Little Lolita jumped up from her chair like a lively little rabbit, her face full of surprise and joy. She wanted to run over and greet her grandpa.
But just as she got up, Song Qingwan pulled her back.
"Auntie?"
Song Qingwan paused when she met the little girl's bright, bewildered eyes. She quickly found an excuse and whispered:
"Don't go. Your grandpa is thinking about something. We better not disturb him, otherwise he'll get angry."
Hearing this, the little girl sat back down obediently, her small head nodding: "Okay, then I won't go. Lili doesn't want Grandpa to be angry."
Song Qingwan looked at her obedient face, her heart softening. She rubbed the little girl's hair with a smile and couldn't resist bowing down to kiss her tender cheek.
"Good girl! Oh, right—where were we?"
Little Lolita thought for a moment. "Auntie, you were talking about Father fighting when he was three years old."
"Yes, yes, I remember now." Song Qingwan's lips curled as she recalled the past. "Your dad was restless since he was small. At only three years old, he beat up another child—one who was six—just because he said the boy looked too ugly and was an eyesore."
"Dad could fight at three years old?" Lu Li's dark eyes shone with admiration, her little face full of pride. "Dad is so amazing!"
"Very powerful," Song Qingwan chuckled, shaking her head. "But when he got home, he was beaten up by my brother…"
The little girl's face immediately fell, pity flickering in her big eyes. "Dad is so pitiful… Why did Grandpa beat Dad?"
"He deserved it, that's why!" Song Qingwan snorted.
"?"
"At that time, after your grandfather disciplined him, your father had the nerve to complain about being hit. Then your grandfather gave him another beating, and halfway through, your father tried to kick in two extra blows himself. That only made your grandfather even angrier."
After talking about Lu Junhan's three-year-old mischief, Song Qingwan raised her head slightly and noticed the old man had already returned to his seat in the distance.
When she spoke of Junhan at five, the old man passed by again.
By the time she reached his seven-year-old antics, the old man had walked back once more.
Back and forth, several times, until Song Qingwan had nearly covered all of Lu Junhan's childhood. Then, the old man walked toward them again.
This time, he came straight over.
Song Qingwan, who had been watching him out of the corner of her eye, wasn't sure if she should get up. But Lu Li looked up and obediently called out first:
"Grandpa!"
"Mm."
Surprisingly, the old man actually responded!
Was the sun rising from the west today?
Song Qingwan was startled, but still rose politely. "Dad—"
"You go on with what you're doing. I'm fine."
The old man stood tall and stiff, hands clasped behind his back. His eyes, however, couldn't help wandering to the lake where the koi swarmed around Song Qingwan and Lu Li. His gaze gleamed, though his mouth remained stubborn.
"…I just sat too long. Came to walk around a bit."
Song Qingwan's surprise deepened. Normally, the old man never bothered explaining himself. He issued orders coldly, expecting obedience without question.
"…Alright, Dad. Feel free. But it's rather hot now. Would you like something to drink?"
She hadn't expected him to agree—he usually refused everything except freshly brewed hot tea.
But to her astonishment, the old man coughed lightly, his stern face slightly unnatural, and said in his usual commanding tone:
"…Bring me a glass of orange juice."
Song Qingwan blinked, stunned. "…Orange, orange juice?"
The old man turned, eagle-like eyes narrowing. "Yes! Any problem?"
Faced with that sharp look, she quickly replied, "No, no problem at all…"
Since he wanted a drink, a chair had to be prepared as well. A servant hurried to bring one over. Surprisingly, the old man did not refuse.
Lu Li's little face lit up with delight at seeing her grandpa join them. She hopped up, dragged her tiny chair over, and moved it so he wouldn't sit under the sun.
"Grandpa, sit here with Lili! Lili's spot is nice and shady. I won't get sunburned!"
The old man gave a reluctant hum, but his heart felt complicated.
Just hours ago, he had wished this noisy little girl would stay far away. Yet now, he had come over on his own.
Of course, if it weren't for the fishing…
Fishing was like gambling. Spending so much time with nothing to show for it was unbearable.
That was his mood now.
No matter what, he couldn't catch a single fish! Not even one!
Meanwhile, on their side, fish practically begged to be caught, crowding the water until they jostled each other.
It was humiliating.
The old man sat stiffly, the more he thought about it, the angrier he grew. At last, he took a sip of the iced orange juice—
The sweet, cold flavor made his brows knit in discomfort. He put it down after only one sip.
Lu Li blinked her big dark eyes and asked innocently, "Grandpa, aren't you fishing?"
This child! Always poking where it hurts!
The old man nearly jumped up in frustration but forced himself to stay calm. "Not fishing. I plan to rest."
"Oh… How many fish did you catch, Grandpa?"
Another stab, straight to the wound.
"…" He almost threw her into the lake. He held back, turned his face away, and snapped, "What's it to you! Anyway, I caught more than you!"
But instead of being upset, the little girl beamed. "Wow! Grandpa, you're amazing!"
The old man froze under her sincere, admiring gaze. His tone softened awkwardly: "…Just so-so."
"Then can Lili see the fish Grandpa caught?"
"…" The old man choked.
With a stern face, he barked, "See what! What's so interesting about fish?"
Afraid she'd keep asking, he quickly turned his eyes to the koi crowding the water near Song Qingwan and tried to sound casual:
"…Did you put fish feed in?"
Song Qingwan blinked. "Fish feed? No, we didn't use anything like that."
Of course the old man knew that already.
After all, when he couldn't catch a thing, he'd secretly scattered plenty of feed himself—but even then, the fish barely gathered.
And yet here, without a single pellet of feed, the fish flocked endlessly.
Grinding his teeth, the old man demanded, "Then why are there so many fish on your side?"
Song Qingwan followed his gaze to the lake, then smiled softly.
"Oh, that… You'll have to ask Lili. For some reason, these fish all seem to like her."