Chapter 43 – Who's Next?

"What are you talking about with such a serious face?" Lin Xiaowen walked over with a small towel in her hand. Only then did Cheng Yishu come back to his senses, smiling at her.

"I was thinking about how not to let Ranran down, how to take her to kindergarten just once!"

"Don't listen to her nonsense!" Lin Xiaowen bent down to wipe Ranran's face, saying as she did, "Children shouldn't have so many demands, you know? Brother Yishu is very busy, we mustn't interfere with his work!"

Ranran's round eyes glanced at Cheng Yishu. She grinned mischievously and said, "Xiaowen, Brother Yishu's mouth is dirty too. Xiaowen, help him wipe it!"

No sooner had Ranran finished speaking than Lin Xiaowen's hand paused. Her cheeks flushed as she was about to scold Ranran, but Cheng Yishu actually leaned his face over and closed his eyes, saying, "Ranran is always on my side. Xiaowen, hurry up and help me wipe!"

Who knew what Cheng Yishu was thinking? His skin was so thick, he couldn't even keep a straight face in front of a child!

"As if! I won't bother with you. Go wash yourself—you're not a child!" Lin Xiaowen pushed Cheng Yishu's shoulder with her hand. He opened his eyes and laughed, making Ranran giggle as well.

"Brother Yishu, will you help me wash my face? Xiaowen is washing the dishes..."

"Brother Yishu, I haven't washed my feet yet... They smell so bad..."

"Brother Yishu, Xiaowen is still washing clothes. Will you tell me a story before bed?"

The whole evening, Cheng Yishu was run off his feet, his head spinning.

As he lamented not having read more children's stories in the past, the little one finally fell asleep!

Lin Xiaowen had finished washing the clothes they'd dirtied and straightened up the living room they'd both left in disarray.

She pushed open the bedroom door to see Cheng Yishu, in a dramatic fashion, preparing to gently pull his arm out of Ranran's small grasp.

"Asleep?" Lin Xiaowen whispered.

Cheng Yishu, as if facing a great enemy, put a finger to his lips for silence, then carefully slipped off the bed, signaling Lin Xiaowen to speak outside.

Lin Xiaowen watched his exaggerated movements with amusement before finally leaving the bedroom. Only then did Cheng Yishu let out a long sigh of relief.

"Is it really that bad? Putting a child to bed isn't exactly hard labor, look how tired you are!" Lin Xiaowen smiled, standing beside him as he lay sprawled on the sofa, eyes closed, not wanting to move.

He began to recount the evening, one thing after another:

"Brush teeth, wash face, put on lotion... wash feet, wash socks, then 'Little Princess' needs her face washed and feet washed... Finally get into bed, and it's time for a hundred thousand whys..."

"'Brother Yishu, why can't you come see me every day?'"

"'Brother Yishu, what does filming mean?'"

"'Brother Yishu, can boys wear earrings? Yours look so nice...'"

"'Brother Yishu, why are your eyes so pretty? There are stars inside... and Ranran...'"

"'Brother Yishu, your story isn't good... tell another one!'"

Cheng Yishu mimicked Ranran's voice, recounting it bit by bit to Lin Xiaowen, making her laugh so hard she couldn't straighten up.

"Ranran is admiring you, praising you! No one else gets this treatment," Lin Xiaowen said, smiling down at him.

Suddenly, Cheng Yishu opened his eyes, startling Lin Xiaowen. His gaze was sharp, with a mischievous glint.

As expected, the next moment Cheng Yishu sprang up, grabbed Lin Xiaowen's hand, pulled her down to sit on the sofa, and crowded close to her.

Their breaths mingled, Lin Xiaowen's heart fluttered ever so slightly. She pulled her hand back and glared at Cheng Yishu, but before she could speak, he beat her to it:

"Guess what Ranran said to me?"

Lin Xiaowen was momentarily stunned, forgetting what she'd meant to say. She murmured, "Ranran?"

"Yes!" Cheng Yishu had no intention of moving away. He watched the confusion on Lin Xiaowen's face and nodded, "That's right!"

That little imp, Ranran! Who knew what she'd said while Lin Xiaowen wasn't around, to make Cheng Yishu look at her as if she were a joke...

A little annoyed, and breathless, Lin Xiaowen puffed out her cheeks, pushed Cheng Yishu away, sat upright, and answered sullenly, "Who knows what you two talked about. Probably badmouthing me! I'm just curious—Ranran was raised by me, and she's only known you a few days? Yet she gives you food... Even I, as her mother, haven't gotten that treatment!"

"Sounds like someone's jealous," Cheng Yishu said, arms crossed, grinning as he continued, "You might need to get used to it."

"Why should I?" Lin Xiaowen shot him a glare, clearly not wanting to engage further.

Cheng Yishu seemed to particularly enjoy teasing her, but seeing Lin Xiaowen truly displeased, he finally relented.

He sobered, sat up properly, and looked at Lin Xiaowen, speaking softly:

"Did Aunt Xu ask you about the result of your blind date?"

He'd had that question bottled up all evening, but with Ranran around, he'd held back. Now, with just the two of them left, he finally asked.

"She did," Lin Xiaowen sighed, continuing in a calm tone, "That Mr. Lin was actually quite gentlemanly—didn't say anything unnecessary. After we parted, he immediately called Aunt Xu, said we might not be a good match. Then Aunt Xu kept me behind to comfort me, saying if this one didn't work, I could try another..."

"Another?" Cheng Yishu shouted, startling Lin Xiaowen, who instinctively covered his mouth, worried.

"Why are you shouting? Ranran is asleep!"

Cheng Yishu pulled her hand away, glaring angrily. "Why is there another? Is this never-ending... Are you addicted to blind dates?"

He'd finally managed to get rid of that Lin fellow, and now there was another?

"They all mean well. Aunt Xu is just worried about me..." Lin Xiaowen sighed, speaking lightly, "Besides, why are you so worked up?"

"Me... worked up?" Realizing he'd lost his composure, Cheng Yishu abruptly stood, muttering in frustration, "What am I getting worked up for? Really!"

His already wild hair now looked like an angry little lion as he paced back and forth before Lin Xiaowen, impatiently.

"Can you stop pacing? You're making me dizzy!" Lin Xiaowen frowned at him.

"No!" he barked, then suddenly stopped, plopping down beside Lin Xiaowen, almost desperate as he demanded,

"So did you agree? Did you agree to another blind date?"