Tongtong got up and looked at Su's father, who was sitting next to Su's mother and scrutinizing Liu Yifeng with a probing gaze. She blinked her big eyes and said sweetly:
"Then you must be my maternal grandfather. Aunt and you look so alike! Hello, Grandpa! I'm so happy to meet you!"
Su's father and Su's mother burst into laughter at Tongtong's clever words. Su's father's scrutinizing gaze shifted from Liu Yifeng to Tongtong.
Seeing that Su's father and mother had somewhat calmed their joy, Tongtong pointed to Liu Yifeng and said:
"Grandma, Grandpa! This is my Baba! Baba didn't know he would meet Grandpa and Grandma today, so he forgot to prepare New Year's gifts for you.
I'm truly sorry. I hope Grandma and Grandpa won't be angry!"
Su's father, hearing Tongtong's mature explanation for Liu Yifeng, softened his scrutinizing look towards Liu Yifeng:
"Alright, we'll take Tongtong's word for it."
He thought to himself: It seems the child's father is someone who knows how to raise a child.
Liu Yifeng, hearing his son's explanation, said with pride:
"Thank you both for your understanding. I wish you both a happy new year and good health. Sorry to have kept you waiting. I am Tongtong's Baba—Liu Yifeng."
Su's father took over from Liu Yifeng, nodding:
"Alright, no need to be so formal. Come in and sit down. Let's eat first."
At the dinner table, Su's father was about to ask Liu Yifeng about Yun Duo'er and Tongtong, but he considered that everyone was eating.
With the children present at the table, asking about this matter might not be appropriate. So he proactively invited:
"Mr. Liu, right? After dinner, do you have time to come to our house for a while? Bring Tongtong to recognize his maternal grandparents' home."
"Yes, you are too kind! My work isn't very busy lately, so I'll definitely have time!"
After the meal, Liu Yifeng and Tongtong followed Su Wanru's car to visit Su Wanru's home.
In the car, Su's father instructed Su Wanru:
"When Liu Yifeng and Tongtong arrive at our house, find an opportunity for me to talk to Liu Yifeng alone."
Hearing her father's instructions, Su Wanru asked:
"Are you going to ask Liu Yifeng alone about Yun Duo'er and Tongtong's situation?"
"Yes. I've seen the child, and he's so adorable. I really can't understand why Duo'er would abandon such a good child!
Your mother and I didn't take her in back then, nor the third child, because we were barely able to make ends meet. But with her current financial situation, raising a child shouldn't be difficult." Su's father sighed.
He had felt guilty about what happened back then for over twenty years and truly didn't want his children to repeat his mistakes.
Upon returning home, Su Wanru made an excuse that she hadn't seen Tongtong for a long time, and Su's mother also said she wanted to spend some quality time with Tongtong.
Meanwhile, Su's father asked Liu Yifeng to accompany him to the study for a game of chess. His youngest son hadn't returned yet, and he hadn't played chess with anyone in a long time.
Liu Yifeng and Su's father entered the study, and Su's father took out the chessboard.
As they played chess, Su's father praised and flattered Liu Yifeng for raising Tongtong so well.
Then he got to the main point.
"May I ask, Mr. Liu, how did you meet Tongtong's mother?"
Hearing Su's father's question, Liu Yifeng paused his move.
After steadying his emotions and making his move, he replied:
"Actually, Tongtong's mother and I wouldn't really call it 'knowing' each other; it was just a fleeting encounter."
Su's father frowned upon hearing Liu Yifeng's words, and said with some anger:
"Oh, so you consider my daughter a dalliance?"
Liu Yifeng, hearing Su's father's anger, maintained a calm expression, but he worried about leaving a bad impression or affecting Yun Duo'er's relationship with Su's father and mother. After some hesitation, he decided to try his best to recount the events between Yun Duo'er and himself in an objective manner:
"Uncle Su, I do not consider your daughter a dalliance!"
Liu Yifeng paused, thinking of his Tongtong, and continued:
"Tongtong is a good child. I love him dearly, and my father is also very happy to accept his grandson."
Changing the subject:
"Uncle Su, the core problem between your daughter and me isn't about me, but about Yun Duo'er—she simply doesn't want her child!"
Hearing Liu Yifeng's words, Su's father slammed the chessboard in anger:
"Are you saying my daughter is a woman who abandoned her husband and child?"
Although he had a general understanding from Wanru that Duo'er had sent Tongtong to Liu Yifeng, having raised him for several years and gone through the hardship of pregnancy for ten months, he naturally became angry hearing Liu Yifeng say this.
Liu Yifeng, seeing Su's father's rage, showed no fear. He stood up and said to Su's father from a higher position:
"Uncle Su, perhaps you don't truly understand how your daughter's character has developed after she left home?"
Hearing Liu Yifeng's retort:
"Oh? So you know? How well can you know her, someone you only had a fleeting encounter with?"
Liu Yifeng, hearing Su's father's counter-question, said with firm eyes and a confident voice:
"While I don't know her extremely well, I do have a very good understanding of your daughter's attitude towards Tongtong and her opinion of me."
Liu Yifeng picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of water to moisten his throat, and said:
"You must have some understanding of Yun Duo'er's situation.
Yun Duo'er is a person with strong ambitions. Her profession is an actress. For an actor, one only counts as having achieved something when they become famous!
And as a public figure, she must always be mindful of her image in front of others.
For various reasons, she doesn't want to disclose many things about giving birth to Tongtong. That's why you've invited me today, wanting to understand how this matter came about."
Seeing Liu Yifeng's calm demeanor, Su's father thought: It seems this Liu Yifeng is not a simple person.
So he got straight to the point:
"Mr. Liu, I'm glad you understand. Since that's the case, I'll be direct. After we reconnected with Duo'er, she wanted us to invest and help her career. She said she had accidentally gotten into some trouble that caused her company to stop supporting her and that many resources were no longer available to her. However, she didn't tell us the specific nature of the trouble."
Su's father gestured for Liu Yifeng to sit down and continued:
"A couple of days ago, we planned to have Duo'er visit our home.
But on the way to pick her up, Wanru mentioned Tongtong, and she became furious, acted very impatient with us, and left in great anger."
Su's father reached for the teacup beside him, intending to take a sip, but found the water had gone cold. He withdrew his hand and turned his attention to the chessboard, making a move.
He continued to say to Liu Yifeng:
"However, fortunately, Wanru said she knew Tongtong's father, which is why she wanted to arrange this meeting. Your aunt and I also want to see Tongtong and let him recognize his mother's home."