Chapter 100: Come Hit Me, If You Dare (Please Subscribe)

Tan Jiner looked at her little sister, who was playing up a surprised expression in front of her, and felt utterly helpless.

I’m asking if you’re being cheeky or not! I’m asking if you’re acting up again!

“You silly girl! Who are you calling cheeky? I’ll spank your little bottom!”

Hearing Xiaoxi’er gossiping about her, little Bai immediately hopped off the piano bench and, with her childish but fierce voice, dashed over.

“Ha-ha-ha… Come and hit me, then! Come on, try and hit me!”

Xiaoxi’er, seeing Bai coming to spank her, was not scared in the least. Instead, she burst out laughing and taunted her.

Perhaps this is what it means to be fearless when favored.

In a flash, the two little ones were chasing and tussling around the music room, squealing with childish glee.

Qiu’er held Dong’er’s little hand and watched from the side with a bright smile, occasionally serving as a shield for Xiaoxi’er as she darted around.

Dong’er, completely drawn in by the playful chase, let out a babble, shook free of Qiu’er’s hand, and toddled over with her little bottom wiggling.

“Whoosh!”

Dong’er tried to catch Xiaoxi’er, but was outmaneuvered as Xiaoxi’er spun away, laughing wildly.

“Ugh—”

So Dong’er pouted and stomped her little feet, switching her attention to chasing after Bai.

But with a sudden “plop,” she was scooped up into Bai’s embrace.

“Hehe… Don’t worry, Dong’er. When your big sis catches silly Xi’er, you can help spank her too.”

Bai grinned, then set Dong’er down and resumed the chase after Xiaoxi’er.

Not long after, Xiaoxi’er ran out of steam, got caught by Bai, who pinned her down and declared in her childish voice:

“Silly girl, will you be cheeky again?”

“Ha-ha-ha… No more, Bai! Xi’er won’t be cheeky anymore!”

Xiaoxi’er giggled and squealed, showing no sign of being scared by her capture.

“Ugh—Sis—”

With Xiaoxi’er caught, Dong’er wiggled her little bottom, stamped her feet, and ran over with a childish laugh.

“Hehe… Come on, Dong’er, let’s spank her together!”

Bai laughed, grabbing Dong’er’s hand to help pat Xiaoxi’er’s little bottom.

“Ha-ha-ha… Don’t, Bai, please don’t! Dong’er, please don’t! Don’t spank Xi’er! Qiu’er, come save Xi’er!”

Xiaoxi’er laughed as she called for help, and Qiu’er, grinning broadly, joined in the fray. For a while, the sound of childish voices filled the room.

Tan Jiner watched with a gentle smile, her eyes crinkling as the four little ones rolled and tumbled together on the clean, polished floor, lost in their play.

Finally, exhausted, they collapsed side by side on the floor.

“All right, time to get up,” Tan Jiner said, shaking her head with a smile as she walked over. She helped each little one to her feet, wiped the sweat from their foreheads, tidied their clothes, and said,

“Let’s go find Chuner and the others.”

“Waaah—Mama, I want my bear drink! I can’t walk without my bear drink!”

Tan Jiner gave her whiny little sister a sideways glance.

“Then you can stay here, Xi’er. Bai, Qiu’er, let’s go.”

She shot a look at the pouting Xi’er, then scooped up Dong’er and walked off.

“Hehe… Silly girl, hurry up!” Bai pulled Xi’er to her feet.

Xi’er whimpered, “But I want my bear drink.”

“Hehe… Xi’er, the bear drink is in our sleeping room. There’s none here,” Qiu’er said, taking her other hand with a smile. “Let’s go!”

“Ha-ha-ha… All right, let’s go!”

The three of them hurried after Tan Jiner, who was carrying Dong’er, and soon Xi’er began her chattering.

“Big sis, why didn’t you wait for me? Don’t you like me anymore? I’m your favorite sister!”

“Xi’er is so cute, so well-behaved, so amazing—how can you not want Xi’er…”

On and on she went, her little mouth never pausing, laughter bubbling constantly.

Tan Jiner could only sigh in resignation. At this moment, she had just one thought: if only someone could turn off this little chatterbox.

As it turned out, the only way to quiet Xi’er was with a bottle of bear drink.

“Chuner and the others have probably gone to find your brother. Once you finish your drinks, I’ll take you to them,” Tan Jiner said, watching the three little ones sitting in a row on the sofa, legs swinging as they sipped their drinks.

“Mm-hmm!” The three nodded in unison, straws in their mouths.

“Ugh—Sister—Drink—Dong’er—Drink—”

Even in the short time they’d been talking, Dong’er was already reaching for the bear drink in her sister’s hand.

“Giggle… Don’t rush, Dong’er. I’ll feed you.”

…

In the recording studio, Yang Qing set down his headphones and smiled. “That was a good take, but there are still some rough edges.”

He glanced at Chuner, who looked a little downcast, and said, “It’s all right. For your first time recording, you did great! I believe if we try one or two more times, it’ll be perfect.”

“That’s right, Chuner, you’re really amazing!” Wang Ying, with a smile, took Chuner’s little hand. “You’re even better than me—sometimes I have to record a song so many times.”

“Really?” Chuner pouted.

“Of course!” Qin Xue took her hand and reassured her with a smile. “Even your brother had to record his parts over and over. If you don’t believe me, ask him.”

Chuner looked up at Yang Qing, who nodded gently and smiled, “Have confidence! If it doesn’t work the first time, we’ll try two or three times. One of them will be just right!”

“Yes… Yes!” Chuner nodded vigorously. “Next time, I’ll sing even better!”

Yang Qing smiled. This was growth—only through experience do you truly learn and know how to move forward.

“Next, it’s your turn, Xia’er. Chuner, take a moment to think about the melody and how to sing it. If you’re unsure, ask your sister Ying, all right?”

“All right!”

“Good. Xia’er, let’s go!”

“Hee-hee…”

Xia’er, excited, placed her little hand in Yang Qing’s, letting him lead her into the recording booth.

Li Dongning followed as well—he would be accompanying Xia’er and also using the chance to practice their coordination.

Again, it was a piano and flute duet, but the children’s song they were about to record, “Let’s Row Our Little Boat,” had a cheerful and lively melody and was much simpler than their previous piece, “Memories of Time.”

“Let’s row our little boat, pushing the waves aside…”

Perhaps because she was excited, Xia’er’s voice trembled in the first line.

After finishing the line, Xia’er stuck out her tongue at Yang Qing, embarrassed, and stopped herself.

“Ha-ha… Xia’er, don’t get so worked up,” Yang Qing said with a relaxed smile at his lively little sister.

Li Dongning also laughed, “Xia’er, you need to calm yourself. Come on, do this with me—take a few deep breaths…”

“Inhale… Exhale… Inhale… Exhale…”

Li Dongning guided her through a few deep breaths and then smiled at her.

“How does that feel? Still nervous?”

“No, thank you, Brother Dongning.”

Xia’er patted her little heart and thanked Li Dongning, then looked at Yang Qing and said,

“Brother, I’m ready!”

She raised her little fist and gave an encouraging gesture.

Yang Qing smiled, nodded, and said gently, “Here we go, then.”

Xia’er replied, “Mm-hmm! Let’s do our best!”

“Giggle… Xia’er really is lively,” Qin Xue, watching from the control room, said affectionately.

“Mm-hmm, they’re all wonderful,” Bai Lingyue agreed, but her gaze couldn’t help drifting to Wang Ying, who was sitting on a bench quietly teaching Chuner how to sing, her eyes sparkling.

As expected of my favorite idol—so warm, so beautiful, so loving!