Su Xiqin walked into the campus. Little Milk Bun was lined up in the group with a backpack on his shoulders. His mushroom haircut was a bit messy, and his fair round face was blushing a bit as he stared at the gate with his big dark eyes without blinking.
"Mo Jintian, your mom's here to pick you up," the teacher called out to Little Milk Bun.
Mo Jintian shifted out of the line happily and walked towards her. "You're on time today."
Su Xiqin smiled.
"Jintian's mom, Jintian won first place in the Children's Day drawing contest for boys. Be sure to treat him to something," said the teacher.
"Teacher, thank you for your hard work," Su Xiqin smiled and thanked the teacher. Since other parents were also here to pick up their children, the teacher didn't have more time to chitchat with Su Xiqin. She then walked out of the school with Little Milk Bun.
After stepping out of the gate, Su Xiqin looked down at her son proudly. Mo Jintian stared back at her with his clear eyes and murmured as if he couldn't handle his mom's doting look. "The drawings were really easy; I was just doodling."
Su Xiqin patted his head with her hand and teased him, "Are you trying to tell me that you are too smart?"
"I am smart to begin with." Mo Jintian pouted his lips indifferently and quickly walked past her with his stubby legs. His newest edition white backpack with Wuba on it swayed left and right while he jogged away. Having seen that, Su Xiqin felt as if all her gloomy feelings from before were all swiped away.
[TL Note: Wuba is an animated character in Monster Hunt, a 2015 Chinese-Hong Kong 3D fantasy action comedy adventure film.]
"Su-Su, where's your car?" Little Milk Bun looked left and right, but he didn't see Su Xiqin's car.
"The car broke down, and I sent it to a repair shop. Today, we'll take a taxi."
Little Milk Bun paused his steps as he turned around and stared at Su Xiqin with his clear dark pupils. His eyes rolled as he pondered and said, "You haven't walked with me for a long time. Let's walk home, and it'll count as you making up for it."
Su Xiqin looked at his little puffy eyebrows and felt as if a stream of clear water had moved across her heart. A mother knew her son the best, and she definitely knew what Little Milk Bun was thinking… He wanted to save her some money.
"But it's too hot today. Let's take a walk when the sun's down at night, okay?" She tried to talk it over.
"There are shades where there are trees. It'll be very comfortable with the summer breeze. Don't tell me you're afraid of walking all the way back home!" Little Milk Bun glanced at Su Xiqin in disapproval before he continued to walk forward with his stubby legs.
Su Xiqin knew her son's temper; once he was set on something, even nine cows couldn't pull him back. She sighed and looked at the Wuba backpack swaying before her as she caught up to him.
...
Nighttime came down like a curtain fall, but nighttime in S City was like daytime with neon lights brightening up the sky.
Inside Su Xiqin's apartment, the little guy was sitting on the sofa and watching cartoons on TV with all of his attention.
Meanwhile, Su Xiqin was in the kitchen cooking dinner.
"Wash your hands and get ready to eat." A voice came from the kitchen.
The little guy on the sofa didn't move at all, while Tang Xi sitting beside him looked over from the corner of her eyes.
"Little Milk Bun, did you hear what your Su-Su just said?"
Mo Jintian glanced back from the corner of his eyes as he said, "Auntie Xi-Xi, you heard it too! You have to be a role model first!"
Tang Xi rolled her eyes and thought, Alright, I'm older, I'll be a role model! Mo Jintian slid off the sofa and went to wash his hands for dinner when he saw Tang Xi walk towards the kitchen.
…
At the dinner table, Tang Xi stuck out her thumb at Su Xiqin for the Sichuan Boiled Fish she had made.
"Su-Su, as long as you are here, I'm able to eat delicious food every day."
"Auntie Xi-Xi, don't forget to pay Su-Su then!" Mo Jintian, who was eating his steamed minced pork bun with preserved vegetables, quickly said in his childish voice.
Tang Xi was about to get more food, but her chopsticks froze in the air as she looked at his cute face. "Little Milk Bun, what kind of relationship do we have? It would hurt to bring money into it."
"That's true. Then lend your new phone to Su-Su for a few days!" Mo Jintian's mouth was full when he spoke, and some rice even flew out.
Su Xiqin watched her son, and she pulled out a tissue and wiped the rice off his face. "Talk after you finish eating."
Tang Xi, who was choked by his reply, thought, His IQ's probably above 180! Who in the world is his father?