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.

vinegar and other condiments with

Jinghao sat alone, completely detached from the happy scene before

stood up to leave, only for Lin Xinyan to

she asked, hoping to

don’t know how to,”

you,” she offered,

dumplings that she had made. You’ll

and suggested, “Mom’s pretty good at this. Why don’t you ask

rate speeding up as she waited

if he agrees to

looked down in

looked away and

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

seemed to be directed at

course!” they chirped

stroked Lin Ruixi’s head lovingly. “Yeah… You won’t even

and blinked in confusion. “A grandpa gave us gifts

looked up with a start. When

like they have been doing something

her daughter but chose not to say anything. After all, Lin Ruixi was not as mature as her brother, and there was no point trying to explain things to someone as sensitive

to panic. She nudged Lin Xinyan and uttered, “Hey, you should take a break. The food will be

she meant and turned

 I might have been the one who

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

so greedy!” Zong Qifeng exclaimed, tickling her nose. He picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and dipped it in the vinegar. “Here, I’ve done it for

Ruixi giggled and took a bite out

and

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

“He’s ill in

father had married another woman within a month of her mother’s death, she would have rebelled as

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