Where did my warm, sunny youngest uncle go?

Once she had confirmed where her beautiful mommy stood, Tang Tang happily closed her eyes to rest.

Su Xiajing watched her carefully for a while. Once she was sure her daughter really was asleep, she lowered her head and kissed Tang Tang's forehead.

Her feelings were complicated. On the one hand, she blamed herself for making her daughter worry. On the other, she wished her daughter would care about her just a little more.

But no matter what, she would never again let anything happen that would worry her daughter.

She would never again let her daughter wear clothes washed pale with age or have to gaze longingly at things she liked without being able to have them. Nor would she let herself become a walking wreck again.

The car drove into the Su family's villa compound. Even from a distance, they could see Su Jiansen and Su Zhihao waiting outside to welcome them.

The driver had barely parked when Su Jiansen came over and knocked on the window.

Su Xiajing was speechless. "We're already at the front door. Do you really need to be in such a hurry?"

"I want to hold my granddaughter sooner. Of course I'm in a hurry."

Su Jiansen sounded perfectly justified. The moment Su Xiajing got out, he eagerly reached over. "Come here, my darling Tangtang. Let Grandpa hold you."

Su Xiajing could only hand Tang Tang over to him.

"Oh, Grandpa's little sweetheart! I finally get to hold you again."

As soon as Su Jiansen took her, he eagerly nuzzled Tang Tang's little cheek.

"Me too, me too!"

Su Zhihao circled Su Jiansen anxiously. "Dad, you've held her before. Let me hold her first this time!"

"That was then. This is now."

Su Jiansen had no intention of yielding to his son. "I haven't seen her in so long. I need to make the most of my time bonding with my darling Tangtang so my sweet granddaughter will like me even more."

Su Zhihao was green with envy. "So your bond fades after just this little bit of time apart? It really can't stand up to much, can it?"

"You little brat! Whose bond are you calling fragile?"

Su Jiansen glared at him. "How could my bond with my granddaughter possibly fade in just a few days?"

"Isn't that right, Tangtang?"

He went straight to Tang Tang to settle the argument.

Tang Tang: "..."

Settle your father-son squabbles yourselves. Leave innocent bystanders out of it.

And don't interrupt me while I admire my uncle's good looks.

Tang Tang did not spare him so much as a glance, keeping her eyes fixed on Su Zhihao.

When she had returned to the Tang Family in her previous life, her youngest uncle had already been in his forties, and his whole family had settled abroad. After learning she was back, he had returned to the country to see her and asked whether she wanted to live overseas with them.

But Tang Tang had refused. She had never been abroad, and with the language barrier, she probably would not have adjusted to life there.

Besides, she had naively believed that, as the daughter of the head of the Tang Family, both the family and her father owed her after all her years missing. They would make it up to her and give her a good life. Surely that would be better than living under her uncle and aunt's roof, dependent on them.

As it turned out, the Tang Family had indeed never deprived her of anything material. She simply could not fit in.

Even after living with the Tang Family for several years, she had still felt like an outsider, out of place wherever she went.

In his forties, her youngest uncle had been mature and composed in everything he did, carrying the commanding presence of a successful man. Yet he had been gentle, with a warm smile that made people want to draw close.

At seventeen, her youngest uncle's smile was just as warm and sunny.

Though he was much younger, it was still the familiar handsome face she knew, and it felt reassuring.

My beautiful mommy's family has amazing genes too. My uncle is so handsome.

Even looking up at him from this angle, there isn't a single flaw. He's absolutely perfect.

Cheerful, thoughtful, and considerate. He must be the best-looking boy at school. I bet he's really popular with the girls.

Comparisons really are infuriating. Some people spend their entire savings on plastic surgery and still might not look good, while others are born at the top of the pyramid. Not one of these little brats around me is bad-looking.

They're all far too noisy, but I have to admit, their faces are easy on the eyes.

And my eldest brother, fourth brother, and youngest uncle all have nice personalities. At least they've more or less preserved the image of handsome boys.

It hasn't been a total wipeout. I should be grateful.

Su Zhihao: ???

Was his little niece praising him?

His little niece, who was just over a month old, was praising him?

A tiny baby?

Praising him?

Su Zhihao's brain froze for a moment. Slowly coming back to his senses, he met a pair of eyes studying him.

"..."

Su Zhihao blinked, then rubbed his eyes hard.

Oh no, oh no. I stayed up gaming last night, and now I'm hallucinating.

Had he actually heard his little niece, barely over a month old, talking?

Wasn't that ridiculous?

"What's wrong with your eyes?"

Su Jiansen noticed his son acting strangely.

Su Zhihao: ???

Su Zhihao shook his head and pointed at Tang Tang in disbelief. "Dad, Sis, didn't you just notice that little Candy..."

Was talking?

But both his father and his sister looked as though nothing had happened, their expressions saying he was the one making a fuss over nothing.

Su Zhihao was bewildered.

What's wrong with Dad and Sis?

Little Candy clearly just said a whole bunch of things. Why didn't either of them notice?

Oh no, oh no. Why has my youngest uncle turned into an idiot too?

Tang Tang was startled by the contrast. One second, he had been a warm, sunny young man; the next, he had turned into a complete fool.

Fine, there's a huge difference between him twenty-odd years ago and twenty-odd years later. But why has my youngest uncle changed so much in just a few seconds?

What kind of people am I surrounded by? My brothers are young, so I can let it slide when they act silly now and then.

But why has my youngest uncle turned into an idiot when he's almost eighteen?

Tang Tang felt her vision darken, as though her world were about to collapse.

Where did my warm, sunny youngest uncle go?

Nooo! Youngest Uncle, please don't turn into an idiot.

Five little fools at home were enough. They did not need one more big fool!

Su Zhihao: "..."

Confirmed. It really is little Candy talking.

And Dad and Sis really aren't reacting!

What on earth is going on?

"Dad, Sis."

Unwilling to give up, Su Zhihao ventured, "Don't you think little Candy is... very different from other babies?"

He was the only one who had heard her and been startled. Afraid of frightening his father and sister, Su Zhihao did not dare spell it out too clearly.

Su Jiansen looked down at Tang Tang, who was watching them curiously with wide eyes. "...Tangtang's eyes are so pretty when she opens them wide to observe the world."

Su Xiajing said, "No."

There was something strange about Tangtang, but being able to hear her thoughts was simply too incredible. Telling them would only frighten them more.

Su Zhihao: "..."

Confirmed.

I'm the only normal one here.

Or am I the only special one?