Chapter 14: Uncle, Isn’t My Aunt Pretty?  

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tiantian visibly deflated, but then her eyes began to dart around mischievously as if she had thought of something, and a secretive smile spread across her face, her eyes twinkling like stars.  

“Alright, alright, I get it, Auntie. Here, the drawing is for you.”  

Tao Wanxing couldn’t help but laugh at her comical expression and lightly booped her nose. “So, where does Sweetie want to go play today?”  

Xiao Tiantian’s eyes lit up. “Sweetie wants to go to the amusement park!”  

Tao Wanxing smiled. “Okay, then it’s off to the amusement park.”  

…  

After a whole day of playing, Tao Wanxing was exhausted, her back and legs aching. She couldn’t help but marvel at how boundless a child’s energy could be.  

Xiao Tiantian only fell asleep on the ride back, nestled in Tao Wanxing’s arms.  

The Meng family’s driver was already waiting downstairs.  

Tao Chuxia knew Tao Wanxing didn’t want to go to the Meng residence, so she always had the driver pick up Xiao Tiantian from the apartment.  

That’s why Tao Wanxing was surprised when she saw Tao Chuxia. “Sis, what brings you here?”  

Tao Chuxia hesitated, fumbling for words as she looked at her sister.  

“Wanxing, um…”  

Tao Wanxing tilted her head. “Hmm?”  

“Well… your brother-in-law specifically asked me to invite you to Great-Grandfather’s birthday banquet.”  

Tao Wanxing froze instantly, turning to her sister with a troubled expression. “Sis… can I not go?”  

She had completely forgotten about his request to have dinner with her after their encounter at the hospital.  

No one had brought it up again, so she assumed the matter had been dropped. She never expected it to resurface now, tied to the birthday banquet.  

Tao Chuxia nodded, unsurprised. “If you really don’t want to go, it’s fine. I’ll just tell your brother-in-law you’re too busy.”  

“But won’t the Meng family give you a hard time over this?” Tao Wanxing asked anxiously.  

“It’s fine,” Tao Chuxia reassured her with a smile. “Your brother-in-law is on my side.”  

Tao Wanxing frowned, but just then, a small hand tugged at hers. A sleepy, sweet voice piped up, “Auntie, please come? You’ve never been to my house before.”  

Xiao Tiantian blinked her big, bright eyes, making it impossible to refuse.  

Tao Wanxing stayed silent, so Xiao Tiantian shook her hand again, pouting. “Auntie~”  

“If you don’t come, then Sweetie won’t be your friend anymore.”  

“And then Sweetie will be sad.”  

“Alright,” Tao Wanxing relented, both amused and exasperated. She didn’t want her sister to be looked down upon because of this, either.  

Xiao Tiantian immediately brightened, hugging Tao Chuxia and cheering.  

“Yay! Auntie said yes!”  

“Mommy, Mommy, Sweetie did a good job, right?”  

“I love Auntie the most! Oh, Auntie, can you get me a birthday present too?”  

“Huh?” Tao Wanxing couldn’t help but chuckle. “Isn’t it Great-Grandfather’s birthday? Why should I get you a present?”  

Xiao Tiantian didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed. “Because Great-Grandfather said his birthday is my birthday too! He even promised to give me all his presents!”  

“Okay, okay,” Tao Wanxing said indulgently, pinching Xiao Tiantian’s chubby little cheeks. “Auntie will get you a present.”  

Xiao Tiantian beamed, her eyes sparkling like little stars. “Thank you, Auntie!”  

As Tao Chuxia settled Xiao Tiantian into the car, Tao Wanxing gently tugged her sister’s sleeve.  

Tao Chuxia turned back. “What is it?”

Tao Wanxing felt awkward and whispered, “Is Second Brother coming back?”

After saying that, she worried her sister might misunderstand, so she added, “I only left back then because I had a fight with him.”

A flicker of suspicion flashed in Tao Chuxia’s eyes, but she didn’t dwell on it. She simply assumed Wanxing was embarrassed about seeing Meng Chu again, given how she used to chase after him, declaring she would marry him someday.

With amusement in her eyes, Chuxia teased, “Your brother-in-law asked him. He’s busy with work these days and won’t be coming back.”

Wanxing inexplicably let out a sigh of relief. As long as he wasn’t returning, she could attend without worry.

“Then… you didn’t tell him I’m in the capital, right?”

Chuxia looked surprised. “Why would we tell him? You’re my sister, not his. Your brother-in-law and his unit are swamped—they wouldn’t bother bringing up something like that.”

“Good. Just let me know the exact date, and I’ll take time off to go.” Wanxing nodded, finally at ease.

Little Sweetie, watching her mother and aunt standing outside the car, secretly covered her mouth and giggled. She opened her tablet, where she had secretly taken photos of her aunt during their outing earlier.

She had her own WeChat account and tapped on a chat labeled “Uncle.” Without hesitation, she sent over all the photos she had taken that day.

A question mark quickly appeared in response.

Sweetie didn’t dare send a voice message now—she had to keep this a secret.

After returning to the Meng residence, she finished her bath and told Chuxia she was sleepy before sneaking her tablet under the covers.

“Uncle, Uncle, isn’t my aunt pretty?”

“Secretly telling you—my aunt doesn’t have a boyfriend yet.”

“I invited Auntie to Great-Grandfather’s birthday. Are you coming back?”

After sending the messages, Sweetie buried herself under the blankets, stifling her laughter.

Just thinking about it made her happy. The TV always said that married couples live together. So if Auntie and Uncle got married, they’d live together too!

Then she could see both of them all the time and go out to play with them together.

Meng Chu was at a banquet when Sweetie’s photos of Tao Wanxing appeared on his phone. His brows furrowed, his tongue pressing hard against his cheek, his eyes darkening like a brewing storm—his expression was terrifying.

He turned to Gao Ming beside him. “Notify everyone—the matters we discussed in the meeting must be finalized within the next few days. Present me with a feasible plan.”

Gao Ming, who had been holding a wine glass with flushed cheeks, froze. “Governor, but right now—”

“Is there a problem?” Meng Chu’s voice was thick with displeasure, his tone icy.

Gao Ming stiffened. “No problem. I’ll notify them immediately.”

“Hm.”

The room fell silent at Meng Chu’s words, the atmosphere instantly turning tense.

Minister Yu from the Propaganda Department raised his glass. “A true leader never stops working, even during holidays. Cloud Province is fortunate to have someone as dedicated as you, Governor!”

The others inwardly cursed Yu for being a sly old fox, spouting such flattery without shame.

Working overtime was already routine, but during a holiday break? Everyone wanted to spend time with their families. The sudden order to work left them disgruntled.

But the man before them was Cloud Province’s highest authority. They had no choice but to raise their glasses and chime in.

“Indeed, having a governor like you is a blessing for all of us in Cloud Province!”

Meng Chu leaned back on the sofa, lighting a cigarette. The swirling smoke blurred his features as he exhaled.  

The others couldn’t quite read his expression, only hearing him say, “You’ve all worked hard.”  

They grinned widely, replying, “Not at all, not at all! It’s our duty. The Governor has also been exhausting himself for the development of Cloud Province!”  

Someone chimed in, “Though it’s nothing for us, the comrades below might have some complaints.”  

Meng Chu’s tone was indifferent, revealing neither anger nor joy. “Do I really need to teach you how to manage your subordinates?”