up distanced the space between them instantly...
"My wife is young, but it’s also troublesome for you to see her tomorrow, and respectfully call her... Little Aunt."
By placing hierarchy in this way, Yin Shixiu directly charged Yin Bowen and Zhu Lan with the fault of "violating norms, disrespecting elders."
Yin Bowen and Zhu Lan for a moment were embarrassed.
After speaking, Yin Shixiu glanced at Yin Junchao, who was already seven years old but didn’t know to greet people when he saw them.
Holding a toy gun, unaware of the situation, he mumbled to Zhu Lan to buy a new model of the gun...
"Shixiu, where are you going?"
Yin Shaohui saw Yin Shixiu heading towards the door and couldn’t help but ask.
"Going out for a walk."
Though he said it was a walk, the old man in his heart knew well, ten to one it was to Yijing Manor.
Exchanging glances with his wife, they ultimately said nothing...
When Yin Shixiu swayed under the bright streetlights to Yijing Manor, his heart was up and down, carrying expectation and longing...
Just wanting to see the woman he was thinking of.
Then meticulously check her all over, personally ensuring she truly wasn’t hurt, to be at ease.
It was nearly nine o’clock by now.
The villa’s living room lights at Yijing Manor were still on, and there was a room light on the third floor.
Yin Shixiu didn’t rashly knock on the door, but instead stood below the exterior wall of the manor and called Su Xiaomeng, but the call was immediately cut off.
He was stunned for a moment, and then Su Xiaomeng sent a text message.
—Uncle, what’s up? Grandpa now forbids me from contacting you... (cry).
Looking at the message, Yin Shixiu seemed to see the little woman’s distressed and aggrieved little face.
—Does this mean I won’t be able to see you.
—Yes, (cry)... Ooh... Did you miss me?? You did, right??
Under the street lamp, the man slightly curled his lips, and in this mountain, more tender than the light was his eyes, his smile.
—Yes.
——Wow! So straightforward? Hehe... Eh, have you done something that you need to apologize to me for?
Su Xiaomeng was ecstatic one second, and then cautious and negative the next.
——I wouldn’t dare.
——Hmph! I bet you wouldn’t, unless you really don’t want Shuangshuang and Huanghuang anymore!
——Don’t always let your imagination run wild, it makes me feel like a failure...
There seemed to be a long hesitation on the other side, and it took a while for a text message to come back...
——I miss you too, what should I do? (crying).
Yin Shixiu felt warmth in his heart and wanted to disregard everything and rush into Yijing Manor.
But looking at the time, the elders were already resting, and going in at this time would undoubtedly fuel their anger further...
The winter night in the mountains was chilly.
The air inhaled felt as cold as ice.
Yin Shixiu slightly lifted his head, leaning his body against the lamppost, his hand holding the phone was red from the cold.
——What do you miss about me?
——Um, what do you miss about me?
——You guess...
——(Scoffs, scoffs) Why do I instinctively think in a naughty way?
——There’s probably only one possibility.
——What is it? (Blinks eyes)
——What you’re thinking and what I’m thinking... pretty much the same. Both quite naughty.
——Haha, did I hit the mark?
Su Xiaomeng stole a glance outside, her mom and grandpa were still sitting and chatting, she sighed heavily and then quickly typed...
——Uncle, do you know Romeo and Juliet?
Yin Shixiu didn’t really want to reply to this message.
——Do you think we are like Romeo and Juliet? (crying).
——Are Shuangshuang and Huanghuang asleep?
Yin Shixiu didn’t want to talk about Romeo and Juliet at all, so he changed the topic to the kids.
Once the kids were mentioned, Su Xiaomeng couldn’t stop talking. After the kids came back, how Shuangshuang and Huanghuang were acting up, if it weren’t for the character limit on texts, she could write a whole thesis!
Yin Shixiu smiled as he read the texts, imagining the playful expressions of a certain someone.
——But fortunately, they still see me as their mom, hehe! I threatened them a bit, and they obediently closed their eyes and went to sleep!
Su Xiaomeng said this with a straight face.
But on the other side, Yin Shixiu didn’t believe a word.
He knew his son was easy, but his daughter? He knew her too well. She wouldn’t settle without causing trouble for another half an hour before bed.
——If they listen to you so well, then Shuangshuang will be your responsibility to put to sleep from now on.
Su Xiaomeng leaned back on the bed, although there was heating in the room, looking at the thin mist on the window made her feel a bit cold.
This was the master bedroom on the third floor, with a small living room outside, and there wasn’t a door between the living room and the bedroom.
Her grandpa and mom were chatting on the small sofa in the living room.
They’d been talking for quite a while, showing no signs of stopping...
Grandpa could really talk a lot!
The third-floor window faced the side gate of the manor, from her angle, she could see two streetlamps outside, and if she slightly raised her head, she could see the stars in the night sky.
The stars weren’t that bright, but sparsely scattered there, the more she focused, the more she could discover.
——Uncle, I’m looking at the stars...
Yin Shixiu looked at the text message that popped up on his phone screen, then instinctively raised his head to look at the sky...
Then his gaze moved to the lit window on the third floor of the villa, probably because Xiaomeng changed her position, from Yin Shixiu’s angle, he could faintly see a small figure...
Most likely sitting cross-legged on the bed, with her head raised high, occasionally glancing at her phone.
——Are the stars beautiful?
——Of course, the stars in the mountains are much prettier than those seen in the city. (Blinks eyes) What are you doing?
——Um, looking at a beauty.
Su Xiaomeng was enjoying the stars, feeling that the world was incredibly beautiful, then glanced down and saw Yin Shixiu’s text, her expression froze!
She sneaked a glance at the living room...
And met her mom’s gaze, which startled her.
She didn’t dare to immediately make a call, her anger transferred to her fingertips, quickly typing on her phone!
——What beauty! Spill the beans!
——Um, just a beauty, not very old, still a young beauty...
Su Xiaomeng angrily typed a long string of words, mostly criticisms and disdain, but after typing she deleted them, then typed again, repeating several times!
Eventually, a certain person seemed to have calmed down a bit, raising an eyebrow!
——I think the stars aren’t pretty anymore, I’m going to look at handsome guys!
——Oh, okay, go ahead then.
After Yin Shixiu sent the message, he watched the little woman’s agitated silhouette through the window.
He could easily imagine her expression, after all... her features were deeply engraved in his heart.