NOVPUBLu Shuangchen crouched down to explain to Liu Liang, "Your mom just went to work. She’ll be back after her shift. She didn’t abandon you—of course not. And your grandma will be back after work tonight too. She definitely didn’t abandon me either. She’s your mother, and she loves you so much. How could she ever leave you?"
He had repeated these words to Liu Liang many times. He couldn’t understand why, despite the whole family doting on her and catering to her every whim, she still worried that Jiang Lan might leave her.
Jiang Lan had taken nearly four months of maternity leave. On the days she returned to work, Liu Liang would cry incessantly.
Maybe it was because her parents weren’t around enough, or because their time together was too short. But even after spending so much time raising her, Lu Shuangchen felt hurt that Liu Liang still acted this way.
After all this time, in Liu Liang’s heart, he was practically dispensable. It wasn’t good to ask a child who they loved most, but if someone really did ask, Liu Liang would rank her mother first, her father and grandma second, the white-bearded old grandpa third, and her actual grandfather fourth.
Her own grandfather—fourth.
After raising Liu Liang, Lu Shuangchen realized how much he had neglected Lu Yicheng in the past. But this little granddaughter of his—all she ever did was miss her mom.
Every time Jiang Lan left for work, Liu Liang would pout as if the whole world had abandoned her.
Lu Shuangchen was at a loss.
Lu Lingnuan hiccuped. "Then when will Mommy come back?"
Lu Shuangchen replied, "After you take your nap, wake up, and play at the park to your heart’s content, your mom will be back. For now, why don’t you look at your picture books while Grandpa makes lunch, okay?"
Lu Lingnuan nodded eagerly. "I want to help Grandpa wash the vegetables!"
Her version of "washing vegetables" consisted of Lu Shuangchen giving her a couple of outer leaves to tear apart for fun. To avoid wasting food, he always gave her the tough, inedible parts.
"Alright, Liu Liang can help Grandpa wash the veggies." Mealtime wasn’t a hassle—Liu Liang could feed herself. After eating, she’d put the dishes in the dishwasher and wipe the table. Then it was time to coax her to sleep.
Getting her to sleep was easy too. A five- or six-minute story would knock her right out, making Lu Shuangchen wonder if his storytelling was just that boring.
By late afternoon, close to six, Liu Liang was still running wild with three other kids from the production crew. From afar, she spotted Lu Yicheng’s car approaching and sprinted to the roadside, waving frantically. "Daddy! Daddy! Grandpa, Mommy’s in there too!"
Afraid she’d dart into the street, Lu Shuangchen grabbed her hand. "Watch out for cars. What did I tell you? No rushing."
Lu Lingnuan pointed at the white car. "Mommy’s in the car!"
Kids had sharp eyes—she immediately spotted Jiang Lan in the passenger seat.
Once the car parked, Jiang Lan stepped out with her bag. Seeing her daughter charging at her like a tiny cannonball, she said, "Honey, you carry her. I’ve been playing the violin all day—I’m too tired to lift her."
Liu Liang clung to Jiang Lan’s leg. "Nooo! Just one hug! One hug and I won’t ask for more!"
She got her wish, snuggling into Jiang Lan’s arms before planting a kiss on her cheek. "Mommy, you’re back so early today! Why so early?"
The orchestra was close to their villa, so Jiang Lan had Lu Yicheng pick her up after work.
Jiang Lan handed their daughter to Lu Yicheng. "Yu Wanqiu isn’t back yet. You go start dinner—I’ll watch her. Dad’s been busy all day."
Lu Shuangchen smiled. "Liu Liang’s been very well-behaved. She’s no trouble at all."
"Yeah, yeah! Grandpa says I’m good!"
Jiang Lan tapped Liu Liang’s nose. "That’s something others should say about you, not you about yourself."
Lu Lingnuan tightened her arms around Lu Yicheng’s neck. "But I am good! Super good!"
Lu Yicheng scoffed. "Lu Lingnuan, stop flattering yourself. If you’re ‘good,’ then the whole world must be full of angels." He hoisted her up. "Walk on your own—you’re getting heavy."
Lu Lingnuan protested, "No I’m not! Daddy, carry me!"
Lu Yicheng chuckled. "Little pig."
"I’m not a pig!"
Jiang Lan rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small dolphin plushie. "Come on, little pig. Let’s go home."
By the time Yu Wanqiu returned, dinner was ready.
Lu Lingnuan rushed to the door with slippers. "Yu Wanqiu, look at my new toy! Mommy gave it to me!"
Yu Wanqiu pinched Liu Liang’s cheeks. The plushie was a dolphin—part of a set of merchandise from the aquarium. These days, the aquarium’s dolphins had been released back into the ocean, and the place was transitioning into selling stuffed animals instead.
The collection had all sorts of sea creatures—a dolphin today, a whale tomorrow—keeping kids endlessly fascinated.
Yu Wanqiu cooed, "How adorable! Why don’t you sleep with the dolphin tonight?"
Lu Lingnuan frowned. "But shouldn’t dolphins sleep in water?"
Yu Wanqiu paused. "...Should we put it in the bathtub, then?"
"Then I’ll sleep in the bathtub too! To keep it company!"
Yu Wanqiu found children’s innocent remarks utterly charming. Everything about her own grandchild was endearing.
After dinner, Jiang Lan and Lu Yicheng took over childcare while Lu Shuangchen and Yu Wanqiu went for a walk.
The summer breeze was cool as they strolled around the neighborhood.
Yu Wanqiu, now past fifty, had slowed her acting career to one film every two years, focusing more on life outside work.
Lu Shuangchen, nearing sixty, spent his days looking after Liu Liang, living a peaceful retirement.
To him, this life was close to ideal.
Except for one thing—this granddaughter of his was a handful.
The evening walk left Lu Shuangchen with a sore throat. "Wanqiu, I think I’m coming down with something. My throat hurts."
Yu Wanqiu fetched the medicine kit. "Take some pills and drink plenty of hot water for now."
Lu Shuangchen nodded. He was older but not stubborn—especially since tomorrow was Tuesday, and he had Liu Liang to watch. He couldn’t afford to get sick.
He’d stayed healthy for years thanks to regular exercise, and in the three-plus years of raising Liu Liang, he’d never fallen ill. He figured some medicine would fix it. But by midnight, his temperature had risen to 37.6°C.
Lu Yicheng urged him to go to the hospital, but Lu Shuangchen insisted it was just a mild fever—sleep would cure it.
Yu Wanqiu said, "It’s too late now. Let’s see if the fever breaks by morning. Take another pill and drink more water."
Having been sick before, Lu Yicheng knew how miserable it felt. "I’ll take care of Liu Liang tomorrow. Dad, you rest for a few days."
Yu Wanqiu frowned. "How? Tomorrow’s Tuesday—I’ve got interviews at the studio and graduation matters to handle. Jiang Lan’s at work, and you’ve got the company. Who’ll watch her?"
Lu Yicheng shrugged. "I’ll take her to the office. Dad needs to rest. Get some sleep."
Lu Shuangchen didn’t voice his real concern—that Liu Liang’s apparent indifference toward him had dampened his mood. It felt silly for a man his age to be upset over a child’s favoritism.
She was his own granddaughter. Why was he competing with a fast-food chain?
Lu Shuangchen murmured, "Alright. I’ll see how I feel tomorrow. If the fever’s still there, I’ll get an IV."
Lu Yicheng returned to his room, where Jiang Lan asked how things were.
Glancing at their sprawled-out, turtle-like daughter, he replied, "Low-grade fever. It’s too late now—just medicine for tonight. We’ll see if it breaks by morning."
"Sweetheart, I'll take Liu Liang to the company tomorrow. Dad probably won’t be able to look after her." Lu Yicheng sighed. "There’s not much work tomorrow. She can read picture books, play with puzzles, and bring her new little dolphin toy."
That should be fine.
But if she cries when her dad’s in charge… well, Lu Yicheng wouldn’t know what to do.
It wasn’t possible before—when she was just over a year old, she needed constant supervision. But now that she’s older, she’s much easier to handle.
Jiang Lan wondered if Liu Liang had been too mischievous and worn out her grandfather.
Even though she’s a girl, she’s lively and restless, never staying still for a moment. Just watching her could be exhausting.
"What if I take her to the orchestra? My colleagues adore Liu Liang. She can just play quietly on the side." Jiang Lan could also bring their daughter to work.
Lu Yicheng shook his head. "Let me take her first. My office is private, and we’ll see how Dad is tomorrow. If it’s too much, you can step in."
That seemed like the only option.
Jiang Lan tugged the blanket over their daughter. "Get some rest early. If you really take Liu Liang to the company tomorrow, you’ll be exhausted."
Lu Yicheng didn’t mind the exhaustion—it was still easier than Jiang Lan having to juggle playing the violin and taking care of their daughter. That would be truly draining.
Bringing her to the office was manageable, but the camera crew would have to follow.
The next morning, Liu Liang was the first to wake up. She had gone to bed at nine and was wide awake by six.
As soon as she stirred, she snuggled into Jiang Lan’s arms, waking her up too.
Lu Yicheng rubbed his eyes. "It’s only six…"
He scooped up Lu Lingnuan. "Sweetheart, go back to sleep. I’ll check on Dad and see if he’s feeling better."
As for Lu Lingnuan, she just needed to stay out of the way so Jiang Lan could rest. He’d take her to brush her teeth and wash her face later.
They had just moved into the villa, and Lu Lingnuan usually woke up at six-thirty. Maybe she wasn’t used to the new place yet.
"Daddy, where’s Grandpa?" Lu Lingnuan looked up and asked.
Daddy’s dad was Grandpa. Why did Daddy say Grandpa needed to feel better?
What was wrong with Grandpa?
Lu Yicheng explained, "Grandpa is sick. Lu Lingnuan, you might have to come to the company with me today…"
After saying that, he stood outside Yu Wanqiu’s room and listened for any movement.
Lu Lingnuan pressed her ear to the door and whispered, "Grandpa, are you sick? Do you feel better…?"
Yu Wanqiu opened the door, first ruffling Lu Lingnuan’s hair before shaking her head at Lu Yicheng.
"38.4°C. He’s been feverish all night. He should go to the hospital for an IV, or it’ll get worse. Liu Liang, will you go with Daddy today?"
Lu Lingnuan didn’t answer. Instead, she said, "I want to see Grandpa."
In her mind, being sick meant taking medicine and getting shots—it hurt and felt awful. Lu Shuangchen was the strongest grandpa ever. How could he be sick?
Yu Wanqiu worried about contagion and only let Lu Lingnuan peek from the doorway.
But Lu Lingnuan, small and quick, darted inside before anyone could stop her. "Grandpa, Grandpa, what’s wrong?"
Lu Shuangchen had a throbbing headache, dizziness, and no energy.
Normally, he would’ve scooped Liu Liang into his arms, but today, he couldn’t even lift her.
He kept his distance, not wanting to pass the illness to her.
"Grandpa is sick. I can’t play with Liu Liang today." His voice was hoarse.
Lu Lingnuan stood by the bed, refusing to leave even when Yu Wanqiu tried to pull her away.
Every time Lu Shuangchen spoke, she said, "Grandpa’s throat hurts. Don’t talk."
Lu Shuangchen insisted, "Go eat breakfast. Later, you’ll go to the company with Daddy."
Lu Lingnuan shook her head. "No, I want to take care of Grandpa."
She ran out, grabbed Lu Shuangchen’s cup, and headed for the water dispenser.
Lu Yicheng panicked—what if she pressed the hot water button and burned herself? "Let me do it. You can take the water to Grandpa, but don’t touch the dispenser again, okay?"
Once the cup was filled, Lu Lingnuan carefully carried it back.
This was the first time Lu Shuangchen had ever been served water by his granddaughter.
At three years old, she was usually the one being cared for—when had she ever fetched water for anyone?
The water was warm. After drinking it, Lu Shuangchen smiled weakly. "Thank you, Liu Liang."
Lu Lingnuan grabbed the cup to refill it, but Lu Shuangchen stopped her. "Grandpa doesn’t need more."
She set the cup down and climbed onto the bed. "Grandpa, pain pain, fly away."
It was something Jiang Lan always said to comfort her, and now she was using it on Lu Shuangchen. She pressed her small hand to his forehead. "Hot."
Lu Shuangchen couldn’t take it anymore. "Liu Liang… stay away from Grandpa. You might catch the cold."
Lu Lingnuan slid off the bed and dashed out, returning with a small cake and some snacks. "Grandpa, eat this and you’ll feel better."
Yu Wanqiu intervened, "Liu Liang, people with colds shouldn’t eat snacks. Let’s save these for Grandpa when he’s better, okay?"
Lu Shuangchen was deeply moved.
He knew his granddaughter well—she was possessive and clever. If a big cake was divided fairly, she’d accept it. But if someone tried to take her share afterward? Forget it.
The only person who could ever get food from Lu Lingnuan was Jiang Lan. No one else—especially not Lu Shuangchen.
Yet today, she had brought him her favorite cake and snacks.
To her, these were the best things in the world—the cure for everything.
Lu Shuangchen said softly, "You eat them, Liu Liang. Grandpa doesn’t need them."
Lu Lingnuan insisted, "Eat it, eat it… Jelly and canned fruit will make you better…"
Whenever she felt bad, these treats fixed everything.
Lu Shuangchen’s headache eased a little. "Grandpa really is fine. I’ll go to the hospital and get better. Be good and go with Daddy, okay?"
"No! I want to stay with Grandpa." Lu Lingnuan thought being with Daddy wasn’t as good as being with Grandpa. Besides, she could take care of him!
"Lu Lingnuan, pick two toys to bring. This isn’t up for debate—Grandpa’s going to the hospital, Mommy’s working, Grandma has meetings, and I’m the only one who can take you." Lu Yicheng started packing her things. They’d just moved in yesterday, and her belongings were everywhere.
Lu Lingnuan’s lips trembled. Just as she was about to cry, Lu Yicheng cut in, "Crying won’t change anything. You might as well pick your favorite toys now, or I’ll just grab whatever."
"Mean Daddy! You don’t even know what I like!" Lu Lingnuan wiped her (still dry) eyes. "I want to stay with Grandpa. He’s sick, I want to stay…"
Lu Shuangchen just wanted to recover quickly.
At the hospital, after having his temperature taken, blood drawn, and IV started, Lu Shuangchen received a call from his granddaughter around ten.
Lu Lingnuan’s face filled the screen, with Lu Yicheng holding up five fingers in the background—five minutes max.
She nodded eagerly. "Grandpa, do you feel better?"
Lu Shuangchen glanced at the IV bag. "Much better. Just two more bottles to go."
"If I were there, I could bring you tea and snacks," Lu Lingnuan said wistfully. "Grandpa, get better soon, okay?"
Lu Shuangchen realized he’d worried for nothing. Liu Liang was sweet, and she loved him. He didn’t need to compete with fast-food mascots or fictional characters.
