CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: FOLLOW BROTHER YANGYANG FOR FOOD (PART 3)

Zhao Meimei led her underlings, each carrying a plastic bag of river snails, and was sent home by Shi Yang.

The group of kids were all safe and sound, with no injuries.

The worried parents gathered in front of the grocery store finally relaxed, stepping forward to grab their troublesome kids. Some scolded them, others yelled, and soon dispersed.

Zhao Meimei realized she had made a mistake and sheepishly stood behind her Brother Yangyang, her little head drooping in silence.

Liu Xiue saw her covered in mud, her eyes reddened with emotion, and she stepped forward to pull Zhao Meimei from behind Shi Yang, scolding gruffly, "How could you be so bold? Do you think the riverside is a place you can go? It’s so dangerous! And not only did you go, you brought a bunch of kids along! It’s a good thing nothing happened today!"

Liu Xiue angrily poked Zhao Meimei on the forehead, causing her to yelp in pain and quickly hide behind her Brother Yangyang.

Liu Xiue reached out again to grab Zhao Meimei, but Shi Yang didn’t move aside this time and stopped her, "Aunt, Meimei knows she’s wrong. Don’t be mad."

Shi Yang turned to Zhao Meimei and gave her a look: Hurry and apologize to your mom! Do you really want a beating?

Zhao Meimei quickly stuck her head out and looked at her mom, "Mom, I’m wrong. I’ll never go to the riverside again. Please don’t be mad at me."

Liu Xiue, filled with anger, placed one hand on her hip and pointed at Zhao Meimei, "Dou Dou from Building Five is only five years old, and you dared to take him to the riverside. What if something happened? His family wouldn’t forgive you! You’re utterly fearless!"

Liu Xiue was furious and reached out again to grab Zhao Meimei, "I have to teach you a lesson today so you won’t keep causing trouble!"

Zhao Meimei hugged her Brother Yangyang’s waist tightly and hid her face.

Shi Yang stopped Liu Xiue, "Aunt, aunt, let’s talk it over, but you can’t hit the child!"

Liu Xiue was truly aggravated, pushing Shi Yang aside, "Yangyang, step aside. If I don’t give her a beating today, she’ll forget who she is! She actually dared to go to the riverside! Zhao Meimei, tell me, what were you doing at the riverside? Do you know how worried I was? I was anxiously waiting here, terrified that something might happen to you, Zhao Meimei! Have you lost your mind?"

Upon hearing her mom’s question, Zhao Meimei quickly raised the mostly full plastic bag of river snails, "I went to collect snails. Mom, you love stir-fried snails the most, so I collected these especially for you."

Listening to this, Liu Xiue was almost amused by her anger, "Who said I love stir-fried snails? Every time they’re cooked, it’s you two who fight to eat them while I’m always left picking out the meat for you both."

Zhao Meimei emerged from behind Shi Yang, snuggling up to her mom, "Mom, I’m wrong. Please don’t be mad at me. I promise I won’t go to the riverside again."

Liu Xiue couldn’t truly bring herself to hit Zhao Meimei, just pretended to scare her, keeping a stern face, "You must get my permission before going anywhere from now on! Got it?"

Zhao Meimei nodded obediently, showing an excellent attitude in admitting her mistake.

Liu Xiue smoothed her disheveled hair, "You almost scared mom to death. I was here worried sick fearing something might happen to you."

Zhao Meimei tilted her head up with a smile at her mom, "Mom, I won’t make you worry next time."

Liu Xiue glared at her, "If it weren’t for your Brother Yangyang protecting you today, I would definitely give you a beating."

Zhao Meimei turned to her Brother Yangyang with a wink: After mom finishes stir-frying the snails tonight, I’ll bring some to you!

Shi Yang laughed and winked back at her.

Liu Xiue took the mostly full plastic bag of snails from Zhao Meimei, calling Shi Yang, "Yangyang..."

Shi Yang quickly erased the playful expression from his face, "Ah?"

Liu Xiue said, "Come over for dinner tonight. I’ll cook snails for you all."

Shi Yang agreed with a smile, "Alright."

Ever since Shi Yang’s mother became friends with Liu Xiue, Shi Yang and Zhao Meimei had become frequent visitors to each other’s homes.

Sometimes Shi Yang’s mother would go into the city to visit his father, leaving Shi Yang alone at home. When Liu Xiue learned of it, she would call Shi Yang over to her house and feed him three meals a day.

Shi Yang’s mother would often come back from the city with plenty of good stuff, and after sorting them at home, she never forgot to let Shi Yang bring some over to Zhao Meimei’s house.

Zhao Meimei received many good things from Shi Yang. She would brag about them to her little friends, making all the children envious and jealous, as many of these things were neither seen nor available for purchase.

After finishing his homework during the day, Shi Yang would ride his bicycle out of the small building and sometimes deliberately detour to the small square to find Zhao Meimei.

This past half year, Shi Yang had grown taller, and standing by the small square on his bicycle, he appeared as an adult in the eyes of Zhao Meimei and the other kids.

Shi Yang wore a printed white T-shirt, knee-length shorts, and leather sandals, which were a class above the synthetic shoes on Zhao Meimei and her friends’ feet.

Shi Yang braced a leg against the bike, reaching out to ring the bell a couple of times.

Zhao Meimei heard the sound, and without a second thought, abandoned her team game with her little friends, bolting over and leaping onto the front bar of Shi Yang’s bike, draping her arms over the handlebar.

The other little friends ran over, watching with envy as Zhao Meimei sat on the bicycle.

Zhao Meimei rang the bell.

Ring ring ring...

Confidently straighten her back, raising a small hand, "You all continue playing, my Brother Yangyang is taking me for a ride!"

Zhao Meimei pushed her back towards her Brother Yangyang’s chest, sticking close together, warm and sticky.

Shi Yang dodged backwards, "Don’t lean on me, running wild and sweaty all over, you smell gross!"

Zhao Meimei pulled her clothes and sniffed, "Does it really smell? I can’t smell anything!"

She shifted her seat on the front bar, turning to face Shi Yang, leaning in and sniffing, "Hmm, Brother Yangyang, you smell so nice, really good."

Shi Yang grunted, "Smell nice, huh? I didn’t even use perfume. If you weren’t so smelly, there’s no way I’d seem to smell good."

Shi Yang carried Zhao Meimei along the roadside for a walk. Leaving the residential complex was a straight avenue lined with willows, Zhao Meimei catching the warm breeze, stretching her arms to tug at the occasional brush of the willow twigs.

Every now and then, they would bump into neighbors from the building, and Zhao Meimei, with her sweet mouth, would greet them proactively.

Shi Yang would stop the bike and join her in greeting them.

Gradually, everyone in the residential building came to know Shi Yang, and they would exchange greetings when they saw him.

Qu Chaozong watched Zhao Meimei stick to Shi Yang, joking, "Shi Yang, is this your real sister then? Following you everywhere!"

Shi Yang reached out and stroked Zhao Meimei’s smooth little forehead, "Of course, she’s my real sister."

Zhao Meimei sucked up to her Brother Yangyang, hug his leg without hesitation at the crucial moment, turning to Qu Chaozong with a tilted little chin and a smug flick of her eyelids, the meaning clear.