Chapter 402 - I Miss You a Little Bit

As Zhang Yu Han would be away for a few days, Xu Yilan decided to stay around and accompany her daughter and the little princess. Of course, once Zhang Li Xue saw her grandmother, she had dragged her to her playroom and asked her to accompany her to play until her mother called her for dinner.

Zhang Li Xue stared at the broccoli in garlic sauce in her bowl and frowned. However, noticing that her mother was looking at her, the little girl had picked up the vegetable and took a bite. Fortunately, the sauce had masked the taste of broccoli and she was able to eat her dinner.

Li Qin Yao chuckled as she thought of how her daughter's expression would sometimes resemble Zhang Jing whenever she saw vegetables. 

The little princess might be a glutton, but she was picky as well. She loved meat and not so much of greens after spending time with her great-grandfather. These days, she would imitate her great-grandfather's expression whenever her father would recommend her to eat more greens.

Having a meal with both Zhang Jing and Li Xue can be an amusing experience for Li Qin Yao, but not so much for Zhang Yu Han as he now had to coax one old and one young person to eat vegetables. It was giving him a headache.

Moreover, Zhang Jing had taught Li Xue to appreciate the barbecue and now she had turned into a barbecued maniac as well.

The three generation of girls had their dinner and chatted. Looking at her granddaughter who was taking a small bite at the broccoli, Xu Yilan let out a sigh. She then turned to her daughter and spoke, "Yao Yao, I'm thinking about retiring after my birthday."

Li Qin Yao paused. "That is six months away. Why so sudden?"

"It's not so sudden. I'm at the age where I should be retiring," Xu Yilan said.

"Alright," Li Qin Yao nodded. "You have worked hard all your life. It's good if you're thinking of resting early. Ma, do you have any plan at what you wanted to do after that?"

"Your Auntie Ning asked me to take a trip around the world along with a few of our friends. It will be only with a few girls," Xu Yilan spoke. "I think I wanted to go and see the the world. I always travelled here and there due to work, but had never get the chance to go for a sightseeing."

...

"Mommy," Zhang Li Xue stuck to her mother after dinner. "Did you say I can sleep with you tonight?"

Li Qin Yao lowered her gaze and looked at the little girl was laying her head on her ŀȧp. The gray cat that they have adopted a few years ago swept his tail lazily at Li Xue's feet.

"En," Li Qin Yao nodded. "Your father won't be back until tomorrow. Therefore you can accompany me to sleep. But just for a night, alright? Tomorrow, you have to sleep in your room."

The little girl let out a giggle. She buried her face on her mother's stomach as she attempted to wrap her small arms on her mother's waist. She took a deep breath and thought of how much she liked the smell of shower gel on her mother. 

"Are you that happy?"

Zhang Li Xue nodded a few times. It was a rare occasion that she will be able to sleep with her mother. If her father was around, he would definitely lift her and take her back to her room once she had fallen asleep. But the next morning, she can wake up in her parents' bedroom. At the thought that her favorite mommy will be sleeping beside her all night, Zhang Li Xue was very happy.

At this time, the phone on Li Qin Yao's side started to ring.

A smile curled on her lips upon seeing the name and she quickly picked up the call.

Her husband's face appeared on the screen as soon as she slid her finger on the screen.

Before any of the two could speak, a cheery voice had disturbed them. 

"Daddy!"

Zhang Yu Han paused when he heard her voice. He saw his wife raised a brow at him and he replied to her with a nod. Seconds later, his wife's face had disappeared and was replaced by his daughter's smiling face.

"Daddy, you're not coming back tonight?" 

"En. I'll try and return tomorrow and bring back some gifts for you." His tone turned gentle and there was a smile on his face. "Li Xue, did you miss me?"

Zhang Li Xue stayed in silence for a few seconds as if pondering over her father's question. "I miss you a little bit. But mommy said I can sleep with her today, so it's alright."

The corner of his lips twitched upon hearing his daughter's answer. 

"Daddy, work is important. You can take your time. Don't worry about mummy. Grandmother and I can look after her."

Zhang Yu Han laughed.

This little girl was driving him crazy. Is she really his daughter? Why does he think that now his daughter had grown up, she was no longer as cute as she used to be?

In the end, Zhang Yu Han decided to change the subject and asked his daughter about what her daily activity. After chatting with her for five minutes he then asked the little girl to pass the phone to her mother.

"Mommy, daddy wants to talk to you."

"Thank you, Li Xue," Li Qin Yao took the phone from her daughter and at this time, Xu Yilan's voice could be heard.

"Li Xue, come here," Xu Yilan beckoned at her granddaughter. "Come and help grandma make some cookies."

The little girl's eyes turned wide at her grandmother's words. "Cookies!" She turned to her mother and blinked her eyes. Once her mother gave her a nod of approval, Zhang Li Xue jumped off the couch and head over to the kitchen with the gray cat tailing after her. 

Li Qin Yao lifted her head and saw her mother's smiling at her as she waved a hand at her. Knowing her mother's intention, Li Qin Yao smiled back. She stood up and headed to her bedroom as soon as Li Xue's chirpy voice can be heard from the kitchen.

Once she returned to the room, Li Qin Yao turned her attention back on the video call. At this time, she can see her husband's side profile as he was looking at some documents in his hotel room.

The words that she had wanted to say stuck in her throat. Heaving a soft sigh, Li Qin Yao then continued to watch her husband as he was doing his work.

Realizing that everything around him was suddenly quiet, Zhang Yu Han looked up from his documents and caught his wife staring at him. A soft smile curved on his lips. "How is it? Good looking?"

"En," she nodded softly. "Very good looking."

A soft chuckle escaped him before he began to ask her about her day after accompanying his mother and sister for Zhang Yu Ying's wedding preparation.