Chapter 52

Shen Chutang held a miniature version of “Daidai” in her palm, feeling a cool touch.

“Shi Chengyu, when did you make this?” Shen Chutang looked at him with admiration, her eyes watery, about to burst into tears.

Shi Chengyu touched her face, “I promised you, good girl, no tears.”

Shen Chutang nestled against his shoulder, her hand tightly clutching the toy, “But I didn’t finish my drink that day.”

“It’s okay, Tangtang.” Shi Chengyu hugged her, “Even if you didn’t drink, I was going to give it to you.”

He was just taking the opportunity to make a request.

“I’ll eat well from now on.” Shen Chutang mumbled in his arms, “And I’ll eat my supplements well too.”

“I won’t get sick anymore.” She kept making promises, not forgetting to include Shi Chengyu, “Brother Chengyu will be healthy too.”

Shi Chengyu chuckled softly, “Okay.”

The moment the negotiation ended, he already felt like he had won. Now, this was like an extra surprise bonus. Shen Chutang wouldn’t be able to use so many sets of tableware, of course, so he got one of the cups and the “Daidai” toy.

The New Year atmosphere was getting stronger. Shen Gengli finally had time to come back from Su City, and Shen Yanheng also took a break.

Shi Chengyu returned to the Shi family’s old house. Before leaving, he told Shen Chutang that his New Year gift would be a bit late. Shen Chutang didn’t mind, so she agreed that her gift would be late too.

She thought those tableware were the gifts, but Shi Chengyu smiled and said, “How can a gift be used so many times?”

These days, there was a fireworks display every night at eight o’clock. Shen Chutang could see it from her balcony. She couldn’t get enough of it, and she waited for it every night.

“Good girl, Tangtang~”

Shen Chutang was video chatting with Shi Chengyu when she heard the voice. She turned her head and saw Chen Musheng standing at the door, wrapped in a shawl, waving to her.

“Brother Chengyu, I’ll talk to you later. My mom is here.” Shen Chutang waved at the phone and hung up.

Shen Chutang ran over in her slippers, “What’s wrong, Mom?”

Chen Musheng pulled her to sit on the sofa, “Tangtang, that girl who went to the hospital with Xiaojing to accompany you for your checkup, was that Ji Man?”

Shen Chutang remembered that this happened and nodded, “Yes, why?”

“How is she? What’s her personality like?”

Shen Chutang burst out laughing, “Mom, I’ve only met Sister Ji Man twice. But she’s very pretty, and she’s a nice person. She even gave me an mugwort pouch last time.”

Chen Musheng pondered. Her second son was secretly dating, and now her third son was doing the same thing. She, the mother, knew nothing.

“But Mom, I’ll tell you a secret.” Shen Chutang said mysteriously, then leaned close to her ear and whispered something.

Chen Musheng immediately covered her mouth in surprise, “Really?”

Shen Chutang nodded, “Really.”

Chen Musheng suddenly grabbed her hand, “Tangtang, Mom has a mission for you.”

“Ah?”

Ten minutes later, Shen Chutang, entrusted with a mission, knocked on Shen Sujing’s door.

“Tangtang? What’s wrong?”

“Third Brother, Mom asked me to bring you some Five Red Soup.” Shen Chutang looked nervously at the tray.

“Five Red Soup?”

A burst of laughter came from Shen Sujing’s phone, “Shen Sujing, you still drink that?”

Shen Sujing’s face instantly turned red, “No, Tangtang, this isn’t something you guys usually drink. Why are you bringing it to me?”

Shen Chutang couldn’t say that she didn’t have an excuse to come, so she said, “Aunt Wang made too much, so she asked me to bring you some.”

“Is that Tangtang?”

“Yes! It’s Sister Ji Man, I am!” Shen Chutang handed the tray to Shen Sujing and then greeted her through the phone.

Shen Sujing helplessly handed her the phone and walked inside with the tray.

“Sister Ji Man, did you go home for the New Year?” Shen Chutang chatted with her naturally.

“No, Tangtang. I still have some work to do, so I stayed in Beijing.”

“Oh? So you’re spending the New Year alone, Sister? Are you bored?”

Ji Man smiled, “It’s okay. I’m used to it.”

“Then, Sister Ji Man, come to our house for the New Year!”

As soon as Shen Chutang said this, not only was Ji Man surprised, but Shen Sujing was so startled that his hand trembled, and the spoon fell into the bowl.

“That…wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“Why not? Sister Ji Man, I invited you. You can’t refuse me.”

Shen Chutang was a master at acting cute and spoiled, and besides, Ji Man owed her a favor.

“If Tangtang invited me, then of course I can’t refuse.”

“Okay, it’s settled then.”

Ji Man received a call. After a brief goodbye, they hung up.

Shen Sujing stared at Shen Chutang in disbelief. She just invited her like that? It felt like Ji Man liked Shen Chutang more than him. He felt a twinge of jealousy.

“What’s wrong, Third Brother?” Shen Chutang handed him the phone, asking him with a mischievous smile.

Shen Sujing gave her a thumbs up, “Tangtang, you’re amazing.”

“So, Third Brother, do you have any reward for me?”

“You tell me. As long as Third Brother can do it, I’ll agree.”

A triumphant smile appeared on Shen Chutang’s face, “How did you meet Sister Ji Man?”

Shen Sujing seemed to have expected her question, “We…met while filming.”

“Huh? I don’t believe you.” Shen Chutang stared at him, “You told me last time that Sister Ji Man didn’t know you.”

Shen Sujing said, “I didn’t know her at the time. We met later.”

“Then when did you start liking Sister Ji Man?” Shen Chutang asked again.

“When… “Shen Sujing’s voice was slow, “About five or six years ago? Do you remember one day when I came back very late after school?”

“That night, I went out to play and lost my phone. It was very late, and many stores were closed. I was walking alone, not knowing where to go. Then I met Ji Man.”

“Then what?”

“Then nothing much. She lent me her phone to call, and then she accompanied me until the driver came. Later, when I called that number again, it was disconnected.”

“Later, I saw her on TV.”

He still remembered the feeling in his heart at that time, the clear feeling of his heartbeat suddenly accelerating and losing control.

“So that’s why you insisted on applying to the acting academy?”

“Yes.” Shen Sujing answered subconsciously, then realized, “No, why are you asking so many questions today? Go to bed.”

Shen Chutang had completed her mission. She ran away with a cheerful laugh, “Mom—mission accomplished!”

Shen Sujing’s leg was still injured, so he couldn’t catch her. He yelled her name angrily from behind, “Shen Chutang! You betrayed your brother!”

Shen Chutang had already jumped into Chen Musheng’s arms, “Mom, Brother is so fierce.”

“Don’t be afraid, Mom will protect you.” Chen Musheng rubbed her head, “I can’t believe it, Xiaojing. You’re hiding it so well.”

Shen Sujing said, “Mom, you’re joining Tangtang in making a fuss.”

“I’m not making a fuss.” Shen Chutang protested in dissatisfaction, “By the way, Mom, Sister Ji Man is coming tomorrow.”

“Oh! So suddenly!” Chen Musheng clapped her hands, panicking, “What do we need to prepare? There’s nothing at home!”

“Mom, don’t get so excited. She’s not my girlfriend yet!” Shen Sujing said hurriedly. If they acted like this, they would probably scare her away when she came tomorrow.

Shen Chutang and Chen Musheng looked at him together, stunned.

So he hadn’t won her over yet?