Chapter 83 Children all over the world...

On the day Tao Daiming and Qin Shu arrived in Shanghai West, Xu Ji and Tao Siyun went to the airport to pick them up.

It was the first time Tao Siyun saw Xu Ji so reserved, and he felt a little uncomfortable. He gently tugged at the corner of his clothes and couldn't help asking, "Are you nervous?"

Xu Ji looked uneasy, as if he was talking to himself. "No, I was just thinking about what I should say to your parents when I see them later."

"...What do you mean by 'what do you mean by 'what do you mean by '? Just call them uncle and auntie normally. Just answer whatever my parents ask."

Xu Ji parked the car, his hands on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on her. He hesitated for two seconds, his voice a little bewildered, "And then?"

And then what?

He was obviously nervous inside but refused to admit it...

Tao Siyun originally wanted to say, since you are so nervous, why don’t you not meet my parents this time? Wait until you are ready and then set another time. Anyway, there will be a chance in the future, so there is no need to rush.

But if she really said that, Xu Ji would probably turn against her immediately.

Tao Siyun reached out and poked a dimple on his cheek, and deliberately said, "If you're really nervous, how about I say you're an online taxi driver?"

Xu Ji thought about the last time they had teamed up to deceive Tao Qian, and he felt a little relieved. A faint smile appeared in his eyes, and he said lazily, "Why didn't you say I was the designated driver this time?"

The trick she used last time might have fooled her brother, but her parents were not Tao Qian, and they were not that stupid. How could she dare lie to them?

"...What do you think?" Tao Siyun wanted to pull her hand out of his, but Xu Ji was holding it tightly, perhaps because he was too nervous. "I can't tell my parents, 'My boyfriend suddenly had something urgent to do, so I found a designated driver to pick you up in his car.'"

Xu Ji was just teasing her on purpose. He had waited so long for this day, so how could he easily give up the opportunity to show himself?

…

Tao Siyun was holding a large bouquet of Belize roses in her arms, standing at the airport waiting eagerly.

The plane is delayed.

When Xu Ji met Tao Siyun's parents for the first time, he went to the flower shop to order flowers early in the morning.

This little detail surprised Tao Siyun.

"You're quite good at playing to someone's liking, aren't you? Are you planning to use this to impress my mom?"

"The extra points are also counted into the total score."

Xu Ji held her hand and slid it down from her shoulder, then into Tao Siyun's overalls pocket, touched a bag of QQ candy, and squeezed it.

"My mother will definitely be very touched later. Believe it or not, my brother has never been this thoughtful even though he's almost thirty years old." Tao Siyun gently touched the petals and sighed to himself, "I guess he has another reason to target you."

Xu Ji raised his eyebrows, "You're not on my side?"

“…”

A few days ago, Tao Siyun took the initiative to tell Qin Shu on the phone that he had a boyfriend. She thought that instead of waiting for Tao Qian to tell her parents, it would be better for her to tell them herself and take the initiative.

It’s really not Tao Siyun’s fault for being sensitive.

Ever since Tao Qian learned about her and Xu Ji, his attitude and recent behavior have made him a completely different person.

Tao Siyun even saw from her brother's despair-like look that "it turns out you really have other purposes for approaching me."

It feels like after being betrayed by someone I trusted, I turned my love for Xu Ji into hatred.

It's good enough that you don't say anything bad about him, how can you have a good face?

But Xu Ji was open and honest.

Every Saturday when Tao Qian comes over, he doesn't need to be called. As long as Tao Siyun clicks on his WeChat avatar and takes a photo, he will go to the opposite door to eat.

He had to show up in front of his former senior, current landlord, and future brother-in-law.

I don't especially know how to read people's faces.

During the meal, she insisted on sitting next to Tao Siyun, and the two of them were flirting with each other under his nose.

You pick up food for me and I pick up food for you.

It never ends.

He completely disregarded the feelings of Tao Qian, who was being ignored and sitting alone opposite him.

Tao Qian looked at them expressionlessly and asked, "Is it delicious?"

Without even raising his head, Tao Siyun scooped a spoonful of pine nut corn into Xu Ji's bowl and said, "It's delicious. Try it."

Xu Ji: “Yeah.”

“…”

"Are you two done yet? I came here specifically to cook for you two."

Tao Siyun and Xu Ji looked at him almost at the same time, their eyes like looking at a huge wattage light bulb, the meaning was obvious -

Otherwise...what can you do for me?

Tao Qian sneered and glared at Xu Ji, meaning: In the future, even if you get married and move into my house, don't expect me to give you a good face.

***

Xu Ji's reputation as a loader is indeed well-deserved.

When picking up people at the airport, he deliberately changed into a light-colored outfit, shedding his usual cool temperament. He looked a little softer and behaved modestly and politely in front of Tao Siyun's parents.

You can tell at first glance that he is a reliable and good kid.

It lived up to everyone's expectations and gave them a very good first impression.

In order to prevent Xu Ji from feeling embarrassed, Tao Siyun took the initiative to let her father sit in the passenger seat and chat with Xu Ji.

Through the communication along the way, Tao Daiming and Qin Shu liked Xu Ji even more in their hearts.

After having dinner together in the evening, in order to reassure Xu Ji, Tao Siyun sent him a WeChat message and told him every word of what her parents had said to praise him.

Xu Ji suddenly sent a message: [So, should we talk about the betrothal gift next? ]

Tao Siyun reminded him: "My parents are here for serious business, don't cut in line."

Tao Daiming and Qin Shu planned to celebrate Tao Siyun's birthday in two days and visit Qiao Ying's mother. After they returned to Jingfu, they would make another appointment to discuss the marriage with Qiao Ying's father on another day.

Tao Siyun went to the next room and slept in the same bed with Qin Shu to talk. She told her mother the whole story between her and Xu Ji from beginning to end.

Qin Shu stroked his daughter's hair and smiled gently, "Your brother has hit the jackpot. If he hadn't rented out the house, you and Xu Ji wouldn't have had so many opportunities to spend time together."

“…”

Tao Siyun was too embarrassed to tell Qin Shu that Xu Ji was actually someone who could create opportunities to "chance encounter" with her on the street anytime and anywhere.

Even if they didn't live across the street, he had the ability to make her see him every day.

After finishing her story with Xu Ji, Tao Siyun talked to Qin Shu about Zhou Jinghan.

"Teacher Zhou comes to the orchestra every week to watch us rehearse. Her nephew was my roommate for several years while I was studying abroad. If I hadn't met him this time at Shanghai University, I probably would never have guessed it." "What a coincidence? Did you never mention your family at all during those years you shared a room?"

"Um... no, he's a boy, and we don't usually communicate that deeply."

"That's true." Qin Shu couldn't help but sigh. "Your aunt loved you the most. She approached Teacher Zhou privately many times before she agreed to teach you. If you have time, remember to visit her at home often and spend more time with her. After all, she is your mentor. Your good grades in the exams were also due to her."

Tao Siyun nodded, "I understand. I will."

Every time Qin Shu thought of his sister, he felt regretful.

Qin Ru’s accidental death made her blame herself for a long time.

Qin Shu had always been willing to grant his sister's requests since childhood. At that time, he could not resist her nagging and agreed to do ideological work for his parents. He finally convinced the two old people with great difficulty.

She still remembers the solemn promise Qin Ru made to the whole family before getting married: I am marrying Yan Bin, not his family, and his two children, one will live with his ex-wife and the other will be taken care of by his parents. They will not live with us and will not affect our lives.

"Your aunt is so willful and stubborn. If she had told us about these things earlier, perhaps what happened later wouldn't have happened." Qin Shu sighed, "It's also my fault that I didn't keep a close eye on her."

Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Tao Siyun changed the topic in time and started gossiping.

"Mom, why did you like Dad when you were young?"

Qin Shu was amused by her, "Maybe it's because of his face. When your father was young, he looked like Leon Lai and was very handsome. Many girls in our university liked him at that time."

"Then how did you two meet?"

"Your Uncle Nie's girlfriend at the time was my roommate. They were both shy on their first date, so your Uncle Nie asked your dad to go with him, and I went with my roommate. That's how we met. After graduation, they faced a long-distance relationship, and they broke up soon after. Your grandparents didn't want me to marry far away at first, so your dad stayed in Shanghai West to work for a few years for me. It wasn't until you were a little over a year old that our family returned to Beijing."

…

Tao Siyun's birthday is June 1st.

That day, all the children in the world were happy, except Tao Qian.

This holiday, originally established by the International Democratic Women's Federation to protect the rights of children around the world, was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on June 1, 1996. Due to Tao Siyun's sudden premature birth, Tao Qian, who was only four years old at the time, spent his first Children's Day in the hospital.

With a loud cry, from then on, this happy festival was destined to have nothing to do with him anymore.

Tao Siyun came into the world more than a month earlier than the due date, catching the whole family off guard.

Little boy Tao Qian looked forward to it day and night, and finally the day came when his parents took him to the amusement park, but in the end, all their efforts were in vain.

But it wasn't nothing. At noon, Tao Daiming took him to the ward to see his mother, and there was a baby sleeping soundly next to Qin Shu.

Tao Qian stood on tiptoe and poked his sister's face with his hand, feeling deeply disappointed as if he had just opened a long-awaited gift.

She said with disdain, "She's so ugly, Mom, why didn't you give birth to a prettier one?"

Tao Daiming picked up his son, asked him to come closer to look at his sister, and said gently: "She will be beautiful when she grows up."

"When will you grow up?"

"She will grow up slowly. If you talk to her and play with her every day, she will grow up."

Tao Qian suddenly thought of the pot of jasmine flowers that was carefully cared for on the balcony of his home.

It needs sunlight and water every day, it's very delicate.

Pouting, "Can I water her?"

"Don't mess around."

…

According to Tao Qian's later statement, on the morning of Children's Day, Tao Daiming and Qin Shu were on their way to the amusement park with Tao Daiming looking excited when Qin Shu's stomach suddenly started to hurt. Tao Daiming immediately asked the taxi driver to turn around and go to the hospital.

"That girl really knows how to pick the right time." Tao Qian sighed deeply: "My parents owe me too much."

"Is it that serious?"

"Of course not." Tao Qian changed his hand to hold the cake and put his arm around Qiao Ying's shoulders, feeling very depressed. "Remember to love me more in the future. You know, my childhood was miserable enough. I was especially lacking love from childhood to adulthood. I am very sensitive inside."

Qiao Ying was about to laugh, "I'm sorry, I only have sympathy for you, not even a bit of maternal love."

"Hiss, can't you comfort me? Think about this day twenty-five years ago. Think about that weak, helpless, and pitiful me. Not only did I lose a day of happiness, but every Children's Day thereafter was replaced by someone else's birthday. Isn't this something worthy of deep sympathy?"

Qiao Ying suddenly remembered the circle of friends Tao Qian posted on Tao Siyun's birthday last year, and her eyes suddenly became a little strange. "I think you should thank your sister. Because of her birthday, you can blatantly post all that nonsense on Children's Day every year, regardless of the strange looks from your WeChat friends, and then go to the trouble to explain in the comment section, 'Well, actually, today is my sister's birthday, and she forced me to post this.' While gaining others' understanding, you can also better conceal your... huh? Right?"

Tao Qian: "..."