We moved to Golden Courtyard

Greta glanced at Xu Youde, then at Xu Qi.

Xu Qi nodded before accepting the jade pendant.

"Thank you, Grandpa... It's beautiful! I love it..."

Xu Qi couldn't help but glance at his father. After the father sat down again, he leaned over and said, "Dad, you're so generous... You've given away the Xu family's heirloom jade pendant?"

"What? You're not convinced? If you're not convinced, then hurry up and have another one. Your mother still has one."

Xu Qi couldn't stop smiling.

He knew that his father truly regarded Gretchen as his granddaughter.

This is what is meant by the joy of family life.

The atmosphere at the banquet was quite lively from the very beginning.

Finally, at Eden's suggestion, the younger generation stood up and toasted the two elders. Those who could not drink alcohol substituted tea for wine.

Xu Qi could see it clearly; that final toast brought tears to his mother's eyes...

Perhaps the elderly couple never imagined that their family would be so lively today, nor did they ever imagine that this day would come so soon.

All good things must come to an end. After the banquet, Xu Youde declined everyone's offer to stay and help clean up, and saw them all the way downstairs.

"Go back, go back, tomorrow is New Year's Eve, wishing everyone a happy new year in advance."

Xu Qi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Dad, what are you saying? Didn't we agree to go to Golden Courtyard together on New Year's Day? It'll be so lively then."

Xu Youde didn't speak, but just smiled and waved his hand.

Xu Qi also looked at Eden and said, "Sister, you take everyone back first, I'll be back in a bit."

"it is good."

Eden glanced at Xu Youde one last time and said, "Uncle, we'll be going now."

Xu Youde nodded, a smile still on his face, and said, "I'm entrusting Xu Qi to you from now on."

Eden was taken aback. She glanced at Xu Qi subconsciously, but seeing that he was still grinning foolishly, she didn't say anything more, waved, and went to the car.

"Why don't you go back too? It's getting late."

"It's okay, Dad. Can I stay with you a little longer?"

"Hypocrite, why didn't you do this earlier?"

"Wasn't that during your rebellious phase? You didn't go home before."

Xu Youde laughed and said, "So your rebellious phase came late, you haven't grown up yet, have you?"

Xu Qi scratched his head, offering no rebuttal.

When I was little, I dreamed of growing up, but now that I'm actually grown up... I dream of staying a child again.

For Xu Qi, as long as he is with his parents, he can always be a child.

"Alright, since you're coming over tomorrow anyway, go home and get some rest."

"So I'm really going back?"

Xu Youde waved his hand impatiently and said, "Go back, go back! It's annoying to see you hanging around here."

"Well, there's nothing I can do about it. I'm your son."

Seeing Xu Youde raise his hand, Xu Qi chuckled and shrank back.

"So I'm really leaving?"

Xu Youde raised his chin, and Xu Qi opened his arms; the father and son embraced one last time.

"Let's go, Dad!"

Standing downstairs, watching the car turn the corner, Xu Youde then turned back, climbed the stairs, and went home.

At home, Lin Lai sat blankly on the sofa.

Once things quieted down, everything that had just happened seemed like a dream; only now was it real life.

"gone?"

"Okay, I'm leaving."

Xu Youde sat next to his wife.

"I've grown up... I've really grown up."

"He still looks like a child."

"You... you only say that. I can tell that he's actually... very attached to that home, that home that belongs to him."

Xu Youde remained silent.

“A year? It’s just a blink of an eye, old man. How come it’s gone so fast? I always felt that Xiao Qi would have to wait a long, long time before he got married, had children, and started a new family.”

Lin Lai suddenly leaned on Xu Youde's shoulder, tears streaming down her face, unable to tell whether it was sadness or joy.

"How come my son already has his own family in the blink of an eye?"

Yes... In the blink of an eye, that little eagle that used to be crying for food has already flown higher than them.

"From now on, he will have to walk his own path from now on."

576. What were the young couple doing last night?

The next day, which was New Year's Eve.

When Xu Qi got up, Mei was still half asleep in bed, muttering, "Why are you up so early on a holiday... why not sleep a little longer?"

After Xu Qi finished dressing and tucked Mei Yi into bed, he patted her firm, ample backside and laughed, "You little pig, it's already 9 o'clock and you still think it's early?"

"It's only 9 o'clock... I didn't go to sleep until after 1 a.m. last night."

The young couple lay in the same bed and didn't fall asleep until 1 a.m. So what were they doing last night?

It's really hard to guess.

Xu Qi kissed Mei on the forehead and said, "I'm going to my parents' place."

At this, Mei was no longer sleepy. She opened her eyes and said, "Do you want me to come with you?"

So, you little vixens, fighting and arguing every day, visiting Xu Qi's parents, and offering yourselves to be played with by Xu Qi—is it really necessary?

If you can coax Xu Qi into your bed the night before New Year's Eve and then whisper sweet nothings in his ear, you'll have everything you need.

Although it seems like I'm also offering myself up to a tiger, being manipulated by Xu Qi in various ways...

But the key is timing.

Then Xu Qi said something.

"no need."

Mei immediately became unhappy. Her face darkened, she turned around, and said in a grumbling tone, "Oh? Is that so? So you promised to go with some girl?"

Knowing that Mei was jealous, Xu Qi found it amusing.

He explained, "I didn't promise anyone, but I want to go by myself today."

"You alone?"

Mei looked at Xu Qi with a puzzled expression, then understood.

"You want to leave this world simply as a son, is that right?"

That's why Mei understands him so well.

"Then go ahead, but you have to call me tonight. I'm afraid I'll miss you if I don't see you."

Xu Qi was speechless—I miss you too, Mei…

Even if we're only apart for a day, I can't stop missing you.

Xu Qi didn't say anything more, nor did she greet the other girls in the courtyard, and left directly.

He feared that if he stayed any longer, he wouldn't be able to go back.

Perhaps this is the last time I can simply go home alone. From now on, my life will no longer consist only of my parents.

I will have a new family, a family of my own.

He also needs to devote more energy and time to this family.

Go and care for your wife and take care of your children.

This time it's not just a teenager running away from home, but someone going out... to live independently.

……

Standing at his doorstep, Xu Qi took a deep breath.

This is the first time... I've ever felt nervous going home.

He tapped his fingers and knocked on the door.

"dong dong dong"

The sound echoed in the stairwell, but after a long time, Xu Qi did not hear any footsteps coming from inside the door.

He frowned and knocked on the door again.

"dong dong dong"

……

Xu Qi seemed to realize something. He took out his key, opened the door, and as soon as he stepped inside, he eagerly called out twice, "Dad! Mom!"

No one responded...

Xu Qi stood blankly in the house—had he gone out to buy groceries?

At that moment, he noticed a letter lying quietly on the large round table in the living room where the banquet had been held the previous night.

······

At Pudong Airport, inside the terminal, Xu Youde and his wife Lin Lai were preparing to board their plane and check in.

"Old man, do you think Xiaoqi will blame us for leaving without saying goodbye?"

"Really? I wrote him a letter, so it doesn't count as leaving without saying goodbye."

Lin Lai couldn't help but roll her eyes at her husband.

“Only someone like you would bother with writing letters. If you ask me, you should have just told your son last night! Why make it so complicated?”

Xu Youde grinned, offering no explanation.

He was afraid that if he told his son, his son would persuade him, and he wouldn't want to leave anymore.

But he didn't want to tell his wife about something so pathetic!

"Let's forget about him! We've worked hard for most of our lives, getting up early and working late every day. What have we been working for? Now that our son is married, it's time for us to enjoy some time alone together. Don't you think so?"

"Come on, you're all in your fifties or sixties, still indulging in your 'two-person world'?"

"Hahaha!"

······

To my beloved son:

Son, please forgive your father and mother for leaving without saying goodbye. Actually, we had already made a promise that when we have some free time, we will travel around the world together.

So, what do you think? Your dad's decision is pretty romantic, isn't it? It's just as romantic as you young guys'.

Last night, I was very happy. Although the thought of you ruining so many good girls made me want to find a stick and beat you up, the thought that you are my son made me less angry.

It's clear they all love you... That puts our minds at ease. Seeing that you finally have your own family, your parents are truly happy for you.

Before, I was always worried that you wouldn't grow up, but now that you've really grown up, I'm reluctant to let you go.

……

Tears blurred Xu Qi's vision, and he quickly wiped some away so he wouldn't miss the contents of the letter.

……