Stealing Your Heart

Lin Xinyan’s face flushed crimson.

Surely, she could deprive Zong Jinghao of his position if she wanted to. After all, she had fifty percent of the shares in her hands.

On the other hand, Cheng Yuxiu had also prepared gifts for the children. Unlike Zong Qifeng, it wasn’t money but a token from the heart.

She had gone to South China Temple in person to ask for an amulet with the hope that the children would grow up safely and healthily.

The amulets were in a small yellow silk bag, embroidered with Buddhism-related motifs. Cheng Yuxiu brought them forward and hung them on their necks.

It wasn’t that she was a superstitious person, but it would be better to believe in something than nothing at all.

“Today is New Year’s Eve, and I can’t just come empty-handed.” Shen Peichuan had also prepared a gift for the children – a Nephrite jade pendant. “I don’t know much about jade, but I was told that it’d be good to wear this when I bought them. Men should wear it in the shape of the Guanyin statue, while it should be the Buddha for women, although I don’t really understand what it means.”

He gave the pendant with the Guanyin statue to Lin Xichen and the one with the Maitreya Buddha to Lin Ruixi. The little girl opened the red velvet box to see the beautifully carved Maitreya Buddha inside grinning pleasantly while holding the Buddhist prayer beads.

“Thank you, Uncle Shen. I love it,” the little girl beamed while stroking the pendant.

Shen Peichuan sighed in relief. “I was afraid you wouldn’t.”

He had been feeling very uneasy since the day he purchased the pair of jade pendants. Gifting was a matter of catering to someone else’s liking, but getting them a plush toy didn’t seem right for this occasion.

“Thank you, Uncle Shen. I love it too,” Lin Xichen chimed in politely. Growing up abroad, he didn’t understand the Buddhist culture back home so he asked, “Men should wear it in the shape of the Guanyin statue, while it should be the Buddha for women. Is it because the Guanyin is a female and the Buddha is a male?”

There was a moment of silence at the table.

No one had expected Lin Xichen to ask such a question.

you can’t just say that.”

He’s just a kid.” Zong Qifeng waved his

of drinks with Shen Peichuan to celebrate the

if he drank himself unconscious since the drivers were

were

earning a frown

with fireworks,” the little girl said hurriedly, her voice

Xinyan stroked her hair lovingly. “Still, there’s no need to rush. There are so many of us who haven’t finished our food yet. It’s not like you can go out on your own,

play alone outside, the little girl jumped off from her chair and urged, “Then hurry up! I wanna play outside.

dishes. It’ll take at least twenty minutes for me to

little girl blinked. “Then just finish this plate of

Shen Peichuan said, grabbing a

get fat if you eat too much,” Lin Ruixi piped. “And a fatty can never find a girlfriend. Look at

the table roared

said,

right. I’ll never find a

up, Uncle Shen,” Lin Xichen piped up as he refilled

Xi,” Shen Peichuan said,

find a girlfriend,” Lin Xichen said, putting a piece of braised pork in his mouth. “You might as well

Peichuan was rendered speechless at the

dinner ended with joyful laughter. After leaving the restaurant, they

moment, all sorts of fireworks were readied in the trunk, and

known as Little Stars. The name was such because it resembled a

and said, “Mommy, mommy, this