Calix cooked dinner that night instead of relying on Aunt Wendy, making what Calliope and Leslie desired.
The little dumpling wanted so egg fried rice while the lady wished to have so pumpkin soup with garlic bread. As for the cook himself, he ate both dishes to fill his tummy.
Silky caral pudding made by Aunt Wendy was the dessert, well-loved by the family of three.
After dinner, Calix and Leslie brought Calliope to the lounge on the second floor. Mrs. Bai was on duty tonight. She had dinner with Aunt Wendy and Uncle Raymond earlier.
As soon as they reached the lounge, Calliope directly rushed to the bookshelf. She intended to read a few of the children’s books. She didn’t know her parents had sothing else in their minds.
"Poppy, co here. Let’s look at these albums."
Sitting on the three-seater couch, Calix waved at Calliope. Leslie had already joined him there. A pile of leather-bound photo albums was stacked on the coffee table.
"En? Albums?"
Intrigued by the albums shown by her father, Calliope dragged Mimo along with her. She climbed the couch, finding a place between Calix and Leslie.
"Wanna see Papa’s family?" Calix opened the album in hand. He placed it on his lap, "Papa hasn’t told you much about them, right?"
"Oh! Yes!"
Perking up, Calliope’s attention fully shifted from the children’s books to the albums. She knew she should have two sets of grandparents. This was the first ti her papa brought them up.
Wow~ She had grandparents ah!
Who else? Did she have uncles and aunts too? How about cousins?
Hehehe~ She wanted to know them all!
"Look here. This is Papa’s grandmother," Calix pointed to Old Madam Xu’s photo. He carefully explained, "So, she’s your great-grandmother. She lives not far from us."
Calliope’s round eyes were focused on Old Madam Xu in the photo. She was in awe to know such a resilient-looking old lady was her great-grandmother.
"These are Papa’s parents. Do you see them? This is Papa’s elder brother and younger sister. They..."
Calix showed the photos to Calliope one by one. He also ntioned the stories behind the photos, including the ones during Alia’s first birthday party.
Throughout the ti, Calliope expressed her deep curiosity about the Xu family, her paternal family. She asked what Old Madam Xu loved to eat, Andrian and Harper’s favorite TV shows and many other questions.
"Hehe, are you that happy ah?" Calix purposely teased Calliope when the little one continuously asked about the Xu family, "To know your great-grandma and others?"
Without saying anything, Calliope shyly looked at Calix and Leslie. Her glimring eyes expressed her answer.
"They are all good people, Poppy..." Leslie ran her fingers through Calliope’s hair. Smiling softly, she said, "Your great-grandma and grandparents all want to get to know you."
"Wanna et them?" asked Calix straightforwardly, "Are you ready to et them, Poppy? If you not, we can postpone it to so other ti."
Because Calliope showed no aversion upon hearing everything about the Xu family, Leslie and Calix knew they didn’t have to beat around the bush. Still, the answer lay with the little one.
Calliope blinked, giggles spilling out her little mouth. She nodded a few tis, still smiling shyly, "Poppy wanna et Great-Grandma, Grandpa, Grandma and everyone."
Everyone in the photos all looked happy. Calliope couldn’t help but think how fun her papa’s family was. Seeing them reminded her of her friends in the orphanage, including her favorite Granny Li, Grandpa Mo and others.
She wanted to be included in such a happy family! Of course, her mama and papa were the most important.
Delighted by Calliope’s positive answer, Calix and Leslie exchanged a smile.
"Then, how about eting them after..."
Ding dong!
Calix paused talking. He, Leslie and Calliope looked in the direction of the first floor. The bell rang again.
"Do we expect guests... at this hour?" asked Leslie quietly. She glanced at the wall clock, seeing the ti had turned to eight-fifty.
Calix’s frown answered Leslie’s curiosity.
No. They didn’t expect any guests tonight.
"It’s not Edward. Let check."
Calix reached for his phone lying on the coffee table. With a few taps on the screen, he found out who the unexpected guest was. His frown deepened, expressing his discomfort.
"...Xander and Violet."
"What?"
Leslie stared at Calix in disbelief. He also shared the sa expression as her. Only one thing ca to their mind.
Xander learned of Violet’s sudden eting with them.
Calix showed the screen to Leslie. The surveillance cara perfectly captured Xander and Violet standing outside the main door, including the iciness on the male lead’s brooding countenance.
"I’ll go and talk to him. Ignoring him is no use now. You and Poppy should go to the bedroom."
Calix rose to his feet. The doorbell rang for the fifth ti. Unsure what would Xander tell him, he was unwilling to bring Leslie and Calliope into this ss.
"No, let go along..." Leslie quickly objected. She tugged at Calix’s shirt, "Let’s..."
Ring ring!
The sudden ringing of Calix’s phone interrupted Leslie. Xander’s na was displayed on the screen. It seed like his patience was running thin as he continued waiting outside.
"Are you sure?" asked Calix hesitantly. He silenced the phone without outrightly rejecting the call.
"Yes..." Leslie nodded once.
Seeing how resolute Leslie was, Calix finally agreed. He imdiately called Mrs. Bai, telling her to be with Calliope.
"Papa and Mama need to et so friends," Calix tried to comfort Calliope who sensed the heaviness of the atmosphere. He gently patted the little one’s head, "Poppy, read so books first, en?"
"...okay."
Calliope didn’t ask anything. She simply followed Mrs. Bai to Leslie’s bedroom. Once the child disappeared from the hallway, Calix brought Leslie downstairs. They directly went to the entryway.
Stepping forward, Calix opened the door, revealing Xander and Violet who remained unmoving outside.
"Xander and Violet, what are you doing here at this hour?"
The iciness in Calix’s tone mirrored the glowering look in Xander’s eyes.
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