Xie Tangning kept her little face scrunched up tight, her eyes darting back and forth between her two brothers, the threat in her gaze unmistakable.
Lu Huaiyu and Xie Changyu both sighed. In perfect unison, they spoke in voices full of helpless resignation.
“Fine, fine, we’ll increase it! Happy now?!”
What else could they do? They had been careless for one moment and ended up hoisted by their own petard!
Having gotten exactly what she wanted, Xie Tangning was perfectly satisfied. Her voice turned sweet and deliberately affected. “Thank you, dear brothers~~”
As she spoke, she shifted positions and slipped between Xie Changyu and Lu Huaiyu, hooking her arms through theirs and making them walk together.
All the while, she sighed inwardly: Ah~ This is true brotherly love and sisterly affection~
Lu Huaiyu couldn’t help laughing as he scolded her. “You use every trick in the book on your own brothers. You really are one hell of a little brat!”
Xie Tangning answered with a grin, “Like brother, like sister. This is the karma you deserve.”
Lu Huaiyu’s fingers itched to flick her on the forehead again, but he was afraid that she would use the opportunity to make some even more outrageous demand.
Xie Changyu, meanwhile, made fun of his eldest brother. “Big Brother, you’re really slipping! You didn’t even show off the authority of the eldest legitimate son.”
Lu Huaiyu obligingly demonstrated exactly what he meant by that authority.
The next second, Xie Changyu was clutching his head and whining.
Following behind them, Xie Yanxun and the others watched the three children roughhouse with amused smiles.
Two minutes later, several different cars drove toward the Xie family estate together.
By the time they arrived, the household staff had already prepared dinner and withdrawn to the servants’ quarters, leaving the family to enjoy their private time undisturbed.
The two younger ones made a beeline for the dining table, only to be caught by the backs of their collars by Lu Huaiyu.
“What’s gotten into you two?! Go wash your hands first!”
“You’re both grown-ups already, so why are you still rushing around like a pair of little maniacs? Who spoiled you?”
After being sternly lectured by their eldest brother, Xie Tangning and Xie Changyu obediently changed direction and went to wash their hands.
Lu Huaiyu followed right behind them.
After putting away the cane he had used to look imposing while out, Old Master Xie watched the backs of the three younger members of the family. Then, almost unconsciously, he leaned toward Qi Rou and muttered, “It’s only been a few days since we last saw him. Has Er Yu put on another few pounds?”
Qi Rou glanced at Xie Changyu. After a two-second pause, she replied, “I don’t think so. His face is just looking a little more prosperous.”
“That proves our Er Yu has been taking good care of himself.”
It was a textbook example of tactful phrasing. Xie Changyu had exceptionally sharp ears and heard every word. He turned around and glared angrily at Old Master Xie.
“Did you hear that, Great-Grandpa? I’m not fat! I’m prosperous. It proves I’ve been taking excellent care of myself!”
“Grandma really is one of the best talkers in the family. Everything you say sounds so nice. Love you~”
As he spoke, he made a heart shape with his hands for Qi Rou, but only half a heart for Old Master Xie.
Hmph~ This old man doesn’t know how to talk. He only gets half as much love!
Old Master Xie sucked in a sharp breath and turned toward Qi Rou in disbelief, looking as though he had just been betrayed.
“You make me look like I have no idea how to behave, Little Rou!”
Qi Rou smiled. “How could that be? Children shouldn’t be spoiled. We need someone like you around to tell them the truth!”
“You call that being upright and principled. What I did just now was called being hypocritical!”
Old Master Xie: “…”
At least half of Xie Tangning’s mouth had clearly been inherited from her grandmother, Qi Rou!
Old Master Xie said nothing, but Lu Wenhua immediately disagreed with his wife and opened her mouth to argue.
“How can our mature and dignified lady be talking such nonsense?”
“You’re simply very tactful! There’s no need to call it hypocrisy. As the saying goes, a scholar’s affairs should never be described in such vulgar terms!”
He absolutely refused to let anyone deny his wife’s virtues—not even herself!
Xie Heng’an felt that he had completely inherited the old man’s admirable quality of being upright and principled. He immediately decided to show off in front of Old Master Xie.
“Don’t flatter him, in-law. Where’s the uprightness and integrity in that? The old man is simply famous for having zero social tact~”
Old Master Xie: “…”
“Ah~ Where’s my cane? My hand feels strangely empty. I think a cane would fit perfectly in it right now!”
Seeing the expression on Old Master Xie’s face—the sort of expression that was almost a smile but not quite—Xie Heng’an didn’t dare push his luck. He took two steps to the side and blocked the cane lying not far away.
“I was wrong, Dad~ Don’t hold it against a child like me, okay?”
One had to apologize quickly. Whether one actually changed afterward was a separate matter entirely!
Old Master Xie glared at him. “You’re over seventy and you’re telling me you’re a child?”
“Where’s your shame, Xie Heng’an?”
Xie Heng’an slowly threw his father’s own words back at him. “Weren’t you the one who said that, in your eyes, your children and grandchildren are children no matter how old they are?”
“You call that group of old men and women you play with ‘old kids’ too, don’t you?”
The words made Old Master Xie’s nostrils flare another two inches. He turned to Xie Yanxun and looked at him imploringly.
“A-Xun, have you learned your father’s shameless ways? From now on, use that exact template on him!”
Xie Yanxun was a thoroughly filial son. He nodded with complete seriousness. “I understand, Grandpa. I’m a devoted grandson.”
“So I promise I’ll listen to you the most!”
Xie Heng’an: “…”
This traitorous son was beyond saving!
Seeing his own rebellious son suffer, Old Master Xie was delighted. He turned to his good grandson and showered him with even more praise.
Off to the side, Lu Qiwu and the others were all struggling not to laugh themselves into internal injuries. None of the old or young people in this family could be called reliable.
The three siblings, who had already washed their hands and were sitting at the table waiting for dinner, watched as the older generation continued bickering.
With their inner food-obsessed pigs fully in control, the three of them couldn’t help reminding the adults.
Xie Tangning: “May I ask whether the three of you are immortals who only drink dew?”
Xie Changyu: “If you’re not enthusiastic about eating, there’s something wrong with your brain!”
Lu Huaiyu: “I agree with everything they just said. Anyone with objections may take them up with those two. I accept no responsibility whatsoever!”
Xie Tangning and Xie Changyu: →_→
Lu Huaiyu wasn’t fazed in the slightest. He simply smiled and looked at no one while enduring the laser-like stares of the two little cats and dogs in his family.
Seeing that the three troublemakers were about to start arguing again, the Xie family elders were amazed.
They all washed their hands, took their seats, and began enjoying dinner with their large family.
Lu Huaiyu stared at Xie Changyu, who was still eating with absolutely no regard for appearances, for several seconds. He forcibly dispelled the image of a husky from his mind.
“Could you rein in that mouth of yours just a little? The swelling is obvious on camera now, and you’re still eating?!”
“Lin Xinghai ended up with an artist like you. He must have accumulated a lifetime of good karma in his previous life!”
One could only say that Lu Huaiyu truly was Xie Changyu’s eldest brother. His mouth was just as vicious, with not a trace of mercy.
The remark hit Xie Changyu so hard he nearly dropped dead on the spot with a croak. He immediately turned his grief into appetite and stuffed another piece of braised pork into his mouth.
“Impossible! Big Brother, you must be lying. I’ve been having so much fun these past few days that I’ve practically slimmed down into a lightning bolt. There’s no way I’m retaining water!”
“You just want to eat everything yourself, so you made up this nasty trick!”
Lu Huaiyu: “…”
Heaven and earth, please bear witness and tell right from wrong!!
Xie Tangning burst out laughing and nearly choked herself.
“Second Brother, your ability to spout nonsense really is getting better and better. You’re practically a role model for all of us!”
“Quick—teach me how you manage to spout blatant lies without batting an eye!”
