Houhai.
At the entrance to the western alley.
It was already past midnight. Dong Xuebin and Luan Xiaoping had thought they were the only two people on the street—who would come out for a stroll at this hour? Yet Xie Huilan had actually come.
"Hui Lan?"
"Why are you here?"
"Oh my, why are you still carrying the child?"
Dong Xuebin and his mother were both taken aback. Luan Xiaoping hurried over to take the child from her daughter-in-law's arms. Little Chongchong was already asleep, and sleeping deeply at that. His little mouth puckered as he puffed out breaths. Even being jostled around like this had not woken him. His sleeping face was adorable.
Xie Huilan crouched down as well. She had changed clothes and was no longer wearing pajamas, instead dressed in a set of ordinary dark athletic wear. "Today is Dad's death anniversary. Of course I had to come. Mom, how could you not tell me about such an important day? Aren't you being too formal with me?"
Luan Xiaoping hurriedly said, "That wasn't what I meant."
Dong Xuebin said, "My mom was afraid your family had a lot of customs and might consider this taboo."
Xie Huilan said helplessly, "What taboo? There's no such thing."
Luan Xiaoping added, "I also saw that you were tired, and Little Chongchong needed someone to put him to sleep, so I didn't tell you."
"You can sleep anytime. How could I not come for something as important as Dad's death anniversary? Luckily, when you two were talking tonight, I overheard a little from inside the room. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have known." So Xie Huilan had overheard it herself. No wonder she had come so late. The Courtyard House was good in every way except for its poor soundproofing. The windows