At the Jing household, Jing Yi and her husband were both busy with work, so during the day, ManMan mostly stayed at the Jing residence. After all, the families lived close by.
ManMan was sitting on the sofa playing with a Rubik's Cube, while Lin Ruiqing sat beside him, smiling as she watched him and occasionally feeding him some fruit.
"Thank you, Grandma!"
ManMan tilted his head and gave Lin Ruiqing a sweet, soft smile.
Lin Ruiqing smiled even more, the corners of her eyes crinkling with joy. She softened her voice, "You're welcome, ManMan. Would you like some more grapes?"
Jing Beicheng, who was nearby, glanced over, a hint of amused helplessness in his eyes. Ever since ManMan came into their lives, his wife's attention had completely shifted to the little boy.
Perhaps because Jing Beicheng had been watching for a while, ManMan looked at him, then at the fruit in Lin Ruiqing's hand.
He took the fork from Lin Ruiqing, speared a piece of fruit, and with his little topknot bouncing, he trotted over to Jing Beicheng. Looking up at him, he offered the fruit.
"Grandpa, eat this."
Grandpa had been watching for so long; he must want some fruit!
ManMan held up the fruit, his eyes, which looked so much like Jing Yi's, gazing at him.
Jing Beicheng chuckled with a mix of helplessness and affection, opening his mouth to eat the fruit. "Thank you, ManMan." His actions were practiced, clearly not the first time this had happened.
Lin Ruiqing, her eyes filled with warmth, deliberately coughed lightly. ManMan immediately turned around, speared another piece of fruit, and brought it to Lin Ruiqing's mouth.
"Grandma, you eat too!"
Mom had said not to favor one over the other.
"Ahem, is there any for me?" A clear, cheerful voice rang out.
ManMan immediately looked over to see Jing Zeqian, who had just returned. His round eyes sparkled with excitement as he put down the fork and rushed over.
"Uncle Zeqian!"
Jing Zeqian crouched down, catching the little "missile" that came barreling toward him, and lifted him up.
"Whoa, it's only been a few days since I last saw you, and you've already gained weight?"
Jing Zeqian settled ManMan on his arm and playfully pinched his little belly.
ManMan immediately protected his stomach, his soft cheeks puffing out. "Uncle Zeqian, ManMan isn't heavy. Dad says you're just too weak."
Jing Zeqian: "...He's been talking about me again, hasn't he?!"
ManMan quickly covered his mouth, his little eyes darting around. He had forgotten that Mom said not to mention that.
ManMan knew exactly who to turn to for help. He looked at Lin Ruiqing, but before he could say anything, she cut off Jing Zeqian's attempt to press the matter.
"Alright, you're old enough now. When are you going to stop bickering with Huaichu and grow up?"
Jing Zeqian dodged Lin Ruiqing's attempt to take ManMan from him, shifting the boy to his other arm. "Mom, I'm taking ManMan out for a bit."
Hearing this, ManMan let go of Lin Ruiqing's hand, his eyes lighting up as he clung to Jing Zeqian's arm, his face beaming with the joy of going out to play.
Lin Ruiqing shot Jing Zeqian a stern look. "Don't take ManMan to bother Huaichu again."
This wasn't an unfounded warning, as Jing Zeqian had indeed taken ManMan to Huarui Group to see Shen Huaichu before, and the two of them had left happily after annoying him.
Jing Zeqian looked aggrieved. Wasn't it his nephew who wanted to see his dad? How had it turned into his own selfish scheme?
Lin Ruiqing rolled her eyes. She knew her son all too well.
Jing Zeqian sighed in resignation. "My status has really plummeted!"
Before ManMan came along, he and Shen Huaichu were on equal footing. But now, with ManMan in the picture, Shen Huaichu had completely risen in status because of his son! The more Lin Ruiqing adored ManMan, the kinder she became toward Shen Huaichu!
Even worse, his father was the same. Whenever Shen Huaichu showed up with ManMan, his dad's expression visibly softened!
It was so unfair!
ManMan, sitting in Jing Zeqian's arms, mimicked his uncle's sigh, his little brow furrowing as he said in his childish voice, "Plummeted!"
Lin Ruiqing couldn't help but laugh at the little boy. "Don't learn these things from your uncle." Then she turned back to Jing Zeqian. "Where are you taking ManMan?"
She needed to make sure her younger son wasn't up to something irresponsible.
Jing Zeqian did feel a bit guilty. He wanted to take ManMan to Shanshi for some fun, but he couldn't admit that. After all, it was even worse than going to Huarui Group to annoy Shen Huaichu—or rather, to visit ManMan's dad.
Lin Ruiqing could tell from Jing Zeqian's expression that he wasn't being entirely honest. This guy could never be trusted!
Before Lin Ruiqing could press further, Jing Zeqian dashed out the door with ManMan in his arms.
ManMan wasn't new to being carried off like this. He giggled happily, waving goodbye to Lin Ruiqing and Jing Beicheng.
ManMan was a polite child.
Before Lin Ruiqing could react, the two were already gone. Jing Beicheng, used to this, steadied his wife as she began scolding their younger son.
"How can he still be so irresponsible? Ever since ManMan was less than a year old, he's been taking him out to play every other day..."
Jing Beicheng's eyes twinkled with amusement, but when his wife looked at him, he immediately put on a serious expression, as if to say, "I'm on your side."
Though, if he were to be honest, Shen Huaichu was also quite laid-back, trusting Jing Zeqian to take care of their son.
Shen Huaichu: ...When had he ever been trusting? He had even started resorting to badmouthing Jing Zeqian.
...
Meanwhile, Jing Zeqian, who had "stolen" ManMan away, carried the boy on his shoulders as they headed out.
ManMan placed his hands on Jing Zeqian's head, his face alight with excitement. "Uncle Zeqian, where are we going today?"
He knew that whenever Uncle Zeqian took him out, it was always for something fun!
Jing Zeqian walked steadily, mindful of the three-year-old perched on his shoulders.
"First, Uncle Zeqian will take you to eat something delicious, and then we'll go see your mom, okay?" This was likely the time when Jing Yi would be training at Shanshi.
ManMan was even more thrilled. He had seen his mom race cars before, and she was super cool!
He raised his chubby little hand and exclaimed, "Uncle Zeqian, can I drive a car at the big racetrack today?"
Hearing this, Jing Zeqian nearly stumbled in his guilt. It was his fault for taking ManMan to the racetrack in the first place, sparking the boy's fascination with racing.
"ManMan, remember what we agreed? You have to wait until you're at least eighteen to even think about that."
Please don't let this slip in front of his mom or Jing Yi, or he'd be in big trouble!
ManMan was a little disappointed but didn't fuss. "Then, Uncle Zeqian, can I ride in Mom's race car today?"
Oh no, he couldn't promise that either. ManMan was only three, and all the cars at home had special child seats. Who would dare let him sit in a race car?
Jing Zeqian chuckled nervously. "ManMan, today we'll go to the special track just for you, and we'll drive the little red car, okay?"
ManMan sighed like a little adult. It seemed Dad was right—Uncle Zeqian really couldn't make any decisions.
Still, he really liked Uncle Zeqian! And Mom had said that Uncle Zeqian was like a little princess inside, so as a little knight, he needed to take care of him!
"Okay, Uncle Zeqian! Let's drive the red car today!"
"Alright! Let's go!"
