Stealing Your Heart

Zong Jinghao’s smile had melted off his face, as it was soon replaced by his usual chilly expression.

Meanwhile, Cheng Yuxiu emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate of cooked dumplings, only to see him glaring at her from the dining room.

She grimaced inwardly and forced a smile onto her face. “The dumplings are ready. Do you want some?”

Zong Jinghao glanced at the dumplings on the plate and noticed that all of them were the beautifully shaped ones, which further annoyed him. He ignored Yuxiu completely and pulled out a chair to sit down with his daughter on his lap.

Cheng Yuxiu stood by awkwardly, unsure of what to do next.

The two kids were so engrossed in making the dumplings and they did not even notice Cheng Yuxiu standing there with the cooked dumplings.

Lin Xinyan was about to sample one when Zong Qifeng walked over and sat down by the head of the table. “Give it to me.”

Cheng Yuxiu obeyed him, with her gaze downcast.

“I’ll get the vinegar!” Lin Xichen announced, sliding off his seat and rushing into the kitchen.

Zong Qifeng watched as he disappeared into the kitchen with a gentle smile on his face. His own son had distanced himself from him and Cheng Yuxiu ever since their marriage, yet his little grandson turned out to be a caring soul.

Lin Xichen grinned upon returning with a bottle of vinegar. “Remember to give me lots of red packet money, Grandpa!”

Usually, Lin Xinyan and Zhuang Zijin would be the ones giving him red packets every Chinese New Year, and he loved the thrill of receiving them.

After all, New Year’s was just another occasion for celebration and fun.

Zong Qifeng chuckled. “Sure, boy.”

Lin Ruixi began to grow jealous. “I want one too!”

“Of course! I won’t forget about you, Ruixi!” Zong Qifeng cooed, stroking her head lovingly. “Come here. Grandpa will feed you some dumplings. Let’s see if they’re yummy or not!”

Lin Ruixi clambered onto Zong Qifeng’s lap immediately at the mention of food. Zong Qifeng picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and blew on it before setting it onto her plate. “Blow on it first before you eat it, or it’s going to burn your throat.”

The little girl giggled in his embrace.

of vinegar and other condiments with the help of the kitchen maids before hurrying back

completely detached from the happy scene

left out, he stood up to leave, only for Lin Xinyan to call out

asked, hoping

don’t know how to,” he

you,” she

scornfully at the dumplings that she had made. You’ll teach

and suggested, “Mom’s pretty good at this.

her heart rate speeding

if he

down

he simply looked away

felt as though her heart had fallen into a bottomless pit. Looks

on the kids, but his words seemed to be directed at Zong Jinghao.

course!” they chirped

head lovingly. “Yeah… You won’t

at him and blinked in confusion. “A grandpa gave us gifts

a start. When was the

have been doing something behind

was not as mature as her brother, and

began to panic. She nudged Lin Xinyan and uttered, “Hey, you

meant and turned

might have been the

the dumplings, completely unaware of the tension in the air. “I want

picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and dipped it in the vinegar. “Here, I’ve done

giggled and took a bite

and retreated

the plate of dumplings in Lin Xinyan’s hand and urged her,

pursed her lips together. “He’s ill in the mind. He won’t recover without

if her father had married another woman within a month of

check on him,” she announced, tugging the apron off her