The Three of You

Qin Anming couldn’t bear to see her crying like this. Feeling sorry for her, his eyes instantly turned red.

He quickly took a few steps forward and patted her back while saying softly, “Let’s not talk about it anymore…”

Xiaoguo felt even worse when she saw him behaving in this manner. She had almost lost her temper at the person who was expressing his concern for her. She was really too mean towards him.

“Brother, I’m really sorry. I’m always thinking about myself and doing whatever I want, making you worry constantly about me.”

She was used to being alone and making her own decisions. It was the same in her previous life. She had lived on her own without any siblings or close friends. But now, she almost forgot that she had a brother, and that she had someone who would worry about her and feel sorry for her.

He loved her so much, but she almost broke his heart. How terrible was her behavior!

“You are always a little girl in my heart. I have almost forgotten that you’re a mother, and an opinionated adult. I believe that you’ll consider all the possible outcomes before making any decisions. Am I right?”

Qin Anming patted her head sympathetically and continued, “So, I’ve decided to go with you. Forgive me, but I’m still worried about you going there by yourself, is that okay?”

“Boohoo…”

Xiaoguo felt like kneeling down. She was really blessed to have such a good brother!

“Don’t cry.”

Disregarding the difference between genders, Qin Anming gently embraced her. At that moment, he once again realized that she had grown so tall, and was no longer the little girl who moped for a long time after losing her tooth…

Xiaoguo leaned into his arms, and felt like slapping herself for behaving so aggressively towards him. She wouldn’t be able to find such a good brother anywhere else in the world.

Seeing that she was crying even harder, Qin Anming hesitated for a moment before lifting her up.

“Woo… Huh?”

Xiaoguo, who was crying with all her heart, opened her teary eyes. Her tears instantly stopped flowing. Had she ascended into the sky?

Qin Anming lifted her up and put her down three times in a row. He said awkwardly, “It’s a tossing game…”

“…”

Xiaoguo was still feeling a little confused when she was put down.

Qin Anming didn’t dare to look into her eyes. He scratched his cheek awkwardly and said, “You were so cute when you were young. That’s what our father did to make you stop crying.”

Xiaoguo was stunned. Is it really so coincidental?

She used to cry a lot when she was young. And her father would always lift her up and say those same words.

Was this something that all fathers in the world do to pacify their kids? Or was this just a coincidence?

“I’ll apply for leave from Ruyi now. We’ll set off the day after tomorrow.”

Without giving her time to think, Qin Anming patted her head and walked past her, heading towards Ruyi’s room.

Xiaoguo turned around with the intention of calling out to him. But looking at his determined back, she stopped herself.

Right after that, she chuckled to herself. “Let’s all go together. Otherwise, he will get very worried if he cannot see me.”

It was really her blessing to have a brother who was constantly thinking about her. It was a pity that she was an only child in her previous life and did not have the chance to experience the joy of having a sibling.

After leaving the noodle shop, Xiaoguo went to Mr. Kong’s house. It was also the day for Zhuang Zhuang to return home like he usually did.

Afraid that the little guy would continue to sit on the small stool and wait for her, she tried her best to be on time, reaching there as soon as the morning class ended.

And she made it right on time. Zhuang Zhuang had just packed his bag and came out of the room when he saw Xiaoguo waiting in the house.

“Mother… you’re so early today…”

As he spoke, he smiled and pounced on her to hug her. After not seeing her for a few days, he missed his mother very much.

“Zhuang Zhuang, let me ask you something. Shall we go to the capital to visit your father?”

“Visit Father? Really?!”

Zhuang Zhuang looked at her in disbelief.

Xiaoguo nodded. “That’s right. We’ll come back after the new year.”

Some time ago, Zhuang Zhuang was feeling upset that his father wasn’t coming home for the Spring Festival. He didn’t expect his mother to bring him to visit his father. That was awesome.

Madam Kong looked at the two of them with a smile. Xiaoguo had told her about the plan and she fully supported her decision. The Spring Festival was a time for reunions. Her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson were also coming over to visit the two of them during the new year.

“Let’s inform Mr. Kong to let him know that we are taking time off.”

After saying that, Xiaoguo was about to bring Zhuang Zhuang to look for Mr. Kong when Madam Kong stopped her and said,

“Sit and wait. He’ll be out in a while.”

Mr. Kong had a habit of tidying up the desk and putting everything back in their original positions after each class.

Under Mr. Kong’s influence, Zhuang Zhuang became even more fastidious about keeping his things neat and tidy.

After tidying up the study, Mr. Kong walked into the hall as Madam Kong had predicted.

“What are we having for lunch?”

His voice sounded before he entered the room.

Mr. Kong paused and blushed under his beard in the next instant. “So, Zhuang Zhuang and Xiaoguo are still here.”

Madam Kong smiled. “I’ll cook whatever you want.”

Mr. Kong walked towards his wife in an awkward manner and sat down by her side, while looking at the mother and son in embarrassment. He looked particularly awkward when his eyes landed on Zhuang Zhuang—his dignified image as a teacher was now in ruins.

Xiaoguo and Zhuang Zhuang were chuckling to themselves silently. It turned out that the old couple’s daily interaction was to talk about food. They were too cute.

After informing Mr. Kong of the reason for taking leave, they successfully got his approval.

When Zhuang Zhuang found out that he wouldn’t be spending the New Year at home, he extended his greetings to the two elders in advance.

After leaving the Kong residence, Xiaoguo felt that she had to inform Shu Botong as well. She was actually planning to invite him home for the Spring Festival before this.

Even though she was going to leave for the capital, she wasn’t worried about him feeling lonely during the festival, because Ruyi would definitely invite him over for the festivities.

Although the two of them were always bickering when they met, they had already regarded each other as friends in their hearts. The little squabbles between friends were harmless.

“What?! You’re going to the capital?!”

Shu Botong’s reaction was comparable to that of Qin Anming’s.

Xiaoguo’s ears were hurting from the noise. She rubbed them uncomfortably and said, “That’s right.”

“It’s almost the Spring Festival. It’s not safe to venture out of the county. It’s best not to go.”

Shu Botong was saying exactly the same thing as Qin Anming, which made Xiaoguo somewhat suspicious. “Has it been so turbulent outside lately? Why is everyone saying the same thing?”

“Are there robbers on the official route?”

“It’s hard to say. It’s almost the Spring Festival. The people living on the mountains should be raising money for the new year.”

Shu Botong was being very tactful. In this day and age, those who had no money would rob from others. It was best for women to stay home. It was too unsafe out there.

“I’ll be very careful. Besides, my brother will be coming with me. It’s fine.”

It is important to stay safe when one is outside. Xiaoguo was thinking that she still had access to the ring space. If she encountered any bandits, she would pull everyone into the ring space to ensure that the bandits could not find them.

However, the exact situation would depend on how things progress. Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain to everyone the place that she had brought them to.

No one could dissuade the fearless Xiaoguo from her plans. Seeing this, Shu Botong decided to shut up. However, his eyes were rolling in their sockets. He was definitely contemplating something.

—-

The next day.

Xiaoguo and the children arrived at the courier station in the carriage that commutes from the village to the county. After paying for the fares, she got out of the carriage and saw… a few people at the entrance of the courier station, waving at her.

“The three of you…”

The bag on Xiaoguo’s shoulders almost fell to the ground. What are these people trying to do?

“Xiaoguo…”

“Hi… Sister Xiaoguo, let’s go to the capital together…”

“Don’t even think about leaving me behind.”

Qin Anming saw Xiaoguo first and greeted her. Ruyi also waved at her happily. Shu Botong picked up his bag and raised his eyebrows at her.

Their appearance had caught her off guard.

By the time she realized what was going on, the group had seated themselves in the carriage.

“You’re going too?!”

Xiaoguo put down her bag and looked helplessly at the two people, who were chatting happily beside her.

Ruyi and Shu Botong nodded in unison and said, “Of course!”

“What about the shop?”

“What about the noodle shop and the two-story building?!”