After lunch, Tang Miao was suddenly struck by a wave of shopping enthusiasm, and the entire group headed over to the shopping mall together.
Thus, the following scene played out:
Wen Jingyu stood nearby sincerely appraising the outfits Tang Miao tried on, while Wen Niao and Luo Jin clapped and cheered from the side.
At first, Wen Niao was still able to point out the flaws in Tang Miao’s fashion pairings, but after following her around for more than half the mall, he felt like he was about to collapse from exhaustion.
As expected, shopping really is exhausting, and accompanying women on a shopping spree when your physical stamina is lacking is practically fatal.
Wen Niao found a sofa in the mall’s rest area and collapsed onto it, sitting limply as he recovered his vital energy.
Finished, completely finished.
After walking around the entire circle, Wen Niao felt both sleepy and tired, and he groggily slumped over the sofa to fall asleep.
Luo Jin had originally been earnestly appraising Tang Miao’s outfits alongside the others, but when he turned his head, he couldn’t see Wen Niao anywhere.
“Aunt Tang, Wen Niao is gone. Did he get lost? Should we split up to look for him?”
Upon hearing this, Tang Miao merely waved a hand dismissively. “Relax, relax, Xiao Jin. The security in this mall is very thorough, nothing will happen.
As for Niao Niao, he has definitely found some corner to sleep soundly in right now. He has been like this since he was a little kid whenever he accompanies me shopping, he gets sleepy. Go check the rest area over there; he is definitely fast asleep over there.”
Hearing Tang Miao say this, Luo Jin half-believed her and followed the direction signs to find the rest area.
On the cushions of the rest area sofa, Wen Niao was bundled up tightly with only his small face exposed, curled up in the corner of the sofa and sleeping soundly.
Seeing a few people nearby discussing Wen Niao, Luo Jin walked over, sat down beside him, and pulled Wen Niao close to rest against his shoulder, leaning sideways to block the gaze of prying onlookers from others.
Luo Jin: Hmph! What are you looking at? That is my person!
After satisfying her shopping impulse of buying everything in sight, Tang Miao contentedly came over to the rest area and sat down to rest.
Ah, poor President Wen, carrying bags hanging from both arms as he trudged forward with difficulty.
Wen Jingyu: There is no such thing as quiet years, someone is simply carrying the heavy burdens for you.
Bossed around like a utility tool by Tang Miao, Wen Jingyu bore it without a single complaint, entirely willing.
One was willing to beat, and the other was willing to take the beating.
When Wen Niao leisurely drifted awake, the sky had already turned dark.
He raised a hand to rub his eyes and asked in a soft, tender voice, “Brother Jin, what time is it? Did I sleep for a really long time?”
“Not very long, only about an hour and a half. It is almost eight o’clock in the evening now.”
“Oh, alright. Mommy, I was too tired and accidentally fell asleep. Sorry for keeping you guys waiting so long.”
“It is fine, darling. Since you are awake, let us head home. We have been out all day and it is getting late, time to go back.”
Wen Niao gave a yawn, stretched his back, and followed along with everyone’s pace.
Luo Jin trailed closely behind Wen Niao, keeping a cautious guard out of fear that Wen Niao, still a bit groggy from just waking up, might trip and fall.
Upon returning home, Tang Miao had the servants store the New Year goods away and let the two kids arrange their own time.
Because he had taken a solid nap at the mall in the afternoon, Wen Niao wasn’t in a rush to sleep yet. He hugged a pillow and knocked on Luo Jin’s bedroom door.
Seeing that it was Wen Niao, Luo Jin turned sideways to let him inside.
“Brother Jin, are you sleepy right now?”
“Not very sleepy. What is up?”
“Didn’t I mention before that I was going to get you a phone? We were busy with your birthday stuff these past few days, so I completely forgot about it. Ta-da! This is a phone of the exact same model as mine but in a different color. From now on, it is yours.”
“This is too valuable, I cannot accept it. I already owe the Wen family so much.”
“Brother Jin, you don’t need to carry such a heavy psychological burden. Actually, Mom initially adopting you was largely my idea.
I have always wanted someone like an older brother to accompany me. When I was little, Mom and Dad were always busy with company matters, and the house was cold and desolate with just me alone.
Now that you are here, I will never be lonely again. Besides, phones have a huge variety of uses; having one makes things much more convenient, and it is already an essential part of daily life. Without it, you would find yourself unable to move an inch.
So just take it. Mmm, if you still feel uneasy about it, then once school starts, study hard, catch up on your weak points, get into a great university in the future, and find a good job to repay the Wen family.”
Luo Jin ultimately obediently accepted the phone Wen Niao handed over. Wen Niao had already fully charged the battery before coming over.
After downloading some commonly used apps onto the phone, Wen Niao taught Luo Jin step-by-step how to use its basic functions. Seeing that Luo Jin had the basics down, he suggested playing a few rounds of ranked matches in Honor of Kings.
Having experienced last time’s casual match, Luo Jin was also looking forward to today’s gaming session.
Wen Niao registered a new secondary account and carried Luo Jin through the bronze tier matches. For a three-year veteran like Wen Niao, bronze tier matches were absolute child’s play that anyone could clear with their eyes closed!
Using in-game gold coins on Luo Jin’s account, Wen Niao purchased the hero Yao, and then gifted Luo Jin Yao’s newly released skin, Chrono Palace, from his own account.
For the entire match, Luo Jin’s Yao just had to follow around Wen Niao’s Yun Zhongjun to collect last hits, making it a thoroughly leisurely and carefree experience.
Within a single hour, the two of them secured five consecutive wins. But by the sixth match, Wen Niao noticed something unusual:
The enemy Luban’s positioning was extremely flashy, the middle lane mage Gao Jianli was leveling up at lightning speed, and the jungler Li Bai was exceptionally skilled at ambushing, clearing lanes, and stealing towers.
After a stalemate lasting over twenty minutes, Wen Niao’s side barely managed a narrow victory.
Once the game ended, Wen Niao clicked into the profiles of the opposing heroes and, upon closer inspection, realized that these players were all high-tier King-rank masters playing on Bronze alternate accounts.
Oh no, we ran into pros!
Under the current circumstances, continuing to play ranked matches was no longer suitable. Wen Niao put down his phone and told Luo Jin that they couldn’t play anymore.
Luo Jin didn’t ask why, obediently setting his phone down with his hands neatly placed on his knees as he waited for Wen Niao’s next arrangement.
Wen Niao opened WeChat, which had just been downloaded on Luo Jin’s phone, scanned his own friend QR code to add him, and then handed the phone back to Luo Jin.
“Brother Jin, this is my WeChat account. I have already saved Mom and Dad’s phone numbers for you too. If you ever need anything in the future, just send me a message. You know how to type in this chat box, right?”
Luo Jin thought for a moment and obediently nodded.
“I know, the teacher taught us.”
“Mmm, that is good then. Brother Jin, I am a bit sleepy, so I am going to go to sleep now. Good night!”
With that, Wen Niao returned to his own room.
Having just gotten his hands on this magical little box, an urge to explore new things drove Luo Jin to start tinkering with the phone Wen Niao had given him.
Thinking of what Wen Niao had just said, Luo Jin opened the chat box, clumsily typed out “Are you there?” and hit send.
After a few seconds, a reply came back from the other end:
“I am here. What is up?”
“Nothing. Good night, sweet dreams.”
“Okay, you too.”
Seeing that there were no more messages from Luo Jin’s side, Wen Niao turned off his phone screen and closed his eyes to sleep.
After exploring and figuring out a few more functions, Luo Jin leaned sideways looking at the phone while his eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Eventually, unable to fight it off, he drifted into sleep, and the phone slipped from his hand resting by the pillow to land beside the bed.