Omegaverse: Salted Fish Life in the Yaoi Novel

Chapter 83: Ch 83: Mall Adventures and Grandfatherly Love

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, bathing the bustling city streets in bright, golden warmth, Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue continued to enjoy their peaceful meal together in the dining room.

But elsewhere, a different kind of joy was unfolding, one filled with excitement, laughter, and the pure delight of spoiling beloved children.

"Grandpa!" Shen Guoxing called out with boundless energy, pointing eagerly toward a brightly lit baby clothing store. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, reflecting the colorful displays visible through the glass windows.

PD Xu Cui, who was steadily pushing Mo Yan’s stroller with one hand, glanced over and broke into a warm, indulgent smile. "Do you want to go in there?" he asked gently, bending down slightly so he could meet her at eye level.

Shen Guoxing turned to him and nodded vigorously, her small hand already tugging on his larger one. "Yeah!" she exclaimed, practically pulling him forward with infectious enthusiasm.

PD Xu Cui let out a hearty laugh, thoroughly amused by the child’s bright display of energy. "Sure, sure," he replied dotingly, allowing her to lead the way. The small crew of staff trailing behind them let out quiet, collective sighs, their arms already weighed down by the growing mountain of shopping bags.

PD Xu Cui heard them and raised an eyebrow in mock sternness. "What are you all sighing for?" he asked. "It’s a blessing to have the chance to accompany my angels!" he declared righteously, puffing out his chest with pride.

The staff crew exchanged glances, then looked at the two adorable children, and nodded in sincere agreement. "That’s right," they chorused in unison, their voices carrying a mix of resignation and fondness.

PD Xu Cui nodded approvingly and beckoned them forward with a wave of his hand. "Now hurry up—my angelic Shen Guoxing wants to shop," he said, then turned back to the little girl with a foolish, grandfatherly smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "Let’s go, let’s go!" Shen Guoxing nodded eagerly and led the small procession into the store, her steps light and bouncy.

Inside the boutique, the atmosphere was luxurious yet welcoming. A soft red carpet stretched across the floor, plush and pleasing underfoot, while ambient lighting cast a gentle, warm glow over carefully arranged displays.

The air carried a clean, comforting scent of new fabric and faint baby powder. Clothing racks lined the walls, showcasing everything from tiny newborn sizes to adorable toddler outfits in soft pastels and playful patterns.

"Welcome," a sales staff member greeted them with practiced politeness. Her eyes widened dramatically the moment she recognized who had entered. PD Xu Cui nodded in acknowledgment, while Shen Guoxing smiled brightly and offered a polite little bow. "Hello!" she said cheerfully.

The saleswoman felt her heart melt instantly and had to cover the wide, uncontrollable smile breaking across her face. Shen Guoxing looked up at the kind "jiejie" in front of her and smiled back sweetly. "What clothes do you recommend for my meimei, jiejie?" she asked, gently gesturing toward the sleeping baby in the stroller.

The saleswoman felt an overwhelming wave of cuteness and baby fever wash over her, momentarily daydreaming about having a child as adorable as these two. Snapping back to professionalism, she gestured toward a delicate pink princess-style dress. "This would be a wonderful choice," she suggested warmly.

Shen Guoxing examined it carefully, running her small fingers over the soft fabric, and nodded approvingly. "Grandpa!" she called, turning to PD Xu Cui with shining eyes. He smiled immediately and nodded without hesitation. "Wrap this up," he said, not even glancing at the price tag.

The sales staff, who had been reveling in the children’s cuteness, quickly packed the dress while repeating a silent mantra to herself: Baby necessities are expensive.. toddler necessities are even more expensive... Baby necessities are expensive.. toddler necessities are even more expensive...

Meanwhile, Shen Guoxing scanned the racks with focused determination and pointed at another exquisite dress. "This!" she exclaimed, running toward it with light footsteps. She held up the white silk garment decorated with delicate pink flowers and nodded to herself. The fabric is so smooth and soft, she thought, gently rubbing the material between her fingers.

PD Xu Cui arrived at her side and nodded approvingly. "She has such a good eye for fashion at such a young age," he said, laughing heartily. The staff crew following them nodded in agreement. "A genius, she is," one of them added, followed by murmurs of assent from the others.

PD Xu Cui laughed boisterously, practically puffing out his chest as if the praise were directed at him personally. "Excuse me," he called to the sales staff again. "Wrap this up too." The woman nodded obediently and set to work with practiced efficiency.

They continued this way, circling the store as Shen Guoxing pointed out more outfits for her meimei: a pink ruffled dress with white accents and a ribbon, a white silk dress with a big black bow, an adorable baby sailor uniform complete with a tiny matching hat, and a set of pink-and-white overalls.

Every time Shen Guoxing selected something new, PD Xu Cui would laugh with pride, praising her sharp eye for fashion. "She has a bright future in this, I swear," he declared with a bright, doting smile. The staff crew sighed quietly—they had heard this for the nth time—but they had to admit Shen Guoxing really did have excellent taste. Still, PD Xu Cui’s energetic boasting was gradually draining their energy.

PD Xu Cui noticed their reactions and laughed mischievously, happily following his angelic granddaughter to the next display.

After circling the entire store, Shen Guoxing felt that none of the remaining clothes quite did her meimei justice. She smiled up at PD Xu Cui. "Grandpa, let’s look for more clothes for my meimei in other stores," she suggested brightly, her voice full of innocent excitement.

PD Xu Cui nodded automatically but then paused. "Wait, we didn’t buy anything for you," he said, concern flickering across his face. Shen Guoxing shook her head quickly. "I already have plenty of clothes, Grandpa!" she replied with a bright smile. Deep down, though, she didn’t want to burden him or let him waste money on her.

A trace of sadness flickered in her eyes as she remembered the nurses’ harsh words—a money-draining bastard—that had echoed in the hospital halls.

PD Xu Cui didn’t miss the fleeting sadness in his granddaughter’s eyes and frowned inwardly. Though he didn’t know the exact cause, he suspected it stemmed from the hospital staff. He sighed quietly, making a mental note to have a word with Su Wanyan later.

Shen Guoxing was still caught in those painful memories, her small hands trembling slightly. Before she could sink deeper, PD Xu Cui suddenly lifted her high into the air with a playful whoosh. "Woah!" Shen Guoxing let out in surprise at the sudden elevated view.

PD Xu Cui laughed warmly at her reaction. "Come, let’s go look for yours," he said, carrying Shen Guoxing comfortably in his right arm while pushing Mo Yan’s stroller with his left.

"But—" Shen Guoxing started to decline, but PD Xu Cui shook his head firmly. "No buts!" he declared, already eyeing dresses in the next section. Shen Guoxing still looked hesitant, her eyes darting around uncertainly, but she sighed, knowing she couldn’t say no to him.

"What do you think about this?" PD Xu Cui asked, showing her a white and red dress decorated with cheerful strawberries. Shen Guoxing examined it and nodded. "It’s pretty," she said softly.

They chose more outfits after that: pink overalls matching Mo Yan’s, a blue knitted sweater with shorts, a brown sweater featuring a cute dog design paired with white pants, a white dress with black accents and a matching hat, and a white shirt printed with a knitted face of a certain blue alien paired with baggy jeans.

PD Xu Cui paid for everything without batting an eye, simply enjoying the joy sparkling in his granddaughter’s smile. They moved to another store, but before leaving the first, Shen Guoxing bowed politely to the helpful saleswoman, who smiled and waved them off warmly.

After hours of circling the mall, with the afternoon sky beginning to darken into soft hues of orange and pink, they finally decided they had shopped enough. Well, not entirely—if Shen Guoxing hadn’t mentioned she was getting sleepy, they might have continued until the stores closed.

They boarded the van, with Shen Guoxing excitedly recounting the highlights of her day to PD Xu Cui in her bright, animated voice. He listened attentively, a small doting smile never leaving his face. After a few minutes, she too drifted off to sleep, her small hand gently resting near the sleeping baby in the car seat.

PD Xu Cui smiled softly and took several pictures of the tender moment, planning to engrave it not only in his memory but also in his heart.. and perhaps show it off to Mo Xingxue and Su Wanyan later. With that thought, an involuntary chuckle escaped him.

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Guys, if there were some mistakes, kindly point it out as my head is spinning and I can’t focus for shi. Thanks, y’all!