Chapter 95: Mom Fans

Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Mom Fans

Before getting into the car, Wei Shu thoughtfully had Tuantuan put her toys back into her backpack so he could carry it for her. He also made sure the little girl held tightly to his hand. In just a short morning, he had already figured out that Tuantuan was a clumsy little thing who would trip over her own feet while walking. He couldn’t let her fall while she was right by his side!

Feeling the firm, undeniable grip on her hand, Tuantuan sighed silently in her heart, "My new friend is a bit too clingy. Tuantuan wants to hold Mom’s hand too."

Once they were in the car, Mr. and Mrs. Wei sat in the front. Tuantuan sat in the middle of the back seat, flanked by Wei Shu on her left and Deng Yuyuan on her right. After sitting for only a moment, Tuantuan wanted to press against the window to look at the scenery outside, so she automatically rolled herself into her mother’s embrace. The clingy little guy leaned over as well, chattering away as he constantly asked Tuantuan what was so interesting outside.

Through the rearview mirror, Mr. and Mrs. Wei watched helplessly as one side of the back seat remained completely empty, while the three passengers squeezed and fussed together on the other side. Seeing that Deng Yuyuan and her daughter weren’t the least bit annoyed by their son, the couple concluded that they were truly good people.

Deng Yuyuan wore a gentle, tolerant smile as she watched the two little children playing around. In reality, she was just too drained to care.

"Good thing I had the foresight to buy myself an outfit too," she said.

[Player, don’t forget to report for duty this afternoon.]

"You’ve changed. In the past, you would only be thinking about Tuantuan at a time like this."

[I’ve decided to add a new favorite. I’m going to be a ’mom fan’ for both you and Tuantuan.]

There was absolutely no need for it to take advantage of her like that. Lounging lazily in a chair and basking in the sun at the Knowledge Youth Institute felt like a lifetime ago. Deng Yuyuan felt as if her bones were already slightly growing moldy from the lack of rest.

The Wei Family’s home was a spacious traditional courtyard house. The building directly facing the main entrance was a two-story structure. The heavy, red-lacquered wooden doors opened inward, wide enough for four people to walk through side by side. Stepping over the high bluestone threshold, a tranquil scent—a blend of old scrolls, aged wood, and crabapple blossoms—wafted over them.

Holding Tuantuan in one arm and Wei Shu’s hand with her free hand, Deng Yuyuan admired this era’s masterfully crafted architecture. The first thing that caught her eye was a meticulously laid brick screen wall. In its center, the character for "Fortune" was written in vigorous, bold strokes, while several unusually shaped Taihu stones were casually piled at its base. Only after bypassing the screen wall did the courtyard fully reveal itself.

It was a well-structured two-courtyard compound. Beneath their feet was a cross-patterned pathway paved with green bricks. The doors and windows of the east and west wing rooms were made of fine old elm wood. The latticework was covered with snow-white Korean paper, and the glass panes were wiped sparkling clean. Under the eaves, a few web-like radio antennas were faintly visible—the only items in the yard that revealed a hint of modernity.

"We have two nannies and two elders at home, all of whom are very kind and hospitable. My eldest son went to school, and my sister-in-law is at work; neither will be back for lunch," Wei’s mother said as she led Deng Yuyuan and her daughter inside, taking them to the washroom first.

"What would you like for lunch? I can ask the nanny to add a few dishes. Don’t be polite, order whatever you like! Little Shu finally has a friend over to play, and I can’t even tell you how happy I am." Wei’s mother held Deng Yuyuan’s hand affectionately, her enthusiasm overflowing.

"I’m fine with anything, but Tuantuan can only eat liquid food right now. Two simple bowls of porridge will be enough for us," Deng Yuyuan replied, feeling a bit shy.

"Tuantuan wants to order!" Tuantuan suddenly shouted. Meeting the confused gazes of the two adults, she declared, "Tuantuan drinks porridge, and Mom eats meat!"

"Alright," Wei’s mother nodded with a beaming smile. "Ms. Deng, I think we should listen to the child."

Wei’s mother headed to the kitchen, while Deng Yuyuan carefully washed Tuantuan up. Since she was already running the water, she washed their dirty clothes as well, temporarily folding the wet garments and leaving them on a bamboo chair in the washroom.

Soon enough, Tuantuan was once again a sweet-smelling little toddler. Her bright yellow cotton shirt made her look incredibly vibrant and lively. Deng Yuyuan wore a Dacron shirt on top and a pair of khaki trousers below, the fabric faintly outlining her slender shoulder line. The collar of her shirt was neatly buttoned, and the cuffs were rolled up to her forearms, revealing a stretch of pale, strong wrists.

"Your older brother let you play with so many toys. Do you have a favorite, Tuantuan? Mom can go to the department store and buy one for you. You can stay home like a good girl this afternoon and play with your toys while you wait for Mom to come back, okay?" Deng Yuyuan asked.

Standing in front of the mirror, Tuantuan admired her new clothes. Pleased with how pretty she looked, she couldn’t help but cup her own cheeks and sway from side to side.

"Okay! Mom has to come home quickly to keep Tuantuan company!" She was such an understanding little Tuantuan today as well.

As soon as the two arrived at the dining table, they heard Wei Shu shouting, "That’s not fair! It’s Tuantuan’s first time at our house. She should get a new bowl!"

The nanny obligingly took out two playful, child-friendly ceramic bowls from the cabinet and went to the kitchen to scoop the porridge. Wei Shu wanted to go over and supervise her, but the moment he turned and saw Tuantuan, he completely forgot his objective. He rushed up and pulled Tuantuan to his seat. "Tuantuan, you can sit in my spot. I’ll go sit on my brother’s side."

Wei’s mother stepped forward and pulled Deng Yuyuan aside so they could chat by the coffee table. She told Deng Yuyuan to just comfortably accept her youngest son’s goodwill, explaining that the boy complained about things being unfair all day long, so it was best to just humor him.

"After we eat, we can go play with building blocks! I have a whole box full of them. We can’t eat just yet; we have to wait for Grandpa and Grandma to get here first. Do you want some snacks to fill your tummy in the meantime?" Wei Shu chattered on and on.

Tuantuan shook her head. "Tuantuan will play building blocks with you next time. After eating, Tuantuan is going home."

"Why?" Wei Shu asked, a bit confused. "And why do you call yourself Tuantuan?"

"Because Tuantuan is Tuantuan!" The little girl blinked her big eyes.

"But I never call myself Shu-shu. You should call yourself ’I’ too." Wei Shu looked deeply worried. With his little friend being so clueless, she would definitely be mocked by her classmates once she started kindergarten. Although he wasn’t attending kindergarten himself at the moment, Wei Shu felt that Tuantuan would go because she was a perfectly healthy little baby.

Tuantuan was curious. "Why aren’t you Shu-shu? I am Tuantuan... am I? Tuantuan needs to call herself ’I’, oh." The little baby processed this slowly for a moment before confusing herself completely. "Tuantuan isn’t called ’I’, Tuantuan is called Tuantuan."

After saying this, she nodded to herself and muttered in distress, "Don’t try to teach Tuantuan anymore. Tuantuan is still little. Tuantuan doesn’t understand. Wait until Tuantuan is three years old, then Tuantuan will learn it, okay?"

"You’re two years old this year?" When Tuantuan nodded, Wei Shu stopped pressing the issue. After all, two-year-old children couldn’t go to kindergarten yet, so naturally, they wouldn’t be mocked by classmates.

The two elders finally arrived. Still hale and hearty, they approached the dining table. The nanny had already informed them that they would be having guests today—a lively little girl and her mother.

The grandmother’s gaze fell on Yuanyuan. Her pupils suddenly quaked in shock. She patted her husband’s hand, gesturing for him to look over as well.

"She really looks so much like her... Baby, where is your mother?"

The grandfather observed carefully and said, "The two places are so far apart. It’s not convenient for us to go over, let alone for her to come to Beijing."