MTLNOVEL Chapter 1051: Acting cupids
"Pastry aunt, you cameeee!" Ailun sprinted to hug her and wrapped his arms around her legs with the brightest grin on his lips.
"Let's go, let's go aunt! We have so many things to do!"
"Wait," Alix interrupted the engine of his excitement and glanced around.
"Is everybody home?"
"Everybody?" He tilted his head questioningly.
"...Or like are some people not at home?"
"Grandpa and the twin uncles are outside. Great-Grandpa is also out with Great-Grandma," he nodded.
Alix thought he would continue with Jin's status but instead, he grabbed her hand and cheerfully took her inside.
Wait, you didn't say anything about Liu Jin…
"Mom, pastry aunt is here!"
Ai, who had company in the room, looked up and brightened. For a moment, it felt something different. She was seeing the same Alix she had seen before but this time aware of the fact of who she really was.
If it was six years ago, then Ai's heart would have been filled with anguish and animosity. But now as Alix stood before her, knowing that she was Zhan Yahui, she couldn't pinpoint why but an immense sense of relief filled her chest.
"Hello…"
Alix greeted and as she threw a look beside her, saw the other kids, Xing Bi and Guiying accompanying Ai too. Xing Bi's presence was expected but her body stiffened upon meeting Guiying's gaze.
She is…here too…
"Hey! Come, come!" Xing Bi eagerly waved for her to come in.
"Pastry auuuunt!"
Aang, Taio, Yina and Guiying's son, Ruwen, huddled around her along with Ailun, who stretched his little arm to halt their steps with a serious expression.
"Pastry aunt is holding cake."
"Cake!!!" The kids cheered up as if they found an oasis in the desert.
Xing Bi said, "Aish, you really didn't have to bring anything."
Alix paused. "That's fine. We were in the middle of baking a cake anyway so thought to bring some for you."
"Pastry aunt make cake, it is just like my Dad! Dad make cakes too!" Yina chirped happily.
Xing Bi rolled her eyes. "Thank God Nian is not at home or he would have dissected your lovely cake to no bits."
Aang and Taio nodded gravely. "And then uncle would have had the cake all by himself!"
Yina said, "Not everything. Dad will give me cake too."
"Only you, what about us!?" The boys cried with full force.
She chuckled. "Yeah, I cannot deny that doting."
Alix kept the paper bag aside and looked at Ailun. "Where do you want to play games?"
"Here!"
"Yay!" The kids agreed too.
Alix blinked. "We will disturb everybody here-"
"Not at all!" Ai furiously patted the couch-chair beside the bed. "It's so fun to have you around. You can play games all you want and we can keep talking too~"
Guiying said, "Yes, yes. I have so much to ask you."
Alix stood uncomfortably and hesitantly looked at the trio. For some reason Ai's gaze, in particular, had been shining the brightest of all as if she wanted her to be here more than anybody else.
She quietly took her seat and decided not to initiate any conversation with them, only focusing on the kids group. She thought about something and looked at Ai.
"Ailun said your baby kicked. Congratulations."
She shone, almost blinding Alix with her enthusiasm. She nodded hard. "Yes, yes! Jun was even refusing to leave my side but I pushed him out to complete his work. But we are happy!"
Ailun pouted. "I did not feel the kick yet."
Xing Bi laughed. "Patience dear, patience. Nian hadn't slept for the entire night when Yina kicked for the first time. That husband of mine had the patience of a saint."
"Same with Zixin," Guiying shook her head.
Ruwen hopped to her side. "Pastry aunt, I want to level up too!"
Alix glanced at Ruwen, whose beautiful irises and smile resembled his mother's. She then looked up at Guiying with a complicated gaze.
"Sure. What level are you stuck at?"
While they played games, the maid arrived who served the cake Alix brought for everybody.
"Oh my gosh!" Xing Bi wiped the corner of her lips, "This is so delicious. So moist and buttery. Nian will totally fall in love with this!"
"...It's all Mom and Dad's hard work anyway," she stiffly cleared her throat.
Ai was busy gobbling up the cake when she felt a strong gaze from her son. She looked at him and found him silently flaring his nostrils.
We are on a mission here, Mom!
Oops…
Ai coughed and promptly put the plate aside.
In my defense, the cake was super delicious. A-Anyway!
"Alix!" Ai clapped her hands in delight. "Thank you so much! The cake was amazing!"
"Don't mention it," And she returned her attention to the kids and the game.
Ai felt strong gazes from Xing Bi and Guiying next, who were urgently signaling her to talk to her. They could barely hold their urges to become cupids.
Ai cleared her throat. "So, Alix."
Alix glanced at her. "Yes."
Aang cried. "I lost my knight!"
"Don't be so hasty. Grab the enemy when they least expect it. Sorry, what were you saying?" She looked back at Ai.
"Yes, now that you are here, I wanted to ask if you have any plans?"
"Plans?"
"You have given Ren Design's responsibility to your sister so I was just curious if you had something else in your mind."
Alix paused. "I have not really given a thought about it."
Guiying said, "You didn't wish to continue being the CEO?"
She shrugged. "It's fun but I don't feel like working in a white-painted walled office for my whole life."
"Well that's true. It could get stifling after one point. It was also why Nian didn't want to lead the Liu Corps. He said he didn't suit the corporate atmosphere," Xing Bi chuckled.
"I think he perfectly suits the corporate atmosphere," Ai pursed her lips. "He has always been so strict like the CEO, especially when I bake cakes. He has secretly banned me from entering Natsukashi Bakery."
Xing Bi snorted. "As if I would let him do that!"
Ai then asked with a hint of anticipation, "So have you thought about something?"
"Nope. I don't really know what I am supposed to do anyway. It will come to me when it comes to me," she said, relaxed.
Ailun looked up from his game console and beamed. "Pastry aunt wants to work? Pastry aunt can help me!"
"Help you?"
"Uh-huh. Pastry aunt is so good with essays. I got an A grade from my teacher last time! So I want pastry aunt to help with my next essay too, pretty please?"