Shen Shuangyi was stunned by this sudden statement, and since he didn't like children to begin with, he was just about to lose his temper when he saw the "special class" words on the chubby boy's chest badge.
His older brother said Shen Yue had been getting along well with her special class classmates recently, and these classmates took good care of Shen Yue...
Oh well, let it go.
After Shen Shuangyi reluctantly held back his anger, he finally had time to think about what the chubby boy just said.
French fries? What french fries?
Shen Yue wanted to eat french fries?
While Shen Shuangyi was decoding the chubby boy's words, he successfully made Bai Xiaming think this was a silent refusal. Bai Xiaming took a deep breath to steady his breathing, then began to open his mouth, "Fried foods have many benefits. Compared to carbohydrates, fried foods can provide energy over a longer period of time. Some studies have even shown they can have a positive effect on insulin levels in certain obese populations. In 2012, Spanish researchers published a study showing that the polyphenol content in extra virgin olive oil can be absorbed into ingredients like fried potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes and eggplant, thereby obtaining more of these antioxidant nutrients..."
After listening to this slew of incomprehensible jargon, Shen Shuangyi, who didn't have the same cognitive abilities as his other brothers, could only extract the key points based on the intonation of the chubby boy's speech.
Stripping away the unimportant arguments and modifiers, he realized the final point was...
"Shen Yue, do you want to eat french fries?"
Shen Yue, who had been lost in thought remembering the details of when her older brother picked her up from school, was brought back to reality by the mention of french fries.
Standing in front of Shen Shuangyi, her childlike eyes flickered with a deep, mysterious light like black gemstones. Her straight nose revealed a hint of stubbornness, and her upright posture demonstrated her steely will.
She said, "I want to eat them."
Shen Shuangyi nodded to indicate he understood, very decisively, "I'll go buy them for you."
Bai Xiaming, who had been prepared to continue his lengthy, evidence-based argument, was left thinking...
What was going on? He had prepared over 30 points about the benefits of eating french fries, determined to battle it out with Shen Yue's brother until he achieved his goal of getting her the fries. How could he just...agree?
Just like that?
After walking two steps, Shen Shuangyi turned back to confirm, "Which french fries do you want?"
Shen Yue pointed to a nearby shop, a cryptic gleam in her eyes.
Shen Shuangyi understood - that was the gleam of starvation. Shen Yue's attitude didn't need confirmation anymore.
He looked again at the chubby boy who had just rattled off a bunch of mumbo jumbo to him. "Wait here for a bit."
After speaking, Shen Shuangyi immediately headed for the shop.
Although Shen Shuangyi was wearing sunglasses and a face mask again, his impressive height and unique bearing seemed to shout "I'm a hunk" with every movement.
Handsome guys always encounter some difficulties when buying french fries.
Like being asked for his contact info by a dozen or so girls.
But Shen Shuangyi was experienced in handling these situations. He politely but firmly rejected the advances of the crazy fangirls, then returned to the car with two boxes of fries.
He handed one to Shen Yue and one to Bai Xiaming.
"Hello, I'm Shen Yue's second older brother. Thank you for caring about her just now, please accept this."
Bai Xiaming waved his hand - he couldn't just take things from strangers, even if the stranger was a classmate's brother.
Seeing Bai Xiaming's reluctance, Shen Shuangyi didn't force it on him. Instead, he said to Shen Yue, "Shen Yue, your classmate must have given you things before too. You can't just receive without giving back."
Shen Yue blinked, took the fries from Shen Shuangyi's hand, and gave them to Bai Xiaming. Although she didn't know what to say, Shen Yue at least knew how she felt at that moment.
"Thank you, Bai Xiaming." If not for you, I wouldn't have gotten my beloved fries. Both me and these fries sincerely thank you!!
After hearing words like that, Bai Xiaming would be rude not to accept.
Blushing, he took the fries from Shen Yue's hand, determined to bring even more tasty food for Shen Yue tomorrow! Even if Ye Yin glared at him, he would make sure Shen Yue had good eats!
And bring some for Shen Yue's second brother too!
Anyone who liked fries was a good person!
Seeing Shen Yue satisfied, Shen Shuangyi grabbed her and tossed her into the backseat with his fourth and fifth younger brothers.
The three pairs of eyes looked at each other, two flickering with the light of barely suppressed tears, though it was unclear what had frightened them this time.
Shen Yue held up the fries. "Fourth brother, do you want fries? Second brother bought them for me."
"Mm...I want..." Shen Jize's voice was very soft, but Shen Yue was used to this volume and could hear him clearly.
"Do you want ketchup or hot chili sauce?"
"I..."
Before Shen Jize could finish speaking, Shen Wu frowned and growled, "He can't eat that stuff."
Shen Yue gave an "oh" and ate one herself, remembering to remind, "Fourth brother, fifth brother won't let you eat it."
It's not that I won't let you eat.
Hearing this, Shen Jize lowered his eyes, clutching his clothes with both hands, seemingly lost in thought.
Just then, Shen Yue spoke up again. "It's okay to eat just one, right? Fifth brother is so capable, even if something happens to fourth brother after eating it, you'd know right away."
After Shen Yue said this, Shen Jize looked over, eyes full of anticipation.
Under that hopeful gaze, Shen Wu nodded.
Shen Yue and Shen Jize happily high-fived and began chomping away.
Without even being asked, Shen Wu naturally joined in the fry feast.
Meanwhile, Shen Shuangyi sitting in the passenger seat was seriously questioning his life.
What on earth had happened while he was filming? Why did it seem like his (not) little sister in the backseat was suddenly so close with those other two freaks in the family?
Had he missed something? Wasn't he Shen Yue's sole savior?!
"Second brother...do you want some?" Just as Shen Shuangyi was lost in thought, he suddenly heard that familiar voice and paused briefly in surprise.
In the past, this was one of the voices he hated most - his fourth younger brother, Shen Jize. Weak, delicate, insecure, lacking manliness and backbone, yet somehow gifted with an intelligence he envied but lacked. It made him irrationally jealous.
But today, that voice sounded so nice.
"It's okay, you guys eat." Shen Shuangyi pretended to decline aloofly - he wouldn't be caught dead eating fries with these kids and losing face.
Shen Jize had finally worked up the courage to speak to Shen Shuangyi, only to be casually rejected as expected. His eyes reddened slightly, but the tears didn't fall. He held them back.
Shen Yue was the first to notice, and praised, "Fourth brother is getting more and more awesome, you didn't even cry this time!"
Hearing this, Shen Jize shyly lowered his head and smiled, continuing to take small bites of the single fry he had been permitted.
Just then, Shen Wu beside them snorted arrogantly and gobbled up all of Shen Yue's remaining fries in one go.
Shen Yue's eyes went wide.
That thieving dog!
"Second brother! He ate all the fries you bought me!"
Originally feeling somewhat irritated by the lively noises coming from behind, Shen Shuangyi suddenly calmed down after hearing this, and even felt like laughing.
He looked around at the nearby shops and had the driver stop nearby.
"Alright, I'll go buy you more."
After a while, seeing the utterly satisfied Shen Yue, it belatedly occurred to him -
"You three... don't tell oldest brother about eating fries today."
