CHAPTER 660: CHAPTER 653: DAD’S PROMISE

On the other end of the line, Mo Liu chuckled softly after hearing Sisi’s subtle words, "Sisi, I don’t have a female companion, just myself."

Then he seemed worried that he hadn’t made it clear enough and added with emphasis, "I really enjoy my current life, really!"

Sisi sighed silently and didn’t plan to say more. She had asked out of friendly concern, but if her friend didn’t care about being single or married, she certainly wouldn’t want to press any further.

Although, as common sense dictates, whether man or woman, forming a family is considered the best plan, not everyone likes the city scenery; sometimes standing outside and admiring the view may offer a different flavor!

"Ah Liu, as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters!" Sisi said sincerely.

Mo Liu paused and seriously replied, "Sisi, I am very happy!"

Sisi didn’t dwell on the topic of emotions but instead turned the conversation to Mo Liu’s work. She knew that over the years, Mo Liu’s reputation had grown significantly, not just for his exquisite painting skills but also his extraordinary looks, making him one of the top young painters in Asia.

Mo Liu told Sisi he would have an art exhibition in G City next week and might display some paintings of the Portrait of a Lady he had done for Sisi. He called to seek her opinion.

"Sure, I’m not any big celebrity; others won’t recognize me." Sisi laughed.

Sisi’s straightforwardness made Mo Liu very happy. They chatted a bit more before Sisi hung up the phone, having already forgotten about Ya Ya wanting to have a heart-to-heart with Uncle Mo.

When Ya Ya stood angrily in front of her, Sisi finally remembered and had to use sweet talk to coax her daughter into a better mood.

Wiping the imaginary sweat off her forehead, Sisi lay back down on the bed. Raising a daughter was really more exhausting than raising two sons, especially a little girl like Ya Ya with exceptional intelligence and energy.

The weekend arrived quickly, and starting from May 1st this year, the two-day weekend system began. As such, Tian Xinhua could spend two days playing with them, which made Sisi and the kids very excited.

Perhaps Tian Xinhua had been too busy in the past. Even when he squeezed out time to be with them, it was rushed, like hurrying from one place to another. This time, it felt like a pie had fallen from the sky, and it was beef-filled pie.

"Dad, will you be able to spend time with us like this from now on?" Ya Ya asked Tian Xinhua earnestly.

Tian Xinhua was taken aback at first, then his eyes stung a bit. Over these years, he had spent too little time with Sisi and the kids.

"Yes, I’ll try my best to ensure it, okay?" Tian Xinhua promised seriously, although he wasn’t sure whether he could keep it in the years to come.

But the little ones were very happy because they felt that they were being taken seriously by an adult and not being dismissed with perfunctory words.

The two little ones also responded seriously, "Okay, then please try your best, Dad!"

Du Du said he was already grown up and wouldn’t act as childishly as his younger siblings, even though he was happy that Dad could play with them too.

Mao Dou felt a tinge of sadness; he was eight years old and no longer as naive as when he was younger. He understood that his father was different from others, even differing from Uncle Tian Xinhua.

Although he was troubled, he knew that his dad was doing something very important—being an unsung hero protecting many people’s safety, as his aunt said. So, he was proud of having a hero for a father.

Bian Dou, with his big shiny eyes, looked around, not grasping what everyone was talking about or understanding why his brother felt upset. Though not clever, his intuition was sharp.

Bian Dou resembled his brother a lot when the latter was young but differed in temperament; Mao Dou might look simple but was quite cunning, while Bian Dou was genuinely naïve, an adorably silly little guy.

As Mr. Yun would put it, he had a few holes in his heart.

The Shangguan family and Mo Liu arrived early that morning, alongside Shangguan Qing’s family of three. As soon as Shangguan Peng saw his good buddies, Du Du and Mao Dou, he was so excited he almost wagged his tail.

"Uncle Mo, where’s my Snow White?" Ya Ya rolled over as soon as she saw Mo Liu, clinging to his pant leg.

Mo Liu, in his thirties, still looked as charming as ever. Compared to his younger years, he now had a mature charm added to his beauty with age.

"Here, Ya Ya, make sure to dress up Snow White nicely this time. Don’t dismember her like you did with the last mermaid." Mo Liu teased with a smile.

"Uncle Mo, that wasn’t dismemberment. I wanted to transform the mermaid into a Transformer, but I was missing some parts. Now that Snow White is here, my parts are complete." Ya Ya corrected seriously.

Mo Liu was baffled.

What is the connection between a mermaid, Snow White, and a Transformer?

Princess Ya Ya, can you tell us which wise insight led you to this?

Sisi found it amusing; children’s thoughts are always so fanciful, and taking them too seriously could get oneself trapped in a lively debate.

Tian Xinhua, however, felt quite smug. Let this be a lesson for trying to compete with me for my daughter all the time. Now you’ve got a taste of it?

T City is near the sea, and thanks to Tian Xinhua’s special protection of the environment over the years, T City’s coastline is very clean, blue like the sky.

This time of year is the peak tourist season, and many families bring their kids to the beach, especially on double weekend days.

Thus, the beach was packed with people, and the sea was like a dumpling soup, with people jumping in one after another.

Sisi and her group had long changed into swimsuits and equipped the little ones with full gear, including life jackets. Even though the children had learned to swim, the sea can be unpredictable, and it’s better to be cautious.

Sisi wasn’t particularly fond of playing in the water. Wrapped in a big towel, she enjoyed drinks with Zhong Anmei on the shore, leaving the child-caring duties to the men, finally getting a moment of relaxation.

Mo Liu didn’t play for long either; he wasn’t particularly athletic. He preferred painting in the studio, but he also knew that one needs appropriate exercise for better health.

Soon, Shangguan also came up. Although she was an athlete, she wasn’t particularly fond of the water either because she couldn’t fully exercise her skills in it.

The four of them sat on the beach, chatting one by one. Shangguan, of course, was busy eating the snacks they brought along, her little mouth working harder than Sisi and the others talking.

"Sisi, what’s up with you? You seem absent-minded. Your Xinhua is in the sea, so why are you looking back?" Zhong Anmei teased.

Sisi turned her head, suspiciously saying, "I keep feeling like someone is watching us."