As Jie came inside the house and went to his daughter’s room, he could see Bao knocking on the door persistently.

  "Juju, open the door!"

  However, his calling was not being heard by his dear sister who was constantly ignoring him now.

  "Why are you pushing me away? I didn’t even do anything!"

  "Exactly, Bobo! You didn’t do anything! You didn’t speak up for me either!" came Juan’s angry voice from inside the room. "Why would you even speak up? You’d also take Xiao Song’s side. Go to her then, stop knocking my door!"

  Bao was really frustrated now. She was right that he didn’t take her side but did she have to bring up Lin Song’s name again? He honestly had no idea what really was going on between Lin Song and Juan. Because until a few months ago, these two were like a pair of sisters. But now, Juan was out to bite Lin Song at every chance she got.

  These were the words his Ruru had told him before about girls and he strongly agreed with it. No one can understand girls.

  He couldn’t tell what was wrong but he was certain if he took anyone’s side, Juan was gonna make him suffer for a lifetime.

  "Juan, open the door for dad," Jie also came beside his son to try.

  "Oh, so you finally left your wife’s side?" Juan really wasn’t holding back. He could hear her sniffling which meant she was crying and which also meant, she had long stopped thinking before speaking. Now, she was just venting her anger and helplessness. "You can also leave. I don’t wanna talk to you both!"

  Bao looked up at his father while the Jie looked down at his son. "What about the connecting door in your room?"

  "That’s also locked, dad. Do you really think I didn’t check?"

  Jie went to his bedroom and brought the keys to unlock the door but Bao stood in his way. "Ruru says privacy is a person’s right. Everyone needs personal space and invading that space without that individual’s permission is bad-parenting."

  Jie gaped at his son. "Ruru’s little tail, can you please stop lecturing me like your Ruru?"

  "I was just stating the facts," said Bao calmly.

  "I just want to check up on my daughter," Jie argued.

  "If you opened this door when she wants to lock us out that means you’re disrespecting her wishes. Let her cool down, she’ll open the door herself but if you did it, she’d be even madder." Bao’s words made perfect sense. Even Jie couldn’t argue with those words. But then again those words were taught by his very own cousin, and since he couldn’t even argue with her till this day, how’d he be able to argue with this little version of Ru?

  "Ru?" Jie suddenly thought out loud. "Yes, that’s the answer I needed."

  "Dad, you can’t Ruru!" Bao warned him as soon as he understood his father’s intention. "This is our family’s issue. Why are you dragging Ruru in it? Did she ever drag you into her issues?"

  "Son, for once, stop taking Ruru’s side. She’s my best friend. She’s my cousin. I can do whatever I want." He stared at his son’s face as he concluded with, "Also, she’s my family as well!"

  Jie took his phone from the jacket and dialed a number. He patiently waited for the other person to pick up. But…… She didn’t pick up. He tried again but to no avail. Even the third try was a miss as well.

  Thinking of something, he turned to his son, "Give me your phone."

  "You never bought me one," answered Bao straightforwardly.

  "But your Ruru definitely gave you something to contact her," retorted Jie as he stared at his son with raised brows. Bao sighed out at his father’s reaction and took off his wristwatch before passing it to his father. Jie smiled contently before using the smartwatch……

  In a place hundreds of kilometers away from all this drama……

  A pair of green eyes were staring at the huge screen hanging from the ceiling.

  "Chieftain, what do you think?"

  The green orbs shifted from the screen towards the dozen of people sitting around the meeting table as a crease appeared between those beautiful brows. That slight change in her expression caused everyone to hold their breath in anxiousness.

  Those green orbs suddenly turned really soft and gentle as they fell on the phone screen and read the name displaying on it. Those slender fingers lifted up slightly to gesture everyone to leave, "Meeting is adjourned. Let’s discuss it in the morning."

  As everyone scurried away, she attended the call immediately, "Hey, my dearest godson! How’s my little Ba-Ba?"

  "This is Ba-Ba’s father!" gritted out Jie with anger. He called three times but she ignored it. And now, she picked up just at the first ring? Was she really being biased now? Even with him!

  "Oh……" Ru’s voice sounded like she was disappointed to know it was Jie. And she didn’t even try hiding her disappointment. "How cheap are you! You’re actually using your son?"

  "Well, since you won’t pick up my call I had to use my son," replied Jie without feeling bad about what he did. "And by the way, why aren’t you taking my calls? You’re my cousin. My best friend. My brother! Shouldn’t you be there for me when I need you?"

  Jie felt a tug at his shirt and looked at Bao who warned, "Keep your temper in check with my Ruru. I don’t like the way you’re complaining to her."

  "Son, I’m the reason you’re actually in this world! At least half of the credit is mine!"

  "Thanks for telling me that. I thought me and Juan fell from the sky."

  Hearing Bao’s sarcasm Ru laughed out. "Oh, I’m so proud of my godson right now."

  "This is all your doing. Of course, you’d be proud!"

  Ru didn’t mind Jie’s harsh tone. And the reason why she didn’t pick his call was also his own fault. These days he only called when he wanted her to listen to him complaining about how his wife was not paying attention to him. She was tired of that all. Besides, she kept her distance from his family as much as possible. But his twins were hard to resist especially when they would always cling to her.

  Most of all, she was not a bloody counselor! Or a shrink who’d want to hear him talk for hours!

  "He’s my only godson and you don’t get to say anything between us."

  "Why am I feeling like you’re really biased towards my kids these days? Are you also leaving my team?"

  Ru rolled her eyes at his reply. Did Juan’s spirit get in his body or something? Why was he acting like a sulky baby?

  "You’re also biased towards your wife, did I ever complain?" Her reply made Jie speechless. He couldn’t say anything to that. "Anyways, if you’re just calling to whine again, I’m hanging up."

  "Wait! It’s Juan," Jie hurriedly spoke out before she could really hang up on him. After all, she’d never bluff. She’d do what she said. "I need your help."

  While Ru silently heard him retelling the tale of tonight, her brows drew together tightly. Her fingers tapped on the handrest of the chair while she leaned her head back to rest.

  "I’m proud of you, Jie bro!" she said after he was done telling everything in detail.

  "You can save the sarcasm for later."

  "I’m gonna save some beating for later as well since you really need it."

  "Are you helping or not?"

  "Shut up! I know what to do," she hung up the call and shook her head. She had expected this argument for a long time now. She had seen how frustrated the twins had been but wouldn’t share with her. They were smart but they were really forgetting they couldn’t handle everything on their own. Not even their young and developing emotions.