He looked at Zeng Xiaoya, his eyes filled with tenderness. “You spent today chatting with my grandma and playing with the kids for half the day. They were all very happy. This is something I should thank you for.”
Zeng Xiaoya said, “If they are happy, then I am happy too. It has been a long time since I felt this joyful. Your family is big and really lively. What is rare is that you can all gather together on weekends.”
Unlike her own family, where even during holidays they could not all come together. Someone was always on duty or had to perform surgery.
They had chosen the path of medicine. Saving lives and helping the injured was their responsibility. Treating illnesses and saving people came first. Everything else had to be pushed back.
“Next week when you are off, we will go on a self-driving day trip. It will be even more fun. Those little ones heard we are going out next week and all said they want to come along.”
Originally it was just the old lady who invited Zeng Xiaoya. But when the time came to leave, it would probably turn into a large group again.
Although he could not be alone with Xiaoya, seeing her gradually get familiar with his family and slowly let go of her reserve made him happy too.
What he wanted was for Xiaoya to put down her mental burdens and stop thinking that he was some lofty young master from a wealthy family. Only then would her chances of accepting his confession increase.
“It is also because you wanted to bring them along. Otherwise, why would you tell them we are going out next week?”
Zhan Yue smiled. “They are all my nephews and nieces. I am not married yet and have no children of my own, so I cannot help but dote on them. In my heart, they are like my own children.”
“I saw how much your great-uncle and the others dote on you. Your parents are the same with your older brother and sister-in-law. Your family’s traditions are truly very good. The rumours are not false at all.”
Zhan Yue smiled lightly. Of course. His family had good traditions. Everyone was very tolerant and could accept each other’s faults. That was how this big family could remain harmonious all the time.
His grandma always said that harmony in the family leads to prosperity in all things. It was not just empty words. Only by truly achieving family harmony could everything prosper.
Zhan Yue stayed at the Zeng family clinic for quite a while longer, drinking several cups of water before finally leaving in his car under Zeng Xiaoya’s gaze.
Only after his car was out of sight did Zeng Xiaoya turn around, go back into the clinic, and close the main door.
As she turned to go upstairs, she saw Second Uncle and Second Aunt peeking from the staircase. Zeng Xiaoya laughed and said, “Second Uncle, Second Aunt, what are you doing?”
“We saw you two chatting happily and did not want to disturb you. Has Zhan Yue left?”
Second Aunt walked over.
“He left. Our house does not have any late-night snacks to offer him. What would he stay for?”
Second Aunt burst out laughing. “True enough. Our house has no late-night snacks.”
None of them ate supper.
“Second Uncle, there is something I forgot to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“Today at Zhan Yue’s house, while we were chatting, the conversation turned to my grandpa’s eightieth birthday celebration. Grandma Zhan said that if Grandpa really comes back for his eightieth birthday, we should send her an invitation.”
“She wants to come and attend Grandpa’s birthday banquet.”
Second Aunt said, “Old Madam Zhan should be older than your grandpa, right?”
“She is ninety years old.”
“If she is older than Grandpa, does that mean she cannot come to Grandpa’s birthday banquet?”
Xiaoya asked curiously, thinking there might be such a custom.
