Be Careful, Scum Dad! Mommy Is Back!
Chapter 446: Isn’t it because of that vote?

Chapter 446: Chapter 446: Isn’t it because of that vote?

"Don’t impose my expectations on her."

Back then, he thought his grandson was too easily swayed by emotions. Today, after hearing Lu Xining’s words, he realized he had been too absolute in his thinking.

Seeking a result, while neglecting the importance of the process.

"Forget it, you young people have your own ways of living, I’m old and can’t see things as clearly as you."

Su Jingguo sighed, saying, "You go ahead and do what you want, the three kids are with me. I can’t say for others, but at least no one would dare to touch them here."

"Thank you." Lu Xining’s gratitude came from the heart.

His gaze loosened from a suppressive pressure, calmly settling into the elder’s gentle demeanor.

An extended silence slowly spread in the still room.

Lu Nuonuo ran in, hands cupping a mini version of a snowman, cheerful voice shouting, "Mom, look, little snowman~"

"It’s beautiful; did Nuonuo make it, or did your brother?"

"Brother made it for Nuonuo~"

Upon seeing Lu Xining’s smiling lips, Little Dumpling turned to show Su Jingguo what was in her palms, asked Uncle Housekeeper for a plate, placed the little snowman inside it, and set it on the table where Su Jingguo was resting his hands.

She cheerfully said, "Great-grandfather, it’s cold outside, so Nuonuo brought the little snowman inside to keep you company."

Throughout his hurried half-life, Su Jingguo seldom paused for Beicheng’s snow. In those distant memories, he vaguely recalled his wife also pulling him out for mischief during snowfall.

Back then, they had only recently married...

He gazed at the little snowman, somewhat unable to distinguish the blurring of past and present, and felt inexplicable regret and helplessness.

The children’s playroom was connected to the snow-covered backyard.

Compared to the meticulously cleaned floors of the front yard, the backyard had remained unswept since it snowed days ago, leaving snow piled as high as the children’s knees.

Beicheng’s snow was as fine as sand, differing from the slushy snow in the south.

Having grown up in C Country’s eternally spring-like warmth and rarely seen snow in Yunqiao Village, Lu Nuonuo had an inexplicable fondness for snow.

She came over and took Lu Xining’s hand with a radiant smile, saying, "Mom, let’s go build a snowman together."

Lu Xining looked at Su Jingguo. He returned to his composed state, pinched Little Dumpling’s cheek, and said, "Such icy little cheeks, drink some hot water before going out to play."

He used a clean cup to pour half a cup of water. As Lu Nuonuo prepared to take it, she discovered the gloves her brother had firmly secured on her hands.

She looked up and said, "Great-grandfather, help me~"

"Alright."

Su Jingguo gazed at her with adoration.

Except for when Ji Muye’s mother was born, he hadn’t faced children this young for a long time; they weren’t even as tall as the table yet bolder than anyone.

After drinking, Lu Nuonuo immediately pulled her mom to go play.

In the back garden, the twins were diligently building a big snowman for their sister.

"Mom, look, my brother and I have already built the snowman’s body!"

Ji Ze’s voice was full of joy, and he continued to build the snowman without stopping, his eyes bright and clear.

"Mom, let’s go build a snowman."

Little Dumpling dragged her along, eagerly joining the snowman-building team.

Lu Xining hadn’t relaxed like this in a long time, so she joined the three children and built several snowmen with them.

Inside, Su Jingguo stood by the children’s room door with a cane, looking through the clean glass window at the four playing and laughing outside.

The housekeeper said emotionally, "Mr. Su, the courtyard has never been this lively before."

Even when guests visited, they respectfully waited in the living room for a meeting.

Quietude had nearly become the life mantra here.

Su Jingguo seemed to be reminiscing, eyes fixed on Little Dumpling, "Yes, it takes children to bring liveliness."

She held a small snowball, sneaking closer to Ji Ze. While his attention was diverted, she stuffed it into his neck, being a bit naughty.

"Lu Nuonuo!"

"Brother, Nuonuo is sorry~"

Little Dumpling immediately ran back when finished, saw Su Jingguo at the children’s room door, and shouted, "Great-grandfather, save me—"

The tassel on her head, like that of a New Year’s doll, swayed, making her look even more lively and adorable.

"Great-grandfather, sister slipped a snowman behind my neck; it’s so cold."

"Brother, Nuonuo already apologized."

The two chased each other around Su Jingguo.

The housekeeper looked worried: "Mr. Su, this..."

"It’s fine." Hearing the children call him great-grandfather repeatedly, Su Jingguo couldn’t help but smile.

Lu Xining stood in the courtyard, observing Su Jingguo’s tolerance towards the two children, and felt somewhat relieved in her hanging heart.

His feelings toward the three siblings were genuine.

This gave her more peace of mind about leaving the children here.

The snowman was finally completed.

The housekeeper watched Mr. Su indulge the three children, as if he foresaw the trio’s unruly future within the courtyard.

This peaceful courtyard was finally going to have some common household bustle.

Ji Ze thought about his father on a business trip; isn’t Great-grandfather his father’s grandpa?

Suddenly inspired, he handed his phone to the housekeeper, smiling, "Uncle Housekeeper, could you please take a picture of us?"

-

The solemn conference room.

Ji Muye sneered, "If not for a mole, how could this operation have gone wrong?"

C Country’s operation was extremely meticulous, with every step perfectly aligned.

Most importantly... this was not a task assigned by Xi Juan.

The others remained mum.

Xi Juan sat in the high seat, looking calmly at him, and said, "Ji, calm down. The items you brought back are indeed useless. If you don’t believe it, you can examine them once the meeting is over."

He intervened only after the mission was completed, which was technically against established protocols.

"Whether it’s useless or swapped needs thorough investigation."

Ji Muye met his gaze directly, with no retreat in his voice.

The atmosphere was tense like gunpowder.

All were educated to obey superior orders.

For the others, Xi Juan was the highest authority they could currently access. Who would dare to contradict him?

The group remained silent, shrinking into themselves like quails.

Xi Juan sighed gently, addressing everyone except Ji Muye, "You all may leave."

The conference room returned to silence.

Ji Muye looked up at the ceiling monitor, which was once lit and now extinguished.

The surveillance had been turned off.

Whose orders were it? It was telling enough.

Xi Juan, feigning disappointment, looked at the cold-faced Ji Muye opposite him and sighed, "Ji, we’ve known each other for quite some time."

"Your grandfather handed you to me previously, which had been beyond the established rules. But you certainly have the talent for it; I appreciate talent and wanted to nurture you for great achievements. However, you..."

Xi Juan paused deliberately for several seconds before continuing, "You have let me down too much."

The tension in the room was palpable.

Ji Muye glanced at the man still performing his charade, his expression slightly darkened, and his gaze complexly said, "Old Xi, I didn’t expect you to have such undisclosed identities."

Opening up to enemies is a taboo.

Taking a risky move provoked Xi Juan’s deep and obscure gaze as he probed, "Oh? What identity I am unaware of?"

"The authenticity of the items can be verified by records."

Ji Muye stared deeply at him, slowly rising, his stable presence akin to his grandfather’s in younger days.

"Allow me to correct."

"The reason you let me work under you—wasn’t it because of the vote my grandfather promised you?"

He lifted his lashes, his deep eyes reflecting Xi Juan’s expression at that moment, nonchalant, "If we tore off the facade, would my grandfather still give you that vote?"

Xi Juan’s eyes narrowed dangerously, took a deep breath, tugged at the corners of his mouth, and remarked profoundly, "Ji, you once shielded me from an attack, but why have you changed suddenly? We can discuss whatever it is."

Tension escalated intensely.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

Ji Muye’s phone also received a new message.