"Great-Grandma, Grandpa, Grandma, First Uncle, First Aunt, Little Aunt, Mia."
Leslie and Calix smilingly watched Calliope pointing to the Xu family mbers in the photo held by her little hands. She recited everyone’s nicknas clearly.
The family of three was on their way to the ancestral ho. The clock pointed to ten-fifteen on Saturday morning.
Logan sat behind the wheels of the executive van, accompanied by Mrs. Su. Another van of bodyguards tailed from behind as they moved along the expressways.
"Poppy is smart!" Calix clapped his hands once Calliope was done, looking at the child as if she was the genius of the century, "You’ve rembered everyone ah!"
"Hehe, Poppy is smart! Papa and Mama teach Poppy!"
Calliope puffed up her chest, grinning proudly as she received praise from her father. Calix pinched the little dumpling’s chubby cheeks, earning protests from her pouty mouth.
The father and daughter’s banter tickled Leslie’s heart. Laughing in helplessness, she simply let Calix and Calliope engage in their joke.
Leslie tore her gaze away from Calliope and Calix, quietly looking at the passing scenery outside. They might reach Phoenix Heights in ten minutes more.
’I’m nervous.’
The Xu family welcod Calliope under their wings despite not properly eting her. But, Leslie couldn’t shake off the jitters lurking in her heart.
Everything would be well, wasn’t it?
Soon, they arrived at Phoenix Heights, specifically within the yard of the Xu family’s ancestral ho. Everyone was already waiting outside for Calix, Leslie and Calliope’s arrival, being sheltered by the roof of the front porch.
"Leslie, welco back," Old Madam Xu hugged Leslie as soon as Calix assisted her to the wheelchair, "We’ve been waiting for you ah. Where’s Poppy?"
"Hehe, Poppy is still inside..."
Andrian and Harper burst out laughing while the rest smiled in helplessness. The spouses, Vernon, Lucille and Alia greeted Leslie and Calix, including Evelyn.
"Second Sister, I’m happy to et you, finally!"
Under Leslie’s surprised gaze, Evelyn embraced her after Old Madam Xu let her go. The younger lady’s sweet floral scent enveloped her senses.
"Hehe, I’m glad to et you in... person too, Eve..."
Evelyn chuckled. She stroked Leslie’s back before stepping away. Glancing at her second brother, she uttered, "I still can’t believe I got a full package of a new sister-in-law with a niece."
"Hahaha! Your second brother is just so capable ah! No one can do it like ."
Evelyn rolled her eyes. She refrained from smacking Calix’s arm as usual, intending to act properly in front of Leslie.
"Second Uncle, Sister Poppy where?"
Alia curiously asked Calix as her eyes wandered to the executive van. She quietly waited by her parents’ sides, intrigued to et her new cousin.
"Hehe, I’ll bring her out."
Calix turned around, entering the van once more. Calliope patiently waited in the child’s car seat. She saw her papa and mama interacting with the others from the tinted windows.
Calix carefully unlatched the buckles of the child’s car seat before letting Calliope stand on the van floor.
"See, Poppy? Everyone is happy to et you," whispered Calix. He patted Calliope’s head before taking one of her small hands, "Let’s greet them."
"Okay, Papa."
Calliope nodded, her eyes brimming with anticipation. With one hand in her father’s grasp and the other hugging Mimo, she followed him.
"Poppy, welco to your great-grandma’s ho!"
An enthusiastic Old Madam Xu yelled out. Her wrinkly face bead with anticipation as she waved at Calliope who had just stepped out of the van with Calix.
Blinking her round eyes, Calliope quietly looked at everyone standing opposite her. Calix said nothing as he held the little one’s right hand. Leslie also did the sa, only smilingly staring at her daughter.
"Good morning, Great-Grandma," Calliope sweetly greeted Old Madam Xu before sweeping her gaze around her, "Grandpa, Grandma, First Uncle, First Aunt, Little Aunt and Mia. Poppy is here."
Calliope bowed at them.
"Hello, Poppy. We’re happy to et you."
"Have you eaten? The chef has prepared your favorite strawberry desserts ah."
"Sister Poppy, wanna play together with Mia?"
Grinning, Calliope answered them one by one without showing hints of awkwardness.
Old Madam Xu stepped closer, followed by Harper and Andrian. Vernon, Lucille, Alia and Evelyn also tagged along from behind.
"Welco again, Poppy. Can Great-Grandma hug you?" Old Madam Xu opened her arms, hoping Calliope would rush to her embrace.
"Hehe, okay~"
Calliope pulled her hand from Calix’s grasp, running to Old Madam Xu.
"Aiya, my sweet great-granddaughter," Old Madam Xu sighed out of relief as she hugged the little Calliope, "I can’t believe I’m holding you now. Poppy, you’re welco here ah. We’re your family."
Old Madam Xu couldn’t forget the sleepless nights following Calix and Leslie’s revelation about Calliope’s birth. She also worried when the spouses were on their mission to bring the little one back to them.
What if Calliope rejected Calix and Leslie because she thought her parents abandoned her ruthlessly?
A similar concern plagued Old Madam Xu’s mind. Her worries only went away after getting news of Calix and Leslie successfully reuniting with Calliope.
Fortunately, the family of three found their way back to each other.
"We should head inside. Let’s talk more over tea and cookies."
Harper’s voice pulled Old Madam Xu away from Calliope. Agreeing with her daughter-in-law, the old lady nodded, "Yes, we shouldn’t continue talking here ah. Hehe, Poppy, co."
"Okay, Great-Grandma~"
Old Madam Xu led Calliope inside the ancestral ho, followed by the others. Calix and Leslie remained on the sa spot as they exchanged a helpless smile.
"I worried about nothing... Hehe, Poppy easily charms them..."
Leslie’s frankness earned chuckles from Calix. Lifting one hand, he brushed her bangs with the joint of his fingers, his gaze softening like the gentle ripples of a lake.
"Our Poppy is loveable, rember?"
Calix’s words reminded Leslie of their conversation last night.
"Yes, she is..."
Letting out a chuckle, Calix stepped behind Leslie’s wheelchair, intending to head inside with them. They looked at Calliope’s back, feeling a sense of reassurance to see how comfortable their daughter was with everyone.
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