Chapter 488 - 428: Don’t Snatch
Chapter 488: Chapter 428: Don’t Snatch
’Her hands were trembling slightly, joy and delight filling her heart. She wanted to steal a glance at him, but every time she did, he happened to be looking right back. Their eyes met, their gazes intertwining, and a wonderful, thrilling sensation shot through her. Is this what people call a spark?’
Xiao Man’s face was a flushed, luscious red all evening, and everyone was teasing her about it. Granny Gu said it was as if she’d put on rouge, Zhou Hui Lan laughed that she looked like a ripe apple, and Jiang Yuyan said she resembled a freshly ripened cherry that you just wanted to eat. Hearing this, Gu Shaoying immediately pounced on Xiao Man and opened her mouth to bite her cheek. Xiao Man cried out in surprise. Beside them, Gu Shaoqin instantly stood up and blocked his sister’s mouth with his hand, asking, half-annoyed and half-amused, "You’re not a puppy, why are you trying to bite people?"
Two-year-old Gu Shaoying, who could already speak quite clearly, shoved her brother’s hand away in disgust. "I want to eat the apple! I want to eat the cherry!" she declared righteously. "Sister Xiao Man likes Shaoying! She’ll let me have a bite!"
Everyone froze for a second, then one by one, they all doubled over with laughter.
Xiao Man’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. She covered her cheeks with both hands, wishing she could escape into the Treasure Pearl Space and hide.
After the New Year’s Eve dinner, everyone moved to the main hall to sit. Thanks to Gu Shaozheng and Zheng Shaolian, the Gu family, the Tang family, and even Grandpa Mo’s home in distant Gongdao Village in G Province were all equipped with various modern electrical appliances. Gu Shaoqin turned on the color television, where a vibrant scene of singing and dancing unfolded, filling the air with a festive atmosphere—the CCTV New Year’s Gala had begun!
Starting from this year, the New Year’s Gala would become an annual tradition that continued for decades. People of all ages across Huaxia would eagerly gather around their televisions on the night of New Year’s Eve just to watch this colorful, lively, and joyous festival special.
Everyone sat together in the living room and watched the opening of the gala. Then, Grandpa Gu, Grandpa Tang, Tang Qingshan, Gu Qifan, and the other men stood up and left for a smaller, more private parlor to drink tea and talk. Gu Shaojun and Gu Shaofeng naturally went with them. Gu Shaozheng and Zheng Shaolian, however, weren’t required to join. They stayed in the living room with the women and children to watch TV, snack on melon seeds, or play some card games, but they couldn’t wander off. They had to be ready in case they were called in to talk.
Gu Qiming, on the other hand, had left for his military base right after dinner. He was incredibly busy and had only managed to squeeze out enough time for this one reunion meal with his family.
Xiao Man chatted with Gu Shaozheng and Zheng Shaolian for a while before being pulled away by Gu Shaoying, who insisted it was time to feed the goldfish, otherwise they would starve.
Gu Qifan and Jiang Yuyan had their daughter in middle age and doted on her immensely, granting her every wish. They already had a koi pond in the back garden and a glass tank with goldfish in the house, but Gu Shaoying wanted an even bigger glass tank for more little goldfish. So, Gu Qifan had actually built a massive, three-meter-long glass tank for his daughter and placed it in the living room of the wing where their family of four lived. He let Gu Shaoying feed the fish herself, with a nanny, of course, standing by to supervise.
Ever since Xiao Man arrived at the Gu family home, Gu Shaoying wanted nothing to do with the nanny and stuck to Xiao Man like glue. So, naturally, when it was time to feed the fish, Sister Xiao Man had to come along.
After they finished feeding the fish, the two of them crouched by the glass tank, pointing and admiring the goldfish for a while. Suddenly, Xiao Man felt a shadow fall over her. She looked up and saw that it was Gu Shaojun.
Gu Shaojun reached out to stroke Xiao Man’s hair, a soft, affectionate smile on his lips. Before he could even speak, Gu Shaoying suddenly pounced, draping herself over Xiao Man like an octopus. She used her head to knock Gu Shaojun’s hand away, her little eyebrows practically standing on end as she glared and yelled, "Mine! Sister Xiao Man is mine! Don’t you try to steal her, Big Brother!"
Gu Shaojun: "..."
’What was happening? He’d spent two years abroad, thinking about this girl nonstop. He’d worried that someone else might interfere with her feelings for him and had run through countless scenarios. He’d even been secretly wary of his cousin, Zheng Shaolian. But he never, ever imagined that the one who would ultimately try to steal Xiao Man from him would be this delicate, adorable, cherubic little cousin of his!’
With Gu Shaojun’s help, Xiao Man managed to pry Gu Shaoying off her, unable to hold back her amusement. ’Is this little one treating me like her personal property? She’s even being possessive and won’t let anyone steal me away!’
It had to be said that Gu Shaoying was a sharp-witted and highly vigilant little girl. From what her family had told her, she knew she had an eldest and a second-eldest brother who were working away from home. So, when she first met Gu Shaojun and Gu Shaofeng, she wasn’t particularly surprised or amazed. However, after Gu Shaojun fought with her for a seat and then constantly watched Sister Manman’s every move, always looking for a chance to talk to her and never giving her an opportunity to speak with Sister Manman herself, the little girl understood. ’This big brother is definitely here to steal Sister Manman from me!’
So, the moment she saw Gu Shaojun approach again, Gu Shaoying sprang into action. ’I can give him anything else, but I absolutely cannot give up Sister Manman! If Big Brother steals Sister Manman, with his bossy attitude, he’ll never let me be close to her again. Then I won’t be able to play with Sister Manman anymore, and I won’t get any more yummy fruits and candies!’
Then she was trapped in Big Brother’s arms, unable to move. She could only watch helplessly as he used his other arm to pull Sister Xiao Man closer, wrap his long arm around her neck, and suddenly lower his head. SMACK! He gave Sister Xiao Man’s forehead a playful nip...
Gu Shaoying stared, dumbfounded. She saw Sister Manman glance quickly at her, then cover her face with her hands and turn away, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Gu Shaoying used her clever little brain to figure it out: ’Sister Manman must be in pain, that’s why she’s crying!’
’Sister Manman’s face is so red and pretty! Eldest Aunt said it’s a fragrant apple, and Mama said it’s a sweet cherry. Big Brother said that if I bit her, it would hurt, so Shaoying couldn’t even bear to take a tiny taste. But Big Brother went and ate it first... AHHH! Big Brother is so mean!’
Gu Shaoying threw her head back and, without another word, opened her mouth and began to wail. WAAAAH!
Xiao Man, who had been lost in the sweet, romantic moment, jumped in fright. Gu Shaojun also seemed to snap back to reality, realizing he was holding his soft little cousin in his arms, not a box of dynamite or a cannon barrel.
Gu Shaojun quickly looked down, patting and coaxing Gu Shaoying. "Let’s not cry now, okay? Big Brother has a gift for you. Do you want it?"
"No!" Gu Shaoying replied bluntly.
"Then what does Shaoying want?"
"I don’t want anything. I just want Big Brother to stop stealing my Sister Manman." Gu Shaoying looked up at Gu Shaojun, sniffling. "Okay?"
Gu Shaojun met his little cousin’s gaze. The little girl’s eyes were clear and pure, yet they held an air of righteous indignation that made him feel like some evil tyrant abducting an innocent maiden.
His head started to ache. ’Am I really going to have to compete with my little cousin for Xiao Man?’
"Be a good girl, Shaoying. Big Brother isn’t stealing Sister Manman. Big Brother just wants to talk with Sister Manman for a little while. Why don’t you go back to the hall and stay with Granny and Mama for now, okay?"
"Not okay!" Gu Shaoying flatly refused. "Today, Shaoying is staying with Sister Manman! We’re going to stay up late, watch TV, then eat, and watch the New Year’s Gala... After we eat dumplings, we’re going to set off fireworks! And when it’s nighttime, Sister Manman is going to tuck me in!"
Gu Shaojun was speechless. ’Can someone please tell me how to negotiate with a toddler? There’s no logic to it. This is exhausting.’