It's just a one - day separation. Why be so sentimental?
"Because big brother is going to be sent away tomorrow," Xu An'an pouted and explained.
Little did she know that her words were quite alarming. Lu Chuanbai was startled and nervously looked at Xu Qingqing.
"Why are you sending Xu Yiyi away?"
Xu Qingqing quickly explained, "We're not sending Xu Yiyi away. There's just a segment in the variety show where the kids have to swap families."
Hearing this, Lu Chuanbai breathed a sigh of relief but still seemed unenthusiastic.
"So, there'll be another kid coming to our house tomorrow."
"Right."
Seeing Lu Chuanbai listless, Xu Qingqing gave him a heads - up in advance.
"When the other kid comes, don't pull a long face. Treat the other kid the same way you treat Yiyi and An'an."
When Lu Chuanbai got a cold look on his face, even she felt intimidated, let alone a kid coming to an unfamiliar environment.
"Got it."
Lu Chuanbai took off his shoes, sat on the carpet, and held Xu Yiyi in his arms, instructing him carefully.
"Yiyi, other people's homes are not our home. You have to be polite when you're at someone else's place. Do you understand?"
Xu Yiyi nodded seriously, "Dad, I remember."
"Good boy," Lu Chuanbai pressed his cool cheek against Xu Yiyi's warm little face.
"Dad will pick you up as soon as possible tomorrow."
"Thank you, Dad." Xu Yiyi wrapped his little hands around Lu Chuanbai's neck.
Xu Qingqing watched and shook her head with a smile.
Lu Chuanbai, as a father, was more reluctant to part with the kids than she, the mother.
Early the next morning, the program's car came to pick up Xu Yiyi and also brought the kid who was swapped to Xu Qingqing's family.
The swapped kid was named Xiao Xuanxuan. He was chubby and the son of an athlete. His father was a high - jumper.
The Xu family reluctantly sent Xu Yiyi onto the car. Xu Yiyi was very independent. He climbed into the car and waved at Xu Qingqing and the others.
"Dad, Mom, I'm leaving!"
"Okay."
The car that picked up Xu Yiyi drove away, while Xiao Xuanxuan was in the next car. He opened the door and jumped out.
Xu Qingqing nudged the expressionless Lu Chuanbai and whispered a reminder.
"Smile. Don't look so miserable."
"Okay." Lu Chuanbai put on a polite smile.
Xu Qingqing took Xu An'an's hand and stepped forward to greet Xiao Xuanxuan, who was carrying a little tiger - patterned schoolbag. She warmly welcomed him.
"Hello, Xiao Xuanxuan. I'm Aunt Xu, and this is Sister An'an."
"Hello, Aunt Xu. Hello, Sister An'an."
Xiao Xuanxuan had a chubby little face and a cute smile. He seemed easy to get along with.
Little did they know that this was the start of a nightmare.
Xu Qingqing smiled and stroked his head. She reached out to hold Xiao Xuanxuan's hand and wanted to lead him home.
But Xiao Xuanxuan dodged. He opened his little tiger backpack and took out a can of chewing gum. He enthusiastically offered it to Xu An'an.
"Sister An'an, have some candy."
Although it was chewing gum, Xu Qingqing didn't stop them, considering Xiao Xuanxuan's good intentions.
"An'an, quickly thank Brother Xuanxuan."
"Thank you, Xuanxuan."
Xu An'an still remembered her agreement with Xu Yiyi not to recognize other big brothers, so she called Xiao Xuanxuan by his nickname.
Xu An'an obediently reached out to take the top piece of chewing gum. The moment the chewing gum was pulled out, a spider suddenly jumped out and clamped onto Xu An'an's hand.
"Ah!"
Xu An'an was so scared that she screamed. She frantically waved her hand to get rid of the spider on it.
"There's a spider! I'm scared!"
Xu An'an was extremely afraid of insects like spiders. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Lu Chuanbai quickly protected her in his arms and brushed off the spider that was stuck to Xu An'an's hand.
Only then did they find out that the spider was fake. It was stuck on the chewing gum to form a simple little clip.
When Xu An'an pulled out the chewing gum, the spider suddenly appeared and clamped onto her hand.
Lu Chuanbai hugged Xu An'an and gently patted her back to comfort her.
"It's okay. Don't be afraid. It's fake."
But the shadow of the spider touching her hand lingered in Xu An'an's mind. She tightly hugged Lu Chuanbai's neck and sobbed.
Xiao Xuanxuan didn't think there was anything wrong with what he did. Instead, he laughed triumphantly and made a face at Xu An'an's back.
"Hahaha, coward!"
Then Xiao Xuanxuan picked up the spider and stuffed it back into the chewing - gum bottle. He ran into the house and plopped down on the sofa without even taking off his shoes.
What's wrong with this kid!
Xu Qingqing was instantly stunned. She squatted down lovingly to comfort Xu An'an. "Good baby, don't cry. The spider is fake. It won't bite you."
Xu An'an's little face was red from crying. She was extremely aggrieved.
Xu Yiyi would never play tricks on her like this. Xiao Xuanxuan was too much!
After comforting Xu An'an, Xu Qingqing looked up and saw Xiao Xuanxuan running and jumping on the sofa with his shoes on. She suppressed her anger and constantly comforted herself.
Xiao Xuanxuan was just a kid. It was normal for him to be a bit naughty.
Not all kids were as well - behaved as her two kids.
Endure it. This was someone else's kid. She mustn't beat him!
Xu Qingqing gave herself a mental pep - talk. She took out a pair of disposable slippers and told Xiao Xuanxuan, who was running around on the sofa, to stop.
"Xiao Xuanxuan, the shoes are dirty after walking on the road. You can't run around on the sofa."
"Come down quickly. Auntie will change your shoes for you."
Seeing someone trying to stop him, Xiao Xuanxuan ran even faster on the sofa. The sofa cover was trampled into a wrinkled mess.
Xu Qingqing forced a smile. She reached out and grabbed Xiao Xuanxuan's collar, lifted him off the sofa, and pressed him down. She forcefully took off his shoes.
"We need to change into slippers at home. Please bear with it for a while."
Xiao Xuanxuan was forcefully held down by Xu Qingqing. He kept crossing his legs and kicking around, showing extreme non - cooperation.
Xiao Xuanxuan deliberately provoked Xu Qingqing. His raised little foot almost kicked Xu Qingqing in the face. Fortunately, Xu Qingqing dodged in time.
Xu Qingqing endured all this. Her smile was stiff. She constantly reminded herself to keep calm for the sake of harmony.
After all, this was someone else's kid. She mustn't discipline him.
Lu Chuanbai, who was holding Xu An'an, watched Xu Qingqing being wronged without showing any expression.
No one in their family had ever dared to act like this towards Xu Qingqing. This kid was so impolite!
Unable to bear it any longer, Lu Chuanbai put Xu An'an down and stepped forward on his own initiative. He said coldly, "I'll help him change his shoes."
Xu Qingqing sensed that Lu Chuanbai was holding back his anger. Worried that he might lose his temper, she waved her hand. "No need."
It took Xu Qingqing a great deal of effort to change Xiao Xuanxuan's shoes. She was physically and mentally exhausted and wiped the fine sweat from her forehead.
After all that commotion, Xiao Xuanxuan was hungry. He hugged his stomach and rolled on the sofa.
Hearing Xiao Xuanxuan's stomach growling, Xu Qingqing still couldn't bring herself to be harsh.