Chapter 98: We're Done

“If you hit me, I won’t celebrate your birthday for you!”

Er Dan tilted his little face up, glaring at Su Qinghu’s twitching hand, just as angry. Puffing out his cheeks, craning his neck, he shouted indignantly, “And I won’t give you your present either!”

Su Qinghu almost blurted out, “Fine, don’t, who even cares about your birthday celebration,” but the words got stuck in her throat. Looking at Er Dan, her anger just wouldn’t rise any higher...

If she couldn’t even get angry, how was she supposed to discipline the kid?

She’d never actually hit a child before. She’d just wanted to use her anger to give Er Dan a lesson in love. But now...

Damn it!

She had to admit defeat!

She’d imagined all sorts of reactions from Er Dan—maybe he’d accuse her, maybe he’d run wild around the yard, or maybe he’d climb over the wall and escape, then come back later with a cheeky grin and try to laugh it off.

But she hadn’t expected him to play such a risky card!

This move—Su Qinghu really hadn’t seen it coming. And because she hadn’t, she was a little stunned.

After all, she didn’t even know when her own birthday was.

Yet this six-year-old, who’d only been with her for less than a month, had remembered it. Not only that, he’d even prepared a birthday present for her...

Su Qinghu looked at Er Dan, wanting to tear her hair out.

This kid had really stumped her. Now she had no way to back down gracefully—how was she supposed to calm down naturally?

But now, backing down felt a little unsatisfying!

That painting, that painting...

Su Qinghu wanted to cry but had no tears. Just thinking about that painting made her heart race uncontrollably—and it was so embarrassing!

“You two, right now, immediately, go to bed!” Su Qinghu snapped, exasperated. “If you’re a minute late, I’ll tan both your hides!”

Forget it, forget it, she told herself. No need to hit the kids—they hadn’t really done anything wrong. She’d just have to find another way to teach this little rascal a lesson!

Watching the two kids dash off to the bedroom, Su Qinghu let out a long sigh, and after a while, grumbled her way to bed herself.

She’d thought she’d have some weird dream that night—like the one where Chen Lie represented humanity to wipe her out, Da Dan as a spider demon, Er Dan as a gourd boy fighting her—something absurd and funny. But instead, she slept soundly through the night.

As soon as she opened her eyes, the image of the painting Er Dan had sent to Chen Lie flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t help blushing.

Shaking her head, Su Qinghu told herself, What’s the big deal? It’s just a painting! Just a painting about the beauty of the human form!

If Chen Lie asked about it, she’d just give him a proper art lecture...

Of course, if he didn’t ask, if she could just play dumb, that would be even better!

With her mental pep talk finished, she didn’t give herself a chance to back out. She rolled out of bed, got dressed quickly, slipped on her shoes, and knocked on the kids’ door. “Up, up! You have ten minutes to get dressed and come out. Hurry up and wash your faces and brush your teeth!”

With that, she went to wash up herself. Afterward, she headed out to buy breakfast, made a phone call to confirm something, and then brought breakfast home.

After they ate, Su Qinghu tapped the table twice to get their attention. “In a bit, change your shoes. Don’t wear sandals.”

Da Dan didn’t say anything, which meant he agreed.

Er Dan asked, “Why? It’s summer—sandals are cool.”

“No reason.” Su Qinghu lifted her chin. “Just do as I say. Don’t ask so many questions. If I tell you to change, there’s a reason for it.”

“What kind of shoes then?” After three hours of Su Qinghu giving him the cold shoulder yesterday, Er Dan was still feeling the aftereffects, so he just wanted to chat with her a bit more now.

“...Cloth shoes,” Su Qinghu replied.

Was this kid still scared from yesterday? In this heat, besides sandals, cloth shoes were the only other cool option.

Once the kids changed their shoes, Su Qinghu grabbed her bag, locked the door, and hailed a cab straight to their destination.

“Mom, why aren’t we taking the bus?” Er Dan asked.

The three of them could take the bus round-trip for less than fifty cents. But a cab cost ten yuan, no bargaining.

Su Qinghu glanced at Da Dan first, then at Er Dan, giving him a meaningful look before turning back to Da Dan. “Zhang Anyan, someone’s stealing your lines.”

Da Dan, hearing his name, hadn’t planned to respond, but remembering how his little brother had upset her yesterday, he turned to look at her anyway.

But that was all—just a look.

Expressionless, no telling if he was happy or not.

“You really don’t care how I spend money? No matter how much?” Su Qinghu found this feeling novel, like discovering a new world. “If I spend all the money in the house, you won’t even cry?”

Da Dan really didn’t want to bother with her anymore and turned to stare straight ahead.

When they opened their bank accounts, he and his brother each deposited a hundred yuan. She’d deposited some too, but they hadn’t seen how much. But the bank uncle and auntie had smiled at her so warmly and even asked if she was interested in government bonds...

He and his brother often listened to the old men in the park and alleys chat about everything under the sun, so they knew what government bonds were.

If they were asking her about bonds, she must have deposited quite a bit.

How much?

He calculated: if each basket she sold was eight yuan, she could have nearly three hundred yuan.

Three hundred yuan—that would last a long time...

Plus, she’d be getting her salary soon. Ten yuan for a cab didn’t seem like a big deal anymore.

With no more threat of starving or dropping out of school, Da Dan felt much more at ease.

Of course, it also helped that he’d already come to terms with things.

Whenever they ran out of money, they’d just deal with it then...

“If you run out of money, you can use mine,” Er Dan said, patting his little chest proudly. “You know my bank card password. If you need money, just take it.”

Su Qinghu: “...”

“Don’t forget, yesterday we almost broke up,” she snorted. “If we really did, would I still be able to spend your money?”

Just because of one argument, he didn’t even want to give her a birthday present or celebrate her birthday!

Did he think she was senile and would forget that?

Er Dan’s face turned red. “You’re the adult—how can you be so petty with a kid? You should let the kid off!”

“No way! I haven’t even been your mom for that long—why don’t you let me off?” Su Qinghu huffed. “I’m the only woman in this house. You two better take care of me, or someone else might come along and steal my heart!”

Da Dan turned to look at Su Qinghu—her stance was so unsteady.

Er Dan said, “You mean that little Qian kid? He’s too small—he can’t even outrun me! If there’s danger, I’ll just run and get the police to save you.”

The driver, who’d been listening the whole time, was laughing to himself. As the car stopped, he said, “We’ve arrived at the police station.”"