Chapter Thirty-Nine: You Can Do It

(Thank you to the adorable "White Camellia" for the reward.)
"Brother, let's play again, hehe..."
"Hiahiahiahia... This is just too much fun, Sister, Xier wants to play more!"
At the amusement park, by the carousel, two little children were affectionately pleading and being cute.

As for Little Bai—
She was refusing to get off the carousel, and Mother Bai was so exasperated she rolled up her sleeves!
Luckily, there were only a few children playing on the carousel at that moment, or else... hehe... Mother Bai might have given her an over-the-shoulder throw!

"Alright, we'll play one more time. After that, we'll go ride the Ferris wheel, okay?"
"Okay!"
Yang Qing agreed, and the two little ones immediately ran off in delight.
"Little Bai, Little Bai, we're coming!"
"Hiahiahiahia... Riding the big horse! Xier wants to ride the big horse, giddy-up, giddy-up..."
"Come on, little silly ones, hop on!"
Little Bai watched as Xiao Qiu and Xiao Xi came running, laughing heartily, then glanced at Mother Bai with her sleeves rolled up, stuck out her tongue, and called out in that sweet childish voice:
"You can punish me when we get home! Hurry and lift the children up! Look, the silly one hasn't even mounted the horse and she's already going giddy-up!"
Mother Bai: ...
This little rascal is really... too mischievous! Time to start training up a younger sibling.
Tan Jin'er: ...
How come I never noticed my little sister was so silly before? Maybe having playmates has unleashed her true nature!

Speechless, she watched as her little sister was lifted onto the carousel by Mother Bai, swaying happily and shouting "giddy-up," and a hint of envy appeared in her eyes.
The carousel—the romance in every girl's heart. I've never ridden one myself.

Lost in her thoughts and envy, Yang Qing's voice sounded:
"Chun'er, Xia'er, what are you waiting for? If you like it, go play. The most important thing for children is happiness. Jin'er, you go too."
Tan Jin'er's heart fluttered, and she hesitated, a little embarrassed: "I won't play, I already..."

"Tap."
As she spoke, Yang Qing placed a little child in her arms—Xiao Dong.
"Um... Sister, ride... ride..."
Xiao Dong wriggled gently in her arms, adorably nibbling her finger, blinking large, sparkling black eyes up at her, pleading in that sweet voice.
"Go ahead," Yang Qing smiled. "Hold Dong'er and ride just once for me, or else... do you want me to go instead?"
Blushing, Tan Jin'er nodded softly: "Mm."

Xiao Chun and Xiao Xia, their faces flushed, mounted the carousel again, and Tan Jin'er, holding Xiao Dong, joined them.
"Ding dong ding dong..."
Accompanied by crisp, joyful music, the carousel began to spin, and delighted childish laughter echoed nonstop.
Watching this scene, Yang Qing smiled.

To guard this love, to protect this laughter—perhaps this was the end goal of his life's efforts.
"Haha... It's wonderful. The children are laughing so happily."
Wrinkles etched deep on Bai Zhijun's forehead as he broke into a satisfied, joyful smile:
"My little rascal is mischievous, yes, and she's been through lots with us. Seeing her so happy now makes me happy too, and my wife—I think she wants to play as well."
Yang Qing nodded with a smile: "Yes, I'm sure she does. After all, every girl dreams of a carousel. Look at Jin'er—right now, isn't she just like a happy little girl?"

"You're right! She's smiling even more than the children; her face is practically blooming!"
Bai Zhijun glanced at Tan Jin'er and was surprised, looking at Yang Qing with some astonishment: "You seem to know a lot about this."
"Haha..."
Yang Qing laughed and winked. "It's all from the books."
"Nonsense!"
Bai Zhijun rolled his eyes, then looked over at Mother Bai standing by the carousel's fence and called loudly, "Wife! Do you want to play? If you do, hop on!"
Mother Bai: →_→
Yang Qing: ◎_◎
...
Happy times always slip away unnoticed.

After the carousel, they rode the Ferris wheel, bounced on the trampoline, slid down the ocean slide... Time unknowingly reached five o'clock, and the children, reluctant to leave, were finally dragged out of the amusement park.
"Let's go eat first. We'll dine out today, then return to the shop. The little ones are all exhausted."
Yang Qing looked at Xiao Dong, already asleep in his arms, shook his head and smiled.
"Mm!"
Bai Zhijun nodded: "These little rascals—just now they refused to leave no matter what, and now, after only a few steps, they're wilting!"
Yang Qing chuckled softly.

Excitement comes from curiosity, energy from passion, and gloom from loss.
...
At seven o'clock, Yang Qing and his group exited a hotpot restaurant and headed back.
Everyone was carrying a sleeping child in their arms.
Yang Qing held Xiao Qiu, Tan Jin'er carried Xiao Xi, Mother Bai had Xiao Dong, and Bai Zhijun carried Little Bai.
As the older sisters, Xiao Chun and Xiao Xia managed to stay awake but their tired faces showed it all.

Arriving at May Day Street, before they reached the shop's door, Yang Qing saw from a distance two people sitting at the entrance.
Oh—it was Miss Qin and Fang Du.
Why were they here, waiting at the shop door instead of calling him?
With a hint of curiosity and confusion, Yang Qing quickened his pace.
"Brother Yang!"
Seeing him approach, Fang Du sprang up excitedly and called out.
"You're back."
Qin Xue's voice was calm but beneath that calmness lingered a trace of joy and gentleness.
She stepped forward, gently stroked the head of the sleeping Xiao Qiu in Yang Qing's arms, like a caring mother.
"You took them out to play?"
"Yes, since it was a day off, I took them to the amusement park. Now they're worn out, haha..."
Yang Qing responded with a smile, then opened the shop door and looked at Qin Xue, saying, "Come in, you've been waiting a while, haven't you?"
"No," Qin Xue shook her head. "Go settle Xiao Qiu and the others upstairs first, we'll wait for you on the first floor."
"Alright."

The four carrying children went upstairs. Chun and Xia politely greeted Qin Xue and Fang Du, then also went upstairs to sleep.
A moment later, Yang Qing and the Bai couple came back down.
"Xue, Fang, have you eaten yet?" Mother Bai asked with a smile.

Qin Xue: "We have, thank you."
"Alright, then enjoy your chat with Qingzi."
The Bai couple returned to their own shop, while Yang Qing poured water for the two guests and handed it over, asking in confusion:
"Why are you here today? I thought I texted Fang Du that we were off today."
At this, Fang Du looked a bit embarrassed, and Qin Xue seemed to want to say something but hesitated.
"Uh, is something going on?" Yang Qing was bewildered by their awkwardness.
"Qing, Fang Du said you know how to edit videos—is that true?"
After a moment’s silence, Qin Xue spoke. She didn’t notice that her manner of addressing Yang Qing had changed, becoming unconsciously intimate.
Yang Qing didn’t notice either. He looked from Fang Du to Qin Xue, then replied awkwardly, "I... know a little bit."
Hearing this, Qin Xue suddenly burst out laughing, rolled her eyes at him, and gently tapped him with her delicate hand.
"Ah!"
That tap stunned Yang Qing—knocked him silly, and perhaps opened his mind.
Seeing Qin Xue’s beautiful face showing such girlish shyness, his heart beat wildly, as if it might leap from his chest.
His face reddened unconsciously, and his gaze became gentle and instinctively evasive as he looked at her.
Qin Xue noticed his change, realized her gesture was a little too intimate, and her cheeks flushed. She shyly said,
"I... I'll go check on Xiao Qiu and the others. Fang Du, you talk to him."
Without waiting for a reply, she strode off upstairs as if fleeing.
"Uh, what was that..."
Fang Du, raising his head, was confused.
What was going on... Why did she run off?
How am I supposed to explain?
If I could get Yang Qing to help, I’d have asked him already!
"Brother Yang, the team leader..."
"It's fine."
Yang Qing took a deep breath, suppressing the strange flutter in his heart, then looked at Fang Du:
"So, what’s the matter?"
"Well... sigh."
Fang Du sighed helplessly, then recounted everything that had happened at the office today.
Yang Qing was stunned, surprised as he listened. So the little lamb had finally exploded.
"So..."
"So it all depends on you, Brother Yang! You must help me, otherwise... sigh, if I leave it’s no big deal, but it’ll affect the team leader and the others."
Seeing this, Yang Qing nodded helplessly: "Alright, I’ll give it a try, but I can’t promise it’ll pass review."
"Haha... Brother Yang, you agreed! You really are my savior!"
Yang Qing’s agreement made Fang Du wildly ecstatic, his eyes shining like a fanatic.
"Alright! You can do it!"