The sky outside the car window was filled with large, fluffy snowflakes, transforming the city into a silver-white wonderland. Adorned with festive decorations, the towering skyscrapers stood tall, with the Empire State Building's vibrant lights visible even from a distance.
The streets bustled with crowds of people, each immersed in their own holiday activities. Every few blocks, Santa Claus in his red suit could be spotted, cheerfully distributing gifts, and numerous vehicles carried Christmas trees of various sizes.
As one of the world's largest cities, New York exuded a strong festive atmosphere. However, Angela didn't quite fancy it here. The abundance of tall buildings often blocked out the sunlight, unlike the open, villa-style homes she preferred in Los Angeles.
"Jeddy, no matter what Dad says later, pretend you didn't hear it, okay?" a well-dressed beautiful lady sitting across from him said, her tone carrying a touch of worry as she tried to provide comfort.
"Alright, Ruth, you always say that every time we come to New York. Can we change the topic?" Jared replied impatiently, spreading his hands.
"What else can I talk about, Jared? I've mentioned it countless times, but have you ever followed through?" Ruth sighed.
"But it's Dad who always brings up the topic first, isn't it?" Jared raised an eyebrow.
Ruth shook her head, seeking support from Elena.
Elena, too, sighed and reached out to hold her husband's hand. "Jared, your dad is getting older. Try to understand him. You've reconciled a long time ago. Why argue over trivial matters?"
"Mary, you're not in a position to say that to me," Jared wagged his index finger, noticing his wife about to raise her eyebrows. He quickly raised his hand and chuckled, saying, "Okay, I'm just joking."
Then, he turned to his sister and said, "Ruth, I can only promise to do my best to control myself. But if Dad goes too far..."
Ruth sighed. She knew Jared had already made a significant compromise. But their father... She shook her head, glanced at the little girl sitting beside her, who had been gazing out the window absentmindedly, and changed the subject, "Chris, my dear, would you like something to drink?"
However, Angela remained lost in her thoughts. Ruth called her several times before she finally snapped out of it, saying, "Oh, sorry, Aunt Ruth. I was lost in my thoughts. Just orange juice, please."
"Sure, orange juice it is," Ruth retrieved a fresh cup of orange juice from the RV's mini fridge and poured a small cup for Angela. She then turned to Jared and his wife, asking, "And what about you two?"
"You see, I told you she only remembers to ask us after asking the little one," Jared shrugged playfully at his wife.
"What? Are you planning to argue with your own daughter?" Ruth gave him a reproachful look, then turned her attention to the little girl who was still gazing out the window, her cup of orange juice untouched.
She exchanged a concerned glance with her brother, and Jared reassured her with a gesture, indicating not to worry. "Every year, after leaving her friends, she stays like this for a while. Usually, she snaps out of it once we disembark from the plane. It's just taking a bit longer this year, but don't worry."
Do we really have no reason to worry? Perhaps not, as it may not be a significant issue. The dynamics between Angela and Jessica have become somewhat ambiguous since they filmed《The Parent Trap.》This shift has become even more apparent since their last visit to the amusement park.
Angela, who was accustomed to a more introverted lifestyle in the past, felt confused about what was happening. She sensed that Jessica had also noticed the change and appeared rather content with it. This left Angela, who typically approached unresolved matters with a carefree and selective attitude, unable to dismiss it.
One must admit, the little girl is in a rather unfortunate position. Although she had a basic understanding of the word "ambiguous" in her previous life, it was purely on a literal level. Now, confronted with this situation, she felt utterly clueless.
Traffic congestion was a common sight in New York, so the RV had to take a lengthy detour before finally reaching the mansion on Long Island. Although they visited every other year for Christmas, the decorations in the mansion always had a fresh and inviting touch.
For instance, the garden was adorned with Christmas trees of various sizes, each adorned with numerous small tree-shaped ornaments that created a beautiful tree-shaped light display. Of course, the more than ten plum blossom stakes still stood prominently, though they appeared slightly shorter than in previous years.
"Welcome back, Jared, Elena, and Chris. Merry Christmas," greeted Thomas Flynn, the aged butler who had been patiently awaiting their arrival. He warmly opened the door for them, conveying a sense of genuine hospitality.
"Hi, Thomas, Merry Christmas," each family member greeted him individually. Angela, in particular, greeted him with exuberance.
Thomas had been the loyal butler of the Mason family for many years, and he was well-liked by everyone. Despite her father's strained relationship with her grandfather, Jared maintained a good relationship with Thomas.
The spacious living room was already abuzz with conversation. Two men sat on the elegant, classical-style sofa, engrossed in their discussion.
The speaker, just a couple of years younger than Jared, was impeccably dressed and a successful businessman. The attentive listener seemed to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, displaying politeness and refined manners.
On the adjacent single sofa, an elderly man sat, engrossed in play with an adorable two or three-year-old boy sitting on his lap. Despite the stern lines on his face, which conveyed an air of authority that couldn't be ignored, there was an unmistakable warmth and playfulness in his interactions with the child. It was evident that in his younger days, he must have been a person of great determination and strength.
"Hey, look who's here." The man, who appeared to be of similar age to Jared, was the first to rise, his laughter filling the room as he approached to embrace Jared and then greeted Elena with a cheek-to-cheek kiss.
"Ed, you scoundrel, don't take advantage of my wife," Jared playfully teased.
"You're slandering me, Jeddy. Ruth is here, how could I do such a thing?" Ed quickly retorted, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"So you're insinuating that I'm only present as a deterrent?" Ruth's voice chimed in from behind.
"Oh, darling, you've misunderstood me. What I meant was that if you were here, I wouldn't even consider it. And if you weren't here, I definitely wouldn't." Ed swiftly clarified upon hearing his wife's words.
"Hi, big brother. Hi, Elena," the man in his late twenties greeted as he stood up.
"Don't forget about me, Uncle Dean," the little one interjected, expressing her discontent with how her Uncle Ed seemed to have overlooked her.
"Of course not! My apologies for that. My little angel, how have you been?" Dean smiled warmly and gently patted her head.
"Don't worry about the little one, Dean. Merry Christmas," Jared opened his arms and embraced his younger brother before glancing around and asking, "Will Wendy be joining us for New Year's?"
"Yes, but I still hold hope that one day we can all be together, either for Christmas or New Year's," Dean shrugged and stepped aside to make way for them.
Jared smiled and, accompanied by his wife and daughter, approached the elderly man.
Suppressing his frown, he nodded slightly and said, "Merry Christmas, Dad." He then accepted the gift from his wife and presented it to his father.
"Alright, have a seat, don't just stand there," the old man said, motioning for them to sit down. He took the gift—a 1966 Pontiac—and placed it aside without commenting. However, when his gaze fell upon Angela, a smile illuminated his face. "What's the matter, my little angel? Won't you come over and let me have a look?"
The little girl playfully stuck out her tongue and walked over, stammering, "Dear Grandfather, I thought you would be very angry."
"Very angry? Why would I be angry? Because you're pursuing a career in movies?" The old man chuckled. "To be honest, my dear, compared to you pursuing your dreams in the film industry, or perhaps my own receding hairline, the latter is more likely to make me angry."
"So, you don't object to me pursuing a career in movies anymore?" Angela exclaimed, her voice filled with pleasant surprise, as she immediately hopped onto her grandfather's lap.
The old man furrowed his brow slightly, momentarily lost for words. However, before he could respond, the determined little girl rolled her hand into a makeshift microphone and handed it to him. "So, dear Mr. Kleist, what do you think of your granddaughter's movies?"
The old man couldn't help but smile, his expression filled with both fondness and helplessness. He then spoke earnestly, "They're absolutely fantastic, with no hint of pretense. I couldn't be prouder of my granddaughter."
Angela was about to respond when she felt a gentle tug at her pants. She looked down and saw Ruth's two-year-old child, Colin, looking up at her with pleading eyes, extending their little hands and uttering incomprehensible words.
"Sister, I want to sit too."
"Alright, Colin, I'll make room for you," the kind-hearted Angela replied. She shrugged helplessly, carefully lifted herself off her grandfather's lap, and lifted the little boy onto it.
"I must admit, Chris, I envy you. Colin has never asked me, his own father, to sit on his grandfather's lap," Ed chimed in, eliciting soft chuckles from everyone present.
As Angela made a playful face in response, her gaze swept around the room and fell upon the baby carriage sitting aside. Curiosity piqued, she asked, "Uncle Ed, where is Susu?"
"Where do you think she would be?" Ed chuckled, avoiding a direct answer.
The little girl's eyes darted around before settling on her grandfather. "Grandfather, may I go to the kitchen?"
The old man nodded, aware of his granddaughter's intentions. "Alright, but remember not to cause any trouble, understood?"
"Oh dear, in Grandfather's eyes, it seems going to the kitchen means I'll only make a mess. It truly breaks my heart," Angela exaggeratedly exclaimed, eliciting laughter from the older family members.
She stole a quick glance at her father, knowing she had already made her stance clear regarding her career in movies.
If her father and grandfather were to argue about it again, she had decided not to concern herself any further. And if they argued about something unrelated, she would simply consider it none of her business.
The sky outside the car window was filled with large, fluffy snowflakes, transforming the city into a silver-white wonderland. Adorned with festive decorations, the towering skyscrapers stood tall, with the Empire State Building's vibrant lights visible even from a distance.
The streets bustled with crowds of people, each immersed in their own holiday activities. Every few blocks, Santa Claus in his red suit could be spotted, cheerfully distributing gifts, and numerous vehicles carried Christmas trees of various sizes.
As one of the world's largest cities, New York exuded a strong festive atmosphere. However, Angela didn't quite fancy it here. The abundance of tall buildings often blocked out the sunlight, unlike the open, villa-style homes she preferred in Los Angeles.
"Jeddy, no matter what Dad says later, pretend you didn't hear it, okay?" a well-dressed beautiful lady sitting across from him said, her tone carrying a touch of worry as she tried to provide comfort.
"Alright, Ruth, you always say that every time we come to New York. Can we change the topic?" Jared replied impatiently, spreading his hands.
"What else can I talk about, Jared? I've mentioned it countless times, but have you ever followed through?" Ruth sighed.
"But it's Dad who always brings up the topic first, isn't it?" Jared raised an eyebrow.
Ruth shook her head, seeking support from Elena.
Elena, too, sighed and reached out to hold her husband's hand. "Jared, your dad is getting older. Try to understand him. You've reconciled a long time ago. Why argue over trivial matters?"
"Mary, you're not in a position to say that to me," Jared wagged his index finger, noticing his wife about to raise her eyebrows. He quickly raised his hand and chuckled, saying, "Okay, I'm just joking."
Then, he turned to his sister and said, "Ruth, I can only promise to do my best to control myself. But if Dad goes too far..."
Ruth sighed. She knew Jared had already made a significant compromise. But their father... She shook her head, glanced at the little girl sitting beside her, who had been gazing out the window absentmindedly, and changed the subject, "Chris, my dear, would you like something to drink?"
However, Angela remained lost in her thoughts. Ruth called her several times before she finally snapped out of it, saying, "Oh, sorry, Aunt Ruth. I was lost in my thoughts. Just orange juice, please."
"Sure, orange juice it is," Ruth retrieved a fresh cup of orange juice from the RV's mini fridge and poured a small cup for Angela. She then turned to Jared and his wife, asking, "And what about you two?"
"You see, I told you she only remembers to ask us after asking the little one," Jared shrugged playfully at his wife.
"What? Are you planning to argue with your own daughter?" Ruth gave him a reproachful look, then turned her attention to the little girl who was still gazing out the window, her cup of orange juice untouched.
She exchanged a concerned glance with her brother, and Jared reassured her with a gesture, indicating not to worry. "Every year, after leaving her friends, she stays like this for a while. Usually, she snaps out of it once we disembark from the plane. It's just taking a bit longer this year, but don't worry."
Do we really have no reason to worry? Perhaps not, as it may not be a significant issue. The dynamics between Angela and Jessica have become somewhat ambiguous since they filmed《The Parent Trap.》This shift has become even more apparent since their last visit to the amusement park.
Angela, who was accustomed to a more introverted lifestyle in the past, felt confused about what was happening. She sensed that Jessica had also noticed the change and appeared rather content with it. This left Angela, who typically approached unresolved matters with a carefree and selective attitude, unable to dismiss it.
One must admit, the little girl is in a rather unfortunate position. Although she had a basic understanding of the word "ambiguous" in her previous life, it was purely on a literal level. Now, confronted with this situation, she felt utterly clueless.
Traffic congestion was a common sight in New York, so the RV had to take a lengthy detour before finally reaching the mansion on Long Island. Although they visited every other year for Christmas, the decorations in the mansion always had a fresh and inviting touch.
For instance, the garden was adorned with Christmas trees of various sizes, each adorned with numerous small tree-shaped ornaments that created a beautiful tree-shaped light display. Of course, the more than ten plum blossom stakes still stood prominently, though they appeared slightly shorter than in previous years.
"Welcome back, Jared, Elena, and Chris. Merry Christmas," greeted Thomas Flynn, the aged butler who had been patiently awaiting their arrival. He warmly opened the door for them, conveying a sense of genuine hospitality.
"Hi, Thomas, Merry Christmas," each family member greeted him individually. Angela, in particular, greeted him with exuberance.
Thomas had been the loyal butler of the Mason family for many years, and he was well-liked by everyone. Despite her father's strained relationship with her grandfather, Jared maintained a good relationship with Thomas.
The spacious living room was already abuzz with conversation. Two men sat on the elegant, classical-style sofa, engrossed in their discussion.
The speaker, just a couple of years younger than Jared, was impeccably dressed and a successful businessman. The attentive listener seemed to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, displaying politeness and refined manners.
On the adjacent single sofa, an elderly man sat, engrossed in play with an adorable two or three-year-old boy sitting on his lap. Despite the stern lines on his face, which conveyed an air of authority that couldn't be ignored, there was an unmistakable warmth and playfulness in his interactions with the child. It was evident that in his younger days, he must have been a person of great determination and strength.
"Hey, look who's here." The man, who appeared to be of similar age to Jared, was the first to rise, his laughter filling the room as he approached to embrace Jared and then greeted Elena with a cheek-to-cheek kiss.
"Ed, you scoundrel, don't take advantage of my wife," Jared playfully teased.
"You're slandering me, Jeddy. Ruth is here, how could I do such a thing?" Ed quickly retorted, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"So you're insinuating that I'm only present as a deterrent?" Ruth's voice chimed in from behind.
"Oh, darling, you've misunderstood me. What I meant was that if you were here, I wouldn't even consider it. And if you weren't here, I definitely wouldn't." Ed swiftly clarified upon hearing his wife's words.
"Hi, big brother. Hi, Elena," the man in his late twenties greeted as he stood up.
"Don't forget about me, Uncle Dean," the little one interjected, expressing her discontent with how her Uncle Ed seemed to have overlooked her.
"Of course not! My apologies for that. My little angel, how have you been?" Dean smiled warmly and gently patted her head.
"Don't worry about the little one, Dean. Merry Christmas," Jared opened his arms and embraced his younger brother before glancing around and asking, "Will Wendy be joining us for New Year's?"
"Yes, but I still hold hope that one day we can all be together, either for Christmas or New Year's," Dean shrugged and stepped aside to make way for them.
Jared smiled and, accompanied by his wife and daughter, approached the elderly man.
Suppressing his frown, he nodded slightly and said, "Merry Christmas, Dad." He then accepted the gift from his wife and presented it to his father.
"Alright, have a seat, don't just stand there," the old man said, motioning for them to sit down. He took the gift—a 1966 Pontiac—and placed it aside without commenting. However, when his gaze fell upon Angela, a smile illuminated his face. "What's the matter, my little angel? Won't you come over and let me have a look?"
The little girl playfully stuck out her tongue and walked over, stammering, "Dear Grandfather, I thought you would be very angry."
"Very angry? Why would I be angry? Because you're pursuing a career in movies?" The old man chuckled. "To be honest, my dear, compared to you pursuing your dreams in the film industry, or perhaps my own receding hairline, the latter is more likely to make me angry."
"So, you don't object to me pursuing a career in movies anymore?" Angela exclaimed, her voice filled with pleasant surprise, as she immediately hopped onto her grandfather's lap.
The old man furrowed his brow slightly, momentarily lost for words. However, before he could respond, the determined little girl rolled her hand into a makeshift microphone and handed it to him. "So, dear Mr. Kleist, what do you think of your granddaughter's movies?"
The old man couldn't help but smile, his expression filled with both fondness and helplessness. He then spoke earnestly, "They're absolutely fantastic, with no hint of pretense. I couldn't be prouder of my granddaughter."
Angela was about to respond when she felt a gentle tug at her pants. She looked down and saw Ruth's two-year-old child, Colin, looking up at her with pleading eyes, extending their little hands and uttering incomprehensible words.
"Sister, I want to sit too."
"Alright, Colin, I'll make room for you," the kind-hearted Angela replied. She shrugged helplessly, carefully lifted herself off her grandfather's lap, and lifted the little boy onto it.
"I must admit, Chris, I envy you. Colin has never asked me, his own father, to sit on his grandfather's lap," Ed chimed in, eliciting soft chuckles from everyone present.
As Angela made a playful face in response, her gaze swept around the room and fell upon the baby carriage sitting aside. Curiosity piqued, she asked, "Uncle Ed, where is Susu?"
"Where do you think she would be?" Ed chuckled, avoiding a direct answer.
The little girl's eyes darted around before settling on her grandfather. "Grandfather, may I go to the kitchen?"
The old man nodded, aware of his granddaughter's intentions. "Alright, but remember not to cause any trouble, understood?"
"Oh dear, in Grandfather's eyes, it seems going to the kitchen means I'll only make a mess. It truly breaks my heart," Angela exaggeratedly exclaimed, eliciting laughter from the older family members.
She stole a quick glance at her father, knowing she had already made her stance clear regarding her career in movies.
If her father and grandfather were to argue about it again, she had decided not to concern herself any further. And if they argued about something unrelated, she would simply consider it none of her business.
