Chapter 57

Although it was a celebration, this hotpot meal wasn’t exactly relaxing.

Perhaps because the internet was buzzing with activity, messages and calls kept coming in, teasing and joking around. Even “Super Mom” joined in the fun, stepping up their promotional efforts and generating a lot of buzz.

Director Xu was sending out big red packets in the group chat, looking positively delighted.

Sheng Xia was truly their lucky star. As a mystery guest in the first episode and then getting caught up in a mistaken identity as a couple in the second episode, she was riding this wave effortlessly!

Their friends, who had become guests on the show, were also tagging Sheng Xia in the group chat, teasing her through Bai Jing: “[Can’t believe you two are so playful as a couple, you must often indulge in private pleasures, right?]”

Tao Rou added, “[Heard Xiaoxu got mad at Feng Yan for something? I wasn’t there at the time, didn’t expect to miss such a meeting, what a shame.]”

Pretending not to notice their teasing, Sheng Xia confidently closed her phone after grabbing a big red packet. Then, while Feng Jingxu was busy replying to messages, she casually picked up some meat from his bowl. When he didn’t notice, she couldn’t help but swap his condiments as well.

Her actions were too blatant, yet everyone remained silent.

As Feng Jingxu absentmindedly dipped his food into the condiments and put it in his mouth, it took him less than three seconds to twist his face in agony and cover his mouth—

Damn, what kind of dark cuisine is this?

How could there be yogurt and garlic in the beef?!

Before he could figure out what was happening, he frantically looked for water. Seeing Sheng Xia kindly offering him a glass of cola, he didn’t hesitate to gulp it down, only to have an explosive sour taste spread from his tongue to his throat—

This thing was vinegar!!

“Sheng! Xia!” Feng Jingxu’s tongue went numb, making it impossible for him to speak normally, but he stubbornly twisted and roared, “Are you doing this on purpose?!”

Hearing his muffled voice, Sheng Xia’s eyes suddenly lit up, and she cheerfully remarked, “Xiaoxu, your voice right now sounds just like a cartoon character!”

Finally, he drank some normal water, relieving the numbness of his tongue. Feng Jingxu couldn’t help but sneer when he heard her words, “What, like Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse?”

Back when his throat was hoarse, he had been mocked by her like this many times.

“He’s a particularly powerful big boss, all red and very big eyes. He’s always calculating money; all does he think is money! And he’s always been talking sarcastic every word he said.”

Feng Jingxu: ?

“Don’t you believe me?” Sheng Xia cleared her throat and looked down at the two little guys in her arms seriously, “Do you want to help the boss steal a delicious crab burger?”

Feng Xuchen instinctively replied, “I don’t!”

Feng Xuran seemed to understand something and sympathetically looked at his brother with round eyes, but still cooperated to finish the second half of the sentence, “I just want to take it home to eat.”

“Oh~” Sheng Xia immediately raised her voice, slurred her words with her tongue, “I didn’t, I just wanted to take it home for a bit~”

Seriously, Sheng Xia wasn’t lying. It really sounded especially sarcastic.

And this sharp voice was quite similar to the voice Feng Jingxu had just made.

Having spent his free time with them watching “SpongeBob SquarePants,” Feng Shaoyu couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

As Feng Jingxu looked at Sheng Xia as if she were implying something, his fingers skillfully kept bumping the Crab legs together, causing his temples to throb uncontrollably and his expression to distort.

Just that clacking sound alone made it difficult for him to forget the sound of the crab boss walking.

This woman, clearly the most sarcastic one is herself!!

Seeing Feng Jingxu gritting his teeth and clenching his fists, as if he was about to roar in anger the next second, Feng Xuran sighed deeply, reached out and took the crab leg that Sheng Xia was still performing with from her hand, “This is not for playing, Mom, please don’t tease elder brother anymore.”

I really don’t understand why Mom always likes to make Brother angry. Clearly, when Brother starts yelling, his voice becomes super loud, and my ears start buzzing.

Seeing her help push the intact meat out of the crab leg, dip it in the sauce, and feed it to herself so considerately, Sheng Xia blinked and ate it without hesitation, “Wow, it’s so delicious! What should I do? It feels even more delicious being fed by Xuran like this.”

The little girl’s ears turned red instantly. Understanding her crazy hint, his usually cool little face couldn’t help but show a helpless and indulgent expression.

However, before she could pick up another crab leg, she saw her brother pushing the crab meat seriously, but clumsily breaking it into pieces, and trying to help Sheng Xia dip the meat.

“Xuchen is helping too!” Mimicking his sister’s movements, the little guy raised his hand, handed the painstakingly prepared crab meat to Sheng Xia’s mouth, his eyes shining, “Give it to Xia Xia to eat.”

Feng Xuran: “…”

Seeing this awkward situation where his brother was trying to help, Feng Jingxu, who had just been suppressing his anger, suddenly became spirited. He didn’t hide his schadenfreude, intending to see how Sheng Xia would handle it.

If she ate it, she would be as sour as he was just now. If she didn’t eat it, wouldn’t it make Xuchen sad?

He had just been mocked by her for being turned into the crab boss, haha, it seemed that fortunes had changed!

However, watching her eat the pitiful and vinegar-soaked crab meat without any disgust, Sheng Xia ate it without hesitation, carefully savoring it.

Tasting it, she held her face, her black eyes shining brightly: “Wow, Chenchen, it’s really delicious!”

Feng Jingxu: ?

She doesn’t have a sense of taste, does she? How can she make everything she eats look like a mukbang?

Feng Xuchen suddenly showed a happy smile: “And, all for Xiaxia to eat!”

“Although Mom really wants to continue eating, making little dumplings requires fairness. If Mom has some, Dad should have some too. This way, we won’t make our family’s donkey jealous, right?”

Saying this, Sheng Xia suddenly smiled and lifted the bewildered little dumpling into Feng Yan’s arms: “Little Flying Dumpling is here!”

Father and son were caught off guard, and Feng Yan instinctively held him, his black eyes was calm and somewhat subtle.

Feng Xuchen obviously hadn’t reacted to what happened. He clung to the man’s chest, his little face blank, and subconsciously called out, “Dad?”

He wore plastic gloves covered in various sauces, and with this grab, Feng Yan’s chest suddenly had a stain.

Upon discovering it, Feng Xuchen couldn’t help feeling a bit ashamed, trying to get out of his arms: “Sorry, Dad, Chenchen didn’t mean to.”

As the twins weren’t that close to him yet, Feng Yan had never held a child so intimately before. So, when this soft little thing suddenly appeared in his arms, he was momentarily unsure how to react, afraid he might hurt him with too much force.

Seeing Chenchen wanting to jump down anxiously, Feng Yan stopped him gently: “It’s okay, Chenchen.”

Meeting the confused and bright grape-like eyes of the little dumpling, the man tried to soften his voice, though his naturally distant and cold face seemed to diminish the soothing effect: “I know you didn’t mean to; it’s okay.”

Being tightly hugged by Dad, Feng Xuchen’s first reaction was a bit resistant. But hearing his reassurance, he hesitated.

Although still very young, he still keenly felt that being held by Dad was different from being held by Mom.

Compared to Mom’s fragrant and soft embrace, Dad… was a bit hard, and holding him was uncomfortable, as if he didn’t know how to hold a child.

However, however—

He seems like a mountain.

Suddenly curious about Dad, Feng Xuchen leaned back slightly, tilting his little head, trying to see what expression Feng Yan had now.

After realizing that he was just looking down at him without any change in expression, Feng Xuchen bit his finger, took off the plastic gloves, and tentatively reached out to touch his face.

Feeling the soft little hand pushing him randomly, the deer-like eyes filled with caution and exploration, Feng Yan felt a bit intrigued and didn’t resist.

So, this is what kids are like; no wonder Sheng Xia always likes to play with them. It’s indeed quite interesting.

Seeing him acting like this, Feng Yan wasn’t even angry. Feng Xuchen finally remembered his previous apology and wanted him and his sister to forgive him.

And during this time, it seemed like he had never been angry with them. Tilting his little head, he suddenly showed a realization.

So, just like Aunt Ye said that Xiaxia is a bad stepmother, but it’s not the same. Maybe Dad isn’t as scary as he looks!

“Dad, eat.”

Eager to confirm his thoughts, he forgot to put on the gloves again, grabbed the broken pieces of crab meat in the bowl, handed it to Feng Yan’s mouth, and cheerfully said, “Chenchen feeds Dad, Dad won’t be jealous.”

You could hear Sheng Xia’s soft laughter, as well as others inhaling sharply and slightly nervous breathing. Feng Yan remained unchanged and truly ate it.

As if he didn’t feel the overly sour taste, he picked up a wet tissue and wiped Feng Xuchen’s oily little hands, speaking calmly, “Thank you, Chenchen, now it’s fair.”

“Is Dad a bit pitiful now?”

Feng Xuran was a little absentmindedly watching them when Sheng Xia’s voice, with a hint of laughter, suddenly came to her ears. She subconsciously nodded, then heard her inquire, as if negotiating, “Would Ranran be willing to help Dad and feed him your crab meat?”

Feng Xuran looked down at the freshly peeled and intact crab meat, hesitated for a moment, “But this is for Mom.”

“Even for Ranran, fairness should be observed. If only Mom has it and Dad doesn’t, people might say you’re biased towards Mom, little one.” Sheng Xia earnestly persuaded, “You can rest assured, Mom is always generous and won’t be jealous.”

Feng Xuran raised her head to look at her, showing an unbelieving expression. However, watching her smiling face, she hesitated for a moment before nodding her little head.

So, just as Feng Yan had just pacified one little dumpling, he had another one in his arms. Fortunately, this one was not seeking revenge but repaying kindness, feeding him a clean and intact piece of crab meat, cleansing his palate.

Feng Yan rubbed her head and smiled slightly, “Thank you, Ranran.”

Feng Xuran also looked up at him, hesitated for a moment, pursed her little mouth, and fed him another piece, saying, “For you to eat.”

Then her head was gently rubbed again; that hand was large, wide, and warm.

It felt completely different from Mom’s.

…So, this is Dad’s embrace?

It’s broad, gives a sense of security, really different.

Just thinking like this, Feng Xuran suddenly heard Mom’s voice, which sounded as ambiguous as the crab boss, “Oh~ for, you, to, eat.”

Feng Xuran: “…”

She turned her head in speechless dismay and locked eyes with…

Sheng Xia gazed subtly, her eyes flashing with a glaring reproach: We agreed on one piece; how come you fed him an extra piece?

You just said you were generous and definitely wouldn’t be jealous, right?

Indeed, it’s all deceiving the children.

Rubbing her uncomfortable ears, Feng Jingxu couldn’t help but roll his eyes, “You even eat this vinegar? Didn’t you personally send them over?”

“I’m not jealous.” Sheng Xia earnestly defended herself, “I just think that dipping it in vinegar makes the crab meat taste even better.”

Feng Shaoyun timely placed her crab meat in front of Sheng Xia and comforted her seriously, “Have some, sister-in-law.”

Seeing that her Little Aunt did the same thing, the pressure suddenly fell on Feng Jingxu.

“I say.” Confronted with Sheng Xia’s unreservedly suggestive gaze, he turned his head in silence, “Your wife is eating so much crab meat, can’t you control her a bit?”

Putting down the two little dumplings he was holding and facing Sheng Xia, Feng Yan calmly picked up a well-cooked lamb roll, put it in her bowl, and gently coaxed, “Eating too much crab meat is not good for your health, Xiaxia.”

Sheng Xia held her face, met his gentle black eyes, and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, smiling as she repeated, “Oh, then should I give it to you to eat?”

Although it was indeed she who sent them out, he actually ate an extra piece of crab meat!

Hmph, bear a grudge.

System: [….] Uncertain, take another look.

Sure enough, it’s the possessive host.

Watching her continuously imitating his words, thinking of the generous words she said earlier, Feng Xuran couldn’t help but sigh heavily.

Ah, she said she didn’t believe it, but Mom is really hard to handle.

Seeing the situation turning awkward, Feng Shaoyu quickly picked up his glass, “Speaking of which, we’ve been busy for so long and haven’t had a chance to toast, celebrating Shaoyun’s painting winning the first prize and the completion of little Xu’s filming.”

“Come on, let’s do it together!”

Seeing everyone raise their glasses together, Feng Shaoyun hesitated for a moment, and after meeting Sheng Xia’s encouraging gaze, she couldn’t help but purse her lips and join in.

Just at the moment when everyone raised their glasses, she couldn’t help feeling a strange feeling in her heart.

A harmonious and loving family, is it like this?

… It’s really warm.

The faint dimple on Feng Shaoyun’s cheek was particularly noticeable under the bright light.

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