Chapter 11 Who's better, me or my third brother?
Mao Mao went to a Western restaurant with Lou Hongjian and ate cream cake, steak, and ice cream. He also took her to see a movie.
Mao Mao had never seen a movie before. As the figures moved on the screen, her eyes widened. Holding onto the seat in front of her, she stood up straight with her short legs, staring intently at the screen until the movie ended.
By the time I got home, night had fallen.
It was well past her usual bedtime, and she was already feeling drowsy on the way home, her eyelids drooping. Lou Hongjian carried her all the way back.
Xia Xiaoxiang, who was waiting at home, picked her up and thanked Lou Hongjian: "Thank you, Third Young Master, for taking Mao Mao out to play and for buying so many things for her."
Lou Hongjian smiled nonchalantly: "It's nothing, Mao Mao is also my sister."
Mao Mao nestled on her mother's shoulder, her soft, chubby cheeks squeezing out of shape. She was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open, but she still tried to stay awake and waved her little hand at Lou Hongjian: "Goodnight, brother."
Lou Hongjian waved back, just like her, saying, "Goodnight, little sister."
Mao Mao learned this "goodnight" from a story her fourth brother read to her.
The light in Lou Yansui's room was still on.
Lou Yansui was reading on the bed when he heard the noise outside. He immediately sat up straight and looked expectantly towards the door. However, even after the noise subsided, the little dumpling didn't come to open the door.
Lou Yansui pursed her lips, then closed the book and turned off the bedside lamp.
He had so much to say to Mao Mao.
Xia Xiaoxiang also had many questions she wanted to ask, and she kept them to herself all night.
When Mao Mao woke up from her nap, before she could even get out of bed, her mother gently cupped her chubby little face.
She giggled from the tickling sensation and snuggled into her mother's arms.
Xia Xiaoxiang asked, "Mao Mao, why is the Third Young Master so good to you?"
"Third brother?"
“He bought you so many things yesterday, and took you to a Western restaurant and a movie.” Xia Xiaoxiang said, “That little dress is high-end, it costs at least tens of dollars, and one meal at the Western restaurant is enough for my daughter and me to eat for several months!”
Mao Mao's eyes lit up as she quickly remembered the cream cake she had eaten yesterday.
"Mommy, the cake is delicious." Her lips glistened, and she said with anticipation, "Mommy, I'll take you to eat it."
Xia Xiaoxiang accepted the promise she made and continued to press, "Why is he so good to you?"
“My brother said I would help him.”
"help?"
"I'll earn money for my brother!" Mao Mao raised her little hand, stretched it out as far as she could, and made a big circle with her hands and feet together: "Lots and lots of money."
Xia Xiaoxiang looked on with suspicion.
"You're making money for the Third Young Master? How are you making it?"
Mao Mao was stumped by the question.
She racked her brains, but couldn't figure it out. She stared blankly at her mother, her face expressionless.
Seeing her like this, Xia Xiaoxiang knew she wouldn't get any results from her.
She poked her daughter's head: "Next time the Third Young Master takes you out, you must remember what happened and tell me when you come back."
Mao Mao nodded and said, "Okay!"
...
Since there weren't horse races every day, Lou Hongjian stayed home for the next few days.
He stopped going to karaoke bars and loitering outside. He pulled out a set of painting tools from somewhere, set up an easel, and prepared to paint a portrait of Mao Mao.
Mao Mao changed into a new princess dress, holding a bouquet of blooming flowers, and sat on a white wicker chair. Her cheeks were soft and rosy, her eyes were dark and bright, and her skirt was layered, like a fragrant and soft little cake.
Her little feet, dangling in mid-air, swung happily back and forth as she pleased: "Brother, are you done yet?"
Lou Hongjian was dressed as a painter today, wearing a beret, and wielding his paintbrush on the canvas: "Wait a little longer, soon."
Mao Mao was extremely anxious.
Her bottom wiggled back and forth, as if she couldn't wait to jump off the chair and see herself on the canvas.
"Wait, just one last stroke... Done!" Lou Hongjian put away his paintbrush.
He admired his painting with satisfaction, and unsurprisingly, he received many exclamations of amazement.
I heard he was going to paint a portrait of Mao Mao, so all the wives in the family came to see it. Although they knew he studied art abroad, they were only now witnessing his talent firsthand.
The image of Mao Mao in the painting looks like it was taken with a camera. But the photograph is black and white and not very clear.
Lou Hongjian painted Mao Mao so vividly that it seemed as if the little girl had crawled into the canvas. Looking closely, it was as if even the texture of her skirt was faintly visible. The little girl in the portrait was exquisitely beautiful, with arms like lotus roots, surrounded by colorful flowers, and her smiling face was as lovely as a little elf that had emerged from the flowers.
"It looks so much like it!"
"It's really well drawn."
"I never would have guessed, Third Young Master, that you possess such abilities."
Lou Hongjian raised his head: "That's right, I'm an outstanding graduate."
The subject of the portrait, Mao Mao, was overjoyed. She looked at herself in the painting, then touched her face, as if looking in a mirror.
In an instant, Mao Mao's admiration for her third brother arose spontaneously and flowed endlessly, as vast as the river at Haicheng Wharf.
"...Third brother is so amazing!"
Even when he went to Lou Yansui to hear stories, he would praise her.
Lou Yansui had heard her praise her several times over several days, and her ears were practically calloused from hearing it so much.
I could hear every single compliment I'd ever received about my third brother in my entire life.
Because of his limited mobility, the painting was framed and hung on the wall after it dried. He specially sat in his wheelchair and had his maid push him to see it.
It's very well drawn. At least he couldn't draw it.
Lou Yansui felt a pang of jealousy: "Mao Mao, do you like Third Brother that much?"
"I like it!"
"So...would you prefer your third brother to draw for you, or me to read to you?"
"I like them all!" Mao Mao said happily. "Hello, brothers, Mao Mao likes them all."
Lou Yansui: "..."
Okay, that works too.
At least he's better than his older brothers.
Lou Yansui touched the cover of the fairy tale book in her hand. "I've finished reading this book, so I asked my second brother to buy me a new one. Mao Mao, are you coming to play with me tomorrow? I also asked Mom to buy some chocolate."
"chocolate?!"
"It's the kind I told you about before."
Mao Mao wanted to eat, but she still shook her head reluctantly: "I can't tomorrow. I made a promise with my third brother that I would go out and play with him."
Lou Yansui lowered her eyes in disappointment: "...Really? Never mind then, you guys go have fun."
the next day.
Early in the morning, Lou Hongjian dressed smartly and went out with Mao Mao.
When he returned home, he was met with the whip in Lou Dashuai's hand and his thunderous rage.
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