If she didn’t pick Zhen Zhu, would that little loli cry her eyes out? Would she get duped by some scumbag guy down the line? Would she keep sharp-tonguing (cross out: trash-talking) her peers until they burst into tears?
Would anyone play with her? Would she end up hiding in a corner, drawing circles and cursing under her breath? Would her future lover take good care of this sharp-tongued little loli?
Liang Sheng chattered on like an old nanny, muttering to herself for ages.
She just couldn’t let go. She really couldn’t.
Sigh. This life of hers was destined to be one big worry fest!
With a sigh, Liang Sheng shook her head and scribbled Zhen Zhu’s name in a flourish of wild handwriting.
Even after she finished writing, a twinge of regret lingered.
Zhen Zhu was just way too young. She’d have to wait five years for her. Could she really hold out that long (such wolfish, tigerish thoughts)?
“Even if you can’t hold out, you have to—or you’ll end up in an orange jumpsuit!” Liang Sheng fumed to herself. “This is all your fault, you worrywart!”
With that, she actually punched herself twice in the arm.
No helping it. She’d chosen this path herself, so she’d walk it to the end—even if she had to do it crying.
“Zhen Zhu, want to come play at big sister’s place? Big sister’s house is huge…”
Wait. Liang Sheng froze mid-dial on her phone, her hair a mess in the breeze, questioning her entire existence.
Why did that sound so sleazy?
Innocent little Zhen Zhu, picturing playtime with the girl she adored, clapped her hands in delight and agreed on the spot.
How was this kid… just like that airhead? Why wasn’t she scared of coming over and then crying, “Sister Liang, nooo!”? Liang Sheng grumbled inwardly nonstop.
No, she had to teach this child about safety precautions later.
For all her small size, Zhen Zhu was way better at finding her way around than Liang Sheng.
Knock knock!
Liang Sheng opened the door to find Zhen Zhu, who only came up to her chest.
“Well, well~ Haven’t grown a bit taller, have you~?” Liang Sheng grinned and scooped Zhen Zhu into a hug, carrying her into the room.
Zhen Zhu felt smothered against someone’s generous padding. It was soft and comfy, sure, but still…
“Whew!” Finally released, Zhen Zhu gasped for air. She’d nearly passed out just now, even catching a glimpse of a bridge where an old lady waved at her.
Liang Sheng, oblivious, patted her back to help her catch her breath. “Aw, look at you, running so fast. Why the big rush? Now you’re all out of breath.”
Zhen Zhu shot a sideways glare at the woman beside her.
“Liang Sheng! Where are you taking me to play?” Kids were all about fun, after all.
A child’s affection showed plain as day, so Liang Sheng saw no point in teasing or playing coy with Zhen Zhu. After all, you had to raise a wife right from the start—give her the proper place in your heart early on.
A child bride? Nothing wrong with that.
“Zhen Zhu, tell big sister the truth from your heart.” Liang Sheng clasped the girl’s little hand solemnly, gazing at that adorable face. The words hovered on her tongue… but wouldn’t come out.
“…” She suddenly felt like she was about to get hauled off by the cops. Way too risky.
No, Liang Sheng, buck up! You’re alone in this room with this pure little loli. Even if you confess, no one’s around to know. Plus, this little loli likes you—why would she rat you out? Right?
Liang Sheng’s eyes darted this way and that, scheming like an abacus, leaving Zhen Zhu utterly baffled.
“Liang Sheng? Liang Sheng?” Zhen Zhu tugged to free her hand, but with her puny strength, how could she match Liang Sheng?
Zhen Zhu yelled in a panic, “Liang Sheng!”
“Huh? Huh?” Liang Sheng finally snapped back and locked eyes with Zhen Zhu again.
Stand up tall, Liang Sheng! Don’t be a coward!
“Zhen Zhu, big sister can tell…” Liang Sheng stammered.
Zhen Zhu blinked her big, dewy eyes and tilted her head. “Huh?”
Oh man, so cute! Foul play! Liang Sheng felt a hot rush of blood.
“Big sister knows… you like me.” The words tumbled out.
Instant regret.
Liang Sheng, you idiot! How could you make a move on such an innocent little loli?
“Eh, eh… eh!” Zhen Zhu’s brain short-circuited.
The little loli’s eyes went spiral, her mouth quivering, cheeks exploding red. Her hands and feet grew sweaty, trembling.
This, this!
No backing down now. Liang Sheng gritted her teeth and pressed on. “Big sister’s a grown-up, of course she can tell! No need to hide it—you can just say it straight.”
Zhen Zhu’s mouth gaped wide, managing only “ah… ah… ah…” for the longest time.
Seeing her so adorably dumbfounded, Liang Sheng nearly cracked up.
Ahem. This was a serious confession—no laughing!
In that one minute, a million thoughts raced through Zhen Zhu’s mind, only to vanish without a trace.
“I-I-I, I-I-I-I…” And now, enjoy Zhen Zhu’s performance of Ten Thousand “I”s.
This was dragging on forever. Liang Sheng, who’d started out bashful, was getting impatient.
Suddenly channeling max boyfriend energy, Liang Sheng scooped up the tiny girl, set her on her lap, and wrapped an arm around her waist, coaxing gently. “Zhen Zhu, tell me—what does it mean that I’m holding you like this right now?”
“It means, it means…” The sharp-tongued little loli turned into a total softie.
Liang Sheng kept going. “If someone doesn’t mind another person—and actually loves physical contact with them—that means they like…”
She’d hinted this much, little rascal! Liang Sheng watched Zhen Zhu on her lap with bated breath.
Sure enough, Zhen Zhu caught on.
Incredulous, she gasped, “L-Liang Sheng… you, you like me too?”
Why had happiness crashed in so suddenly?! Her attitude before had been… Zhen Zhu couldn’t figure out this fickle woman.
Well, Liang Sheng hadn’t expected the girl she couldn’t stop worrying about to be this snarky little loli who always roasted her. Was she a masochist after all? The green-haired girl plunged into deep self-doubt.
Silence fell between them.
Zhen Zhu squirmed a bit, then realized she was sitting right on Liang Sheng.
Huh?
Well, since they’d come this far…
It was pint-sized Zhen Zhu who summoned colossal courage from deep within.
She squeezed her eyes shut, leaned face-first into the thick padding on someone’s chest, and thudded down hard—nearly bouncing right off. Her mouth muffled, she could only mumble “mmph mmph,” but the words came through clear enough.
“You’re right, Liang Sheng. I-I do like you… Even though I’m still little right now, b-but I can inherit the family fortune (is this even human talk?), I can take care of you, give you a home!”
As long as she didn’t show her face, as long as she didn’t make eye contact, she wouldn’t feel embarrassed. Zhen Zhu buried her face in the softness and refused to emerge.
