Mommy, don't be afraid, I'll bring you blind boxes and scam you out of a wealthy family to

Wen Li suddenly opened her eyes.

She sat in the rocking chair, her eyes meeting the familiar ceiling and wallpaper, while Xue Long dozed off on the bed.

Everything that just happened feels like a dream.

but……

The little dumpling looked down at her tiny hands. In that "dream," she tried to hold the young grandfather's hand, but she couldn't grasp it no matter what she did.

Young grandfather, you must have been really sad at that time, right?

She jumped off the rocking chair, pushed open the door, and ran outside.

The pomegranate tree in the yard is still standing there.

The bright red pomegranates are still hanging on the branches.

Even Grandpa, just like before she left, stood there with his hands behind his back, staring blankly at the pomegranate.

Hearing footsteps, the old man turned around: "You're awake?"

A little bundle of milk pounced at my feet.

The old man was taken aback, thinking she was in a bad mood, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Wen Li hugged her grandfather's leg, gently rubbing her face against it, without saying a word.

I can't very well tell Grandpa that I saw him when he was young.

The young grandfather, and the current grandfather, both look so lonely because the grandmother left.

So, both in her dreams and in reality, she wanted to be with her grandfather.

Duan Yuanzhou ruffled her hair: "Have you finished drawing the greeting cards for everyone else?"

The milk ball nodded, then shook its head.

She suddenly made up her mind: "Grandpa, wait for Li Bao!"

Without waiting for the old man's response, she ran off.

Wen Li returned to her room once again and took out another sky-blue card.

She drew three people:

The tall grandfather wearing a top hat;

Grandma wearing a pretty dress;

A little girl with pigtails tied in two little buns.

Three little people are holding hands, and next to them is a small tree with red "lanterns" hanging on it.

After you finish drawing, remember to blow on it to make sure the cardstock is clean.

She wants to give this photo back to her grandmother.

Qin Zhiyuan and Zheng Xinmei sat on the sofa, with several documents on the coffee table, all related to the foreign partner.

The little dumpling hesitated for a moment, then took the greeting card and said, "Grandma, here you go."

Qin Zhiyuan paused the conversation and took a look.

It is self-evident who each of the three little figures represents.

It's quite obvious what the little girl wanted to express with this painting.

Qin Zhiyuan sighed silently.

Who would want to disappoint this little darling? But for the past few decades, her life principle has always been to put work first.

The little dumpling held the old lady's hand and said in a soft voice, "Grandma, Pear had a dream."

The old woman turned her hand over and enveloped the little hand in her own palm: "What?"

The little dumpling stammered as she tried to organize her thoughts: "Pear Baby dreamed... of Grandpa and Grandma. Grandpa was hanging lanterns, and flowers, and delicious treats. Grandpa was waiting for Grandma to come home..."

As she spoke, the loneliness of her grandfather in her "dream" couldn't help but surface in her mind, and her little nose started to sting.

"When Grandma came back, there was a phone call, so she went to work."

"Grandpa was reluctant. But Grandpa said, 'Work is important'..."

"And then, Grandpa just kept waiting..."

Qin Zhiyuan was taken aback.

This scene... how come...

Even Zheng Xinmei, who had only been casually listening for a couple of sentences, stopped what she was doing.

"Grandpa hasn't eaten, and Huahua and Dengdeng are both broken," Wenli continued.

"It's so late, and Li Bao has been waiting and waiting." She looked up at her with her little face, her eyes red-rimmed, "Grandma, why isn't she back?"

Qin Zhiyuan subconsciously raised her hand to wipe away her tears: "I..."

However, the little guy's tears at this moment were not for his own sadness.

"Grandma..." she asked softly, her voice choked with emotion. "Was Grandpa very sad back then?"

This question, like a pebble dropped into a lake, created ripples that spread outwards.

Qin Zhiyuan remained silent for a long time.

This is not a dream; it is a real night that happened many, many years ago.

That was her first wedding anniversary with Duan Yuanzhou, and it was the first time she had to break her promise because of work since they got together.

But this won't be the last time.

Many years later, she gradually forgot about that day.

But some people still remember.

I've been waiting.

Just then, Zheng Xinmei glanced at her watch and reminded her, "Zhiyuan, it's almost time."

Unable to discern anything different from the little girl's words, she naturally concluded that the next arrangement was more important.

For decades, they have always been able to leave without hesitation, grab their coats, and head to the next workplace. They have experienced this countless times; family has never been the heavier side on the scales.

This is a consensus she and Qin Zhiyuan shared, and it's also why the two became partners and old friends.

The same should be true today.

Wen Li looked at this and then at that.

She didn't know what amazing thing her grandmother was going to do; all she knew was that her grandmother was leaving.

Just like in my dream.

The milk dumpling, which had been holding its grandmother's hand, gradually loosened its grip.

"Grandma, can you come home soon..." She lowered her head, tears clinging to her long eyelashes. "Li Bao and Grandpa will be waiting for you..."

The maid came to inform us that the car to pick up the lady had arrived.

Zheng Xinmei sighed, "Zhiyuan, it's really time to go. It'll be too late if we don't leave now."

Qin Zhiyuan bent down and hugged the sad little dumpling: "...I'll try my best."

Then left in a hurry.

I was afraid that if I slowed down even a little, I wouldn't be able to leave.

Little Wenli watched the car disappear into the distance and murmured, "Grandma went to work..."

She touched the image of her grandparents on the greeting card with her little finger.

Then I hugged them both tightly.

-

In the evening, Duan Hetong was the first to return to the old house.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw Naituzi holding Xuelong, sitting quietly in the corner of the sofa.

Unlike usual, she didn't rush over joyfully at the sound of his footsteps.

He took off his coat and handed it to the maid, then walked straight towards his daughter: "Li Bao."

The little dumpling was startled, as if only then noticing him: "Smack smack..."

Duan Hetong squatted down in front of her and touched her little face: "Were you wronged at kindergarten?"

The little head shook.

"Where does it hurt?"

Shake head.

Duan Hetong stopped guessing and opened his arms: "Come here."

The little dumpling immediately snuggled into his arms, burying her face in her father's shoulder without making a sound.

Duan Hetong gently patted her back, without urging her.

After a while, the little dumpling spoke up sullenly: "Baba, isn't it heartbreaking to wait for someone all the time?"

"Why do you ask that?"

Wen Li didn't say anything, and Duan Hetong patted her little head: "Sometimes. But if you finally get what you want, it's worth it."

Wen Li blinked.

So, did Grandpa get to see it?

Duan Xianchen was the second to return and saw that the usually lively and energetic Xiao Tuanzi was listless today.

He pinched Wen Li's little nose: "Ouch, who upset our little princess?"

Wen Li, held by him, didn't struggle, and asked in a muffled voice, "Little Su Su, did you wait for Grandma before?"

Duan Xianchen was taken aback and looked at Duan Hetong.

Duan Hetong nodded helplessly.

Duan Xianchen understood, his expression turning somewhat cold: "She went to work again? Wasn't she still on vacation?"

Before anyone could respond, he forced a smile and said, "Never mind. I'll go back to my room and change."

Wen Li could tell that although her uncle's tone was still nonchalant, his footsteps were heavy.

Wen Li looked at Duan Hetong worriedly: "Uncle..."

"He's an adult, he can handle it." Duan Hetong picked her up. "Let's go change our clothes. Which dress do you want to wear today, hmm?"

Duan Shimi arrived late after finishing her overtime work. Everyone except Qin Zhiyuan was already there.

Wen Li wanted to wait a little longer, but Duan Yuanzhou had already announced: the celebration was about to begin.

Dishes were brought out one by one from the kitchen, and the restaurant gradually became lively.

Someone asked, "Sir, should we pick the pomegranates now, or...?"

Before Duan Yuanzhou could answer, Wen Li stretched out her little arms to stop him, saying, "No, no!"

"Young Miss..."

The maid instinctively looked at Duan Yuanzhou.

The old man tapped his fingers on the dining table and said slowly, "Just leave it there."

"Yes."

Wen Li breathed a sigh of relief.

But not enough.

She picked up her small stool, carried it with great effort to the yard, and placed it under the pomegranate tree.

He didn't even eat, but plopped down on it, guarding the pomegranate.

Baba called her to eat, but she shook her head.

Gugu said she brought new clothes, but she wasn't in the mood to look at them;

Her uncle said the cartoon was very good, so she didn't want to go.

"Libao, wait for Grandma." The little voice was soft yet firm.

The three siblings were at a loss.

Duan Xianchen, who could empathize the most, said to the old man, "Dad, only you can persuade him."

The old man looked through the floor-to-ceiling window.

As dusk settled, the ground lights in the courtyard came on, illuminating the only pomegranate tree with vibrant colors.

Like the little lamp from decades ago, it has grown up.

He, she, they, they have all grown old.

The old man remained silent for a long time before slowly walking out, leaning on his cane: "Girl."

Wen Li immediately looked up: "Grandpa!"

"Let's go back inside."

Wen Li shook her head: "Grandma hasn't come back yet."

The old man said calmly, "Everyone has their own things to do and their own lives to live. You can't always wait for others."

This statement is quite profound; it's difficult for a little one to understand.

But she remembered Baba's words: "When we finally get there, will it be 'happiness'?"

The old man said, "Happiness is something you find yourself, not something you wait for."

The little one became increasingly insistent: "If Pear waits for Grandma, it means Grandpa has found 'happiness'!"

Its simple yet stubborn logic leaves adults speechless.

The old man remained silent for a long time, then finally raised his hand and patted her little head: "Okay, I'll listen to you, wait."

The evening breeze swept through the courtyard, extinguishing the lamps and illuminating the moon.

Boom-!

Xiao Wenli, who had already dozed off, was suddenly awakened by the sound of something falling.

She hurriedly looked up at the tree, where the pomegranates were still hanging safely.

Huh? Is Pear Bao dreaming?

Milk Dumpling rubbed its eyes in confusion.

Just then, two beams of car headlights lit up in the distance outside the courtyard.

The "dong" you just heard was definitely a misheard word; it was actually the "du" of a horn!

As the lights approached from afar, Wen Li recognized whose car it was.

Her eyes lit up, and she leaped up from the small stool—