Chapter 147: What Does Five Plus Five Equal?

"Daddy, let's make a video call with Qiu'er!"

Dudu's speech was becoming more and more fluent day by day. This progress was largely thanks to a unique method invented by Dudu's father.

That was telling bedtime stories.

However, while in other families parents told bedtime stories to their children, in Dudu's family, little Dudu told bedtime stories to her daddy and mommy.

The program on CCTV Channel 14 had just ended, and little Dudu, deeply influenced by her daddy, was very excited. Her little face was flushed as she called out in her sweet, baby voice.

Dudu's father immediately signed with his hands, preparing to start the video call, but Dudu stopped him again.

"Daddy, wait! Dudu wants to cheer for Brother Qing too!"

With that, the little girl dashed into her small bedroom like a gust of wind, and emerged a moment later with a red headband tied around her little head, with the characters for "Cheer Up" written on it.

Dudu's father smiled and gave her a thumbs-up, then immediately initiated the video call.

Over at Qin Xue's place, little Qiu'er was grinning from ear to ear while on a video call with Xi'er and Xiaobai. Suddenly seeing Dudu's video call coming through as well, she quickly answered it.

"Wow! Dudu, what are you wearing on your head?!"

Little Qiu'er let out a surprised, milky squeal, while little Xi'er and Xiaobai looked on with stars in their eyes, wearing expressions that clearly showed they wanted one too.

"Cheer up!"

Little Dudu straightened her little face, raised her tiny fist, and said adorably.

"Hiahia... Cheer up! Brother Qing, cheer up! Qiu'er, cheer up!"

Little Xi'er laughed happily in her baby voice, and then her tone suddenly shifted. "Xi'er almost didn't even see Brother Qing! Daddy Bai, look at the big sister instead of Brother Qing."

"Hoh ho, exactly!" Xiaobai chimed in, "I don't even know what to say! Those big sisters aren't even as pretty as Sister Jin'er."

"Hiahia... Right, Xiaobai? My sister is super pretty!"

"Hehe... Sister Qin and Sister Ying are really pretty too, pretty like fairies!"

"My mommy is pretty too, she's a fairy as well!" Dudu praised her own mommy.

"Hiahia... Xi'er is a little fairy too, a baby little fairy!"

"Hoh ho... You're not, you're a little silly-billy~"

"Yingying~~ Xiaobai, Xi'er is very smart!"

"Hoh ho... What's five plus five?"

Little Xi'er: (◎_◎;)

As the four little ones were chatting away cheerfully, little Niannian also initiated a video call, turning the group into five little ones.

"Niannian is here! Niannian, you're so cute, and so pretty!"

As soon as little Xi'er saw Niannian appear on the screen, she showered her with praises, making little Princess Niannian's face flush red.

"Xi'er, you're very cute too," little Niannian replied with a shy, adorable smile and a soft voice.

"Hiahia..." Little Xi'er laughed heartily, and then suddenly asked, "Niannian, do you know what five plus five is?"

Little Niannian: ●─●

Little Niannian was completely dumbfounded by Xi'er's sudden pop quiz, standing there blankly and not even knowing what to say.

"Xi'er, don't bully Niannian," little Qiu'er interjected.

"Hiahia... Xi'er isn't bullying Niannian. Xi'er is a good baby, I don't bully toddlers."

Little Xi'er said earnestly, "Xi'er doesn't know, and Niannian doesn't know either. So Xi'er is just as smart as Niannian, right, Xiaobai?"

Little Xiaobai chuckled slyly, "Right! Both of you are silly-billies!"

The five little ones continued chatting merrily. Occasionally, a small head would pop up right between Xi'er and Xiaobai, babbling and calling out for big sister.

It was little Dong'er. While the two older sisters were on a video call, this little one was crawling around on the floor.

Simply put, a toddler floor-scrubber.

It wasn't until little Xia'er and little Chun'er finished their baths and came out that they picked up this tiny tot.

"Dong'er, big sister is going to take you to take a bath now."

Little Xiaer picked up the tiny tot and smiled, "Look, your little clothes are all dirty. Let's change them and big sister will wash them for you."

With that, regardless of whether little Dong'er agreed or not, little Xia'er and little Chun'er went to change her into her little pajamas.

Then little Xia'er went to give little Dong'er a bath, while little Chun'er went to wash the small clothes. Passing by the sofa, little Chun'er looked at little Xi'er and Xiaobai, who were still on the video call, and asked crisply,

"Xi'er, Xiaobai, are your little clothes dirty? Take them off and big sister will wash them for you."

"Hiahia... Xi'er's is dirty! Xi'er will wash them together with you, Sister Chun'er!"

Smiling, little Xi'er waved goodbye to the other little ones on the screen, saying she had to go wash her little clothes, and left the camera view.

"Hoh ho... I'm going too!"

Little Xiaobai also hung up, followed by Dudu announcing she had to go tell stories to her daddy and mommy, and Niannian saying she had to go supervise her older brother with his homework.

The little besties all had their own tasks to attend to and logged off one by one.

Little Qiu'er also happily hung up the video call, then dangled her fair, tender little feet, swinging them back and forth on the sofa.

Zhao Yuezhu, sitting beside her, was deeply fond of her. She gently pulled her into her arms and asked softly,

"My little darling, were all those little friends on the video call just now your little besties?"

"Mhm, mhm!"

Little Qiu'er happily began to tell Zhao Yuezhu all about them, recounting the stories of little Xi'er and her sister, little Niannian and her dad, and Dudu, who at first could only speak baby talk.

Little Qiu'er's storytelling wasn't entirely coherent or detailed, but she managed to get the main points across.

As Zhao Yuezhu listened, and Qin Hao stopped playing video games to listen as well, their gazes filled with tender affection and pity.

When little Qiu'er finished her story, Zhao Yuezhu remained silent for a moment. She glanced toward the kitchen and said,

"Xiao Hao, go call your sister and Xiao Yang out. Mom has something to say."

"Oh, oh, okay."

Qin Hao nodded, but after taking just a step, he paused and asked, "Mom, you aren't going to throw me under the bus in front of my sister, are you?"

Zhao Yuezhu →_→: "Get lost!"

"You got it!"

Qin Hao scurried into the kitchen. Looking at the man and woman washing dishes and cleaning up, he teased,

"It really is true that pairing a man and a woman makes the work less tiring. You two have been washing these few dishes for almost half an hour. Brother-in-law, don't tell me you're afraid to go out because you don't know how to face my mom?"

Yang Qing: ......

You really are a talent, always blurting out the naked truth!

Qin Xue glared at him and said, "Why would Mom suddenly come over? Did you have something to do with this?!"

"No!" Qin Hao quickly denied it, "I was just as startled by Mom's sudden appearance as you are. Anyway... right, Mom is calling the two of you. She has something to say."

With that, Qin Hao slipped away, fearing that saying too much would lead to a slip of the tongue and his sister would discover the clues, which would spell doom for him.

Nervously, Yang Qing and Qin Xue came out to the living room. Zhao Yuezhu glanced at them, then smiled at little Qiu'er and said,

"My little darling, how about letting Brother Hao take you out to play?"

"Okay," little Qiu'er nodded, then blinked her innocent, adorable eyes and said, "Auntie, are you going to talk to my big brother about something? My big brother is very good, please don't be fierce with him, okay?"

"I won't," Zhao Yuezhu smiled. "Does Auntie look like a fierce person?"

"No, hehe... Qiu'er likes Auntie."

Little Qiu'er gave a sweet smile, leaned over to plant a kiss on Zhao Yuezhu's cheek, and then hopped down from the sofa. She walked over to Qin Hao, reached out her little hand, and said sensibly,

"Brother Hao, let's go play. Don't disturb Auntie and Big Brother while they talk, okay?"

Qin Hao: ......

I actually *want* to disturb them!

Holding little Qiu'er's hand, Qin Hao left. Zhao Yuezhu looked at the nervous Yang Qing and suddenly smiled.

"Qiu'er is very cute. I like her a lot."

"Th-thank you, Auntie."

Yang Qing's heart tightened; he knew the main topic of conversation was about to begin.

Sure enough, Zhao Yuezhu's next words headed precisely in the direction he had anticipated.

"Xiao Yang, I don't object to you and Xiao Xue dating. In fact, I'm quite satisfied with you. Judging from your performance at the symposium today, you are an ambitious and outstanding young man, which is great."

"Xiao Xue has roughly told me about your background. I admire you; you're a very kind-hearted person. But just having these things is not enough. Do you understand what I mean?"

As soon as Zhao Yuezhu finished speaking, before Yang Qing could reply, Qin Xue anxiously piped up, "Mom..."

"Don't speak yet. I want to hear what Xiao Yang has to say," Zhao Yuezhu interrupted her, her gaze fixed on Yang Qing.

Yang Qing was silent for a moment. He glanced at Qin Xue, his expression turning solemn as he said, "Auntie, I understand what you mean. Actually, Xiao Xue and I have a promise: until I achieve corresponding success and make you and Xiao Xue's father completely satisfied, I will not do anything to hurt Xiao Xue. Please rest assured about that."

"Mm, very good. I believe you!"

Zhao Yuezhu smiled and said, "Then let's drop this subject for now. From now on, just work hard and strive ahead. Auntie won't become a stumbling block in your path."

"Thank you!"

Yang Qing said this "thank you" with utmost sincerity. At that very moment, the tension in his heart completely dissipated.

Qin Xue smiled as well, calling out "Mom" with the spoiled demeanor of a little girl.

"You girl,"

Zhao Yuezhu smiled and tapped the bridge of her nose lightly, then looked at Yang Qing and asked,

"Xiao Yang, are you prepared for the upcoming symposium sessions?"

"Yes," Yang Qing smiled. "Tomorrow, I will go on stage to perform two pieces, allowing our traditional Chinese musical instruments to fully bloom with their own unique charm!"

"And during the subsequent master class exchange, I will play a piano piece to let them see that China can produce world-class piano masterpieces as well!"

Yang Qing spoke with absolute confidence—and he had to be confident, because this concerned both system tasks and the system's dignity!

Yes, system dignity, considering it had the audacity to append the label "World Masterpiece" right after the piano piece he had drawn.

"Oh?"

Hearing this, a gleam of light appeared in Zhao Yuezhu's eyes. "Then I'll just wait and see."

"Mhm, I won't let you down!"