The two children walked downstairs hand in hand. Upon learning they were going to accompany Yun Chuman to the gallery, they immediately became wide awake and happily ran to wash up.
Yun Juan was unusually cheerful. His eyes slightly curved, unconsciously humming a little tune while brushing his teeth.
Yun Shu, initially just cheerful, was caught up in his merriment and started humming along and wiggled her little bottom in the process.
Yun Chuman chuckled, finding both children incredibly adorable.
Dressed and ready, the two children went out, intending to have breakfast before heading to the art gallery.
Life in City Z moved at a slower pace. Residents enjoyed breakfast after their morning exercise. Even working people started work later than in other cities, allowing them time to savor their meal.
So when Yun Chuman led Yun Juan and Yun Shu to a well-known local breakfast shop, it was packed. The stuffy environment, the noisy chatter, and the creaking of old fans created a vibrant atmosphere, showcasing the bustling side of the area.
Fortunately, it was warm enough that morning. With plenty of tables and chairs outside, Yun Chuman and the children chose a corner spot. The accompanying production crew sat down nearby, where a gentle breeze made it much cooler than the old fans inside the room.
Yun Chuman walked alone through the crowd to order food, while Yun Juan and Yun Shu sat in chairs. With their chubby little arms resting on the table and hands supporting their chins, they watched the street with great interest. They were very quiet. Only their short, dangling legs swinging back and forth, showed their good mood.
This breakfast shop was built in the middle of a cluster of rather old-fashioned Western-style buildings, with a touch of the Republican era, but the surrounding people and shops were very modern, creating a sense of temporal displacement.
Passersby occasionally caught a glimpse of the two pretty and cute children and couldn't help but turn around for a second look.
Yun Juan would purse his lips and offer a polite smile.
Yun Shu, on the other hand, blinked her big eyes and generously offered a sweet smile.
The passersby who received such a response felt good all day long.
The viewers in the live stream were all clamoring to run into them.
Yun Chuman returned a while later. She placed the two white porcelain bowls in front of Yun Juan and Yun Shu before turning to the production crew and said, "Breakfast is on me. Yours is inside. Two of you come with me to get it."
The production crew erupted in cheers. Xiao Xi jumped for joy. If it weren’t for the crew being restricted from appearing on camera, she would have given Yun Chuman a bear hug.
The crew members working on set have a tough job. The guests weren't obligated to treat them to meals; usually, the guests eat the good stuff, while they find time to gobble bread or the same old work meals.
That was why they were so happy when Yun Chuman said she'd treat them and grateful that she thought of them.
The breakfast wasn't expensive. Yun Chuman figured that the usual food was fine, but it was a rare treat to try local cuisine, so eating with the production crew was definitely more enjoyable.
This city was relatively remote and many local delicacies weren't widely promoted. One could only find them locally. If one missed this opportunity, one might never get another chance.
City Z was famous for its various kinds of rice noodles, and Yun Chuman tagged them in on trying one of them: mixed rice noodles.
The thicker noodles were very springy, and the savory-sweet sauce was refreshing and delicious. Served with a bowl of soup, it was simply wonderful.
The slightly sweet flavor suited Yun Juan and Yun Shu's taste perfectly, and the two children devoured the bowl of noodles in no time.
Yun Juan frowned, rubbing his round little belly, constantly reflecting on his actions. He couldn't eat so much next time, or he'd end up like mommy, and have a stomachache.
Yun Shu stared blankly at her empty bowl, her chubby little face filled with regret. She'd been so happy eating that she'd forgotten to give any to mommy!
She puffed out her cheeks and clenched her little fists, determined to feed mommy more at lunchtime! That would make up for her careless mistake!
Unaware of her two little ones' thoughts, Yun Chu Man led them slowly towards the art gallery after lunch, one on each side.
The climate of City Z was novel and unique to her. She enjoyed the scenery along this short stretch, as did the two children.
The two children and the adult once again presented a scene of simultaneous small jumps after walking a short distance.
The viewers in the live stream who had been watching since the preview smiled knowingly, finding it heartwarming while also becoming curious about the painting in Yun Chu Man's hands and their destination.
"I know the gallery Yun Chuman is going to. It's very famous in the industry and they're currently holding a competition for emerging painters."
"What do you mean? Is Yun Chuman going to become a painter?"
"Does she even paint? She's probably just going to join the fun."
"I want to see what she painted."
It was understandable that the audience was curious.
Yun Chuman had temporarily wrapped her oil painting in a cardboard box to protect the canvas, making sure it was completely sealed.
Not only the audience, but even the production crew was curious. They held back from asking questions the whole way until they followed Yun Chuman to the gallery.
The black sign with white lettering, the graffiti on the walls in different styles—simple yet artistic—stood out from the surrounding shops.
"Filming isn't allowed inside the gallery. Xiao Xi, you guys wait at the sweet soup shop for a while. We'll come out after registering."
Yun Chuman said, pointing across the street.
Xiao Xi turned her head and saw a shabby, old-fashioned shop, but the desserts looked delicious.
“Okay!”
She readily agreed, but her gaze lingered on the painting in Yun Chuman's hand for a long time. Finally, she couldn't help but ask, “Could we and the audience see your painting first?”
“My painting?”
Yun Chuman was taken aback.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu simultaneously tilted their heads, looking at her with a mixture of confusion and wariness.
Xiao Xi felt a pang of guilt: “Ah? Is it not allowed? If not, then forget it.”
“It is possible,” Yun Chuman said slowly.
Xiao Xi's eyes lit up, but before she could shower Yun Chuman with compliments, she saw her smile, “But I want to keep it a secret!”
Yun Chuman waved to the crowd and turned to walk towards the gallery.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu chuckled. Mimicking her gesture, she waved their chubby little hands as they followed her away.
Stunned, everyone stood there, staring at the retreating figures of the adult and two children, unable to react for a long time. Only when their backs were burning from the sun did they grumble and scurry into the sweet soup shop across the street.
Yun Chuman didn't actually mind showing them the paintings; they were going to be exhibited anyway.
It was just that the packaging couldn't be opened during registration and she had gone to great lengths to pack the painting into the cardboard box; unpacking and repacking them was too much trouble.
"Little Juan, Little Shu, please keep quiet in the gallery and don't talk loudly inside," Yun Chuman gently instructed before entering.
The two children immediately covered their mouths with their chubby little hands, their big eyes wide, and nodded vigorously.
"Good children."
Yun Chuman smiled and patted their little heads.
Pushing open the gallery door, a pristine white expanse greeted Yun Chuman's eyes, making her feel as if she had returned to the hospital room where she had lived for years.
But here, there was no pungent smell of disinfectant; only a faint fragrance filled the air. She wondered where this fragrance came from—was it from the paint or the gallery's perfume?
Different exhibition areas were separated by walls of varying designs. There weren't many customers at this time and everyone was intently admiring the artwork on the walls.
Just a doorway away, it felt like two different worlds.
The two children kept turning their little heads, curiously observing their surroundings.
Yun Juan's eyes shone as he looked at the paintings hanging on the walls. His expression was one of fascination, even obsession.
Yun Shu was more interested in the gallery's decorations, finding everything here unfamiliar and novel.
Yun Chuman spotted a sign indicating the registration area and led the two children towards it.
Yun Shu's attention quickly returned to Yun Chuman. Although the paintings were beautiful, she wasn't interested.
On the other hand, Yun Juan was very reluctant to leave, perfectly embodying the phrase "taking a step and looking back three times." If Yun Chuman hadn't been holding his hand, he probably would have bumped into the wall. The registration area was a soundproof office in a corner of the gallery. Inside was only a woman in a black suit. Yun Chuman glanced at her name tag; it read "Xu Qiuhong."
She looked very busy, typing on a keyboard while simultaneously holding her phone between her shoulder and ear, saying incredulously, "What did you say? President Gu isn't satisfied with this design?"
Yun Chuman didn't disturb her, silently sitting down across the table.
Sitting in the chairs, the two short children’s eyes could reach above the table. They gripped the edge of the table tightly and their large eyes silently watched the woman opposite them.
After hanging up the phone, Xu Qiuhong clicked her tongue loudly, complaining, "I told you long ago that President Gu is troublesome, but Boss wouldn't believe me. He was completely captivated by the price he offered! Now look what happened, the design has been rejected..."
Before she could finish, she caught sight of three figures out of the corner of her eye and jumped in fright.
She flinched and whirled around, only to see a beautiful woman sitting upright opposite her, holding a painting packaged in a cardboard box.
Two children sat beside her, their puppy-dog eyes peeking out.
“You…” Xu Qiuhong's eyes widened in surprise. Then she suddenly remembered hearing a knock on the door when she was on the phone earlier and had casually said, “Come in.”
Yun Chuman gently placed the painting on the table in front of her and smiled, “Excuse me for disturbing you, I’m here to register for a competition. This is my work.”
“Oh…oh…welcome.”
Xu Qiuhong subconsciously looked her up and down, confirming that she hadn’t seen her before. Someone as beautiful as her would definitely be remembered if she had met her once.
Since she hadn’t seen her before, it meant this person was unknown and self-taught.
She sighed softly. This competition had been held for over ten years, and the winners were always outstanding recent graduates from art academies. This year, there were a few promising contenders.
People like this beautiful mother were basically just there to make up the numbers.
Thinking of this, Xu Qiuhong's eyes softened with sympathy. She pulled out a registration form from the side. With a professional smile on her face, she said, "Please fill out the registration information; I'll enter it for you in a moment."
"Okay, thank you."
Yun Chuman smiled and took it. She bent over the table and began to write diligently.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu couldn't read, but they still craned their necks, quietly watching her movements.
Xu Qiuhong glanced at them, only seeing two round heads, and internally sighed at how well-behaved the two children were. Then she busied herself again, constantly making phone calls to confirm the registration information.
Yun Chuman's handwriting was delicate and beautiful. Just as she finished filling out the form and was about to return it to Xu Qiuhong, the latter received another call about that troublesome CEO Gu.
Xu Qiuhong frowned and responded with annoyance, "What? You said President Gu is coming over in person soon? What's he coming for?"
She glanced at Yun Chuman out of the corner of her eye, covered the phone's mouthpiece, and quickly said, "Put it on the table first, I'll record it for you in a bit."
Yun Chuman could sense her anxiety even across the table, so she didn't mind her attitude and nodded gently.
The phone call lasted unexpectedly long.
The two children were starting to drift off.
Yun Juan stared out the window, gazing intently at the paintings hanging on the wall.
Yun Shu rested one small hand on Yun Chuman's art box, while the other hand kept poking her own cheek.
Yun Chuman thought for a moment and whispered, "Little Juan, Little Shu, how about I take you out to see something? We'll come back in a little while."
Yun Juan looked at her with bright eyes and nodded vigorously. He whispered, "Okay!"
Yun Shu stopped poking her cheek. Frowning and hesitating, she looked at the painting on the table. "Mommy, aren't you going to sign up?"
"Yes," Yun Chuman patted her little head, "but we have to wait until that older sister is finished. Wouldn't it be nice if we went out for a walk during this time?"
Yun Shu was still hesitant. Her chubby little hands tightly gripped Yun Chuman's artwork.
Yun Chuman scratched her head. She knew Yun Shu really liked this painting and judging from her reaction, she was probably worried about leaving it alone.
She thought about waiting a bit before going out, but when she turned around, she saw Yun Juan staring intently outside. His fists clenched, while his little legs trembled slightly.
His desire to go out was so obvious that he didn't even notice Yun Shu's reaction.
Seeing this, Yun Chuman was too embarrassed to suggest waiting any longer. She hadn't missed Yun Juan's unusual behavior today; she'd been so excited about the gallery visit. She wanted to slap herself – why didn't she just suggest going out after registration?
Yun Shu and Yun Juan were twins. Naturally, she noticed elder brother's odd behavior as well.
Yun Shu's big eyes darted around and she smiled, leaning close to Yun Chuman's ear and whispering, "Mom, you take elder brother out. I'll wait here. I can help you register."
Yun Chuman thought about it. It was a good idea. The registration room was safe.
She couldn't help but secretly admire how Yun Shu was a sweet little angel.
"When elder sister's done, give her the ID card and she'll help Mom register," she said, handing her own ID card to Yun Shu and pointing to the window. "Elder brother and I won't leave your sight. Come find us if you need anything, okay?"
"Okay!" Yun Shu carefully accepted the ID card, clutching it tightly, and nodded happily. Yun Chuman patted her little head and led Yun Juan outside.
The little boy was so eager to see the artwork outside that he didn't realize younger sister hadn't followed.
Although he was anxious, he restrained himself from running or jumping around in the gallery.
Once outside, he went straight to the painting facing the registration room window—an abstract painting dominated by blue. He had noticed it earlier and now wanted to examine it more closely.
Yun Chuman followed behind him. Seeing his eager gaze, she crouched down and asked softly, "Little Juan, do you like this painting? What do you see in it? Can you tell Mommy?"
Yun Juan's gaze didn't leave the painting. He frowned and said, "Did the elder brother who painted this have a very happy dream? But why do I feel like he's unhappy?"
Yun Chuman was taken aback, surprised by how accurately Yun Juan could sense it.
The painting was called "Delusion."
The painter dreamt of his lover, indulging in blissful happiness. Upon waking, he felt empty, realizing it was impossible to return, and was deeply saddened.
This dream was both delusion and wishful thinking for him, which was why he ultimately decided to use cool colors to depict happiness.
Yun Chuman suppressed her excitement and patiently explained the painting to Yun Juan.
"So that's how it is..."
Yun Juan nodded, a hint of sympathy in his eyes. He had felt something similar before, dreaming of his mommy, who was gentle to him and Little Shu, only to wake up to find her still cold and distant.
Thankfully, mommy was now as gentle as in his dreams.
Yun Chuman showed him several more paintings, noticing that Yun Juan could accurately grasp the emotions the artists were trying to express.
She realized Yun Juan must be very talented, and given his passion for painting, she began to consider teaching him.
However, before she could voice her thoughts, Yun Chuman saw Yun Shu make a move. But she and Yun Juan were a bit far from the registration room and couldn't see clearly.
Worried, Yun Chuman bent down and whispered, "Little Juan, let's look later. Let's go find Little Shu first, okay?"
Yun Juan froze, realizing he'd forgotten younger sister. Feeling guilty, he decisively abandoned her own interests, pulled Yun Chuman back, and said with a furrowed brow, "Little Shu must be getting impatient!"
However, Yun Shu wasn't anxious at all. She patiently waited to the side, occasionally glancing at Yun Chuman and Yun Juan outside the window.
After hanging up the phone, Xu Qiuhong kept rubbing her aching temples. What had she just heard?!
That President Gu was coming to City Z next week to discuss business, and he'll also be here to renegotiate the details of the cooperation!
Troublesome, so incredibly troublesome!
"Elder Sister, are you unhappy?"
A soft, childish voice rang out, startling Xu Qiuhong. Turning her head, she saw a pair of concerned, large eyes—slightly downturned, dark, clear, and innocent.
Xu Qiuhong then remembered that one artwork hadn't been entered into the database. She quickly forced a professional smile and asked gently, "Little one, where's your mommy?"
"Mommy took elder brother out to look at paintings."
Yun Shu smiled and knelt on the chair, finally revealing her full face. She placed something on the registration form on the table. "This is mommy's ID card; she said it can be used for registration."
Xu Qiuhong's eyes flashed with amazement when she saw her face. The perfectly placed birthmark was simply perfect! Thinking this, she couldn't help but look at her a few more times.
Yun Shu sensed no ill intent from her. The way she looked at her was similar to the way mommy praised her beauty. But her cheeks still slowly flushed with shyness.
She was wearing little yellow duck overalls today, a lovely pale yellow, looking incredibly cute. She took a candy from the duck pocket on her chest, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it towards Xu Qiuhong: "Elder Sister, have some candy, it'll make you feel better."
Xu Qiuhong almost burst into tears at the sound of that soft voice.
She was the assistant to the gallery owner and had been stuck in this small room for almost a month because of the competition! She was going crazy.
Now, the little girl's comfort was like a long-awaited rain after a drought. Her smile unconsciously became much more genuine: "Thank you, little friend."
Yun Shu smiled upon hearing this.
Xu Qiuhong carefully put the candy in her pocket, handling it as gently as if it were a rare treasure.
"Elder Sister, aren't you going to eat it?" Yun Shu asked, puzzled.
"Yes, I'll eat it after I get off work."
Xu Qiuhong mustered her courage and patted her little head.
Yun Shu didn't dodge. Instead, she smiled and gently rubbed her head against it. Her heart melted instantly. If she hadn't known she couldn't do anything illegal, she would have wanted to take the child home.
Xu Qiuhong carefully entered the entry information into the computer, checking it five-six times. She couldn't help but admire Yun Chuman; not only was she beautiful, her name was also lovely.
She handed Yun Shu the ID card and participation certificate, speaking softly, "It's all recorded. Your mommy's entry is ready to enter. Remember to give these two things to your mommy later, little friend."
Yun Shu nodded vigorously, replied with a "Okay," and her chubby body slid off the chair in a flash.
She glanced one last time at the painting on the table, and then waved with a smile, "Goodbye, Elder Sister!"
Xu Qiuhong said reluctantly, "Come play again, little friend."
Yun Shu nodded. Just as she opened the door, she bumped into Yun Chuman, who was returning with Yun Juan. She raised her hands high, excitedly saying, "Mom, that elder sister asked me to give this to you."
"Little Shu helped me register! That's amazing!"
Yun Chuman took the documents, looked them over, put away the ID card and participation certificate, and smiled and thanked Xu Qiuhong through the crack in the door.
Xu Qiuhong stared at her, stunned. Even though it hadn't been long since they last met, seeing Yun Chuman's face again still left her amazed. No wonder her two children were so good-looking. Their father must be handsome too.
Being praised, Yun Shu proudly put her hands on her hips.
"Thank you, Little Shu," Yun Chuman said with a smile.
Yun Juan felt a little apologetic, tiptoed, and patted the little girl's head: "Younger sister is so great."
Yun Shu was even more proud and her chin tilted out.
Yun Chuman took the two children for another stroll through the gallery before leaving. Once outside, Yun Juan was still somewhat lost in thought, constantly recalling the various paintings he had just seen.
Yun Shu rubbed her stomach, looking pitiful, and said, "Mommy, I'm hungry."
Hearing this, Yun Chuman took them to the beach. She had already researched it; they could eat on fishing boats there.
However, halfway there, the two children were attracted by a colorful fruit feast. Yun Chuman had no choice but to turn around and take them to eat fruit with the accompanying production crew in tow.
Yun Juan, just like at the buffet before, tasted a little of each fruit, not eating much.
On the other hand, Yun Shu ate while feeding Yun Chuman. Having forgotten about it that morning, she fed her even more enthusiastically at lunchtime.
Yun Chuman was very happy, but she felt she was about to develop diabetes.
"Little Shu, Mom has had enough sugar today. Eating more won't be good for your health," Yun Juan said sternly.
Yun Chuman looked at him gratefully.
Yun Shu stopped feeding her, quickly withdrew her hand, stuffed the mango in her mouth, and shook her head. With her cheeks puffed out, saying indistinctly, "I can't eat any more!"
Yun Chuman burst out laughing.
Yun Juan chuckled and poked her cheek: "You've had enough sugar too. You can't eat any more, or you'll get fat."
"I'm not fat! Elder brother weighs a pound more than me!"
Yun Shu chewed quickly like a hamster, swallowed the mango, and angrily puffed out.
"Mine is muscle, yours are a little fat," Yun Juan said.
"You, you...bad elder brother! Little Shu isn't fat!" Yun Shu huffed twice, not knowing how to argue.
Yun Chuman watched their bickering with a smile. Another day of them being "plastic siblings," how amusing!
The viewers in the live stream also enjoyed watching the two kids argue.
—"I'm dying of laughter! Little Juan really has the nerve to say that. Where did he get those muscles?"
—"Little Shu is so cute! Her puffed-up face is so amusing."
—"No wonder Yun Juan likes to tease Yun Shu. It's so much fun. It reminds me of my cat when it's all puffed up."
—"Even the bickering of this family of three is more interesting than the two groups next door."
—"I'm still regretting not seeing what happened in the gallery."
—"Beep beep beep! First-hand intelligence: Movie Star Mo has arrived at the villa!"
—"Beep beep beep! Latest intelligence: The fluffy creatures at the Yingdi's house are fighting again!"
—"Finally! The furry kids versus the bear children I've been waiting for!"
—"Yun Chuman, hurry up and take Yun Juan and Yun Shu home!"
Yun Chuman didn't know Mo Rongwen had arrived, but she was indeed on her way back to the villa.
The afternoon sun in City Z was scorching, and she had no intention of taking the two children out for a stroll.
However, before even entering the villa, she heard a series of heart-wrenching screams coming from inside—just barking dogs and meowing cats.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu exchanged a glance, quickly guessing who it was.
"It's Elder Brother Mo!"
"And cats, dogs, and mice!"
The two children took off running into the house.
Yun Chuman was startled and quickly chased after them: "Little Juan, Little Shu, wait! Don't go in yet!"
Judging from the sounds, it must be another cat and dog fight. What if the two children get hurt if they run in!
Yun Juan and Yun Shu were clearly excited and did not hear her voice. Their short legs moved incredibly fast.
Yun Chuman had no choice but to speed up. She barely caught up with the two children when they reached the villa's door.
One big and two small stood at the doorway, staring blankly at the scene inside.
The living room, which had been clean and tidy before they left, was now a mess, with dog and cat hair flying everywhere. A husky laid on the ground, a chubby orange cat perched on its head, and one golden and one silver shaded cat rode on its waist.
The orange cat seemed quite calm, even having the leisure to groom itself. The golden and silver shaded cats, back to back, were waving their feline fists, hitting the husky's back and rear end respectively. The husky was completely defenseless, whimpering and crying.
On the other side, a pug and a hairless cat were bumping into each other.
The pug was already looking both comical and melancholic. Its eyes filled with tears with each bump, looking even more sorrowful, while it whimpered and grumbled.
The hairless cat's little suit was now askew. It calmly watched the pug, occasionally baring its sharp teeth and meowing.
A snow-white Pomeranian stood on the sofa, its head held high with pride with a bewildered Ragdoll cat beneath its paws.
Two chinchillas with a red ribbon tied to their head, darted back and forth between the three locations, cheering on each other.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu had never seen anything like this before and stood frozen in place.
Yun Chuman looked around. Where was Mo Rongwen? Why wasn't he doing anything?
When she finally found him, she couldn't help but gasp. A hint of pity emerged in her eyes.
Mo Rongwen's hair was a mess, covered in cat and dog hair, and his suit was askew, like a hairless cat.
He was huddled in a corner. Curled up in a ball, he stared blankly at his furry friend and muttered to himself, "Regret, regret..."
Yun Chu Man: So pitiful...
The viewers in the live stream burst into laughter.
—Hahaha, this has shocked my Man Man for a whole year!
—Little Juan and Little Shu are dumbfounded!
—The number of viewers in this live stream is rising so fast, it looks like everyone's into this!
—Bear child: How can we fight? Just be a good child."
—Although the movie star is pitiful, it's really funny.
—Movie Star Mo didn't want to stop the fight, and the fluffies didn't want to attack him, but in a group fight, accidental injuries are always unavoidable.
—Haha, it's okay, after the furry kids finish fighting, they'll go comfort Movie Star.
After handing out flyers for two days, Luo Can's fair face turned wheat-colored. He returned home drenched in sweat. Seeing Elder Sister and Elder brother-in-law sitting on the sofa, he plopped down next to Elder Sister and pinched his little nephew's cheek. Luo Zheng put her son in Gu Shi's arms. She got up and poured him a glass of water, which he drank in a few gulps. He put the glass on the coffee table and said, "I'll hand out flyers for two more days. I'm planning to go home. The college entrance exam results will be out soon."
Luo Zheng sat down and looked at him, saying, "I'll have someone take you home. Have you had dinner?"
Luo Can nodded: "I had beef noodles with Wang Zehao. I'm going to take a shower."
Watching his retreating figure, Luo Zhengzheng said, "He can endure this heat."
Gu Shi, holding his son's small hand and seeing her pained expression, said, "A boy must be able to enjoy happiness, but also endure hardship. A true man is one who can bend and stretch."
Luo Zhengzheng thought for a moment and said, "Although our family isn't wealthy, my parents have never made us suffer."
The village couldn't compare to the city; most children lived similar lives. But compared to the other children in the village, she and Luo Can were relatively fortunate. In her memory, her parents were always busy. She and younger brother only needed to study well. They were never asked to help with chores, including housework. They were always told to focus on their studies.
During the off-season, her dad worked on construction sites, while her mom developed the family's agricultural sideline businesses, raising pigs, chickens, ducks, and geese, cleaning the house, and taking care of her and younger brother. Her parents deserved credit for their good grades.
Gu Shi glanced at her: "No pain, no gain. Boys need to weather storms to mature and become strong."
In some matters, he considered himself rather traditional. For example, after graduation, he expected to follow the established path and enter the Ye family business; to get married, have children, and take care of his wife and children. For boys, it was a need to be independent and self-reliant.
Luo Zhengzheng said, "...So I didn't stop him from handing out flyers, but that doesn't stop me, as his elder sister, from feeling distressed for him."
Gu Shi said calmly, "When I was studying abroad, I worked as a construction worker, a waiter, and a bartender. I also handed out flyers in the sweltering summer."
Luo Zhengzheng looked at him expressionlessly and said, "It's a pity I didn't know you back then, otherwise I would have felt distress for you too."
Gu Shi looked at her seriously: "I can't tell."
Luo Zhengzheng lowered her head, not wanting to talk to him, and pondered, "You're a rich young master, why do you insist on experiencing life? Do you expect me, a poor person, to feel distress for you?"
Gu Shi looked at the top of her head and said casually, "Back then I was young, curious about many things, and with the pressure of studying, I wanted to try different lives. I didn't lack money, I don't need your pity."
Luo Zhengzheng heard his calm tone, as if he didn't care, but knowing him as she did, if he didn't care, he wouldn't have said so much nonsense. Clearly, he cared a lot.
She felt like she was back in her twenties, having forgotten many things from her youth. But upon closer reflection, she could recall a few memorable, though not pleasant, events. She said, “Money is a person’s foundation. With that foundation, you have support in everything you do. I can’t understand your hardships. You go to do manual labor, waitressing, handing out flyers. People who don’t know the situation will just think you’re pretentious. Why suffer like that when you have money? The pressure of studying is immense. Who doesn’t have pressure? Naturally, they can’t empathize.”
As she spoke, she belatedly realized the eerie silence beside her. Looking up, she saw the man’s deep gaze fixed on her. She quickly changed her tune: “Of course I can’t understand your hardships, but our son will in the future.”
Gu Shi withdrew his gaze and said, “Everyone’s background and experiences are different. A mature man should understand that not everyone will understand you.”
But it was always regrettable that his wife didn’t feel distress for him.
Luo Zhengzheng picked up her son, realizing the conversation was getting increasingly risky, and cleverly but awkwardly changed the subject: "Jiajia's yawning, I'll take him to bathe."
Nanny Wang came out, glanced at the young couple, and thought to herself, "They were fine all afternoon in their room, how did they suddenly get so worked up?" She knew the children in her care very well; even though Gu Shi didn't show any emotion now, she knew he was in a bad mood. She said, "I'll take him to bathe, you work away."
The young couple always make up at bed after a fight at bed top; even the worst anger will dissipate after a good night's sleep. She picked up Chengjia and went to the bathroom.
Luo Zhengzheng watched their retreating figures, speechless for a moment. She increasingly felt that Gu Shi was being dramatic; a grown man, throwing tantrums and acting childishly at the drop of a hat. Right now, she didn't want to comfort him.
Since she didn't want to coax him, she went upstairs to wash up. Coming out of the bathroom, she noticed the light was on in the study next door. Wearing a shower cap and having finished her usual grooming routine, she took a hairdryer to the study and asked, "Are you busy?"
Gu Shi looked up at her. "What's wrong?"
Luo Zhengzheng said matter-of-factly, "If you're not busy, help me dry my hair."
Gu Shi nodded, took the hairdryer, and helped her sit in the office chair. He stood up and silently dried her hair.
After drying her hair, Luo Zhengzheng touched it and praised, "Your hair-drying skills are getting better and better."
Gu Shi smirked, "I'm glad you're satisfied."
Luo Zhengzheng asked gently, "Do you still have work to do?"
Gu Shi hummed in agreement, "I still have a few documents to process. You should rest first."
Luo Zhengzheng returned to her room, picked up her phone, and prepared to download a novel to read. She noticed a message in the group chat. She opened it and saw Liu Hanyue had said, "I just had a fight with Gu Xian."
Wang Yaning: "What happened?"
Yu Shuang: "What happened?"
Luo Zhengzheng: "What happened?"
Liu Hanyue: "That bastard is have a mistress outside."
Wang Yaning: "?"
Yu Shuang: "?"
Luo Zhengzheng: "?"
Liu Hanyue: "I've been with him for so many years, and he actually had an affair! I'm divorcing him. Bastard!"
Wang Yaning: "Is there a misunderstanding?"
Liu Hanyue: "No misunderstanding. I just came back from my parents' place, and I saw on his phone that a woman was sending him QQ messages. They were chatting so enthusiastically. One called 'darling,' and the other called 'baby.' He's never called me 'baby' before. It's so infuriating! I can't stand it!"
Luo Zhengzheng thought for a moment. In her past life, she wasn't very close to her sisters-in-law; the three of them wouldn't tell her anything. She didn't know if Gu Xian had ever had an affair, but she knew the two hadn't divorced and had even had a daughter. She couldn't comment on that, only saying, "You should find out more about Gu Xian's situation before acting impulsively."
Liu Hanyue berated a few more times in the group chat and after venting her anger a little, she said, "I've already made him sleep in the guest room. He met that woman in a game. He's so old, still playing games? And why get involved in a romantic relationship? What does he take me for? Anyway, I can't let him off."
Wang Yaning: "Have you thought it through?"
Liu Hanyue: "He only dares to flirt in the game, he wouldn't dare to actually find a mistress. Humph, I'll teach him a lesson, who told him to be detestable."
Yu Shuang: "It's good that you're alright. Pregnant women should go to bed early, goodnight!"
Luo Zhengzheng: "I'm going to sleep too. Goodnight!"
Wang Yaning: "Goodnight!"
Luo Zhengzheng didn't expect that Gu Xian, at thirty years old, would still be looking for girls in games. She hadn't noticed. Then she thought of Gu Shi. Although this man was a bit petty and calculating, he was actually good to her. She sat up, went downstairs, heated a cup of milk, brought it upstairs, and went into the study.
Gu Shi heard the sound and looked up: "Not asleep yet?"
Luo Zhengzheng smiled: "Work must be tiring, have a cup of milk." She placed the milk on the table in front of him.
Gu Shi glanced at the milk in front of him, then looked up at her: "So nice?"
Luo Zhengzheng's gaze was frank as she said, "I've always been this nice, haven't I?"
Gu Shi's eyes crinkled with amusement as he picked up the milk, took a sip, and looked at her, saying, "Yes."
Luo Zhengzheng watched him finish his milk and took the cup from him: "I'm going back to the room. You should go to sleep early too."
Gu Shi hummed in agreement, a smile playing on his lips, and watched her leave.
The next day, the weekend, Luo Can went out to hand out flyers as usual. Zhou Chen's family was coming to visit, and Uncle Wang had gone to buy groceries early. The in-laws' cook came over to help prepare the meal.
Gu Shi looked at Wang Maoxiu, as if to say, "Why are you here too?"
Wang Maoxiu pointed to the young girl beside him: "My girl is in a similar situation to your wife. She doesn't get along with those other women. I thought she might be able to connect with your wife, so I brought her over so they could meet."
Gu Shi gave Wang Maoxiu a meaningful look. Thinking of his wife's recent behavior, he said, "Not necessarily."
Wang Maoxiu was confused: "What do you mean?"
Gu Shi naturally wouldn't tell him about his wife, only saying, "Come in and sit down."
Zhou Chen and his wife, Zhang Xuan, were childhood sweethearts. They had a very good relationship, had been married for five years, and had a three-year-old daughter who was already in kindergarten.
Zhou Chen looked around: "Where's your son?"
Gu Shi said, "He was making a fuss about going out to play, so his mom took him to the backyard to look at the goldfish."
At this time, Luo Zhengzheng returned carrying Chengjia.
Zhou Chen's daughter, Zhou Xingyue, saw Chengjia and ran over, calling out, "Younger brother, younger brother!"
Luo Zhengzheng put Chengjia down and said with a smile, "Play with elder sister."
However, Chengjia wasn't interested in Elder Sister. He turned his face away, ignoring the little girl who had run over, went to the sofa, climbed on, and plopped down.
Seeing that younger brother ignored her, Zhou Xingyue chased after him to the sofa, pulling his hand and calling out to him.
Chengjia was a little unhappy, pulled his hand away, and said, "No hold."
Zhou Xingyue, however, liked him very much. She thought he was very handsome, with round, dark, and bright eyes, and hugged and gave him a kiss.
Chengjia was very angry at being kissed by an unfamiliar elder sister and burst into tears.
Gu Shi: ......
Zhou Chen and his wife stared in disbelief at the scene. Their daughter, so young, already knew how to be a hooligan? He looked at Gu Shi: "Given this situation, should we arrange a marriage between our children?"
Not to mention how good-looking Chengjia was at such a young age, even with his parents' outstanding appearance, he was bound to be a good-looking boy when he grew up. For his daughter, with her looks, to win Chengjia's favor was a bit of a stretch. Only he, as her father, could put in some effort behind the scenes.
Gu Shi ignored him, thinking to herself, "Don't even think about it."
Luo Zhengzheng was also somewhat astonished. Sitting on the sofa, she coughed and looked at her son, "Elder sister likes you, that's why she kissed you. Don't cry."
Zhou Xingyue loved pretty aunties and couldn't help but throw herself into her arms, "Auntie, I like younger brother! Younger brother is good looking, and auntie is good looking too!"
Chengjia sobbed, "I don't like..."
Zhou Xingyue: "..."
Zhou Chen's wife, Zhang Xuan, covered her face. Her daughter took after her father. Her eyes were a bit small, but she was obsessed with looks and had a rash personality, liking all good-looking people. With the Gu Family of three all being good-looking, she couldn't control herself.
Zhang Xuan nudged Zhou Chen, complaining, "Your daughter is really embarrassing me."
Zhou Chen, however, thought his daughter did the right thing. To win over a handsome man, one had to be shameless. Especially Gu Shi's son; if his daughter could trick Gu Shi's son into coming home, she would be a complete winner in life.
Thinking about how Gu Shi's son would grow up and call him "father-in-law," and how Gu Shi would be jealous, he couldn't help but chuckle.
Gu Shi glanced at him, roughly guessing his thoughts, and secretly thought Zhou Chen's daughter was too spoiled and unruly, not his ideal daughter-in-law.
The show was undoubtedly a great success. Huang Hui couldn't leave afterward. Many people surrounded her. Some flattered her, while others inquired about the designer's identity, all secretly hoping to recruit her into their companies.
Huang Hui answered all the questions evasively, but didn't reveal any important information.
Lu Bei dutifully stayed by Tang Yao's side, escorting her out after the show.
When many media outlets tried to find them, they discovered the two were no longer there.
Meanwhile, two trending topics quietly dominated the search rankings: Lu Bei appearing at the fashion show with an unfamiliar woman and the finale double-sided embroidered traditional dress, attracting widespread attention.
"Lu Bei and an unknown woman?! Oh my god, what happened? I'd rather believe I can break a boulder on my chest!"
"The dress is so beautiful, I wonder which famous designer it is."
"Who is this unknown woman? Why is the photo so blurry?"
"Is it Cheng An? Lu Bei and Cheng An had a rumored relationship before, and now that Cheng An is back, they've been photographed together again. I'm shipping them!"
"I won't accept anyone but Cheng An!"
"Everyone, let's be rational about this gossip. Doesn't anyone want to compliment the dress? It's so beautiful."
"The double-sided embroidery technique is so skillful. It's incredible. I wonder which anonymous master craftsman it is."
"I don't know why, but I feel like this unknown woman looks a bit like the guesthouse owner. Am I just obsessed with watching variety shows lately?"
"Upstairs, you're not alone! I feel the same way!"
"Don't guess wildly. How can a guesthouse owner be in this kind of situation?"
"But Lu Bei's eyes are so full of affection. You can practically see the threads coming out of his gaze."
...
Soon, the trending topic had tens of thousands of comments, all praising the dress or discussing who Lu Bei was dating.
During this time, because Cheng An appeared so frequently and the topic of Cheng An and Lu Bei also became one of the top trending topics.
Lu Bei was currently driving Tang Yao to the restaurant that Huang Hui had booked.
It was originally supposed to be an internal celebration banquet, but Lu Bei shamelessly insisted on attending.
Halfway through the banquet, an unexpected guest arrived: Cheng An, the recent talk of the town.
"Cheng An will be our partner in the next phase of our collaboration, so I'm introducing her to everyone," Huang Hui said.
A gasp rippled through the crowd. After all, she was a movie empress and her popularity was undeniable.
Cheng An nodded to everyone before walking over to Lu Bei and greeted him.
"Xiao Bei, long time no see," Cheng An said confidently. Her smile was bright.
Lu Bei nodded, his attitude neither warm nor cold. Cheng An seemed used to this and showed no sign of annoyance.
After her greeting, her gaze fell on Tang Yao.
"Hello there, I've heard Elder Brother Lu Nan mention you," Cheng An said with a smile, extending her hand to Tang Yao.
Tang Yao stretched out her hand. Her mouth beating her brain as she blurted out, "You're even prettier in person than on TV."
Cheng An chuckled, "You're so cute. No wonder..."
Tang Yao blushed slightly from her own abrupt praise and asked, "No wonder what?"
"Is Aunt Huang calling you?" Lu Bei suddenly interrupted their conversation.
Huang Hui was indeed calling Cheng An over. Cheng An nodded to the two of them and then turned to leave.
"Are you very close to Cheng An?" Tang Yao asked, somewhat envious, as she watched Cheng An's retreating figure.
"Not really, we just grew up together. She's closer to my elder brother," Lu Bei quickly replied.
Tang Yao nodded, but her admiration was fleeting. Soon, her attention was drawn to the delicious food at the celebration banquet.
Lu Bei dutifully stayed by her side, handing her tissues and bringing her water—small tasks that seemed perfectly natural to him.
During this time, the tall, thin man who had previously questioned Tang Yao approached with a wine glass.
The tall, thin man coughed lightly and raised his glass: "I'm sorry about before, but you really are very capable."
Tang Yao swallowed the small cake in her mouth and smiled at the tall, thin man: "I didn't take it to heart. I always prefer to let my abilities speak for themselves. Besides, I'm not very famous, so it's normal for you to doubt me."
Tang Yao's magnanimity made his previous suspicions seem petty. The man became even more silent, silently drank his wine, and turned to leave.
Just as everyone was happily celebrating, a piece of gossip quietly climbed to the top of the trending searches.
By the time Tang Yao and the others saw it, the celebration party had already ended and she was sitting in Lu Bei's car taking her home.
The gossip continued to gain popularity and netizens expressed their opinions in the comments section.
Tang Yao clicked on it and saw that it was nothing more than saying that the final dress was similar to the Chen Family's dress. There were also claims from insiders that the final dress was a modified version of the Chen Family's clothing.
Photos of the two dresses were repeatedly compared online.
"No way, the final dress is clearly much prettier than the previous one."
"I thought they looked similar when I watched the live stream yesterday. No way, I really liked the final dress."
"Although the final dress has double-sided embroidery, plagiarism is plagiarism, unforgivable."
"Everyone, be rational while watching this. Things probably aren't that simple. Let's wait for an explanation from H Clothing."
Although there were still quite a few rational netizens, due to the influence of online trolls, many people went to H Clothing's account to hurl insults or questions.
"Don't worry, Aunt Huang can handle it." While waiting at a red light, Lu Bei also took out his phone and saw the trending topic. Clearly, he wasn't worried at all.
"I just think their way of trying to ride the coattails of someone else's popularity is disgusting." Tang Yao pouted.
The stolen goods weren't as good as the original and they were even trying to extort money.
However, Huang Hui wasn't one to suffer in silence. She quickly launched a counterattack.
The counterattack was genuine and fierce, completely different from the previous allegations made by a supposed staff member.
From the destruction of her first finale outfit, to the arrest of the cleaning staff, and finally the cleaning lady's statement, every step pointed to the other party plagiarising H Clothing.
Netizens were in an uproar again, praising H Clothing for its courage in immediately fighting back after being wronged.
The netizens who had been making a fuss about H Clothing shifted their focus to the official Weibo account of Chen's Group, questioning their shamelessness.
The internet was in chaos, with online trolls trying to whitewash the situation, but the netizens weren't buying it.
Chen's Group had no choice but to disable comments.
However, they soon received a lawyer's letter from H Clothing and were forced to issue an apology.
But that was a story for later.
Lu Bei dropped Tang Yao off at the hotel and watched her enter before driving away.
His fingers tapped on the steering wheel, seemingly in a good mood.
This good mood lasted until he got home. Lu Nan sat in the living room, typing on his phone. Hearing the noise, he looked up at him.
A smile played on his lips: "What's making you so happy?"
"Nothing," Lu Bei replied.
Lu Nan chuckled, clearly unconvinced.
He hadn't expected his younger brother to be so boyish when interested in someone. He'd practically bounced right in and thought no one else would notice.
...
After returning to the hotel, Tang Yao took off her dress, removed her makeup, and comfortably laid down on the lounge chair on the balcony.
These past few days had passed and she missed her guesthouse more and more.
Meanwhile, in a courtyard house somewhere in the capital, Ji Mingquan's friends were gathered in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting.
Everyone was usually busy, so it was rare for them to get together.
After drinking tea for a while, Ji Mingquan mysteriously told them he had something good to show them.
"What good stuff could you possibly have?" The friends, used to teasing each other, didn't hold back.
"Yeah, old Ji, just show us what you have. We're not young anymore, no need for all this mystery."
Ji Mingquan didn't answer the question, but simply led everyone to the greenhouse.
"Haven't we already seen all your flowers? What's so special about them?" one of them asked, puzzled.
"Right, I recently got a potted 'Jade Plant.' It's not a top-tier specimen, but it's still quite rare. When are you all going to take a look?"
Ji Mingquan chuckled, his smile full of disdain.
Soon, the group arrived at the greenhouse.
The temperature and humidity in the greenhouse were specially adjusted, creating the perfect environment for plants to thrive.
The plants were all carefully tended and individually placed, clearly treasured.
Ji Mingquan led them through a maze of turns. Once they reached the very back, he stepped aside to show them the flower in front of him.
"This...this is..." One of them took a quick step forward, but then stopped, afraid of startling the flower in front of him.
"Ghost-faced orchid?! Such good quality? And there are three flowers too! Old Ji, where did you get such a good thing?"
"Old Ji, you're not being fair. Having such a channel and not introducing it to us."
Ji Mingquan pushed the group away: "Stand back a bit, don't scare my treasure."
The others glared at him. But thinking that if they had such a good flower, they'd probably be even more extravagant than Ji Mingquan, they let it go.
Their tone was full of envy and amazement, which made Ji Mingquan extremely proud.
"The owner doesn't usually sell these flowers, but seeing my sincerity, she sold me one pot." Ji Mingquan said after leaving the greenhouse.
"Why wouldn't she sell them? Can't we offer a higher price? As long as the quality is good."
"The owner isn't short of money. Her whole yard is full of good stuff." Ji Mingquan lowered his head and blew on a tea leaf. He certainly couldn't tell them that he'd pestered her relentlessly to get that potted plant. Let them fret about it themselves.
...
The next day, with nothing much to do, Tang Yao decided to wander around and buy gifts for everyone.
There were many large shopping malls in the capital, and Tang Yao chose the closest one.
She had bought two potted plants and had plenty of cash on hand, so buying luxury goods was no problem.
She chose the relatively common X brand.
X brand offered clothing, cosmetics, and jewelry—a fairly comprehensive selection.
She wore a simple t-shirt and sneakers and had her hair in a ponytail, looking like an ordinary student.
So when she entered the X store, the sales clerk only glanced at her before lowering her head to attend to her work.
Tang Yao didn't mind. She browsed on her own, feeling more comfortable without anyone following her.
She looked around and finally settled on a diamond bracelet, which sparkled beautifully under the light.
“Can you show me this?” Tang Yao asked, pointing to the bracelet.
After a while, no one answered.
She looked up. The sales clerk was wiping the counter on the other side with her back to her.
“Excuse me, can you please show me this?” she called out again, raising her voice to the sales clerk's back.
The sales clerk reluctantly approached, slowly putting on white gloves. “This bracelet is worth 158,000 yuan. It's a new arrival. Are you sure you want to see it?”
Tang Yao nodded. “Yes, I'll take a look.”
With a hint of impatience, the sales clerk took the bracelet out of the display case.
“Be careful. Any damage will be charged at the original price,” the sales clerk said curtly.
Tang Yao ignored her, her gaze fixed on the diamond bracelet. The specially cut diamonds were quite beautiful.
The platinum chain complemented them perfectly.
She looked up and the saleswoman's disdainful gaze met her eyes.
Tang Yao wasn't angry. She beckoned to the only girl with the bun hairstyle who had been friendly to her earlier.
"Excuse me, can you please wrap up three of these diamond bracelets and one matching necklace for me?"
The girl was new and seemed somewhat incredulous, pointing to herself.
Seeing Tang Yao nod, she quickly ran over.
"Wait, Ma’am… I’m the one who’s serving you." The saleswoman standing in front of Tang Yao was stunned for a moment before quickly recovering, and spoke.
This time, her tone was much gentler.
Tang Yao smiled slightly, "No need, I prefer her service."
The sales clerk knew she was in the wrong. She opened her mouth a few times but couldn't utter a word. However, the commission for an order worth hundreds of thousands was substantial and she couldn't swallow her anger. Finally, she could only glare fiercely at the girl with the bun hairstyle.
Although the girl with the bun was new, she wasn't weak or easily bullied and immediately glared back.
The girl with the bun helped Tang Yao pack the items. The original sales clerk stood at the counter for a while and then suddenly walked towards the checkout.
After all the items were packed, the girl with the bun led Tang Yao to the checkout counter.
The girl behind the counter took out a receipt for Tang Yao to check before paying.
Tang Yao's gaze immediately fell to the bottom of the list, listing the name of the sales clerk who had handled the transaction.
"Are you called Xiao Li?" Tang Yao asked.
The girl with the bun hairstyle paused for a moment and then replied, "No, my name is Huang Xiaoxiao."
Tang Yao's gaze instantly became meaningful.
"The customer clearly asked me to pack her order. How dare you steal my sales!" Huang Xiaoxiao shouted angrily.
The sales clerk standing to the side blushed instantly, a wave of embarrassment washing over her. Her eyes widened as if she wanted to devour someone.
Just then, a middle-aged woman walked out. Her metal badge read "Manager."
"Ma’am, what's going on?" the manager asked, coming out after hearing the commotion.
Tang Yao calmly and without embellishment recounted the facts. The manager glanced at the sales clerk before giving Tang Yao a slight bow, saying, "I'm sorry for the unpleasant shopping experience."
At the end, she gave Tang Yao a small accessory before seeing her out.
Luo Zhengzheng returned home and didn't see Gu Shi downstairs. She went to the kitchen and saw soup simmering on the stove.
Nanny Wang heard the noise and came to the kitchen. Seeing her, she smiled and said, "Zhengzheng's back. Gu Shi is upstairs. Your Uncle Wang went out and bought a lot of beef. Beef brisket soup is being stewed."
When Nanny Wang was young, she worked for Ye Li, taking care of her daily needs. After Gu Shi was born, Ye Li only trusted her and entrusted Gu Shi to her care. Over the years, thanks to Nanny Wang's help at home, both mother and son respected her greatly and always treated her as family. She addressed the Gu brothers by their first names.
Luo Zhengzheng married into the Gu Family, and Nanny Wang had always taken good care of her. After Chengjia was born, Nanny Wang also diligently cared for him, and Luo Zhengzheng had long regarded Nanny Wang as an elder.
Luo Zhengzheng didn't see her son and smiled, "Is Chengjia taking a nap?"
Nanny Wang nodded, "Just fell asleep."
Luo Zhengzheng had just come from the hot pot restaurant and still smelled of it. She said, "I'm going upstairs to change my clothes. Nanny Wang, I'll watch the pot. You go and rest." She knew Nanny Wang took a nap every day.
Nanny Wang smiled and said, "The beef brisket has just started stewing; it'll simmer for another hour or two. Why don't you take a nap?"
Luo Zhengzheng: "Okay."
Upstairs in her room, she didn't see Gu Shi and found the bathroom door closed. She changed into a loose-fitting knitted dress and was about to go downstairs to cook for Gu Shi when she heard Gu Shi's voice from the bathroom: "Zhengzheng?"
Luo Zhengzheng looked towards the bathroom: "It's me."
Gu Shi slightly opened the door, revealing half his body. Water droplets slid from his hair to his chest, brazenly exposed before Luo Zhengzheng. With his wet hair, he looked at her and said, "I forgot my bathrobe. Get me one."
Luo Zhengzheng didn't look at him. She casually grabbed a white bathrobe from the closet. She had just reached the bathroom door when he pulled her inside and slammed the door shut.
"What are you doing?" Luo Zhengzheng exclaimed, turning her face away to avoid his gaze and shoving the bathrobe haphazardly into his hands. "Hurry up and put on your pajamas, I don't want to get a sty."
Gu Shi looked at her and asked in a low voice, "A sty?"
Luo Zhengzheng cleared her throat and said seriously, "Even as husband and wife, this isn't appropriate, is it?"
Gu Shi tossed the bathrobe onto the sink, lowered his head to touch her forehead, grabbed her delicate wrist with one hand, and held her slender waist with the other. "What haven't you seen on my body?"
Luo Zhengzheng pushed him away, but couldn't budge him. "I'll go downstairs and cook for you."
Gu Shi's slightly darkened gaze fell on her pink lips, tightened his grip on her waist, and he said softly, "You left your husband at home for half a month, shouldn't you make it up?"
Luo Zhengzheng didn't agree with him, saying, "Weren't you away on a business trip?"
She couldn't help but think that she hadn't wronged this man at all; he really was petty.
Gu Shi remained silent.
In his youth, Gu Shi had a rather bad temper, often silently dealing with those who offended him. Few dared to provoke him. As he grew older and started working at Ye's company, his temper mellowed considerably. Luo Zhengzheng was his wife, a few years younger than him. She married him young, bore him children, and he had immense patience for her.
Luo Zhengzheng, seeing him looking at her calmly, always felt it was the calm before the storm.
Suddenly, he released her wrist, ruffled her hair, carried her to the shower, turned on the hot water, and prepared to take off her dress.
Luo Zhengzheng noticed his actions and quickly said, "Don't get my clothes wet, I'll take them off myself."
The man's intentions were too obvious. The bathroom was small, and through the steam, she looked at his cold, handsome face. His usually calm eyes were now deep and dark.
This was the type Luo Zhengzheng had always liked; otherwise, she wouldn't have married him without hesitation.
Gu Shi heard the gritted teeth in her voice, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
The temperature in the bathroom rose rapidly. She was soaking wet in his arms, one hand holding her ankle, the other tightening around her waist, as he gently kissed her.
After a long time, they left the bathroom and went to bed. Her voice was broken and panting.
After calming down, she glared at the man whose eyes were slightly red. His calm voice was slightly hoarse: "What's wrong?"
What could Luo Zhengzheng say? She only said, "What time is it? The beef brisket is still stewing in the pot. Go check it."
Gu Shi leaned against the headboard, languid and sexy. He said, "It's three o'clock. Nanny Wang should have turned off the stove."
Luo Zhengzheng looked at him. "How do you know?"
Gu Shi smiled at her. "Our son is awake." He had just heard Chengjia's voice.
Luo Zhengzheng nodded. Her son was awake, and Nanny Wang must be awake too. She sat up, got out of bed, but her legs went weak. She laid back down, looking at the man: "Look what you've done."
Gu Shi smiled: "Want me to massage them?"
Luo Zhengzheng hummed in agreement.
Luo Zhengzheng asked him, "Aren't you hungry?"
Gu Shi massaged her legs while replying, "Nanny Wang made pasta for lunch."
Luo Zhengzheng pinched his waist. This man was really a jerk.
Gu Shi took a breath: "Feeling better now?"
Luo Zhengzheng thought to herself, no wonder so many women say men are all scumbags. It was true.
Ignoring him, she was indeed exhausted and laid down on the bed, intending to take a nap.
Half-asleep, Gu Shi's voice suddenly rang out: "Tomorrow's the weekend, Zhou Chen's family is coming over."
Luo Zhengzheng didn't quite hear what he said, mumbled a sleepy "Mmm"y, rolled over, draped one leg over him, and wrapped her arms around his, drifting back to sleep. She was clearly using him as a human pillow.
Gu Shi helplessly watched her limbs sprawling on him, closed his eyes, and slowly drifted off to sleep himself.
When she woke up, Luo Zhengzheng found herself lying in Gu Shi's arms. She got up casually, went to the walk-in closet, and saw many new dresses, bags, and shoes. She looked around, grabbed a white dress, and went back to the room. Gu Shi was already awake. She said, "Hurry up and get dressed, we're going to Mom and Dad's for dinner."
Gu Shi scanned her and said with satisfaction, "This dress really suits you." He had always known his wife was beautiful, and this dress accentuated her elegance.
Luo Zhengzheng smiled: "I think it looks great too." It made her look several years younger.
Seeing how many things he'd bought her, Luo Zhengzheng happily took out the tie she'd bought for him and handed it to him: "This is a tie I bought for you. Do you like it?"
Gu Shi took the tie and looked at her: "For me?"
Luo Zhengzheng nodded: "Of course, who else would I have bought it for?"
Gu Shi said with satisfaction: "Not bad."
Luo Zhengzheng took a small bag Gu Shi had brought back, put her phone in it, went downstairs, and carried little Chengjia to the parents' house.
Seeing Luo Zhengzheng's dress, shoes, and small bag, Liu Hanyue's eyes were filled with envy and jealousy. She said, "This bag, this dress—they haven't even come out yet! I haven't bought any. How did you get them?"
Luo Zhengzheng looked at Gu Shi: "He bought them."
Liu Hanyue pursed her lips, huffing, "You know, we have the same father, so why is there such a big difference? I've been married to Gu Xian for so long, and he only bought me gifts during our wedding period. Now, for Valentine's Day and our wedding anniversary, he doesn't even give me gifts."
Not only was Liu Hanyue envious of Luo Zhengzheng, but Wang Yaning was equally envious. Although her family was well-off, they couldn't support her buying designer clothes. Only after marrying into the Gu Family did she receive two million yuan in pocket money each month. This allowed them to barely afford the clothes they liked, and they didn't dare to spend lavishly.
Luo Zhengzheng didn't need to worry about any of this. Every month, Gu Shi would have someone buy her a huge amount of clothes and jewelry. A single outfit could easily equal their entire month's allowance. Moreover, as far as she knew, Gu Shi had given Luo Zhengzheng his supplementary credit card, so she wasn't short of money.
Yu Shuang naturally envied Luo Zhengzheng, often marveling at her good fortune. Hearing Liu Hanyue's words, she couldn't help but scoff. They shared the same father, but they weren't the same mother. Clearly, Gu Shi had inherited not only his father's good looks but also his mother's.
Besides, even if Gu Ming, Gu Xian, and Gu Ling wanted to lavishly buy clothes and accessories for their wives like Gu Shi did, they wouldn't have that much money. They didn't have a mother who was the chairman of a conglomerate, nor were they as good at making money as Gu Shi.
Ye Li glanced at Luo Zhengzheng's attire and then looked at her bare neck: "I have a piece of mutton-fat jade necklace; you can wear it. It'll match this dress perfectly."
Gu Shi had brought back several outfits for her this time, including a jade pendant. Thinking she'd take it off when she got back that evening, she hadn't worn it. Hearing mother-in-law 's words, she was about to nod when Gu Shi said from the side, "I'll get Zhengzheng some jewelry."
Ye Li glanced at her son and said in displeasure, "Do I need your permission to give Zhengzheng jewelry?"
Luo Zhengzheng hurriedly said, "No need, no need for his permission, Mom. I’m lacking a white jade necklace. I remember you have a white jade bracelet, it's quite pretty too."
Ye Li glanced at her son and smiled rather smugly. She didn't have a daughter, and Luo Zhengzheng, her daughter-in-law, used to be somewhat timid around her, but now she had changed. Not only was she magnanimous, she also suited her taste perfectly, just like the daughter she had always envisioned. She said, "Okay, you can have it all after the meal."
Gu Shi glanced at Luo Zhengzheng, lowered his head, and silently ate his meal.
Liu Hanyue pouted, eating her meal in a sullen mood. She actually wanted it too, but she didn't dare to say anything. Although she was often easily acted up, she wasn't stupid. She called Ye Li "Mom" and treated her like mother-in-law , but she didn't naively believe that Ye Li would treat her like a daughter-in-law. Even if her mom and Ye Li had a good relationship, she didn't think Ye Li would be completely open with her.
Wang Yaning and Yu Shuang’s heart also felt unrest, but they hid it, constantly reminding themselves, "That's not your mother-in-law, that's not your mother-in-law."
Ye Li looked at her three daughters-in-law: "I have a few pairs of diamond earrings, you can take them and wear them for fun."
Liu Hanyue, Wang Yaning, and Yu Shuang were overjoyed: "Thank you, Mom!" Having diamond earrings was nice. Actually, this mother-in-law was quite good; she didn't interfere with them, but occasionally gave them things, though not as much as she gave Luo Zhengzheng. People should know how to be content.
Gu Ming and Gu Xian glanced at their stepmother. Although she wasn't as kind to them as Gu Shi, compared to other stepmothers, she was already quite good.
As for Gu Ling, compared to Gu Ming and Gu Xian, he didn't actually dislike Ye Li at all. After all, she treated all three of them equally, without discrimination, which made him feel comfortable and not looked down upon.
Back home, Luo Can hadn't returned yet. Luo Zhengzheng sat on the sofa, looking at the white jade bracelet on her wrist, her face full of smiles.
Gu Shi looked at her: "I bought you so much jewelry and I've never seen you this excited."
Luo Zhengzheng took off her bracelet and necklace: "What do you know? Mom gave me jewelry, which means she likes me. Of course I'm happy when another person likes me."
Gu Shi looked at her helplessly, wanting to tell her that his mom had always liked her, but thinking of his mom's smug look, he chose to remain silent.
Yun Chuman finished unpacking her luggage and went to the kitchen on the first floor.
She needed to check if the production team had prepared any ingredients for the guests; if not, she'd have to go out and buy some.
The kitchen was spacious and fully equipped, even including the currently popular air fryer.
Yun Chuman curiously looked around before opening the double-door refrigerator, which was filled to the brim with fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats.
A small basket hanging on the side of the refrigerator held various seasonings.
She glanced through them casually and smiled upon recognizing the familiar seasonings—she knew what to eat tonight!
The weather here was so nice; it would be a waste not to experience outdoor hot pot with Yun Juan and Yun Shu!
Having made up her mind, Yun Chuman prepared to call the two children back and also took three ice creams from the freezer.
She remembered seeing Yun Juan and Yun Shu playing hide-and-seek in the small garden in front of the kitchen when she first entered, so without thinking, she headed straight for the garden.
However, after searching extensively, the ice creams had started to melt, and she couldn't find the two children.
Yun Chuman was a little anxious. She hurried around to the back and finally spotted two chubby little figures by the pool.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu were squatting side by side by the pool, intently watching something.
Yun Chuman walked over curiously and gently patted their cheeks with ice cream. "Little Juan, Little Shu, what are you doing?"
The two children simultaneously trembled slightly. Then they turned around in unison and their eyes sparkled.
They had been running around outside for a long time; their chubby cheeks were rosy, with beads of sweat on their noses, and their soft hair clung to their little heads.
"Look how hot you become, have some ice cream."
Yun Chuman sat down next to them, opened the ice cream bag in her hand, and casually wiped their sweat.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu happily accepted the ice cream, then plopped down on the ground, and exclaimed in unison, "Thank you, Mommy!"
One big and two small sat happily on the ground by the pool, eating ice cream. The warm sunshine felt wonderful on their skin.
The two children had taken off their shoes and tossed them aside. Their four chubby little feet dangled and occasionally stomped on each other.
"Mommy, I want to play in the water..." Yun Shu said, munching on her ice cream while gazing longingly at the pool. Her short, chubby toes wiggled nimbly.
"Mommy, I want to play too! The water must be so refreshing," Yun Juan said, his eyes practically glued to the pool.
Hearing them say this, Yun Chuman suddenly became interested as well.
Swimming! Another new experience! She wanted to play too!
Her expression of longing and anticipation was even more pronounced than the two children's.
Only the private areas in the small villa had no cameras, while the rest of the house was practically 360 degrees without blind spots.
So, the scene of one adult and two children sitting side-by-side on the ground with their identical puppy-dog eyes fixed longingly on the pool was clearly visible to the viewers in the live stream. The chat instantly erupted with a barrage of "Let them swim!"
The production team was clearly prepared.
The moment this comment appeared, Xiao Xi rushed over from next door in a wheeled cart, pushing a pile of swimsuits. She stopped abruptly in front of Yun Chuman, Yun Juan, and Yun shu, then turned and ran back – a perfect tool.
But before leaving, she didn't forget to call out, "The pool water was just changed today, it's very clean, play without worry!"
The adult and two children stared blankly at her hurried departure and then turned in unison to look at the colorful swimsuits hanging on the cart, taking a long time to recover.
Yun Chuman blinked and asked, "Little Juan, Little Shu, do you think this means we should go swimming and have fun?"
Yun Juan pondered seriously for a moment with a straight face and nodded earnestly, "I think Elder Sister Xiao Xi means that."
Yun Shu spread her hands, shook her head helplessly, and said with a mature air, "Elder Sister Xiao Xi is so dishonest."
She paused and added very seriously, "Just like elder brother."
Yun Juan frowned at her, his face clearly saying, "Who are you talking about?"
Yun Shu guiltily turned her head away, not daring to even glance at Yun Juan, perfectly embodying the phrase "cowardly yet playful."
Yun Chuman watched with amusement. The occasional "plastic sibling" dynamic between the two children was quite amusing.
Yun Shu couldn't stand elder brother's gaze any longer. She jumped up, stretched out her arms, ran to Yun Chuman, grabbed her arm, and rubbed her cheek against her shoulder like a pitiful kitten. "Mommy, let's change into our swimsuits now, little Shu wants to play in the water."
Yun Chuman silently thought, "She probably just wants to escape Yun Juan's gaze."
She didn't call her out on it, pinched Yun Shu's scrunched-up cheeks, stood up, and pushed the cart full of swimsuits into the house. As she ran, she happily called out "Little Juan, little Shu, hurry up!"
Yun Juan's eyes were fixed on Yun Chuman and Yun Shu, so the moment Yun Chuman ran out, he stood up and took off running too.
Suddenly, Yun Shu found herself surrounded by empty space. She stood there blankly, turning her head this way and that, wondering where mommy and elder brother were!
Hearing Yun Chuman's voice, she instinctively turned around. Seeing the two people go inside, she quickly ran after them. She widened her steps: "Mommy, elder brother! Wait for me!"
A gentle breeze rippled across the swimming pool, and the faint sounds of a family of three playfully bickering could be heard in the distance, filling the air with warmth and liveliness.
The viewers in the live stream felt a strange sense of healing seeing this scene.
—Waaah, I love this family so much! Just watching them makes all the fatigue I've accumulated disappear.
—The two kids are so much more lively than in the preview! I really want to know what happened in between.
—Seeing them reminds me of those days running in the sunset.
—Upstairs, compensate for my newly formed emotions! Anyway, Little Shu's dazed look just now was so cute.
—Am I the only one who thinks wearing swimsuits on a live stream is inappropriate? At least be mindful of the impact.
—Upstairs, are you out of your mind? Freedom of choice is important! Being pure is better than anything!
The production team had prepared a complete selection of swimsuits, in every size, style, and color imaginable.
There were no cameras in the changing room, so viewers could only hear Yun Chuman and Yun Juan & Yun Shu discussing which swimsuit to choose.
Just as the viewers were guessing, the changing room door creaked open. The viewers in the live stream held their breath, watching expectantly.
Yun Chuman emerged first, stretching out her arms towards one of the cameras in the room, smiling broadly, and said, "Ta-da! These are matching family outfits we finally found, aren't they nice looking!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yun Juan & Yun Shu jumped out from behind her, striking the same pose.
The two children, chins slightly raised, proudly exclaimed in unison, "Look nice, right!"
The dark blue long-sleeved and long-legged one-piece swimsuits completely covered the three children, revealing only their strikingly similar faces and equally fair hands and feet.
Yun Chuman's shapely figure, though concealed by her one-piece swimsuit, didn't reveal a single curve.
However, the two children were a different story; their chubby bodies were completely exposed.
Short, chubby limbs, round little bellies, even their heads looked round and plump because of the swim caps.
They were quite good-looking, with long eyelashes and big eyes. Standing there, they resembled those round, roly-poly toys, making you want to give them a push.
The live stream chat went blank for a moment and then filled with ellipses.
—I'm not actually that surprised…
—I almost forgot Yun Chuman is a comedian…and she's still active in the parody video section.
—Who's crying their eyes out because they didn't see the pretty lady? Oh, it's me…
—Ultimately, it's the production team's fault. Couldn't they have prepared more styles of matching family outfits?
Seeing this comment, Xiao Xi clenched her fist and closed her eyes in regret. A miscalculation!
Little did she know that Yun Chuman's criteria for choosing swimsuits would be like this! Besides, they weren't even wearing truly matching family outfits; it was just that nine and a half out of ten of this type of one-piece swimsuits looked exactly the same!
Yun Chuman was completely unaware of this. Although she was eyeing on those pretty swimsuits, she wanted to try wearing matching outfits with her two children even more! She was quite envious of Yun Juan and Yun Shu wearing matching outfits every day.
The two children felt the same way.
Yun Shu's chubby little hands kept touching her swimsuit. Seeing that Yun Chuman was wearing the same one, she immediately beamed and patted her chubby little waist happily: "Mommy, this swimsuit is so pretty! I love it!"
"I like it too." Yun Juan was somewhat able to restrain himself, but his gaze kept darting between himself, Yun Chuman, and Yun Shu. He thought for a moment and suggested, "Mommy, let's take a picture!"
"Yes! It's the first time we've worn matching outfits. We should take a picture to remember it!"
Yun Chuman's eyes lit up. She excitedly led the two children to the poolside to take selfies.
She held up her old, slow-working phone, with Yun Juan and Yun Shu on either side of her and looking at the camera.
Yun Shu smiled brightly, her cheeks flushed with happiness. Her eyes curved into little crescents, and a small canine tooth peeked out from her lips, making her look adorable.
In contrast, Yun Juan's brows were furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line, and he stared stiffly at the camera, as if something within it hid something that made him wary.
Yun Chuman couldn't help but laugh at the scene on her phone. She turned and pinched Yun Juan's tense cheek, saying, "Little Juan, why don't you smile? Weren't you the one who suggested taking a picture? Anyone who didn't know better would think you'd been kidnapped by me and Little Shu."
Yun Juan awkwardly scratched his head, a hint of unease flashing across his face.
He rubbed his face vigorously and forced a stiff smile.
Yun Chuman noticed his forced smile, but found it strange. Yun Juan was clearly a child star; why was he so nervous in front of the camera?
Yun Juan noticed her gaze and subconsciously shifted his body slightly.
Yun Shu glanced at mommy and then at elder brother. Finally, she clenched her little fist as if making a decision. She gently tugged at Yun Chuman's sleeve, and when she looked over, she secretly waved.
Yun Chuman wanted to laugh at Yun Shu's furtive behavior and bent down to find out what she wanted to say.
Yun Shu leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Mom, I'll tell you a secret. Actually, elder brother is very uncomfortable in front of the camera. It's strange, he's fine when acting, but as soon as someone takes a picture, he forgets how to smile."
Yun Juan caught a glimpse of their interaction out of the corner of his eye. Even without hearing it, he could guess what Yun Shu was talking about. He frowned and disapproved, saying, "Little Shu, don't talk nonsense!"
Yun Shu puffed out her cheeks, looking aggrieved. She wasn't talking nonsense. Elder brother had told her this himself before.
Just now, mommy had been so worried about elder brother and he wouldn't tell her himself. Afraid mommy would be sad or dislike elder brother because of this, she secretly told her.
Yun Juan knew she meant well, but what if mommy misunderstood and thought he didn't want to act, and wouldn't let him go out to earn money? How would he support the family then!
Yun Chuman was surprised. As expected, she once again doubted whether Yun Juan liked acting.
However, before she could ask, Yun Juan explained, "I just think it's strange to be motionless during photoshoots! It's not like that when I'm moving during acting."
Seeing his anxiety, Yun Chuman felt it wasn't that simple.
But she knew that sometimes one can't press children for answers. Being too forceful wouldn't reveal their hidden thoughts and might even make them think they'd done something wrong.
She decided to observe the situation further and discuss it another time.
Seeing Yun Juan still with a stiff face, she patted his little head and comforted him with a smile, "Our little Juan is so handsome! Even with a stiff expression, the photos still look cute!"
Then, turning to Yun Shu, who still looked a bit aggrieved, she added, "Our little Shu is too, but you’ll be even cuter if you can smile."
Yun Juan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and happily curled the corners of his mouth.
Yun Shu's eyes brightened. She tilted her little head up, giving Yun Chuman a big smile.
Yun Chuman pinched their cheeks: "It's time for swimming. When the sun goes down, I won't let you play in the water anymore. It'll be too cold and you'll get sick." "
Upon hearing this, the two children immediately stood up and hurriedly ran towards the poolside with their short legs.
Yun Chuman smiled as she watched the two chubby figures disappear. Just as she was about to follow, she saw Yun Juan standing firmly at the poolside, his expression extremely serious and focused.
He professionally adjusted his swimming cap, then put on his goggles. With a puff of his cheeks, he clasped his hands together and stretched them upwards, then plunged into the water, creating a small splash.
At the same time, Yun Shu also entered the water, but the little girl's entry was slightly more graceful. She sat on the edge of the pool, first putting her two short legs in, then gliding in like a little fish, turning around, resting her arms on the edge of the pool, and then slowly putting on her goggles.
This resulted in Yun Juan splashing water all over Yun Shu's face.
"Bad elder brother!" Yun Shu shook her little head, wiping the water off her face.
Yun Juan, unusually playful, stuck out his tongue.
Yun Chuman stared blankly. Her heart skipped a beat. The two children had just jumped in?
She stumbled to the edge of the pool, intending to pull them back.
But then she saw Yun Juan swimming towards the middle of the pool with a perfect breaststroke. Yun Shu was close behind.
However, the little girl was using a doggy paddle, her head constantly above the water, her legs... With her hands and feet splashing around in the water, she was quite fast and caught up with the little boy in no time.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu were playing a game of chase in the pool, laughing and joking.
Yun Chuman silently withdrew her playful hand.
So, she was the only one who couldn't swim. Yun Juan and Yun Shu had so many skills. it really made her look useless!
However, her dejected mood only lasted a second, because when Yun Juan and Yun Shu saw that she hadn't gotten into the pool for a while, stopped playing, and waved to her, beckoning, "Mommy, come play!" "
Upon hearing this, Yun Chuman immediately cheered up again, but her behavior was still relatively restrained; she didn't plunge into the water like Yun Juan.
Mainly because she couldn't swim and subconsciously felt a fear of water.
So Yun Chuman ultimately chose the same entry method as Yun Shu, cautiously gliding in, gripping the edge of the pool tightly with both hands, and instinctively holding her breath when she felt the water pressure.
Fortunately, the pool wasn't deep, only waist-deep. The moment her feet touched the ground, she relaxed completely, even feeling a sense of rebirth.
The two children splashed towards her from the other side of the pool.
Yun Shu reached her first, proudly tilting her chin up, saying, "Elder Brother's breaststroke is useless. He doesn't swim fast at all."
"But it looks good."
Yun Juan followed closely behind, splashing out of the water. Expressionless, he spoke, "Little Shu, little dog."
Yun Shu wrinkled her nose. After a long while, she managed to squeeze out, "Then...then elder brother is a little frog!"
"Croak, croak~"
Yun Juan challenged, "That's still better than a puppy. I dare to croak like a frog, but does Little Shu dare to bark like a dog?"
"I...I...Hmph!" Yun Shu puffed out her cheeks angrily. She didn't dare! Dog weren't good at all; otherwise, why would people who broke their pinkies promise become little dog? Elder Brother was bullying her!
Yun Chuman pressed her back tightly against the edge of the pool, not daring to move.
She watched their bickering with amusement. She noticed that although Yun Juan didn't say much, he often managed to leave Yun Shu speechless with anger.
Moreover, she really couldn't understand how a frog was better than a puppy. Children's thought path was so strange.
Yun Chuman smiled and pinched Yun Shu's puffed-out cheek: "If you ask me, you're both amazing because you can both swim, except me." "
Yun Juan and Yun Shu paused for a moment upon hearing this, then looked at each other warily. Almost simultaneously, they each grabbed Yun Chu Man's arms, saying in unison, "Mommy, little Juan/ little Shu will teach you!"
Yun Chuman: !!!
The two children pulled her step by step to the middle of the pool, forcing her back off the pool wall. Yun Chuman immediately felt insecure. Her body stiffened.
"Mommy, I'll teach you the breaststroke. It's not only easy to learn, but the form is also beautiful," Yun Juan said seriously.
"Mommy, don't listen to elder brother! The doggy paddle is easier to learn; you don't even need to hold your breath. It's fast!" "Yun Shu wrinkled her nose.
The two children kicked the water with their short legs and bobbed up and down on the surface. Yun Chuman watched with trepidation, afraid they would lose their footing and sink.
"I..." Yun Chuman frowned, torn between the two. She actually really wanted to learn both.
But unfortunately, she didn't even have a chance to speak. Yun Juan and Yun Shu had already grabbed her arms and started arguing.
"Learn the doggy paddle!"
"Learn the breaststroke!"
"Stop!"
Seeing the two children about to start arguing, Yun Chuman quickly raised her voice to stop them.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu stopped arguing and looked at her together.
Yun Chuman frowned: "Don't argue! How can you argue over such a small thing?"
The two children looked at each other and spoke almost simultaneously:
"Younger sister, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said the doggy paddle isn't pretty."
"Elder Brother, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said the breaststroke is too slow." "
Yun Juan and Yun Shu both paused for a moment after saying that, and then burst out laughing. They treaded water to swim towards each other and hugged tightly in the water.
"That's more like it."
Yun Chuman nodded in satisfaction and acted mysteriously, "Actually, I just learned to swim, do you want to see?"
Yun Juan and Yun Shu frowned simultaneously, still hugging each other, cheek to cheek, and said in unison, "Mommy, it's wrong to lie to a child."
Yun Chuman paused and coughed guiltily, "I'm telling the truth. You can see for yourselves."
After saying that, she took a deep breath, stood up straight, tilted her head slightly back to look at the sky, then closed her eyes and fell backward without hesitation, splashing water everywhere.
"Mom!"
Yun Juan and Yun Shu were startled to see Yun Chuman sink into the water.
However, the next second, Yun Chuman floated to the surface. She tried to relax her entire body, lying flat and letting her body rise and fall.
She had read in a book before that a person can float on water when their lungs are full of air and sink when they exhale.
But that was just the principle; in practice, it's not that strict. Natural breathing was enough.
She took a deep breath, causing her slightly sunken body to rise again, feeling relaxed. "See?" she exclaimed. "This is the new swimming method I learned! Isn't it great! Floating and swimming while enjoying the scenery, it's not tiring at all!"
"Wow!"
Yun Juan and Yun Shu exclaimed simultaneously, their eyes sparkling.
They let go of each other, stopped treading water, and leaned back together, imitating Yun Chuman's movements, floating in the water.
"So comfortable," Yun Juan said, squinting her eyes in enjoyment.
"Easier than doggy paddling!" Yun Shu said with a grin, splashing the water around her with her chubby little hands.
One big and two small floated side by side on the surface, like salted fish drifting with the current.
But the pool water was completely still and the three "salted fish" barely moved an inch.
The viewers who had just entered the live stream were startled, thinking some major crime had occurred.
—What's going on? I came in and saw my two little ones floating on the water.
—Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter! Yun Chuman, you're something else!
—Oh no, will my two little ones become comedic figures too?
—But seriously, it looks so comfortable! I want to try it too.
—Just came from Mo Yingdi's side, and here they're all lounging around like salted fish and all inexplicably in sync. I’m dying of laughter! No wonder they're this episode's partners.
—Suddenly I'm really looking forward to Mo Yingdi and Yun Chuman meeting! A paradise for those who appreciate good looks! And the two of them definitely have a lot to talk about.
—Um…while I really like a family of three, please don't try to ride on their popularity like this.
—Yun Chuman's fans, have you forgotten that your elder sister is a single mother? What have something to talk about…
—Upstair, are you guys fans of Mo Yingdi? You've ruined the atmosphere.
—Seriously, fans, can you stop being so self-righteous? Even if your actor wants to be Little Juan and Little Shu's dad, we don't agree!
—So what if she's a single mother! Single mothers are even more admirable! That's not a reason for you to attack her.
This was the first conflict in Yun Chuman's livestream and it even trended on social media, but it didn't last long.
Most of Mo Rongwen's fans were rational. These extreme fans were a minority. They had no advantage in arguments and quickly lost. In the end, a small number of Yun Chuman's fans and Yun Juan and Yun Shu's "mom fans" won a decisive victory.
"Why is it over already? Mo Yingdi's fans are so weak."
The director of "Every Family Has Its Own Affairs," Li Rufei sighed slightly as he watched the live stream comments subside.
He didn't care whether trending on social media was good or bad; he was happy as long as it attracted attention.
He had confidently moved the live stream ahead of schedule because the pilot episode had received a good response.
But who would have thought that the other two groups of guests wouldn't even have as much drama as Yun Chuman and Mo Yingdi's group, who hadn't even met yet!
The sweet little flower had chosen Mo Yingdi in the previous episode, thinking that since they both owned pets, they would definitely have common ground. However, Mo Yingdi was afraid of snakes and insects and had already run away.
She had no choice but to participate in the lottery. The production team packed her and her pets up and sent them to the director's house. Who knew that once she arrived, she would be forced to participate in a cheesy pickup line competition with the director's "plastic siblings"?
Sweet little flower was in agony. In the end, she took her little white snake out of its cage and held it in her hands, which finally made the two "plastic siblings" retreat.
The live stream chat for this group was basically flooded with Sweet Flower's fans, who were simultaneously cursing the director's two sons for their ulterior motives and expressing sympathy for their idol.
Casual viewers who had initially wanted to watch the drama quickly left, causing the live stream's viewership to plummet.
The situation was similar for another group.
The childless couple had initially chosen Sweet Flower, thinking she was unique and they could get along, but unfortunately, they ended up being sent to Yun Xinxin's house.
The other members of the richest family, apart from appearing briefly during breakfast in the preview, were nowhere to be seen, so only Yun Xinxin received them.
Yun Xinxin enthusiastically showed them around the villa, explaining the origins of each antique in detail.
The DINK couple, forcing themselves to stay awake, looked like sleepy students trying to concentrate in class. Their eyes were bloodshot.
The viewers in the live stream were practically dozing off. Occasionally, someone would find Yun Xinxin strange, only to be met with a barrage of insults from her fans.
The dull atmosphere and tendency to erupt into arguments resulted in the lowest viewership for this group.
Li Rufei sighed again, clasping his hands together in a silent prayer: "I hope that when Yun Chuman and Mo Rongwen meet tomorrow, they can bring some excitement to the show. Please, please!"
The assistant didn't have time to complain about his director.
He fervently joined in the prayer. He was willing to trade the Director Li’s last ten strands for a single trending topic for the show—please, please, don't let it be canceled! He didn't want to lose his job!
The highly anticipated Yun Chuman was taking her two children for a bath.
After swimming—or rather, after soaking in the water—the family of three enjoyed a hot pot meal in the gazebo of the small garden, admiring the scenery. The meal left everyone—one adult and two children—completely stuffed.
After playing and eating their fill, it was time for the two children to sleep. They took a bath and went to their bedroom.
The production crew had prepared a huge bed for them. Yun Juan and Yun Shu loved it at first sight, happily rolling around on it in their dinosaur pajamas.
"It's so soft!" Yun Shu exclaimed, burying her face in the pillow.
"So many people could lie down on this," Yun Juan said, looking around, trying to figure out how many people could fit.
Yun Chuman entered the room and saw this scene. She smiled and said, "You like it? If you do, we'll buy one when we get back."
The two children's eyes lit up, but they quickly shook their heads. Their house was too small and couldn't fit such a big bed.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu patted the bed with their chubby little hands, saying, "Mommy, come to sleep!"
Yun Chuman turned off the light and pounced on the two children, tickling them.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu giggled, trying to curl up into a ball, but Yun Chuman stopped them.
One big and two small, played around for a while before stopping. They were both covered in a thin layer of sweat and felt warm like little heaters.
Yun Chuman laid in the middle, with Yun Juan and Yun Shu close on either side of her. She stretched out her arms and hugged them both, happily thinking that she had finally achieved her goal of having them both on her arms!
The bed was so big, yet the three of them were squeezed together, taking up only a small portion of the middle space.
A small shadow could vaguely be made out in the live stream, and someone couldn't help but sigh.
—It's time to envy Yun Chuman again.
—I also want a Yun Juan and Yun Shu-branded pillow, sob sob.
—No wonder the two little ones don't want a big bed; it's completely useless.
The next day, Yun Chuman woke up early as usual and tiptoed out of the bedroom.
After she finished a set of radio calisthenics on the first floor, the production team told her that Mo Yingdi had already set off and would arrive in the afternoon.
Yun Chuman searched for the location of the gallery hosting the competition on her phone and found it wasn't far. She decided to take Yun Juan and Yun Shu there that morning to register on-site and try some of the city's local delicacies.
Author's Note:
【Yun Family Diary】
Yun Juan: Although Mom is good at floating, next time I'll teach her the breaststroke!
Yun Shu: Although Mom is good at floating, next time I'll teach her the doggy paddle!