Chapter 31: Gathering Together (Second Update—Please Vote for Recommendations)

“Brother!”
“Sister! Hahaha…”
Two little children shouted as they ran downstairs from the second floor, one after the other.
Xiaobai followed behind them, unhurried, taking small steps.
“You’re awake, are you hungry?”
Yang Qing crouched down and picked up Xiao Qiu’er, who was rushing toward him, smiling as he spoke.
“I’m hungry! Xier is really hungry! Hahaha…”
Before Xiao Qiu’er could say anything, Tan Xier, nestled in Tan Jin’er’s arms, burst out laughing.
“Silly kids, so precious!”
Xiaobai glanced sideways, then looked at Yang Qing and said in a childish voice, “Why are you standing there? The kids are howling from hunger.”
Yang Qing: (゜ロ゜)
“Take the little ones upstairs for breakfast, everything’s fine here.”
Yang Qing set Xiao Qiu’er down and smiled at Tan Jin’er, “You’ve worked hard too. Rest after breakfast.”
“I…” Tan Jin’er looked a bit embarrassed.
“Go ahead, it’s fine.”
Yang Qing smiled, then looked at Xiao Qiu’er, “Have the sisters gotten up yet? If not, don’t wake them—let them sleep a bit longer.”
“Got it!”
Xiao Qiu’er giggled, then ran over to Tan Xier, took her hand, and said in a childish voice, “You’re hungry, let’s go have buns! My brother’s buns are delicious!”
Xiaobai: →_→
Silly kids, new friends and the old ones are forgotten! Hmph!
“Silly kids!”
Just as Xiaobai was feeling jealous, a loud shout echoed—it was Bai Zhijun, returning.
He came in carrying a basket of eggs, first curiously looking at the Tan sisters, then turned to Xiaobai,
“Awake now, go eat, get some rice porridge from your mom!”
Xiaobai →_→: “Hmph! I’m not going!”
Bai Zhijun: …
“Pfft…”
Seeing Bai Zhijun’s defeated look, Tan Jin’er, witnessing this kind of scene for the first time, couldn’t help but burst out laughing, then quickly stifled it.
But the other little child had no such restraint.
“Hahahaha… Uncle, your kid doesn’t listen to you, she’s not afraid of you, hahaha!”
“Smack!”
Tan Xier’s laughter was abruptly silenced, muffled by Tan Jin’er’s hand.
Bai Zhijun: “…Such a cute little one, what’s your name?”
“Xier, uncle, my name is Xier.”
“Xier, what a nice name, so cheerful. Go have breakfast, I’ll get you some porridge.”
Bai Zhijun patted Tan Xier’s head and happily went to fetch porridge. As for his own child’s defiance—heh, he’s used to it.
When Bai Zhijun brought the porridge, Tan Jin’er led the little ones upstairs for breakfast, while Yang Qing carried out steaming baskets of freshly made buns, keeping them warm.
Today was Sunday, a rare lazy morning for office workers and students, so at 7:50, while guests hadn’t yet arrived, a figure darted inside and headed straight upstairs.
Yang Qing: “…Ke’er, why are you running so fast?”
“Ah… I… I missed Xiao Qiu’er and the others!”
Wang Ke’er stammered as she ran, secretly nervous.
Her social media had been blowing up these days with questions about the singing child—who was she, what was the song, and why couldn’t they find it.
Heh… Could she tell? Of course not!
Even if she had the person’s permission, she hadn’t gotten the parents’ consent!
“What’s going on?”
Yang Qing watched her disappear upstairs, puzzled, then took out his phone after a moment’s contemplation.
In the underground garage of a luxury apartment, Wang Ming had just started the car, preparing to take his superstar sister to the studio, when his phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, he shivered and turned to his sister in the backseat, coughing, “Uh… Sis, I’ll step out to take this call.”
“Hmm? Whose call needs you to step out? Just take it here, put it on speaker.”
Wang Ying’s tone was calm and elegant, but carried an aura that brooked no refusal.
“Maybe… I shouldn’t answer. Taking you to the studio is more important.”
“Answer it!”
Wang Ming: …
With a bitter face, he answered and put the call on speaker.
“Hello, I…”
“Hey, Yang Qing, do you need something? If not, I’ll hang up, I’m driving.”
Before Yang Qing could speak, Wang Ming quickly tried to end the call—only to be stopped by a slender hand from the back seat.
Wang Ming was startled, looking at his superstar sister reaching forward.
“Oh, you’re driving, so I’ll hang up then.”
Yang Qing’s voice came through,
“Just a reminder—my shop opens today, Ke’er’s already there, don’t forget. I’ll set up a chance for you guys later, and…”
Beep beep beep…
Wang Ming ended the call abruptly, not daring to let Yang Qing continue, for he felt a gaze of death upon him.
“Sis, I… Yang Qing… he…”
“Drive.”
“I… Okay.”
Wang Ming wanted to explain, but his sister remained calm—yet that gaze earlier…
“Drive!”
“Alright, right away…”
“Hmm, let’s not go to the studio now—let’s go to Yang Qing’s shop.”
“Gah!”
Wang Ming was stunned.
At the same time, Qin Xue was also on the phone.
“Xuexue, Yang Qing’s shop opens today, let’s go support him.”
“Alright, Xiao Rou and I are already on our way. Fang Du just called me—he’s almost there.”
“Ah!” Li Yuexi exclaimed, “You guys already left! How am I supposed to get there? Swing by and pick me up!”
Qin Xue: “…So the only reason you called was to hitch a ride!”
“Uh, hehe… Well… we’re good friends, aren’t we?”
“Giggle…”
From the passenger seat, Wen Xiaorou chimed in, “No, we’re not picking you up. Your panda’s too big, takes up too much space!”
Qin Xue: …
Your small panda sure makes you confident…
…
Around 8:30, customers finally arrived. Since Yang Qing hadn’t been able to notify his regulars in advance, the shop felt a bit quiet.
“Hey! Young boss! You’ve opened!”
Fortunately, the first customer was a regular—surprised at first, then delighted upon seeing Yang Qing.
“Haha… Today I’m finally first! Three pancakes, please!”
“Alright, just a moment.”
Yang Qing began making pancakes, while the customer pulled out his phone, typing away and then recording a short video of Yang Qing.
“What are you doing?” Yang Qing was curious.
“Showing off!”
The thirty-something customer said proudly, “Today I’m the first, and the first after you reopened… I am first, right?”
Yang Qing smiled, “Yes.”
“Haha… Then I have to show off! You don’t know, we regulars have four group chats, all your loyal customers! I must let everyone know!”
“Haha… Thank you, then.” Yang Qing understood him.
“Haha… It’s nothing!”
The customer laughed, taking the pancakes, about to pay, but his eyes fell on the steaming baskets.
“Hey, young boss, are those… steamed buns?”
“Yes, would you like to try some?”
“Sure, is this the surprise you mentioned? Wonder if it tastes as good as…”
“Shhh!”
Before he could finish, Yang Qing lifted the steamer lid, releasing a rush of hot steam and delicious aroma. The customer’s eyes widened.
And then…
“Mmm, smells amazing! Just… burp.”
“Haha, there’s porridge for sale next door.”
The customer’s eyes brightened, looking toward Xiaobai’s porridge stall.
…
Upstairs, Wang Ke’er and Tan Jin’er were chatting happily like close sisters.
The three little ones, along with a tiny child, were riding Wen Xiaorou’s rocking horse, wild with excitement.
Suddenly, a clatter sounded from downstairs.
“Huh?”
Tan Jin’er was puzzled, while Wang Ke’er began setting up her livestream equipment.
“Yang Qing’s customers are here, come, let me show you.” Wang Ke’er smiled.
Tan Jin’er was even more confused—what’s so special about customers? With Yang Qing’s delicious buns, business surely wouldn’t be bad.
But the moment she came downstairs, she froze.
Were these really customers?
It was terrifying—so many people!
She couldn’t even see the end of the two lines stretching out the door!
“Jin’er, don’t just stand there, help Yang Qing!”
Wang Ke’er had found the perfect spot for her livestream and called out to Tan Jin’er, who was still stunned.
“Oh, oh.”
Tan Jin’er snapped out of it and went to Yang Qing’s side.
“I…”
“Oh, Jin’er, please help serve the customers ordering buns. Thank you.”
“Alright, it’s no trouble.”
Yang Qing was swamped, as was Mama Bai next door.
Nearly half of those buying pancakes or buns from Yang Qing also bought porridge from her.
She was filled with shocked joy.
Even though Bai Zhijun had warned her, seeing it for herself was overwhelming.
“This… Yang Qing is incredible!”
Not far from the crowd, Wang Ming stopped his car, staring at the long lines in awe.
“Do you know what a phenomenon looks like?”
Wang Ying said softly, “Get out, let’s go.”
“Huh, you’re going, Sis…”
Wang Ying glanced at him, “I’m wrapped up like this—no one will recognize me.”
Wang Ming: …
No one will, but aren’t you hot?
As the siblings headed toward Yang Qing’s shop, Qin Xue and her friends arrived.
“Hey, Yang Qing, you hired help?”
Li Yuexi looked curiously at the busy Tan Jin’er.
Qin Xue and Wen Xiaorou also glanced at him.
“No…”
Yang Qing kept making pancakes but was interrupted.
“Yes! Hmph!”
Wang Ke’er, annoyed, looked at the three, “Yang Qing is so busy—how could he manage without help? Not like you guys, just freeloading!”
“You!”
Li Yuexi wanted to retort, but Qin Xue stopped her.
She smiled at Wang Ke’er, then said to Yang Qing, who was too busy to notice, “We’ll go upstairs to see Xiao Qiu’er and the others.”
Yang Qing: “Alright, there are buns—help yourselves.”
“Okay.”
“Hmph!”
The three women went upstairs. Wang Ke’er, displeased, snorted at their backs, then turned to see two people walking in.
One was the pale, handsome young man she’d seen before, the other a woman in a baseball cap and sunglasses, her face hidden.
“Yang Qing! Ke’er…”
Wang Ming greeted Yang Qing, then smiled at Wang Ke’er.
Wang Ke’er: …
A woman’s intuition told her that when Wang Ming called her, the woman behind him glanced at her with a scrutinizing look.
“You’re here.”
Yang Qing replied without looking up, but suddenly halted, surprised.
“Whoosh!”
He stopped what he was doing and looked at Wang Ying in disbelief.
“You… You came too!”
“Why, am I not allowed? Am I unwelcome?” Wang Ying’s calm voice sounded.
“No, I mean… hurry upstairs, you haven’t had breakfast, right? Wang Ming, help yourself.”
“Alright, bro.”
The siblings took two orders of buns upstairs. Wang Ke’er was full of questions.
“Yang Qing, who are they…”
“Wang Ming, you’ve met him—that’s his sister.”
Yang Qing continued working, unconcerned about whatever drama might unfold upstairs.
“I mean, why is she so wrapped up? She’s not a celebrity afraid of being recognized.”
Wang Ke’er was irritated by Yang Qing’s indifferent attitude.
“Haha… Curious? Go upstairs and see, it’ll surprise you.”
Wang Ke’er: “…Tch! Surprise? More like shock.”
Despite her words, she couldn’t resist heading upstairs.
Ten minutes later, Wang Ming ran downstairs, terrified.
“Bro! I’m outta here—too scary! My sister is your responsibility now!”
“Wait!”
Yang Qing called after him, puzzled, “What do you mean, leaving your sister here? Didn’t Ke’er go up too? Aren’t you going after her?”
“Go after her?! In that war zone? No way—I’ll wait, I’ll wait!”
Wang Ming fled, leaving Yang Qing confused.
What exactly was happening upstairs?