"Sister," Little Tuanzi howled, trying his best to make his presence felt.
"Hey, Little One, donât wriggle about, or if you fall, Iâm not responsible," Little Tuanzi kept fluttering, almost causing Feng Yi to lose his grip.
Ye Jiuliang chuckled lightly, "Feng Yi, just put him down."
Once his little short legs hit the ground, Little Tuanzi climbed up the sofa, his round belly quivering comically.
"Sister," Little Tuanzi called out in a glutinous voice, glancing at Li Mochan while inching toward Ye Jiuliangâs embrace.
Ye Jiuliang couldnât help but smile and reached out to hold him in her arms.
She poked Little Tuanziâs chubby cheek, "Little Fatty, do you want to play a game?"
"Yes," Little Tuanziâs blue eyes grew round with anticipation.
"The phone is with your brother, so you ask him for it," Ye Jiuliang coaxed.
Ask the big baddie?
Little Tuanziâs watery blue eyes dimmed, and his pink lips were pressed together, showing a hint of hesitation.
After a moment, Little Tuanziâs chubby hand rested on Li Mochanâs hand.
Lifting his face, his smile was sweeter than honey, "Brother."
Feng Yi, "..."
Do kids nowadays change their faces this quickly?
This acting could already land him on stage.
Li Mochanâs calm eyes turned to him, waiting for Little Tuanziâs next words.
Seeing that Li Mochanâs expression was still "gentle," Little Tuanzi plucked up the courage to shake his hand.
"Brother, I want the phone," the dimples by his mouth deepened, "Brother, the baby wants to play games with sister."
"Not calling me bad brother anymore, huh?" A subtle smile flickered in Li Mochanâs eyes.
"Brother is the best," Little Tuanzi sweetly said, it was obvious heâd done this plenty at home.
Ye Jiuliang secretly laughed and egged on, "Little Fatty, give your brother a kiss."
Little Tuanzi was very obedient to Ye Jiuliang, he tilted his head back, pouted his pink lips, and pretended to kiss Li Mochan.
"Sit nicely," Li Mochanâs deep eyes flashed with disdain as he took out his phone and handed it to Ye Jiuliang.
Seeing the phone, Little Tuanzi immediately scooted back into Ye Jiuliangâs embrace, huddling close to look at the screen together.
On the side, Feng Yi chuckled softly and teased, "Mohan, if you guys end up having a son, looks like youâre in for a treat."
At that comment, a cold glance was thrown at him, "Shut up."
He only wanted a little princess, close that crowâs mouth of his.
Outside the window, the sky turned completely dark, the rain poured down, and the mist blurred everything, making the ocean indistinguishable.
Suddenly, the cruise ship stopped.
Everyone was startled, and a touch of panic colored their faces.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thereâs no need to worry. The cruise ship is stopping temporarily, we will return once the rain eases up," Old Mr. Cui walked in, soothingly said.
Hearing this, everyone looked at each other and settled back into their chairs.
"Alright, weâll play another time," Ye Jiuliang turned off the phone and patted Little Tuanziâs head.
Little Tuanzi obediently nodded, slid out from Ye Jiuliangâs arms, and ran back to Old Lady Charles, "Grandma, I need to go to the washroom."
"Okay," Old Lady Charles smiled and affirmed, taking his hand and walking out of the banquet hall.
The quiet corridor was lit with warm yellow lights, stretching the shadows of the old and the young along the wall a little longer.
"Grandma, can we take sister back home with us when we go back?" Bentley looked up, his voice milky and sweet.
Old Lady Charles looked at Little Tuanzi with a kind gaze, "Does Bentley like sister that much?"
"Mhm, sister is so nice. When the baby grows up, baby will marry sister," Bentley nodded his little head, his beautiful blue eyes sparkling with excitement.
Charlesâs grandmother was tickled by his antics and laughed heartily, "But didnât the baby say he wanted to marry Mommy when he grows up?"
"Daddyâs too bad, baby canât outcompete him," Bentley said, dispirited.
"Hehe," Charlesâs grandmother rubbed his little head, amused to laughter by his adorable manner.
"Grandma is waiting for you at the door, go ahead."
Little Tuanzi has always been self-sufficient at home, so Charlesâs grandmother wasnât worried about him being alone.
"Mm." Little Tuanzi nodded and walked into the bathroom.
Suddenly, the light at the bathroom door dimmed.
Charlesâs grandmotherâs face changed slightly as she felt a chill approach from behind.
"Donât move."
A hoarse voice sounded from behind, and the cold muzzle of a gun pressed against her shoulder, causing Charlesâs grandmotherâs body to stiffen instantly.
Struggling to regain her voice, Charlesâs grandmother kept looking towards the bathroom, terrified that Little Tuanzi would run out, "Who, who are you?"
The tall figure of the man in black was hidden in the darkness, as he grabbed the old ladyâs collar, his hoarse voice terrifying, "No need to look, your little one has already been taken by our people."
Hearing that Little Tuanzi was kidnapped, Charlesâs grandmotherâs face turned instantaneously pale, "Ask whatever you want, just donât hurt my grandson, please."
"If you want the child to be safe, tell your old man to mind his own business, and not to meddle in things he shouldnât, to keep his mouth shut on matters he shouldnât speak of," the sinister voice instructed, pausing after each word.
"Tell Ye Jiuliang to come to the back terrace of the cruise ship. If Ye Jiuliang doesnât show up within three minutes, then donât blame us for not being courteous. Also, do not alarm anyone else."
As the sentence ended, the gun moved away from her shoulder, and when she turned to look, the hallway was empty, the man gone.
"Bentley."
Charlesâs grandmother rushed into the bathroom, calling out for Little Tuanzi desperately, but received no response.
On the other side
Unable to return for the time being, Old Chu had refreshments and drinks prepared.
Ye Jiuliang was browsing the snack area with Li Mochan, her eyes indecisive upon seeing the colorful assortment of small pastries on the table.
"Can you get full just by looking?" Li Mochan, with a ripple of mirth in his eyes, picked up a slice of cake and offered it to her.
"Try it."
Ye Jiuliang took a little fork, scooped up a bite of the cake, and put it in her mouth.
Sweet but not cloying.
"Try this." She scooped another piece of cake and brought it to Li Mochanâs lips.
Li Mochan parted his thin lips and ate the cake she had offered.
"With all these cakes here, do you two really need to share one?" Feng Yi couldnât help but complain.
Everyone in the hall was watching; couldnât they restrain themselves a bit? Really, were people with wives so amazing?
Li Mochan gave him a dismissive glance, "Mind your own business."
At that moment, the sound of hurried, rustling footsteps was heard.
Ye Jiuliang glanced sideways and noticed the serious expressions on the faces of the Charles couple.
"Ye." Remembering the words of the man in black, the old lady suppressed her anxiety and grabbed Ye Jiuliangâs hand.
She whispered in a low voice, with a hint of choking, "Ye, something has happened to Bentley, please help us."
"What happened?" Ye Jiuliang put down her fork, the smile at the corner of her mouth fading away.
Charlesâs grandmother whispered a few words in her ear, and Ye Jiuliangâs brows furrowed tightly after hearing them.
It seemed that they came for her, and the Charles family was also implicated because of her.
She turned her head to look at Li Mochan, "Mochan, I..."
"Iâll come with you," Li Mochan interrupted her, his tone resolute.