After walking for a few minutes, they spotted Xu Xia and Mi Tu. Zhao Chengyu and the others were not with them.
Gu Wancheng was a little puzzled and went over to ask, "Xiashi, where are Brother Zhao and the others?"
Xu Xiashi tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. "You're here! He went back first. He said he'd cook some porridge so we could eat when we got back."
Gu Wancheng paused. "Brother Zhao is thoughtful."
"Right? Quite a contrast, isn't it? That never even occurred to me."
Gu Wancheng nodded silently. Indeed, was this the warmth of a tough guy?
Mi Tu hid behind Xu Xiashi and poked her head out. "Uncle Gu."
Faced with the sweet, gentle little girl, Gu Wancheng unconsciously pitched his voice higher. "Is there something you want to tell me, Mi Tu?"
[Shocking! What turned Chengcheng into a baby-talker?]
[Let me add: is this a collapse of morality or a distortion of human nature?]
[Hahaha, it's all because Mi Tu is too cute. Anyone talking to her would use a baby voice. At least Chengcheng sounds nice doing it.]
[Who are you taking a jab at up there? Our Brother Zhao objects.]
[Zhao Chengyu: I'm speechless. What's wrong with my baby voice? eye-roll.jpg]
[Enough, doesn't Brother Zhao have his dignity? doge-for-protection.jpg]
Seeing how timid the little girl looked, Xu Xiashi gently patted her back, silently encouraging her.
Mi Tu gripped the thing in her hands tightly and walked toward Gu Wancheng.
Seeing her approach, Gu Wancheng crouched down, curious about what she was going to do.
"Uncle Gu, could you hold out your hand?" Mi Tu asked, her eyes curving.
Gu Wancheng tilted his head and held out his hand. Mi Tu placed a beautiful conch shell in his open palm.
"This is..."
"This is my present for you, Uncle Gu." With that, Mi Tu shyly covered her face.
Looking at the conch shell in his hand, Gu Wancheng could almost see the little girl before him carefully picking it out.
Seeing Mi Tu secretly watching his reaction, Gu Wancheng broke into a smile and said earnestly, "Thank you for the present, Mi Tu. I love it."
Mi Tu's face instantly flushed red. She ran over to Xu Xiashi and buried her face against her leg.
Xu Xiashi said sourly, "Mi Tu really likes you. That was the prettiest shell she found. Even her own mother only got the second-best one."
Gu Wancheng chuckled softly. "I really like Mi Tu too."
Xu Xiashi felt Mi Tu grow even shyer, and it was as though she had drunk an entire jar of aged vinegar.
Chaochao pricked up his ears. "What about me? What about me?"
Gu Wancheng poked his forehead. "I like you too. Happy now?"
Chaochao covered the spot on his forehead and turned his face away, saying quietly, "Maybe a tiny bit happy."
Where Gu Wancheng could not see, he grinned so broadly that his teeth showed.
[A tiny bit happy~]
[Then is Chaochao just letting his teeth out for some fresh air? pretending-to-be-confused.jpg]
[Our Chaochao is just a little tsundere!]
The corners of Gu Wancheng's mouth lifted slightly, but he did not expose him. "Since Brother Zhao has already gone back, let's head back too."
Xu Xiashi said, "Sure."
"I haven't shown Mi Tu Pangpang yet."
"Show her with Xiaolin when we get back."
"All right."
Chaochao said to Mi Tu, "Mi Tu, we'll show you a surprise when we get back."
Tongtong and Zuozuo immediately nodded.
Mi Tu asked in confusion, "What is it?"
Chaochao shook his head. "Can't tell you yet."
"All right." Along the way, Mi Tu kept looking back at Chaochao and the others, curiosity practically spilling from her eyes.
Xu Xiashi pressed a hand to her forehead helplessly and told Mi Tu, who could hardly wait to run over to Chaochao and the others, "Stop looking. You'll find out when we get back."
Mi Tu did as she was told, but her occasional sideways glances gave her away.
Seeing this, Xu Xiashi said, "Wancheng, look how your Chaochao's words have hooked Mi Tu. She can't even walk properly now."
Gu Wancheng was amused. "She's a child. It's normal to be curious."
Chu Yi'an said, "We're almost there."
"We're almost home. We can have something to eat."
"Really?"
"Go ask Uncle Zhao if the porridge is ready."
"Yay!" Chaochao pulled free of his hand and ran happily toward Zhao Chengyu.
"Uncle Zhao!"
Zhao Chengyu looked back and saw Chaochao charging toward him like a cannonball. His pupils instantly widened. The fire was right behind him, but luckily, Chaochao stopped right in front of him.
"Chaochao, what is it?"
"Is the porridge ready? I'm going to get skinny from hunger." Chaochao patted his round belly and looked at him expectantly.
Overwhelmed by his cuteness, Zhao Chengyu swiftly pinched his cheek, then immediately said before he could react, "Yes. Go get a bowl."
Chaochao instantly forgot what had just happened and skipped off to fetch a bowl.
Watching this from behind, Gu Wancheng let out a laugh. A little foodie, and not even a picky one. Someone could probably lure him away with a bit of food.
A little while later, after Chaochao washed the bowl clean, he held the bowl he had washed up in front of Zhao Chengyu.
[Chaochao is so cute.]
[A little cub begging for food.]
The viewers, charmed by him, took screenshots and added a few words, turning them into memes.
Spare some money, pretty please.jpg
With Chaochao's incredibly cute face, chubby figure, and pitiful look as he held up his bowl, older people could not resist him at all. He was simply the grandson of their dreams.
Without a word, they sent out several red packets with a wave of their hands.
Those who received the red packets: !! It really works! Chaochao, Auntie loves you!
The bowl, as wide as his face, was held above his head, hiding his whole face. Zhao Chengyu chuckled, took the bowl, and filled it a little under halfway, adding a bit of white sugar and stirring it in.
He had traded some moon snails for the white sugar. Plain porridge was too bland, and there were children too, so he had traded for some sugar.
Chaochao eagerly reached out, only for Gu Wancheng's hand to reach straight over his head and take the bowl away.
Chaochao immediately grew anxious. "Mine! That's mine!"
His short little legs churned desperately forward, but one stride from the person ahead equaled two of his.
Gu Wancheng strode ahead and replied, "I know it's yours. The porridge just came off the heat. Aren't you afraid of burning yourself?"
Chaochao froze and frowned. Oh, that's true. I blamed Daddy unfairly again.
Gu Wancheng put the bowl on the table. "Careful, it's hot."
Chaochao said a dazed, "Okay."
He scooped up a spoonful, carefully blew on it, then popped it into his mouth. His eyes instantly turned starry.
Wow, it's sweet. He scooped up another spoonful and put it in his mouth.
"Mmph."
Chaochao immediately spat it out and covered his mouth. He had forgotten to blow on it. Tears from the heat welled in his eyes, hovering on the verge of falling.
Startled, Gu Wancheng held his cheeks. "Don't move. Let Daddy look."
Chaochao opened his mouth. Gu Wancheng examined it carefully and sighed in relief when he saw no blisters.
Luckily, it was nothing serious. He poured a cup of cooled boiled water for him to hold in his mouth.
He said sternly, "Will you dare eat without blowing it cool again?"
Holding the cooled water in his mouth, Chaochao shook his head.
Jian Yue walked over with a bowl. Seeing Gu Wancheng's stern expression, Jian Yue asked, "What happened?"
Gu Wancheng frowned. "He burned his mouth on the porridge."
Jian Yue raised an eyebrow and told Zuozuo, "See that? That's what happens when you eat without blowing it cool."
Hearing this, Chaochao glared at Jian Yue. He could tell this meanie was making fun of him.
Gu Wancheng turned his head back and twisted the knife. "Isn't that true? What are you glaring at him for?"
Chaochao was filled with grief and indignation. He had been laughed at in front of his friends. He would never be able to hold his head up again. Boohoo.