"Ye'er, Feng'er, don't ask your mom about Grandpa's family in the future, and don't even mention it, do you understand?" After realizing the truth that his wife was not busy in the kitchen, Luo Zhenggang's expression turned stern.
"Dad, absentminded mistakes are common for most people. The more you try to cover it, the more curious it makes people. I'm no exception.
Both my brother and I are grown up now. Knowing some things can help us understand how to avoid them. What do you think, Dad?" Luo Ye boldly stared at Luo Zhenggang.
Luo Zhenggang glared at his daughter: "Little girls thinking they're all grown up now, don't meddle in adults' affairs. Focus on your studies, getting into a good university is what you should be worried about!"
Luo Ye picked up Dou Dou and moved to face Luo Zhenggang: "Dad, I'm doing this for our family's sake. Wenxin Garden is almost being destroyed by termites, should I just pretend not to see it? Didn't uncle invest in it to benefit outsiders? He was even exiled abroad because of this!"
"Where did you hear about your uncle's situation?" Luo Zhenggang asked, staring at his daughter in surprise.
Luo Ye felt a sudden panic inside, did she remember the time wrong? Had her mom not yet told her and her brother about their uncle's situation?
"Dad, weren't you on a business trip last year during mom's birthday? Mom drank a bit too much and told us about uncle, and then cried a lot!" Luo Ye was still figuring out how to phrase things when Luo Feng helped her out.
Luo Zhenggang furrowed his eyebrows: "Did your mom only talk about Luo Tong's issue?"
"Not only that, she also mentioned some disagreements Grandpa had regarding your marriage with mom," Luo Ye said, observing Luo Zhenggang's expression.
Indeed, a flicker of sadness mixed with sorrow quickly passed across Luo Zhenggang's face, but he regained his composure: "Alright, let's not talk about this. How did you find out that Wenxin Garden was in trouble?"
Luo Ye raised her little head: "Dad, persuade mom to let me take over, I will show you guys, and I promise a complete resolution!"
"Letting you take over?" Luo Zhenggang looked amused: "Ye'er, are you sure you can handle it?"
"Trust me, dad. After that, you can decide whether to continue trusting me or not. If not, you'll never know whether I was bragging or really capable!"
Luo Zhenggang waved his hand: "I really want to believe you, but you're a student, about to enter senior year, how can you neglect your studies to manage Wenxin Garden?"
"Don't worry, dad, it won't affect my studies. I just need to use the holidays to handle it!"
After staring at Luo Ye for a long time, perhaps moved by the determination in his daughter's eyes, he finally nodded: "I will trust you this time, and give you a month. But, you must promise me, if you can't do it, you must obediently follow Dad's words in the future!"
Luo Ye couldn't believe it: "Dad, you... you really agreed?" She had prepared a whole speech, explaining things like financial and personnel arrangements and why she would understand them…
"Yes, considering your recent changes, Dad is willing to trust you this time!" Luo Zhenggang sighed lightly: "As for Wenxin Garden, I had some idea what's wrong, but my status makes it inconvenient to get involved.
Your mom is not interested in this, I don't want to force her. Ye'er, if you really have the capability, in the future, the management of Wenxin Garden, Dad will leave to you!" Pointing at Dou Dou: "Keep this little guy as well!"
"Cheep cheep..." Dou Dou puffed up its tiny white chest, excitedly cheeped a few times. Luo Zhenggang looked interestedly at the little thing: "Not bad!"
Luo Ye, surprised, moved next to Luo Zhenggang, stretching out her hand for a high-five to seal the deal, even if her Dad was grasping at straws, she was happy.
"Childish, when have I ever not kept my word?" Luo Zhenggang ignored his daughter's outstretched hand, and instructed Luo Feng: "Call and order a few dishes, each person's favorite."
"Okay!" Luo Feng hurried off to do so.
"Dad, I love you!" Luo Ye moved behind Luo Zhenggang, hugging his neck and cooing, her voice a bit hoarse. This was her second time getting close to her father, this time, she was genuinely moved and very sure, she loved her father and must protect him!
Luo Zhenggang's body stiffened for a moment, then he affectionately patted his daughter's hand: "Ye'er, come here and let dad take a good look, I just realized my daughter is quite beautiful. If it weren't at home, I wouldn't have recognized you!"
How come every time she gets close to her dad, he always does something to spoil the mood?
After fetching the takeout, Luo Zhenggang carried Wen Xin's favorite dishes to the bedroom, while Luo Ye and Luo Feng accompanied Dou Dou outside, eating as they awaited the verdict.
"Bro, what will you do if your future wife forces you to compete with me for the inheritance?" Luo Ye suddenly asked mischievously, chewing on a rib, giving Luo Feng a hard time.
"As for our family's assets, sister can have whatever she wants. I won't compete with you, don't worry!" Luo Feng replied in a clearly placating manner meant for children.
"Bro, I'm serious. If I really were to manage Wenxin Garden, for the sake of my credibility among the employees, I would certainly ask Mom to transfer some shares to me.
Aren't Chinese people accustomed to passing down assets to sons rather than daughters? What would you do if your wife asks me to return the shares?" Luo Ye's beautiful phoenix eyes shone with seriousness as she stared at Luo Feng.
"Gender equality! Why should you have to give them back? If I marry such an unreasonable woman, better not to marry at all!" Luo Feng glared protectively at Luo Ye: "Does Ye'er really distrust her brother that much?"
"I trust you, just kidding!" Luo Ye happily served Luo Feng a piece of pork knuckle, "Bro's favorite, eat it while it's hot!"
"Chirp chirp..." After finishing a small fish, Dou Dou frantically circled around Luo Ye.
Luo Ye hurriedly placed a chopstick-full into Dou Dou's little dish: "Eat it while it's hot. It's your first time eating such delicious fish, right?"
Luo Feng frowned, "Ye'er, why do I receive the same treatment as Dou Dou?"
"You're treated better, it's eating on the ground, you're eating sitting on a chair!" Luo Ye laughed as she spoke, "Dou Dou can't sit, can it?"
"You, sometimes you're incredibly mature and other times child-like. I don't know which is the real you." Luo Feng whispered in a lowered voice: "I'm even a bit scared of you now, especially when you get mad, you really resemble Dad!"
"Would I get mad if you didn't provoke me?" Luo Ye waved her fist, "Let me declare once again, if you dare to associate with Liang Jing, I'll flatten you!"
"Got it, got it, I'll absolutely listen to my little sister!" Luo Feng quickly stated his position.
...
"Ye'er, can you handle it?" The next day on the way to Wenxin Garden, Wen Xin verified for the third time.
"Mom, do you trust Dad?" Luo Ye was really helpless and had to bring up Dad.
"Of course I trust him!" Wen Xin was somewhat puzzled.
"Then Mom should trust Dad's judgment; Dad doesn't make bad decisions about people!"
"Your dad actually thinks that since there isn't anyone else reliable enough to shoulder the responsibility, he might as well let you try it out. But why is my heart still so unsettled? You're so young and have never dealt with such matters..."
"Mom, a gentleman's word is his bond!" Luo Ye quickly interrupted Mom's nagging.
"Why did I get persuaded by your dad yesterday?" Wen Xin expressed regret.
Luo Ye wore a triumphant expression, "Hehe..., from today on, Ye'er is President Luo, Mom is Vice President Luo, no regrets!"
The second update from Nuannuan is delivered, quite late, special thanks to "ぐ戀貓﹏", "Ah Xing girl", and "nanxiaoqiong" for their Recommendation tickets, and a special thank you to "ぐ戀貓﹏" for the reward, love you guys!
Nuannuan especially thanks "Little Yudidi" for the support for Nuannuan, and I must apologize. Yudidi has been supporting Nuannan since Little Han, even registering multiple accounts to give Recommendation tickets to Nuannan's pink. This time, to support Nuannuan's new book, multiple accounts voted at once, resulting in a ban. Nuannuan really doesn't know what to say, Yudidi simply said today, sorry for being unable to vote for sister Nuannuan for now. I want to say, sorry, having friends like you guys supporting me, I feel very fortunate!
Best of luck to Yudidi in the college entrance exams!