Chapter Ninety-One: What Does This Expense Have to Do With You? (Third Update—Seeking First Subscription)

Light blue knee-length denim shorts, pale blue and white T-shirts, little white socks, and white sneakers—this was how the three little ones were dressed at the moment. Lined up in front of Yang Qing, their cheeks glowed a rosy pink, and their small mouths stretched into wide grins, making them appear irresistibly cute and lively.

Today, little Qiu’er wore two tiny braids that swayed with every turn of her head, showing off her inner joy. Xi’er, meanwhile, had her hair tied into a little bun by her elder sister Jin’er, making her look even more adorable. When she flashed a toothy grin, revealing the gap left by a missing front tooth, it was enough to melt anyone’s heart.

As for little Bai, her round watermelon haircut was simply delightful.

Yang Qing gazed at the three, his heart brimming with affection. Beside him, Tan Jin’er smiled as well and said, “Dressed like this, these three really do look like triplets.”

“Hee hee...”

Hearing this, Xi’er immediately burst out laughing, mouth wide: “I’m the big sister!”

With that, she hopped over to Qiu’er, reached out a tiny hand to pat Qiu’er’s head, and said, “Good baby, be good now.”

Qiu’er, lips puckered, replied, “Xi’er, you’re the younger sister!”

“No, I’m the big sister! Qiu’er, let me be the big sister, please!” Xi’er pleaded, holding Qiu’er’s hand in a charming way.

“Alright, you’re the big sister, hehe...” Qiu’er stroked Xi’er’s cheek and nodded in agreement.

“Hee hee hee... Bai!”

Little Bai, expression deadpan, answered, “Dummy, go away.”

“Boo hoo hoo~~”

Tan Jin’er: ...

Watching her little sister whimper, Tan Jin’er could only rub her forehead helplessly. Just how deep does your obsession with being the big sister go?

“Big brother...”

At that moment, Chun’er and Xia’er emerged from the house as well. Xia’er’s cheeks were flushed, a bit shy, since it was her first time wearing a dress.

White dresses, white shoes, each with a tiny backpack on their backs—they looked absolutely adorable and lovely, full of youthful charm.

“Wow! Sister Chun’er, Sister Xia’er, you both look so beautiful! Your dresses are so pretty!”

Xi’er, abandoning her pouting at Bai, hopped over to them, eyes sparkling with admiration.

“Hee hee... Xi’er, you’re very pretty and cute too,” Xia’er replied with a sweet smile.

Xi’er instantly bounced with joy, laughing: “Hee hee... Xi’er is so cute, why isn’t there any little bear drink for me?”

“Gah!”

At those words, the smile on Tan Jin’er’s face froze.

This little one was still trying every trick to get her little bear drink. Looks like it’s time for drastic measures.

She looked at the bouncing child, her voice stern and serious: “Xi’er, from now on, you can only have one bottle of little bear drink a day—no more!”

“No, sister, please, no!”

“What do you mean ‘no’? Do you want to wet the bed every night?”

“I... I don’t wet the bed! Xi’er is the big sister, I don’t wet the bed!”

Tan Jin’er pointed at the quilts airing out in the yard and said, “Then whose is that?”

“That’s... that’s Qiu’er’s and Bai’s!” Xi’er shouted.

Whoosh!

Qiu’er’s face turned red with embarrassment at once. Ten little fingers twisted together as she lowered her head to stare at her toes.

“Goofball! Silly! You little rascal!”

Bai glared at Xi’er, cutely pretending to be fierce, and ruffled her own round watermelon haircut in irritation.

“Alright, enough of that, we’ll talk about it later. Brother Li Dongning is already waiting for us, let’s get going,” Yang Qing stepped forward, ruffled the three little ones’ hair with a smile, then gently took little Dong’er—dressed in overalls, sucking her finger, and pouting—from Chun’er’s arms.

...

“Qingzi! Hey—”

Yang Qing and Tan Jin’er had just led the children out of the alley when they saw Li Dongning waving from the entrance of the “Little Bai Grain and Oil Shop,” with Bai Lingyue standing beside him.

“Dongning,” Yang Qing approached with a smile, “Thank you for this.”

“Ah, don’t mention it! Let’s get going.”

Li Dongning waved his hand and pointed to a stretch limousine parked by the roadside. “We’ll take this.”

“Uh...” Yang Qing was taken aback. “This car is...?”

“I rented it, come on,” Li Dongning replied.

“Alright, sure.”

Yang Qing gathered the children into the car. Dong’er was handed over to Jin’er, and he took the front passenger seat as Li Dongning started the engine.

“Auntie, where are my mom and my dad?”

Inside the car, Bai sat next to Bai Lingyue, looking up curiously.

“They went shopping,” Bai Lingyue smiled at her. “So today I’ll be looking after you.”

“Hee hee! Okay then!”

Little Bai’s white teeth flashed in a mischievous grin, then she asked, “Did my dad get a beating last night or not?”

Bai Lingyue: “...Do you want your dad to get a beating?”

“Hee hee... It’s fun!”

Bai Lingyue: ...

Now she finally understood why her elder brother had been so insistent about getting tipsy and bringing up the matter of practicing trumpet with his wife three times in one night. Little Bai really was a handful.

...

The car slowly pulled into the parking lot of an office building in the center of Yangcheng. Li Dongning led everyone into the elevator and pressed the button for the 18th floor.

It was Xi’er’s first time in an elevator, and she was fascinated by the floor buttons. She bounced over with a tiny finger ready to press, but Tan Jin’er quickly grabbed her.

“Behave yourself, no touching, and no jumping around.”

“Boo hoo hoo, sister, let go of Xi’er, let go!”

Xi’er pleaded cutely, but her sister was a no-nonsense guardian just now, unmoved.

Yang Qing, holding little Dong’er—who was flailing her hands—reminded Qiu’er and the others to hold hands and stand steady, then turned curiously to Li Dongning to ask about the owner of the recording studio and their rates.

His plan was simple: if the rates were reasonable, they’d record a few songs so all the kids could sing. If it was expensive, he’d just have Chun’er and Xia’er record two songs.

But Li Dongning only gave a mysterious smile and told him to wait until they got upstairs. Yang Qing was left completely in the dark.

What’s going on, playing mysterious? Wait... don’t tell me...

“Ding!”

Just as Yang Qing’s mind conjured up a certain figure, the elevator stopped, doors opened, and standing there with a broad smile was Wang Ming. Yang Qing felt a wave of resignation.

Just as he’d suspected! Last night, Li Dongning, Wang Ming, and Fang Du had been whispering and chatting away. So, coming here to record today made perfect sense.

“Brother Wang Ming!”

The kids were all surprised and delighted, calling out in their childish voices.

“Haha, little cuties, welcome! Come on out, I’ve prepared so many delicious things for you,” Wang Ming winked at Yang Qing, then turned to the excited kids with a smile.

“Hee hee... Brother Wang Ming, is there little bear drink?”

Xi’er was the first to hop out, not giving up her pursuit of the little bear drink.

“Yes!” Wang Ming smiled at her. “Xi’er, you look adorable today!”

“Hee hee...”

Leaving the elevator, Wang Ming led the group toward the studio.

Yang Qing turned to Tan Jin’er and Bai Lingyue and reminded them to keep an eye on the curious children, then, holding Dong’er, walked over to Wang Ming and asked in resignation:

“When did you two set this up?”

“Haha... last night,” Wang Ming replied. “Brother Yang, I get it—you didn’t want to come record at my sister’s place because you were afraid we’d refuse to take your money, right?”

“Yeah,” Yang Qing admitted, then added helplessly, “Since you knew, why go through all this?”

“Heh heh... because your worry is unnecessary!” Wang Ming grinned. “You actually don’t know this industry all that well. Look, who’s that over there?”

He pointed ahead. Yang Qing looked and was dumbfounded.

Qin Xue, Fang Du, and... Director Wu!

“Heh heh... you get it now?” Wang Ming whispered in his ear. “The songs you’re recording for Fang Du’s show are as invited contributors, so the expenses... well, they don’t have anything to do with you.”

Yang Qing was at a loss: “But... but I also want my little sisters to record songs.”

“Of course!” Wang Ming nodded seriously. “Songwriting is a brain-intensive job, so singing a few songs for relaxation and inspiration is absolutely necessary. You understand, right?”

Yang Qing: ...

Understand? What’s there to understand!

You people are too good at playing the game! I want to go home and make pancakes!