Daddy Always Gets Jealous

The old man smiled at the little one.

The little one glanced over, pursed his lips, and expressionlessly rolled up the car window!

Sitting in the car opposite, the old man gripped his cane tightly with both hands, his face growing dimmer.

Uncle Guan looked at the old man.

The old man spoke listlessly, ”Let’s go back.”

Uncle Guan started the car.

After driving a distance, the old man spoke again, ”What does Axue like to eat?”

”...”

This really stumped Uncle Guan, who looked at the old man, at a loss for words.

The old man chuckled, ”Let’s go to the supermarket.”

Uncle Guan drove to the underground parking lot of the shopping mall.

The old man got out of the car and headed for the elevator.

Uncle Guan followed behind him.

On the first floor was the supermarket.

Uncle Guan pushed the cart as the old man led the way, not knowing what Axue liked to eat, just placing snacks inside the cart as he saw them.

Uncle Guan reminded him, ”Old Master, the Miss lives outside, sometimes she eats out, sometimes she makes instant noodles for herself. Maybe we should buy some ready-made food to bring to her as well.”

The old man uttered an ”Oh,” smiled, and headed to the ready-made food section, seeing pig’s trotters and roast duck, delicacies girls like, and bought a bunch of them.

Uncle Guan watched as the cart quickly filled up, not sure if he should say anything.

The old man picked up a few more items, placed them inside and found that the cart was full, yet he hadn’t bought any fruit. He took out a few things and turned to Uncle Guan, ”Let’s go over there.”

...

Two hours later

The black Huiteng stopped below building number 19 at Phoenix Nest.

It took Uncle Guan several trips to move everything into the elevator, and after he finished, the old man was about to press the floor button but the numbers were small, and without his presbyopic glasses, he couldn’t see clearly, ”Uncle Guan, press the floor for me.”

Uncle Guan pressed ”15”.

After a while, the elevator dinged as it reached the floor.

The elevator doors opened, and the old man stepped out, watching Uncle Guan move all the purchased items into the hallway, then went to ring the doorbell.

Once, twice, three times—

No one came to open the door.

Only then did Uncle Guan remember that today was Friday, ”Old Master, the Miss might still be in school; not sure if she’ll come back for the weekend.”

The old man glanced at the time; it was half-past six, ”We’ll just wait here for a while.”

Half an hour later, the elevator doors opened, and Huo Jinxue stepped out to see the bags lying haphazardly in the hallway. She thought she had gone to the wrong door until she saw her grandfather and Uncle Guan and realized—were all these things bought for her?

Five or six supermarket bags, dozens of department store bags!

The old man looked at Huo Jinxue, ”Xiaoxue, the weekend has started?”

Huo Jinxue nodded, looking at her grandfather. She couldn’t explain why, but she felt like he was different from before, much more cautious.

Huo Jinxue looked down at the things on the ground.

The old man slowly said, ”I bought you some snacks, ready-made food, and fruits, along with some clothes and shoes.”

”...”

His sudden generosity towards her made everything feel so surreal to Huo Jinxue as she looked at the old man!

With one hand on his cane, the old man gazed at Huo Jinxue, ”Axue, have you lost weight recently?”

Huo Jinxue didn’t respond.

Uncle Guan chimed in, ”Miss, the Old Master has been waiting outside for nearly an hour. He can’t stand much longer. Please open the door quickly.”

Huo Jinxue opened the door, watching Uncle Guan move the items into the living room. She thought about what had happened with her mother and didn’t know what to say.

The old man glanced around the apartment, ”Are you getting used to living here?”

”Accustomed.”

...

————Nanyuan Villa————

Study

Huo Bei looked at Huo Jinnan, ”Sir, Uncle Guan hasn’t been to the sanatorium since last week.”

Huo Jinnan, seated on a black leather chair, picked up a dart from the desk and threw it at the wall target, hitting the bullseye precisely.