Using Marriage as Bait : Extra 10
Extra 10
Lin Xiyu had planned to take the kids out for a picnic this weekend. While picking up the kids, she had a casual chat with Zhang Minmin’s mom, who also mentioned planning a picnic for her child. The two mothers quickly hit it off and decided to go together, making it more lively and ensuring the kids had company to play with.
As autumn set in, the summer heat subsided, and the weather became cooler and more pleasant. Many families were out in the park enjoying the day with their children. After the two families met, the adults got to know each other. Zhang Minmin’s mother worked in a state-owned enterprise, and her dad was in politics, coincidentally knowing Lu Junting’s second uncle, who was also in politics.
As soon as Tangtang saw her, she complimented her, "Zhang Minmin, your dress is so pretty."
As soon as Tangtang saw her, she complimented her, “Zhang Minmin, your dress is so pretty.”
Zhang Minmin smiled shyly. “Thank you, Tangtang.” She handed a gift she had prepared to Lu Wantang. “Tangtang, this is for you.”
“Thank you, Minmin.” Tangtang was delighted to receive the gift but soon realized she hadn’t prepared anything for Minmin. She looked apologetic and said, “But I didn’t prepare a gift for you.”
“It’s okay,”
Zhang Minmin replied with a smile and then ran off. She had another gift to give to Brother Chengmao. The little girl walked shyly to Lu Chengmao and handed him the present.
“Brother Chengmao, this is for you.”
Chengmao accepted it. “Thank you.”
Seeing him accept her gift made Minmin incredibly happy. She covered her face, giggling and feeling a bit bashful, and quickly ran off.
While the kids played, the parents prepared for the picnic. However, the weather didn’t cooperate. What started as a sunny day quickly turned cloudy, and soon it began to rain heavily.
The rain ruined the picnic plans, and the parents hurriedly packed up. In the chaos, Lin Xiyu realized that the kids were missing.
Zhang Minmin’s mother also quickly noticed her daughter wasn’t around. It turned out that the two little girls had gone to the carousel nearby.
The carousel had a canopy that shielded them from the rain. The adults spotted them but were too busy packing to fetch them. Seeing this, Lu Chengmao volunteered to go and bring the girls back.
Holding a large umbrella, Lu Chengmao walked over. The two little girls saw him and waved excitedly.
“Brother! Brother! Over here!”
“Brother Chengmao, I’m here!”
The carousel was large, so Lu Chengmao had to step closer. He closed the umbrella, and the two girls dashed towards him. Zhang Minmin reached him first and hugged him tightly.
Before he could react, Lu Chengmao found himself hugged by Minmin. Instinctively, he steadied the little girl with a hand.
To Zhang Minmin, the fact that Brother Chengmao had accepted her gift meant he was willing to be her friend. Friends could hug each other, so she didn’t think much of it.
However, Tangtang, who was a step behind and watching this scene, had a completely different thought. She had clearly run over with Zhang Minmin, yet her brother hugged Zhang Minmin first.
Why did Brother hug Minmin first?
He’s my brother, and I’m his sister!
Why didn’t her brother hug her first? Xiao Tangtang felt so wronged. The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. Her big eyes turned red, her lips quivered, and she burst into tears with a loud wail.
Lu Chengmao, surprised, let go of Minmin and approached his crying sister. “What’s wrong?”
Zhang Minmin also came over, concerned. “Tangtang, why are you crying?”
Xiao Tangtang sobbed, rubbing her teary eyes with her chubby hands, and said, “Why didn’t Brother hug me first? I’m your sister.”
She was so upset and angry.
Lu Chengmao: “......”
Lu Chengmao didn’t understand why this was a big deal. But seeing his sister cry so sadly, he couldn’t bear it. He gently pulled her into a hug and wiped her tears. “She came over first, so I hugged her first.”
“Waahhh!”
Xiao Tangtang buried her face in his chest, still feeling wronged and needing to cry a bit more.
Lu Chengmao patted her head and reassured her, “From now on, I’ll hug you first, okay?”
Xiao Tangtang peeked out from his embrace. “Really?”
“Really. Brother won’t lie to you.” He wiped her tears again. “Don’t cry anymore, alright?”
Tangtang nodded vigorously. “But you can’t forget what you promised me.”
“I won’t forget.”
Reassured by her brother’s promise, Xiao Tangtang’s mood finally improved, and she stopped crying.
“Alright, let’s head back. The rain is getting heavier,” Lu Chengmao said.
He opened the umbrella, escorted his sister to their car, and then walked Minmin to her family’s car before returning to his own.
Although the umbrella was large, some rain still splashed onto them. Once on the car, Lin Xiyu changed Xiao Tangtang into a dry set of clothes and dried her hair. She handed a towel to Chengmao, who had also gotten wet and told him to dry off.
Seeing her son’s helpful behavior, Lin Xiyu praised him generously.
“Chengmao did great today, taking care of the two little girls.”
Feeling a bit shy from the praise, Lu Chengmao lowered his head and smiled.
Lin Xiyu then tapped her daughter’s nose and asked, “But you, why were you crying again? Tell Mommy why you were upset.”
Tangtang felt her reason was a bit embarrassing and buried her face in her mother’s chest, mumbling softly, “Brother hugged Minmin first.”
“That’s why you cried? Just because he hugged Minmin first? Minmin is also a little sister. It’s okay for Brother to hug her too.”
Xiao Tangtang, determined, said, "But he’s my brother. He should hug me first."
Lin Xiyu found her daughter’s logic amusing and said, “Who Brother hugs first should be up to him, not based on what you think. Did you even ask him?”
Xiao Tangtang proudly declared, “Brother promised me he’ll hug me first from now on.”
Lin Xiyu glanced at Chengmao, silently confirming with him. He nodded and said, “I’ll hug her first from now on.”
Lin Xiyu said, “You can’t just give in to her because she cried. You shouldn’t let her have her way in everything. Who you like more and who you choose to hug first is your decision. Even though I’m your mom, I have no right to interfere.”
Sitting in the front seat as the driver, Lu Junting frowned at her remark and said, “Of course, your own sister deserves more care. If you favor outsiders over your own family, that’s not the way things work in the Lu family.”
Lin Xiyu was speechless at Lu Junting's words, but after a moment’s thought, she realized it made sense. The Lu family had always been protective of their own. No matter how much infighting occurred within the family, they always presented a united front to outsiders. It was only natural for Lu Junting to hold such beliefs, having grown up in such an environment.
Not wanting to argue further, Lin Xiyu turned to Chengmao and said, “Chengmao, it’s okay. Just follow your own feelings.”
Lu Chengmao replied, “Of course, I like my sister more.”
Hearing this, Xiao Tangtang immediately lit up with joy and quickly said, “I like my brother too! I like my brother so much!”
Lu Chengmao smiled and patted his sister’s head, helping to wipe the remaining water droplets from her face.
Their father, Mr. Lu, also smiled as he drove and said, “That’s more like it. Brothers and sisters should love and support each other. You both are doing great, and when we get home, Dad will reward you.”
The thought of a reward delighted both children. Lin Xiyu was naturally pleased to see her son and daughter getting along so well. Watching them so happy, she also smiled with relief.
The next day, as Xiao Tangtang arrived at school, she saw Zhang Minmin waiting for her at the entrance. The moment Tangtang got out of the car, Minmin ran over and grabbed her hand.
“Tangtang, you’re finally here.”
“Were you waiting for me?”
“En.”
The two little girls held hands as they walked into the school together. Zhang Minmin asked, "Tangtang, are you still mad at me? Yesterday, when Brother Chengmao hugged me first, you cried.”
“No,” Tangtang replied as she took a cookie out of her bag. “My mom made this. I brought one for you.”
Zhang Minmin’s eyes lit up as she accepted it and said with a smile, “Thank you, Tangtang.”
For National Day, the kindergarten was planning a group performance. Since each class didn’t have many children, the teachers decided to combine the kids from the senior, middle, and junior classes into one group.
Before the rehearsals could start, the children were asked to choose their dance partners. The girls got to choose first, as there were fewer girls than boys. Any boys left unchosen would have to pair up with each other. The children, eager to avoid the “embarrassment” of being paired with another boy, raised their hands enthusiastically to catch the girls’ attention.
The girls lined up and took turns choosing their partners. Zhang Minmin and Lu Wantang stood side by side, and Minmin asked, “Tangtang, what kind of partner do you want to pick?”
Xiao Wantang thought for a moment and said, “Someone who looks good.”
“Oh.”
“What about you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then just pick anyone.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Zhouming stood at the very front. As the other boys around him were gradually chosen, he remained standing there, unpicked. The little boy was well aware that no one was going to choose him.
He hung his head low, his hands clenched behind him. He didn’t care. As long as he didn’t care, it would be fine. If he didn’t get picked off, he wouldn’t be picked off. He was the only one left, then he was the only one left.
But no matter how much he tried to convince himself, the lingering sting of rejection—his wounded pride and the looming fear of being the last one left—caused his small fists to tremble slightly.
Until... suddenly, a pair of shoes with cartoon patterns appeared before him. They were a girl’s shoes. Slowly, Jiang Zhouming lifted his head and saw a little girl with a round face standing in front of him. She had bright eyes and rosy lips—the kind of child adults often call adorable.
Jiang Zhouming recognized her. She had stood up for him before. He knew she was in the junior class, and her name was Lu Wantang. Everyone called her Tangtang, and she was well-liked by her classmates.
Why was she standing in front of him?
Before he could figure it out, the girl extended her hand to him and said, “I choose you.”
Jiang Zhouming froze.
----------
If you like my translation, please support me by buying me a coffee:
0 comments: