Chapter 77 Part 3

After the plane landed, he sent Yan Hang a message. He wanted to call at first, but it was lunch time now, and Yan Hang was probably too busy to take a call.

Also, he didn't want to seem like a child seeking comfort. Although he was nervous, and wanted Yan Hang's reassurance.

But this time, he wanted to handle this matter himself, just like how Yan Hang could handle many things on his own.

A big dog has to act like a big dog.

After getting on the shuttle bus to grandpa's place, he gave grandma a call. Grandma picked up, and as soon as he greeted her, grandma started crying, "Your dad is back, Chu Yi, your dad is back!"

"I know," Chu Yi said softly. "I'm on the bus, will be there soon."

"Have you eaten?" Grandma asked tearfully.

"Yes, they served food on the plane," Chu Yi said.

"How long are you staying?" Grandma asked crying.

"I have to go back tomorrow," Chu Yi said. "I still have school."

"Let me talk to him," grandpa's voice came over. "Chu Yi."

"Grandpa," Chu Yi responded.

"You're on the bus?" Grandpa asked.

"Yes," Chu Yi looked out the window, "about to leave."

"Alright, we'll talk more when you get home," grandpa said. "Your dad looks fine, just a little thinner, spirits seem good."

"Okay," Chu Yi nodded.

Dad did look rather spirited, probably well rested in detention. But he seemed much older, with white hair already at his temples.

Seeing Chu Yi, his mouth twitched, and he looked away dabbing at his eyes without saying anything for the longest time.

"Look, Chu Yi's all grown up now, you don't even recognize him!" Grandma patted dad's back. "What kind of dad are you! Some example you set!"

"Stop that for now," grandpa pulled grandma into the kitchen. "Let the father and son chat."

Chu Yi looked at dad. They didn't really have much to talk about.

The disappointment Chu Yi felt towards dad the past two years meant that even now seeing him again, words failed despite the complex emotions.

"You've grown tall," dad looked at him.

"Mm," Chu Yi nodded.

"About 1.8 meters?" Dad asked.

"Haven't measured," Chu Yi pulled out a chair for dad and sat down at the table.

"That Lawyer Bai, she's your friend?" Dad also sat down. "Thanks to her!"

"You could have been found innocent and released anyway," Chu Yi looked at him. "Why did you run?"

"Could I not run?" Dad frowned, lightly tapping his hand on the table twice, lowering his voice, "You didn't see the situation at the time. The scene was covered in blood, and Old Ding even died! If I hadn't run, what if the police arrested me as the murderer?"

Grandpa walked out of the kitchen. Dad wanted to say something more but immediately stopped.

Chu Yi took the cup, poured some water, and after taking a few sips, suddenly started laughing.

Dad looked at him, puzzled, and whispered, "What's so funny?"

Chu Yi shook his head, didn’t say anything, but still felt like laughing, struggling to hold it in.

He didn’t know what exactly he was laughing at.

He didn’t know how scared a person could be to run away from an incident they were innocent in, leaving behind a family just like that.

He laid his head on the table, laughing for quite a while before finally stopping.

If Dad hadn’t run, what happened to Uncle Yan wouldn’t have stayed unresolved for so long, and Yan Hang wouldn’t be tormented by it day after day, always with a shadow over his heart.

Although he could understand Dad, knowing it wasn’t entirely Dad’s fault, he still felt helpless.

"Do you know where your mom went?" Dad probably couldn’t hold back from contacting Mom.

"I don’t know," Chu Yi replied.

"She didn’t tell you?" Dad frowned again.

"The house changed, the locks too, no one told me anything," Chu Yi smiled, "Besides, it's just a small matter."

Dad was stunned for a long time, then sighed, "This family is probably falling apart."

"It fell apart a long time ago," Chu Yi said.

"Chu Yi," Dad stared at him for a long time, "You’ve changed quite a bit."

"Mm," Chu Yi nodded, "I've grown up."

"Yes," Dad let out a long sigh, smiling, "Grown up, you're a strapping young man now... When you talk, I feel you're not like my son from before."

"What was I like before," Chu Yi said, "you don't necessarily know."

Grandma walked out from the kitchen, carrying a large plate of dumplings: "I made these yesterday, thinking to cook some in the morning for us to slowly eat breakfast, didn't expect everyone to come back today, just in time to eat."

"Let's eat together," Dad said, "you two don't need to be busy."

"Chu Yi eat more," Grandpa said, "you definitely didn't eat anything at noon, and you say they serve meals on planes, they don't serve meals on planes, just give you a Coke to drink."

Chu Yi smiled.

He really wanted to ask his dad directly now, just what was going on, ask and be at ease.

But he really had no way to ask this in front of grandpa and grandma's smiles and tears.

He could only endure for now.

His phone rang with a message, Yan Hang texted over.

- Don't ask your dad about those things in front of your grandparents, it would be too much for the elderly to handle

Chu Yi instantly wanted to dive into his phone, crawl over and hug Yan Hang tightly and kiss him a few times - Yan Hang is always so thoughtful.

- I know!

- What does your exclamation point mean

- That's what I was thinking, and you reminded me again, very annoying!

- Then I won't remind you of anything else, Brother Dog is very steady

Chu Yi smiled and sent over a little emoji.

- [Strong]

- [Yeah!]