Chapter 2, Night Conversations
Xiao Yiyi said: "Alright, once you have assembled it, you can place it together with the other three to form a convoy"
Xiao Yiyi and Liang Qianya returned home, and as soon as they arrived, Xiao Mu Yang, who had been waiting at home since early morning after coming back from kindergarten, rushed over and said: "Sister! I want to show you the artillery vehicle team I drew!"
Liang Qianya responded excitedly, "Sure!"
When Teacher Hu mentioned this matter to her, her first reaction was that the young girl had entered puberty and was perhaps experiencing the stirrings of young love
No need, there isn't much left. I have almost finished writing at school, checked the answers with my classmates, and I still have a bit of Chinese and English previewing to do
She, like most mothers, treats her daughter as a delicate little flower, needing nothing but the nourishment of sunlight and rain; those chemical products can only become a burden clinging to her tender skin, and no matter how enchanting the blended fragrance may be, it cannot compare to the natural scent that emanates from her.
Xiao Mu Yang, eager to assist, urged his sister to help him pour the bath salt. Xiao Yi Yi helped him pour the bath salt into the bottle cap, and he then solemnly sprinkled it into the bathtub. The pink salt granules dissolved in the water, and as Xiao Yi Yi reached in to stir, the entire basin of water transformed into a pink hue, releasing a sweet fragrance as the steam rose.
"Aunt Ding's juice." Xiao Yiyi placed the juice on the small cabinet beside the writing desk, "Shall I help you check your homework after you finish it?"
However, every time she sees her daughter looking at those bottles and jars, she is reminded of the novelty and excitement she felt when she secretly applied her mother's cream and lipstick at the age of eleven or twelve. Her mother passed away when she was twelve, and no one was there to take that same twelve-year-old girl by the hand into the world of women, to introduce her to those bottles and jars, to accompany her in buying her first bra, and to tell her not to panic when she experienced her first menstruation. Her mother passed away when she was twelve, and no one was there to take that same twelve-year-old girl by the hand into the world of women, to introduce her to those bottles and jars, to accompany her in buying her first bra, and to tell her not to panic when she experienced her first menstruation
After approximately one hour, Liang Qianya, having finished studying, went downstairs and, along with Xiao Mu Yang, playfully engaged in antics until after 9 o'clock, when they were finally sent back upstairs by Xiao Yi Yi.
She does not know if other mothers are like her, always unconsciously projecting the shadows of their own childhood onto their daughters, wanting to give her everything that they once lacked, missed, or regretted; it is an expression of love for her daughter, as well as a form of compensation for herself
Liang Qianya replied: "I would like that, but there are no handsome men around who are worthy of me."
Liang Qianya said she wanted to take a bath, and the only bathroom with a bathtub at home was in Xiao Yiyi's master bedroom. Xiao Yiyi knew that the little girl actually just wanted to use her fragrant bath salts. She prepared hot water for Liang Qianya and pointed to several bottles of bath salts, asking her which one she wanted to use. Liang Qianya said she wanted the pink one
Xiao Yiyi was taken aback: "Your dad?"
Liang Qianya looked at her mother's expression and felt quite disappointed; this was not the response she had hoped for. Judging by her mother's reaction, it seemed that she truly did not care at all whether her father had another woman.
Xiao Yiyi was tidying up the bottles and jars while saying: "I also think she is quite good, but when your grandfather first brought her home, I particularly disliked her. She is more than ten years younger than your grandfather and only about ten years older than me, so it would be appropriate for me to call her 'sister.' At that time, I thought she was a gold digger after your grandfather's money. Later, when she married your grandfather, our relationship was quite strained for many years, which created a bad atmosphere at home, and I also had a difficult time during those years. But look at us now! Aren't we on good terms? We can even meet up and sit together. In fact, it proves that I underestimated her character back then; your little grandmother is quite nice and not a money-grabbing vixen at all. During your grandfather's serious illness last year, if it weren't for her tirelessly taking care of him day and night, he wouldn't have recovered so well."
Liang Qianya hesitated for a moment, turned over, and said seriously: "To be straightforward, there is indeed a bit of a matter, and it is really related to dating, but it is not about me. I suspect that my father is dating."
"What you just said implies that you think your father has no other merits besides being wealthy? Do women only look at him for his money?" Xiao Yiyi shifted her position and continued to apply lotion to Liang Qianya's other leg
The photo was clearly taken secretly, and Xiao Yiyi looked at it and said: "It looks quite good."
Liang Qianya obviously also appreciated her brother's artwork. After exaggerating her praise, she rummaged through her backpack and handed a small box to Xiao Mu Yang, saying: "Here, this is a gift from your sister, considered a reward for your painting."
Xiao Mu Yang eagerly opened the box: "Shall I assemble it now? Together with my sister!"
Xiao Yiyi handed over the pajama pants and indignantly said, "I am only 34, please do not regard me as an outdated elderly person, okay?"
Not the same! How do you normally call them? You all call them 'Sister Xiao' or 'Brother Liang', right? This woman calls my dad 'Brother Yuchen'
Liang Qianya said: "That is not the case."
Xiao Yiyi looked at her daughter's eager eyes and truly did not want to disappoint her. She tried hard to think back to when she still had a way to address Liang Yuchen.
"Hurry up and put on your top, don't catch a cold." Xiao Yiyi pulled Liang Qianya's leg and helped her apply body lotion, "Just because they call me 'sister' doesn't mean anything; there are plenty of young guys at our workplace who call me 'sister' too, but that doesn't mean they want to get close to me, right?"
Therefore, one should not jump to conclusions about others. Moreover, if he were truly the child of your grandfather's friend and called your father "Brother Yuchen," it would not be a big deal. Even if there were any ulterior motives, your father's keen insight into people is unmatched; who could escape his discerning gaze? He is also approaching forty years old. If you can see through any ill intentions, surely he can as well
Xiao Yiyi said while turning to the kitchen: "Alright, you can play with your sister for a while, and I will call you for dinner later"
Liang Qianya, with her eyes closed in enjoyment, lazily chatted with her mother. After a while of casual conversation, the topic inevitably shifted to the matter of teachers inviting parents.
Hey! Where did you learn all these tricks?
Xiao Yiyi did not say much more, probably inheriting Liang Yuchen's intellect and self-discipline; in her studies, Liang Qianya had never caused her any worry
Xiao Yiyi smiled again, turned around to grab a dry towel, and gently wiped Liang Qianya's back before handing her the pajamas: "Do you think that all the women around your dad, except for your mom, are all vixens"
She has an air of enchantment about her; while other women address my father as General Liang, she is the only one who calls him Brother
Xiao Yiyi smiled: "What kind of trick is this?"
"It's quite good." Liang Qianya said, "I think my great-aunt is rather impressive, not at all like someone in their forties approaching fifty."
Xiao Yiyi continued, "Your father is quite outstanding, and it's only natural for women to be attracted to him. However, I can understand you. When I was your age, I also thought that all the women who approached my father were just scheming bitches."
In the bedroom, Xiao Yiyi had Liang Qianya lying on her large bed, resembling a beauty salon, with various skincare products neatly arranged on the bedside table, and even lit an aromatherapy candle in a somewhat professional manner. She poured a little moisturizing oil into her palm, added a drop of lavender essential oil, rubbed her hands together, and gently massaged Liang Qianya's back, one stroke at a time.
After dinner, Liang Qianya went upstairs to her room to do her homework, while Xiao Yiyi accompanied Xiao Mu Yang in the living room to draw for a while. When Sister Ding finished tidying up the dining room and kitchen and brought a large pot of freshly squeezed juice to the living room to take over from her, she finally got up to go upstairs to see Liang Qianya
Liang Qianya stuck out her tongue and smiled mischievously
Xiao Yiyi took Xiao Mu Yang to bed, leaving Liang Qianya to take a shower by herself, telling her to call either her or Aunt Ding if she needed anything
At least this statement is not a lie
Liang Qianya did not deny her mother’s statement: "This is different, this is particularly 'fox'!"
Xiao Yiyi certainly understood the purpose of her daughter's question, but when she was in a relationship with Liang Yuchen? This truly left her at a loss.
How is it? There seems to be a problem! That woman appears to be the child of a friend of my grandfather. I still have some photos here." Liang Qianya said as she leaned forward, took out her phone, scrolled for a while, and handed it to Xiao Yiyi
"Your teacher Hu didn't mention anything else, just praised you for your studies, and said that you seem to be distracted lately. He asked if there was anything going on at home and suggested that I talk to you more often." Xiao Yiyi said casually while giving a massage, trying to probe, "So? Are you in a relationship?"
"That is not necessarily the case; those who fall in love are often blind and foolish, and moreover, men are visual creatures, easily deceived by appearances"
After more than twenty minutes, Xiao Yiyi, who had just lulled her son to sleep, returned to her room. Liang Qianya had just finished washing up and was drying her hair in the bathroom. Xiao Yiyi entered, tidying up the bathroom while saying: "I just bought a set of moisturizing oil. Once you finish drying your hair, shall I give you a body spa?"
Xiao Yiyi held a glass of juice and knocked on Liang Qianya's door. After receiving permission, she pushed the door open and entered.
As Xiao Yiyi was nearing home, she called Sister Ding, and at that moment, two plates of hot dishes had just been served. Not wanting to disturb the pair of siblings in the living room, she refrained from hurrying them to wash their hands. It was only when Xiao Mu Yang ran into the kitchen with the assembled police car to show off to her and Sister Ding that she called the siblings to wash their hands and eat.
Xiao Mu Yang, feeling playful, was taken out by Xiao Yi Yi and even went to fetch his toy boat that he used while bathing to "lend" it to his sister
Yuchen Ge? It seems somewhat ambiguous, but Liang Yuchen would definitely not fall for a woman who calls him Yuchen Ge
From her tone, it seems she is not lying. Xiao Yiyi smiled and secretly breathed a sigh of relief
What looks good! It's obviously all fake! Liang Qianya had a face full of indignation, "She is just after my dad's money."
It can't really be considered a romantic relationship; I think my dad has been entangled with a seductress
Xiao Yiyi helplessly smiled and said: "Alright, then you should observe carefully and help your dad keep a close watch."
Ah! Liang Qianya laughed, "Do you still know about green tea bitches?"
Liang Qianya imitated Xiao Yiyi's tone: "I am already 12, please don't think of me as a child who knows nothing, okay?"
I used to call him Brother Yuchen as well" Xiao Yiyi replied
What do you think of your little aunt? asked Xiao Yiyi
Xiao Mu Yang has recently become fascinated with drawing battle vehicles. He stacks crooked tracks with several randomly combined squares, semicircles, or triangles, and adds a cannon, shovel, or hammer, resulting in tanks, excavators, and wall-breaking machines. Xiao Yi Yi does not know where he learned this, but his drawings are quite impressive, especially the color combinations, which are very appealing. Like all mothers, Xiao Yi Yi often thinks to herself: perhaps my son is a painting genius!
Xiao Mu Yang took it over; it was a LEGO car. Excitedly, he held the box up to Xiao Yi Yi and said, "Mom, my sister gave me another reward. I now have four!"
Liang Qianya, feeling discontent, leaned against the headboard with a pillow in her arms and casually chatted: "What did you call my dad when you were dating him back in the day?"