You grown-ups are so unfair!

"Yeah."

Tang Beichen looked utterly confused. "I just got back from a meeting at the office."

"What's wrong, big brother?"

Tang Dongcheng awkwardly let go. "Nothing. I was just surprised you finished work so early."

Tang Beichen looked puzzled. "It's Tangtang's one-month celebration today. How could I miss such an important occasion?"

"As long as you know."

Tang Dongcheng took out his camera. "Go get changed. I'll set things up here, and then we can start taking pictures."

Tang Beichen's reaction was normal, so he probably wasn't cheating. Perhaps Tangtang had misunderstood and gotten it wrong.

"Okay."

Su Xiajing and Tang Beichen both wanted Tang Tang's one-month photos to feel more natural and everyday.

Leaving Tang Tang with Sister Wang and Aunt Zhang, the two went back to their room and changed into casual clothes.

Once they came out, they first posed for some family portraits with the three of them under Tang Dongcheng's direction, then took turns holding Tang Tang for pictures.

Tang Tang's solo photos came last, mostly in her crib, on the sofa, or against a backdrop in the nursery.

In her previous ten lives, her adoptive parents had spent every day struggling to make ends meet. Their family of four had never taken a proper family portrait.

Taking family portraits was a very novel experience for her.

She was a little curious about what it would feel like.

Before long, Tang Tang regretted it.

Taking pictures was exhausting. Being held for pictures was fine, but when it was time for her solo shots, Tang Tang didn't want to move at all.

"Tang Tang, look over here at Uncle."

Tang Dongcheng searched for good angles as he took pictures, motioning for Tang Tang to cooperate and look at him.

Tang Tang: "..."

I don't want to move. Not one bit.

Tang Tang was placed on a snow-white blanket while Sister Wang and Aunt Zhang kept waving toys in front of her to catch her attention.

"Little Candy, look here. Look at Auntie."

Usually, when babies were laid on their tummies and someone played with them in front of them, they would try hard to lift their heads and find the source of the sound. The photographer would then quickly capture that moment of wide-eyed curiosity.

Tang Tang was already exhausted. She stayed exactly as the adults had put her down, lying on her tummy without moving or even glancing up. Whoever called to her, it was none of her business.

You grown-ups only know how to boss children around to do what you want!

You're decades old and can't necessarily control your own emotions and desires, yet you expect a child to follow orders like a robot?

I'm still a fragile little baby who only just turned a month old, and you're already ordering me to do this and that. Isn't that unfair?

Taking pictures of children is about capturing fleeting moments. If I could do everything exactly as you asked, wouldn't you find that even scarier?

I'm just a little baby. I'm tired, I have no strength left, and I can't get up anymore.

Do whatever you want. Don't expect me to move again.

I'm not cooperating anymore, anyway!

Tang Tang gave up completely and ignored everyone.

Seeing Tang Tang lying face-down without so much as a glance at them, the few people who could hear her thoughts fell silent.

Sister Wang and Aunt Zhang had called to her for ages, only to achieve the opposite effect. They looked at each other and quietly stopped too.

"Well, Tang Tang seems tired."

"Yes, maybe she's sleepy because she got up too early today."

Su Xiajing went over and picked Tang Tang up. "Why don't we stop here?"

Tang Beichen agreed. "Yes, yes. We can take the rest of her solo pictures ourselves when the time is right."

"Sure."

Tang Dongcheng put away his camera and stood up. "The family portraits turned out pretty well. For the rest of her solo pictures, just take more on your phones day to day. With children, what matters most is capturing the interesting moments in their lives. A few pictures for special occasions are enough."

He had been self-centered for too long, always assuming children couldn't think for themselves and trying to impose his own ideas on them while overlooking their feelings.

Tang Dongcheng looked down at his son, who had obediently stayed beside him to learn photography, and gently ruffled his hair.

He would have to communicate more with his children from now on.

Tang Xianqi looked up and gave him a gentle smile.

"Can I take a picture with Tang Tang?" he asked Su Xiajing.

Su Xiajing first looked at Tang Tang.

Tang Tang: Yes, yes! I love taking pictures with my handsome big brother!

Big brother is twelve this year, right?

Take lots of pictures of me and big brother, or I'll never have another chance to take pictures with him!

"..."

Su Xiajing thought she meant she wouldn't have another chance because she would be abandoned. Her heart ached, and she silently held her daughter tighter.

Tang Beichen looked away.

Tang Dongcheng: "..."

This child is so mentally precocious. She probably witnessed the old man's vile behavior herself and was left traumatized.

Having to bear so much at such a young age. Poor little thing.

But why do I feel so uneasy?

"Of course."

Su Xiajing carried Tangtang over to Tang Xianqi. "This is Tangtang's first time meeting her big brother, and she seems to like you very much. Sorry for the trouble, Xianqi, but please take a few more pictures with your little sister."

"Okay."

Tang Xianqi carefully took Tang Tang, trying not to let his arms press uncomfortably against her.

Tang Tang was a mature, thirty-day-old baby and was already very good at finding a comfortable position for herself.

She wriggled a few times in her big brother's arms, found a suitable spot that also gave her a good view of the handsome boy, and settled down comfortably.

A beauty attack!

Looking up from below, my big brother's jawline is absolutely perfect.

My beautiful big brother is a prince!

My handsome big brother is so good-looking. I like him so much.

Tang Xianqi: "..."

He had received plenty of compliments like that growing up, but Little Candy was the first to praise him so lavishly right to his face.

It was, well, rather embarrassing.

The blush on his face gradually spread to his ears and neck, and Tang Xianqi looked around awkwardly.

He was the eldest of the younger generation, with a younger brother four years his junior and several younger cousins. With his younger siblings and cousins constantly crowding around him and calling him big brother, he had unconsciously developed a sense of responsibility that came with the role.

Tang Xianqi was mature beyond his years, and Tang Dongcheng hadn't seen his eldest son's childish side in a long time.

"So our Xianqi has grown up. He actually gets shy when his adorable little sister stares at him," Tang Dongcheng teased his son.

Tang Beichen was practically green with envy. "Our Tangtang doesn't usually stare at people. She must really like her big brother!"

I've been looking after my daughter for so long, and she's never praised me like that.

It's so unfair!

Tang Xianqi blushed even harder. He opened his mouth several times but didn't know how to explain.

Just hearing Little Candy's words was embarrassing enough. There was no way he could repeat them.

Besides, these were Little Candy's thoughts. Even if he explained that she had said them herself, probably no one would believe him.

"Tang Tang, you'll make your big brother shy if you keep staring at him like that."

Holding back a laugh, Su Xiajing poked Tang Tang's little cheek to remind her.

"Stop staring at your big brother. Holding you like this is tiring for him. Look at the camera so he can rest once the pictures are done."

All right.

Then I'll look at him again after the pictures.

Tang Tang reluctantly gave in.

The pictures of the two cousins were simple. First, Tang Xianqi held Tang Tang for a few shots in the nursery, and then they went to the living room for a few more.

Once they finished, Tang Dongcheng called Tang Beichen and Su Xiajing over to look at the pictures.

Meanwhile, Tang Xianqi held Tang Tang and played with her.

After admiring the handsome boy's beauty to her heart's content, Tang Tang really was sleepy and reluctantly looked away.

She was getting ready to sleep when her gaze landed on the watch on Tang Xianqi's wrist.

The watch's bezel was studded with sparkling diamonds. One glance was enough to tell it was worth a fortune.

Tang Tang's eyes lit up, and she instantly perked up again.

Diamonds!

Big brother's watch has diamonds on it.

They're so sparkly and pretty!

I love diamonds!

Su Xiajing: "..."

You little money grubber, your big brother is only twelve. He's a child just like you.

Don't torment him!

Tang Beichen: "..."

It's over.

First gold, and now, starting today, I have another "enemy" I can't beat.

Impressive, Xianqi.

You've given me two more rivals the moment you arrived.

I'm just so mad!