Chapter 327: Childhood Friends Must Be Cultivated from a Young Age (10)

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Shen Mubai coughed and said righteously, “Girls eat snacks to lose weight, but if you boys don’t eat properly, your bodies won’t be strong and you’ll get sick easily.”

An Ziyu was convinced and replied softly, “Really? Then I’ll listen to Luo Luo and make sure to eat well.”

Shen Mubai was secretly laughing when she heard him tighten his arms around her neck and whisper, “I don’t want to get sick because I might pass it on to Luo Luo.”

Shen Mubai found herself at a loss for words, caught between laughing and crying.

Along the way, people occasionally glanced their way and whispered among themselves. Most of the comments, from both adults and children, were not malicious.

“That brother has a knee injury; this sister is so considerate.”

“Yeah, unlike my two kids at home, who fight all the time. It’s so frustrating; none of them are easy to deal with.”

“I should have just had one child.”

…

An Ziyu pursed his lips and hugged Shen Mubai tighter, feeling a bit down.

Noticing his silence, Shen Mubai asked, “Ziyu, are you unhappy?”

An Ziyu stared at the back of her head for a moment before saying, “Why do they always think you’re my sister?”

Shen Mubai, thinking his little boy’s pride was hurt, comforted him, “Maybe it’s because you’re cuter.”

An Ziyu softly refuted, “Luo Luo is the cutest.”

From childhood to now, Shen Mubai has heard such compliments from him countless times. She just smiled and said, “Then Ziyu, you have to grow up quickly. That way, no one will say I’m your sister anymore; they’ll think I’m your younger sister.”

An Ziyu opened his mouth but didn’t speak. In his heart, he thought, not even a younger sister.

He felt the warmth of her back and pondered for a while, but couldn’t figure out why even a younger sister wouldn’t be right. So he just quietly hugged her and stared, thinking that whenever he was unhappy, Luo Luo would comfort him, hug him, or carry him. An idea suddenly popped into An Ziyu’s mind.

What would it be like if he carried Luo Luo?

Picturing this in his mind, he felt a great sense of anticipation and said in his babyish voice, “Luo Luo, next time, can I carry you?”

Shen Mubai almost burst out laughing. She suppressed it and said, “I’m afraid that won’t work.”

An Ziyu was puzzled.

“Why not?”

Shen Mubai, worried that the truth might hurt his feelings, vaguely replied, “Because I’m heavy. Ziyu might not be able to carry me.”

An Ziyu felt a small wave of grievance. He thought Luo Luo was lying to him and didn’t want him to carry her. His eyes welled up with tears, and he tightened his grip around her neck, sniffing and holding back his tears.

When they got home, Shen Mubai explained the situation to Zhou Ruoyun, omitting the part about her carrying An Ziyu back.

However, even if she didn’t mention it, someone else would.

That evening, An Ziyu asked his mother, “Mom, can I carry Luo Luo?”

Zhou Ruoyun, washing dishes at the kitchen sink, looked at her son standing on tiptoes and asked, “Why do you suddenly want to carry Luo Luo?”

An Ziyu explained, “Because today, Luo Luo carried me home. So, next time, I want to carry Luo Luo.”

Zhou Ruoyun found it both amusing and exasperating. She scolded him, “How could you let Luo Luo carry you home? It must have been very hard for her. Do you think you’re that light?”