Chapter 15
Seeing that it was getting late, Yun Chuman hurriedly took the two children to the nearest hospital. Under the doctor's guidance, they had X-rays taken. Only after confirming that they were not injured did she breathe a sigh of relief.
The doctor laughed, calling her a silly mommy. She explained that the children weren't as fragile as she imagined, and there was no need to overreact.
Yun Chuman didn't think she was making a fuss. She suffered from poor health, which was why she especially wanted the two children to grow up healthy.
When they left the hospital, it was already dark outside.
Yun Shu tightly gripped her thumb and forefinger with her two chubby little hands, rubbing her cheeks against the back of her hand, and said softly, "Mommy, I'm hungry."
Yun Juan cooperated by making a rumbling sound. He immediately covered his stomach with his hands as his cheeks slightly warm.
Yun Chuman opened her phone to check nearby restaurants, finally choosing one with a good price-performance ratio: "Little Juan, little Shu, let's go eat at a buffet!"
"A buffet?"
Yun Juan and Yun Shu simultaneously looked up, their faces clearly saying, "What's that?"
Yun Chuman found a picture of the restaurant on her phone and patiently explained, "It's where you pay, and then you can take whatever you want, but you absolutely can't waste anything."
Yun Juan frowned, staring at the prices, and thoughtfully patted his round little belly: "If little Shu and I go, we'll probably lose money."
Yun Chuman hadn't expected his first reaction to be whether they would lose money. Typical thrifty Yun Juan!
She smiled, "You kids don't need so much, so only need half the price."
She gently poked his furrowed brow, "Besides, I won't actually get my money's worth, but the point of a buffet is the joy of choosing whatever you want!"
"Mom, I think this place is great!"
Yun Shu really wanted to go. Excited, both hands went up and her eyes shining.
Yun Juan was already curious about buffets, and seeing her enthusiasm, he couldn't resist but nod, "Then, let's go."
"Let's go!"
Yun Chuman vaguely felt that Yun Shu was being overly enthusiastic, but didn't think much of it, happily taking the two children to the buffet restaurant.
The family of three was lucky. They happened to arrive when the restaurant wasn't crowded, so they didn't need to queue and could eat immediately upon entering.
Yun Chuman and the two children chose a relatively quiet spot.
She scanned the area and immediately spotted several cooked dishes and a wide variety of seafood!
She loved seafood in her past life, but unfortunately, she was allergic to it and couldn't eat much. Today, she was determined to indulge! But she didn't forget to let the two children go first. She pressed down on their trembling, restless legs and said, "Little Juan and little Shu, take whatever you want to eat, but don't take anything too hot. I'll wait for you here."
Yun Juan and Yun Shu nodded excitedly, jumped off their chairs, and ran towards the food area.
Even their departing figures exuded joy.
They first held hands, walked around in a circle, and then split up.
Yun Juan soon returned, carrying only one plate with a small but varied amount of food.
Yun Chuman took the plate and placed it on the table for him. Then she watched as he nimbly climbed onto the chair with his chubby little legs. She exclaimed in surprise, "Little Juan, aren't you going to get anything else?"
Yun Juan sat up straight and shook his head. "Mommy, you go get it. I want to eat this first."
"Okay, you can get more when you're done."
Yun Chuman didn't refuse and got up to head straight for the seafood section.
She carefully selected two full plates before reluctantly leaving.
But when she returned, she was so shocked she almost dropped everything.
The once empty table was now piled high with small plates, each containing only a tiny amount of food.
Sweating profusely, Yun Shu ran back and was carrying a chicken wing and a small cake. She smiled broadly, "Mommy, come and eat! Little Shu brought you so many things!"
Yun Chuman finally understood why Yun Shu had been so enthusiastic earlier! The little girl loved feeding her and the abundant food here perfectly satisfied her tastes!
She chuckled awkwardly, "Little Shu, little Shu is so good. I'm so happy."
Yun Shu's smile grew even sweeter: "There's still so much more! I'll go get it all for Mommy!"
"Wait..."
Yun Chuman's eyelids twitched heavily, but before she could stop her, Yun Juan grabbed Yun Shu's arm first.
He frowned and said, "Little Shu, don't take any more. Mommy is greedy. She'll eat as much as you give and her tummy will hurt."
Yun Shu blinked. Then she obediently sat back down in her seat. "Right! I almost forgot, Mommy is greedy!"
Yun Chuman: ...
She just didn't want to waste food and the two children's good intentions, so how did she become a glutton in their eyes?
Crying without tears, she started eating the food Yun Shu had brought. Although many of the dishes weren't what she wanted, they smelled so good!
Yun Juan finished what he had grabbed and didn't touch any other food, displaying a self-discipline beyond his years.
Yun Shu ate slowly and carefully, savoring the visually appealing food while observing Yun Chuman. Whenever she found something that tasted particularly good, she would push the whole plate to Yun Chuman.
Thanks to her, Yun Chuman also enjoyed service at the buffet.
She ate with great focus, eventually switching back to a pattern of Yun Juan watching and Yun Shu feeding her.
Having finally finished the last plate, she patted her bulging belly contentedly.
Yun Chuman wanted to ask if the two children were full, but when she looked up, she found Yun Juan and Yun Shu, sitting opposite her, slumped over the table, fast asleep.
The two children were in exactly the same position: their chubby cheeks pressed against the edge of the table, their flesh squeezed together, making their long eyelashes even more prominent. Their plump little hands were clenched into fists on either side of their faces, except Yun Shu was holding strawberries, while Yun Juan was holding a napkin.
Yun Chuman looked at them with heartache. The two children had been exhausted these past few days of constant trouble. She should let them rest properly tomorrow.
At this time, Yun Shu's expression changed abruptly.
The little girl's eyebrows drooped slowly, her lips turned down, her little nose wrinkled, and she began to sob sadly, muttering softly, "I'm not ugly. Little Shu isn't ugly. Little Shu is Grandpa Sun, Mommy, and Elder Brother’s favorite child..."
Tears quickly slid down Yun Shu's nose, eventually soaking the tablecloth. The fact that she cried silently only made it more heartbreaking.
Yun Chuman frowned. Her dislike for Li Yanzhen grew stronger. It was all her fault for talking nonsense. Yun Shu had been traumatized and felt sad even in her dreams.
"Little Shu isn't ugly..." the little girl's soft voice was full of grievance.
Yun Juan's ears twitched. He suddenly raised his head, blinked blankly, and then, turning his head, saw Yun Shu crying herself to sleep. He instantly woke up.
He looked at Yun Chuman in a panic: "Mommy, what's wrong with younger sister?"
Yun Chuman sighed softly: "She must have had a nightmare."
She walked to Yun Shu's side, gently patted her little shoulder, and softly called, "Little Shu."
Yun Juan held her hand with a serious expression, repeatedly saying, "Little Shu, wake up, elder brother is here."
Yun Shu was a very good and sound sleeper. Even though Yun Chuman and Yun Juan kept calling her, she showed no signs of waking up. However, her expression wasn't as distressed anymore. She must have escaped the nightmare.
Yun Chuman picked her up. She was soft and cuddly. Though the little girl looked small, she was actually quite heavy.
She looked at Yun Juan, considering the possibility of carrying both of them at once.
Yun Juan awkwardly turned his head away, "I... I can just hold Mommy's hand!"
Yun Chuman smiled and held out her hand to him, saying, "Let's go home."
Yun Juan's lips involuntarily curled upwards. He grasped her fingers and nodded vigorously, "Okay!"
The family of three left the restaurant. The lights dispelled the darkness of the street. Yun Chuman carried one child and held the other's hand, walking step by step towards home.
Yun Shu slept soundly, occasionally nuzzling her neck like a kitten.
Yun Juan obediently held her hand, occasionally stepping on her shadow with his short legs.
Yun Chuman suddenly felt that life wasn't so bad now. It was very warm and cozy.
Just as they were almost home, Yun Juan suddenly spoke, "Mom..."
Yun Chuman looked down and saw his hesitant expression. "What's wrong, little Juan?" she asked.
Yun Juan frowned habitually, looking at Yun Shu with worry. After a long pause, he hesitated before saying, "Can younger sister... be like she was a couple of days ago?"
He knew little Shu was upset because of the red marks on her face. He wanted to help her, but he couldn't find a way.
A couple of days ago, little Shu felt like she was loved by Grandpa Sun. She was the happiest and cutest little Shu he had ever seen. He was afraid that because of Grandma, little Shu would revert to her old self, becoming depressed again.
Yun Chuman was somewhat surprised by his words, but she could guess what he was thinking. She admired his thoughtfulness and squeezed Yun Juan's chubby little hand. "I do have an idea. Do you want to hear it?"
"En!" Yun Juan nodded vigorously.
Yun Chuman crouched down, holding the soundly sleeping Yun Shu, and whispered a few words in Yun Juan's ear before asking, "Do you want to?"
Yun Juan's eyes shone brighter than the stars. He nodded without hesitation, "I want to!"
"Little Juan is such a good brother. Mommy will make it up to you later."
Yun Juan shook his head, "I'll do anything to make younger sister happy again."
Yun Chuman patted his little head. Sometimes Yun Juan really seemed like her elder brother from a past life, always thinking of her, the younger sister. Was this a common trait among all elder brothers in the world?
Yun Shu didn't wake up when they got home. Yun Chuman helped her brush her teeth and wash her face. The little girl was completely dazed and let her do as she like.
"Little Shu is so much fun," Yun Juan watched with great interest.
"She wouldn't even know if someone stole her while she was sleeping," Yun Chuman pinched her chubby cheeks.
Yun Shu hummed softly and didn't react again.
Hands on her hips, Yun Juan said, "I'll know. I'll protect little Shu!"
"Then I'll protect little Juan!"
Yun Chuman scooped Yun Juan up in her arms.
Yun Juan gasped and wrapped his arms around her neck. He couldn’t suppress the chuckle.
This was Yun Chuman's first time carrying two children at once. Just the distance from the bathroom to the bedroom left her breathless and aching arms. She couldn't help but sigh, "Being a mommy is truly not easy."
She wrapped her arms around the two children and gently pinched Yun Juan's little nose: "Go to sleep. Goodnight, little Juan."
"Goodnight, Mommy," Yun Juan said, holding her fingers in his hands.
Both children leaned close to Yun Shu's ear and whispered, "Goodnight, little Shu/Younger Sister."
Yun Shu smiled in her sleep, mumbling, "Goodnight..."
The one big and two small children squeezed into the small bed and drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Yun Chuman woke up early, roused by her biological clock.
She tiptoed out and did her silent exercises in the living room.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu were probably really tired. They usually woke up around eight o'clock, but today it was almost ten, and they were still asleep.
Yun Chuman didn't disturb them. After washing up and reading for a while, she sneaked into the kitchen.
She decided to try cooking again today!
This time, however, she had learned her lesson and planned to start with the simplest thing: boiled noodles with scrambled eggs and tomatoes.
If she couldn't even make these two, she might really be a kitchen disaster.
"First, cut the washed tomatoes into small pieces."
Yun Chuman recited the recipe softly as she carefully cut the tomatoes piece by piece.
At this time, the bedroom door opened. Two little ones groggily walked out, clutching their blankets.
Yun Juan's eyes weren't fully open, while Yun Shu's eyes were still closed, nodding behind him like a chick pecking at rice.
Yun Juan stared at Yun Chuman for a moment before asking in a thick nasal voice, "Mommy, are you going to cook?"
Yun Chuman was startled by the voice. Her hand trembled and she almost cut herself.
She raised the cleaver high, turned to look at them, and said with a smile, "Yes! I'll cook something delicious for you!"
Yun Juan and Yun Shu saw the cleaver so close to Yun Chuman's cheek, gleaming coldly, and both of them shuddered instantly. Instantly, they sober up. They said in unison, "We'll help you!"
Author's Note:
【Cub's Diary】
Yun Juan: Danger! Mommy's going to cook!
Yun Shu: Our kitchen is going to explode!
No comments:
Post a Comment