*****
"Chen'er, are you ready? Have you checked to see if you didn't forget anything you want to carry along? Your Mother said she's on her way already."
"Yes Grandma, I'm ready." Han Yichen replied.
It was Saturday and Pei Yueran was coming back to City A to pick him up for a few days. She wanted him to have the experience of traveling cross-country, so she asked Fang Bo to drive her down to City A and drive them back. It was going to be a very long journey, over five hours, so she set out very early.
She got to Director Zhou's apartment in the early afternoon. There was a round of hugs and pleasantries. They had been communicating regularly over the phone, but Director Zhou still wanted to hear about everything again. However, they were in a rush, so everything was kept short.
Director Zhou had already packed lunch for them, so they took the lunch bag and said their farewells.
"Ran'er, make sure you call me when you get home."
"I will Mum", Pei Yueran replied. The word 'home' gave her a funny feeling. Slowly but surely, she was beginning to think of somewhere other than the place she shared with Han Lei as 'home'.
Slowly but surely, things were changing.
*****
They got to Pei Yueran's home in the evening. Han Yichen didn't say much when he saw the house, but judging by the look on his face and the light in his eyes, he liked it a lot.
His room had been cleaned by Pei Yueran and was ready for use. He unpacked his bag and sat down on the bed, looking around. The room was to his taste. The decorations were neither too cartoonish nor too mature. They were just right.
They had eaten lunch in the car, so they just took a nap to ease the stress of their journey.
"So what would you like to do during your stay here?"
"Get a feel. Parks, museums, famous places. Whatever else."
Pei Yueran laughed. All these in four or so days? impressive. "Alright, let's see how much of that we can do. I'm not on leave however, so we would mostly do these when I return from work."
"Okay."
"I don't have to go to the company tomorrow though, so we could go to a museum first and a park later in the evening. Cool?"
"Cool"
"Great. Let's video-call Grandma now that we've rested a bit."
*****
"But Dad, you didn't tell me you would be traveling."
"It was a last minute thing, I'm sorry. I won't be gone for long though, it would be for three days only."
"But three days is such a long time."
"I didn't expect you would miss me this much."
"Of course I'll miss you. Who would play games with me now? there will be no one to talk to" Li Yuchen said petulantly.
"So that's why. I see..." Li Chuanmo said. "So what should we do? I can't take you along because it's not a leisure trip. I would be very busy."
Both of them thought for a few moments. The Li Yuchen looked up excitedly, "I know, let me go and stay with Gramps."
"Really? would they play games with you?"
"Maybe not, but I love being with them." He was definitely not going to tell his dad that he had taught Li Qianye how to play his favorite game and was planning to play to his heart's content. He also liked the way Zhang Heying pampered him. Staying with them would be perfect!
"Alright then, but you have to be on your best behavior." Li Chuanmo said, even though he knew that was too much to ask. If Li Yuchen wasn't causing a heart attack, that was already his "best behavior".
"Sure Dad, you can trust me." Li Yuchen said, giving a wide grin with his blue eyes twinkling. An average person could not withstand his adorable look, let alone his grandparents who were smitten with him.
Li Chuanmo sighed. His parents were in for an "amazing" adventure.
*****
Since they had already decided, they acted quickly. Li Yuchen packed two bags while Li Chuanmo called his parents to inform them that Li Yuchen was coming to spend a few days with them. They were ecstatic.
Li Chuanmo drove him down to the Li family villa. Zhang Heying and Li Qianye were all smiles when they got inside. Butler Nan called one of the servants to take his bags inside
"Xiao Chen, come to Grandma", she said stretching her arms outward.
Li Yuchen went to hug her. "It's good to see you again Grandma. You look even more beautiful than the last time I saw you."
"You and your sweet mouth", Zhang Heying was smiling so much that her eyes were narrowed into slits.
"Little Bootlicker, won't you greet Grandpa?"
"My handsome Gramps, how are you today?" Li Yuchen spoke as if he had smeared honey on his mouth.
Li Qianye laughed, "Fine, fine. Let's not stand here, come to the living room."
They settled down on the sofas in the living room and talked some more.
"You can rest assured Chuanmo, he will be fine with us."
'The problem is if you will be fine with him', Li Chuanmo thought. It wasn't that his son was a bad boy, he was just anxious about him staying with them. In his mind, his parents were getting older and didn't have enough energy to cope with a rambunctious child like Li Yuchen.
He thanked his parents and promised to keep in touch. Zhang Heying bluntly rejected his thanks, saying Li Yuchen was her grandson and she was happy to have him around.
Li Chuanmo was almost an eyesore at this point, so she just shoo'ed him away "politely".
"Alright, you should go home now, it's late."
"I'll be leaving. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Dad. Drive carefully and keep in touch." Li Yuchen said as he waved.
Li Chuanmo nodded, got into the car and drove off. His flight was an early morning one.
When he got home, he sent Pei Yueran a message to inform her, before going to bed. Both had become increasingly close due to work, and were now on a first-name basis.
"I'll be going for an impromptu business trip first thing tomorrow, and I'll be gone for about three days. You can leave a message or call me if there anything urgent."
"I see. Alright. I thought we could finish up our talk about the Betadin Project on Monday, but maybe we can do that over the phone. Take care."
"Thanks." Li Chuanmo replied.
"Make sure you buy me a souvenir", Pei Yueran added jokingly, attaching a "joking" sticker.
Li Chuanmo sent an "OK" sticker and put down his phone.
Sleep came quickly.