Surrounded by the Billionaire's Deep Doting-Chapter 578 - 451: Qingming Ancestral Rites

"What’s wrong?"

Shen Dawei asked.

Xiao Meng quickly said, "I promised my in-laws that we would take the kids back for spring vacation..."

"..."

Shen Dawei couldn’t offer any advice on this matter.

"Forget it, we’ll talk later. Let’s go, promising talent!"

————

After Xiao Meng got home, she mentioned this to Yin Shixiu.

Yin Shixiu didn’t find it to be too much of a dilemma,

"Since he gave you this opportunity, it wouldn’t be good to waste it, right?"

Su Xiaomeng sat cross-legged on the bed, looking at the person leaning against the headboard reading a book,

"Hey!"

"Hmm?"

"Don’t you think using the word ’waste’ is very hurtful?"

Xiao Meng emphasized the word "waste."

Yin Shixiu paused for a moment, looked up at her,

"Not at all, I used it quite accurately."

"..."

Su Xiaomeng’s expression was extremely stiff, very displeased, super displeased!

Seeing her a bit angry, Yin Shixiu couldn’t help but laugh,

"Or do you think you can represent Bath and win the first prize in the new year’s interpretation contest?"

"Why not?!"

"..."

"Uh, alright, the challenge is indeed a bit big, but, but the contest isn’t until mid-May! People are constantly growing, aren’t they? By that time, who knows whose skills will be higher or lower!"

She spoke with righteous indignation and high spirits.

Yin Shixiu reached out to hold her hand and smiled,

"Having ambition is a good thing."

For some reason, Xiao Meng felt that Yin Shixiu was being quite a jerk at this moment.

Just like Dick, a jerk!

"Speaking of, if I don’t go back for spring vacation, will my parents really not be angry?"

"What do you take them for? Especially your mom, the path you’re walking now is one she walked back then. How could she not understand your difficulties?"

"Um... what about Dad?"

"Compared to your father-in-law, I think you should communicate more with your grandfather. He might be more saddened."

Yin Shixiu hit the nail on the head with this.

After the New Year, when they returned to London, her grandfather repeatedly reminded them to bring the two kids back for a visit during spring vacation...

Little Mengxin sighed in her heart, plans never keep up with changes.

Seeing her frowning...

He reached out and pulled her into his arms,

"During the Qingming in April, I’ll take the kids back. The old folks mostly miss those two little ones."

"What? Grandfather misses me more, okay!"

"..."

"Alright, it might really be Shuangshuang and Huang Huang."

Yin Shixiu leaned over, kissed her forehead, closed his book, tossed it aside, and then rolled over, pinning his wife beneath him,

"Oh... having such a thoughtful wife, I really don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse!"

"What did you say?"

"You’re so filial; the kids will see this and be filial like you in the future... passed down from generation to generation, I’ve truly found a gem."

"..."

Su Xiaomeng held his face, leaned in, tasted his lips, smacked her lips, and asked,

"Weird, there’s no honey. Why is your mouth so sweet?"

"Strange, I did apply some. Why don’t you taste again?"

"..."

Su Xiaomeng looked at him speechlessly, but still leaned in for another taste.

"Eric and Chu Jiao’s wedding has been set."

Xiao Meng was lounging on Yin Shixiu, playing on her phone, when a group text from Eric came through.

"Oh?"

"April 30th."

"Oh."

Xiao Meng glanced at him,

"Are we going?"

"We’ll see by then. If we have time, we’ll go; if not, we won’t."

Su Xiaomeng thought about saying that it wouldn’t be good, as Yin Shixiu and Eric have been friends for so many years.

But thinking about it, Yin Shixiu always handles things more tactfully than she does, so she didn’t say more.

Actually, she didn’t want to go. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like for two people who mutually detest each other to get married...

Even if she attended, she couldn’t give her genuine blessings.

But as for Yin Shixiu?

His friend’s wedding, how could he not attend?

But Eric and Chu Jiao had to get to this point, and he played a rather awkward role in it all.

If it weren’t for him presumptuously thinking that Eric still had feelings for Chu Jiao and making that call, things wouldn’t have escalated like this.

To say guilty, not really. What Eric did to Chu Jiao was his own choice...

He won’t bear the responsibility for Eric. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Nor does he want to become Eric’s excuse.

Fortunately, Eric... never intended to use him as an excuse. Taking responsibility for one’s actions is perhaps Eric’s rare redeeming quality at the moment.

————

Time passed amidst busy days, and that snowstorm turned out to be the last snowfall for London’s winter.

Spring quickly arrived, and thick coats and down jackets were stowed away.

The spring sun was warm and bright, and London’s usually foggy skies seemed a lot clearer recently.

The University of Bath’s spring break for the second semester had begun.

At the beginning of April, Yin Shixiu took Shuangshuang and Huang Huang back to Beijing.

Xiao Meng participated in the interpretation contest’s training camp, and her relationship with Shen Dawei got increasingly better.

Unfortunately, both of their levels weren’t impressive, so the opportunities for mutual improvement weren’t that abundant. There were nine people in the training, with three coaches rotating to guide them.

Chu Jiao was recently preparing for the wedding and planning for pregnancy, so her schoolwork had been handed over to another teacher.

Among the nine, Han Tan was the most outstanding.

If it’s said that the first prize in the interpretation contest has been monopolized by the University of Bath every year, then this year Han Tan is highly likely to take it.

Xiao Meng felt a mix of envy, jealousy, and pride.

From what she knew, every year there were Chinese international students in the freshman class who participated in the interpretation contest, but first place had never gone to a student of Chinese nationality.

Every day passed in intense practice.

In the afternoons, she would spare some time to video chat with her husband and kids.

At this time, in Beijing, they weren’t asleep yet, and she had time.

Shuangshuang and Huang Huang, once in Beijing, were treated like national treasures, receiving affection from all the elders in turn.

Xiao Meng watched the video of the two chubby faces, listening to the siblings eagerly recounting the day’s events.

She was alone in an empty classroom, laughing non-stop.

Han Tan, passing by, was startled by the laughter and peeked his head in, only to be seen by Su Xiaomeng.

Xiao Meng pulled him over, and at that moment, Shuangshuang, who had taken over the entire tablet screen, saw Han Tan and smiled with squinted eyes,

"Hi Uncle!"

Han Tan was momentarily stunned and mumbled, "She still remembers me?"

"Yeah!"

Shuangshuang greeted so familiarly that Xiao Meng naturally believed Shuangshuang remembered Han Tan.

However, the truth always shows how embarrassingly self-deluded one can be.

Shuangshuang hardly remembered Han Tan at all, but she was so courteous to every good-looking man she encountered, displaying her extraordinary "interpersonal skills."

With her little red lips puckered, she moved closer,

"Mommy, Daddy’s urging, urging me to sleep, come, give me a kiss."

Xiao Meng smiled and gave a symbolic pout.

Then Prince Huang came over for a kiss, and last, they said goodnight to Yin Shixiu.

Before the video call ended, Yin Shixiu gave Han Tan another look but didn’t say anything.

"Your family is really clingy."

Xiao Meng put away the tablet, and Han Tan commented.

"If you’re envious, just say it! Find your love early, and you won’t be envious anymore!"

She said and patted Han Tan on the shoulder with a smug look.

"..."

————

April 5th, Qingming Festival.

Beijing had warmed up a bit, but the chill of early spring still required some caution.

With intermittent rain, the mountain roads in Jiuling Mountain were somewhat slippery.

This year’s Qingming, the Yin Family held a grand ceremony, and all branches were supposed to attend, except Xiao Meng and Shan Mingxu were given special permission.

There were over ten cars parked on the mountain.

Yin Shixiu wore a black suit, Shuangshuang and Huang Huang were dressed solemnly and formally, with little black bow ties on.