Chapter 26
"Little Juan, Little Shu, elder brother is really leaving. Remember to miss me, and remember to contact me!"
Mo Rongwen held the two children's chubby little hands, his face full of sorrow as he said goodbye to them for what felt like the umpteenth time.
His assistant, worn down by his nagging, mechanically and soullessly reminded him, “Elder Brother Mo, if we don't leave soon, we'll be spending the night on the highway."
He had initially thought that getting his boss's furry kids into the car would be the most tiring and time-consuming part of the mission, but who would have thought the furry kids would be so well-behaved and obedient, taking only half an hour from leaving the house to getting into the car.
However, waiting for Mo Rongwen and the two children to say goodbye took a full two and a half hours!
Yun Juan, with a serious little face, said solemnly, “Elder Brother Mo, you shouldn't do things that make it difficult for others."
With her chubby little hand, Yun Shu squeezed Mo Rongwen's hand back, softly saying, “Elder Brother Mo, traveling at night is dangerous. You should go with that elder brother quickly, and remember to tell us when you get home."
Hearing the two children's words, the assistant almost burst into tears. They were truly little angels descended from heaven. The netizens hadn't lied to him! From now on, these two children were his younger siblings!
“Nephew, if you keep this up, your social anxiety persona will crumble,” Leaning on a large suitcase, Yun Chuman said with slight annoyance.
Mo Rongwen looked at her resentfully. “You’re really not going to the airport? I’m going that way.”
“Really not. Even if you ask a hundred and eight times, we’re not going.”
Yun Chuman said helplessly, “We’re not like you, a busy person. We don’t have much work to do, so of course we want to stay here a couple more days and enjoy the scenery.”
Mo Rongwen sighed and muttered softly, “Staying here is fine, but at least find a hotel in the same direction as the highway exit. Why did you have to choose the opposite direction?”
“Actually, with the time you’ve spent dawdling with Little Juan and Little Shu here, you could have already given a lift there and might already be on the highway.”
Yun Chuman really hadn’t expected Mo Rongwen to become so clingy after shedding his social anxiety facade—of course, the only people he was clingy to were the two children.
Mo Rongwen's eyes lit up: "Now is not..."
"No, no, no, it's definitely too late now, because the car I called has arrived."
Yun Chuman interrupted him, waving to the two children, "Little Juan, Little Shu, we should go now. Say goodbye to your Elder Brother Mo."
Yun Juan and Yun Shu ran to her side with their short legs, obediently waving and smiling, "Goodbye, Elder Brother Mo, be careful on the road!"
Mo Rongwen waved dejectedly, but because he was told to be careful on the road, he couldn't help but smile, making him look strangely contradictory.
Yun Chuman couldn't resist saying in amusement, "Goodbye, nephew!"
Seeing Mo Rongwen's face stiffening instantly, she cheerfully led the two children out of the villa. The taxi was already waiting outside and the driver very kindly helped her put her luggage in the trunk.
Mo Rongwen put on his sunglasses and his assistant silently followed.
He gently said goodbye to the two children, walked to Yun Chuman's side, and said in a light tone, "Then I'll be going too. Don't forget to ask Little Shu."
"Nephew, stop nagging. I know you're a very good elder brother," Yun Chuman patted his shoulder.
Mo Rongwen was silent for a moment before snorting, "Don't even think about making me call you aunt."
He turned and left, not giving Yun Chuman any chance to argue.
"Elder Brother Mo is so stubborn," Yun Juan sighed, watching his retreating figure.
"Isn't being Mommy's nephew and me and elder brother's elder brother good enough?" Perplexed, Yun Shu blinked. She thought it was great.
“Your Elder Brother Mo is just a little shy,” Yun Chuman patted their heads with a smile. “Alright, we should go to the hotel now. I booked a super awesome room, the kind where Little Juan and Little Shu can see the sea every time they open their eyes.”
“The sea?”
The two children exchanged a surprised look and cheered in unison, “Awesome!”
Yun Chuman opened the car door, and the two children hurriedly scurried in with their short legs.
Mo Rongwen’s car didn’t move.
After getting in, he huddled in the back seat with a bunch of furry kids. Through the rear window, he unblinkingly watched Yun Chuman’s taxi through the rear until it started moving.
“Elder Brother Mo, I’ll start driving?” The assistant glanced at him in the rearview mirror, somewhat surprised. He had never seen Mo Rongwen so reluctant to leave anyone before.
Mo Rongwen didn't speak until even the taxi's exhaust fumes were out of sight. Only then did he sit up straight, listlessly saying, "Let's go."
"Okay!" The assistant stepped on the gas and sped off.
The fluffy husky scurried to his side, clearly upset about the separation.
Mo Rongwen casually stroked the husky's head, reflecting on the past two days, and suddenly felt a sense of emptiness.
He tilted his head back and muttered softly, "Xiao Liu, do you think I should get married and have kids?"
With a slight shake of a hand, the assistant, Xiao Liu, nearly drove the car into a pillar. After coughing violently for a while and before he could even calm down, he anxiously said with a flushed face, “Elder Brother Mo, don't blame me for not reminding you, not all children are as cute and heartwarming as Yun Juan and Yun Shu."
Mo Rongwen pursed his lips, immediately losing interest: "That's true..."
Seeing this, Xiao Liu breathed a sigh of relief, but quickly became alert again: “Elder Brother Mo, you wouldn't... Even if you like Yun Juan and Yun Shu, they're someone else's children. Don't you dare make a move on them! And definitely don't make a move on their mother!"
Be careful, the fans will tear you apart!
Mo Rongwen looked at him strangely: "What kind of scary thoughts are you having?"
He turned to the side, shrunk into the corner of the car seat, pulled a blanket over himself, and closed his eyes to rest.
He thought to himself, Xiao Liu's thoughts are so scary. Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine. Who would make a move on Yun Chuman? Why would they? Waiting to be called "nephew" every day?
Xiao Liu glanced at him several times in the rearview mirror, only relaxing completely after confirming that he really had no feelings for Yun Chuman.
Meanwhile, Yun Chuman brought Yun Juan and Yun Shu to their newly booked hotel.
The hotel wasn't far from the art gallery and near the sea. The facilities were brand new and complete.
Normally, the prices here would be very high, but coincidentally, this hotel was newly built.
With too many hotels nearby and intense competition, it could only attract customers and build brand awareness by offering competitive prices.
Therefore, Yun Chuman managed to secure a sea-view room—a one-bedroom suite with a living room and kitchen—at the price of a chain hotel.
The two children were immediately attracted by the hotel's facilities upon entering, rolling around on the soft sofa and playing on the swing in the corner for a while.
The bedroom was simply decorated, with only a large bed covered in white sheets and a projector. While the small balcony that extended out had a table, chairs, and tea set, and faced the sea, where the sound of the waves could even be heard—the view was excellent.
Barefoot, the two children ran and jumped happily on the balcony.
"Mommy, it’s the sea!" Yun Juan exclaimed excitedly. He even took a deep, exaggerated breath. "The smell of the sea!"
"Mommy! Mommy! Can Little Shu and Elder Brother go play in the water?" Yun Shu asked expectantly. She still had two swimsuits given to her by the production crew in her suitcase!
"Sure, I'll take you to play in the sand, have a barbecue, and go swimming in the sea later."
Yun Chuman took out toiletries from her suitcase and sent them a pleading look. "But Mommy can't swim, so when we go into the sea later, can Little Juan and Little Shu stay by my side? I'll be scared by myself."
Hearing this, the two children scrambled to her, patting their chubby little chests and saying in unison, "Don't worry, Mommy, Little Juan/Little Shu will protect you!"
Seeing their serious expressions, Yun Chuman couldn't resist pinching their cheeks. How adorable!
City Z had a thriving tourism industry, attracting a constant stream of tourists. However, it was currently the off-season, and the beaches weren't crowded.
Yun Chuman, Yun Juan, and Yun Shu changed back into their matching blue one-piece swimsuits and walked side-by-side on the beach.
Holding her hand, Yun Shu suddenly chuckled.
She lifted her short, chubby legs, revealing her round, white feet. She nimbly moved her plump toes, causing a few yellow pebbles to fall. She wrinkled her little nose: "Mommy, little Shu's feet are ticklish!"
"Little Shu, you haven't practiced enough! I'm not ticklish," Yun Juan said seriously, casually putting his hands on his hips.
Yun Chuman looked down and saw the little boy's toes curled tightly together, leaving several small dents in the sand beneath his feet. He was clearly very ticklish, but trying hard not to show it.
Oblivious to the obvious, Yun Shu exclaimed admiringly, "Elder Brother, you're so amazing!"
Yun Juan proudly raised his chin.
Yun Chuman couldn't help but chuckle. The two children were her daily source of amusement.
She rented three swimming rings, planning to take the children for a stroll in the shallow water. However, it was her first time floating outdoors and she felt a little shy.
But when they arrived, she saw many people lazily floating on the surface.
Seeing this, Yun Chuman relaxed and joined the group of salted fish, drifting with the current.
After playing enough, they rented a barbecue grill and enjoyed a small barbecue on the beach before returning to the hotel.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu were covered in sand from top to bottom, so she had to give them another wash with clean water.
After the two clean, fragrant little gas canisters emerged, Yun Chuman changed their pajamas while smiling and asking, "Mommy's painting is available to view in the exhibition! Do you want to go see it?"
Actually, this was her main reason for staying a few more days. She wanted to see how the exhibition went.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu's eyes lit up at the suggestion, and they replied without hesitation, "Yes!"
This answer was exactly what Yun Chuman had expected. She took out a hairdryer and smiled, "Dry your hair first, and I'll take you after your nap."
The two children sat on the bed, obediently turning around so she could dry their hair.
Under the gentle, comfortable warm air and the mother's tender touch, Yun Juan and Yun Shu quickly became sleepy. Their eyelids drooped and their little bodies swayed from side to side.
Yun Chuman carefully carried them to the pillows. The two children, half-asleep, grabbed her hands and mumbled, "Mommy, together..."
She smiled, just about to hold them and take a nap, when her phone vibrated.
Yun Chuman picked up the phone, raising an eyebrow at the caller ID.
She didn't rush to answer, leisurely tucking the two children in before going to the balcony. She closed the door and casually pulled out a chair to sit down, leisurely enjoying the sea breeze and gazing at the distant scenery.
Only after everything was settled did she press the answer button.
“You think you're all grown up now! Taking so long to answer the phone, why don't you just block your mother?”
Li Yanzhen's angry voice came through the phone, “Yun Chuman, Yun Chuman, you truly are an actress, even trying to fool your own mother!”
Yun Chuman didn't respond, simply holding the phone a little further away from her ear.
Exhausted from shouting, Li Yanzhen panted heavily and said impatiently, "Where are you? Come back right now! I'm your mother, why won't you let me into your neighborhood!"
Yun Chuman smiled upon hearing this, knowing she'd have to thank the security guard and Aunt Sun properly when she got back.
She yawned and said slowly, "Our neighborhood was burgled a couple of days ago. They probably thought you were too suspicious."
Without giving her time to react, she continued, "My two children and I are out of town and can't come back anytime soon. You'd better go home quickly. Even if you get into the neighborhood, you can't get into my house. You can't sleep on the streets, can you?"
Li Yanzhen gritted her teeth. So this was what she was waiting for when she took the key back last time. She glanced at the security guard who was treating her like a thief. Forget about getting Yun Chuman's key, if she stayed any longer, they might arrest her as a suspicious person.
She thought for a moment and decided to go home. As she hurried towards the station, she couldn't help but fume, "Yun Chuman, you unfilial daughter! You not only kicked me out, you didn't even give me my money!"
Yun Chuman slammed her phone on the table, carefully examining her fingers. Those full, healthy nails!
Li Yanzhen continued her nagging on the other end: "Don't try to fool me this time. I saw you trending on that social media. The show you recorded didn't even require you to pay breach of contract fees."
She softened her voice all of a sudden: "If you ask me, you should just quit that show. I don't want the money. You can use it to pay the breach of contract fees."
Yun Chuman finally showed an expression. She raised an eyebrow, increasingly suspicious. Who was Li Yanzhen? A vampire who wanted to drain all the original owner's money! And now she was giving up a huge sum just to get her to quit the variety show?
She thought for a moment and said, "Why? Little Juan, Little Shu, and I are very popular now. When we become famous, we can earn even more money. Isn't that great?"
"You think you can become famous?" Li Yanzhen habitually mocked. Realizing her tone was inappropriate, she patiently added, "I'm doing this for your own good. Look at Xin Xin, and look at you. It's a world of difference. People don't know about your past yet. If they dig it up later, they'll laugh at you to death!"
It was Yun Xinxin again. Did any biological mother really think her daughter was inferior to others? And even if they dig it up, so what? She didn't cheat or deceive anyone. Why would she be laughed at?
Yun Chuman couldn't help but ask, "Are you really my mother?"
Li Yanzhen was stunned for a moment and stammered, "I...I...how could I not be your mother! Yun Chuman, stop daydreaming and thinking you're the richest family's child! Look at yourself! It's for your own good that you don't hang out with Xinxin anymore. Okay, that's it, hurry up and quit that variety show!"
She then hurriedly hung up the phone.
Yun Chuman narrowed her eyes, listening to the busy tone on the phone. Judging from Li Yanzhen's tone, even a fool would know something was amiss. The original owner's background was definitely not simple.
Speaking of which, she had read quite a few novels and her first thought was about the real and fake heiresses. But what did the richest family look like? She wondered if they resembled the original owner.
While thinking, she opened her phone and searched online for a long time, but couldn't find a single front-facing photo.
Except for Yun Xinxin, none of the richest family members had ever shown their faces!
Even in the variety show "Every Family Has Its Own Affairs," they only appeared briefly in the preview episode and their backs were to the camera.
Yun Chuman's fingers tapped lightly on the table beside her, making a soft, rhythmic sound.
She glanced back at the two sleeping children, considering whether to meet with Yun Xinxin and the richest family. Perhaps she could find out what was amiss with the original owner.
If only Li Yanzhen had made that call sooner, she could have listed Yun Xinxin as the guest for the next episode. Now, she could only wait until the episode after that.
Yun Chuman wasn't one to overthink things. Having a general plan, she relaxed. Stretching and feeling a bit sleepy, she went back to the bedroom, cuddling the two children and preparing for a nap.
Yun Juan was a light sleeper. Sensing her return, he squinted his eyes and his chubby little hand grasped hers before peacefully drifting back to sleep.
Half asleep, Yun Shu clung to her arm, nuzzling her shoulder like a kitten and smacking her lips.
Yun Chuman quickly fell asleep in the children's arms.
Two hours later, she took the awakened Yun Juan and Yun Shu to the art gallery.
The gallery was crowded today. All the entries were displayed in one hall. As soon as Yun Chuman and the two children entered, Xu Qiuhong spotted her—she was simply too conspicuous to be missed.
Xu Qiuhong quickly walked up to her and greeted her softly, "Ms. Yun."
Yun Chuman politely returned the greeting.
Seeing that she remembered her, Xu Qiuhong's smile widened. She then bent down to greet the two children, "Little Juan, Little Shu, do you remember elder sister?"
Knowing the children's names was purely coincidental.
She was a fan of Mo Rongwen and having finally gotten a break a couple of days ago, she excitedly watched the live stream of "Every Family Has Its Own Affairs," only to be surprised to discover that Yun Chuman, Yun Juan, and Yun Shu were actually Mo Rongwen's partners for that episode and the gallery where she used to work even appeared on screen!
She already had a good impression of Yun Chuman's family, and after watching the show, she became a huge fan of the two children. Now, to her, Mo Rongwen wasn't as charming as the two children.
Yun Juan blinked blankly. The last time he came, he was so focused on looking at the paintings that he hadn't even noticed Xu Qiuhong.
He lowered his head, somewhat apologetic, and said, "Elder Sister, I'm sorry, I don't remember."
Seeing how obedient he was, Xu Qiuhong couldn't possibly say anything to scold him. She quickly said, "It's okay, it's okay. My name is Xu Qiuhong, you can call me Elder Sister Hong. Remember me from now on!"
"Okay!" Yun Juan nodded with a smile, "Elder Sister Hong sounds so cute, I'll definitely remember."
Xu Qiuhong blushed at his words. Yun Juan was too good at flattery!
She quickly stood up, resuming her professional smile, "The art exhibition area is in that direction, let me take you there for a visit."
Yun Juan's eyes lit up immediately and he eagerly walked in the direction she indicated.
Yun Chuman thanked her and followed behind.
Yun Shu, who hadn't spoken until now, didn't move. She quietly tugged at Xu Qiuhong's sleeve.
Xu Qiuhong looked down and saw the little girl looking up at her with a smile.
She glanced at Yun Chuman and Yun Juan in front of her, hesitated for a moment before squatting down, and asked, "What's wrong, Little Shu?"
Yun Shu was wearing a floral dress and her hair was in a bun. She looked especially cute.
She tiptoed and whispered in Xu Qiuhong's ear, "Elder Sister Hong, was the candy last time yummy?"
Xu Qiuhong was taken aback and then realized that Yun Shu had remembered her all along and was probably waiting until now to say it so as not to embarrass Yun Juan.
She was so excited she almost hugged the little girl in front of her, nodding vigorously, Yummy! I love it!"
Yun Shu took two candies from her small white handbag and stuffed them into Xu Qiuhong's hand, saying, "These are for Elder Sister!"
She then ran off to catch up with Yun Chuman and Yun Juan.
Xu Qiuhong looked at the two candies in her hand and the little girl's breath was still warm in her ear. She carefully put the candies in her pocket with her cheeks starting to burn. Yun Shu was even better at it than Yun Juan! She was making this old aunt's heart flutter!
She pursed her lips and decided that she wouldn't be an older sister anymore; she would be a "mommy fan" of the two little ones!
Yun Chuman's work was displayed in a very prominent place. She knew that area was for the top contenders in the competition and seeing her work being recognized made her delighted.
Yun Juan was captivated by a piece of art he had never seen before.
Yun Shu wasn't interested in any of that. She only liked Yun Chuman's painting. But seeing strangers nearby, she was too embarrassed to approach and was afraid of being recognized as the child in the painting. So she hid in a corner, furtively peeking towards the painting.
Thus, a little ghost appeared in the gallery—a cute little ghost, though.
Yun Chuman, Yun Juan, and Yun Shu didn't stay long in City Z, only three days and two nights in total.
On the first day, they went to the beach, swimming and having a barbecue.
On the second day, they visited some famous local attractions. The grandeur and historical significance of the ancient sites left the two children mesmerized.
Yun Chuman tried her best to make the two days' itinerary novel and fun and made the gallery the only place they visited repeatedly.
Xu Qiuhong was noticeably happier to see the family of three the next day: "Manman, are you bringing the two little ones over tomorrow?"
Yun Chuman was taken aback by the affectionate address, but didn't refuse.
She glanced at Yun Shu, who was still playing the little ghost in the corner, and Yun Juan, who was intently following the guide, and smiled, "The two kids really like it here. I'll probably bring them back again before we board the plane."
"Leaving tomorrow?" Xu Qiuhong asked, a little disappointed.
"Yeah, we're recordinging the next episode of the variety show in two days and need to take them home to rest," Yun Chuman said.
"That's right, the two little ones can't handle all this running around."
After saying that, Xu Qiuhong glanced at Yun Chuman a few times before speaking out shyly, "Um, Manman, can I get your contact information? Not your phone number."
"Sure," Yun Chuman nodded readily. She could tell that Xu Qiuhong really liked Yun Juan and Yun Shu, and she also noticed that most people who wanted to add her contact information weren't interested in her, but rather in the two kids.
If Xu Qiuhong weren't still in the gallery, she would have jumped for joy.
She took out her phone to scan the QR code. A minute later, she calmed down and reacted in the same way as Mo Rongwen: "Manman, we can get a new phone."
This was the second time Yun Chuman had heard this, and she was even a little curious about just how broken her phone was: "We'll get a new one later."
The third day only consisted of half a day for sightseeing.
So Yun Chuman didn't take the two children far, but instead took them to experience eating on a raft restaurant.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu found it very novel and even tried a bite of sashimi, but ultimately it wasn't to the children's taste. The whole plate ended up in Yun Chuman's stomach.
Before returning to the hotel, Yun Chuman asked, "We're going to the airport this afternoon. Little Juan and Little Shu, do you want to go to the gallery one last time?"
Yun Juan had already seen everything he wanted to see in the past two days, so his interest had waned considerably. He replied indifferently, "Sure."
Yun Shu pouted and shook her head, "Not going."
Yun Chuman and Yun Juan were both surprised. They thought that since Little Shu liked Yun Chuman's painting so much, she would definitely go to see it again on the last day. But she actually said she wasn't going!
Yun Shu lowered her eyebrows, looking pitiful, and said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to resist secretly taking the painting home."
Yun Chuman and Yun Juan couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Yun Chuman patted her little head, deciding that even if someone wanted to buy the painting, she wouldn't sell it.
Yun Juan poked her chubby cheeks, comforting her, "Don't worry, after the competition, Elder Sister Hong will help us send it back!"
Yun Shu pitifully squeezed out a "Mmm." So, after checking out of the hotel, Yun Chuman took her two children straight to the airport and sent a farewell message to Xu Qiuhong before boarding the plane.
However, Xu Qiuhong didn't see it, because President Gu, whom she had always described as terribly troublesome, had arrived! Not only that, she was also responsible for receiving him with her boss!
Whole body tensed, she followed her boss. Although she dared to call him troublesome behind his back, upon seeing him in person, she wished she could hide herself.
After all, Gu Jijing was a legendary figure.
He took over the nearly bankrupt family business at the age of eighteen, and after taking the helm, he acted decisively and swiftly, transforming the Gu Group into an industry leader in less than two years.
At that time, Gu Jijing was incredibly successful, and coupled with his handsome looks and a net worth of over 100 million, he quickly became the object of pursuit for countless men and women.
But Gu Jijing wasn't interested in women, as he remained single all this time. One of his defeated rivals even joked that if Gu Jijing wanted to have children, he'd probably have to rely on mitosis!
Such a person wouldn't normally be in this small gallery, especially since the gallery's collaboration with the Gu Family was just a small project—redesigning and repackaging a traditional product.
The trouble lay in the fact that this product was originally launched by Gu Jijing's mother, which was why he took it so seriously. That's why he personally came to the gallery to finalize the design details on his way to City Z for business.
Xu Qiuhong secretly glanced at the man in the sharp suit in front of her, her gaze catching the small red mole on his nose, and she couldn't help but gasp.
For a moment, she wondered if she was dreaming and was surrounded by the handiwork of Nuwa—first Yun Chuman and Yun Juan and Yun Shu, and now Gu Jijing.
Just as she was lost in thought, the man in front of her suddenly stopped.
Xu Qiuhong was startled. Looking up, she saw Yun Chuman's entry for the competition.
The gallery owner nudged her, signaling her to be perceptive and quickly step forward to explain.
Xu Qiuhong rolled her eyes inwardly, but didn't feel any aversion.
After all, she was a huge fan of Yun Shu, and seeing Gu Jijing staring intently at the little girl in the painting, she felt a surge of pride, like a stranger witnessing her child's excellence.
Xu Qiuhong mustered her courage and stepped forward, politely smiling, "President Gu, this painting is one of our entries in this competition. The little girl in the painting is the artist's daughter."
"Who is this artist? Where is she now?" Gu Jijing asked calmly, his voice low and cold.
Xu Qiuhong was taken aback, and subconsciously responded, "They're still in this city. This artist and her children often come to the gallery, and they'll be here today too."
"They?"
Gu Jijing repeated in confusion. He thought for a moment and asked, "I really like this painting. May I buy it?"
Xu Qiuhong was somewhat surprised and happy that Yun Chuman's work was appreciated. Her smile became more genuine: "If the artist is willing, you can purchase it after the competition."
Gu Jijing pondered for a moment: "Could you give me the artist's contact information? I'd like to ask if she's willing to part with it."
"I'm sorry, President Gu, that's not in accordance with the rules." Xu Qiuhong said with difficulty. That was the contestant's privacy; how could they just disclose it?
Gu Jijing didn't press further. He glanced at the information label below the painting; the title was "Clouds," and the artist was "Vine." [T/N: vine pinyin is Tengman]
He turned and walked towards the lounge. "Since the artist is coming today, I'll wait and see."
Xu Qiuhong was stunned. Was President Gu so obsessed with this painting? Or did he know the artist was Yun Chuman? Was President Gu actually a huge fan of Yun Chuman?
She shook her head. Impossible! He didn't even recognize Yun Shu, how could he know Yun Chuman!
In her mind, the two children were far more famous than Yun Chuman.
The gallery owner was completely bewildered and asked in a low voice, "What's going on?"
"I don't know either!" Xu Qiuhong frowned. The thought of facing Gu Jijing for so long made her uncomfortable; she just hoped Yun Chuman would arrive quickly.
However, the sun was about to set, and the familiar figure hadn't appeared.
The lounge was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
Gu Jijing handled his business expressionlessly, the gallery owner was on pins and needles, and Xu Qiuhong was completely stiff.
She subconsciously reached for her phone to check the time, only to see a message from Yun Chuman. Her face paled instantly. She glanced at Gu Jijing and a chill ran down her spine. Who was it who told President Gu that Yun Chuman was coming? Oh, it was her.
Xu Qiuhong's legs trembled. She gasped, thinking, "Since I'm going to die anyway, I might as well die sooner!"
She mustered her courage and strode over. Her aura suggested she was going to a battlefield, leaving the gallery owner stunned.
However, as soon as she spoke, her courage vanished. Her voice trembled as she uttered, "President Gu..."
Gu Jijing put down his work and looked up at her.
His actions were actually quite polite, but his powerful aura made Xu Qiuhong feel as if a knife was hanging over her head. She shrank back, avoided his gaze, and said gushed out, "That artist won't be coming today; they've already returned to City S."
Gu Jijing frowned almost imperceptibly upon hearing this, then stood up and said, "I apologize for bothering you for so long today. I hope we can cooperate happily in the future."
The gallery owner quickly shook his hand: "Happy cooperation."
Gu Jijing nodded and turned to leave.
His secretary was already waiting outside in his car. After getting in, he rubbed his temples and said in a low voice, "Help me investigate someone."
Meanwhile, after Yun Chuman returned home with her two children, Yun Shu's first action was to knock on the neighbor's door: "Qingqing, Qingqing, I'm home!"
Yun Juan stood to the side, his little face so sour it became a lemon spirit.
Yun Shu knocked on the door for a long time, but no one came out. She tilted her head in confusion, "Did Qingqing go out to play?"
"That bookworm wouldn't go out alone," Yun Juan snorted.
Yun Shu scratched her head, not arguing for Yang Qingshu.
She knew her elder brother could be quite sharp-tongued at times, and it was best not to say anything more, otherwise he might indiscriminately attack her.
She took a small bag of beautifully packaged chocolates from her handbag and hung it on the doorknob, frowning worriedly, "Qingqing will come to find me if he sees this, right?"
Yun Chuman patted her little head, "She definitely will. Now come home with me to rest."
"Okay!" Yun Shu smilingly took her hand and then took the initiative to hold her elder brother's hand.
Yun Juan's expression softened a little.
Yun Chuman found their interaction amusing. She took out her key and opened the door, instantly smelling a layer of dust.
The small living room was covered in a layer of dust. Even though she'd only been gone a few days, she suddenly felt a little disoriented. The house felt both familiar and strange.
She went inside and opened all the windows to air it out before dragging her suitcase to the bedroom.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu weren't idle either. After changing into their pajamas, they each came out of the bathroom with a damp cloth: "Mommy, we’ll help you clean."
Yun Chuman smiled and pinched their cheeks: "Little Juan and Little Shu are so good. But you only need to wipe the tables; I'll take care of the high places and the windows, okay?"
The two children nodded obediently and toddled off to wipe the dust.
One big and two small quickly finished a thorough cleaning.
After their work, they snuggled together on the sofa and lazily watched TV.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu were tired after a long day and leaned against Yun Chuman, dozing off.
Just then, there was a sudden knock on the door. The two children jumped at the same time.
Yun Shu, eyes still closed, waved her chubby little hands and said softly, "Elder Brother, go open the door."
Yun Juan rubbed his eyes, yawned, and said in a thick nasal voice, "Little Shu, go open the door."
They were back to being "plastic siblings."
Yun Chuman smiled, carefully stood up, and then gently laid them down again: "Mommy will open the door. Little Juan and Little Shu, sleep well."
The two children curled up in two balls on the sofa, head to head, and mumbled a sleepy "Mmm," and even said, "Thank you, Mommy."
Yun Chuman opened the door and saw an unfamiliar man standing outside.
He wore thick glasses, carried two food containers, and looked thin and gentle.
Yun Chuman asked in puzzlement, "Excuse me, who are you...?"
"Hello, Auntie, this is my daddy," Yang Qingshu suddenly stepped out from behind.
The man smiled shyly and introduced himself, “My name is Yang Fengnian. Any thanks to your little Shu for taking care of Qingshu. These are some dishes I made myself; please accept them if you don’t mind.”
“Auntie, my daddy’s cooking is delicious!” Yang Qingshu said eagerly.
Only then, Yun Chuman noticed that Yang Fengnian and Yang Qingshu did indeed look somewhat alike. She accepted the dishes, saying, “Mr. Yang, you’re too kind.”
Yang Fengnian waved his hand awkwardly, “No, no, no, we’re the ones who bothered you. Qingshu saw the chocolate and wanted to play with little Shu, and I just couldn’t refuse him.”
Yun Chuman politely said, “It’s no bother. Children want to see their friends they haven’t seen for days.”
Yang Fengnian breathed a sigh of relief, “It’s good that it’s not a bother. Um… I have work to do, so I’ll head back now. If you need anything, just knock on my door.”
“Okay, Mr. Yang, don’t worry about Qingqing. I’ll take good care of him.” "
Yang Fengnian thanked her several times before leaving.
Yang Qingshu peeked into the house, hesitantly asking, "Auntie, is little Shu in?"
"Is it Qingqing?" Yun Shu's clear voice came from afar.
Yun Chuman turned around and saw the little girl running barefoot towards them, followed by Yun Juan, who looked serious.
"Little Shu! I saw the chocolate you left for me!" Yang Qingshu's eyes lit up when he saw her.
"I bought it especially for you. It's delicious."
Grinning, Yun Shu grabbed his arm, "Come in quickly. Tell me if Da Pang bullied you, I have lots of fun things to tell you too."
Yang Qingshu subconsciously looked at Yun Chuman.
Yun Chuman smiled and patted his shoulder: "Quickly come in."
Yang Qingshu smiled, thanked her, and then said to Yun Juan, "Sorry to bother you."
Yun Juan, who had been keeping a straight face, instinctively replied, "It's okay, not a bother."
But then he froze, realizing what he'd said.
Yun Chuman almost laughed. Yang Qingshu's politeness was quite different from Yun Juan's seriousness, but when applied to children, both were amusing.
She put the dishes in the refrigerator and turned to see three children sitting on the sofa.
Yun Shu sat in the middle, her smile bright and adorable. She gestured with her chubby little hands as she spoke, occasionally kicking her short legs.
Yang Qingshu sat to Yun Shu's left, his lap full of snacks. He didn't eat any, just smiled, watched her talk, and nodded occasionally.
Yun Juan sat to Yun Shu's right, looking unhappy and munching on potato chips.
"Qingqing, where did you go just now? I couldn't find you when I got back." "Yun Shu wiggled her little feet and asked curiously.
She casually took two potato chips from Yun Juan, popped one into her mouth, causing her cheeks to immediately puff out, and handed the other to Yang Qingshu.
Yun Juan stared, speechless for a long time.
Yang Qingshu took it, took a small bite, and slowly said, "I'm going to kindergarten."
"Kindergarten?" Yun Shu blinked in surprise.
Yun Juan also looked at him curiously.
Yun Chuman, who was watching the scene unfold, was startled. Yang Qingshu was about the same age as Yun Juan and Yun Shu, right? Was he already old enough to go to kindergarten? Should she start preparing too?
"Is kindergarten fun?" Yun Shu slid off the sofa, turned to look at Yang Qingshu, and asked with bright, sparkling eyes.
Yang Qingshu pondered for a moment before slightly turning his head to avoid her gaze and said, "It's fun. There are lots of other children there, and the teachers teach us things and play with us." "
He finished speaking and pursed his lips. Actually, it was quite boring. The lessons were too simple. Those little idiots couldn't understand a thing, all they did was cry and shout. He didn't want to go to kindergarten every day.
He secretly glanced at Yun Shu. If Little Shu could go with him, he'd have a friend and kindergarten wouldn't be so bad!
"It seems really interesting," Yun Shu said, genuinely interested. She turned to Yun Juan, "Elder Brother, when are we going to kindergarten?"
Yun Juan gently tapped his younger sister's forehead. Silly little Shu! Didn't she see Yang Qing Shu was lying?!
He frowned, jumped off the sofa, walked up to Yang Qingshu, and said aggressively, "Tell me! What design do you have on my younger sister?! Why did you lie to her and say kindergarten is fun!" "
He learned the word 'have design' from a TV drama Mommy liked to watch. Although he didn't know its meaning, he felt it was perfect to use on the boy in front of him!
Have design? He just wanted to go to kindergarten with his best friend, how did that become an aim?
Yang Qingshu said seriously, 'Little Juan, you're using this word wrong. It has a slightly negative connotation. You can't keep playing around like this. Go to kindergarten with me and Little Shu.'
Yun Juan felt like he punched cotton: ...
Was he implying he was uncultured?!
Author's Note:
[Childhood]
Yun Juan: Someone has designs on my sister! [Alert.jpg]
Yun Shu: Who? Who has designs on me? [Innocent.jpg]
Yang Qingshu: Little Juan is uncultured! That's not how you use 'have design'!
[Adulthood]
Yun·Overbearing President·Juan: Tell that surnamed Yang kid, give him ten million and not to get close to my sister again.
Yun·Superstar·Shu: Don’t worry, my heart only contains my career; no one can get close to me! And thank you, Elder Brother, for the pocket money~
Yang·Scientist·Qingshu: Don't ask. If asked, the answer is that after the real sweet and silly, childhood sweetheart, found out I was a fake sweet and silly, she blocked me for three years. Now I've decided to dedicate my life to scientific research.
——————
[Don't worry, there's no romance between the two cubs. If any little angels want to see it later, I'll consider writing a side story~ If no little angels want to see it, I won't write it!]