He took this fearless boy to a corner where no one sat and stared at him.
âKid, are you not going to give up?â
He hadnât had a beard yet, what did he know about love? Children in this world nowadays really knew stuffs. It was something he who was in his thirty didnât understand. Or, was this the so-called generation gap?
The fake Sean Shen asked back, âItâs rare to find a girl who matches my appetite. Why should I give up?â
Sean Shen always thought that girls were troublesome. Because girls liked to cry, were timid, clingy and pretentious, shameless and unreasonable. It was difficult to handle them and better not provoke them. The best was if he could hide from them.
Alan snorted and glared. Kids nowadays had such thick skin, which was really amazing. âBecause sheâs my daughter. She doesnât like you and I have the right to stop you from bothering her.â
âHaha,â the boy laughed wildly with an expression on his childish face that was different from his age.
âIf our coincidence encounter is also called bothering her, then that will be a greater problem when we grow up.â
âAre you threatening me?â It was the first time he was threatened by a little boy after he lived for more than 30 years.
âI donât dare to. Youâre Seanâs future dad-in-law,â the boy said with a grin.
âYou call me that, but I donât accept it. Kid, go back and ask your parents to agree the privilege of having a puppy love, then you can pursue girls. I donât care if you ever saved my daughter or not, but as long as my daughter refuses, no matter how skilled and many flattery you throw, you can stop have the idea to hit on my daughter,â Alan warned him.
Although this kid had an aura that his peers couldnât match and Alan admired him for it, he felt a little bit too proud this time. He didnât know if it was because the change of his own mentality, but he didnât want her daughter was snatched by other men too early.
âHow do you know that she refuses? Hey, youâre also a man, so you should know women. They sometimes donât speak the truth. A womanâs heart is as deep as the sea. Donât just speculate their true thoughts.â
Although he said that, the boy felt a little happy. Sean Shen, Sean Shen. You usually said you hate women and now you had met a tough one. Karma, karma.
âOh? I donât expect a boy like you to understand relationship between man and woman.â His baby had to be careful. If she really didnât want to commit with this kid, he was afraid that this kid might not be her opponent. The big lady of the Hoyle at this moment hadnât grown up yet, and now he had to worry about the little lady. It wasnât easy to be a dad.
âCompared with future dad-in-law, Iâm still far behind on this aspect. Youâre the master, Iâm just a little apprentice who hasnât started yet and still need to continue practicing.â The brat was rarely humble.
âEnough. Donât flatter me. It wonât work on me.â
âThatâs because there are too many people who flatter you. Youâve long immune to it.â He wasnât his future dad-in-law. Why would he please him?
The bratâs finger tapped lightly on the table with a sense of rhythm. Alan felt that he was plotting something.
But before this feeling could sink in, one of the two bodyguards hurried over and handed the brat a phone. âYoung master, itâs master.â
The soundproofing of the phone was very good. Alan couldnât hear what Jacob said to him. He only heard his mouth replying, âOkay. I know, dad. Iâm on my away.â
After the call ended, Alan pretended to ask casually, âSo, Jacob Shen, your father, is in Jiangcheng?â
He was wondering whether he should visit the legendary Shen Familyâs lord, even though they didnât ever have any friendship.
The brat was a total villain. He saw through his words and smiled, âHe is at the moment, but heâll be on a plane an hour later. If you want to meet him, Iâm afraid youâll have to wait for next time. I canât chat with you anymore, so bye bye.â
They shook hands and the boy left. Alan felt unpleasant no matter how he looked at him today. It wasnât like that day when he liked the calm temperament the kid showed in his young age. He became wilder.
As soon as that pesky ghost left, Annie took Oliveâs hand and hurried to him.
Olive laughed, âOver so soon?â
Annie pouted, âThe farther, the better. Donât let me see him again.â
Alan stroked the top of his daughterâs hair, âMy baby hates him that much?â
âItâs more than hate. I want to kick him so badly.â Annie, who had always been gentle to others, showed violence.
Alan laughed, âBut what if you canât beat him?â
âIâll make Big Beard practice my martial arts hard,â she said, then the girl shook his arm, acting cute.
âDad, you have to pass me your trick too. You canât just watch your baby girl being bullied by that pesky ghost, right?â
Alan thought for a moment and nodded, âOf course. Let my baby bully that pesky ghost. Come, letâs eat more. After that, your body will grow faster, then we can control that brat.â
Olive was speechless at the side. Was there anyone who taught their daughter like that? How came the father acted like the child instead?
But Annie looked very excited and had a big appetite. When they left the restaurant, she touched her big belly and said, âIâm so full that I want to burst. What should I do?â
âThereâs square in front. Iâll take you two for a walk to lose a little fat.â
There was a musical fountain in the square and colorful lights illuminate the undulating water column from below. On the wide terrace, there were middle-aged and elderly people lined up to dance to the music. There were a lot of spectators and passersby walking around, sitting, or standing.
There were children playing and Annie soon joined their team. Alan dragged Oliveâs hand to the side, his face was gentle.
âThis kid seems never acting shy with strangers.â
Speaking of this, Olive remembered something. âBecause after she just learned to walk and liked to run everywhere, she met a lot of people and anyone could carry her, never cried. She talked with anyone as if they were close. My mother and I were really worried that if she runs into a trafficker and isnât careful, sheâll be kidnapped with a candy or something.â
Fortunately, she had lived on without any risk these years.
How could Alan not know who she was most worried about at this time? He hesitated a little and said, âHoney, I want to talk to you about Ophelia.â
But Olive shook her head and smiled a little, âIâve said that Iâve no objection to any decision you make on her. I know you have limits.â
Alan embraced her and gently kissed her on the forehead. âDonât worry. I wonât let the grievances youâve suffered over the years are in vain.â
Of course she knew. In fact, after he returned to her and gave her and their child warm, honest love and care, those years of grievances were really nothing.
The hard times were over, the good times just began.
Annie seemed to be drowsy on the way back to the Hoyleâs residence. She yawned several times on the road because she was playing with other children, sweating all over with wet hair stuck on her forehead. Olive took a tissue to wipe it.
Alan didnât dare to adjust the carâs AC too low, fearing it would harm the childâs body at the change of the temperature.
At the red light of the crossroads, Alan took the opportunity to flick at Annieâs little nose. âYou were so energetic just now. Are you going to sleep now?â
Annie hugged Oliveâs waist, pressing her little head against Oliveâs chest and rubbing. âMommy, I want to sleep with you tonight.â
âIf you sleep with mommy, then what about me? Your dad canât sleep without your mom.â Alan pouted like his daughter, expressing his unhappiness. He didnât want to be kicked to the guest room and slept alone.
Annie pretended to be reluctant to say, âFine. Because you treat me Haagen-Dazs and buffet today, Iâll make a little sacrifice for letting you to hug me to sleep while Iâll hug mommy. You can watch her sleep.â
âYouâd let me hug you? Didnât you say that man and woman should know distances?â Alan teased her intentionally.
Annie sighed like an adult, âIâve no choice. Who asks us both are inseparable from Olive. So, I have to sacrifice a little.â
âSacrifice?â Alan was amused, stretching out his hand to ruffle her hair. âIâm wondering what crazy things are inside your head.â
âSleeping with mom and dad is a crazy thing?â Annie asked, blinking her innocent big eyes.
Alan was speechless for a moment and Olive burst out laughing.
How happy life was with a girl like her.
The lights in the Hoyleâs residence were brightly lit, but it was deserted. Mrs. Hoyle was sitting at the entrance hall and watching the car drive into the garden through the window.
The family of three got out of the car talking and laughing, but no one cared about this lonely old woman. She worked so hard to raise up her sons to be snatched away by other women one by one and they defied her. Her heart suddenly burned heavily.
The moment she saw them come in, she said, âYou still know how to come home? I thought you guys are upset with this old lady and plan to stay outside.â
Alan halted and Annie pulled on his hand.
âMother, if you donât welcome my wife and child, I can take them away immediately.â He implied that he would also leave.
âGo ahead. All of you get out! And never come back! Take it as if I never gave birth to you guys. You guys wonât let me rest,â Mrs. Hoyle screamed, shocking the butler and Mrs. Hudson that they came running, but they didnât dare getting too close.
Alan pulled his wife and daughter and turned around to leave. That made Mrs. Hoyle upset so much.
But Olive dragged him back. âTake Annie upstairs and wash up first. Let me say a few words to your mother.â
âWhatâs more to talk when she treats you like this?â Alan actually didnât want to think much about his mother. He could forgive her for the past, but the old lady kept being so stubbornly rejecting Olive until now. She treated Ophelia Meyer as a treasure, yet treated Olive as a wild grass. He couldn't ignore this.
âBe good. Go up. Only a minute.â Olive was like coaxing a child, pushing the pissed man to upstairs.
She watched him holding their daughter and reluctantly went upstairs, then she turned back to the old ladyâs side.
At this moment, in her eyes, Mrs. Hoyle looked a bit like a menopausal woman. She had a strange temper and was difficult to please. She was jealous with her sonâs woman in front of her son.
âDonât waste your time. I have nothing to say to you.â Mrs. Hoyle looked away from Olive.