[This girl walks so comfortably! This perfectionist is so happy!]
[Although she's short, she walks the runway really well, exudes confidence, and her looks are just so appealing!]
[That smile on her face! I'm so smitten! I want to jump into the screen and pinch her cheeks!]
[I just said, "Hi! Daughter! Come home with Auntie!"]
[Hilarious! You guys are still sending comments; I can't even capture them all in screenshots!]
As Xu Chacha had hoped, the "Revival of All Things" series did indeed become a hit. Her thirty-odd seconds on the runway were captured into several GIFs and went viral, especially her second fixed-point glance back.
The comments section was full of people threatening to steal the child, but Xu's parents were in a panic.
After the initial buzz died down, the comments shifted from praising the model to praising the clothes. So people started digging into the designer's background, and someone posted a screenshot of Wen Mubai leading Xu Chacha on stage for the curtain call.
[Isn't this the stunning beauty who saved EV from its emergency?! I stared at her cover and drooled for ages!]
[Designers are prettier than models - series]
With that figure and that face, she could easily make a living off her looks, but she chooses to rely on her talent instead.
[Just got back from digging into her background, turns out she's a billionaire with assets exceeding 10 billion! Sister, look at me!]
[In response to above, being a rich woman is one thing, but her college entrance exam scores far surpass those of some idols in the entertainment industry who create a "scholar" persona.]
...
As soon as Xu Chacha stepped off the stage, the first thing she did was to look for Wen Mubai in the crowd.
"Tea."
In a flurry of activity, a familiar, cool voice rang out from behind.
Xu Chacha immediately turned around, and Wen Mubai's hand was already covering her little head. "You walked very well, thank you."
Xu Chacha sought her out just to hear this compliment, but when she actually heard it, her face flushed red and she stammered, unable to speak.
"I worked so hard for Auntie, Auntie knows that, right?" Xu Chacha said softly, looking at her.
"That's why I said thank you," Wen Mubai smiled. "Maybe they changed to a different model..."
“The clothes would look great on other models too! Because Auntie designed them beautifully!” Xu Chacha quickly interrupted her, “But I would look even better in them.”
"You're right," Wen Mubai said in a doting tone.
“What I mean is that I work so hard for Auntie’s dream.” Xu Chacha reached out and took her hand. “So no matter how difficult the situation is, Auntie, you must not give up. You must go to bigger and farther places and see more spectacular and beautiful scenery.”
"Are you teaching parallel sentences this semester?" Wen Mubai poked her cheek and teased her, then quickly regained his composure. "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."
"It's not about listening to me." Xu Chacha said sternly, pulling Wen Mubai's hand and pressing it against her left chest. "It's about listening to this side."
Wen Mubai felt his heartbeat in his palm, and looking into Xu Chacha's eyes, which seemed to see right through him, he didn't know what to say.
"Auntie, just remember that no matter what happens, Cha Cha will always be on your side. Although I may not be qualified yet, I will be your strongest support."
Wen Mubai's lips curved into a smile, the first time he had ever smiled so happily, "Okay, Auntie will remember."
...
The two figures, one large and one small, were discussed on trending topics for almost a week before the hype subsided slightly.
This directly resulted in the Xu family's phone ringing non-stop all day long.
As for Mr. and Mrs. Xu, they are fine. On the one hand, they are happy to show off, and on the other hand, people can try sending WeChat messages without having to reply anytime, anywhere.
But it's different for Xu Chacha. Elementary school students don't even bother typing when sending WeChat messages, and they complain that she replies too slowly when sending voice messages. They insist on making phone calls to vent their urgency.
"Cha Cha, you're so pretty! I saw your video, and my parents have been asking about you!" Chen Qianqian's sweet, childlike voice was very distinctive, and her mother took over the conversation shortly after she finished speaking.
"Sorry Chacha, I keep bothering you. Qianqian keeps saying she misses you, so I had to agree to call you."
Xu Chacha replied sweetly, "I won't bother you, Mom. I also really enjoy talking to Qianqian on the phone. I miss her so much during this holiday."
Chen's mother clutched her chest, thinking to herself, "What kind of little angel is this? Why is she so sensible?"
The key point is that she is also completely captivated by that GIF on the internet. Now she is looking forward to Chen Qianqian starting school more than anyone else, so that she can secretly pet Xu Chacha while taking her to school.
The phone was quickly handed to Chen Qianqian again. The two chatted for a long time about topics that were not very informative but inexplicably funny. Then another call came in to Xu Chacha. It was Xue Miaomiao.
Xu Chacha rubbed her forehead in exasperation and said to Chen Qianqian, "Qianqian, let's make a WeChat call. I'll bring Miaomiao along too."
"Oh? Okay then."
They both used their parents' cell phones. Xu Chacha had previously created a large discussion group, and when she initiated a call in the group, Chen Qianqian and Xue Miaomiao joined at lightning speed.
"Hey, Chacha," Xue Miaomiao's slightly awkward voice came through, "Why don't you ever message me?"
Do you know how much I miss you?
Xu Chacha chuckled sheepishly, "I've been so busy these past few days, but I'll be able to chat with you guys every day from now on!"
"Well... I don't mean you have to chat every day," Xue Miaomiao said in a lower voice. "But if you want, it's not impossible."
"Yes, we miss Miaomiao too. We hope school starts soon so we can play together."
Suddenly, a female voice rang out from somewhere, neither loud nor soft, but very clearly, "Heh, what do you mean by 'not that it's not allowed'? You're always using my phone to edit messages for others but you don't dare to send a single one. Where did you learn to be so stubborn?"
The worst thing was when the air suddenly went quiet. Xu Chacha pretended not to hear, but Chen Qianqian couldn't help but laugh.
"Pfft, hahaha! Xue Miaomiao, you're so uncool!"
After a two-second silence, Xue Miaomiao's voice, tinged with tears, finally came from the other end, "Mom! What are you doing! I hate you the most!"
Xu Chacha nodded silently as she drank her milk: "Yes, today's 'I hate you the most' check-in is successful."
Chapter 35
January has passed, and the Lunar New Year will soon be here.
Because of the old man's involvement, Wen Mubai's relationship with his father has improved somewhat; at least they can sit down to eat together without any ill feelings.
During the first month of the lunar calendar, Xu Chacha visited relatives with her family. Xu's mother was very enthusiastic about this activity, and it was the topic of conversation every night before they went out.
"How about I do your hair in a bun tomorrow? Pigtails are cute too."
"Which pair of little red cotton boots looks better, the purple ones or the red ones?"
"Do you want to wear that little vest when you go to your uncle's house for the New Year? Mom specially made matching outfits for you two, they'll look so cute and adorable."
Xu Yanshu, who was eating quietly, finally couldn't help but speak up, "Mom, I don't need to be cute at my age."
"So what if you're fourteen? Even if you're twenty, you'll still be adorable in Mom's eyes."
Following her words, Xu Chacha imagined herself as she grew up, still as sweet and coquettish as she is now, and she shuddered, goosebumps falling all over her body.
Ouch—that's terrifying.
On the tenth day of the first lunar month, it was finally time to visit the Wen family.
That day, Xu Chacha got up even earlier than her mother. She obediently combed her hair, put on her favorite little red jacket, and waited for her mother to braid her hair.
This was Xu Chacha's first time visiting Wen Mubai's home, and she seemed much more reserved than usual.
But as soon as she peeked out and saw Wen Mubai coming down the stairs, she couldn't hide her excitement any longer. "Auntie!"
Wen Mubai turned her head. The little boy had told her the night before last that he was coming today, but she didn't expect him to arrive so early.
Before he even reached the last step of the stairs, Xu Chacha rushed over, and Wen Mubai instinctively opened his arms to catch her.
Xu Chacha's jumping ability has improved a lot from practicing rope skipping. She leaped into Wen Mubai's arms, put her legs on her hips, and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "I missed you so much, Auntie."
Wen Mubai supported her body and pulled her up so that her arms wouldn't get tired from not putting any effort into it.
"I just met you."
“The teacher said that a day apart feels like three autumns, and we’ve been apart for several autumns.” Xu Chacha corrected her word by word.
"Okay, Auntie missed you too." Wen Mubai carried her down the stairs and stopped beside Xu's mother.
Mother Xu shook her head and playfully pinched her nose, saying, "You're always acting all cute and clingy to your aunt. Be careful, or she'll get annoyed with you."
"Auntie won't bother me," Xu Chacha retorted softly. "Right, Auntie?"
“Yes.” Wen Mubai smiled gently at her, then turned to Xu’s mother and said, “I really like children, so please don’t worry about her.”
Wen Shiyu, who witnessed the entire interaction from beginning to end, rolled her eyes. "You like kids?"
Why have I never seen you give me a kind look?
When the adults from both sides meet, they inevitably have to talk about serious matters. After exchanging pleasantries, the adults go to the small living room on the second floor, while the children eat and play on the first floor.
Xu Yanshu peeled an orange for Xu Chacha, but when she turned around, she saw Xu Chacha feeding Wen Mubai walnuts.
Her eyes widened. Xu Chacha had always found nuts troublesome to eat and wouldn't eat them unless others peeled them for her. Now, she was actually peeling them for Wen Mubai.
"Cha Cha, have an orange." Xu Yanshu handed it to her. "If you don't know how to peel walnuts, don't bother. Your Aunt Mu Bai has her own hands."
"I know how to peel them!" Xu Chacha said, slamming the walnuts onto the table with a crackling sound. "I'm really good at peeling walnuts."
Xu Yanshu: My sister has changed.
Wen Mubai turned his gaze away from the television and silently observed the two sisters, realizing that he had once again unknowingly provoked Xu Yanshu, who was obsessed with her younger sister.
"Don't peel them for Cha Cha, Auntie doesn't like them that much." Wen Mubai took the few half-peeled walnuts from Xu Cha Cha's hand, peeled them himself, and put them back in her palm. "Eat more yourself, it's good for your brain."
"Oh, Auntie doesn't like walnuts, but does she like oranges?" Xu Chacha broke off half an orange for her. "They're so sweet."
Xu Yanshu, peeling an orange: ? ? ?
Under Xu Yanshu's death stare, Wen Mubai smiled and pushed the orange back, "Auntie doesn't eat it."
"Alright then." Xu Chacha withdrew her hand, turned to Xu Yanshu's mouth and offered her an orange, saying with a smile, "Sister, have some oranges, they're delicious."
Xu Yanshu opened her mouth and bit down, coaxing her without any backbone.
"Sweet, thank you Chacha."
Wen Mubai glanced at her expression and said calmly, "It's too hot, eat less."
...
After playing for a while, Xu Chacha got bored, swung her legs and stood up. "I'm going to check on my parents and bring them some food."
She grabbed a plate, filled it with some nuts and fruit, and ran up to the second floor. Just as she turned the corner, she heard Wen's father and the others talking about Wen Mubai.