Teasing the Strawberry-Flavored Baby Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 22 Part 1

Chapter 22 Part 1

After eating breakfast, Lu Ningwan followed Lin Qinghan and Shen Xian with some embarrassment.

Seeing a little tail following behind, Lin Qinghan tugged at Shen Xian.

Shen Xian turned her head with amusement and looked at Lu Ningwan, bending down slightly to meet the little child’s gaze at eye level: “Does Little Lu have something to tell us?”

Lu Ningwan’s small face reddened, and her two little hands fidgeted together. “Tiantian told me everything. Thank you, auntie, for attending my parent-teacher meeting. Auntie, don’t worry, I think I did pretty well on this exam and won’t embarrass you aunties.”

Shen Xian touched the top of Lu Ningwan’s head and teased her with a smile: “Is that why you kept sneaking glances at us this morning?”

Lu Ningwan nodded shyly, her little face completely red: “I always come to your house and already trouble you aunties so much. This time, you even attended my parent-teacher meeting, so I wanted to thank you aunties in person.”

Shen Xian looked at Lu Ningwan’s serious little expression and laughed. “You, we already said you don’t need to be so polite with us.”

As she spoke, Shen Xian lifted Lu Ningwan into her arms, stood up, and smiled at the child in her embrace: “Did Little Lu forget? When you were in kindergarten and came to our house, we hadn’t moved yet. Your little sister accidentally peed on you, and your Auntie Lin helped you change your pants.”

When Lu Ningwan heard about Auntie Lin changing her pants, her little face, which had just calmed down, turned red again. She buried her face in Shen Xian’s arms, too embarrassed to lift her head.

Shen Xian looked at the shy little girl in her arms and said with a smile: “Look, Little Lu is still shy. Your Auntie Lin has bathed you so many times, and you’re still being polite with us?”

Upon hearing about the bathing, Lu Ningwan buried her little face even deeper. Did Auntie Shen still remember that her little sister peed on her pants? That was so long ago.

Lin Qinghan pushed Shen Xian lightly and touched Lu Ningwan’s back with a smile: “Stop teasing Little Lu. Her face is all red.”

“Alright, no more teasing, no more teasing.” Shen Xian laughed, still holding Lu Ningwan without putting her down, and carried her back to the kids’ room.

Tiantian was puzzled earlier. She went to the bathroom to wash her hands, and in that short time, her Little Lu sister disappeared. Now, mommy brought her back?

“Mommy?” Tiantian called out with some confusion.

“Here, I brought Little Lu back for you.” Shen Xian said as she placed Lu Ningwan on the bed, making sure she sat steadily.

Lu Ningwan’s little face was still a bit red, but her face was full of smiles.

Seeing mommy carrying her Little Lu sister, Shen Tiantian ran over to Shen Xian and acted spoiled: “Mommy, hug me~”

“Alright, I’ll hug my little spoiled one.” Shen Xian said as she lifted Tiantian up. Indeed, she was much heavier than before. Shen Xian lifted her briefly, then held her in her arms and placed her next to Lu Ningwan, letting the two kids sit side by side.

“You two play. I have some work to handle.” Shen Xian said as she touched the tops of both kids’ heads before leaving.

Lu Ningwan’s blush on her little face finally faded a bit. She lay on the bed, covering her face to calm her emotions. Since her mother and father were gone, she rarely got hugged like this. It really felt like her mother was holding her. She also liked it when auntie touched her head; her mother used to do that too.

Seeing Lu Ningwan lying on the bed, Shen Tiantian also lay on her back with her belly up, scooting closer. Her round eyes rolled as she asked: “Little Lu sister, do you like mother and mommy?”

Lu Ningwan didn’t know why Shen Tiantian asked this but nodded. “I like them. The aunties are very good to me.”

Shen Tiantian smiled even brighter. “Little Lu sister, then I’ll share mother and mommy with you from now on, so we both have a mother and mommy~”

Lu Ningwan smiled. This little sunshine was quite generous, willing to share her mother and mommy?

She reached out and poked Shen Tiantian’s dimple. “Silly, can you share mother and mommy with others?”

“Little Lu sister isn’t others. I can share with Little Lu sister.” Shen Tiantian nodded matter-of-factly, lying on the bed and laughing happily.

Soon, the two kids played together again. Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan didn’t know their little one had already generously shared them.

The parent-teacher meeting for the first grade at Linhai City Elementary School was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Shen Tiantian looked at her ninth-place ranking with joy. When Shen Xian arrived, she eagerly showed Shen Xian her results. “Mommy, look at me, ninth place.”

Shen Xian rubbed Tiantian’s head and pulled a stool to sit beside her. “I saw. Our Tiantian is the best. Ninth place is great. Shall we keep it up?”

“Yes! I wonder how Little Lu sister did.” Shen Tiantian sat there, but her thoughts had already flown to her Little Lu sister.

“Don’t worry, your Little Lu sister reads third and fourth-grade books. She’ll be fine.” Shen Xian looked at her little one with amusement.

“Mm-hmm.” Indeed, her Little Lu sister was so amazing, she definitely had no problem!

Meanwhile, Lin Qinghan went to Class Six. Many parents had already arrived. Lin Qinghan spotted Lu Ningwan at a glance, sitting obediently alone at her desk. Her deskmate’s mother was already there, making Lu Ningwan look even smaller and lonelier.

Seeing her little girl light up upon seeing her, Lin Qinghan quickly walked to Lu Ningwan’s side.

Lu Ningwan was a bit shy, her little face red, but she wanted auntie to know she got first in the class and didn’t embarrass her. She smiled shyly at Lin Qinghan. “Auntie, look at my report card.”

Lin Qinghan smiled at the obedient little girl beside her, took Lu Ningwan’s report card, and saw full marks in Chinese, math, and English. She looked at Lu Ningwan with a smile: “Our Little Lu is so amazing, all full marks.”

Praised, Lu Ningwan’s little face reddened as she nodded. “Auntie, I’ll do well next time too.”

Lu Ningwan’s deskmate curiously looked over and quietly asked Lu Ningwan: “Lu Ningwan, who’s this? She’s so pretty.”

Hearing her deskmate praise auntie, Lu Ningwan was happier than if she were praised herself and said with a smile: “She’s my auntie.”

“Oh, oh, hello, auntie. I’m Lu Ningwan’s deskmate.” Yang Liqin introduced herself familiarly.

Seeing Lu Ningwan’s deskmate was a cute little girl, Lin Qinghan said with a smile: “Hello, little friend.”

Liu Jiahao, who was waiting to see Lu Ningwan make a fool of herself, rolled his eyes. He didn’t expect someone to attend Lu Ningwan’s parent-teacher meeting this time? But it didn’t matter; Lu Ningwan had no father or mother, so who knew where she found this person to attend for her.

Unable to contain his curiosity, he kicked Lu Ningwan’s chair from behind. “Lu Ningwan, don’t you have no father or mother? Who’s this, coming to your parent-teacher meeting?”

Lu Ningwan turned and glared at Liu Jiahao, not wanting to bother with him. Auntie took time out of her busy schedule to attend her parent-teacher meeting, and Lu Ningwan didn’t want auntie to worry about her.

Unexpectedly, Liu Jiahao got angry at Lu Ningwan’s attitude. “Lu Ningwan, I’m talking to you. What’s with your attitude?”

Seeing the boy behind Lu Ningwan glaring at her with a red face, Lin Qinghan turned coldly and looked at Liu Jiahao. “Didn’t your parents teach you manners? Loudly discussing others’ private matters is very rude, and others aren’t obligated to answer your questions.”

Liu Jiahao didn’t expect the woman beside Lu Ningwan to turn and talk to him. Lin Qinghan’s voice was neither loud nor low, but everyone nearby in the class could probably hear. Liu Jiahao immediately felt embarrassed but was afraid of the teacher, so he just said with a flushed face, trying to keep his bravado: “What’s it to you? You’re not Lu Ningwan’s mother. I’m not scared of you. My dad is a big boss. When he comes, he’ll scare you to death.” He finished with a smug, wicked smile.

Lin Qinghan raised an eyebrow slightly and snorted coldly: “Is that so? Then I’ll have to see. There really isn’t anyone in Linhai City who can scare me.”

As many eyes in the class focused on Lin Qinghan and Liu Jiahao, Liu Jiahao suddenly jumped up excitedly, waving and complaining first: “Dad, I’m here. Lu Ningwan and her parent bullied me.”

Liu Jiahao’s father, about thirty-five, with a neat buzz cut and a suit, looked decent enough.

Hearing Liu Jiahao, he quickly walked over. “What’s wrong, son?”

Liu Jiahao threw himself into the man’s arms. “Dad, Lu Ningwan got some parent from somewhere to bully me. Look, it’s her.”

Liu Zhigang followed his son’s pointing hand to Lin Qinghan and was stunned. He had seen this woman a few days ago. During a bidding for a Shen Corporation project, this woman, Lin Qinghan, the general manager of Shen Corporation, was in charge of reviewing their bids on-site.

Realizing this, Liu Zhigang quickly slapped away his son’s hand, still pointing at Lin Qinghan, and scolded: “Liu Jiahao, what are you doing? Apologize to auntie now.”

Liu Jiahao was stunned, clearly not expecting his dad not only to not help him but to make him apologize.

“Dad, you hurt me, waaah. You never hit me before. I’m telling the truth. Lu Ningwan is just a wild child with no parents…”

Before Liu Jiahao could say more, Liu Zhigang covered his mouth. Cold sweat broke out on his face. The bidding results weren’t finalized yet, and offending the company’s general manager would make it much harder to get a share.

“General Manager Lin, this kid has been spoiled by me. I’m so angry. I’ll teach him a lesson when we get home. I apologize to you, I apologize.” The more Liu Zhigang spoke, the more panicked he felt. So many people were competing for that project, and now he had walked right into trouble.

Lin Qinghan glanced at Liu Jiahao lightly and asked impatiently: “Who are you?”

While restraining Liu Jiahao to keep him from talking, Liu Zhigang smiled awkwardly: “General Manager Lin, you’re a busy person and probably forgot. We met at the bidding meeting the other day. I’m a small figure you wouldn’t remember, but I remember you. I’m really sorry about today. I didn’t expect this kid to act like this at school. I’ll definitely teach him well when we get home.”

Lin Qinghan sneered: “Whether you discipline your child or not has nothing to do with me. Your son just called my Little Lu a wild child with no one to want her. What’s that supposed to mean? I’m still sitting here perfectly fine, aren’t I?”

Liu Jiahao’s face turned red from being smothered by Liu Zhigang. He bit Liu Zhigang’s hand and took the chance to say: “She has no father or mother. I’m telling the truth. Her parents died long ago.”

Liu Zhigang’s face contorted with anger. He slapped Liu Jiahao’s back hard, and Liu Jiahao wailed loudly: “Waaah, Dad, you hit me. You never hit me before. It’s all because of Lu Ningwan, because of this wild child no one wants…”

Liu Zhigang quickly covered his son’s mouth, nearly frantic. “General Manager Lin, I’m so sorry, so sorry. This kid needs a beating. I’ll definitely deal with him when we get home…”

Lin Qinghan’s expression remained calm, but her gaze at Liu Zhigang sent chills down his spine. Her slender fingers tapped lightly on her knee as she said slowly: “I’m sitting here perfectly fine, and your son says I’m dead? My daughter is sensible and doesn’t tell me these things, but I can’t let my daughter be bullied by others.”

Lu Ningwan looked at Lin Qinghan in surprise, her little mouth slightly open. Was Auntie Lin saying she was her mother?

Lu Ningwan’s small hands fidgeted uneasily. Lin Qinghan reached out with her left hand, took Lu Ningwan’s small hand in her palm, and smiled down at her to reassure her not to worry.

Liu Zhigang looked like he was about to be silenced permanently. What did he just hear? General Manager Lin had a daughter this old? Did CEO Shen know? Oh no, if CEO Shen didn’t know and he found out first, was his company about to go bankrupt?

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I apologize to your daughter. How about this? I’ll talk to the teacher later and have Liu Jiahao moved to the wall, far from your daughter. General Manager Lin, I’m really sorry, but as they say, no fight, no friendship…”

Liu Zhigang tried to cozy up, but Lin Qinghan’s gaze silenced him. He dragged his son out and gave him a harsh lesson. When Liu Jiahao came back, he was crying and holding his just-spanked bottom.

Five minutes later, Class Six’s teacher, Wang Ping, came in, and the class finally quieted down.

Wang Ping summarized the students’ performance over the semester and praised those with outstanding results, including Lu Ningwan.

Overall, apart from Liu Jiahao’s incident, Lu Ningwan was quite happy at this parent-teacher meeting, though she worried she might cause trouble for auntie.

After dropping Lu Ningwan off with Lu Ming, who chatted ingratiatingly with Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan for a bit, Shen Tiantian’s family of three got in the car.

While fiddling with her phone, Lin Qinghan seemed to remember something and said to Shen Xian, who was driving: “Mrs. Lin, there’s something I need to tell you in advance.”

“What’s that, so serious?” Shen Xian said with a light laugh.

“Well, we might have gained another child.” Lin Qinghan said calmly while looking at her phone.

Shen Xian nearly slammed on the brakes in shock. She quickly signaled and pulled over, catching her breath before saying: “How’s that possible? Didn’t we agree not to have more?” She still remembered how hard Lin Qinghan’s pregnancy was, nearly breaking her heart. How could they have another child?

Seeing her wife’s eyes redden with anxiety, Lin Qinghan quickly explained: “I’m not pregnant. I meant Little Lu. Today, some kid in her class said her father and mother were gone, calling her a wild child. I got upset and said Little Lu is my daughter, so we might have another daughter now.”

Shen Xian let out a sigh of relief. “You scared me to death. Little Lu is great. We’ve been raising her like a daughter anyway.”

Shen Tiantian nodded in agreement: “Yes, yes, Little Lu sister is great. I’m willing to share mother and mommy with Little Lu sister.”

Lin Qinghan pinched Tiantian’s little face with amusement. “You’re generous, sharing mother and mommy with your Little Lu sister.”

“Hehe, mother and mommy are the best.” Tiantian immediately started showering them with praise.

That night, as Lu Ningwan lay in bed, she thought about what happened in class. Auntie said she was her daughter. Lu Ningwan knew auntie was trying to help, but it still warmed her heart. If only the aunties were really her mother and mommy. She quickly shook her head.

The aunties were so good to her and had already helped her so much. She couldn’t trouble them more. Things were already great as they were. She wanted to grow up quickly so she could repay the aunties properly.

As for the bidding project, Lin Qinghan naturally didn’t give it to Liu Zhigang’s company. With a child raised like that, the company couldn’t be too reliable.

Kids always grow fast. Clothes bought at the start of the year were short by the end. Shen Tiantian and Lu Ningwan both grew taller.

Once winter break started, Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan brought Lu Ningwan to their home. With an extra child, the house was lively every day.

Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan didn’t plan to burden the kids with extra studies. Seeing that Lu Ningwan and Tiantian both liked drawing, they asked the kids’ opinions. Lu Ningwan was hesitant, worried about troubling Shen Xian and them. Shen Tiantian excitedly said she wanted to learn drawing with Lu Ningwan.

Shen Xian found a teacher to come to the house three days a week to teach the kids drawing. Both kids were very cooperative.

Shen Tiantian drew a cute little pig on her easel paper, coloring it with soft pink. After finishing her pig, she went to see Lu Ningwan’s drawing.

Lu Ningwan drew a zoo with adorable bunnies, a tiger playing with a flower ball, and a giraffe stretching its neck to eat leaves. It actually looked quite good.

“Little Lu sister, you draw so well,” Tiantian exclaimed, looking at Lu Ningwan’s drawing.

Lu Ningwan looked at Tiantian’s little pink pig and smiled: “Tiantian, your drawing is cute too.”

While the two kids were praising each other, Shen Xian knocked and came in. “Little Lu, Tiantian, finished drawing? If you’re done, let’s decorate the house together. It’s New Year’s Eve today.”

“Oh, yes! It’s New Year! Little Lu sister, let’s put up spring couplets!” Tiantian stood up excitedly.

Lu Ningwan looked at the joyful Tiantian beside her, a smile spreading across her face. “Okay.”

Shen Tiantian smiled and pulled Lu Ningwan’s small hand. The two little friends scampered downstairs to the front door.

Shen Xian was carrying a short ladder over. It was New Year, and she had given the hired auntie and driver a holiday. Doing these things herself was more fun anyway.

Seeing her mommy climbing the ladder to hang the banner, Shen Tiantian excitedly instructed Shen Xian: “Mommy, be careful. You have to hang the banner straight.”

Shen Xian smiled, held the banner against the doorframe, and asked the two kids below: “Little Lu, Tiantian, does it look straight?”

Shen Tiantian pulled Lu Ningwan back a few steps, eyeing the banner in her mommy’s hands. “Mommy, a little to the left.”

“Alright, how about now?” Shen Xian asked next.

“It’s straight, it’s straight.”

“Then I’ll stick it up.” Shen Xian said as she taped the banner to the doorframe with wide tape.

After hanging the banner, Shen Xian moved the ladder aside and started putting up the couplets.

Tiantian patted her little chest, eager to help: “Mommy, Little Lu sister and I will hold the bottom. You stick it up.”

Shen Xian looked down and saw the two kids obediently holding the bottom of the couplets. Though it wasn’t much help, their serious expressions were just too cute.

“Okay, you two hold it tight.” Shen Xian instructed with a smile.

The two kids below nodded seriously. In no time, they finished hanging the couplets. Shen Xian also hung lanterns at the door, making the whole house look festive and joyful.

Lu Ningwan’s mood lifted too. She remembered last New Year at her uncle’s place, where she felt no sense of belonging. But at Tiantian’s house, she was quite happy.

Shen Wenkang and Fang Jinglan were in charge of entertaining the little one, so cooking fell to Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan. They got busy early, leaving Shen Tiantian and Lu Ningwan as the most carefree in the house.

Shen Xian had bought plenty of snap poppers for the kids to play with during New Year. She shouted toward the living room: “Tiantian, Little Lu.”

Hearing Shen Xian call them, the two kids soon appeared at the kitchen door. “Auntie, do you need Tiantian and me to help?” they asked.

The two kids were about to roll up their sleeves to enter the kitchen, but Shen Xian stopped them at the door. She bent down with amusement and said to Shen Tiantian and Lu Ningwan: “Want to help? Not now. Maybe in two or three years. I bought snap poppers in the storage room’s small cabinet. You two take them out to play, but don’t touch the firecrackers.”

Hearing there were poppers to play with, Tiantian’s face lit up with excitement: “Thank you, mommy. Little Lu sister and I will only take the snap poppers. Don’t worry, mommy.”

With that, Tiantian eagerly pulled Lu Ningwan along. The two kids went to the storage room, and sure enough, found snap poppers in a small cabinet by the door. Each hugged a box and went outside.

These snap poppers had no gunpowder, just making a sound, so they were safe. Otherwise, Shen Xian wouldn’t have let the kids play with them so freely.

Lu Ningwan’s memory of firecrackers was from when her father and mother were around. During New Year, they took her to see fireworks, but she never played with them herself. Looking at the snap poppers in her hand, she was eager to try. They should make a sound when thrown on the ground, right?

While Lu Ningwan hesitated, Tiantian had already thrown a few out. Sure enough, the snap poppers made a sound when they hit the ground. So the two kids took turns throwing snap poppers in the yard, playing happily.

In the living room, the little one playing with toys heard the noise outside. She pointed at the door, calling for her sisters with her little mouth, wanting to see them.

Shen Wenkang and Fang Jinglan dressed the little one in her panda coat, turning her into a little fluff ball in a cotton jacket. The fluff ball was led to the yard by her grandparents.

Seeing both sisters there, the little one got excited. Her big eyes watched them throw things that went “pop” when they hit the ground. She immediately got interested and shouted in her garbled voice: “Sister, Nan wants!”

Tiantian understood her little sister wanted poppers to play with. She looked at Fang Jinglan and asked: “Grandma, can little sister play?”

Fang Jinglan shook her head with a smile: “No giving to her. She might eat them. You two play, let Yinan watch.”

“Oh, okay.” Tiantian looked at the little one with pity. For her sister’s safety, she decided not to give her any.

Seeing her sister wouldn’t give her any, the little one turned to Lu Ningwan, stretching out her chubby hand and struggling to say: “Lu, sister, Nan play!”

Lu Ningwan smiled and explained to the little one: “Yinan is still too small. When you grow bigger, sister will let you play.”

The little one’s big eyes looked at Lu Ningwan, not sure if she understood. She watched her sisters with envy.

But the little one’s interest lasted only three minutes. Soon, she lost interest in the snap poppers and insisted on going back to watch cartoons. Fang Jinglan and Shen Wenkang took her back.

Around six in the evening, Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan brought out steaming hot dishes. The New Year’s Eve dinner was lavish, and Tiantian’s eyes sparkled at the food on the table.

Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan peeled shrimp and fish for Shen Tiantian and Lu Ningwan, putting them in small bowls, and gave each kid dumplings. The family ate lively and warmly.

“Come, let’s wish our family health and smoothness in the coming year.” Shen Xian said as she raised her glass for a toast.

Shen Tiantian was happy too. This year was so different for her. Not only did she find Little Lu sister, but Little Lu could often come to play with her.

Thinking this, Shen Tiantian started acting spoiled: “Mother, mommy, grandpa, grandma, happy New Year. Red packets, please~”

“Little money-grubber, only thinking about red packets.” Shen Xian teased Tiantian about her greed but handed her a red packet honestly.

Tiantian happily took it, collecting red packets from all the elders.

Lu Ningwan was smiling, watching Shen Tiantian ask for red packets. Shen Xian turned to Lu Ningwan and said: “Why isn’t Little Lu asking for red packets? We prepared red packets for all three kids. Come wish auntie a happy New Year.”

Lu Ningwan’s little face reddened. Wishing a happy New Year was fine, but she was embarrassed to take aunties’ red packets. After all, during the holidays, she ate and drank at aunties’ house. Now taking their red packets? She felt shy just thinking about it.

Blushing, she smiled and said: “Auntie Shen, happy New Year. Auntie Lin, happy New Year. Grandpa, grandma, happy New Year. But I’m still young, so I don’t need red packets.”

Shen Xian handed over a red packet. “How can you not take it? Kids need lucky money, or monsters will grab you at night. Take it, don’t be polite with aunties.”

“Yes, yes, Little Lu sister, monsters are scary. Take the lucky money, or Tiantian can’t fight the monsters.” Tiantian wanted to protect her Little Lu sister. Last time at the haunted house, she learned she was scared of weird-looking things, but as Little Lu sister’s knight, she had to protect her!

Lu Ningwan looked at Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan, then at Shen Tiantian’s expectant eyes, and finally accepted the four red packets from the elders.

Lin Qinghan looked at the obedient little girl and praised: “That’s the way.”

Lu Ningwan’s face got redder. She tucked the red packets into her little pocket and buried her face in her bowl.

Fang Jinglan and Shen Wenkang were old and had no interest in staying up late. They took the tired little one to bed early, leaving Shen Tiantian, Lu Ningwan, Shen Xian, and Lin Qinghan in the living room.

The TV played the annual Spring Festival Gala. The family played cards on the coffee table, but the two kids didn’t know how, so they played a simple game of pulling the train instead.

Even though Lu Ningwan was usually mature, she loved fun kid things too. She quickly got into the simple game.

Tiantian had an ace that matched the fourth card’s ace below. She excitedly collected both aces and the cards in between. Another round started, everyone laying cards on the table in a long train-like line. This time, Shen Xian’s two matched the train’s head two, so she took the whole long train.

Tiantian pouted. Her mommy took the whole train…

At midnight, the neighborhood echoed with deafening firecracker sounds. Outside, many families set off fireworks. Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan took the two kids to the neighborhood to watch.

Watching the sky full of fireworks, Shen Xian smiled at the kids: “You’re one year older. Grow up well this year too.”

Tiantian was thrilled, hugging Shen Xian one moment, Lin Qinghan the next, then her Little Lu sister.

Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan had set firecrackers at their door too. Both were a bit scared, but the kids looked forward to seeing their firecrackers go off.

Shen Xian lit a long incense stick and carefully reached the firecracker fuse. As the incense touched the fuse, the firecrackers went “crackle-pop” at the door. The two kids covered their ears, laughing and thrilled.

Kids’ energy was limited. After playing all day, Shen Tiantian and Lu Ningwan were tired. After the fireworks, Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan bathed the kids and settled them before leaving.

Lu Ningwan looked at Shen Tiantian beside her. The little girl was already asleep, her chest rising and falling steadily with calm breaths. Lu Ningwan felt her eyes could barely stay open. Before sleeping, she thought, if only every year could be spent with Tiantian, little sister, and aunties.

On the first day of the New Year, Shen Tiantian opened her eyes and saw neatly arranged new clothes on the bed. Hers and Little Lu sister’s were the same style, just different colors. She rubbed her little face to wake up faster, and Lu Ningwan, just awake, saw her.

Lu Ningwan smiled and said: “Tiantian, what are you doing?”

Tiantian looked at Lu Ningwan with sleepy eyes. “Little Lu sister, I want to wake up faster. I’m so tired.” She stretched with a yawn.

Lu Ningwan laughed, climbed out of the blankets, and put her small hands on Shen Tiantian’s face. “I’ll rub Tiantian’s face so you won’t be tired.”

“Okay, Little Lu sister, help me!” Tiantian propped up her face, ready for Lu Ningwan to rub however she wanted.

Lin Qinghan knocked and came in to call the kids for breakfast. Opening the door, she saw Lu Ningwan rubbing her Tiantian’s face and burst out laughing. “What are you two doing?”

Seeing it was Lin Qinghan, Lu Ningwan shyly pulled her hands back from Shen Tiantian’s face.

Shen Tiantian flashed Lin Qinghan a big smile. “I’m too tired, so I let Little Lu sister rub my face.”

Lin Qinghan laughed at her Tiantian. Though almost seven, she was still as cute as when she was little.

“Okay, you two hurry and wash up. I put out new clothes for you. Breakfast is ready. Come down to eat when you’re done.” Lin Qinghan instructed the kids with a smile.

“Mm-hmm, got it, mother. We’re coming.” Tiantian said as she and Lu Ningwan helped each other put on clothes.

Soon, Shen Tiantian led Lu Ningwan to the dining room. Shen Xian and the others had started eating. Seeing the kids, they served them porridge and gave them small buns.

After breakfast, Shen Tiantian and Lu Ningwan saw Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan washing dishes in the kitchen and volunteered to help.

Unable to resist the kids, Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan filled a basin with water and let them wash fruit.

Shen Tiantian and Lu Ningwan exchanged a glance, rolled up their sleeves, and got ready to work. The two kids washed apples and pears bigger than their hands.

When Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan finished washing dishes, the kids had cleaned all the fruit, looking at them with bright eyes.

Lin Qinghan bent down with a smile, rubbing Tiantian’s and Lu Ningwan’s heads. “Tiantian is great, and Ningwan is great too!”

Tiantian wasn’t shy, her dimples showing as she smiled. Lu Ningwan held Tiantian’s hand, smiling shyly.

Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan made two big plates of fruit salad. Everyone sat on the living room floor. The little one in the middle went to Lu Ningwan one moment and Shen Tiantian the next, playing happily.

At dinner, Shen Xian and the adults drank beer. Shen Tiantian and Lu Ningwan got juice. Shen Tiantian curiously eyed the bubbly liquid in the adults’ cups, licking her lips. “Mommy, what’s that you’re drinking? I want to try.”

Shen Xian held up her beer cup with amusement. “This is beer. It’s bitter. Kids can’t drink it. It’ll make your head dizzy, and you won’t wake up tomorrow.”

Tiantian still looked at the beer. “Tiantian’s grown up, and it’s vacation, so I don’t need to wake early.” She gave herself an excuse.

Shen Xian looked at her Tiantian with amusement. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to let her try, but alcohol was bad for kids. Unable to resist Tiantian’s pleading, she said with a smile: “Fine, but just a tiny sip. No more.”

Tiantian’s eyes lit up as she scooted to mommy’s side, curiously bringing her head to the cup. She wrinkled her nose after sniffing. The beer didn’t smell good.

Lu Ningwan watched Shen Tiantian. Honestly, she’d never tried beer either. When her parents were around, they drank it, but she was too young, and they didn’t let her try. So she was curious about the taste.

Tiantian looked at her mother and mommy, then at Lu Ningwan. She picked up the beer cup, took a tiny sip, and her eyebrows scrunched together. Putting down the cup, she said: “It’s not good. It’s bitter. Why do mommy and mother like it?”

Shen Xian thought, touched Tiantian’s face, and said: “How do I explain? It’s like stages of life. Sometimes a bit of bitterness makes it more memorable. See, I didn’t lie. Kids don’t like it.”

Tiantian nodded, confirming she really didn’t like beer.

Seeing that Tiantian didn’t like it, Shen Xian laughed. Looking up, she saw Lu Ningwan curiously eyeing the cup. She smiled and asked: “Ningwan, want to try? Take a small sip. See if it’s really bad.”

Seeing everyone’s eyes on her, Lu Ningwan twisted her hands together. She was actually curious. Shen Tiantian, back in her seat, said: “Little Lu sister, adults are weird. It’s not good.”

Lu Ningwan squeezed Shen Tiantian’s hand, deciding to try it herself since her parents had drunk it before.

She stood from her seat, moved to Shen Xian’s side, and looked at her. Then she picked up the cup, sniffed it, and wrinkled her nose. The beer smelled sharp, not as nice as her mango juice.

She brought the cup to her lips, not sipping like Shen Tiantian had.