"Okay, I'll save your number too, and I promise to answer your calls. You worked hard during this program recording. When we get back, I'll have your dad take you around to play and relax!" Liu Yifeng remembered what Dad Zhou had said and deliberately reminded him.
Before Zhou Ran could speak, Dad Zhou's voice rang out, "I was planning to do just that. His mother and I have already spoken. She's packed her bags at home and asked for a week off from school. We plan to go to Sanya for a week. The weather is cold, so it'll be nice and warm in Sanya."
Zhou Ran couldn't believe his dad's words, "Mom agreed?"
"Of course, she agreed. You're her son. Seeing how hard you've been working, she's wanted to take you out to play for a long time, but there just hasn't been a suitable opportunity. Now that I'm back, I won't be working out of town anymore. I'll have the company transfer me to a branch office in our hometown. That way, our family of three can be together every day."
Hearing his dad's words, Zhou Ran was overjoyed, "That's great! Thank you, Dad. Can I go scuba diving in Sanya?"
"Of course, you can. Whatever you want, you can have. This time, we'll let you have all the fun you want!" Dad Zhou's mood was also uplifted seeing his son so happy. As long as his son was happy, the likelihood of him having negative thoughts would be very small. He was determined to bring back his son's childhood joy during this period. He would satisfy all his reasonable requests before he came of age.
Watching the heartwarming father and son, Liu Yifeng was also genuinely happy for them, "It's getting late, we should be going. Goodbye, Dad Zhou, goodbye Zhou Ran. Let's have dinner together again sometime!" He waved goodbye with a smile.
Dad Zhou also waved back with a smile, "Goodbye, Tongtong, goodbye!"
They left the hotel. Du Ziheng had been waiting in the car for a while and was getting anxious. He got out of the car and was about to go in to see what was happening when he saw Liu Yifeng and the others coming out, "Why did it take you so long to check out?" He reached out to take his cousin's suitcase.
Xia Qianqian said, "We met another contestant and his father in the lobby. Yifeng chatted with them for a bit."
"Ah, I see!"
After loading the suitcase into the car, Du Ziheng said, "Yifeng, why don't I drive the first half and you drive the second half? I'm worried you can't handle it all by yourself!"
"It's fine, it's only three hours in total. I can drive. Brother Du, you can rest assured and sleep in the passenger seat. When you wake up, we'll already be in Haicheng."
"You really can?" Du Ziheng asked, still a bit worried.
Liu Yifeng nodded, "Yes, I really can. I drove here, and there was no problem at all."
"Alright then, I'll sleep soundly. If you feel tired, just wake me up."
Tongtong and Qianqian were still sitting in the back. At first, everyone was chatting and laughing, but within an hour, everyone except Liu Yifeng, who was driving, had fallen asleep. Du Ziheng was even snoring, thankfully not too loudly, otherwise, it would have been a torment for Liu Yifeng.
After driving for an hour and a half, Liu Yifeng refueled at a service area and rested for ten minutes before continuing their journey.
At this point, Du Ziheng woke up and saw they were still on the highway, he quickly said, "Brother Liu, let me drive for a bit!"
"No need, it's only about another hour. I'm full of energy, don't worry about me not being able to handle it."
"Young people are indeed young people. Look at me, I fell asleep as soon as I got in the car. If I don't sleep, I feel restless all over."
Liu Yifeng chuckled, "Brother Du, you're too modest. Remember what Brother Zhang Jin said at noon? He said you still look like a young man. If we stood together, people would only think you were a few years older than me, they'd never guess we're more than ten years apart."
Du Ziheng couldn't help but laugh at Liu Yifeng's flattery, "Your way with words is as beautiful as a woman's. I'm a middle-aged uncle in my forties. Even with good maintenance, people wouldn't think we're only a few years apart. But you, at 28, look like a fresh graduate. I don't know how you manage to maintain that appearance..."
The two of them entered a mode of mutual flattery. Women like to be told they look young, and men are no different.
Liu Yifeng and Du Ziheng almost lost themselves in their mutual praise!
Finally, Tongtong's words brought them back to reality, "Daddy, Uncle Liu, you do look younger than people your age, but no matter how well you maintain yourselves, in the end, all that will be left is a pile of bones. It doesn't matter if you look young or not, what's important is not to waste this time."
Hearing Tongtong speak so philosophically, Du Ziheng turned his head and gave him a thumbs up, "Tongtong, how can you see things so clearly? It feels like your small body contains countless profound truths."
Tongtong smiled, "These are all very simple things. It's just that many people are unwilling to accept them!"
Du Ziheng nodded in agreement, "Tongtong is right. In fact, I don't really care about these external things. As long as I live happily, that's enough."
At 5:20 PM, Liu Yifeng's car finally set foot on the land of Haicheng. Breathing in the familiar air, Liu Yifeng still felt that his hometown was the best. City C was also good, with its bustling city and delicious food and attractions, but such places were only suitable for tourism, not for people who preferred a slower pace of life. He didn't like a rushed life; it felt too oppressive. Haicheng was different. Everyone lived a peaceful, unhurried life.
"Yifeng, it's almost dinner time. Come to my place for dinner. I'll call my wife now and ask her to start cooking!" Du Ziheng said.
"Thank you for the invitation, Brother Du. I won't be coming for dinner today. My dad knows we're coming back today and has already prepared dinner. Tongtong and I have been away for more than half a month, and it's time to spend some quality time with him," Liu Yifeng said apologetically.
Hearing Liu Yifeng's words, Du Ziheng didn't insist, "Indeed, one should spend more time with the elders at home. Then I won't keep you. You can drop me off at the entrance of my residential complex later."
"Qianqian, where do you live?" Liu Yifeng glanced at the rearview mirror.
Before Xia Qianqian could speak, Du Ziheng's voice immediately chimed in, "Now that we're in Haicheng, you'll definitely live at home. Staying in a hotel is a waste of money and you won't have a place to eat."
Xia Qianqian's family lived in another province. Her mother had married far away, and they usually only returned home for Chinese New Year. Sometimes they would come for holidays, but not often. Although this was her mother's hometown, after marriage, she was considered a guest. When she returned, she usually stayed in hotels. Occasionally, she stayed at her cousin's place, but she felt a bit awkward. However, her cousin had extended the invitation, and she found it difficult to refuse.
"What's there to hesitate about? Do you feel wronged staying at your cousin's place?" Du Ziheng asked, looking at the person who was slow to respond.
Xia Qianqian snapped back to reality and repeatedly shook her head, "No, I'm just afraid of disturbing you and cousin's wife too much and causing inconvenience to your lives."
"You're overthinking it. We're family. Isn't it too distant to say 'disturbing'?" Du Ziheng said with a mock stern look at his cousin.