The children are playing happily, and Yi Luowa and Tong Airui are pleased to see that. The two of them discuss where to take the kids tomorrow. An Yang, standing nearby, laughs and says, "Don’t all play together; the children are tired today, and you two are leaving the day after tomorrow. I suggest you stay ho and spend ti with them. After you leave, I’ll take them out to play."
Yi Luowa looks at the children playing wildly not far away. "Then we’ll trouble you. We and your fourth brother are leaving on Monday morning, so they won’t be sad to see us go."
"Sis, don’t underestimate them. These three kids are tough."
Yi Luowa sighs, "I’ve noticed too. People say children in poor families grow up early. We’re not poor, but we’re busy and often leave them. So they can handle more than the average child."
Tong Airui quickly reassures her, "This is our first assignnt visit since taking office, and it will be longer. In the future, we’ll only be gone for a few days, and we won’t miss anything."
"It’s alright." Yi Luowa smiles, "I’m thinking positively."
On Monday, the couple wakes up early, and watching the still-sleeping children, Yi Luowa kisses each one reluctantly.
Tong Airui gestures for her to leave early so the kids won’t wake up and cry.
Yi Luowa leaves the house tearfully, and Yuan Hang and Kou’er are waiting downstairs with others.
Tong Airui gives Yuan Hang’s shoulder a firm pat. "Leave the children’s safety to you."
"Don’t worry, as long as I’m around, they’ll be fine." Yuan Hang turns to Kou’er, "Rember everything I told you. Be extra careful."
"I will be careful!"
Yuan Hang looks at Dapeng and says seriously, "Please, make sure to take good care of Ye and Luowa."
Dapeng laughs, "Brother Yuan Hang, rest assured with handling it."
Yi Luowa glances at them, then turns to Yi Weiyang, "Second Uncle..."
Huo Li interrupts her with a laugh, "Co on, don’t say more. We’ll definitely take good care of Ziyan and make them chubby for you."
Tong Aino laughs and says, "There are so many of us at ho. You don’t need to worry about the children."
Yi Luowa sniffles, "Please take care, we’re leaving now."
Fearing she might cry, Yi Luowa pulls Tong Airui out the door.
Everyone watches them go out the gate before returning. Youyou looks up at the second floor and sees three small faces pressed closely against the glass balcony window, looking down.
Youyou’s eyes redden slightly, "Oh... how pitiful."
Ziyan, seeing everyone below looking up, quickly pulls his younger siblings back into the room. "None of us are allowed to cry. Mom and Dad will be back soon."
"Okay." Sangyu, with red eyes, nods.
Zi Xi sniffs and says, "Brother, but I miss Mom and Dad..."
"With us around, we’ll take care of you." Ziyan raises his little hand to touch his brother’s little face, "Co, let brother help you get dressed."
"I can do it." Zi Xi pouts and picks up his clothes.
Sangyu pouts, "If you can’t, don’t force it. Even though Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, and Dad aren’t ho, you still have us. Brother and I won’t let you go without clothes or food."
Connie, standing outside listening for a bit, wipes her tears and cos in, "You have your aunt too."
Ziyan grins and says, "Auntie, we can take care of ourselves. You go check on the other two brothers."
An Yang and Youyou co in, An Yang laughing and picking up Zi Xi, "You three are so good, not crying at all."
"Almost cried." Zi Xi pouts and tightly hugs An Yang’s neck, "When is uncle coming?"
"Uncle has so official business to finish. He’ll co tonight with Grandma."
Zi Xi looks at An Yang incredulously, "Grandma is also coming?"
"Yes, but Grandma can’t stay for long."
Zi Xi turns to his brother and sister, "Grandma and Uncle are coming!"
"Are you still sad?" Ziyan asks with a smile.
"A little better."
"Co on down, let’s get ready and go to school." Sangyu takes her brother’s hand and gives it a little shake.
Youyou smiles and says, "You two go get ready; we’ll take care of Zi Xi."
Sangyu looks pitifully at Youyou and asks, "Aunt Eight, can we sleep in Mom’s room tonight?"
"Why do you want to sleep in Mom’s room?" Yi Weiyang and Huo Li laugh as they walk in.
Sangyu pouts, "It slls like Mom and Dad in here."
Huo Li pats Sangyu’s head, "You can sleep wherever you like. If sothing’s bothering you, just say it. You can tell anyone in the family. Keeping it in will make you sick, you know?"
Sangyu nods her head, "I know! I just want to ask, who will do my hair?"
Ziyan cos over, "I’ll do it for you."
Huo Li laughs and pats Ziyan’s little butt, "You little rascal, can you do that? I’ll fix Sangyu’s hair."
"I really can. I learned from Grandma and Mom." Ziyan takes his sister’s hand and leads her to the bathroom. He’s a bit short for her, so he stands on the toilet lid. Everyone curiously follows and watches Ziyan neatly fix his sister’s hair into a ponytail.
Ziyan pushes Sangyu to the vanity mirror and asks, "How’s it look?"
"Hehe, better than what Grandma and Mom do!" Sangyu sways her ponytail and giggles.
An Yang, laughing, sends a video he just recorded to Yi Luowa.
On the road, Yi Luowa watches the video of her children, tears of joy streaming down her face, "They’re really growing up, Ziyan can even do his sister’s hair now."
Tong Airui laughs and turns his head, the window reflecting his slightly reddened eyes.
"Our son is only seven, and he’s already taken on the role of protector for his siblings."
"Don’t worry about them. Everyone won’t let those three go without."
Yi Luowa blinks her eyes, "Why aren’t you looking at when you talk?"
"I’m thinking about sothing."
"What are you thinking about?"
"Thinking about my childhood." Tong Airui sees her moving in front of him and quickly pulls her into his embrace.
Yi Luowa, held so she can’t lift her head, complains, "Let look at your eyes. Are you crying?"
"No tears."
"You are crying!" Yi Luowa raises her hand, playfully touching his face.
Tong Airui bends down and bites her hand gently, mumbling, "Stop it, let tell you a story from when I was young."
"Okay." Yi Luowa imdiately quiets down.
Tong Airui releases her hand and gently massages the back of it, speaking as he does, "When I was young... Ah, let’s not talk about it. The more I talk, the guiltier I feel about the three kids. I never lacked people around when I was young."
"The circumstances were different. When you were young, people were always concerned about you, and everyone had to protect you."
"True."
"Sweetheart, you know, seeing Ziyan do Sangyu’s hair reminded of my older brother. When we were young, he took care of us like that. In the blink of an eye, my brother’s now in his forties, and in a few years, he’ll even be a grandfather."
"You only have a few decades in life; it passes in the blink of an eye."
Tong Airui laughs and pats her head, "You’re still young. How can you be this reflective?"
"I’m not young anymore. I’ll get older, and in no ti, Sangyu and Ziyan will be taller than ." Yi Luowa pouts, "What I fear most is Sangyu growing as tall as her aunt. Finding a boyfriend will be challenging then."
"That’s uncertain. Ai Ni wasn’t even as tall as Sangyu when she was seven."
Yi Luowa sighs.
Tong Airui laughs, "All the better if she can’t find one. We’ll keep supporting her."
"You usually don’t show Sangyu much affection, but now you don’t want her to find a boyfriend."
"Dad already spoils her so much. If I show her I spoil her too, she won’t know her limits. You know, watching Sangyu grow day by day, it’s like seeing your childhood. I missed the first nineteen years of your life, but I can relive them through Sangyu."
"Good thing you ca early. Without you, who knows what my life would have been like."
"Just say you’re lucky to have t ." Tong Airui laughs, kissing her forehead, "I’m lucky too. Without eting you, I wouldn’t have such adorable kids. Even though I don’t outwardly spoil them like Dad, I cherish them in my heart. Sotis, just one word from them can make smile in my sleep."
"I didn’t expect you to be so reserved. I hope you also restrain yourself with in the future."
"I can’t do that!"
Dapeng glances back at them and laughs, "Fourth Sister-in-law, don’t listen to my Fourth Brother’s nonsense. Saying he smiles in his sleep; that’s just to keep the kids happy! I’ve long understood; in my Fourth Brother’s heart, you’re always first."
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