Chapter 21: It Was Taught by Mother

Chapter 21: Taught by Mom

Luan Zhi couldn’t help but laugh.

This little one was truly too clever—lying there in a dejected forward bend, yet still eavesdropping on the chat between him and Zhang Suxin.

And once sensing the danger, she immediately changed her attitude, no longer messing around, but running over to eat obediently.

“Delicious!”

The little girl munched away happily, then offered a comment.

This small step was clearly a setup for himself!

Luan Zhi and Zhang Suxin exchanged a glance and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Zhang Qianqian felt no embarrassment at all; hearing their laughter, she giggled along and, as if trying to please, said to Luan Zhi, “Daddy, look, Qianqian is eating all by herself!”

Luan Zhi replied, “Qianqian, you’re amazing, really great.”

Qianqian nodded without hesitation, “Mm-hmm.”

The little one’s spoon flew about, her mouth smeared with rice grains as she finished every last grain in her bowl.

Zhang Suxin took away Qianqian’s utensils, and Luan Zhi handed her a tissue to wipe her mouth clean.

The little girl cooperated fully, letting Luan Zhi wipe away the bits from her lips, revealing once again that clean, delicate, and adorable face.

Then Qianqian pulled Luan Zhi to play with toys—still the same game of little cars crashing around, a game the child never tired of. Luan Zhi joined in, banging the tiny cars together, thoroughly enjoying the fun.

“Qianqian, who did you learn that move from just now?”

Luan Zhi asked while playing with her.

Qianqian shyly twisted, refusing to answer.

Luan Zhi asked twice more. Zhang Suxin came out after washing the dishes, seeing this, she said, “Qianqian, tell Daddy, who did you learn it from?”

Qianqian’s voice was soft and shy, “Learned from Mommy.”

Luan Zhi immediately looked at Zhang Suxin.

Zhang Suxin smiled wryly, “When did you learn that from me?”

The little one kept shyly smiling, pursing her lips but wouldn’t say more.

Zhang Suxin shook her head helplessly, “This little rascal can’t really answer—it’s like she doesn’t even know herself. Whenever she encounters a problem, she likes to shift the blame onto me.”

Luan Zhi was half convinced.

Thinking it over carefully, Zhang Suxin performing such a dejected forward bend did seem unlikely.

But who could say when there was no one else at home, whether the former pop diva might let herself go? After all, the little diva had shown a playful, cute daughter side before.

Yet that doubtful look from Luan Zhi instantly made Zhang Suxin a bit anxious.

Eager to prove she wasn’t lying, Zhang Suxin quickly crouched beside Qianqian and solemnly said, “Qianqian, if you don’t know, you don’t know. You can’t tell lies, okay?”

Qianqian’s shyness seemed unstoppable; she laughed softly and coquettishly said, “Know…”

Zhang Suxin asked, “So, was the way you just acted learned from Mommy?”

Qianqian replied softly, “No…”

Zhang Suxin asked, “Then tell Daddy and Mommy who you learned it from?”

Qianqian shyly said, “Don’t know,” looking quite embarrassed.

Zhang Suxin nodded, affectionately stroked Qianqian’s little head, then glanced at Luan Zhi, as if to prove something to him or to proudly show off her parenting success.

Luan Zhi actually wanted to say he didn’t care at all; no matter how much Zhang Suxin did the dejected forward bend, she wouldn’t be as adorable as little Qianqian.

But considering it might offend, he held his tongue.

To avoid any awkwardness, Luan Zhi changed the subject proactively, asking, “When are we recording the demo?”

Zhang Suxin said, “Wait a moment for me to tidy up, then we’ll go out together with Qianqian. My friend has a private recording studio with the latest equipment, and she even got a newly released portable USB condenser microphone.

“I originally planned to borrow that mic to record your demo, but thinking about how polished your song already is, just using a mic to record would be too hasty.”

Luan Zhi asked, “Given our situation and with Qianqian along, aren’t you worried about being found out at your friend’s place?”

Zhang Suxin shook her head. “It’s okay. My friend knows about me and Qianqian’s situation. She’s trustworthy and won’t gossip. For the past two years, whenever I write songs and record demos, I’ve always gone there.”

Luan Zhi nodded, “Alright, as long as you say it’s fine.”

Then Zhang Suxin went to change clothes and also helped Qianqian change.

Qianqian evidently knew Zhang Suxin’s friend; upon hearing they were going to her friend’s studio, she became excited, exclaiming, “Going to Sister Song’s house! Going to Sister Song’s house!”

It seemed Zhang Suxin’s friend’s surname was Song.

Zhang Suxin explained to Luan Zhi, “My friend’s name is Song Xiaoqin. She loves music, so she set up a studio just for fun. I got to know her gradually from recording songs in the past.

“I used to ask Qianqian to call her Aunt Song, but she refused, saying ‘aunt’ sounded old, and insisted on calling her Sister. So Qianqian got used to calling her ‘Sister, Sister.’”

Luan Zhi laughed, “Well, you got the better of her there.”

Zhang Suxin said, “She’s not afraid of me taking advantage, just scared of being called old.”

Once outside, the three took a taxi. Luan Zhi sat in front, while Zhang Suxin and Qianqian sat in the back. After giving the address, the driver started the journey.

Zhang Suxin said she used to have a car, but after Qianqian was born, taking care of the child alone made driving inconvenient. The car just sat unused, so she sold it to avoid deterioration.

Now whenever they went out, they either took taxis or borrowed friends’ cars.

Hearing this, Luan Zhi nodded silently, knowing how hard Zhang Suxin had worked these past two years. He didn’t know what to say.

Given his current state, even saying “You’ve worked hard” felt inadequate, like taking advantage while pretending to be humble.

Better not say anything...

“Bus!”

“Sedan!”

“Sedan!”

“What kind of car is that?”

The carefree little Qianqian pressed against the window, pointing at passing vehicles and calling out their names. Seeing a water sprinkler truck she hadn’t seen before, she asked.

Zhang Suxin answered, “That’s a water sprinkler truck.”

“Oh, water sprinkler truck!”

Qianqian nodded, then proudly boasted to Luan Zhi, “Daddy, that’s a water sprinkler truck!”

Luan Zhi praised her for being smart, and the little one beamed with delight.

The taxi stopped in front of a luxury residential community, obviously upscale and scenic. The grand gate bore the name “Prime Residence.”

Luan Zhi remembered Zhang Suxin mentioning before that she used to live at Prime Residence before her retirement.

“Let’s go.”

Zhang Suxin said, “My friend lives here and converted part of her home into a recording studio. I’ve already called her—she’s home. We’ll go straight in.”

(End of chapter)