When Mo Xuan and Luo Shiya returned from outside, they also picked up groceries from a nearby supermarket. By the time they got back, Luo Muqi had already arrived and was sitting on the sofa chatting with Grandma.
The coffee table was filled with various items—health supplements, fruits, and more.
“You're back?” Grandma greeted them with a smile, waving her hand. “Muqi just arrived too, and she brought so many things.”
“Daddy!”
Hearing the voices, the two little toddlers, barefoot, came running out of the bedroom. Mo Xuan quickly set the bags down and scooped up the two little ones.
Luo Muqi couldn't help but roll her eyes. She had been here for quite a while, even finishing a cup of tea, yet these two little ingrates hadn't come out to greet her!
“Luo Wei'er, Luo Xue'er, don't run around the house barefoot,” Luo Shiya said, pinching their chubby cheeks gently. “Grandma, why did you get up?”
“I took a nap and felt more energetic, so I got up,” Grandma replied, trying to stand. “Sit down, everyone. Xuan, come help me with dinner.”
“No, I’ll do it myself,” Mo Xuan said, placing his daughters next to Grandma. “Wei'er, Xue'er, stay with Grandma, okay? Daddy needs to cook.”
The little ones nodded eagerly, and Mo Xuan smiled, patting their heads before heading to the kitchen with the plastic bags.
“Let me help you, brother,” Luo Muqi followed him in, thinking her sister wasn't paying attention. She suddenly grabbed Mo Xuan's shirt, pulling him to her eye level, ready to kiss him. But unexpectedly, Luo Shiya's hand reached out from behind, grabbing Luo Muqi's collar and pulling her back. Luo Shiya then leaned in and kissed Mo Xuan on the lips.
“Sis, you're not playing fair!”
Luo Muqi pushed her sister away angrily and wrapped her arms around Mo Xuan's neck, kissing him forcefully.
Mo Xuan: ...
Are you both just here for the fun of it? My feelings have never... Forget it, it seems they’ve never cared about my feelings during these moments.
“Stop messing around, I need to cook,” Mo Xuan pushed the sisters away. “The kitchen isn’t that big, and you two can’t help anyway.”
“Who says we can’t?” Luo Shiya smiled. “Why don’t you let us try?”
Mo Xuan genuinely didn’t believe the sisters could cook. After all, they had private chefs at the manor, and there were also nannies and maids at home. As for him, he often ended up in the kitchen whenever the girls or the kids begged him to. In Mo Xuan's eyes, these two heiresses probably couldn’t even tell the difference between garlic and ginger.
So when he saw Luo Muqi washing vegetables skillfully and Luo Shiya slicing meat and vegetables with precision, he couldn’t help but rub his eyes.
Did I wake up too early? Or am I dreaming?
They’re actually this skilled?
So, all those times they begged me to cook while they watched? What was that about?
“What’s wrong, brother?” Luo Muqi wrapped her arms around Mo Xuan’s. “Surprised, huh? Look, you’ve got two rich, beautiful, and now cooking-savvy women. You’re not losing out, are you?”
Mo Xuan wanted to complain, but he found he couldn't. In the entire Capital, it was hard to find women their age who were richer or more beautiful than these sisters.
“When did you two learn to cook?” Mo Xuan asked curiously. “I’ve never seen you do it before.”
“We’ve known how for a while,” Luo Muqi said, her beautiful peach-blossom eyes gazing at him affectionately. “Isn’t it said that to capture a man’s heart, you must first capture his stomach?”
Mo Xuan almost believed her.
So, why don’t you try capturing mine and see if you can? You’ve never even tried!
“I practiced for a while before, but it’s not as good as yours,” Luo Shiya said, taking the paper towel Luo Muqi handed her and wiping her hands. “Alright, Xuan, we’ve sliced everything for you. Go ahead and cook!”
Mo Xuan felt they were lying to him, but he was still pushed into the kitchen by Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi.
After some time, Mo Xuan prepared four dishes and a soup, neatly arranging them on the dining table, along with rice. Worried about the kids’ mealtime, he had also bought toddler utensils.
Perhaps it was the joy of having her great-granddaughters at the table for the first time, but Grandma, who usually had a poor appetite, ended up eating an extra bowl of rice and even drinking an extra bowl of soup.
“Grandma, I’m not worried about how much you eat, but having this much at night...”
Mo Xuan looked at Grandma with concern, but she didn’t seem to mind, smiling. “What’s the big deal? Watching Wei'er and Xue'er eat made me hungry.”
The atmosphere seemed to be infectious, and the family sat together harmoniously, laughing and chatting. Not only did Grandma have a better appetite, but the two toddlers also ate until their little bellies were round.
After dinner, Mo Xuan cleared the table and took the dishes to the kitchen to wash. Grandma slowly walked in and whispered to Mo Xuan, “Xuan, take me to the civil affairs office tomorrow.”
“You...”
Mo Xuan turned to look at Grandma in surprise. After all, she and Grandpa had been separated for so many years, and they could have applied for an automatic dissolution of their marriage long ago.
But she hadn’t, and neither had Grandpa.
“I thought it was fine to just keep things as they were, out of sight, out of mind,” Grandma said, her tone light and her expression at ease. “After all, we were once husband and wife. Tomorrow, take me there, and don’t bother Shiya and Muqi. It’s not convenient for them to go.”
Mo Xuan didn’t respond, just nodded. Grandma looked at her grandson and suddenly smiled. “I always see you, but I never noticed how much you’ve grown. When you first came, you were so small, like Wei'er and Xue'er, and chubby...”
“Grandma, are you okay?”
Mo Xuan’s nerves were on edge. Ever since Grandma insisted on leaving the hospital, he had been on pins and needles. But Grandma seemed unconcerned, her smile gentle. “What could be wrong with me? You keep busy, and if you trust me, let the little ones sleep with me tonight.”
With that, Grandma turned and walked away, though slowly, she seemed much better than before.
That night, Mo Xuan slept on the sofa with a blanket, while Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi took his bedroom. The two daughters slept with Grandma.
Through the dim light of the streetlamp outside, it seemed snow was still falling.
Mo Xuan’s heart wasn’t at peace. The calmer and more normal Grandma seemed, the more anxious he became.
The phrase “returning glow” flashed through his mind, and just thinking about it made him feel as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart.
Suddenly, a sound of a door opening broke the silence. Mo Xuan instinctively looked up and saw a slender figure approaching, pulling back his blanket.
“Xuan...”
Luo Shiya’s voice was soft and gentle, but her actions were quick. She pressed herself against Mo Xuan, her warm, soft body close to his, carrying a pleasant scent.
“Shiya, why are you out here?” Mo Xuan asked in surprise, quickly covering her with the blanket. “Where’s Muqi?”
Mo Xuan was just asking if Luo Muqi was asleep, but hearing him mention her, Luo Shiya’s aura turned cold, and she kissed him forcefully.
“I thought you seemed upset and wanted to comfort you while Muqi was asleep...”
Luo Shiya’s voice was low, but Mo Xuan’s body instinctively sensed danger. Hearing her words, Mo Xuan awkwardly replied, “No, I’m fine...”
In the dark, Luo Shiya’s hands traced Mo Xuan’s face, as if outlining his features. After a moment, she sighed softly. “Xuan, you can rely on me, on my sister...”
“I know you’re worried, afraid something will happen to Grandma. Xuan, I understand you, much more than you think...”
“And with me, Muqi, and the kids, you’re no longer alone like you used to be...”
Mo Xuan suddenly wrapped his arms around Luo Shiya’s waist, his body trembling slightly. Luo Shiya felt warm tears fall on her hand as she caressed his face.
In the darkness, Mo Xuan couldn’t see Luo Shiya’s expression, but he felt her kiss his tears.
Unlike her usual domineering and possessive nature, her kiss was gentle, as if soothing him.
The pent-up emotions made Mo Xuan hold her even tighter, his body curling up like a baby, seeking comfort and security...