Stuck in you

Jack recognized the little boy. He realized that he looked familiar because they had already met each other twice.

"Who is this little fella?" asked Jack. Even though he was confused, he still tried to sound kind and genuine.

"Why don't you introduce yourself to this uncle?" said Rachel.

Mendes was not usually this shy. He sat closer to Rachel in the back seat for comfort. Perhaps he was intimidated by Jack. "My name is Mendes Xu," he said.

Mendes' voice was so soft it was almost inaudible. Rachel couldn't even believe that the voice was from him. He was usually loud and outspoken. She never expected the child was hiding an effeminate side.

Seeing Mendes' reaction reminded Rachel how shy he was when he met Jack in the past. She couldn't help but wonder if Jack was the problem. 'Is he really that intimidating?' she thought.

"Nice to meet you again, Mendes. You can call me Uncle Jack," replied Jack as he tried to keep his eyes on the road.

"Uncle Jack!" Mendes said in a clear and loud voice.

Rachel noticed that Mendes might be trying to please Jack on purpose. Maybe Mendes was trying to get on his good side.

Jack never asked why she was bringing the child with her, nor did he ask where the child came from. He just focused solely on driving and the occasional small talk.

Rachel had planned to ask Jack about Wendy, but she realized that it was not the appropriate time to ask him. Mendes might not be able to completely understand that conversation, Rachel still decided to hold off on the question. It was not healthy for the boy to hear that kind of conversation.

Mendes was usually curious and full of energy, but right now he was behaving himself and wouldn't say a word.

Rachel had no idea why he was behaving this way. What could have made him so afraid of Jack?

She ruffled the child's hair but said nothing. There was an abject silence in the car. Jack found that it was especially quiet. He looked at them from the rearview mirror, and found that neither of them were interested in talking.

Jack saw that Mendes was resting his head on Rachel's shoulder. He stared at her with a pair of bright black eyes.

When the three of them arrived at the Fu family's house, Jonathan was waiting by the gate. He didn't expect that Rachel and Jack would arrive with a child in tow.

The old man glared at Jack. "Who is this boy?" he grunted. Mendes stared at Jonathan with his beady little eyes.

He wondered why the old man was angry and hid behind Rachel. She held Mendes close and stroked the boy's head to comfort him. "This is my friend's child. He's out of town for a couple of days so he asked me to take care of the kid while he's gone. I had no choice but to bring him here with me," she said.

The old man's scary expression became gentle. He gestured for the boy to come closer and smiled. "Come over here, little boy. Let me have a closer look at you," said Jonathan as he crouched down to Mendes' level.

Mendes took a glance at Jonathan and stepped closer towards him.

"Young man, I'm Jonathan," said Jonathan. He wore a gentle smile.

"Nice to meet you, Grandpa Jonathan," Mendes replied in a loud and clear voice. He seemed to like Jonathan. Whenever he had taken a liking to someone, he would always be this cheerful when talking to them.

Rachel was surprised at what she saw. No matter how she looked at the two of them, she couldn't quite think of anything to say.

when he heard them talking. Even Jack found it strange that Jonathan would act

He spread his arms to try and hug Mendes so that he might carry the boy in his arms, but after realizing

behind his back. "Jack!

saying a word. Then he walked over and whispered to Rachel, "He

what

stared at Mendes from head to toe. "Really?" she said as she took one last look

but Jack might be right. "He does seem fatter. I should try to control

crouched down to Mendes' level and stared

his arms to tell Jack that he wanted

opened the door for the three of them and urged them to come inside. The old man seemed rather excited to say the least. "What are you all still doing out there, come on

He pouted at Jack and stretched out

a way of getting people to do what he was asking for. 'Why

she was indifferent to his pleas. He had no choice

inside. Rachel followed behind them. When she looked up, she saw

like he did get a little fatter.

them talking and checked who it was. She saw her son and daughter-in-law bringing

down, Jonathan clapped

with a wide grin on his face. Tracy felt like she was going

on her abdomen. Her well-tailored, beautiful fingernails made red marks in the palm of her hand. She tried

him back," Jonathan replied

you say?" answered Tracy. She

it for her. "It's not Rachel's child, it's her friend's. Her friend's out of town for a couple of days, so he asked Rachel to

obviously relieved. "And

halfway through her

left speechless. Perhaps her mother-in-law had been watching too

think like that?

to Mendes and pointed at

blinked his beady little eyes. "Hello, Grandma! Nice to

smiled at Mendes and held out her hand. "It's nice

ago after his

with several old men in his spare time and enjoyed making some crafts. It was no surprise for him to be expecting to have a

his expectation. Among his circle of friends, his son was the first

but he behaved politely in front of the elders. He

were so amused by Mendes. At first, Tracy behaved aloof; now she

In a matter of moments, Mendes had subdued the two most difficult people in his family. It was astonishing to

Jack. It was like Jonathan

came here today was very obvious. He wasn't sure why his father wanted him to go back. Perhaps it

it a while, Jack figured it out. "Rachel, come over here. I have something to tell

"Okay, I have something to tell you

surprised. "Go upstairs," he said