Chapter 514 - Part Of Us

Neil withdrew his hand and sighed helplessly.

"Is there something wrong?" She asked, knowing that he must be thinking about something that made him restless.

He shut his eyes when he thought about it. "I'm not certain what Lanni and Luna would think of me, having me as their step father." He confessed. She had told him about what happened to Xia Hanchen and how he turned out to be a traitor, so it was certain that Lanni and Luna would be wary of him. Not to mention, if Linhou and Xiaomu didn't like him as their grandfather, it would be even harder to be with Li Yuming.

She burst into laughter which confused him. "What is so funny?"

"You are overthinking." She snickered. "Why would my daughters have opinions against who I decide to be with? Unless they think you will hurt me, they will have no reason to be against our relationship. Besides, Linhou and Xiaomu are the cutest."

He nodded in reassurance. "Do you think we should tell them?"

"Let it unfold naturally." She smiled. She didn't want to steal the limelight from her daughter's wedding.

When they were done having lunch, they went back to the living room to finish up the arrangements for Linhou and Xiaomu's visit.

"Does she like dolls? It's not too late to buy her some." Neil recalled when he noticed that there was no doll among the toys. "I can get her a long-haired one with pretty clothes. Most little girls like those."

Li Yuming opened a box and took out a doll. "I will never be able to get her out of my hair if I don't give her a pretty doll to play with." She laughed.

"You thought of that." Neil nodded in approval. "How about cute ribbons?"

"You prefer girls, don't you?" Li Yuming observed. He was more keen on pleasing Xiaomu than he was with Linhou.

He scratched his head after being exposed. "Not exactly. I just find them cute and besides, I know how to interact with little girls. I have never been close to a little boy before." He admitted.

"Linhou is not hard to get along with. You only need to give him something to munch on." She patted him.

"Grandma!" A cute voice filled the air.

"Mumu is here!" Li Yuming rushed to the door excitedly and picked up Xiaomu who was in her mother's arms. Xingyu came in after them, holding the sleeping Linhou.

"Hello, mother." Luna hugged her and looked around in awe. Li Yuming had gone out of her way this time. She must love the twins the most.

Xiaomu's eyes brightened as soon as she saw all the toys in the living room. She wiggled out of her grandmother's arms and grabbed a toy car, placing it in her mouth.

"Mumu, that's not food." Luna laughed and hurriedly took the toy car out of her little hand. "This is a toy car. Let me teach you how to play with it."

"She sees her brother play with it. I'm sure she simply wants to tease him for wanting to eat her hand." Laughed Lanni, who had just arrived with Xiehan.

"Xingyu's kids are foodies." Xiehan laughed at his friend.

The latter glared at him fiercely. "So what if my kids are foodies? I can give them all the food they want to eat."

"The problem is that they don't want food. They will simply eat anything they set their eyes on and that will soon include the walls of your house." Lanni teased along.

"So what? We can buy another villa then. Right, my love?" Luna countered.

Xingyu hummed in agreement. "We are yet to see your children. Who is to say that they will not eat you as soon as they are born?"

Li Yuming's sttomach almost hurt from laughing too much. The kids were too cute. "I'll put Linhou to sleep." She took the boy from Xingyu and rocked him when he sttirred in her arms.

"Uncle Neil, you are here too." Luna greeted the man who looked like he wanted to shrink into the couch and make himself invisible.

"I dropped by to discuss something with Yuming." Neil explained awkwardly. Although Li Yuming had reassured him that Lanni and Luna would have nothing against him, he was still nervous to meet them. Luckily, they were all friendly to him and so were Xingyu and Xiehan.

Li Yuming was quite lucky, he thought. She had two beautiful daughters, sons-in-law who loved her daughters and cared for her, as well as a pair of adorable grandchildren. However, he was even luckier to have her by his side.

When Li Yuming returned, she served everyone snacks as Xiaomu played around.

"I have something to tell all of you." She started. "Actually, Neil and I have something to tell you."

"Is it good news?" Xingyu teased.

"That depends on you." Li Yuming smiled. "The thing is, Neil and I are together now."

"Congratulations, mom." Lanni was the first to hug her tightly and kiss her on the cheek.

"I think you are a match made in heaven." Luna commented before congratulating Li Yuming as well.

"... Lations." Xiaomu mumbled the word everyone was saying as she held a doll.

Luna chuckled and pulled her over. "Congratulations. Tell Grandpa Neil Congratulations." She urged her towards Neil.

The girl must have found the word too difficult to remember, she simply held her doll out to Neil. "Grandpa Neil."

"My granddaughter is so smart." Li Yuming kissed the little girl's face. When the girl went to play in the artificial sand, she asked, "When are the two of you holding your wedding?"

"Next year in August." Lanni replied as she fondly held Xiehan's hand.

"We don't want to rush it." Xiehan added as he held her waist. "We contacted a wedding planning agency earlier and besides, we want Linhou and Xiaomu to be old enough to make a cute appearance at their aunt and uncle's wedding."

"How about you register your marriage first?" Li Yuming suggested. "If you don't want to, there is no rush for that either. You can register it on your wedding day."

"We will think about it." Lanni smiled at the idea. "What about you? When are you holding your wedding?"

"What are you talking about?" Li Yuming was baffled.

"Aren't you? The two of you look so cute together and I could be your maid of honor." Lanni laughed after successfully teasing her mother.

"You naughty child. What will I do with you?" Li Yuming shook her head.

"I'm not naughty. I just love you too much." Lanni laughed.

"Lanni is right. How about we help you plan your wedding too, mother?" Luna asked seriously.

"Or we could have a joint wedding." Xiehan suggested.

"I've heard of joint weddings featuring siblings, cousins or friends…but a mother and her daughter?" Xingyu shook his head.

"There isn't a rule against it." Lanni shrugged.

"While that is true, Neil and I haven't discussed marriage yet." Li Yuming smiled.

"You will be the first to know when she says yes to me." Neil teasingly added, making Li Yuming widen her eyes at him.

"Can you not? I'll go and check on Linhou." She disappeared after giving a random excuse.

…

Neil left in the evening but Lanni, Luna, Xingyu and Xiehan stayed over for the night after Li Yuming's persuasion.

It had been long since Xiehan entered Lanni's room, it felt surreal when Lanni dragged him upstairs.

"What are you thinking about?" Lanni cocked her head at him curiously.

He pulled her into a hug. "The first time I came here, you didn't want to see me. You viewed me as a pervert you disliked."

She frowned at the memory he had suddenly brought up, then her cheeks stained red. Hadn't he forgetten about it? That was so long!

As though reading her mind, he nibbled her ear with a gentle laugh. "How could I forget all the snarky comments you threw at me? Those are part of our beautiful memories."

"Are you a masochist?" She regarded him in surprise. Who would think of slaps and snarky comments as beautiful memories?

He smiled and stroked the side of her face. "What I mean is, my love, I cannot choose to remember the good times and forget all about the bad times. Because the tears and pain are what made us stronger."

"Xiehan…" She could only kiss his lips. She had never thought of it this way.