Chapter 15: Big Brother’s Money is Enough for You (Bonus Chapter)

Grandma Du excitedly waved her iPad in the air, exclaiming, “Han Han taught us how to use this Taobao website. The clothes there are so stylish, pretty, and cheap!”

Du Ziming: “…”

So, Grandma, have you just opened the door to a whole new world?

Guan Su also stood up, her pale face flushing with excitement. She smiled warmly at Du Mo, and he returned the smile just as affectionately. It was clear that the couple had a very strong relationship.

Grandpa Du couldn’t wait any longer and shouted, “Han Han, come quick! My brain is about to be eaten by zombies!”

Not to be outdone, Grandma Du fought for Jian Han’s attention, “Don’t listen to that old man. Han Han, help me first! Why can’t I place my order again?”

Jian Han first leaned over to check Grandma Du’s iPad. “The clothes are out of stock, Grandma. Try another store.”

She then glanced at Grandpa Du’s screen and calmly said, “Don’t worry, just use a winter melon bomb to crush them!”

Watching the lively scene in front of him, Du Zicong suddenly found it hard to bear. Ever since he was a child, he had been aware of a girl around his age competing with him for his mother’s attention. Fortunately, his mother lived with him, and over the years, Jian Han had become increasingly distant and withdrawn, rarely coming around. He had thought he had finally won the battle for their mother’s love.

But now? Not only had his mother’s attention shifted, even his grandparents had “betrayed” him!

Quietly, Du Zicong walked over to Guan Su and suddenly wrapped his arm around hers, calling out affectionately, “Mom, what are you making for me today? Do we have my favorite kung pao shrimp?”

The room instantly fell silent.

It was as if someone had cast a spell, freezing time. Everyone turned to look at Jian Han, their eyes wide with apprehension.

The last time Du Zicong had called Guan Su “Mom” in front of Jian Han, she had exploded with rage, smashing up the entire living room. That was back when the Du family’s living room was furnished with antique Ming Dynasty redwood furniture. The European-style furniture they had now, while luxurious, didn’t come close in comparison.

After that incident, Du Zicong had been sternly lectured by both his father and brother. Realizing that Guan Su wasn’t his biological mother, he grudgingly agreed to only refer to her as “Aunt Guan” when Jian Han was around.

But Jian Han acted as though she hadn’t heard anything. Smiling, she affectionately grabbed Guan Su’s other arm and replied sweetly, “Yes, Mom made it! She even said it’s your favorite dish, Second Brother!”

Then she glanced at Du Ziming nearby and added with a grin, “She also made big brother’s favorite borscht. It’s a lot of work to prepare!”

Du Zicong’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. What was this girl playing at?

Guan Su’s eyes began to well up again. She looked from her son on the left to her daughter on the right, thinking this was the happiest moment of her life. Her heart was filled with such sweetness that she never wanted to wake up from this dream.

Du Mo quietly approached and handed her a handkerchief. Guan Su took it, wiping her eyes with an embarrassed smile. “Look at me, I’m too old to be acting like this. The kids must be laughing at me.”

Grandma Du, unable to stand emotional moments, quickly interrupted, “Alright, let’s eat.” The family noisily moved to the dining room.

Du Zicong wasn’t done trying to get under Jian Han’s skin. “Mom, could you serve me some kung pao shrimp?”

Before Guan Su could respond, Jian Han stood up, moved the dish of kung pao shrimp in front of Du Zicong, and sat back down without a word.

“…Mom, could you pour me some soup?”

Jian Han promptly picked up the ladle and served him a bowl of borscht.

Du Zicong glared at the kung pao shrimp and the soup in front of him. Suddenly, he lost his appetite—what was going on?

Grandma Du, oblivious to the tension between the two, chuckled and teased, “I used to think your mother doted on you the most, but now I see it’s your sister who really spoils you.”

Du Zicong shot to his feet so fast that his chair screeched across the floor. “Sister?! I don’t have a sister! I only have one brother!”

With that, he turned and stormed upstairs. Grandpa Du was so angry he couldn’t even speak, while Du Mo remained silent for a moment before turning to his eldest son. “Zicong is old enough now. It’s time he stopped playing around. Starting next week, he’ll go to work with you.”

Du Ziming nodded calmly and added, “If he’s going to work, there’s no need for pocket money anymore.”

With just two sentences, the Du father and son had thrown Du Zicong into a sea of trouble. Meanwhile, Grandpa and Grandma Du, feeling guilty, quickly turned to comfort Jian Han. Grandma Du moved the dish of kung pao shrimp in front of her. “Han Han, you eat. Don’t leave any for that brat!”

Grandpa Du eagerly brought over the bowl of borscht as well. “Here, drink this while it’s hot!”

Jian Han glanced at Guan Su, who was looking worriedly toward the stairs, and quietly went to the kitchen. She returned with a tray, placing the kung pao shrimp, borscht, and Du Zicong’s barely-touched bowl of rice on it. She gently pushed the tray toward Guan Su. “Mom, take this to Second Brother.”

At that moment, everyone let out a sigh of relief. Grandpa and Grandma Du were both touched and a bit saddened. Du Ziming looked at Jian Han with surprise, noting her calm expression and kind demeanor. For some reason, he thought having such a thoughtful younger sister wasn’t so bad after all.

Guan Su hesitated for a moment, but when Jian Han gave her an encouraging smile, she picked up the tray, her face lightening. “Alright, I’ll go upstairs. You all start eating.”

As they watched Guan Su head upstairs, the room filled with warmth. Grandpa and Grandma Du eagerly began piling food onto Jian Han’s plate.

“Here, Han Han, try this lotus root salad. The lotus is fresh from this season.”

“Forget the salad, Han Han. Eat this sweet and sour pork. The meat will keep you full so you won’t be hungry at night!”

Even Du Mo and Du Ziming, without a word, began using their serving chopsticks to place their favorite dishes onto Jian Han’s plate.

In no time, her small plate was stacked high with food, and her bowl was filled to the brim. Jian Han smiled helplessly, “Grandpa, Grandma, please stop! Don’t you remember I’m an actress?”

She put on a face of mock despair, “If I eat all this, I’ll gain two pounds, and then Fang Ge will definitely scold me!”

Grandma Du’s eyes widened, “He wouldn’t dare! I’ll have a chat with his mother. I know a lot of lovely young girls, and his mother’s always worrying about him finding a wife!”

Grandpa Du was even more direct, “Being an actress is too tough. If you lose any more weight, your face will be as sharp as a wedge. You’re a young lady—you don’t need to work so hard. Just go shopping and pamper yourself with some beauty treatments. Your brother makes enough money for you to spend!”