In the end, the geese still couldn’t catch anyone. Although they made a huge scene, people know how to use tools, and the geese didn’t get away with it either. Finally, they took pity on the geese and left.
”Oh dear, this is truly… an unexpected disaster!”
”Weren’t you going out to play? How did you attract the geese?”
”We were lucky; only the wicker baskets were damaged, but no one was injured.”
”President Shang and Teacher Xuan are quite clever; they slipped away early on.”
”Hey, Teacher Xuan, what’s wrong…?”
Xuan Zhixia didn’t twist his ankle when he was dodging the goose, but as soon as he stood up, Shang Shuji suddenly pulled him away, and he twisted it along the way, his ankle throbbing slightly.
Now that it was safe inside, Xuan Zhixia slowly and limped inside.
The two children, Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu, followed Xuan Zhixia on either side, wanting to help him, but they were too short and lacked the strength.
Shang Shuji walked silently behind, still pondering the words “beauty lamp” that had just slipped out.
The production team’s medical staff arrived quickly and confirmed that none of the other guests were injured. Then, one of the doctors examined Xuan Zhixia’s ankle, breathed a sigh of relief, and said, “Don’t worry, it’s not serious.”
”Rest for half an hour, don’t move around too much today, and don’t use too hot water when you take a shower tonight, then you’ll be fine.”
However, the guests’ original plan was to finish the afternoon’s activities and go back to prepare dinner once the children returned and gathered together. Moreover, tonight’s dinner was going to Xuan Zhixia and Shang Shuji’s house.
The geese’s attack already caused some delays, and if it drags on for another half hour, it will probably be dark by the time we start making dinner.
But since it was a variety show recording, the guests didn’t have any other plans to rush into, and Xuan Zhixia’s condition wasn’t intentional, so the other guests said not to rush, take it slow, and wait until Xuan Zhixia’s foot had rested.
Xuan Zhixia shook his head slightly: “No need, you’ve all been delayed here because of me, and I feel bad for you. Even if I rest for half an hour, I’ll walk very slowly on the way back, and I can’t help with making dinner, it will only waste time.”
”I can rest here by myself. I’ll go back when I feel better, so don’t worry. Maybe I’ll even catch dinner when I get back, which would be a good deal for me.”
The other guests were still somewhat hesitant.
While this makes sense, from an efficiency standpoint, it would be more meaningful for them to go back and help prepare dinner than to stay here idly. However, from a social etiquette standpoint, it wouldn’t be appropriate for them to immediately agree at this point.
As someone associated with Xuan Zhixia’s family, Shang Shuji needed to say something at this point, such as repeating Xuan Zhixia’s words to express his stance, and then having the other guests follow up and leave together.
It’s very polite, very roundabout, and even fake, but given the social environment and the fact that it’s being broadcast live, most people can’t avoid this push and pull.
Xuan Zhixia, feeling helpless, could only urge Shang Shuji: “Mr. Shang, would you please take everyone back to cook?”
Shang Shuji’s gaze swept heavily over Xuan Zhixia’s ankles, then met Xuan Zhixia’s eyes, remaining silent.
Xuan Zhixia: “…”
He couldn’t help but suspect that Shang Shuji was bothered by the idea that “pragmatists aren’t good at talking”… But wasn’t Shang Shuji known for being a man of few words? Was that statement really that offensive?
”Mr. Shang…”
“I can carry you back,” Shang Shuji suddenly said.
Xuan Zhixia was taken aback.
The others, including Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu, were somewhat surprised to hear this.
Shang Shuji remained calm and continued speaking unhurriedly: “But don’t overthink it. I was just trying to save trouble, and to some extent, your sprain is partly my fault. However, I was trying to help you, so you’d better not blame me. Have you thought it through?”
Xuan Zhixia frowned slightly: “…You’ll carry me on your back?”
Shang Shuji looked at him calmly.
Xuan Zhixia: “What if we disagree and you leave me stranded on the way?”
Shang Shuji: “…You can learn to shut up.”
Xuan Zhixia blinked, thought for two seconds, and then smiled: “Okay, then I’ll trouble Mr. Shang. I wasn’t really in the mood for walking anyway.”
Shang Shuji raised an eyebrow: “Shall I arrange an amputation for you?”
”The surgery is too expensive, I won’t trouble you to spend the money,” Xuan Zhixia said calmly.
Inside the live stream—
[See that! The little seedling of love has come back to life!]
[Please let me have a small taste of this arranged marriage that blossoms into love.]
[Wait, what’s going on? Why did President Shang suddenly want to carry Xuan Zhixia on his back?]
[Of course it’s because it’s convenient! Could it be because President Shang has started to think Xuan Zhixia is his wife?! Tsk tsk tsk]
[Actually… it’s not that strange… Shang Shuji was always stubborn, but he was getting more and more skilled at his work, hahaha]
[After all, we couldn’t really leave Xuan Zhixia here alone, but it wouldn’t make sense to have everyone stay with him. So, President Shang simply carried him back, and all the conflicts were resolved!]
[Shang Shuji: Don’t overthink it (he picks up his wife and runs away)]
[Oh my god, physical contact! Finally, some physical contact!]
Shang Shuji squatted down in front of Xuan Zhixia, with his back to him.
Xuan Zhixia glanced at Shang Shuji’s broad back, placed his hands on Shang Shuji’s shoulders, and then leaned forward.
Shang Shuji placed his hand on Xuan Zhixia’s knee and, with a slight effort, stood up with his back to him.
After standing still, Shang Shuji frowned slightly.
It’s so light, just like a cat.
Everyone walked back together.
It wouldn’t look good for Shang Shuji to be carrying someone on his back and walking in front, so he trailed behind at the back of the group.
Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu were so amazed by Xuan Zhixia, who was lying comfortably on Shang Shuji’s back, that they forgot to close their mouths for a moment.
The two children were both amazed and curious, wanting to know why Shang Shuji was willing to carry Xuan Zhixia and whether he no longer disliked Xuan Zhixia, but their first reaction was still not daring to ask Shang Shuji.
But when they try to observe for themselves, they’re not as good as the little detectives in cartoons; they simply can’t observe anything to arrive at a definitive conclusion.
After a while, Shang Jingshu had a sudden inspiration and whispered, “Actually, it wouldn’t hurt for us to ask, would it? We asked about that beauty lamp earlier, and although Dad didn’t explain, he wasn’t upset, he just didn’t answer us…”
”That makes sense!” Shang Jingqi’s eyes lit up. “Anyway, Dad isn’t much of a talker to begin with, so as long as he doesn’t get angry, it’s fine! Let’s go ask him!”
So, Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu moved closer and asked obediently, “Daddy, is it because you don’t dislike Uncle anymore that you’re carrying him on your back?”
”Uncle twisted his ankle, poor thing, right?”
Shang Shuji lowered his eyes, glanced at the two children, then continued looking at the road and calmly replied, “No.”
Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu were stunned.
Xuan Zhixia sat calmly on Shang Shuji’s back.
He didn’t care what Shang Shuji was thinking or why he did this. Anyway, the current situation was that Shang Shuji was carrying him, which saved him trouble and effort, and he felt very comfortable.
Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu hesitated for a moment, then stammered and pressed on, “Then why is that?”
Shang Shuji replied calmly, “I already said it, it’s simpler. Xuan Zhi Xia is too troublesome.”
The two children still didn’t understand, feeling that the answer wasn’t the real answer. They looked a little worried, but didn’t know how to continue asking, so they had to give up.
After a while, Shang Jingqi suddenly remembered something, looked at Xuan Zhixia on Shang Shuji’s back, and asked, “Uncle, when are you done resting? Can you give me a hug?”
Xuan Zhixia was taken aback: “Why are you suddenly bringing this up?”
Shang Jingqi said earnestly, “Because, before we played hide-and-seek yesterday, Uncle hugged Shang Jingshu, and then he didn’t have the strength to hug me. Shang Jingshu and I only remembered this last night before going to bed, and we felt that we should be fair and find a chance for Uncle to hug me once! A little higher than when he hugged Shang Jingshu! Is that okay?”
Xuan Zhixia: “…To be honest, it’s not possible.”
Shang Jingqi was immediately disappointed: “Huh? Why?”
”There’s no need for that, it’s too strenuous, and I’m very weak,” Xuan Zhixia said calmly.
Shang Jingqi nodded listlessly: “Oh…”
Seeing his reaction, Shang Jingshu thought for a moment and whispered to him, “Adults like to hug the children they like. If we treat Uncle better, he will like us and will definitely hug you then!”
Upon hearing this, Shang Jingqi thought it made a lot of sense and immediately felt a little more motivated. However, he then worried, “If we add just a little bit more each time, won’t Dad find out if we add too much?”
Shang Jingshu thought it was alright: “Look, Dad has already carried Uncle on his back, but he still doesn’t like Uncle, so it’s okay if we’re nicer to Uncle. Dad will believe that we don’t like Uncle!”
Shang Jingqi nodded emphatically, then looked confused again: “But, the way you’re saying it makes it sound like we like Uncle, but we just don’t let Dad know… But we don’t dislike or hate Uncle, do we?”
Shang Jingshu was taken aback and was also stumped by the question.
However, she quickly retorted, “It’s different. We’re doing this for fairness, so that Uncle can hold you too. But if Uncle neither likes nor dislikes us, he won’t bother to hold you. So, if we want Uncle to like us, we have to act like we like him too, then he’ll like us. Do you understand?”
Shang Jingqi’s thoughts circled around Shang Jingshu’s words, and then he nodded firmly: “I understand! Liking someone is mutual! If we want Uncle to like us, we have to like Uncle! And we don’t need to worry about Dad finding out, because we won’t carry Uncle on our backs, and we can’t possibly be nicer to Uncle than Dad!”
Shang Jingshu: “That’s right!”
…
Xuan Zhixia was carried back to their brick house number five by Shang Shuji and placed on the familiar recliner in the main room.
Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu are very proactive, and they then began to show what they thought was “their affection for Xuan Zhixia”.
”Uncle, let me get your books for you!” Shang Jingqi ran towards Xuan Zhixia and Shang Shuji’s bedroom.
”Uncle, have you finished your water? Let me get you some!” Shang Jingshu ran to the kitchen, where there was a bottle of mineral water that Shang Shuji had bought.
The books were brought out, the water was brought over, and the two children sat on small stools next to the recliner, looking at Xuan Zhixia expectantly, and asked him again, “Uncle, would you like us to tell you a fairy tale?”
”Like last night!”
Xuan Zhixia felt something was amiss and couldn’t understand it.
He couldn’t help but glance at Shang Shuji, then looked away and said nonchalantly, “I suddenly suspect that I might be capable of using witchcraft.”
Shang Shuji: “…”
Shang Jingqi: “What does ‘casting a curse’ mean?”
Shang Jingshu: “Why is Uncle suddenly doubting himself? We need to have confidence!”
Xuan Zhixia: “…”