Tang Jian was the child Tang Nanzhou had with her boyfriend while studying abroad.
She had been young and head over heels in love, and once she got pregnant, she insisted on having the baby no matter what.
But the man turned out to be scum. Not only had he never intended to start a family with her, he even cheated on her while she was pregnant.
Tang Nanzhou broke up with him decisively while still pregnant. After Tang Jian was born, she brought him back to China and threw herself into her work.
Her child's frail health had always weighed on her, so however busy she got, she kept him by her side and cared for him herself, doing everything she could to help him grow healthy and strong.
Yet after all those years of painstaking care and hard work, this little brat was going to grow up, get too big for his boots, and start courting death!
Smoking and drinking without restraint?
And partying hard, too?
Whether Tang Tang's words were true or not was beside the point.
She was a mother, and one who had spent years worrying over her child's health at that.
Just imagining him abusing his body like that in the future made Tang Nanzhou feel as though she might have a heart attack.
She almost wanted to abandon him right there and leave him to fend for himself.
Watching her son still trying to sell his little sister on his good looks, Tang Nanzhou thought bitterly, If he really grows up to be as shameless as his father, I'm washing my hands of him.
If he doesn't even value his own health, why should I worry myself sick over it?
He can do whatever he likes.
A smack from his own mother knocked Tang Jian right out of his train of thought.
He rubbed his head pitifully. "What was that for?"
Slowly gathering his wits, Tang Jian suddenly realized that little sister Tangtang had just delivered a whole speech, a scornful one at that, yet no one around them had reacted.
How strange.
Tang Jian turned his head. "Tangtang?"
"Little sister?"
"Are you asleep?"
"Don't go to sleep yet. Play with us for a bit first."
He poked Tang Tang's chubby cheek.
Don't fall asleep yet. Say something else so I can check.
Tang Tang: *...*
This narcissist is so annoying.
Poke, poke, poke. Poke me again and I'll bite your hand!
Tang Jian: *...*
He quietly withdrew his hand and cast an awkward glance at the adults watching him.
"Little sister Tangtang seems to have fallen asleep."
There was no doubt now.
It really was little sister Tang Tang speaking.
This time, her eyes were closed and her lips hadn't moved, but he had definitely heard little sister Tangtang talking.
Perhaps he was hearing her thoughts.
And those words had been a direct response to what he was doing. There was no mistaking it.
What is this?
Although Tang Jian quickly accepted that he could hear Tang Tang's thoughts, he was still baffled by something so fantastical.
Why can I hear her when no one else can?
And she doesn't sound like a baby at all.
Why?
There were so many questions that Tang Jian felt his head might explode.
"Little sister, come play!"
Tang Youzhen finally came over on his short little legs.
He was running too fast to stop and rammed into the stroller like a tank made of flesh.
Even with an adult holding the stroller steady, Tang Tang was jolted hard enough that she had to open her eyes.
*...*
You chubby little crybaby, can't you slow down?
If you bother me again, I'll bawl and tell the grown-ups you're bullying me!
Tang Tang had reached the end of her patience.
Since being born, she had only let out a few token cries and had never truly cried. She was a good baby who gave the adults very little trouble.
If even such a good baby was bullied into tears, the culprit would surely be deemed guilty of something terrible and get a thorough scolding from the adults.
Tang Jian: *...*
Little sister Tangtang is so sneaky.
She's already learned to tattle to the grown-ups at this age.
A three-year-old didn't understand much, but Tang Youzhen understood what tattling meant.
Whenever he and his younger brother fought over things, they often tattled on each other, and the loser got scolded.
He hated being scolded more than anything.
"Don't."
Tang Youzhen hurriedly reached out to cover Tang Tang's mouth.
But Tang Tang still had the bottle nipple in her mouth, so he couldn't cover it directly. He simply covered both her mouth and the nipple together.
Tang Tang: *...*
Is this chubby little crybaby trying to murder me?
"Play!"
Tang Youzhen explained anxiously, "Little sister, come play."
He only wanted to play with his little sister.
"Hey, hey, hey! Tang Youzhen, what are you doing?"
Startled, An Jie hurriedly pulled her son away. "Your little sister is drinking her milk. She can't play with you right now. Wait until she's finished, and then she can play with you. What's the rush?"
Tears welled in Tang Youzhen's eyes. He felt terribly wronged.
If I don't cover her mouth, she'll tattle on me!
Tang Jian looked at Tang Tang, then at Tang Youzhen.
It suddenly struck him that this strange little sister of his had quite a sharp tongue, but he had to admit she was right about everything.
Tang Youzhen burst into tears at the slightest provocation. What was he if not a crybaby?
"Come on, let's all go inside. Don't block the doorway."
Tang Nanzhou hauled her son up and dragged him into the house first.
"Hey, hey, Mom! Are you trying to murder your own son?"
Tang Jian protested.
But it did no good.
The others were also coming over to greet their guests, and the two groups met in the hall.
Tang Tang immediately spotted Tang Xianqi arriving late at the back of the crowd.
Big brother!
Big brother, I need your healing touch. Hurry up and hold me!
Tang Jian: *...*
Such blatant favoritism!
Little sister is discriminating against me!
Tang Xianqi was always gentle with his younger siblings and readily indulged their requests.
Hearing his little sister's call, he walked straight over.
"Good evening, Tangtang."
Tang Xianqi first bent down and greeted Tang Tang very formally.
Already desperate for some healing, Tang Tang stretched out her short little arms, asking to be held.
Big brother, enough talk. Pick me up!
I'm desperately low on vitamin Pretty Boy.
I need a pretty boy to cleanse my eyes after that flashy narcissist polluted them.
Tang Xianqi: *...*
Flashy... narcissist?
I think I know who she's talking about.
Tang Jian: *???*
Why does big brother get to be healing while I'm a source of pollution?
Besides...
Tang Jian sneaked an appraising look at Tang Xianqi.
Big brother is good-looking, sure, but he's nowhere near as handsome as me.
If anyone's a pretty boy, it should be me, okay?
And big brother has such a boring personality. Surely playing with me is much more fun?
Tang Tang got her wish and was lifted into Tang Xianqi's arms.
She settled comfortably into her big brother's arms.
He smelled nice and felt soft, she was comfortable lying there, and even her eyes felt wonderfully soothed.
Tang Tang was satisfied.
Big brother really is the best.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the flashy narcissist staring at them resentfully.
Tang Tang sighed, worrying over Tang Xianqi.
Big brother, you must think for yourself when you grow up. Learn to tell good from bad, and never follow the crowd blindly.
No matter how good someone looks, it's only skin-deep. An interesting soul is what makes someone truly charming.
Whatever you do, don't copy second brother's sickeningly flashy narcissism. It'll ruin you.
Tang Xianqi: *...*
Tang Jian: *???*
Do you have some misunderstanding about my good looks?
You're actually just jealous of how handsome I am, aren't you?
Before you continue