Chapter 56: The Promotion Feast

Let me tell you a ghost story: Back-to-school season.

Generally, there are four types of people who do not dread the start of school: the mysterious, eccentric, and studious academic elites; parents eagerly awaiting the return of their ‘divine beasts’ to school; graduates filled with schadenfreude; and new students who have no holiday homework for their promotion.

The little one belonged to the latter category, having no homework after enrollment, and thus brimmed with joyful anticipation.

As for Bai Sha and Zhou Haochen, they were of the second type, eagerly awaiting the return of their two-person world once the little one departed.

Today marked the little one’s final day before school commenced, so Bai Sha invited Lily and her partner over for dinner, hosting a ‘promotion feast’ for the newest kindergarten student.

Ding-dong—

While Bai Sha and Zhou Haochen remained in the kitchen, the little one scurried to open the door.

“Congratulations, Xiao Yu, on becoming a kindergarten student!”

Lily, cradling a large teddy bear, smiled warmly at the little one.

Behind her, Sun Weijie sighed helplessly, marveling at how even starting kindergarten warranted a celebration these days.

“It’s a big bear!” the little one exclaimed delightedly, accepting the doll that was nearly her size. “Thank you, Sister Lily!”

Zhou Haochen emerged from the kitchen, sporting a pink apron, prompting Sun Weijie to raise an eyebrow and quip with a grin, “Well, well, looking rather dashing, aren’t we?”

Zhou Haochen merely shrugged, remarking, “It seems you’ve raked in quite a bit this summer, given that radiant smile.”

“I’m still working, and your kid is already off to kindergarten,” Sun Weijie mused with a touch of wistfulness.

Wiping her hands, Bai Sha also stepped out of the kitchen, teasing, “Then you and Lily better get a move on! By the time our Xiao Yu starts primary school, perhaps yours will be heading to kindergarten.”

Lily and Sun Weijie shook their heads in unison, declaring, “We’re still too young!”

Bai Sha and Zhou Haochen exchanged a knowing smile. “And are we not young?” they countered.

The little one, clutching the large bear, scurried into her bedroom, placing it alongside the array of dolls her mother had gifted and her father had won, which now formed a considerable collection.

With meat simmering in a pot, Bai Sha joined everyone at the dining table for conversation.

“With school starting again, have Third and Fourth gone back yet?”

Bai Sha quietly raised her hand, stating, “When I was live-streaming this afternoon, Li Qingyu’s IP address was already showing as S City.”

Zhou Haochen turned to her, asking, “Should we invite him over too?”

Bai Sha nodded. “Let’s call everyone over then; the more, the merrier, and it’ll be a bit livelier.”

Sun Weijie picked up his phone, then announced, “I’ve messaged him; he’ll be over shortly, and he said he’s bringing Third along.”

Lily, eyeing the kitchen, eagerly suggested to Bai Sha, “Sister, should I whip up a couple of dishes for you?”

Having moved in with Sun Weijie this summer, her culinary skills had noticeably blossomed, to the point where she could now prepare a few impressive signature dishes.

Bai Sha handed her apron to Lily, while Zhou Haochen, having removed his own, put on Bai Sha’s, smiling as he said, “Of course, there are ingredients in the fridge; feel free to see what you’d like to make.”

Lily, beaming with excitement, rose and headed for the fridge. “Alright! Sister Bai Sha, just watch me show off a bit!”

Once Lily entered the kitchen, Bai Sha and Zhou Haochen simultaneously turned to Sun Weijie, asking, “Lily’s cooking is pretty good now, right?”

Sun Weijie nodded, waving his hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry, her skills have now evolved to the level of competent home cooking.”

Zhou Haochen nudged his elbow into Sun Weijie’s side, raising an eyebrow with a chuckle. “You truly are a lucky man then!”

Sun Weijie covered his face, lamenting, ‘It really hasn’t been easy getting to this point.’

Witnessing his pained expression, the two couldn’t help but burst into hearty laughter.

The little one, secretly watching TV while her parents were distracted, couldn’t help but glance over, wondering, ‘Why are Mama and Papa so happy?’

****

When Li Qingyu arrived on his electric scooter with Wu Di, carrying a case of iced beer, both men, visiting Bai Sha’s home for the first time, gaped in astonishment.

“Holy cow (｀Δ´)! This location, this sheer size—it must have cost a fortune!” Li Qingyu exclaimed, not forgetting to cradle his laptop even as he arrived for dinner.

Wu Di, who was holding the case of beer as if it were a barbell, also nodded. “I knew Sister-in-law was rich, but I never imagined this level of wealth.”

Bai Sha, having entrusted the kitchen’s domain to Lily, handed them slippers. “It’s nothing special; you could achieve this too if you work hard enough.”

Zhou Haochen and Sun Weijie watched on with amusement as the two ‘simpletons’ actually nodded, convinced that Bai Sha’s words held truth—they too could afford such a place with enough effort.

“Boss, I really think we need to move out.”

Sun Weijie nodded solemnly.

“Living with them, our IQs will drop sooner or later.”

Hearing their pronouncements, Bai Sha began to regard the two with a look of pity, simultaneously pondering, ‘If I had pursued my studies back then, could I also have gotten into A University?’

The little one, seated on the sofa watching television, turned her head and discovered the house was suddenly full of people, her eyes wide with astonishment. “So many people!” she exclaimed.

The two goofballs immediately crowded around the little one.

“Although Uncle doesn’t know what’s so fun about studying, I wish Xiao Yu a happy time at school!”

“Move it!” Li Qingyu pushed Wu Di’s large face away, holding up a delicate pink stationery box. He smiled and asked, “Brother bought Xiao Yu a pencil case; isn’t it pretty?!”

The little one first thanked Wu Di, then said, “I really like it; it’s so pretty. Thank you, Big Brother.”

Bai Sha, standing nearby, whispered conspiratorially to Zhou Haochen, ‘They’ve certainly maximized their emotional appeal.’

Bai Sha had already bought her several pencil cases and stationery pouches, yet the little one still looked utterly surprised.

Zhou Haochen, for his part, nodded. “She’s going to have all those little boys utterly smitten in the future!”

Lily emerged from the kitchen, carrying dishes. “Dinner’s ready!”

“Coming!!”

Outside, night descended, while inside, under the warm orange glow, a table laden with delicious food, fine wine, and a few cherished friends created a cozy scene.

The little one sat by the table, observing her parents and her aunts and uncles all drinking.

Her curiosity piqued, she stealthily dipped her finger into her father’s cup and then put it to her mouth, sucking on it.

“Ah!”

Drawn by the sudden cry, everyone turned to look at the little one, who was now sticking out her tongue and panting.

Several people, their faces already flushed, saw Bai Sha retort exasperatedly, “I told you to drink milk, but you wouldn’t behave, would you? This alcohol isn’t good for you anyway.”

The uncles all chuckled, teasing the little one, “She’ll definitely be a heavy drinker when she grows up.”

The little one retorted to her mother, “If it’s not good, then why do you all drink it? Isn’t it because it tastes good?”

The adults all froze, wine glasses in hand, a collective gasp escaping them.

‘Why do we all drink?’ they pondered. It was indeed an excellent question.

Wu Di quietly raised his hand and offered, “Perhaps because we’re into SM (TL Note: A common internet slang term, ‘SM,’ referring to sadomasochism)?”

Zhou Haochen, Sun Weijie, Li Qingyu, Bai Sha, and Lily collectively stared: “???” “Do you even hear yourself?”

“What’s SM?” the little one’s curiosity exploded.

Bai Sha quickly covered her ears. “Uncle Wu is just talking nonsense, Xiao Yu. Be a good girl, and pretend you didn’t hear anything.”

The three men simultaneously struck Wu Di.

“Ouch! What was that for?!”