Chapter 184: Chapter 177: She Didn’t Notice (1)
There’s nothing to be conflicted about.
After all, when placing Su Chengji next to the older brothers, she might be more protective of Chengji.
But... knowing this logic in advance, when it really gets exposed in such a way, there might be somewhat... discomfort, a slight chill in the heart.
"However..."
Su’s mother glanced at the two little girls and said with a smile, "He ought to be quite liked by you young ladies."
"Huh?"
Yin Meng blinked her eyes.
Su’s mother didn’t elaborate further, just gave a meaningful smile.
Hearing this from Su’s mother, Yin Meng and Su Xiaomeng became somewhat eager to meet this Bai Family uncle.
In the afternoon, a police car stopped at the entrance of Yijing Manor.
The "quirky older brother" mentioned by Bai Sixian got out of the car, dressed in a navy winter police uniform and sporting a police cap.
Hurriedly, he rushed into the house, and Ah Bu immediately scampered over, rubbing against Bai Sidong’s leg all the way.
Bai Sidong wasn’t in the mood to be affectionate with Ah Bu; as soon as he entered the house, he looked around eagerly for the person he couldn’t wait to see.
"Little Xian!"
Even though he hadn’t pinpointed Bai Sixian’s location, the affectionate call rang out.
Bai Sixian stood up, raised her hand, and waved to Bai Sidong, "Third Brother."
Upon hearing the voice, Bai Sidong looked over, quickly took a few strides to Bai Sixian’s side, and reached out to pull his sister into a hug!
He patted her back in a tight embrace, "You silly girl, back home and without even letting me know? I had to find out from Big Brother!"
"I was afraid you’d be too happy and leave your duties behind!"
Bai Sixian raised her brows triumphantly, with a smile curving her eyes even though the corners were slightly damp.
Bai Sidong released her, then pinched her cheek, "Oh, sure!"
"Brother, have you had lunch yet? I’ll make dumplings for you. I made them with the two little girls at noon."
Bai Sixian sniffed, holding back her tears, but her voice was a bit hoarse.
Bai Sidong carelessly ruffled her hair, turning her shoulder-length black hair into a chaotic mess, before waving his hand and casually saying, "Make me twenty! Go on."
This commanding tone drew a white-eyed look from Bai Sixian, and then the siblings both found themselves smiling unconsciously.
Having greeted his dearly missed sister, Bai Sidong’s attention then turned to the rest of the people in the room.
"Sidong, on duty?"
Bai Fengmao noticed his son was still in his SWAT uniform and couldn’t help but ask.
Bai Sidong took off his cap and casually tidied his short hair, "Yeah, I’ve got to head back to the station after a while. There’s a major case at the station these days."
"Let me introduce you."
Bai Fengmao raised his hand with a smile, "This is your niece, Su Xiaomeng."
"I know, Little Xian sent me her photos."
Bai Sidong walked up to Su Xiaomeng, "She does look quite a bit like my little Xian. A little beauty."
Su Xiaomeng hadn’t expected her little uncle to be so handsome...
His features were sharp, with big, bright eyes; when he smiled, there were two tiny dimples at the corners of his mouth.
If her mother hadn’t mentioned that her little uncle was five years older than her, she’d have thought the man before her was no more than a thirty-something handsome young fellow.
No wonder mom said... he attracts young girls.
"Little Uncle... Hello. You’re much younger and more handsome than I imagined..."
Su Xiaomeng’s face flushed instantly, her voice lowered a bit in embarrassment.
Opposite her, Yin Shixiu immediately frowned.
"Really? I just fear I’m too old and might have a generational gap with you youngsters."
Bai Sidong’s facial features were flawless, especially in that SWAT uniform that highlighted his straight back.
The police cap in his hand inspired admiration and respect in many.
His voice matched his youthful appearance; it wasn’t deep nor high-pitched, but full of vigor.
"Not at all, not at all!"
Su Xiaomeng promptly replied.
Just gazing at the face, she had completely forgotten about what Su’s mother said earlier about him always bullying her when he was little.
"Haha! Meng Meng is indeed adorable."
Bai Sidong said as he reached out to pat Su Xiaomeng’s hair, showing a very doting demeanor.
Su Xiaomeng’s face turned even redder.
She was left with the feeling that meeting her little uncle was a delight long overdue.
"Xiao Meng, introduce your friends to your little uncle... and these over here."
Bai Fengmao gave a glance at those Yin Family members, pulling Su Xiaomeng back from her wandering thoughts.
"Oh, uh!"
Su Xiaomeng eagerly replied, "Little Uncle, this is my husband Yin Shixiu, this is my best friend Yin Meng also my... niece, haha! Oh, and this is my little nephew Shan Minglang."
Bai Sidong’s keen eyes scanned each person introduced by Su Xiaomeng, finally resting on Yin Shixiu.
He extended his hand, "Hello."
Yin Shixiu hurriedly shook it, "Hello."
Bai Sidong raised his brows, "What? Not calling me uncle?"
Actually, the term "uncle" isn’t really difficult to say, especially since Yin Shixiu called Bai Sixian mom quite smoothly.
But honestly, the man before him seemed too young, just like a young lad.
Yet, when he asked to be called "uncle," his expression was somewhat provocative.
This made Yin Shixiu a little speechless.
The two pairs of eyes were sizing each other up... for a moment, the air within sight seemed to freeze.
Su Xiaomeng nudged Yin Shixiu, "What are you daydreaming about, call him uncle!"
Yin Shixiu’s eyebrows involuntarily furrowed again, then he looked at Bai Sidong... he was trying to hold back his laughter.
Taking a deep breath, "Uncle."
"Hey, alright, nephew-in-law."
Bai Sidong said as he patted Yin Shixiu’s head, showing a posture of an elder caring for the younger generation.
This made Yin Shixiu feel uncomfortable all over.
Yin Meng, seeing her little uncle being teased like this, found it amusing.
"Oh, and these are the two babies of me and Shixiu. The one sleeping is our son Huang Huang, and the one sucking on the bottle is our daughter Shuangshuang."
Su Xiaomeng took Huang Huang from the servant’s hands and approached her little uncle to show him.
Bai Sidong felt comfortable as Su Xiaomeng displayed no unfamiliarity toward him.
In no time, a bond was established between the niece and this uncle.
Yin Meng sat next to her little uncle, observing him quietly watching Su Xiaomeng and Bai Sidong sitting together across from them...
Raising an eyebrow, "Little Uncle, this Uncle Bai is really young..."
"But, you’re not jealous of this too, are you?"
Yin Meng lowered her voice and asked Yin Shixiu in his ear.
Yin Shixiu glanced at Yin Meng without speaking.
Yin Meng blinked, somewhat puzzled...
Usually, Yin Shixiu seemed very confident, thinking anyone seeing Su Xiaomeng chatting warmly and affectionately with her charming uncle would be jealous, but her little uncle actually turned sour...
That’s improbable, right?
This is Su Xiaomeng’s own uncle, Yin Shixiu wouldn’t be that petty, would he?
"Did your mom say I bullied her when we were kids?"
"Yeah, she said you always argued with her, hahaha!"
Bai Sidong raised an eyebrow, then chuckled, "That’s your mom. She would say that, but I didn’t bully her. She was so immature as a kid, and as her brother, I was just helping her grow up."
"Haha, I thought the same. The moment I saw you, Uncle, I felt you’re not someone who would bully others."
Su Xiaomeng propped her chin, looking at Uncle Shuai, those eyes, that chin, and the faint dimples...
The more she looked, the more handsome he appeared, and also, the more familiar...
"Helping me grow up? Third Brother, can you not spout nonsense in front of my daughter?"
Bai Sixian came out with a plate of dumplings and heard her brother talking boastfully.
Bai Sidong didn’t argue, just shrugged helplessly at Su Xiaomeng, as if to say, "See?"
Su Xiaomeng felt that just looking at her uncle was enough to entertain her for a whole day.
It wasn’t just about looks, but also his voice, his demeanor, and... that dashing SWAT training uniform.
But... she really felt Bai Sidong resembled someone, who...?
"By the way, is Shun Yuan busy lately? He hasn’t come with you to visit me, his grandpa."
Bai Fengmao took a sip of his tea after idly mentioning it.
Su Xiaomeng’s expression immediately froze.
Bai Sidong explained with a smile to Bai Fengmao, "Shun Yuan has been busy recently. He says he’ll come to see you once things calm down."
"After this busy period comes the next... This kid has been paying less attention to his grandpa lately..."
Bai Fengmao muttered, while pondering, "Speaking of... is this kid starting to focus on his career now?"
"He..."
Bai Sidong scratched his head, looking a bit troubled, "The boy has grown up, has more of his own ideas... said he invested in a basketball club with some friends. Earlier this year, he was talking about studying abroad, and now, this latter half, it’s all changed."
"He graduates next year; during this time, it’s good to let him explore a bit on his own."
Bai Fengmao nodded and then pointed at Bai Sidong.
"Let me tell you, don’t always be so busy with work that you neglect to care for Shun Yuan."
"Dad, rest assured, no matter how busy I am, I make sure to have at least one call with Shun Yuan each day."
Bai Sidong said this, his gaze inadvertently brushing across Su Xiaomeng’s face, seeing her looking puzzled...
"Xiao Meng, what’s wrong? Is there something on my face?"
Su Xiaomeng swallowed... No wonder she found the resemblance, no wonder...
"So... Bai Shun Yuan is your son."
"What? You know Shun Yuan?"
"...Uncle Bai, Bai Shun Yuan, and I, along with Xiao Meng, attend the same school."
Yin Meng said, thinking, what a tangled fate this is.
Su Xiaomeng, although she already knew Bai Shun Yuan was her cousin, hadn’t connected him with Bai Sidong when she saw him at first.
Even when she now focused back on Bai Sidong’s face...
The facial features were nearly identical to Bai Shun Yuan’s! Apart from the differences in expression due to age.
Bai Shun Yuan, that egotist...
"Really, so you’ve known each other for a while then!"
"...Well, not that long, actually."