530 “I always let him win.”
With a black plum in his mouth, Zi Han walked through the halls looking for a place that wasn’t too hard to find and also not too easy to identify.
While he was looking for the perfect hiding spot, Yi Chen had finished eating breakfast and he was playing a game of chess with old man Zi.
The pair of husband and wife had already left for Loch Ness star leaving only the two of them to play.
Zi Feiji wasn’t a difficult person to get along with. It turns out Yi Chen was an old soul at heart. He liked challenging intellectual games, drinking bitter sugarless drinks, and having a smart conversation. Well, that was in the absence of Zi Han.
When Zi Han was there he liked doing all sorts of fun things as long as his baby was happy.
“... when did you fall in love with my grandson?” asked Zi Feiji not shying away from asking that question at all.
Yi Chen moved his black knight from e five and took the white knight on c six before answering, “When I first met him I felt... I felt something I have never felt before but at the time I didn’t think much of it.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Uh, I see. I don’t have much requirements for you,” said Zi Feiji as he moved a white pawn from e four to e five.
He looked right into his eyes and said, “I just want you to make sure your father doesn’t bully him. He is tough but he is not indestructible. His heart,” tapping his chest where the heart was before continuing, “is like fragile glass. It will shatter at the slightest push so treat him very well and make sure he isn’t wronged.”
.....
Yi Chen nodded his head seriously before opening his mouth to say, “I promise I will make sure no one hurts him.”
“Oh and um make sure your father is very generous with the betrothal gift. I want him to feel a huge dent in his pocket for what he did to Han Han, do you hear me?” said Zi Feiji and Yi Chen couldn’t agree more.
“Yes sir,” he replied and Zi Feiji chuckled softly before saying,
“Why are you being so formal? You can call me Old Zi or grandpa like Han Han. We are now family.”
Yi Chen smiled lightly and called out, “Yes grandpa,” before moving his bishop from f six to g five.
Grandpa Zi smiled happily and the game continued with the two of them getting very serious. A few moves in and Zi Feiji’s brows furrowed. He raised his head slightly before reprimanding him,
“You kid. You couldn’t even spare an old man. I thought your skills were so-so. Zi Han always beats you so how can you beat me when he is not as good as me?”
Yi Chen, “...”
That’s because Yi Chen always let Zi Han win. How could he not? When you want your wife in a good mood for a little something something later you need to let them win. Who would have thought him letting Zi Han win would be misunderstood by Zi Feiji?
“I always let him win,” he answered honestly.
Zi Feiji’s eyes widened as he asked, “But why?”
“Well because...,” replied Yi Chen unable to say it.
“Because what?” asked Zi Feiji getting a little impatient.
Yi Chen sighed lightly before saying, “You know your grandson’s temper. If he loses there will be a lot of sulking.”
Zi Feiji tilted his head slightly and recalled each time he won against his grandson. Zi Han’s mood would plummet and he will persist in fighting until he wins at least one game.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“I see. At least you know how to keep him happy,” said Zi Feiji and Yi Chen lowered his head with a shy smile.
“Then you should be able to drink with me. We are family now,” he said before pulling that bottle that made Zi Han pass out.
“Can you stand bitter things?” asked Zi Feiji and Yi Chen nodded his head.
He reached over to take the bottle from Zi Feiji. “Please let me,” he said and Zi Feiji didn’t refuse. How could this kid be more sensible than his son in law?
Yi Chen raised the small shot glass with both his hands and said, “This drink is to thank you for raising an amazing grandson and allowing me to be with him.” After saying that he drank all its contents in one shot. His brows scrunched a little but the bitterness was bearable.
“And this one is to ask for your grandson’s hand in marriage,” he said after pouring out another glass. He downed that one too and Zi Feiji who was fascinated by him placed a second glass right in front of him urging him to drink it.
Yi Chen downed the second glass and Zi Feiji was satisfied. “You have my permission. If the betrothal gift is to Zi Xingxi’s satisfaction and your father sincerely apologises she might let him marry out but if not you will be the one marrying in,” he said but Yi Chen honestly didn’t care. Either way, he got to be with Zi Han.
Zi Feiji lifted his full shot glass and said, “To family.”
Yi Chen clinked his shot glass with his and replied, “To family.”
Ten minutes later both of them were regretting drinking a little. Grandpa Zi who prided himself in being a veteran was defeated by Yi Chen a seasonal drinker who Zi Han once mocked for having low alcohol tolerance.
Yi Chen was still functional and his face stern like it barely made a dent on him but Zi Feiji was a different story. Old Lu had to deal with the aftermath. There was a lot of scolding and cursing then came the well-behaved Zi Feiji a very rare sight.
Yi Chen entered Zi Han’s cabin and when he saw the person hadn’t come back yet he was a little sad. He tugged his collar and the little guy who was sleeping inside his clothes woke up. Don’t even bother asking why it slept in there. It didn’t bother Yi Chen in the slightest. He took it out and placed it on the bed that had already been made with the old sheets replaced with new ones.
With a soft sigh, he took off his boots and lay on his back. The little nimsel made a soft wee sound before climbing on his chest and stomping on him first as though looking for a comfortable place to sleep.