Doudou manually forced his big brother’s mouth shut, pressing his small hand directly over Bai Shu’s lips and scrambling entirely onto Bai Shu’s body with his little face squeezed against Bai Shu’s shoulder. “Shushu, be a good boy and go to sleep “
Bai Shu was utterly defeated by the child. The kid’s impulses came and went like the wind; if he wanted to wear a schoolbag, then let him wear it. Since the child didn’t mind feeling poked and prodded in his sleep, Bai Shu decided to stop caring.
Pulling the child close, Bai Shu rolled over and gathered him into his arms. “Let’s sleep a little longer.”
Seeing his big brother drift off again, Doudou finally felt at ease. Then, blinking his large eyes with his head bobbing up and down, he ultimately dozed off with his forehead pressed against Bai Shu’s arm.
An hour had already passed by the time the two of them woke up.
The production crew had arrived to pick them up and set off.
Since several of the guests were located in Beijing, the crew had found a nearby venue to immediately kick off filming.
Arriving alongside them were Xie Xiran and Xie Zhuyi, since the two families lived very close to each other.
Bai Shu carried Doudou over to wash up.
Blinking sleepily, Doudou pressed his pink, chubby little face against Bai Shu and rubbed affectionately. “Shushu sleepy “
The little fellow had managed to make himself sleepy all over again by taking a morning nap.
Armed with a damp washcloth, Bai Shu mercilessly slapped it right across the child’s face. Doudou gave an instant jolt, waking up completely. “Bad!”
The little fellow protested with a furrowed brow.
Amused, Bai Shu told him, “Wash up yourself.”
Reluctant to do it himself, the little fellow wrapped his arms tightly around Bai Shu’s neck. “Big Brother, wash it “
“Didn’t you just say Big Brother was bad?” Bai Shu wiped his face a couple more times on purpose.
Doudou giggled cheekily, keeping quiet while proactively offering his little face for Bai Shu to wipe.
Doudou muttered sleepily, “There’s a lump sticking out on Doudou’s back.”
It felt so uncomfortable.
Bai Shu asked, “Wait, are you seriously telling me you went to sleep wearing your schoolbag on purpose?”
He… he had completely forgotten!
Reaching back to pat his schoolbag, Doudou asked with a guarded expression on his little face, “Big Brother didn’t touch Doudou’s schoolbag, right?”
“No. Let’s get this straight first: you can bring your little bag, but you have to carry it yourself. Big Brother isn’t going to help.”
Bai Shu had already packed his own luggage, which was already more than enough. He had originally prepared a small schoolbag for Doudou, but judging by how things stood now, the child was clearly going to stick with the one he was wearing today.
Relieved to hear that his big brother hadn’t touched his schoolbag, Doudou relaxed.
Nodding with his eyes still closed, he agreed, “Mhm mhm! Doudou will carry it himself. A person should handle their own matters!”
Bai Shu let out a cold huff. No matter how nicely the child was talking right now, he would undoubtedly end up trying to freeload and whine later on.
After getting the little fellow sorted out, Bai Shu sent him downstairs.
Then he quickly cleaned up himself and got ready to head out.
Right at that moment, the doorbell rang.
Doudou paused on his way down the stairs, peeking cautiously toward the entrance.
Oh-ho, someone was already here knocking on the door this early.
Pitter-patter, Doudou scampered down, tiptoed over, and swung the door open, only to be greeted by a forest of adult legs.
Startled, the little fellow took a small step back. Gosh, there are so many people.
The director was just about to call Bai Shu when the door suddenly opened to reveal Doudou.
Cheerfully, the director said, “Hello there, Doudou! We’re here to pick you guys up so you can go join the others.”
Frowning, Doudou twisted his little hands together nervously and glanced back Big Brother still hadn’t come downstairs yet.
Suspiciously retreating behind the edge of the door, Doudou demanded, “Do you have proof?”
These people couldn’t possibly be bad guys, right?
Doudou instantly felt a surge of tension.
Fortunately, Xie Zhuyi and Xie Xiran arrived just in time.
Xie Zhuyi spotted Doudou right away. “Doudou! I brought flowers for you! These are your absolute favorites~”
Clutching a massive bouquet of flowers, Xie Zhuyi announced happily to the little boy.
Seeing Xie Zhuyi, Doudou emerged from behind the door right away and called out happily, “Zhuyi Brother~”
“Doudou—”
The two little ones hugged and spun around in circles, thoroughly delighted.
Finally coming to a stop, Xie Zhuyi shoved the flowers directly into Doudou’s small hands. “For you! Do you like them?”
Doudou nodded. “I like them “
This was the first time another child had ever given him flowers.
Doudou was ecstatic.
At that moment, Xie Xiran also strode over on his long legs carrying two bouquets. Xie Zhuyi had originally wanted to carry two as well, intending to give one to Doudou and the other to Shushu Brother, but his big brother had turned him down, saying he was too little and should only gift flowers to Doudou.
Handing his left-hand bouquet over, Xie Xiran said, “Since Doudou likes them so much, I have another set right here for you.”
Doudou’s expression shifted instantly. Jutting out his lower lip, he grumbled with an indignant huff, “Doudou already has some, I don’t want yours.”
With a look of mock regret, Xie Xiran replied, “Well, that’s a shame. In that case, both of these will just have to go to Shushu instead.”
Doudou: (⊙_⊙)！！
This guy was still plotting against his big brother! Xie Xiran was definitely saying that on purpose!
Reaching out, Doudou yanked on Xie Xiran’s clothes. “Doudou wants them!”
He practically gnashed his teeth as he forced those four words out.
Stooping down, Xie Xiran deposited the flowers right into Doudou’s arms.
Because the bouquet was rather large, Doudou ended up holding a massive bundle of flowers while clutching his smaller bouquet, making it nearly impossible for him to see the road ahead.
“Perfect. If Doudou wants to take a flower-petal bath tonight, he can use these flowers. My family has plenty of them to spare,” Xie Xiran said with a beaming smile.
Doudou’s small body stiffened. Sure enough, this man already knew about Doudou using the flowers he had given Shushu to take a bath.
Unable to hold back a triumphant twitch at the corner of his mouth, Doudou replied, “That’s wonderful indeed! Tonight I’ll have Shushu pick flower petals for Doudou’s bath And I must thank Uncle and Zhuyi Brother for the lovely flowers, too.”
Doudou delivered the lines with an expression of pure, innocent angelic ignorance.
Nyanyanya, infuriate yourself to death! He was doing this entirely on purpose, so what about it?
Hehehe, anyway, Shushu liked him best of all
Looking immensely pleased with himself, Doudou led them inside just as Bai Shu came walking down the stairs. Seeing the child completely buried behind a wall of flowers, Bai Shu hurried over to rescue him. “Why are there so many flowers?”
Bai Shu questioned the production crew, who stepped aside to reveal Xie Xiran and Xie Zhuyi standing behind them.
“Eh? Why did you guys come over together?” Seeing Xie Xiran, Bai Shu immediately broke into a radiant smile.
Because of the flower-gifting precedent set just moments earlier, Xie Xiran acted completely naturally, handing the flowers directly to Bai Shu and pulling him into a hug. “I brought these for you and Doudou. Do you like them?”
Shyly nodding, Bai Shu felt a blush creep up his cheeks. To think Xie Xiran would actually present him with flowers right out in public like this.
“I like them!”
Having stood there waiting for ages without his big brother paying him any attention and instead watching him go off to chat with the big bad guy Doudou slammed the flowers down onto the floor in pure outrage.
Then, catching sight of Xie Xiran embracing Shushu right in front of him, the little fellow completely blew his top.
“Aaaaaah no hugging allowed!” Doudou charged straight between the two of them, shoved Xie Xiran aside with his small body, and grabbed onto Bai Shu’s pants while jumping up and down frantically. “Hold Doudou! You’re not allowed to hug him!”
The child was frantic enough to burst into tears.
Awkwardly hauling his pants back up, Bai Shu looked at the child in helplessness. “Got it, got it! But can you please let go of Big Brother’s pants first?!”
Doudou released his grip, knowing that if Shushu had delayed his promise by even one more second, real tears would have started rolling down his cheeks.
At the same time, he clutched his backpack straps tightly. No, I have to execute my plan as soon as possible.
That big bad guy Xie Xiran actually dared to provoke him right in broad daylight! Gifting flowers to Shushu right to his face was one thing, but hugging him too?!
Bai Shu bent down to scoop the child into his arms. “Look at Zhuyi, why can’t you be as well-behaved as him?”
With no other choice, Bai Shu handed the flowers back to Xie Xiran before finally picking Doudou up.
Pressing his little face against Bai Shu’s neck, Doudou whimpered softly, “Doudou is little~”
Considerately, Xie Xiran said, “It’s fine, go ahead and hold him. Zhuyi and I will help you guys with the luggage. Are these all of them?”
Rolling up his sleeves, he grabbed the two large suitcases.
Xie Zhuyi, who was currently holding the flowers Doudou had tossed onto the floor, hurried over to help as well.
However, juggling the bulky flower arrangement made it rather awkward for both Xie Xiran and Xie Zhuyi to maneuver.
Twisting his head around, Doudou piped up in a bright, crisp voice, “Leave the flowers inside! They’re just too much trouble.”
He certainly wasn’t going to accept any flowers prepared by Xie Xiran.
Taking a quick look, Bai Shu set Doudou right back down on the floor. “How about this: you and Zhuyi hold the flowers while I go grab the suitcases.”
With that, he headed over to help Xie Xiran divide up the heaviest luggage trunk.
Left stranded on the spot, Doudou…
Xie Zhuyi walked over and shoved a small bouquet into Doudou’s hands. “Little brothers hold the small ones, Zhuyi holds the big ones.”
Full of admiration, Bai Shu praised, “Zhuyi is so good.”
Then he turned around and glanced at Doudou, shaking his head.
Doudou felt like he was about to die of pure anger!
Even Big Brother wasn’t on his side anymore! He was doing all of this entirely for the sake of this household!
Doudou puffed himself up until he looked like an angry pufferfish.
Stifling a laugh, Bai Shu gave his little cheek a light poke. “Alright, alright, let’s get moving. Big Brother will hold your hand.”
Doudou followed along, acting all haughty and disgruntled. That’s more like it. Shushu would only hold hands with him!
Doudou shot a triumphant look over at Xie Xiran.
Xie Xiran: (._.)…
The live stream had already been running long before the production crew arrived.
The viewers could faintly pick up the scent of an intense, brewing love triangle.
Holy cow, the scent of gunpowder is so thick here. Xie-ge brought even more flowers this time, but the vibe feels kind of weird. Hahahahaha Shushu gives off total heartthrob vibes. Both Doudou and Xie Xiran are fighting for his attention, but clearly Doudou is winning by a landslide. Does Xie-ge have something going on… Don’t overthink it, the two of them clearly know each other already as friends. Right, just happily enjoy watching the cute kids. Anyway, Xie-ge looks super happy, and I’m happy too, hehe Doudou and Zhuyi are so adorable, and Shushu is a massive cutie too~
And just like that, a dazed Doudou was led out the door.
The wind ruffled Doudou’s little cowlick, leaving him standing there in a dazed, uncomprehending haze.
However, the moment he spotted the two waiting cars, the smile on the little fellow’s face widened dramatically.
“Doudou wants the child car-seat! Shushu, hurry up and carry Doudou up!”
Hahahaha, each vehicle only had one car-seat; he was going to get separated from that big bad guy!
Reluctantly holding Doudou’s hand, Zhuyi said, “Big Brother will come find you to play later.”
Doudou gave a perfunctory wave and immediately scurried back to buzz around Shushu’s orbit.
Bai Shu was busy watching Xie Xiran load the luggage. “Be careful.”
As they worked together to shove the heaviest trunk into the trunk compartment, their hands accidentally brushed against one another.
Bai Shu gave a slight start, only for Xie Xiran to slip his hand into the camera’s blind spot and gently trace a circle across Bai Shu’s palm.
Blushing fiercely, Bai Shu stammered, “S-see you in a bit, then.”
Reluctant to let go, Xie Xiran kept his grip loose before finally separating their hands, maintaining his usual composed expression. “Alright, see you in a bit.”
Despite saying that, neither of them budged an inch.
Pink romantic bubbles began popping up all around the pair, radiating the sweet-and-sour acidity of new love.
Right at that moment, Doudou ruined the entire romantic ambiance by shouting, “What are you guys doing? Why are you standing so close together?”
Did it really take two people just to load a suitcase? Was that big bad guy really that utterly useless?
Instantly pulling his hand back, Bai Shu looked at Doudou with veins bulging on his forehead. “Doudou!”
This rotten kid was getting more ill-mannered by the day.
Xie Xiran offered Doudou a pleasant wave. “See you later, Doudou.”
Twisting his little face away, Doudou was about to let out a cold huff when Bai Shu delivered a swift rap right against his skull: “Speak!”
Clutching his head, Doudou whimpered, “Wuwu “
He wanted to throw a tantrum, but Bai Shu gave him a threatening, elevated warning glare.
Reluctantly, Doudou muttered, “See you later, uncle.”
“Call him Big Brother,” Bai Shu corrected.
Doudou instinctively clutched his head again, while Xie Xiran magnanimously intervened, “It’s fine.”
Looking apologetic, Bai Shu said, “I’m going to teach him a proper lesson the moment we get back.”
Urging him on, Xie Xiran replied, “Really, it’s no trouble at all. He’s just a child.”
He wore the expression of someone patiently speaking up on the child’s behalf.
Doudou swore that the moment those words left Xie Xiran’s mouth, the fire blazing inside Shushu’s chest burned twice as hot.
That big bad guy was doing it on purpose!
He was trying to trick Doudou into getting a beating!