Harper insisted everyone take family photos. Even the elderly Old Madam Xu followed along with what the forr wished. She was overjoyed by her son and daughter-in-law’s return from abroad.
The family of eight posed for photos in the lounge. Their laughter brightened the air, especially when the unwilling Calix and Evelyn were forced to take photos side by side.
"Mom! I don’t wanna stand next to Second Brother," complained Evelyn, staring daggers at Calix. She hugged Harper’s right arm, pouting and snarling like an agitated cat.
"Do you I think want to? Shoo, go to Dad. Don’t co near ," retorted Calix in disdain, waving one hand at his younger sister.
"No! Stand close like this," Harper pushed Calix to stand closer to Evelyn, her tone lacing with giggles, "Hehehe, this reminds your old mom of your old photos ah. Always fighting!"
Harper had always loved taking photos and videos of their little family. To her, it was a way to leave the traces of the precious yet fleeting ti they had.
"Co, co, listen to your mom."
Andrian clapped his hands, urging Calix and Evelyn to cooperate with his beloved wife.
"Second Uncle! Little Aunt! Hear, hear! Listen to Grandpa and Grandma!"
Clapping her tiny hands, Alia mirrored what her grandfather did while scolding Calix and Evelyn. Her behavior earned laughter and a head pat from Vernon and Lucille. Old Madam Xu chuckled in delight.
"Urgh... fine. Eve, co here."
"Tsk! Don’t you think that I wanna take photos with you! I’m doing it for Mom."
In the end, Calix and Evelyn admitted defeat in front of Harper’s enthusiasm. It was funny seeing the two siblings glaring at each other when the others happily posed for the cara.
’Hehe, how funny.’
Leslie registered everything in her mind. This picture of a chaotic yet happy family was foreign to her.
She didn’t have any fond mories of taking family photos with her parents and younger brother. The appreciation was only reserved when she did so with her deceased lover and Calliope.
’No matter how old he is, he’ll eventually listen to what his mom wants.’
Unable to hold back, Leslie smiled and laughed watching the adult CEO Xu reluctantly obey his mother’s words. The famous Ice Goddess Xu also seed to regress to her childhood days.
Leslie’s expressions didn’t escape Calix’s notice. Pursing his lips, he discreetly scowled at her as if signaling her not to laugh.
Her reaction?
Leslie simply shrugged and continued to openly watch the Xu family taking photos. Calix’s frown beca deeper, much to her amusent.
Calix and Evelyn’s tornt ended almost one hour later. Once Harper announced she had enough photos already, the two siblings quickly backed away from each other. Everyone continued laughing over their actions.
"Let your mom and dad rest now," Old Madam Xu’s old heart was worried for Andrian and Harper who took a long flight ho, "We’ll have dinner together later."
"Grandma, how about dining outside?" suggested Evelyn, "We can sit at the pavilion by the pond."
Evelyn’s words reminded Leslie of the huge pond in the backyard. It was connected to a long and winding stream, a playground for all the koi swimming in the water.
Leslie faintly recalled a pavilion’s existence there. The glass panels blocked the chilly breeze or any harsh weather while allowing the occupants to look at the majestic garden.
"That’s nice. Let’s do that," Harper quickly agreed, pleased with her daughter’s proposal, "Your dad and I will take so rest first. Your grandma might feel tired too. Let’s gather there at seven?"
"I’ll tell Uncle Gu," said Vernon while carrying the drowsy Alia, "He’ll inform the kitchen."
After deciding on their dinner plan, everyone started leaving the drawing room one by one.
Before Harper stepped out, she didn’t forget to give the last paper bag to Calix. Andrian waited for her outside.
"I know my new daughter-in-law isn’t here yet so, keep it for her," Harper grinned, sparkles glimring in her eyes, "Tonight, let’s talk more about your marriage, okay?"
Harper had so many questions for her second son. Even though Calix’s sudden marriage caught her off guard, she didn’t have the heart to scold him.
Well, her formidable mother-in-law might have already done that.
"...okay. Thanks, Mom. I’ll give this to Charlene later."
Holding the paper bag, Calix glanced at where Leslie was waiting. He saw her smile softening once their eyes t.
"Alright, go to your room," Harper patted Calix’s back, "Our relatives will start coming tomorrow. You won’t have enough ti to be idle like today."
Calix winced at the ntion of their relatives. He terribly wished the Qingming holiday would end as soon as possible. Just thinking of entertaining them – sothing he rarely did anyway, giving him a headache already.
"Hahaha! Don’t make it that obvious ah!"
Harper noticed the quick change in Calix’s expression. As his mother, she understood full well what he was thinking.
"Haha... Mom, don’t laugh at ," laughing dryly, Calix let out a deep sigh.
Harper’s laughter still echoed when she walked down the hallway with Andrian, leaving Calix alone in the drawing room. Pressing his lips together, he eyed Leslie while raising his brows a few tis.
"It’s fun ah, watching you fight with your sister," Leslie snickered, approaching Calix who stood in the middle of the room, "Tsk tsk, don’t you care about your dignified image?"
"You should ask why a top actress like her acted childishly like that," Calix scoffed, unwilling to bear the sha alone, "I only counterattacked."
Amused by CEO Xu’s stubbornness, Leslie continued laughing. Calix pretended to cough a few tis. His cheeks still had a hint of red.
"Anyway, let’s go to my room," Calix lowered his voice. He forgot for a second that he was in his ancestral ho, a place where ears and eyes were on full alert, "I won’t talk again until we reach there."
"Hahaha! Okay, okay."
Humming to tune, Leslie followed Calix out of the drawing room. He was so tempted to ask what made her so happy but, he needed to hold back.
Urgh... Just why couldn’t they talk telepathically?
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