n

n

n

nXiu Mei was on full alert ready to throw the vase on that person's head if he tries to enter and go past that door. But the man just kept looking at her instead of entering.

n

"Uncle?

" A child's voice broke the heavy atmosphere between the two people and a lion.

nXiu Mei's head whipped behind her and saw Lu Qiang standing behind her. With his tired-looking eyes, he looked straight past her. She recalled his words.

nUncle?

nShe turned her head again and the man flashed a grin in their direction. He raised his right hand and waved.

n

"Hello, kiddo. I'm back.

"

n***

nXiu Mei carefully served a tray of warm tea and put it on the center table in the living room. After pouring tea halfway on the empty cup, she lightly pushed it over towards the direction of the man in strange clothes.

nShe watched the man, who looked amazingly relaxed and casual in front of strangers, lift the teacup and drank it in one shot as if it was some kind of one-shot glass of alcohol.

n

"....

"

nShe poured it with tea again and watched him pick it up and drank it straight again.

nXiu Mei,

".....

"

nThe man continued to drink it one straight gulp multiple times until Xiu Mei felt the ceramic teapot became lighter and lighter and only a drop was left in it.

nAn awkward silence filled the room for a second before Xiu Mei stood up while holding the ceramic teapot.

n

"I'll uh.... just steep some more.

" She thought over his actions and immediately offered an alternative,

"Do you want some water or juice instead?

"

nShe was honestly stunned to see a person drink a tea as if it was some kind of alcohol and he even finished the whole teapot alone. She assumed he was thirsty so she offered him some other kind of alternative instead.

n

"Just tea would be nice.

" The man said in a cool tone with a small smile on his face. Instead of feeling comfortable, his relaxed actions actually made Xiu Mei feel more awkward than ever.

n

"Okay, I'll have it ready in a few.

" Then she returned to the kitchen in haste.

nThe man watched the woman's awkward movements and raised his eyebrow. He was blatantly showing that he was eyeing her, making Xiu Mei feel uncomfortable with his gaze more than she already was.

n

"Uncle, are you seriously bullying my mother?

" Lu Qiang interrupted. The man turned his head to look at the little head sitting on the single-seater sofa. The kid was yawning from time to time and rubbing his eyes clearly showing that he just woke up. His other hand was rubbing a lion's body, an action he tried to do to calm down the tensed lion beside him.

nThe lion's eyes locking in on the man, as if the moment Lu Qiang walks out for a moment in here, he would immediately jump onto this man and bite him on his neck.

nThe man ignored the lion's intimidating gaze and looked at the little guy.

n

"But she's not your biological mother ah.

" The man bluntly refuted. His tone sounded very provoking but Lu Qiang didn't react strongly to his statement.

n

"She's my father's wife, and she formally and legally adopted me. Hence, she's my mother. Is it really necessary for me to be biologically related to my mother? What about the other children who were adopted? Does it also not count?

" Lu Qiang rubbed his eyes and slumped his chin lazily on his palm.

n

"Point taken.

" The man nodded realizing that made sense.

"But little one, you're becoming more and more of your father ah. You sounded just like him when you said that.

" He grinned.

n

"Oh.

" The little kid didn't sound surprised or provoked.

"We're biologically related, that's why.

"

n

n

n

"Is that how it works?

"

n

"Genes ah. DNA doesn't lie. Look, aren't I also a genius like Dad?

" He said proudly but little Qiang's tone stayed flat all throughout.

nThe man laughed.

"You really are becoming like your father that it's becoming scary.

"

n

"Then go away so we can return to sleep.

" Little Qiang frowned, remembering how Lucia suddenly grabbed him by his foot to wake him up from his slumber. He scratched his head and complained to the main culprit behind it,

"It's so late. Don't you have a sense of time? Can't you visit in the morning instead? Why did it have to be at dawn?

"

nThe little kid continued ranting his frustrations at the said man. The man stared at the little kid and a knowing gaze appeared in his eyes.

n

"What?

" Lu Qiang saw the change in his gaze and was taken aback for a second. He looked suspiciously at him and narrowed his eyes.

n

"Now that's something that doesn't look like your father at all.

"

nLu Qiang was even more confused.

"Pardon?

"

n

"You talk much more than him now.

" The man looked at the woman in the kitchen through his peripheral view and continued,

"Is it because of your new mother?

"

n

"Does that even matter?

"

nThe man shook his head,

"I was just saying that it's good to talk more. Don't be like your Dad who would only speak to present his argument.

"

n

"Oh.

"

nXiu Mei returned to the living room with the newly made tea. She filled the small teacup again with tea and the man did the same action of drinking it one gulp.

nXiu Mei was still astounded by his actions,

"...

" Does she need to make it again for the third time? Should she just boil water on a larger kettle to have more tea?

nShe lifted up the small ceramic teapot again to pour the tea when the man stopped her actions.

n

"No need. I'll take that.

" He extended his hand towards her.

nXiu Mei stiffened for a second and glanced at his outstretched hand and then on the ceramic teapot she was holding.

nA ridiculous thought popped into her mind.

nUh.... was he going to drink directly from the teapot?

nShe immediately erased the thought and handed over the teapot to him. But what she thought of didn't happen. He placed the teapot beside the teacup and slumped back to lean on the sofa.

n

".....

" Okay.

nShe walked over to sit on the empty one-seater sofa without removing her gaze from the man whom Lu Qiang called his uncle.

nShe was confused. As far as she knows of, Lu Chen's cousin, Lu Qiang's biological father was already dead. And he didn't seem to have any relatives besides his aunt and uncle who were currently living somewhere far away.

nAnd...

nShe examined the man's appearance and actions.

nNo matter how much she looked at him, there's no similarity to Lu Chen or Lu Qiang. Was he probably some kind of distant relative?

n

"Uhm, I'm Xiu Mei. Lu Chen's wife.

" She awkwardly introduced herself as she stretched out her hand for a shaking hand. Her introduction was like a rookie intro but she didn't care about this mistake because she thought that this person didn't seem to worry over about manners and etiquette.

n....Look how he feels so at home in front of them ah.

nDid Lu Chen perhaps forget to tell her that they have some kind of housemate or something in this mansion?

nThe man only looked at her outstretched hand, raised his head to look straight at her, and smiled again.

n

"It's very nice to meet you like this personally, Mrs.Lu. Your name has been quite the buzz ever since your dating news with Lu Chen came out. Imagine my surprise when I saw your marriage certificate though. The both of you hid it too well from the public ah.

" The man said. His tone sounded like a mix of teasing and surprising.

nXiu Mei didn't expect this kind of response from him but she immediately composed herself and answered back,

"We didn't originally intend to hide it but the marriage was kind of an impulse so...

"

nThere's no way they'll be dropping a bomb like that and become the headline for weeks for marrying so suddenly. She was pretty sure that the media will go crazy if that happens. From suspecting shotgun marriage to ridiculous stories that she couldn't possibly think of.

n

n

nJust revealing that she and Lu Chen are dating would be enough to fuel those media agencies.

nThe man looked at her as if he already knew everything,

"I know. Lu Chen hid it quite well but not for me.

" The man grabbed the teapot again and poured himself the tea.

n

"Apologies, I forgot to introduce myself didn't I?

" He put down his teacup and twisted his body in her direction.

nXiu Mei agreed with what he said in her mind.

n...Yeah, you totally forgot to.

n

"Lu Qiang calls me Uncle. Lu Chen calls me the annoying man.

" He looked so happy when he said that as if he was teasing someone,

"But others usually call me Sir Wen.

"

nHe straightened his back and continued,

"I'm Lu Chen's main trainer, and I formerly worked under Lu Chen's late master, Old Yang.

"

n

n