When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 273: Chapter 110: Top Star of the 1960s Cultural Troupe (Part 49)

Xia Zhaoyun chuckled and twirled in front of the mirror. "Brother Hao," she said with satisfaction, "we’ve been married for less than a month, so we’re still newlyweds. This bright red dress isn’t too much, is it?"

"I did warn Song Zhenbao ahead of time. She could invite me, but she shouldn’t regret it."

"To play along, I only put on some light makeup. I’m not even using ten percent of my full makeup-artist powers!"

Huo Tianhao loved this mischievous, self-satisfied look of hers. He smirked. "I suppose the kids and I are part of your battle gear, aren’t we?"

Xia Zhaoyun punched him playfully on the chest. "The children, fine. But with a big guy like you, are you sure you’re my equipment and not something to tie me down?"

Huo Tianhao caught her fist, gently rubbing the back of her hand. With narrowed eyes, he said, "After we’re done today, I’ll teach you a few moves for self-defense. You and He Qingran can practice together."

"Even though you live in the family courtyard where you know all your neighbors, it’s better to be safe than sorry."

"Even when you eventually move in with me, I might get temporarily reassigned for a few days sometimes. I can’t be by your side to protect you every single moment."

Xia Zhaoyun nodded obediently several times and chuckled. "I mentioned it to Ranran before. I was thinking of finding a coach after my performance in June, but then I got busy with the August show, so the whole thing got put on the back burner."

Huo Tianhao frowned and grunted in displeasure. "Why look for someone else when you have me? You have a ready-made former King of Soldiers from the military region command right here, and you’re still thinking of looking elsewhere?"

"Let me tell you, no matter how many national award-winning coaches you find, they wouldn’t be a match for me in a sparring session. Your man has at least that much confidence!"

"Besides, I have a wealth of real combat experience. I can definitely get you both to the best possible defensive capability in the shortest amount of time."

Xia Zhaoyun beamed and nodded again and again. "I know, I know. Our Brother Hao is the best. Ranran and I won’t have to worry about our teacher holding back on us."

"Come on, let’s go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some wedding candy."

She counted on her fingers. "If we’d had a normal wedding, the factory would have approved a week or so of leave for us. So, just like any other couple, we should still be handing out wedding candy to friends and family this weekend."

"The people attending Song Zhenbao’s engagement party are also the uncles and aunties who watched me grow up. We’re not super close, but we’re not distant either. If they ask, we can’t exactly refuse to give them some wedding candy, right?"

Huo Tianhao patted the back of her head dotingly. "Alright, let’s go to the North City Department Store first to browse and buy a few things. Then we can drop them off back home before heading to the engagement party."

The two children listened intently. They loved the department store, with its dazzling array of goods, and they started jumping up and down quietly with excitement.

Children are the most perceptive. They can sense who is genuinely kind to them and who is just being superficial. After a month together, they had gradually pushed their unhappy memories into the deepest corners of their minds, leaving only happiness behind.

"Mama, can I have a popsicle?" The little girl tugged gently on Xia Zhaoyun’s dress with her chubby little hand, tilting her head up to reveal a smile of tiny, rice-like teeth.

Xia Zhaoyun smiled and crouched down, kissing her smooth, bouncy little cheek. She nodded with a smile. "Of course you can. But you’re both still little, so you can’t have too much. You’ll have to share one with your brother."

The two little ones hummed in agreement, obediently not asking for anything else.

Huo Tianhao ruffled both of their heads in turn. "Come on, Daddy will take you to buy toys!"

Xia Zhaoyun stood up but didn’t stop him or take the opportunity to lecture him about not spoiling the children.

This was a rare opportunity for them to build their father-child bond. It was better for her to be invisible and not do anything superfluous.

Xia Zhaoyun was quite skilled with her hands and had access to an employee channel for buying fabric, making her fabric coupons almost purely decorative. Lately, most of the clothes the family wore were churned out by her on the sewing machine.

This was especially true for He Qingran. Determined to become a virtuous wife and loving mother, she had also started burying herself in practice on the sewing machine, making clothes for herself and the two kids.

The two little ones had a different outfit every day, not repeating a single one for over a week.

However, Huo Tianhao still bought a new outfit for each of them. They were intricately made clothes, with complex craftsmanship and a more refined, beautiful finish.

The little girl’s was a pink tulle dress. The fabric was light and soft, so she could wear it out on a normal day—it wasn’t too over-the-top.

As for Ruyuan, he got a miniature Zhongshan suit. Putting it on made him look just like a little adult, which had Xia Zhaoyun almost rolling on the floor with laughter.

Despite their young age, they already had a sense of style and clamored to change into their new clothes immediately to match their mom and dad. Dressed up like this, they looked just like a little flower girl and page boy...