I Deserve A Second Chance - Chapter 266

When they arrived at the Tea House, Shao Yan saw that Grandmother was laughing happily while sitting next to Mother Li.

Her steps were slightly faltered in surprise, but she kept moving forward while peeking a glance at Li Xiqing. He was walking next to her while holding her hands and noticed that Shao Yan was looking at him so he returned her gaze. His lips were curved slightly upwards as he gave her a reassuring look; Li Xiqing squeezed her hands gently to calm her down.

Meeting the parents.

This should not be something new for her. But she did not understand why her heart was racing madly now. The situation was similar and yet so different from before.

She remembered how she had met Liwei’s parents – The Fu’s in the past. At the time, she was all alone; without any support from her relatives or friends.

Seeing that she was all alone, Liwei’s parents were disappointed by her situation, but their son was so adamant on being with this woman. So they had relented.

Their meals had always been simple. His parents did not talk much either. The warm food in her stomach actually tasted bland and cold because of her nervousness. And at the time, both Liwei and her were lacking experience as it was their first ‘meeting the parents’ time.

When she felt the light squeeze in her hand, Shao Yan was brought back to the present. She stared at their linked fingers. This man had always made sure his warm palm was blanketed hers; walking with her all the way, protecting her. He had always been her mental support, her guardian angel.

‘Yes, it’s different now, Yan Yan,’ Shao Yan thought to herself.

She corrected her slumped posture and walked more confidently towards the gazebo that was located right in the middle of the garden.

———-

When Risa saw from afar that Shao Yan and Li Xiqing had arrived, she waved her hand to call the waiter over, “You can start to serve the food, please. Thank you.”

The waiter nodded and swiftly walked away to inform the kitchen.

“I’m sorry we are late, Grandma,” Shao Yan quickly walked over and wrapped her arms around Grandma Wu.

Another waiter came over and put a smaller size teapot with one white ceramic tea cup next to Risa.

“Yan Yan,” Risa made a gesture with her palm side down for Shao Yan to come closer, and then with her eyes, Risa signaled Shao Yan about the tea ceremony.

“Oh!” Shao Yan quickly realized it; she picked up the tray with the teacup that was now filled with some tea and stood next to Li Xiqing. With one hand, he took over the tray from her and placed it on the small table, and picked up the cup. And then with his other hand, Li Xiqing held her arm and helped Shao Yan to kneel down in front of Grandma Wu.

“Grandma, Happy New Year!”

“May this New Year bring blessings of abundant health, joy and prosperity to you, Grandma!”

With a big smile on her face, Grandma received the tea cup from them and took a small sip. And then Grandma handed over two red envelopes for the two of them.

“Grandma also wishes the same for both of you. Hopefully next year, Grandma will get the chance to hear the cry of small babies already,” And then the elderly burst into laughter and exchanged nods with the Li couple who was also laughing along with her.

“You two can get up now,” Grandma continued, “Xiqing, quick, help Yan Yan to get up.”

Shao Yan was too embarrassed to reply. Li Xiqing held her upper arm to help her to stand back on her feet; he could see that her mind was still thinking. Her tongue was tied as she thought of a good comeback.

Before she got the chance to say anything, Li Xiqing had chimed in, “Then, in that case, Grandma, please stay healthy. Your great-grandchildren still need you to play with them.”

After he was finished, Grandma Wu was laughing even more joyfully. She kept nodding her head while saying, “Good… Good…” and his parents were also smiling gleefully.

Shao Yan felt like she wanted to cry… >.<

It seemed that the whole family was united in bullying her. She could not help but pout.

~~>.<~~

Shao Yan kept her head slightly bowed to hide her red face as she was feeling shy. And from under her beautiful, long eyelashes, Shao Yan sent a glare at Li Xiqing.

———-

The Lunar New Year meal that day was full of joy and laughter.

Grandma Wu was clearly in a very good mood; she talked more than usual, and also able to joke around with Mother Li and Mandy easily.

Everyone was paying attention to each other. The elderlies would nag at the children to eat more. While the children would occasionally scooped dishes onto their plates. The men would happily serve more soup to the women’s bowl, and the women would pick up more meat for the men. Shao Yan could not remember when was the last time she had ever had a family meal with so many people like this, and yet still felt so warm.

“Yan Yan,” Grandmother Wu started to say, “What are your plans for this week?”

The dishes on their table had just been cleaned up and taken away. The waiters had brought up some refreshment of fruits and some sweets for dessert; along with pots of flower tea for accompaniment.

Shao Yan was holding a cup of tea in her hands and she was appreciating the fragrant smell when Grandma suddenly asked her the question.

“Feifei invited Xiqing and I for lunch tomorrow,” Shao Yan answered.

“As for the third day….,” She paused for a moment while scanning the faces of everyone on the table.

Everyone knew that the third day of Chinese New Year was the day that was set aside especially to pray for ancestors. It was believed that the third day of Lunar New Year was when evil spirits wandered around the human world, and thus, people should go to the gravesites to appease their soul and pray for them.

After she received an encouraging look from Li Xiqing, Shao Yan continued, “If everyone don’t mind,” Shao Yan was hesitating for a while, but she braced herself and started to say, “I would like to ask if anyone want to come along with me; I would like to offer incense for my parents.”

———-

Grandma Wu had a smile on her face, but upon hearing her words, her smile froze. She stared at her granddaughter for a moment before silently placed down her teacup on top of the white marble dining table. Her face turned solemn.

Mother Li and Father Li also showed a calm expression on their face, no longer laughing joyfully.

Seeing the changes in their expression, Li Xiqing placed his palm on top of Shao Yan’s hand, and then he said, “It will be a four-hour train ride. We are taking a bullet train to Beijing. Total trip for a train ride compared to an airplane ride – they are pretty much the same. But both of us decided that a train ride will be much more comfortable.”

“Pa, Ma,” And then Li Xiqing also looked at Grandma Wu and Risa, “Grandma, if you don’t mind the journey, we would be very happy if all of you can come along with both of us.”