They kept chattering and laughter floated through the room making the newly acquainted friends get closer. As they continued the conversation, Xiulan revealed the experiences of her first cooking lesson.
Yaoyao shook her head in disappointment, "Even I can cook."
"No way! I won't fall for your trick again." She was a hundred percent sure that the little kid was pulling a leg.
"I am serious. I can cook simple dishes." She uttered with a convincing attitude.
"Really?" Zhang Xiulan squinted at her suspiciously. Still dare not believe her words. Quan nodded to confirm it.
"My dad raised me alone while working day and night. He doesn't even have a proper rest. Our housekeeper told me that if I am well-behaved and be a good girl, it can appease his tiredness. And the elders always said one's exhaustion goes away after having a warm meal cooked by the loved ones. So I kicked off learning how to cook for him." She spoke in the utmost serious manner.
Xiulan was stunned into silence. The little girl seemed more mature than her.
As an elementary teacher, Hualing was good at dealing with kids and gave a motherly smile. She caressed the kid's hair gently while muttering in a soothing voice, "You did great, sweetie. I am sure your dad will be so proud of you."
"Where is your mother?" Xiulan curiously asked.
"I don't have a mother."
Quan gave a caring glance at his niece. Xiulan's eyes met with Hualing's.
Yaoyao grinned from ear to ear and changed the topic. She wasn't condescending like earlier anymore. They kept chatting for a while until they finished having the ice cream.
"I need to answer nature's call." Yaoyao said while elegantly wiping her mouth clean.
"Okay. I will take you to the bathroom." Xiulan proceeded to stand up.
"Then, we will go pay the bill." Since Xiulan bought her a perfume, Hualing bought her ice cream in return.
Bai Hualing and Tang Quan strolled to the counter and waited in the queue awhile. When their turn arrived, Quan went ahead and settled the payment for all four of them. Hualing didn't speak against him because the small amount of money was not a case for him. But she didn't forget to express her gratitude.
While in the restroom, Xiulan and Yaoyao compromised to hang out at an amusement park. The poor uncle had no choice but to follow her around. Hualing still had some spare time before her appointment, so she also tagged along.
The scene at the amusement centre was clearly identical to the parents accompanying their kids to a playground because Xiulan and Yaoyao were so high as to be on drugs. They ran around and played on the rides unceasingly. Meanwhile, Quan and Hualing were obliged to look after them. Hualing had a fear of heights, so she excused herself and skipped the thrill rides.
"I'll wait here. How can a gentleman let a girl be alone?" Quan reasoned with himself.
"Be frank and say that you're afraid of heights. Having acrophobia is not an embarrassing matter." Xiulan provoked him teasingly.
"I have never seen someone who is as brave and fearless as me." He blabbered while folding his arms. His chin was literally directed up to the sky with his proud face.
Yaoyao rolled her eyes at her childish uncle, "Very convincing."
Hualing smiled and silently watched the scene until she caught on the time, "Kids, stop squabbling. It will be dark soon. Hurry up!"
"Let's go! Just the two of us!" Impatient Yaoyao grabbed Xiulan's hand and dragged her to the rides.
Hualing was watching over the kids on the rides while Quan spoke out. "Thank you so much. If not for you guys, I would have a hard time baby-sitting her."
"It's alright. Yaoyao is so lovable." The kid was so adorable in her eyes that she couldn't stop looking at her.
"That's because you love kids." Quan sighed while imagining the time when her niece bullied him.
A brief silence was halted by the girl's soft voice, "Will your grandfather be home this evening? I have something to inform him."
"Yes. If nothing urgent comes out, he will be at home." He tilted his head curiously to look at her. She nodded quietly.
He recalled her ashen face after a conversation with his grandfather that day. "I'm sorry if my grandpa was harsh on you. He just talks like that but he doesn't mean any harm."
"I understand him."
The playful duo returned with their faces as white as a sheet after a round of thrill rides.
"I'm thirsty!!" Yaoyao staggered and couldn't stand straight. Hualing assisted her to keep the posture.
"Didn't I tell you to take a rest before riding another one?" Xiulan laughed at her misery, however, she volunteered to buy some beverages.
"I'll help you with it." Quan came along with her.
Xiulan had been contemplating about the oldest son and Li Jianyu since they were at the ice cream parlour. She felt something was off. But she failed to pinpoint the source of her discomfort.
The first one was about the case at the hotel. Tang Weimin told her that he asked his big brother a favour and Li Jianyu also happened to look into it.
Li Jianyu had divulged about a little girl in his life. Tang Daiyu's father was on a business trip and Li Jianyu was also not in the country since he said he was in another city.
Xiulan didn't notice Li Jianyu's facial similarity to the Tang family beforehand. However after witnessing the smiles of the uncle and niece pair, she came to a conclusion that they looked vaguely alike to one another. But of course, Li Jianyu still held the most handsome position in her heart.
'Maybe Li Jianyu is the abominable oldest son of Tang Boqin.' It was possible. For a wealthy man like Jianyu to not have a name in the business field could only mean one thing. His identity was deliberately concealed.
'No way. They have different surnames.'
'But the oldest son reputedly hates his father. So he might take his surname after his mother.'
'Yaoyao's surname is Tang. If he is her father, it will be Li.'
'Did Grandpa pressure him to change his daughter's name into Tang Yaoyao instead of Li Yaoyao?'
'Wait! What am I even thinking about? Obviously they are just coincidences. How can Li Jianyu be so stingy and stick with getting a yard when I personally witness his benevolence?'
Although Xiulan was disappointed at her dramatic predictions, she couldn't stop herself from being nosy. When Quan followed to help her carry the beverages, she seized the opportunity.
"Quan, do you mind telling me about your oldest brother?" Zhang Xiulan politely spoke with a voice as gentle and soft as she could.
"Yeah, I mind. If I disclose another word, you might need to find me at the graveyard the next day. I have already blabbed too much back at the party."
"Quann, please tell me." Xiulan grabbed the hem of his shirt and shook it hard.
He didn't barge a bit and spoke with a stern face. "Nope! If you still take me as your friend, show me some mercy."
She released his shirt violently and furrowed her brow while spouting, "What is so confidential about your oldest brother? Is he some kind of criminal? That's why you guys are covering his identity?"
"If you have too much free time, play some games. I will recommend some good ones to you when I get back home." Quan nonchalantly uttered.
Since they were approaching their companions, she stopped prying and returned to her normal temperament.
After that, they took turns resting and playing before they parted. Quan offered to give Hualing a ride since she said she would come meet with his grandfather. Hualing rejected him politely as she had some stuff to take at her apartment before meeting with Grandpa Tang.