The guests stared at the hallway leading to the living room, and after waiting for a tense minute, they finally saw the two figures they were waiting for.

"Su Wanyan!" Zhao Yichen exclaimed loudly, practically bouncing in his seat like a toddler. Han Jiho calmly smacked the back of his head gently. "Behave yourself, Chen," Han Jiho said, to which Zhao Yichen obeyed immediately.

Qin Yuran snapped out of her daze and immediately rummaged through her bag again, feeling more distressed. "Ugh!" Qin Yuran let out, annoyed at herself for forgetting where she put it. "Where is it?" she asked herself in frustration. Qin Yuran glanced at the doorway again, and seeing that they were still far away, hastened her movements.

She emptied her bag, and finally, the item she had been looking for appeared with a soft thud on the wooden floors. Qin Yuran stood up and held up a gift that was wrapped up nicely. "I found it!" Qin Yuran exclaimed, showing it to Song Meiyu with pride. Because of her shout, Song Meiyu snapped out of her gaze and unconsciously clapped at Qin Yuran. Qin Yuran touched her nose proudly, a small blush coming to her face.

Zhao Yichen looked and turned toward Qin Yuran and saw the gift she was holding. He gasped and stood up, shaking Qin Yuran. "Hey, you traitor!" he said, shaking her as if she were some sort of large doll. "You didn’t tell me you prepared a gift!" Zhao Yichen said, annoyed at Qin Yuran.

In response, she just scoffed. "Hey, I’m not the only one who brought gifts with us," Qin Yuran said, although it wasn’t clear as Zhao Yichen was shaking the living daylights out of her.

Hearing that, however, Zhao Yichen’s movements paused. "What?" Zhao Yichen questioned, his voice soft and his eyes widened. Qin Yuran felt her vision spinning, yet she still didn’t forget to ragebait Zhao Yichen. "Look behind you," she said, still trying to regain control of her vision.

Immediately, Zhao Yichen looked behind him and saw that Han Jiho, Mo Xingxue, Song Meiyu, heck even Lin Xuanyu and Gu Chengze were holding gifts in their hands.

Zhao Yichen fell to his knees like a defeated soldier. "I’m..." Zhao Yichen voiced out, his voice dripping with despair. "I’m the only one who doesn’t have a gift?" he asked himself, whispering into the wind. Qin Yuran looked at him and frowned playfully. "Tsk," she said.

Hearing that, Zhao Yichen slumped down on the floor, his eyes blank. "The child’s first impression of me is doomed," he said. "I’ll be dubbed as the most uncool uncle in here," he said, his voice pitiful.

Just then, they heard a child laugh. "Haha!" The voice was cute and melodic, soft to the ears as it carried the innocence of a child. "Aunt Wanyan," Shen Guoxing said and looked up at Su Wanyan. "I like this funny uncle," Shen Guoxing said, returning her gaze to Zhao Yichen, who was slumped on the floor. She pointed at him. Su Wanyan smiled with her and laughed. "You do?" Su Wanyan asked gently. Shen Guoxing nodded. "Yeah, he’s funny!" Shen Guoxing said.

All the other guests just stared at the duo, and Shen Guoxing, realizing that all of their gazes were on her, immediately hid behind Su Wanyan, her face blooming with redness. Zhao Yichen finally snapped out of his daze and smiled. "Haiya, I’m funny?" he asked, his voice hopeful.

Shen Guoxing looked at the funny uncle who looked like he would cry if she said no, and nodded her head shyly. "Yeah, I think you’re funny, Uncle," she said, her voice as small as a mosquito’s. Zhao Yichen felt his heart bloom with tenderness and he smiled foolishly. "Haiya," he said, then turned to the other guests. "She said I’m funny," he said, showing off to them. Qin Yuran just rolled her eyes at him and pushed him away with her feet. "Ouch!" Zhao Yichen’s pained voice resounded in the background.

However, Qin Yuran just ignored him and walked toward Su Wanyan. She patted Su Wanyan’s shoulder. "You’ve worked hard, bro," she said, feeling tearful at Su Wanyan’s sacrifice. She’s the most alpha-like here, Qin Yuran thought righteously, feeling her respect grow for Su Wanyan.

In response, Su Wanyan just laughed at Qin Yuran’s over-exaggeration and looked down at the child who was hiding behind her legs. "This is your aunt Qin Yuran," Su Wanyan said. "Say hi," she continued gently, to which Shen Guoxing obeyed. Qin Yuran smiled at Shen Guoxing and handed her the gift she prepared. "For you," Qin Yuran said gently. Shen Guoxing took it and smiled at her. "Thank you!" In response, Qin Yuran just smiled brightly at her.

Shen Guoxing looked up at the energetic-looking woman and then, as if remembering something, she exclaimed, "You’re the aunt who keeps giving me chocolates!" Shen Guoxing said, her excitement bubbling.

Qin Yuran widened her eyes in surprise and laughed. "Yeah, I’m that aunt," Qin Yuran affirmed. Then she crouched down to meet Shen Guoxing’s level. "How’d you know?" she asked gently. Shen Guoxing smiled proudly. "I read your letter you put in the chocolate box!" Shen Guoxing said, her eyes shining, waiting to be praised.

Qin Yuran laughed softly and patted her head. "Wow! You’re so amazing, Xing’er!" Qin Yuran said, sincerely praising the kid. Shen Guoxing puffed out her chest proudly, and the guests laughed at her reaction. Realizing they were still being watched, Shen Guoxing hid behind her Aunt Wanyan again, her face burning brighter.

Of course the barrage also had their say in this:

[Aww! Such a cute child!]

[Bro, I want to have a child! But alas, I don’t have a partner.]

[...I can be that partner if you want. We can even play house, iykwim.]

[LET’S KEEP IT PG, OKAY?]

[My baby is getting worse...]

[Baby necessities are expensive... Toddler necessities are more expensive... Baby necessities are expensive... Toddler necessities are more expensive...]

[LMAO, WHAT A WEIRD MANTRA!]

[MY WIFE, YOU’RE BACK! I’VE BEEN MISSING YOU THIS PAST FEW DAYS, MY LOVE! I’VE BEEN SO LONELY WITHOUT YOU!]

[Upstairs, that’s not what you told me last night though?]

[...Wdym by that, huh?]

[LMAO WE’RE BACK IN BUSINESS, BABY!]

Meanwhile, Shen Guoxing still hid behind Su Wanyan. Her eyes darted around the room, and she saw Mo Xingxue and Mo Yan looking at her. Shen Guoxing’s eyes brightened.

Forgetting her shyness for a moment, she immediately darted to Mo Xingxue and Mo Yan. "Aunt Xingxue!" Shen Guoxing exclaimed, hugging Mo Xingxue and Mo Yan. Mo Xingxue returned the hug, and Mo Yan patted her back, as if to welcome her, although it did hurt quite a bit as Mo Yan couldn’t control her strength well. Still, the gesture warmed Shen Guoxing’s heart.

Song Meiyu chuckled at the scene. "It’s like she’s also your child, Teacher Mo," she said, hinting at something. Mo Xingxue looked at her and chuckled, the two sharing a look before laughing softly. Meanwhile, Shen Guoxing heard that and she looked at Mo Xingxue with surprise. So, Aunt Xingxue really has a thing for Aunt Wanyan...? Shen Guoxing asked herself, and looked back at Su Wanyan who was looking at them with a soft small smile.

Shen Guoxing blinked and looked back at Mo Xingxue, and she felt the gears turn in her young mind. However, Shen Guoxing couldn’t continue that train of thought as she felt someone’s finger gently patting her shoulder.

Shen Guoxing looked at the owner of the finger and saw a shy and soft-looking aunt. She held up a small but pretty box at her, and she said, "For you." Shen Guoxing said thank you shyly and looked at the box that was given to her. On the box, there was a note that was plastered.

The note read, "Congratulations on your recovery!" with a heart and confetti cutely decorating it.

Shen Guoxing recognized the handwriting and she smiled. "You’re aunt Meiyu!" Shen Guoxing said. Song Meiyu looked surprised. "Wow, you know my name?" she asked, pointing at herself. Shen Guoxing nodded. "I also read your letters too!" she said.

Song Meiyu felt her heart warm and she looked at Su Wanyan and then at Mo Xingxue. "So this is why you guys like kids?" she said, amazed. She reached out both of her hands for a hug, and Shen Guoxing obeyed and hugged Song Meiyu.

Song Meiyu hugged the child, and she looked seriously at Su Wanyan. "Give me Mo Yan and Shen Guoxing to me," she said seriously, earning a playful eyebrow raise from Su Wanyan. "You and Mo Xingxue can just make another on—" Song Meiyu didn’t finish what she was saying because her mouth was quickly covered by Mo Xingxue’s hands.

"Stop saying nonsense, Teacher Song," Mo Xingxue said, her face burning bright. Then she looked at Qin Yuran. "What about you and Teacher Qin make one yourself?" Mo Xingxue teased back.

Qin Yuran’s face blushed at that and her eyes darted around. Song Meiyu laughed and removed Mo Xingxue’s hand that was on her mouth. "We’ll try later," Song Meiyu said, "sorry if we get too loud later," she said brazenly, further causing Qin Yuran to blush. "Wh-what are you sa-saying?!" Qin Yuran said, trying to appear fierce but she was actually stammering and blushing.

"Hey, there’s a kid here," Han Jiho said, although he himself didn’t take it seriously—after all, she’s still just a child, she wouldn’t get what they were talking about.

Meanwhile, Shen Guoxing, who was already a big girl in the past: I can understand what you uncles and aunts are talking about... However, she didn’t voice it out. Sparing the adults some dignity.

Mo Xingxue shook her head and gave Shen Guoxing her gift. "Xing’er," she gently called out. Shen Guoxing looked up at her and separated herself from Song Meiyu’s hold, who immediately wilted. "Aww," Song Meiyu said dejectedly, then she looked at Qin Yuran. "We need to make one, ASAP," she said. Qin Yuran blushed more, her face practically dripping with blood, and she hid behind Su Wanyan like a little kid.

The guests laughed at her reaction, further amplifying the festive mood in the living room.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

I HAVE AN UPDATE FROM WEBNOVEL! I MAY BE ABLE TO COMMENT IN TWO OR THREE DAYS! HOLY SHIT! THE MOST HAPPIEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME THIS WEEK, OML!