Chapter 93
Lu Tingchuan pretended not to understand. “Oh, then we can take out the toys that were put away at the bottom of the cabinet before.”
Lu Xuan’s face, which had been full of excited anticipation, gradually softened into an innocent, slightly aggrieved expression. He turned to Xia Shi, hoping for his mother’s help. But Xia Shi just stood nearby, smiling silently.
Lu Xuan had no choice but to speak up himself. “Daddy, the last time I was at the toy store, I saw lots of new toys, and there’s a new Batmobile. My toy room isn’t that full anymore; the shelves have lots of space now, so it can fit.”
Lu Tingchuan sat on the sofa, propping his chin with his hand, watching him. He neither agreed nor disagreed. Lu Xuan then tugged Xia Shi over, saying, “Can we buy it for my little brother and sister? They’ll be really happy when they see it, really!”
He said the last two words with absolute sincerity, nodding and blinking as if to say, look into my sincere eyes.
Lu Tingchuan couldn’t help but laugh. He scooped Lu Xuan into his arms and asked, “Have you wanted it for a long time?”
Caught, Lu Xuan felt a bit embarrassed. His face turned slightly red as he lowered his head, tugging at Lu Tingchuan’s collar. Softly, he said, “Daddy, the new Batmobile is really cool.”
Lu Tingchuan laughed. “Alright! Daddy will buy it for you!”
Lu Xuan cheered with joy at the answer. But Lu Tingchuan added, “But you have to promise Daddy one thing.”
Lu Xuan froze, his expression serious.
“Next time, if you see a toy you like and want it, you can directly tell Daddy and Mommy. We’ll decide if we can buy it for you. As long as you’re not constantly fixated on the toys and don’t just hide away in them, we’ll agree. But you can’t use little tricks like today, okay? Daddy wants that if you’re giving a gift to someone else, it should be because you truly want to give it—not for any other reason.”
Lu Xuan felt a little timid but also a bit wronged. “I really want to give it to Shu Hang little brother.”
“I know you really like Shu Hang little brother. But Daddy means that next time, whatever happens, you should give it entirely out of genuine liking, without any other motives—even just a little.”
Lu Xuan looked up at Lu Tingchuan with big eyes and nodded firmly. “Okay!”
Lu Tingchuan smiled. “Then maybe you should find a chance to explain to Shu Hang little brother?”
“I already told him. I wanted to give him a toy, and at first, he didn’t want it. So I asked him, and then asked him to help me with this favor.”
Lu Tingchuan was surprised—it turned out the two boys had already discussed it. He and Xia Shi exchanged a knowing smile.
Xia Shi sat down and asked, “Does Xuan Xuan really like Shu Hang little brother?”
The topic made Lu Xuan extremely happy. “Yes! Shu Hang little brother also likes Batmobiles, and likes □□.”
People just seem to get along better when they share the same interests.
“I played piano for him, and he said I was great. Mommy, Uncle Mo has a lot of training for competitions, so he said he didn’t have time to teach me and Mo Jia’ang. He found another uncle for us.”
Xia Shi already knew this. Mo Kang had found a retired athlete who now runs a Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) gym to take in some students. Since Mo Jia’ang went there, they also sent Lu Xuan.
“Mommy, can Shu Hang little brother join us?”
“This Mommy can’t decide. Shu Hang little brother is over a year younger than you. You need to ask the Sanda teacher if it’s okay for someone his age, and also ask him if he wants to.”
Lu Xuan’s eyes lit up. “Got it! I also need to ask Uncle Shu Yang and Aunt Wen Min for permission.”
“That’s right! Xuan Xuan is so smart!”
Lu Tingchuan lifted Lu Xuan into his arms. “Alright, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, right? Let’s go wash up and sleep early.”
“Daddy, will you come with us tomorrow?”
“Of course. Daddy won’t train tomorrow; I’ll spend the whole day with you.”
Lu Xuan clapped his hands and cheered, “Yay!”
Author’s Note:
Sniff sniff, I thought you wouldn’t guess correctly, but most of you did. Actually, even without a registered marriage, in certain circumstances—if local notables witnessed it and a wedding banquet was held with a ceremony—it can later be legally recognized as a formal marriage. [I might be wrong, since I’m not a lawyer…]
Wu Xiuxiu’s misfortune was that she was uneducated, easily intimidated by Su Jianping. Also, due to limited education in the village and traditional beliefs, she grew up thinking her husband was everything and couldn’t live without him. So she unintentionally became a “mistress.”
Because of a mother like this, she didn’t know how to educate her children or protect them from these situations, so Su Ran learned the truth too early. If Wu Xiuxiu had been different, more educated, or had her own opinions, Su Ran might not have become like this. Of course, if Wu Xiuxiu were different, she wouldn’t have followed Su Jianping without recognition either. She had many other choices.
In this story, Shu Li and Wu Xiuxiu are both victims, both pitiful. Shu Yang and Su Ran also. The difference is that Su Ran’s personality makes him unable to let go; his resentment of Shu Yang is deep in his bones. Shu Yang could walk a straightforward path, keeping to his own way, but Su Ran cannot. Childhood disparities made him resentful, willing to do anything to seek psychological balance.
So if Su Ran is hateful, he is also pitiful and miserable.
You’ve all been guessing who’s the mistress, who’s the illegitimate child, but in this story, some things can’t be clearly defined.
I suddenly realized this story could also be rewritten as a 1970s-80s rebirth novel, with either Shu Li or Wu Xiuxiu being reborn. Haha. [I may have imagined Su Jianping while thinking of Qi Tongwei, but Shu Li is not Liang Lu.]
Ahem, that’s enough drama. The next chapter is Thanksgiving—warm, sweet, and cozy!
Let’s be inspirational, letting drama and sweetness coexist!
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Chapter 62: Thanksgiving (1)
It was Thanksgiving.
The kindergarten had prepared a month in advance, and the venue was beautifully decorated. Lu Xuan wore a little suit, looking both nervous and excited, occasionally glancing at the door.
Xia Shi smiled and fixed his hair. “Daddy is waiting for you in the audience. There are too many people backstage, so he won’t come here. We’ll see him once we’re on stage.”
Lu Xuan paused, but just then a voice called from the door, “Lu Xuan!”
Xia Shi turned to see He Miaoyan peeking through the door frame with a smile. Lu Xuan stood on tiptoe, waving his hand high. “Miaomiao, I’m here!”
Xia Shi touched her nose, realizing the little boy was looking for his childhood friend, not his dad. Luckily Lu Tingchuan wasn’t here, or he would have been disappointed.
He Miaoyan looked beautiful in a pink dress, with pink wings and a fuzzy pink halo on her head, holding a magic wand. The moment she entered, she drew the attention of the other children and parents, who exclaimed, “Wow!”
He Miaoyan smiled at Lu Xuan and poked his butterfly bow tie. “So pretty!”
Lu Xuan smiled back. “You’re pretty too.”
Her whole face lit up. Her eyes sparkled. “Daddy made it for me! He says I’m his little angel!”
“Miaomiao, our performance is starting!”
He Mingyi, standing outside the door, waved. He Miaoyan ran off, tugging her dress, and Lu Xuan held Xia Shi’s hand. “Mommy, I want to watch Miaomiao’s performance!”
The audience was almost full—mostly parents holding their kids, waiting for the performances. Lu Tingchuan, 1.84m tall, crouched in the front row, adjusting the DV camera for the best angle. Seeing Xia Shi and Lu Xuan, he smiled and moved a small stool over for Xia Shi to sit. He also held Lu Xuan in his arms.
“Weren’t you going to wait backstage with the other kids?”
“Miaomiao is about to go on stage. I promised her I’d watch. Also Mo Jia’ang’s performance is after hers! And my performance is last, so I can rest for a while.”
It was surprising that two kids who barely knew each other and weren’t in the same class got along so well.
He Miaoyan performed with her father He Mingyi. They danced together, but it was mostly her dancing while he acted as a prop. Her small age made her steps a little crooked, but you could see some ballet form. Even though it wasn’t perfect, the audience—mostly parents—wasn’t judging professionally.
Her beauty and delicate appearance already melted the hearts of many parents. The dance was short but received enthusiastic applause.
Next were Mo Jia’ang and Mo Kang, performing a wood-breaking routine.
Xia Shi almost laughed—not because it was funny, but because their poses looked like a “chest-breaking stone” act. She asked Lu Xuan, “Do you do this in Sanda? Looks like Taekwondo.”
“Yes! Uncle Wei also teaches us Taekwondo!”
On stage, Mo Jia’ang and Mo Kang performed energetically, breaking one wooden board after another, up to five. They did it brilliantly.
Of course, the boards weren’t real wood, just thin, light practice boards.
Xia Shi tilted her head and smiled at Lu Xuan. “Can you do it?”
“Yes! I can break three!” Lu Xuan held up three fingers, then shyly pressed them down one by one. “Two! But I’ll learn to break three soon!”
Xia Shi chuckled and kissed him. “You’re amazing, baby!”
Most of the Thanksgiving performances were parent-child acts, with a small portion being school-organized group performances. The atmosphere was lively. Xia Shi watched attentively, and before she knew it, it was time for her and Lu Xuan to perform. Lu Tingchuan held the DV in one hand and his phone in the other, busy capturing everything.
Lu Xuan went on stage, slightly nervous, holding Xia Shi’s hand. Being the finale made it a somewhat formal occasion, showing the teacher’s expectations.
Xia Shi held him and patted his head. “Don’t be afraid, Mommy is with you.”
Her encouragement worked. Lu Xuan smiled up at her. Xia Shi started playing the first note on the piano, and Lu Xuan, having practiced this piece many times, immediately followed instinctively. The melodic notes filled the hall, and everyone fell silent, listening intently.
Lu Tingchuan couldn’t help but post the first Weibo update:
Lu Tingchuan V: Piano Queen and Piano Little Prince. [Video]
