"You were still so little in these pictures…" Chunhua was now into nostalgia mode as her fingers brushed past the photo album.
She studied her sons - ten and three back then. Now ten years later, Jinhai had grown into a handsome adult at twenty. His growth spurt had begun long back at the age of thirteen, and the older he grew, the deeper the physical traits of his father took a distinct shape for him. Whether it were his black eyes, his jawline or his sharp nose - Liu Jinhai looked like Liu Hai's carbon copy.
Chunhua sniffled. "You are all grown up now…"
Jinhai held a dumpling between his chopsticks. He paused and glanced at her.
"Are you okay, Mom?"
"It's your twentieth birthday! I am just a little emotional…"
"Birthdays come every year."
She glared. "Birthdays are special! Don't be so cold or you won't find a woman to marry you!"
He shrugged.
Liu Liyan snorted. "He won't find a woman to marry? As if anyone would reject my handsome grandson! Just look at him. If any woman would walk past him, it just means she is blind."
"Can Huian become that blind pretty please?" A soon to become thirteen year old Jing held a grumpy look as he munched upon an apple.
"Mind your words, brat," a smack landed upon his head. "What's wrong with Huian? She is such a good girl! Good family, good status. She matches Jinhai in all aspects. I can definitely hear the wedding bells."
A look of horror passed Jing's features. "Don't joke, Grandma! I don't like her! What family and status? She is mean, rude, arrogant and she doesn't like me!"
Her brow twitched. "She has to marry Jinhai, not you, idiot."
"One of the non-negotiable conditions is to be in my good books," he harrumphed. "She is not in my good books. We hate each other. She cannot become my sister-in-law. She doesn't even treat me! I want a sister-in-law who makes delicious snacks for me like Mom! Also, she doesn't suit Bro! So, no, nope, never!"
"You focus on your studies, not in adult conversations!" Another smack landed on his head.
"Brooooo!" He dashed over to his side and hugged Jinhai from the back. "Swear you will never marry Huian!"
"Jing!" She was ready to throw a slipper at him.
The dumpling was very close to Jinhai's mouth. He paused and directed it towards Jing. The latter shone as if he just uncovered a million dollars worth buried treasure. He popped that savory dumpling into his mouth with a grin that rivaled Hai's, squishing his cheek against his brother's.
"Bro's the besshthhhh! I want my shister-in-law to be sho doting too!"
"Mhm."
"Heyyyy, who is my birthday boy hereeee!!!" Hai's booming voice echoed across the villa.
Hai pounced upon Jing's back who in turn, had pounced himself upon Jinhai. The sandwich of the father-sons' pair was a sight to behold.
"Dad! You are heavy! Get off me!" Jing glared back.
"Hey, you are just as heavy upon Jinhai's back! Do you see him complaining?"
Jing gasped, the arrow of humiliation shredding his delicate heart into pieces.
"Bro doesn't think I am heavy! I am cute! And adorable! And fluffy!"
He snorted. "And chubby."
"You are the fat one idiot!"
"Watch your mouth, brat! My physique is as handsome and sexy as ever. Ask your mother how much she drools for it every night-"
A slipper did come flying, landing right upon Hai's temple, which to no one's surprise, caused his neck to twist to the right quite hard.
"Put some filter in your mouth before you speak, Hai!" So she said with a face where it was impossible to distinguish between the shades of her skin and red.
Hai simply brushed it off. "It's alright. Chunhua's love language is violenceeee. I know it all, I know it all~ Anyway! Jinhai, my boy! Skip college today and come with me to the office!"
Jinhai said, "I have important classes."
"Who thinks about classes on a birthday?"
He got a squinted look from Chunhua, promptly making him realize his slip of the tongue. He laughed. Nervously. With the threat of another slipper crash landing on his forehead crystal clear.
"I mean of course, classes are super important~ I was saying that everyone wants to meet you in the office today! You are twenty now, after all~ They want to celebrate this milestone too! You rejected a grand celebration party at home," he pouted.
Jing snorted. "Because Bro wants peace and only wants to celebrate with his family! Not with your company oldies."
"But they wanna meet you tooooooo," Hai pouted again.
Jinhai rose slowly, making the mountain of his brother and father move back. "Fine. I will skip the morning classes."
Jing raised his hand. "I will come too!"
"You have classes too, brat."
"I can skip them too like Bro~ Skipping is fun!" A statement that earned him a squinted look from his mother that he promptly ignored.
Hai rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Go sit in the car. And don't make a mess of the seats!"
As soon as the brothers left, Chunhua asked, "Will it be okay?"
He blinked. "Of course. The staff just wants to meet him, that's all. Jinhai has hardly dropped by in all these years. Becoming twenty is a big milestone~"
Liu Liyan nodded. "Well, it's good in a way. He would eventually take over the business one day. It's good to meet the people at the Corps too," her eyes then narrowed. "But don't pressurize him too much either. He is twenty but also only twenty."
He pouted. "Such bias towards your grandson. Where was this love and concern when I had taken over?"
She froze, only ever so slightly.
Chunhua sighed. She wasn't sure why she felt restless. Hai pecked her forehead and smiled.
"It will be fineeeee. I am there with them. Ba Byeee! Take care, lovelies!"
As only the two were left, Chunhua noticed a strange light in her eyes. "...Are you okay, Mom?"
She stirred. "Yes, I am fine. I was just thinking…life has a strange way to return to its starting point."
Chunhua pursed her lips. "Are you worried about Jinhai's future?"
She stared at her once, then looked away. "He will be fine. Your son is very resilient. It's…my son I am worried about."
