Ten Years of Yearning. My Love, Let Me Protect You.

"Grandfather, it's me." Luo Lixi gently knocked on the door. Her hand was holding a tray and there was a bowl which was filled with traditional medicine.

"Enter." Luo Qintian harrumphed and turned his sight to his book.

Luo Lixi entered and saw the old man was busy reading a book. He was seated on a sofa while a desk was placed before him. She moved without making any noise and placed the tray on the desk softly.

"Your medicine." 

"Hmm." The man didn't say anything anymore and continued to mind his own business.

Luo Lixi stood there, silently. When five minutes passed, she anxiously said, "The medicine is turning cold. Please drink this…" 

Luo Qintian turned at her but didn't say anything. She stopped saying more and stood straight. Then, Luo Qintian put down his eyeglasses and finished the whole bowl. The extremely bitter medicine wasn't enough to move his muscle even a bit.

Luo Lixi took the bowl even before he could place it on the desk. She took the tray and walked out from the room. 

"Grandma Zhu, take it back. I will ask him to come down in a few minutes."

"Young miss, it's very late. Please ask him to come down as soon as you can."

Luo Lixi nodded her head. Aunt Zhu felt reassured. Thus she went away without saying much. Luo Lixi turned around and went back beside Luo Qintian.

"Grandfather, breakfast is ready. Please come with me." 

Luo Qintian didn't say anything and continued to stare at the book. Luo Lixi stared at the man who was totally ignoring her.

"Grandfather… please, come with me." Luo Lixi touched his hand slightly. Then she said again, "Should I bring your food here?" 

Luo Qintian sighed and turned at her, saying emotionally, "I don't feel like eating anything. You should go and keep company with that other man."

Luo Lixi's mouth twisted slightly. She grabbed his hand and said, "I will only stay beside you." Luo Qintian couldn't even feel his happiness for a minute when she said, "... for breakfast."

"... alright."

The man stood up and was led by Luo Lixi. When he saw the man, who was talking with Zhao Yichen in the middle of the hall room, his temple throbbed in annoyance. He stopped before the stairway and asked.

"What is he doing there?" Luo Qintian turned at Luo Lixi.

The woman answered awkwardly, "Umm, grandfather, he… he wanted to dine together. With us…" Luo Lixi said and turned her sight towards the two men.

"Huh!" Luo Qintian snorted and slowly made his way downstairs. He used his cane and walked down the stairs. 

"Let me help you."

"No need. I have not become so old that I need other people's support." The old man was clearly throwing a fit.

"Yes…" Luo Lixi didn't say anything. If she did,  it would only make him more displeased.

When Zhao Yichen saw them, he bowed slightly towards him. Sheng Ruming was facing them with his back thus he didn't notice them until he detected Zhao Yichen's motion. Thus he knew right away, the old man had finally come. 

Sheng Ruming turned around swiftly. All the seriousness and cold expressions went away as soon as he faced them. He walked to them in large steps and said, "Grandfather, you have come."

Luo Qintian stared at his face, his lips twisted slightly. "I am not your grandfather."

Sheng Ruming just smiled and said, "I understand… grandfather." 

Luo Lixi felt like facepalming herself. 'This man is definitely messing around!'

Luo Qintian pointed his cane at Sheng Ruming, seeming he was barely suppressing his urge not to beat the insolent brat.

"Grandfather, the food is getting cold!" Luo Lixi grabbed the man. Luo Qintian took large breaths and walked towards the dining table. 

But before he could sit down, Sheng Ruming rushed forward and moved the main seat for the old man.

"Grandfather, please…" Luo Qintian saw the man and felt like chasing him out of the mansion.

"Cough!" Zhao Yichen felt it was an amusing scene, seeing the old man who was on the brink of exploding. 

"I shall leave now. I have work to do." Zhao Yichen bowed again and away hurriedly.

Sheng Ruming didn't dare to cross the line too much. He just let the man sit and backed away.

When Luo Qintian was going to ask Luo Lixi to sit on the seat beside him, Sheng Ruming stole the chance and sat down instead. Next, he turned towards her and patted the right seat beside him, "Lixi, come here. This seat is yours."

Luo Lixi nodded and went to sit beside Sheng Ruming, not noticing her grandfather's gloomy face. 

"Grandma Zhu, please ask the maids to serve the food." 

Aunt Zhu nodded and the next second many maids came forward to serve the food. They were curious as to who was the handsome man sitting beside their madam.

In a short while, the three people started to eat. When a maid went to pass Sheng Ruming some soup, the man frowned, Luo Lixi noticed as she remembered something. Thus she immediately spoke out in a rush. 

"I will give him." 

Luo Qintian stopped eating and looked at his precious granddaughter. She was scooping soup for Sheng Ruming personally. 'Just look at this shameless man! Making my child work instead! Doesn't he have hands?!' 

The old man's mood was complex as he saw the couple before his eyes exchanging eyeglances. They even forgot that an old man was sitting right beside them.

"Ruming, you taste this. Aunt Zhu always makes my favourite dumplings. You will definitely love them…" Luo Lixi put one piece in his bowl. Sheng Ruming slowly broke the piece and scanned the inside. When he saw it was okay, he directly put the whole thing in his mouth.

"Umm, very delicious!" Sheng Ruming turned at the woman standing beside them and said, "It's very well cooked. The inside of this dumpling is very soft while the outside is very smooth and shining. Totally a piece of art!"

"It's just a simple food." Aunt Zhu wanted to brush past it but Sheng Ruming said.

"Lixi always used to say about you. She has even told me the food made by your hands is the best!"

Aunt Zhu felt ashamed. It was the first time someone said something like this. She turned at Luo Lixi and weeped inwardly, 'Miss,  the years of hard work I put in bringing you up didn't go to waste. You really… remembered this old woman. Sob~'

Her eyes changed as she looked at the two young people.

"..." Luo Lixi thought in bewilderment, 'When… Did I tell him about Aunt Zhu?! Why can't I remember?!'

Luo Lixi stared at the scene before her weirdly. 

Aunt Zhu personally gave Sheng Ruming several pieces more. The man didn't refuse and ate every one of them. 

'Don't you like when other people give you something without your consent?!' She stared at the man.

Luo Qintian had been occasionally putting his soup spoon in his mouth and looking at them.

Aunt Zhu felt like people were giving her too much attention. She pointed at a plate and told them.

"You should eat this dish also. It was prepared with a lot of effort." 

Both the man, old and young, stared at the dish. It was an egg dish, beautifully presented and looked very appetising.

Both of them moved their chopsticks at the same time and without clashing, they took one piece each.

Sheng Ruming stared at the piece and thought something deeply. As he put the thing inside his mouth, he stopped chewing.

Luo Lixi stared at Luo Qintian expectantly. When he took a small bite of the food, his face changed colours and hurriedly took a small plate to Pl spat the food.

"Cough! Cough! Who made this?! Too much salt! On top of that it's so greasy!" Luo Qintian barked angrily. Luo Lixi became sad. Then both her and the old man's sight fell on Sheng Ruming.

Aunt Zhu signaled Luo Qintian to remain quiet but the old man didn't get the meaning.

Unlike him, Sheng Ruming didn't say anything and started to eat the food slowly. He even gave the expression that he was enjoying the food.

'What is this fool doing?! Heh! The Sheng family must be accustomed to eating this kind of unhealthy food! Another reason to not let my granddaughter marry in their household!

Luo Qintian wanted to pick a diary to note down all the shortcomings of Sheng Ruming and show them to Luo Lixi.

"This is the best dish I have eaten ever! Lixi, try some."

Luo Lixi blushed slightly and said, "You like it?"

"Yeah!"

Luo Lixi took more by her chopsticks this time and put them in his bowl and murmured slowly.

"Then… eat more. I made them." 

"..." 

A cold wind blew past Luo Qintian's body when he heard. He slowly stared down and saw the little plate where he spat the food earlier, feeling very aggrieved inside.