Chapter 15

Bai Shuangshuang touched the spot where Bai Tongsheng had kissed her. A faint, tingling itch lingered there—different from the sensation when that little girl had kissed her earlier.

Bai Tongsheng had already slipped back into her usual indifferent demeanor. She grabbed Shuangshuang’s hand with her right one and tugged her forward. “We’re eating out today. I don’t feel like cooking.”

Without thinking, Shuangshuang asked, “Why?”

This was the first time Tongsheng had ever gone on strike since taking over kitchen duties.

Tongsheng huffed. “I’m stuffed full of anger!”

The moment that wild kid had planted a kiss on Shuangshuang without any resistance—and Shuangshuang had even gently patted the girl’s head afterward—something inside Tongsheng had started to swell uncontrollably.

She loved Shuangshuang’s gentle side, but in that instant, she also realized she hated it when Shuangshuang was gentle with anyone else.

So when Shuangshuang finally came over to her, Tongsheng hadn’t been able to stop herself from doing what she did. But once it was over, that unfamiliar emotion had vanished in a flash, leaving her calm.

Shuangshuang had no idea what had set her off. “Is A-Sheng mad that I got back late? It won’t happen again. I didn’t expect to run into a lost little kid this time, so I was held up for a bit.”

“I’m not mad about that!”

“Then what are you mad about, A-Sheng?”

“I don’t know! I don’t know! Don’t talk to me! I don’t want to talk to you right now!”

Shuangshuang shut her mouth immediately.

After a few steps, Tongsheng tugged at her hand. “Bai Shuangshuang, why’d you stop talking?”

Shuangshuang: “…”

She truly had no words for her little firecracker and her bizarre moods.

~~~

Shuangshuang had assumed Yu Xichi and the others wouldn’t be coming back this year. She’d already packed their bags early, planning to take Tongsheng to Jiang Bing’s home for the holidays.

Jiang Bing had only given birth to Bai Binghan and Bai Bingyang. In past years, the two brothers would always return to keep her company.

But then Yu Xichi called first thing in the morning. “Shuangshuang! Auntie’s back! I’m downstairs in the complex, about to head to the supermarket. Wanna come down and shop with Auntie?”

Stunned, Shuangshuang took a moment before nodding vigorously. “Sure, okay. I’m coming down now.”

Tongsheng was still asleep. Winter mornings were chilly, and she loved sleeping in. Shuangshuang knew she’d be out until around ten, so she didn’t wake her. She just grabbed her keys and phone and headed downstairs.

The instant she spotted Yu Xichi, the woman pulled her into an excited hug.

“Has Shuangshuang missed Auntie? Because Auntie’s missed our Shuangshuang terribly!”

Shuangshuang nodded in her arms. “Yeah, I’ve missed you too, Auntie. Uncle didn’t come back?”

“Nope, just me this time. So now it’s you and Auntie for some quality girl time!”

“Okay.”

~~~

Yu Xichi sorted the shopping bags’ contents into the fridge one item at a time. “So, does that mean I’ll get to see our princess—who nobody can boss around—cooking later?”

Shuangshuang let out a chuckle and nodded. “Yeah, A-Sheng’s been handling all the cooking for ages now.”

Yu Xichi’s eyes went wide in disbelief, her expression almost comical. “I thought you were just kidding when you mentioned that before.”

Shuangshuang had brought it up to her once, but Yu Xichi hadn’t taken it seriously—and Shuangshuang understood why. After all, she herself hadn’t believed Tongsheng at first.

She pinched Shuangshuang’s cheek. “Shuangshuang, thank goodness for you. Finally, someone in the family who can tame that little troublemaker and her awful temper.”

All Shuangshuang could do was smile.

~~~

Shuangshuang patted the blanket. “A-Sheng, Mom’s back. Time to get up.”

Woken by the pat, Tongsheng twisted away in annoyance, burrowing her head deeper under the covers. Her voice came out muffled. “I don’t care who it is. Don’t wake me! I wanna sleep!”

Her reaction was the polar opposite of a typical kid reuniting with long-absent parents.

With no other choice, Shuangshuang returned to the table and quietly read her book.

Yu Xichi was downstairs but sent her a message: “Shuangshuang, Auntie’s off to pick up a friend. I’ll be back before lunch. Have Shengsheng make extra rice, okay?”

Yu Xichi felt zero guilt about “mistreating a six-year-old” and even seemed to take a bit of delight in it.

Shuangshuang felt utterly helpless against this mother-daughter pair.

~~~

By the time Tongsheng finally woke, it was nearly eleven.

Her first move upon stirring was to call out—eyes still shut. “Bai Shuangshuang! Help me get dressed!”

Shuangshuang grabbed the clothes she’d prepared at the foot of the bed and brought them to the headboard. She gently fished Tongsheng out from under the covers. Tongsheng went limp against her, basking in the emperor-level personal service.

“Mom’s back?”

“Yeah, but Auntie went to pick up a friend. She’ll probably bring them over later. Do you miss Auntie, A-Sheng? Want to give her a call first?”

Bai Tongsheng slipped her feet into the cotton slippers laid out for her. “I wasn’t thinking about her at all. But now that she’s back, I won’t have to make dinner.”

“Huh?”

Bai Shuangshuang hadn’t quite caught that, but Bai Tongsheng had already brushed past her and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. Before she could press the matter, Yu Xichi’s voice drifted up from downstairs.

“Shuangshuang, Auntie is back. There’s a little girl here with her—let her come up and play with you all.”

Bai Shuangshuang hurried out to the landing and called back, “Sure.”

Even as she spoke, a little girl about Bai Tongsheng’s age came padding up the stairs.

Bai Shuangshuang went over and took the girl’s hand, flashing her a gentle smile. “Hi there.”

…

The moment Bai Tongsheng stepped into the room, she spotted the uninvited guest.

Her brow furrowed in distaste. She marched over and shoved the little girl right off the bed. “Don’t you dare sit on my bed. Get lost!”

The girl froze, startled by her tone, and instinctively grabbed for Bai Shuangshuang nearby. Before Bai Shuangshuang could react, Bai Tongsheng slapped her hand away with a fierce scowl.

“Don’t touch her!”

The girl stood there in shock for a couple of seconds. Then she burst into loud wails.

Bai Shuangshuang quickly pulled the little one into her arms and patted her back soothingly. She turned to Bai Tongsheng, her voice calm but firm. “A-Sheng, Xiao Ying is our guest. That’s no way to act. Come over here and apologize to her.”

Bai Tongsheng stuck out her tongue. “No way!”

Bai Shuangshuang’s expression hardened, her usual gentleness fading. “Bai Tongsheng. Come apologize. Is that how I taught you to behave?”

Bai Tongsheng went rigid at the sound of her full name and that icy tone. Her mouth puckered in grievance. “Bai Shuangshuang! You’re yelling at me over some stranger? Fine, I won’t talk to you ever again!”

Bai Shuangshuang stayed resolute, her demeanor unusually stern. “You’re the one in the wrong here. I’m not asking—come apologize.”

Bai Tongsheng shot her a venomous glare, then whirled around, leaped onto the bed, and yanked the covers over herself, burrowing in like an ostrich.

Bai Shuangshuang looked down at the sobbing girl in her arms. Her expression softened again, and she murmured gentle reassurances. “There, there, Xiao Ying. I’m so sorry on that sister’s behalf. She doesn’t dislike you at all—she just doesn’t know how to play with you yet, that’s why she seems a bit mean. But she’s actually really nice. No more tears, okay? I’ll get you something to eat, and then we can watch TV together. Sound good?”

Her soft coaxing soon quieted the girl’s cries. Xiao Ying nodded, her voice milky-sweet. “Okay, Sister. I want jelly. Mommy bought some jelly. Can Sister get me some?”

Bai Shuangshuang grabbed a tissue and gently wiped the tears from her face. “Of course. You wait right here for Sister, okay? I’ll go grab it now. Oh… here, you can hold onto my phone while you watch TV and wait.”

“Okay.”

Bai Shuangshuang ruffled her hair, then glanced at the blanket lump that looked just like a hiding ostrich. She let out a silent sigh.

The moment she left the room, Bai Tongsheng flung back the covers and jumped up. She stalked over to Gu Ying, who looked up at her instinctively.

Seeing the jealousy and loathing in Bai Tongsheng’s eyes, Gu Ying blinked in surprise, then shrank back timidly.

…

Yu Xichi and Gu Mama were watching TV in the living room when they heard footsteps. Yu Xichi glanced back. “Shuangshuang? What brings you down?”

Bai Shuangshuang certainly wasn’t going to mention Xiao Ying crying in front of Gu Mama. She gave a simple explanation. “Xiao Ying wants some jelly, so I’m grabbing that and slicing up some fruit too.”

“Jelly? Oh, it’s on the kitchen table with the other snacks. Take it all up, but don’t eat too much, alright? Lunch isn’t ready yet.”

“Got it.”

Bai Tongsheng loved strawberries, so more than half the fruit platter Bai Shuangshuang prepared was piled high with them.

Remembering how wolfish Bai Tongsheng had been earlier, shooing the girl away like that, Bai Shuangshuang felt a headache coming on. If she recalled correctly, Yu Xichi had brought a friend home a long time ago—not Gu Mama, but that kid had a personality a lot like Gu Ying’s.

That girl had been even clingier, chattering nonstop at Bai Tongsheng. Bai Shuangshuang had clearly seen the impatience in her eyes, yet out of deference to “Yu Xichi’s friend’s daughter,” Bai Tongsheng had held back from snapping—no tantrum, no kicking her out. She’d even fetched toys for her.

So why was she so hostile to Gu Ying this time? The girl hadn’t even spoken to her yet.

Bai Shuangshuang thought back. It must have been because Gu Ying sat on their bed. Was that it?

Whatever the exact reason, only Bai Tongsheng knew for sure. And Bai Shuangshuang wasn’t about to ask in front of Gu Ying. She pushed the question aside, gathered up the snacks, and headed back upstairs.

Bai Shuangshuang had just reached the door when she keenly sensed the eerie atmosphere inside the room.

Pushing open the door, she saw—sure enough—

Gu Ying sat on a chair, her face etched with panic. Bai Tongsheng stood with her back turned, her expression hidden from view, while a pile of shattered ceramic fragments lay scattered at her feet.

Bai Shuangshuang recognized those fragments at a glance.

Hearing the sound, both girls turned to look at her.

The impatience in Bai Tongsheng’s eyes had yet to fade, and it stood in stark contrast to Gu Ying’s pitiful expression. It was obvious who had caused the trouble.

The moment Gu Ying spotted her, she leaped to her feet and rushed over, wrapping her trembling arms around Bai Shuangshuang in a tight hug.

“That sis-sister just pushed me,” she stammered, “and I-I accidentally broke her stuff.”