After saying goodbye to the elderly neighbor, Qiu Mang took Qiu Li to a large supermarket nearby.
As soon as they entered the supermarket, Qiu Mang pushed a shopping cart and walked among the dazzling array of goods. Qiu Li, like a cheerful little bird, sat in the cart, waving her little hands excitedly, her eyes wide open, and occasionally pointing at the snacks on the shelves and shouting.
Qiu Mang bought some ingredients for dinner. When she passed by the fruit section, she specially picked out oranges, which Qiu Li liked. After thinking for a moment, she also grabbed a box of strawberries.
"Sister, can you buy me a mango? I want to eat a mango."
Qiu Li stretched out her little finger, pointed to a large, golden mango, and spoke in her childish voice.
Qiu Mang glanced at the stall filled with all kinds of fruits, then turned to her younger sister and softly suggested, "Ali, how about we pick a little of everything, and after we finish eating, I'll make you a fruit salad, okay?"
"Yay! We get to eat fruit salad!" Qiu Li exclaimed excitedly.
Back home in the evening, Qiu Li sat obediently on a small cushion in the living room, intently playing house, while Qiu Mang plunged into the kitchen, busy preparing dinner.
A moment later, the doorbell rang.
Hearing the sound, Qiu Li ran over to open the door. The moment the door opened, Qiu Mang heard Qiu Li let out a high-pitched scream: "Big brother!"
Qiu Mang couldn't help but frown slightly. She really hadn't expected that Qiu Li would like Lu Yanting so much.
Qiu Mang placed the last dish on the table, then walked over to Qiu Li and prepared to lead her to wash her hands.
"I want my big brother to take me to wash my hands!" Qiu Li took a step back, then suddenly jumped to Lu Yanting's side and tightly grabbed his clothes.
Qiu Mang was both amused and exasperated by the little one's actions. "Qiu Li! Be good, okay? Stop bothering the guests. Let me take you."
"I don't want to! I want my big brother to come with me! He's handsome!" Qiu Li said stubbornly, puffing out her cheeks and pouting her lips.
Lu Yanting smiled slightly, took Qiu Li's small hand, and then looked up at Qiu Mang, teasingly saying, "See? Your sister has much better taste than you."
Qiu Mang rolled her eyes at the sky speechlessly and took off her apron.
The three of them sat down at the table one by one. Qiu Mang picked up a chicken leg and was about to put it into Qiu Li's small bowl.
But the little girl was faster; she had already taken the lead, holding her beloved little spoon, and laboriously scooped up a piece of bright red braised pork from the plate. She held it with both hands and handed it to Lu Yanting, looking earnest and devout.
"Big brother, don't be shy, eat more, and come to our house to play often in the future!"
Qiu Li blinked her big eyes and spoke in a childish voice, yet she imitated an adult's serious tone.
Looking at the little girl's innocent appearance, Lu Yanting couldn't hide the smile on his lips. After chuckling softly, he pretended to be embarrassed.
"Maybe we shouldn't? Wouldn't that be bothering you?"
As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Qiu Mang out of the corner of his eye.
Qiu Mang glanced at him; she didn't believe him for a second! This trick only fools children.
As expected, upon hearing this, Qiu Li's delicate eyebrows furrowed instantly, and she said anxiously, "Big brother, you won't bother us. We're overjoyed that you're here! How can you say it's a bother?"
After saying that, Qiu Li hurriedly looked at Qiu Mang, her big, watery eyes full of expectation: "Sister, don't you think so?"
Looking at his younger sister's pleading expression, Qiu Mang felt helpless and could only nod, softly replying, "Yes, that's right."
Lu Yanting, having gotten the better deal, pretended to be innocent. After glancing at her, he deliberately sighed in a mocking tone and said, "Let's forget it! I'm afraid some people won't welcome me."
As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on Qiu Mang, and he even raised an eyebrow at her in a provocative manner.
Upon seeing this, Qiu Mang instinctively gripped the chopsticks tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
Sure enough! She knew it; this guy was going to start playing tricks again, and he'd taken advantage of children time and time again. How despicable!
Qiu Li did not disappoint Lu Yanting. She immediately turned her little head to Qiu Mang and complained in a crisp voice, "Sister, it's all because of you. You never invited big brother to come and play again next time, which made big brother embarrassed to come."
Qiu Mang was both amused and exasperated by Qiu Li's sudden accusation. She opened her mouth, about to defend herself, but saw Lu Yanting with a smug grin on his face.
The man sat up straight, straightened his clothes, and stared at her, as if waiting for her invitation.
Qiu Li tugged at Qiu Mang's sleeve and urged, "Sister, tell us quickly!"
Qiu Mang took a deep breath, forced a smile, looked at Lu Yanting, and said through gritted teeth, "Mr. Lu, if you don't mind, you are welcome to come to our home anytime. We would all love to have you!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yanting's smile widened. He nodded slightly and replied, "Since my sister and Mangmang have extended such a warm invitation, it would seem unreasonable of me to refuse."
As he spoke, he deliberately emphasized the word "Mang Mang," his eyes revealing a unique intimacy.
Qiu Mang pretended not to see it, silently served Qiu Li a bowl of soup, and gently instructed, "Li, drink slowly, don't burn yourself."
Qiu Li nodded obediently, and after taking a couple of sips of soup, she seemed to suddenly remember something, and looked at Lu Yanting with bright eyes: "Big brother, after you finish eating, do you want to play with our toys? I have so many new toys!"
Lu Yanting raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise: "Oh? Is that so? Then I'll have to see for myself."
Qiu Mang watched the two of them singing in unison and shook his head helplessly.
After the three finished eating, Qiu Mang got up and went into the kitchen. The water from the tap was flowing, and she efficiently cleared away the dishes.
After washing the dishes, she opened the refrigerator, took out the fruit she had bought that day, washed and chopped it, and then took out the chilled yogurt. In no time, three simple yet tempting fruit salads were ready.
She carried the fruit salad into the living room, where Qiu Li was pulling Lu Yanting around with her Elsa princess.
Seeing Qiu Mang approach, the little girl's eyes lit up immediately. She suggested, "Sister, big brother, let's play hide-and-seek! You hide, and I'll find you!"
Seeing her sister's excited expression, Qiu Mang really didn't want to spoil her mood, so she gently put down the fruit salad in her hand, a faint smile appearing on her lips, and nodded.
"Okay! Next, Ali will count to 10, and then you and your older brother should hide well!"
After Qiu Li finished speaking, she faced the wall with a serious expression, like a little soldier on an important mission, and began to count earnestly in her childish voice, her little fingers tapping the wall in rhythm.
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