"You rascal!" The aunt playfully smacked Tong Airui.
"Auntie, why are you buying this?" Tong Airui said, giving Yi Luowa a knowing look and mouthing: "Buy it quickly."
Connie hesitated. "If I stay... do you think Tong Aino will despise even more?"
"You may not, but your father-in-law and Rui’er sure hold a grudge against . They wouldn’t even let visit your house." Ni Lu shook her head with a sigh.
Tong Airui smiled. When he was with her, there was no way he’d let her pay.
"You two little scoundrels! I was buying it for both of you, and now you’re rushing to pay for it instead. Fine, you buy it yourselves!" The aunt glared at Tong Airui angrily. "And you didn’t even introduce us properly. She calls sister—did you not hear?"
"A-Aunt Ni Lu!" Yi Luowa nearly bit her tongue. Aunt Ni Lu was so gorgeous. Why did Shiqing look nothing like her?
Tong Airui smiled and turned to the saleswoman. "Write up the receipt."
"What’s so funny? You look so pleased," Tong Airui said as he returned from the cashier.
Ni Lu laughed, pulling Yi Luowa to another counter. "I saw this earlier, but it seed a bit risqué, so I didn’t dare buy it for you two. Look."
Yi Luowa’s face grew even redder. "What are you doing!"
Tong Airui raised an eyebrow slightly. "My wife calls you sister because you look so young."
"Auntie, you’re such a good person!" Yi Luowa said with a cheeky grin.
Maizekai acted like he didn’t notice and turned to Yi Luowa instead. "Thank you, Fourth Sister-in-law, for the gift."
Yi Luowa noticed he didn’t have his card and hurried after him. "Fourth Brother, you forgot your card."
Tong Airui waited for her to finish, grabbed the receipt, and headed to the cashier.
Ni Lu, seeing her reaction, laughed. "Your aunt’s just teasing you. No need to take it seriously."
"You’re just like your dad!" The aunt pushed him aside, walked over to Yi Luowa, and said with a warm smile: "Luowa, I’m Aunt Ni Lu. What a coincidence that we et here."
"Second Uncle and Huo Li are doing well now. They’ll be fine without for a little while. Everyone’s been so busy helping us with family matters these past few days—I really don’t know how to thank you all."
Ni Lu chuckled, watching them interact. The more she looked, the better she thought they suited each other.
Yi Luowa pouted and pulled Ni Lu away.
"We’re family. Why are you being so formal?" Lady Jing Ya pretended to scold her.
Yi Luowa hesitated. "Auntie, thank you for your kind gesture. But first, let apologize—I was a bit rude earlier."
After dinner, Yi Luowa dragged Connie into the side room and relayed what her Second Uncle had said. "What do you think?"
The saleswoman blushed slightly and hurriedly prepared the bill.
Ni Lu pulled Yi Luowa aside with a laugh. "Let Rui’er pay. Don’t fight a man over these things—they’ll feel humiliated."
"Thank you, Auntie. Your presence is the best gift already." Yi Luowa hugged Ni Lu’s waist with a smile. "Talking to you on the phone was delightful, but I never expected you’d be so young and beautiful in person!"
Yi Luowa quickly covered his mouth. "No way!"
Yi Luowa’s lip twitched slightly. "This is about gratitude. I owe this favor, so I should repay it."
Ni Lu smiled knowingly at her. "You’re out of excuses, aren’t you? Haha! You’re such a funny child. Don’t worry—I’m not upset with them. After so many years of knowing your father-in-law and Rui’er, I understand their temperants well. Still, bottom line: I didn’t raise my daughter well, so I’m sorry to all of you."
Yi Luowa widened her eyes. "He wouldn’t dare! That proud ss needs to be conquered first. Once he’s yours, then you can deal with him slowly!"
"My dad has etings all day tomorrow?" Tong Airui shook his head with a smile as they got into the car. "That Aunt Ni Lu... probably heading off to bribe Mu Ta Da again."
"Auntie, we’re heading ho now. Are you going to shop so more?"
"What should we do, then?" Yi Luowa asked anxiously.
"Your dad has etings all day tomorrow!" Ni Lu laughed. "Now, off you go. Be careful on your way ho!"
"Is it?" Yi Luowa leaned closer to his face, trying to see her reflection in his pupils.
Tong Airui, knowing Ni Lu’s personality, figured it was best to let her have her fun. He walked over to the counter and picked up the wrapped jade dolls.
Tong Airui froze. "You’re not afraid my dad will be rude to you?"
"She just needs to strictly follow the doctor’s advice."
"Haven’t kissed you in days! Just checking if you’d taste any different." Tong Airui smiled. "You still haven’t told what Aunt Ni Lu did to make you so shy."
Yi Luowa realized they were finally getting to the crux of the issue. "Auntie, we already talked it over during our phone call. I don’t hold anything against Shiqing."
Tong Airui burst out laughing. "Let’s go back and buy it."
"Goodbye, Auntie!" Yi Luowa waved at her before heading out with Tong Airui.
Maizekai nodded. "Grandma, yes. They’ve discussed it and as long as they’re cautious, it’ll be fine. They even have a family doctor."
Long Che was so impatient he nearly wanted to kick them. He thought to himself that if they were his kids, he’d send them to be remade!
Yi Luowa glanced at Tong Airui, wondering if they’d run into soone they knew.
"I know you two don’t need anything, but this is just a token of my affection. Rui’er, you’re lucky to have found such a great wife."
Yi Luowa grinned like a little fox and handed her bank card to the saleswoman. "That lady doesn’t want it anymore. Sell it to ."
Maizekai adjusted his glasses and leaned back against the sofa at a leisurely pace.
Yi Luowa blinked innocently. "Open it and see for yourself. You’ll know I think of you as a friend. Seventh Brother, you open yours too."
"Aunt Ni Lu is so fun!" Yi Luowa said, beaming.
"Nothing, haha... Rui’er, your little wife is so innocent," Ni Lu said, nearly doubling over with laughter as she glanced toward the risqué counter again.
Yi Luowa glanced awkwardly at Tong Airui. "Fourth Brother doesn’t own any businesses. He’s just getting by on his salary. I’d feel bad spending his money."
Yi Luowa followed her finger and felt her face flush instantly. This was beyond just risqué! The artwork depicted two people... well, doing sothing under a tree. Where on earth could she even put such a thing?
Ni Lu bead at the complint and laughed. "Alright, you buy them then! I’ll go pick sothing else for you two from another store."
Yi Luowa pushed her bank card into Tong Airui’s hand. "The PIN is my birthday."
Yi Luowa scrunched her nose and whispered close to his ear, "Aunt Ni Lu showed a jade sculpture where two people were, um, doing it under a tree."
Ni Lu shook her head, still laughing. "You’re his girlfriend—why are you keeping score with him? Silly girl, the more I look at you, the cuter you are! Ah, if only Shiqing were a bit more like you... But alas, I didn’t raise her well, and she grew up all wrong. Lately, she’s been reflecting a lot, telling again and again that she owes you an apology."
Ni Lu burst into laughter. "Silly girl, Rui’er has shares in Zhuoyuan Group! A single share from Zhuoyuan could sustain a small country. Do you really think he’s short on cash?"
Yi Luowa playfully stuck out her tongue. "Grandma, I won’t be formal anymore."
"Auntie, you really don’t need to. We don’t lack anything," Tong Airui chid in.
Yi Luowa pouted slightly. This guy was utterly hopeless!
Finally, the two exquisite jade dolls were revealed. Teng Aini burst out laughing. "You two better not waste my sister-in-law’s thoughtfulness."
Jimo Shanshan blushed slightly and glanced at Maizekai, who was sitting across from her.
"Earlier, I was worried you might not like these dolls if I bought them for you two. Now that I see how much you fancy them, how about I buy them for you?" Ni Lu said, trying to negotiate with Yi Luowa.
Yi Luowa imdiately grew nervous. "Grandma, please don’t. You and Grandpa aren’t young anymore. Second Uncle said that once I start school, he and Huo Li will be discharged to recover at ho."
"Discharged? Are they sure about that?" Lady Jing Ya turned to Maizekai for confirmation.
"No shopping. Are you daring enough to take ho with you?" Ni Lu glared at him. "Go on, head back. I’ll visit your house tomorrow."
"That’s better! When school starts for you, your grandpa and I will go help take care of your Second Uncle and Huo Li at the hospital," Lady Jing Ya said, smiling.
Tong Airui laughed as he pulled her into his arms. His little wife, always so bashful—this could be a problem.
The whole family craned their necks to watch. These two slowpokes took a full five minutes just to open their present!
Taking the opportunity, Tong Airui kissed her on the cheek.
"Auntie, my dad and Tong Airui don’t an to bla you. It’s just that... there have been many visitors at ho recently, and things are a bit chaotic. They’re probably just worried they couldn’t host you properly... or maybe... maybe..."
When they got ho, the whole family was there. Yi Luowa greeted everyone cheerfully and sat down next to Tong Yao.
"You’re putting it nicely. According to my dad, she’s just a lunatic." Tong Airui chuckled, noticing her red face. "Why is your face so flushed?"
"I wanted to talk to you today," Tong Yao said with a smile, "but considering your Second Uncle and Huo Li’s situation, I thought better of it."
Jimo Shanshan frowned slightly. "Huo Li might have a harder ti with recovery. She injured her hip, and if she doesn’t recover fully, it could affect her ability to have children."
"I’ll handle it. You stay with Auntie."
"Silly child, what are you saying!" Ni Lu chuckled, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You didn’t know it was earlier. Even if you had, so what? I like how straightforward you are!"
"I’ll talk to her when I see her and remind her to stick to the doctor’s instructions," Yi Luowa said. Then she picked up a gift box and handed it to Jimo Shanshan and Maizekai. "I saw these dolls earlier and thought they were fun, so I got them for the two of you—a little token of appreciation for all your help these past few days."
Jimo Shanshan gave her a look of discontent. "Why give a gift? Clearly, you don’t see as a friend!"
"If you buy them, then I won’t have a gift for eting you," Ni Lu joked.
"Auntie..." Yi Luowa smiled shyly. "How about we discuss who pays for the dolls? I want to buy them as a gift for soone. If you buy them for , it’d be awkward to gift them."
"Ahem!" A soft cough ca from outside the door. Yi Luowa and Connie exchanged a look and imdiately fell silent.
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