The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)

Chapter 417

Mango noticed the change in Nathaniel's expression and she heard the car engine outside too.

She whispered, "I'll go out and have a look." "There's no need. Let's continue eating." Nathaniel thought that nothing could be more important than his wife eating lunch.

As he spoke, Nathaniel added more food to her bowl.

The servants who have been hiding re-emerged, with Sisi along. She checked outside and Sisi then returned while smiling. "Zion and Rita are coming."

Mango was astonished to hear the news.

"Who is it?"

Nathaniel heard Sisi loud and clear, and he seemed a little troubled.

"What are they doing here? Send them away." It wasn't easy for him and Mango to have some time together alone. He had not expected his children to come and disrupt their peace. He was visibly annoyed.

Mango finally figured out the identity of the visitors, and she was happy for a moment.

"Are you saying that Zion and Rita have come?"

"Yes!"

"I'll go and have a look!"

Mango stood up hurriedly, but Nathaniel grabbed her by the arm.

"What are you doing? Didn't you hear that it's the kids? I'm going to greet them."

Mango was puzzled by Nathaniel's reaction.

Nathaniel said sulkily, "They're not disabled people, they know how to walk into the house on their own. Sit down and eat your lunch."

"But I want to..."

"You want to what? You better think about your walking posture right now."

Nathaniel's words made Mango blush.

"What the hell does that even mean..."

She glanced at Sisi, and Sisi smiled while excusing herself.

Mango was a little perturbed.

"Nathaniel, can you not be so tacit in the future?" "Am I not speaking the truth? How about you try walking to the front door then?"

Nathaniel said coolly, while wearing an expression that seemed to tempt Mango to punch him.

But Mango knew he was right, and she decided that it would be unwise to limp out now. How would she explain her situation to the kids?

Mango had no choice but to sit down and she anxiously waited for the children to come in.

Zion exited the car and he walked in with Rita.

"Mom! Dad! We're here to see you!"

Rita's sweet voice echoed down the hallway, and Mango shifted in anticipation.

Suddenly, she heard her mother- in- law's voice.

"Slow down, Rita, don't run like that."

Mango was getting more anxious now. Nathaniel too seemed distressed.

Not only did the young ones come, but the elderly too.

Mango was about to stand to greet them when Nathaniel stopped her, and he went out himself.

"Mom, what brings you here suddenly?"

Nathaniel's appearance drew Rita's attention immediately.

"Daddy!"

She threw herself at Nathaniel like a human cannonball.

Nathaniel quickly picked Rita up.

The little girl had grown much heavier since she recovered from her illness, and Rita was quite chubby now.

"Daddy, I miss you so much! Where's Mommy? I want to see Mommy!"

Rita hadn't seen Mango for a while and naturally, she missed her mother.

Hearing her daughter call out for her, Mango could not resist any longer and she got up despite the soreness in her legs. She jovially greeted her mother-in-law, "Hello, Mom. What brings you here?"

What kind of person was Madam Ye?

Mango was obviously uncomfortable, and she shot a look of admonishment at Nathaniel.

Nathaniel coughed awkwardly as he saw his mother came forward to hold Mango's hand while saying, "No need to trouble yourself if you're not feeling well."

Zion paused and he asked, "What's wrong, Mommy? Are you sick?"

Mango knew then that Madam Ye was helping her to hide her discomfort. Mango blushed when she saw how concerned her young son looked.

"I'm okay, don't worry."

"I'll get you a glass of hot water. Please sit down, Mommy."

Zion quickly turned around and he ran towards the living room outside.

"Mommy, are you sick? Have you seen a doctor yet? Have you taken any medicine?"

Rita also became nervous.

Mango felt like digging a hole to hide herself in, but she reined in her embarrassment before saying, "It's nothing, I'll be fine after resting a bit."

"Daddy, you mustn't make Mommy angry, okay?"

Rita reminded her father in a serious tone.

"Yes, of course. It will do it as you wish, princess."

Nathaniel smiled helplessly and he seated his daughter at the dining table.

"Mom, have you eaten yet? How about we eat together?"

Nathaniel glanced at the clock, not knowing if his mother had eaten yet so he had to ask.

Zion came back with a glass of warm water and he handed it to Mango. He asked worriedly, "Mommy, do you need medicine?"

"Not for the time being, dear."

Mango was so embarrassed!

If she knew her kids were going to visit today, she would never have fooled around with Nathaniel. Instead, Mango would have shown some restraint.

In order to alleviate the tension, Madam Ye smiled and she said, "Oh, we haven't eaten actually. You don't mind us joining you?"

"Of course not."

Mango quickly informed Sisi and the servants to prepare extra sets of cutlery.

Nathaniel wanted to sit by Mango's side, but his seat was taken by Zion instead.

"Daddy, please sit with Rita. She's been missing you a lot lately."

Zion tactfully nudged his father towards Rita.

Upon hearing her brother's words, Rita nodded in agreement.

"Yes Daddy, I miss you so much. You haven't come to play with me for a long time. You used to sleep in the same room as Zion, so why don't you sleep in my room this time?"

Nathaniel almost spit out his food, and Zion looked a little troubled at this revelation.

Mango was puzzled and she inquired, "Your father slept in the same room as you? When?"

This was new to Mango.

It wasn't that Nathaniel did not love his son, it was just because he believed that boys should be raised to be tough and independent. Therefore, he had trained Zion to sleep in his room since young.

As for Zion, he wasn't someone who liked to share a bed with others.

So they shared a bed once? This was quite unbelievable.

"It's nothing, let's eat now."

Nathaniel tried to change the topic, but Zion had plans of his own. He chuckled while saying, "I'm not sure either what had gotten into Daddy that night, but he suddenly came over to my room and squeezed himself onto my bed and slept."

Nathaniel's mouth twitched upon hearing his son's words, and he quickly stuffed a chicken drumstick onto Zion's plate.

"Hurry up and eat. Don't you know that you shouldn't talk while eating?"

"It was Rita who brought it up, not me. Besides, I'm only telling the truth."

Zion chewed on the drumstick while retorting, and Nathaniel was speechless.

This brat must be doing it on purpose!

Madam Ye smiled happily and contentedly. Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.

"All right, all right. Let's eat now. We'll talk about it after the meal."

Hearing their grandmother speak up, Zion and Rita quieted down and they started munching obediently.

Mango looked at her family gathered around the table and she felt touched.

"Mom, please help yourself to eat more."

"Alright, you too. Take care of your body, don't let this naughty boy bully you all the time."

Madam Ye's words made Nathaniel paused in the middle of eating.

"Mom, am I really your flesh and blood?"

"Just eat your food."

Madam Ye ignored her son's complaints and she poured some chicken soup for Mango before speaking to her in a low voice, "As women, we should take care of our bodies. Although you're finished with the confinement month, you should still take precautions on some things. During this time when the outside world is in turmoil, you should pay even more attention to your health. I've got a prescription from the traditional medicine practitioner that will help replenish your blood, I'll send it to Mrs. Lucy later. Remember to drink it on time daily, alright?"

"What prescription? Mom, please tell me it's not some mumbo-jumbo recipe?"

Nathaniel shivered when he recalled the "recipes" that his mother-in-law made for him the last time.

Madam Ye glared at Nathaniel and she said, "I got it from a proper hospital dispensary, what did you think?"

"That's good."

Nathaniel was relieved.

Zion silently piled food onto Mango's plate. Soon enough, there was a hill of food in front of her.

She was touched by her son's act of filial kindness before smiling at him, "That's enough Zion, I can't finish that much food."

"The teacher at school told me that we need to eat to become strong, so please eat more, Mommy. Look at Rita, she eats as much as a horse these days."

As soon as he finished his sentence, everyone's focus was turned to Rita.

Rita was gnawing on a chicken drumstick in one hand while holding a bowl of soup in the other. Her mouth was greasy from all the food. Seeing her daughter ate with so much enthusiasm, Mango felt her appetite improved as well.

Mango never saw Rita ate this quick, so she was a little surprised.

"Rita, slow down."

"It's okay, I'm fine."

Rita did not slow down as she replied while eating, as though she had been starved for days.

Madam Ye smiled and she said, "It's a blessing to be able to eat. I had the doctor check up on her, and he said that Rita's appetite and digestive system were in poor condition previously because she was sick. Now that she's recovered, she needs a lot of nutrients to get back to normal. As long as she's not over-eating, it should be fine. She's gotten much stronger lately, even the doctor was impressed."

Upon hearing Madam Ye's words, Mango relaxed a little.

"Still, you need to eat a little slower as you have an image to maintain as a young lady."

Rita was still her daughter, so Mango was not too harsh.

Zion then shook his head and he commented, "With those table manners, do you think you'll be able to find a husband in the future?"

"It's none of your business. If I can't get a husband then I'll live with you in the same house to eat all your food!"

Rita retorted indignantly. Her disgruntled look and greasy face made her look funny and the whole family chuckled in amusement.

Zion was less enthused. He quipped, "I might not be able to afford your voracious appetite, I think you're better off living with Daddy."

"No! I want you to take care of me. If I can't get married, then you can't either. I'm sticking with you no matter what."

Rita blurted out like a rascal, and she reached out to Zion with her oily fingers.