Having just eaten spicy food, his lips were a shade redder.
Ji Yanyi tilted his head back fully, trying to meet her eyes. What had he asked just now? Something like 'Why are you so happy?'
'It's because of all these snacks you eat before and after meals that you've been growing so sturdy.'
Ji Yanyi guiltily wiped his mouth.
'...Mom, you haven't answered my question.'
Bo Xin confiscated the remaining half bowl. With two eight-year-old kids, the bicycle was now completely useless.
She frowned slightly, as if genuinely recalling. 'I was thinking about you two—when did you become so close that you call each other brothers?'
She rubbed Ji Yanyi's chin. 'Most importantly, you didn't tell me. I had to hear it from someone else.'
Ji Yanyi rarely kept things from his mom, but back then, he couldn't help it.
Saying it out loud now felt a bit embarrassing.
He buried his face in Bo Xin's waist, his arms tightening around her in sync with the movement.
Such an affectionate gesture was something Jiang Yuxu had never done. He was holding her hand, while Ji Yanyi hugged her waist. The three of them made for an awkward pose.
He narrowed his eyes and took a step back.
Ji Yanyi was forced to look up, giving Jiang Yuxu a bewildered glance.
Jiang Yuxu's expression didn't change. His words sounded like a counterattack. 'You sure know how to act spoiled, don't you?'
Ji Yanyi stepped forward and nuzzled against his mom's belly again. When he lifted his head, his hair was messy. He casually ran his fingers through it as a fix.
'What's wrong? You want to learn?'
Jiang Yuxu's narrow eyes widened slightly, then returned to normal. Amidst the chaos in his mind, he seemed to hear her soft laugh.
It felt like being seen through.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and turned his head slightly. '...No.'
No what? No, he didn't want to learn?
Ji Yanyi realized that this kid had a habit of only finishing half his sentences. Ji Yanyi was smart enough to understand, but his mom seemed to see right through him.
He cast a trusting glance at her.
Bo Xin seemed to snap out of her daze. The distance home appeared to be only five hundred meters.
But then she changed her mind midway.
'How about we eat at a restaurant?'
Jiang Yuxu suddenly grabbed her sleeve. Ji Yanyi might not notice, but he could tell—the family probably didn't have much money.
'Never mind, didn't we already buy groceries at home?'
Bo Xin took the child's hand in hers. She hesitated for a moment to tease him, then stubbornly stuck to her decision.
'When you're happy, you should eat without holding back.'
No need to worry about preparing dishes or washing up.
Speaking of which, dish soap was really harsh on the hands. She couldn't let her hands become rough.
The restaurant required a change of direction. Ji Yanyi instantly went from being first in line to last.
He followed behind Jiang Yuxu, poking his chin in thought.
He felt that Jiang Yuxu didn't need to learn at all—he was already quite good at acting spoiled.
The bicycle was locked to a lamppost in the middle of the road. Bo Xin freed one hand, now holding one child in each hand.
The restaurant happened to have a private room. Bo Xin ordered six dishes. The portions were generous—a bit much for one adult and two kids—but they could take the leftovers home.
Mainly, she was happy today. And since Jiang Yuxu came back, they'd been eating noodles and flatbread all along.
Bo Xin only just realized.
She went to the counter and bought a bottle of sweet drink. If she remembered correctly, kids loved this stuff.
Jiang Yuxu and Ji Yanyi sat in the private room. Ji Yanyi had already started eating, while Jiang Yuxu rested his chopsticks on the bowl, sitting quietly.
'Mom said we don't have to wait for her.'
Jiang Yuxu was hungry. The dish closest to him on the round table was crab—whole and trussed up. Seeing Ji Yanyi eat it with relish, he showed a rare hint of curiosity.
'Too bad I don't know how to eat it.'
At that moment, Ji Yanyi's face looked so much like Bo Xiao's. Jiang Yuxu decided to be straightforward. 'I might need her to come back and help me.'
Ji Yanyi paused, recalling how familiar Yuxu was with acting spoiled...
But it was normal for Yuxu not to have eaten crab before and not know how.
The taste in his mouth gradually faded. He washed it down with a sip of plain water.
He wiped his fingers clean decisively and picked up the crab with a hint of boldness. 'You don't need Mom for this. I'll help you.'
'Alright.'