(With cameo appearances by Youxi and Aili)
Life abroad continued day by day, seemingly mundane but in reality, tense and thrilling. Mo Xuan never expected that they would soon return to their home country.
It was actually quite sudden. Luo Tian called to inform them that the Shen family in Shanghai was hosting a birthday celebration for Shen Qingyun's father, the elderly Mr. Shen. The old man, who had never met Luo Wei'er and Luo Xue'er, wanted to see them.
"Uncle told me, if you don’t want to go, don’t force yourselves," Luo Tian said.
Luo Shiya had put the call on speaker, so Mo Xuan, who was coding, and Luo Muqi, who was leaning against him reading a book, could both hear.
Luo Shiya frowned slightly. She wasn’t particularly keen on going. Their connection to the Shen family wasn’t deep. Her grandparents had only met her and Luo Muqi for the first time after Mo Xuan was injured. At the time, both sisters were in a bad mood, and their grandparents didn’t know how to interact with them.
Even during the time they lived together, Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi were often in low spirits and rarely spoke.
Mr. Shen and his wife didn’t know their preferences or how to comfort them. Their interactions were limited to brief greetings.
Although they didn’t do much during that time, they often sent expensive gifts to the sisters. Not knowing how to bridge the emotional gap, they compensated with material things.
Luo Shiya didn’t resent them, but she simply didn’t know how to connect with them.
"Let’s go. We’ve been here for a while," Mo Xuan said softly, looking up at Luo Shiya. "Didn’t you say we were planning to travel? This could be a good opportunity to visit before the trip. After all, they are your grandparents."
Luo Shiya nodded and then said to Luo Tian, "Alright, cousin. I’ll arrange our return as soon as possible. Will my parents be going too?"
"Probably. But I won’t be going. If you have time, come back to the Capital to visit. If not, no worries. That’s settled then!"
Before Luo Shiya could respond, Luo Tian hurriedly hung up. His invitation for them to visit the Capital was merely a polite gesture; deep down, he hoped these two troublemakers wouldn’t return.
"You told them to come back, but why did you hang up so quickly?" Liu Yiyi asked, puzzled. "Your cousins and their husband have been living abroad for so long. Why aren’t you more enthusiastic?"
Enthusiastic? Me? As if! You get along so well with them as their sister-in-law, but you never mention how much they’ve put me through!
Luo Tian inwardly complained but didn’t dare say a word.
"Why did you suddenly agree to go back?" Luo Shiya was surprised that Mo Xuan had agreed.
Mo Xuan sighed and said, "After all, they are Wei'er and Xue'er's great-grandparents. It’s been so long since they’ve met. If they really want to see them, it wouldn’t be right to refuse."
Mo Xuan’s grandmother had a close bond with Luo Wei'er and Luo Xue'er, and the Shen family had expressed their desire to meet the children multiple times. However, Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi had always declined.
The family had already planned to travel, so meeting the elderly relatives before the trip seemed reasonable. Besides, the past events weren’t entirely their fault.
There wasn’t much to prepare. They booked their tickets, packed lightly, and with Sister Hui and three others accompanying them, the family soon boarded a flight to Shanghai.
Mo Xuan had always considered himself someone who avoided trouble. He even thought he might never leave the Capital in his lifetime.
On the plane, when Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi heard this, they were curious about his reasoning.
"In the past, it was because of school. Later, I felt like it didn’t matter where I went. And then…" Mo Xuan smiled. "Because I had you and the kids, my priorities changed. At first, I focused entirely on the children, and then I got tied down by you two. Wherever you go, I’ll follow."
Mo Xuan wasn’t particularly fond of traveling or exploring new places. While most people might dream of seeing different landscapes, Mo Xuan never felt that way.
It wasn’t until he was with Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi that he understood why. In the past, he had been lonely. His grandmother was elderly and in poor health.
The one person he could share things with couldn’t accompany him. And after getting together with Su Yanran, she preferred spending time with her family.
Back in high school, Mo Xuan had once thought about going to the beach with Su Yanran or traveling somewhere together.
But when Su Yanran started getting involved with Mo Jinpeng, Mo Xuan abandoned those thoughts.
He knew he could enjoy different scenery on his own, but as someone who craved love, he longed to share those moments with someone meaningful, creating memories to cherish in the future.
He was grateful he had found that, and even more so…
After landing, the Shen family arranged for someone to pick them up and take them to the Shen family villa. However, Luo Shiya declined, only asking to be taken to a hotel.
The Shen family staff didn’t dare make the decision themselves and called Shen Qingyun for instructions. After a moment of silence, Shen Qingyun sighed and said, "Do as my daughter says. Arrange the best hotel for them."
The Shen family staff were efficient, and they soon checked into a luxurious suite at a five-star hotel in Shanghai.
"Should I go buy some snacks?" Mo Xuan asked, looking at Luo Wei'er and Luo Xue'er, who were dozing off in his arms. "We can snack while we pass the time."
"Should I come with you?" Luo Shiya glanced at the equally tired Luo Muqi. "I’ve already asked Sister Hui and the others to rest. Let Muqi and the girls get some proper sleep."
At a nearby supermarket, they encountered a boy and a girl who seemed to be arguing.
(Oh, since I don’t know what they look like, just imagine them based on their avatars…)
"No, don’t listen to their nonsense! It’s all lies!"
The boy, wearing a school uniform, was anxiously explaining to the girl, who pouted and deliberately avoided looking at him.
"Come on, why don’t you believe me?" The boy looked flustered. "I told you it’s a photoshopped image. It’s all because of those group members spreading rumors that I’m a cross-dresser. Please don’t be mad, senior!"
"I won’t talk to you anymore, junior. You’re a bad person!"
The girl’s pronunciation was a bit off, giving her a somewhat endearing tone. Though she seemed angry, there was a hint of playfulness in her voice.
"Senior, you have to believe me. I’m really not a cross-dresser… I mean, I’m really not into that!"
"You even admitted it! Otherwise, why would it come out so easily?"
The senior, also in a school uniform, seemed even more upset and turned to leave. The junior kept trying to explain, and after a while, the senior said, "Actually, I’m kind of curious what you’d look like in a dress…"
"Senior, you…"
"Just kidding! I’m hungry. Take me to eat spicy hot pot!"
The junior looked relieved and quickly said, "Okay! I know the best place for spicy hot pot. As long as you’re not mad at me anymore!"
As the young couple passed by, Mo Xuan and Luo Shiya couldn’t help but smile. Though it had only been two years, they had experienced similar moments in their youth.
However, as the two walked by, Mo Xuan and Luo Shiya clearly saw the senior searching on her phone for "JK skirts for boys…"
Mo Xuan and Luo Shiya exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
"Maybe everyone’s youth is different in how they interact," Mo Xuan said helplessly. "Are young people’s ideas just too unique these days?"
Luo Shiya held his hand and looked at him tenderly. The dreams she had lost in her youth were now firmly in her grasp…