Chapter 27: The Invitation

The door was gently opened, and as Wang Ying entered the room, she saw a man in jeans and a short-sleeved shirt wielding a paintbrush and roller. Sweat gleamed on his brow, his muscular arms moved with energy, and under the sunlight streaming in, his silhouette struck a chord deep within her.

She noticed a tiny figure wearing a white cap, busily painting the wall with a small brush. The little one wriggled her hips, and a sweet, melodic child’s voice drifted out as her body swayed to the rhythm.

Oh, and there was another...

An even smaller child crouched by a little bucket, stirring its contents with a serious expression. Occasionally, she raised her face, now covered in white paint, grinning as she watched the singing girl.

The scene was perfect, made so simply because he was there, and they were there, happiness so uncomplicated—again, thanks to him and the children.

For a moment, Wang Ying was entranced, the child’s gentle singing wrapping around her like a spell. She was reluctant to break this magical, beautiful moment.

Wang Ming was also stunned, perhaps moved by some deep memory. Images of his own childhood flashed in his mind—he and his sister once so joyful, so carefree.

But now everything had changed. Since his sister became a superstar, happiness had vanished.

Gain and loss, such is the way of nature.

“Ahem, Brother Yang,”

He returned to himself, coughing lightly.

At once, the child’s singing stopped abruptly. The little body froze, gazing at the two unexpected visitors.

“Haha... you’re here!” Yang Qing stopped his work, glanced at the singing child, then smiled at the pair, “My sister and her friends—no one’s home to look after them, so I brought them along, hehe... um, I hope you don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” Wang Ming grinned, “The little ones are adorable.”

“Thank you,” Yang Qing said earnestly, then turned to the child, “Qiu’er, bring the pancakes to the big sister and big brother.”

“Da-da...” Qiu’er obediently wiped her dirty hands on her shirt, then toddled over with two pancakes.

“Big brother, big sister... eat pancakes,”

Qiu’er was a little frightened at the moment.

She knew she’d been painting their walls and the big sister’s face couldn’t be seen—how intimidating.

“What a cute little sister. May I hug you?” Wang Ying accepted the pancake with affection, but Qiu’er shrank back in fear.

Wang Ying: (T_T)

“Ahem, sis,”

Wang Ming sensed his sister’s disappointment at being rejected by the adorable child and coughed, “We’re home now, you can take off your disguise.”

“Oh, right!”

A few seconds later, Qiu’er’s mouth opened wide in wonder.

“Hehe... Little darling, do I look pretty?” Wang Ying, now showing her delicate features, pulled a funny face at the dumbfounded Qiu’er.

“Pretty! You’re... you’re Sister Xiaoying!”

“That’s right,” Wang Ying laughed, “Your brother has told you about me.”

She glanced at Yang Qing but quickly noticed something was wrong.

Yang Qing was just as baffled, staring at Qiu’er.

“You mean... you never introduced me to your sister?” Wang Ying was utterly astonished.

“Hehe... um...” Yang Qing scratched his head, “Qiu’er, how do you know Sister Wang Ying?”

“Hehe, it was Sister Ke’er who told me!” Qiu’er replied excitedly, “Ke’er said her favorite star is Sister Xiaoying! Ke’er said Xiaoying sings beautifully, she knows every song! She even showed me lots and lots of Xiaoying’s photos!”

“Ah!”

Qiu’er’s words froze the atmosphere instantly.

Yang Qing stared at Wang Ying, stammering, “You... you’re... a superstar?!”

Wang Ying rolled her eyes at him, “You just figured it out? Why else would I cover myself up so thoroughly?”

Yang Qing: “But... this...”

“Brother~ Sister~” As Yang Qing, still in shock, tried to speak, a little one suddenly hugged his leg.

“Brother~ Sister~ play~~”

Yang Qing mechanically picked up the child, staring blankly at Wang Ying.

Wang Ying glared, “You haven’t had your fill yet? You know even less than your little sister, hmph!”

Perhaps it was Qiu’er’s sweet voice that moved her; she acted so differently from yesterday. Not quite as gentle and serene, but full of a young girl’s spirit and vitality.

Wang Ying, holding her pancake, went off to play with the two little ones. Wang Ming, meanwhile, ate his pancake and watched Yang Qing paint the wall.

“Tsk, Brother Yang, your pancakes are amazing. Can you bring me two... no, three tomorrow?”

“Sure. Um, your sister... she really is a superstar?”

“Yeah, as if I’d lie. Isn’t my sister beautiful? You were totally stunned. Wait, you saw her yesterday, but you weren’t this dumbfounded then.”

“Hmm,” Yang Qing’s gaze was complicated. “Yesterday I didn’t know she was a superstar. Today I found out, and...”

“And what?”

“And it’s the first time I’ve seen a living superstar... I couldn’t help but stare.”

Wang Ming: ...

Damn!

How am I supposed to respond to that? What do you mean, a ‘living superstar’!

“You don’t watch TV? My sister’s been on the Spring Festival Gala twice!”

Yang Qing was stunned, “I don’t have a TV at home.”

Wang Ming: ???!!!

“No... no TV! You... I... Damn!”

Wang Ming felt he could no longer communicate with Yang Qing.

No TV! Can you believe it?

Brother, it’s the twenty-first century, what kind of condition is this, you can’t even afford a TV!

“Well... but you have a phone, right?”

“Yeah, just bought one a couple days ago.”

“A couple... fine, I give up! Brother, just keep painting, I need to calm down, collect myself!”

Yang Qing was puzzled, “I thought you’ve been calming down all along?”

Wang Ming: ...!!!

...

Three busy days passed in a flash, and Yang Qing finally finished his design and painting work.

“Sigh, Brother Yang, why do I feel you earned fifty thousand so easily?” Wang Ming grumbled as he made the transfer on his phone.

Yang Qing shrugged, “If you want pancakes or steamed buns, just call me.”

“Deal! Brother, I sent the money, check it.”

Yang Qing: ...

So they say, the way to a man’s wallet is through his stomach?!

Yang Qing and Wang Ming were conducting their business transaction, while Wang Ying and Qiu’er were deepening their friendship.

“Sister, Qiu’er really likes you, loves listening to your songs! Sister Ke’er is so jealous of Qiu’er.”

“Sister likes you too, you adorable little one, hehe... Whenever I have time, I’ll come visit you.”

“Mm-hmm, Sister, you must visit Qiu’er! Qiu’er will ask brother to make lots and lots of yummy food for you!”

“Haha... really?”

“Really, brother dotes on Qiu’er!”

“Haha... Qiu’er is so good to Sister, so Sister has a gift for you too.”

Wang Ying smiled and pulled out ten white tickets from her bag, “These are tickets for my concert. Sister officially invites you and your friends to come. Will you accept?”

“I accept! Thank you, Sister! Qiu’er will definitely come!”

Qiu’er took the tickets from Wang Ying and carefully placed them in her little backpack.

“Hehe... So it’s a promise.”

“Pinky swear...”

After a reluctant farewell, Qiu’er took Yang Qing’s hand and started home.

Their silhouettes—one big, one small—grew long in the sunset as they returned to their little courtyard.

“Brother!”

As soon as they got home, Qiu’er excitedly opened her backpack and handed Yang Qing the ten concert tickets, exclaiming,

“Sister Xiaoying invited Qiu’er to her concert!”

“Hmm?”

Yang Qing took them, and instantly was dumbstruck.

Newly crowned queen Wang Ying’s concert, June tenth, Yancheng Central Stadium.

Sing with Ying! Don’t miss it!

“Heaven... Queen! Ten... Ten VIP concert tickets!”

Yang Qing was completely stunned. She... she was actually the queen!

And these ten VIP tickets... how much could they sell for?

For a fleeting moment, he was tempted, but seeing Qiu’er’s expectant gaze, he cursed himself inwardly and gently asked,

“There are ten tickets—who do you want to invite, Qiu’er?”

“Um... ten people,”

Qiu’er tilted her head in thought, then counted on her fingers, reciting in her sweet voice,

“Brother, big sister, second sister, Xiaodong, Xiaobai, hmm... also Sister Qin, Sister Ke’er, Sister Rou, Bai Mama and Uncle Bai.”

“Plop,”

Qiu’er spread her little hand, delighted, “Exactly ten people! Hehe...”

“Haha...”

Yang Qing was amused by her cuteness, “You didn’t count yourself.”

Qiu’er blinked her big eyes, “Oh right, there’s Qiu’er too, hehe... Then... then let’s leave out Uncle Bai.”

Yang Qing: y∩__∩y

Big Brother Bai, sorry, you’ve been left out again.

Wait, why ‘again’...