novelraw Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
"Ah? You want to give your Older Brother Xiaojie a gift?" Lin Xiaoli's gossiping soul blazed to life; lowering her voice like a thief, she asked, "Why did you suddenly think of giving Older Brother Xiaojie a gift?"
Little Xia Ying didn't know how to explain: "He helped me find my hair clip, so I just... wanted to give him something to thank him." Her big eyes blinked twice.
Lin Xiaoli bit her lip and chuckled, "Got it. Wait a moment—Auntie will go ask for you on the sly~ Come inside first, don't stand out in the hallway."
Little Xia Ying smiled shyly: "Thank you, Auntie."
"No need to be polite~ Someday little Xia Ying might even become one of our family."
The two entered the house. Little Xia Ying waited just inside the doorway. After exchanging a glance with her, Lin Xiaoli coughed once, put on an act, and walked to Liu Wenjie's bedroom.
She knocked: "Xiaojie? Are you awake? It's Mom."
Inside, Liu Wenjie was already awake, lying in bed staring at the ceiling. Another good night's sleep—sure enough, insomnia only existed in grown-ups: "I'm awake. What's up, Mom?"
"Mom's coming in to ask you something, okay?"
"Mm, the door's unlocked."
Lin Xiaoli opened the door, saw her son still burrowed under the quilt, sat on the edge of the bed and asked, "Xiaojie, is there anything you want?"
Liu Wenjie had no idea what Mom was up to: "Nope."
Lin Xiaoli clicked her tongue: "Since Mom's asking, just pick something. Someone might give it to you—anything at all."
Liu Wenjie blinked, puzzled: "Anything?"
Lin Xiaoli smiled: "Anything, as long as you like it."
Hearing this, Liu Wenjie sat up, picked a picture book from the student desk by his bed, flipped it open, and pointed to a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
"I want this."
Lin Xiaoli glanced at it, then raised her hand and gave her son a light knock on the head, suddenly turning serious: "You planning to destroy the world with this? Be serious!"
Liu Wenjie thought that a single aircraft carrier couldn't destroy the world anyway.
"You're the one who said I could have anything."
"But keep it realistic—something practical, like..." Mom counted on her fingers: "books, toys, snacks, that sort of thing."
Liu Wenjie narrowed his eyes: "Meaning nothing expensive?"
"Right, preferably under ten bucks—no, under five—otherwise the giver will feel pressured."
Liu Wenjie seemed to understand now; after all, there weren't any special holidays coming up. He answered casually, "Milk candy."
Lin Xiaoli clapped her hands together, delighted: "Roger that! Okay, son, get up and get ready—breakfast time."
With that she left Liu Wenjie's bedroom and closed the door for him.
But she quickly opened it again: "You like milk candy? How come Mom didn't know?"
Liu Wenjie bluffed the silly mom: "Just felt like it these past couple days."
"Oh, I see. Never mind."
Lin Xiaoli tiptoed to the doorway and quietly told little Xia Ying what Liu Wenjie wanted.
Little Xia Ying listened carefully, thanked Lin Xiaoli, and hurried home.
A little over an hour later.
The kindergarten gate opened, and parents streamed in to drop off their little treasures.
In Class One's room, little Xia Ying came up to Liu Wenjie holding a brand-new pack of milk candy and offered it with both hands.
Liu Wenjie stared blankly at the silly girl.
Dumb expression, silly eyes, chubby baby-fat cheeks, and that trademark sweet, innocent ponytail.
Sure enough, Mom had asked for her.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
Little Xia Ying's voice was as soft as ever: "Older Brother Wenjie, a gift for you."
Liu Wenjie: "......"
[Childhood Sweetheart has given you another gift, wanting to repay your help. Your choice?]
[A Life of Push-and-Pull: What a grateful little girl. This time I can only accept it and give her a gift in return, then she'll give me another, and I'll give her another—push and pull, a lifelong miracle worker. Reply: Give it here; I'll give you something next time. Reward: League of Legends Bronze Tier (game not yet released, unlocked after launch)]
[Overthinking Sage: Wait, isn't this weird? I clearly told Mom, yet Xia Ying still knows—could it be... Xia Ying is my mom?! Reply: Stay away from me! You're terrifying! Reward: Immune to mind-affecting magic for life]
[Persistent Scholar: Why is it her again? Is this the first trial of my scholar's life? Then I'll use my ultra-high IQ to reject her in one go. Reply: It's not that I won't take it; I'm just not in the mood. Then point to a dead tree and tell her I'll eat it when that tree blooms. Reward: Stamina +1]
He hadn't expected more system options—this girl sure provides a lot of wool to shear.
Looking at the three choices, a glance was enough.
Option one is idiotic, option two is brain-dead; might as well pick three.
And the reward isn't bad either.
"It's not that I won't take it; I'm just not in the mood." Liu Wenjie casually pointed at a withered tree in the kindergarten yard: "See that tree? I've always treated it as a friend, but it'll never bloom again. If it blooms, I'll be in the mood to eat."
[Congratulations to the host: Stamina +1]
Little Xia Ying blinked twice upon hearing this, then foolishly looked in the direction Liu Wenjie had pointed at a dead tree beside the wall.
"So... because the tree isn't blooming, you're in a bad mood? And if it blooms, you'll feel better?"
Liu Wenjie broke into a cold sweat.
What kind of silly girl is this?
Curious, he asked, "What are you thinking right now?"
Little Xia Ying pulled her gaze back and answered without hesitation: "I'm thinking I'll find a way to make that big tree bloom again, so Older Brother Wenjie can happily eat snacks." She was utterly convinced.
Liu Wenjie glanced again at the tree—definitely dead, trunk dried out: "But it's already dead."
"Dead? Does being dead mean it can't bloom?" Little Xia Ying insisted: "To make Older Brother Wenjie happy, I'll work hard to figure it out. It will bloom, even dead it can bloom!"
Liu Wenjie gave a wry chuckle; he'd underestimated the little girl. He sighed.
He took the milk candy from Xia Ying's hand, tore open the wrapper, and ate one himself.
Then he tore open another and commanded, "Open your mouth!"
Little Xia Ying obediently opened her small mouth. Liu Wenjie gently tossed the candy in, then handed the rest back to her: "Forget what I just said—don't take it seriously. I appreciate your kindness, and the candy's eaten, so we're even now."
He stood up and patted her shoulder: "That's it—smile."
Little Xia Ying forced a silly grin.
Liu Wenjie nodded in satisfaction: "Perfect. Xia Ying, you must be some kind of genius! I'm going to the restroom; you go back to your seat—study hard and improve every day."
With that, Liu Wenjie chewed milk candy and headed for the restroom.
The stamina boost left him feeling full of energy—slapping a huge mosquito to death with his bare hand would be no problem!
Meanwhile, little Xia Ying savored the sweet milk candy, watching Liu Wenjie disappear into the classroom, then turned to look out the window at the dead tree beside the kindergarten wall. The summer wind blew, the bare branches swaying in stark contrast to the lush green trees around.
"If the tree blooms, Older Brother Wenjie will be happy—then I'll definitely make him happy and repay all his kindness to me."