Ice and Fire

Chapter 199 Some Doubts

"Cherry, you're back home! This is wonderful!" cheerfully said Andrew while he held Cherry's hands.

Then, Joe came closer to his mother, and quietly stood beside her. He looked at the old man with silver

hair in front of him, and felt that they had met before. Also, he was impressed by the old man's high

spirit. He seemed to be as bossy as Jackson was, but older. After he inspected this old man more

closely, Joe felt that he was friendly, and he thought that this must be Jackson's Grandpa, and his

Great-Grandpa.

When Cherry saw that Joe's eyes were completely focused on Andrew, she quickly said, "Joe, he is

your Great-Grandpa."

After Joe heard his Mommy's words, he greeted him in a cute way, "Good morning, Great-Grandpa!"

"Joe, you're such a good kid, " said Andrew while he gently caressed Joe's face. He immediately

seemed to like Joe, and continued to say in a nostalgic manner, "You're exactly what Jackson looked

like when he was your age!"

Andrew didn't frighten Joe; instead, Joe stretched out his hands, and after he embraced Andrew, he

said, "Great-Grandpa, I wanted to meet you so much! Both Daddy and Mommy have been very busy,

or otherwise I would have visited you sooner!"

After they heard Joe's words, Cherry and Jackson looked at each other, and a surprised look appeared

on both of their faces. They found it funny that their son, who was at such a young age, knew how to

complain.

"Joe, from now on, if your parents are too busy to bring you here, just call me and I'll send somebody to

pick you up, " said Andrew happily.

"Really?" asked Joe, surprised.

Andrew nodded, and continued to say, "Joe, trust me, I'll never lie to you. Besides, both your Mommy

and Daddy would never dare to disobey me, so please, set your mind at rest."

Delighted, Joe shot a couple of defiant glances at his parents, who seemed to be ridiculed by his

excuse. "Have you heard what Great-Grandpa just said? You can't disobey him, haha!" said Joe.

"You..." Cherry was somehow irritated by her son's naughty attitude. Joe, who had always behaved in

such an obedient and cute way at home, now had the audacity to complain in front of his Great-

Grandpa.

Sticking up for Joe, Andrew also appeared to be serious, and said, "Jackson, Cherry, really now, if

you're too busy, I can always ask the butler to pick Joe up from home."

He then looked Jackson in the eye, and scolded him, "Jackson, you should never ignore your child!"

Jackson kept his silence and looked at Cherry, because now only she could command him to do

anything.

"Okay, we know that, " answered Cherry amiably.

Andrew was clearly pleased by Cherry's answer. His granddaughter-in-law had now come back, and so

did his great-grandson, and "Delighted" was too less of a word to describe his mood at that moment.

He had never blamed Cherry for abandoning Jackson and the Chu Family five years ago; on the

contrary, he was actually thankful that she had given birth and raised the cute and wonderful boy that

was standing in front of him.

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness, " said Andrew.

Then, Derek, who was standing nearby them, smiled, and said to Andrew, "Grandpa, are you glad you

finally met Joe?"

"Yes, it's such a pleasure to meet him!" answered Andrew, wearing a broad smile on his face. He

looked at Joe intensely, and seemed that he didn't want to lose sight of him.

Joe then shot a curious glance at Derek, and wondered who was the man talking to his Great-

Grandfather. 'Why is he standing together with Great-Grandfather?' wondered Joe.

"Mommy, who's he?" asked Joe.

Cherry looked at Derek first, and then answered her son, "He's your father's friend since childhood. His

name is Derek, and he's Selina's brother."

Joe used his brain, and saw him as his father's BFF. 'Does he also live in the military's residential

compound?' wondered Joe.

"Uncle Derek, it's nice to meet you, " said Joe. He then looked around, and curiously asked, "By the

way, where's Selina?"

Derek bent down and kindly stroke Joe's hair. He said, "Selina will come and have lunch with us to

celebrate you and your Mommy's coming home. Your Great-Grandpa has invited many guests, and it's

going to be a big party."

"I see!" Joe then turned to look at his Great-Grandpa again, and asked, "The party's going to be great,

isn't it?"

Looking at his cute great-grandson, Andrew nodded, and said, "Yes, it is."

"Yeah, it will be so fun with so many people playing with me, " said Joe, with a broad smile all over his

face.

His typical naughty smile warmed everyone's hearts present. Joe knew that he could charm them by

simply putting on a smiling face.

After they entered the military residential compound, Joe saw that there were many families living

there. He had never been there before, and everything was quiet and clean, and every now and then,

people dressed in military uniforms would pass by them.

"Great-Grandpa, are all the residents here soldiers?" asked Joe.

"Yes, they are. Soldiers and their families, " patiently answered Andrew while he held Joe's hand. All rights © NôvelDrama.Org.

"Why do Mommy and Daddy live outside then? How come they don't live here?" Joe had many

unanswered questions.

Andrew couldn't be impatient with his great-grandson's inquiries, and explained, "Before your Mommy

and Daddy got married, your Daddy was living here, but after he got engaged, he moved out. However,

they still have their rooms here, and besides, I also have a room that's specially reserved for you."

"Are you serious? Do I really have a room here?" exclaimed Joe.

Andrew nodded, and then gave him a big smile. "All members of the Chu Family have their own rooms

here."

"Are you telling me that I have two rooms now?" Joe quickly calculated in his mind, and corrected

himself, "No, that's not right. I actually have three rooms, including the one in Uncle Wilson's house."

Andrew really enjoyed talking with the cute kid.

Jackson, Cherry and Derek followed them, and all of them loved to see Andrew and Joe talking and

laughing.

"Jackson, Cherry, I think that now you have nothing to worry about, right? Joe and Grandpa are really

getting along with each other, and besides, I can see that Grandpa really loves Joe, " said Derek.

"Well, it's clear that Grandpa's in good mood today, " said Cherry, delighted.

"Grandpa has already been waiting for you for several days after you told him that you were coming.

He asked the butler to prepare a room for Joe, and I think he's done a lot of hard work to properly

welcome you back home, " said Derek. During the past few days, he saw that Andrew had been busy

with preparing everything to welcome them back.

"Has he actually gotten a room for Joe?" asked Cherry. She was stunned, and she couldn't help but

look at Jackson.

Jackson shook his head, indicating that he had no idea about that.

"Yes, you can go and see it by yourself, " answered Derek.

Cherry nodded and then remained silent.

Looking at Andrew and Joe, Jackson suddenly asked, "Derek, where's the butler? I haven't seen him

all day."

"He isn't here. He said that one of his relatives needed some help and he had take a couple days off.

He's supposed to be back in a few days, " answered Derek. He then added, "Grandpa told me that."

Jackson was confused. He knew the butler very well. The butler had grown up in the Chu household,

and had been a bachelor all throughout his life. According to Jackson's knowledge, he had no relatives.

Why did he all of a sudden take a few days's leave for his mysterious relative?

Jackson then looked at this Grandpa's back and a thought occurred to him. All of a sudden, the

compound in which he had spent all of his childhood and most of his life seemed to be very strange

and obscure to him.