Jing Zeqian leaned in close to ManMan, watching as his little nephew skillfully played with the Rubik's cube in his hands.
"ManMan, who do you like more, Uncle Zeqian or Uncle Zeyou?" This time, he put himself first, hoping for a different answer.
ManMan didn’t pause for a moment, his voice soft and sweet, "I like both!" His mom had told him not to favor one over the other, so when faced with such questions, he should always say he likes both.
Jing Zeqian was momentarily speechless.
It wasn’t that he was dissatisfied with the answer, but it seemed all too much like something Jing Yiyi had coached him to say. And the response felt so insincere.
Shen Huaichu, who was sitting nearby playing with his son, couldn’t help but smirk, his eyes filled with amusement. Jing Zeqian caught it immediately.
With a huff, Jing Zeqian turned back to ManMan and asked, "ManMan, who do you like more, Uncle Zeyou or Daddy?"
ManMan finally solved the Rubik's cube, let out a small sigh of relief, and smiled brightly.
"I like both!"
Shen Huaichu: "...Jing Zeqian, you’re really childish."
How did Jing Zeqian and the others discover ManMan’s fondness for Jing Zeyou?
It was obvious. Whenever Jing Zeyou was around, ManMan wouldn’t cling to anyone else for attention.
When ManMan was just under two years old, if he was placed in a circle of people without Jing Yi, he would toddle straight toward Jing Zeyou.
Shen Huaichu had even complained to Jing Yi about it a few times.
...
"Uncle Zeyou!"
Jing Zeyou picked up ManMan and carried him upstairs to change into his home clothes.
There was no other choice—if he made ManMan wait, the little one would definitely get upset.
Jing Zeyou carried him back down, and ManMan was still chattering away about what he had done that day.
The clingy, affectionate little boy always made Jing Zeqian feel a pang of jealousy whenever he saw them together.
ManMan’s daily routine was pretty much the same, but today was a bit different.
He had asked his mom for something, but she hadn’t given it to him.
Jing Zeyou raised an eyebrow, looking at his well-behaved nephew sitting on his lap. "What was it?" If necessary, he could try to find something similar.
ManMan looked up at him with his soft, round face and said, "It’s that really cool black car." Jing Zeyou was momentarily stunned. A really cool black car?
Could he be talking about the 'Midnight'?
......
Earlier that morning
"Mom, is there a car in the garage that’s mine?"
ManMan snuggled into Jing Yi’s arms, pouting. He had been eyeing the cars in the garage for a while, but he knew they all belonged to his mom.
Jing Yi pinched his chubby little cheek, her eyes—so similar to ManMan’s—filled with laughter.
"Shen Manman, I can’t believe you’re already trying to claim my things at such a young age!"
Shen Huaichu, who was sitting nearby, didn’t even look up as he chimed in, "Of course there is. Isn’t your toy car parked in there?"
Shen Huaichu was referring to the toy cars ManMan’s uncles had given him. They could have been kept in the playroom, but for some reason, they were deliberately parked in the garage.
Every time Jing Yi and Shen Huaichu walked past, their eyes would linger for a moment, worried they might accidentally crush the tiny cars.
ManMan puffed out his cheeks, "Dad, I’m asking Mom!" His dad was so mean—he knew that wasn’t what he meant!
Shen Huaichu raised a hand, signaling for ManMan to continue, while he went back to whatever he was working on.
Jing Yi watched the little exchange between father and son with amusement, then turned her attention back to her persistent son.
"Alright, which one do you want?"
Her son was just too adorable, and she could hardly refuse such a small request. After all, even if he got it, he couldn’t drive it—he’d still be stuck with the toy cars taking up space in the garage.
ManMan’s face lit up with excitement, but before he could say anything, Jing Yi added,
"Except for the shiny black sports car. That one’s off-limits."
ManMan’s smile faded, replaced by a look of confusion and disappointment. "Why can’t I have the shiny black car?"
So he really did want the 'Midnight'?
Jing Yi held her son close and patiently explained, "That car was a gift from your Uncle Zeyou, and I’m not ready to part with it." She was glad she’d clarified that upfront, or else she might have ended up giving the 'Midnight' away.
Shen Huaichu, enjoying the little drama, decided to pass the problem along to Jing Zeyou.
"Or, you could go ask the person who gave it to her?"
Jing Yi shot Shen Huaichu a look. She knew exactly what he was up to—he was being so childish!
......
"...So, your dad sent you to ask me?"
ManMan nodded obediently. "Yes, Daddy said if I couldn’t decide, I should ask the person who gave the gift."
Shen Huaichu, you’re something else.
Jing Zeyou sighed in resignation.
Seeing his little nephew still waiting for an answer, he spoke gently, "ManMan, I can’t make the decision for your mom about whether she can give it to you."
ManMan tilted his head, his little face full of confusion as he listened to his uncle continue, "But since your mom doesn’t want to part with it, shouldn’t you respect her feelings?"
ManMan wasn’t happy about it. This was the first time in his life that both his mom and uncle had said no to him at the same time.
He clung to Jing Zeyou’s arm and pleaded, "Not even for me?" Jing Zeyou smiled at his nephew’s attempt to win him over with cuteness.
If there had been a second 'Midnight,' he would have done everything in his power to get it for ManMan, but unfortunately, there was only one.
"No."
ManMan cupped his chubby little face in his hands, his brows furrowed as if he were pondering some great dilemma.
But instead of being upset about the rejection, he was more troubled by something else.
...
When Jing Zeqian returned home, he found his little nephew sitting by the door, his chubby cheeks resting in his hands, his eyebrows knitted together in a serious expression.
Jing Zeqian chuckled and scooped him up. "You’re waiting for me today? How sweet!"
ManMan’s face remained serious. "I’m thinking about something." Jing Zeqian teased, "Oh? What’s got our little ManMan so deep in thought?"
ManMan, still looking very serious, recounted his earlier conversation with Jing Zeyou.
Then, he came to a conclusion. "In Uncle Zeyou’s heart, Mom is more important than me!"
Even though he was only three, he knew it! Uncle Zeyou always gave him whatever he wanted—except this time.
Jing Zeqian was both amused and impressed. His three-year-old nephew’s logic was surprisingly sharp.
But what did he want with a sports car? His little legs couldn’t even reach the pedals—what was the point?
Jing Zeqian carried the boy inside, seizing the opportunity to cement his place as ManMan’s favorite uncle.
"See? Uncle Zeqian is the best, right?"
ManMan immediately replied, "Uncle Zeyou is great too!" Jing Zeqian pinched his chubby cheek in mock annoyance. "You’re such a loyal fan of your Uncle Zeyou!"
Seeing that ManMan was still a little down, Jing Zeqian gently ruffled his hair and, for once, said something nice about his "rival."
"ManMan, your Uncle Zeyou loves you very, very much. But your mom isn’t just your mom—she’s also his sister."
"You’re his nephew because of her, but she’s been his sister for much longer."
These words were a bit complex for a three-year-old to fully grasp, but ManMan soon stopped worrying about it.
A few days later, ManMan received a custom-made miniature version of the 'Midnight' from his Uncle Zeyou. Even Jing Yi couldn’t help but admire it, circling the tiny car several times.
