After muttering to herself, Tang Tang felt she was overthinking things again.
"Never mind that my eldest brother won't live past thirteen. Even if the Peace Talisman Master gave him works and he's lucky enough to survive this ordeal, he won't necessarily be influenced by that narcissist."
"My eldest brother is steady and humble. He's never been proud of his looks like that narcissist."
"Not everyone likes strutting around like a peacock the way that narcissist does, after all."
Tang Jian: "..."
My adorable little sister, I'll take that as a compliment.
But what do you mean, your eldest brother won't live past thirteen?
Tang Nanzhou silently glanced at Tang Xianqi before her gaze settled on his Peace Talisman.
Tang Nanzhou had noticed the Peace Talisman when she arrived that afternoon and casually asked about it, learning where it had come from.
She just hadn't expected A-Cheng's nightmare to coincide with Little Candy's prediction!
And that Taoist Master Yunlong was actually Little Candy's master?
What a coincidence!
But hadn't Little Candy only just turned a month old?
When had she become his disciple?
So many questions.
"Ah, I really was overthinking things."
"My eldest brother is so outstanding. Why would he need a little baby like me worrying about him?"
"Besides, there's no telling whether I'll even get to stay with the Tang Family."
"Maybe one day that old man will steal me away and dump me somewhere, and I'll die even earlier than before. Then we'll never get to see each other again in this lifetime. Why am I worrying about all this?"
Nestled comfortably in Tang Xianqi's arms, Tang Tang went through the entire emotional journey of an anxious mother all by herself.
Once she had worked it out, she decisively hit reset and went back to enjoying being a little baby, firmly refusing to give anything another thought.
What she didn't know was that her offhand remarks had left everyone around her silent.
Li Qixian came out with the housekeeper, carrying freshly washed fruit. Seeing everyone suddenly fall quiet, she paused in surprise.
"What's wrong with all of you? Weren't you having such a lively time just now?"
Everyone: "..."
"I'm thinking about how to make little sister Tangtang like me more."
Tang Jian clutched his chest theatrically, looking wounded. "Honestly, I'm really hurt right now. I've worked so hard to win her over, but she seems to like my older cousin more."
"Auntie, do you know how heartbroken I am?"
"Maybe it's because she doesn't know you very well yet?"
Sure enough, Li Qixian's attention was diverted. "Just take your time. Keep at it."
There was really nothing any of them could do about that.
A-Cheng had only met Tangtang a little later than A-Qi, but even now, Little Candy only liked A-Qi and wasn't particularly close to A-Cheng. All they could offer was verbal encouragement.
"No, Auntie, you're overthinking it."
"I might like the others a little more once I get to know them, but this flashy peacock? Absolutely not!"
"For the sake of everyone's eyes, I suggest you spend less time watching the peacock show off, too."
Tang Tang felt it was very important to clear that up.
Even though no one could hear her clarification.
But that was fine. As long as she knew.
Tang Jian: "..."
Little sister, don't be so heartless!
Tang Dongcheng: So babies these days don't like lively children-though Jian certainly is more enthusiastic and lively than other kids.
Tang Xifeng: My little niece's tongue is as sharp as ever.
Tang Nanzhou: Looks like someone can finally keep this brat in line.
Tang Beichen: Looks like my daughter really doesn't care about age or gender when she dislikes someone or looks down on them.
He was deeply reassured.
Su Xiajing: Daughter, stop giving everyone so many nicknames!
Tang Xianqi: My little sister is so cute.
Tang Xiancheng: So my little sister doesn't dislike me.
Tang Youhao: My little sister is amazing.
Tang Youzhen: My little sister likes me.
"Like!"
Tang Youzhen squirmed, trying to get to his little sister. "Like little sister."
Tang Tang: "..."
"Didn't this crybaby just finish crying?"
"He's already fine again?"
Tang Youzhen froze, confused.
Didn't my little sister just say she liked me?
"All right, Zhen, stop bothering your little sister. Let her have a good rest."
An Jie couldn't hear Tang Tang's voice. Assuming her son was simply fussing because he wanted to play with his little sister, she quickly pulled him back.
Tang Youzhen couldn't figure out his little sister's mood now either, so he obediently leaned into his mother's arms and behaved himself for once.
Once the fresh fruit was set out, Li Qixian invited everyone to help themselves. "The chef is still cooking. Have something to eat first."
Since Tang Tang especially liked Tang Xianqi, Su Xiajing felt comfortable leaving the baby with him for the time being. She sat down on the sofa and began chatting with everyone.
Tang Xianqi sat in an armchair with Tang Tang in his arms, and the younger children gathered around him.
Tang Jian simply couldn't understand why Tang Tang liked Tang Xianqi, who was inferior to him in every way except his studies and physical fitness.
He perched without any regard for appearances on the armrest, draping one arm lazily over the back as he stared at Tang Xianqi and Tang Tang.
He wanted to see just how his older cousin had bewitched Little Candy.
Tang Xiancheng leaned over the other armrest, reaching out to amuse Tang Tang from time to time.
Tang Youhao stood quietly beside him.
Tang Youzhen leaned against the front, craning his neck to look at his little sister and clamoring to play with her.
Surrounded by five little heads, Tang Tang was utterly speechless.
"I'm not an exhibit. Why are you all crowding around to stare at me?"
More importantly, a certain little chubby boy was so noisy.
The five little ones: "..."
"And you, chubby little crybaby, take it easy. Don't hit me."
"I'm not like you. I'm very fragile. If you hurt me, I'll tell your daddy on you."
Tang Youzhen: "..."
Don't tell on me.
I won't hit you.
Tang Youzhen quietly withdrew his chubby little hand and leaned against his eldest brother's legs, gazing at Tang Tang longingly. "Little sister, come play."
"Your little sister can't play with you yet."
Tang Xianqi stroked Tang Youzhen's head and patiently explained, "Your little sister is still tiny. She can't sit up yet, and she can't walk either. Someone has to hold her, so she can't play with you right now."
Tang Youzhen understood and nodded vigorously several times, but he still couldn't help gazing longingly at Tang Tang.
"How long till we can play?"
"Hmm..."
Tang Xianqi looked down at the perfectly calm Tang Tang. "Probably when she's as big as you?"
Tang Youzhen nodded, only half understanding.
My little sister can already talk, and she talks better than me and my little brother. Why can't she play yet?
"Don't worry. No matter how long it's been, I'm never playing with little brats."
Tang Tang protested disdainfully.
Little brats were so childish. All they knew how to do was fuss and cry, and they were unbearably noisy. Why should she waste her energy messing around with them?
Rejected once again by the little sister he adored, Tang Youzhen pressed his lips together. Tears immediately welled up, and he was on the verge of crying.
Tang Tang: "See? So childish."
"You cry this much and still want to play with me? Dream on."
Tang Xianqi: "..."
Didn't he just nod and agree? Why was he suddenly crying again?
"Why are you crying again?"
Tang Xianqi hurried to wipe Tang Youzhen's tears.
"Want to play with little sister."
Tang Youzhen had already discovered that other people couldn't hear his little sister. Whenever he spoke to her and she snapped at him or upset him, nobody helped him. They didn't even react.
He couldn't figure out such a difficult question as why only he could hear her while others couldn't. All he knew was that even if he complained that his little sister was actually bullying him, they wouldn't believe him.
So Tang Youzhen gave up on telling on her and simply said what he wanted.
"I just want to play with little sister."
Tang Xianqi: "..."
Had all that explaining been for nothing?
"But your little sister can't play with you yet."
Tang Xianqi patiently repeated himself. "Let's wait together until she grows up, and then we can play, okay?"
"Okay. I'm okay."
Tang Youzhen wasn't insisting on playing right away. "Little sister has to play with me when she grows up."
Tang Tang gave him a lazy glance.
"I won't play with you. I just won't."
"You cry so much. I'm not playing with you."
Tang Xianqi: "..."
You were just calling Xiao Zhen childish.
Aren't you pretty childish yourself?
Before you continue