SFBF CH12

When Shen Qing said that they could go back to study after eating ice cream, Gu Duo was already certain that this person was planning to abandon him and his brother.

No, since he was so greedy for money, perhaps he was going to sell them!

At this moment, Auntie Zhang from downstairs came up. After knocking on the young masters’ door, Auntie Zhang’s kind face was full of worry: “Are the young masters changing clothes to go out? This… it’s winter, and they haven’t been out much…”

…Clearly, even Auntie Zhang felt something was amiss about the mistress taking the young masters out.

In the past, whatever the mistress did in this house, they couldn’t interfere.

But going out… should she report it to the Master? Sigh, she didn’t even know how the Master’s health was right now!…

Shen Qing: “…”

Facing Auntie Zhang’s expression, which looked like she suspected he was about to sell the children, Shen Qing temporarily lost the desire to take the kids out.

Thinking about it, the two children weren’t close to him right now, so taking them out would make them hard to manage.

Plus, it was cold, and since the children didn’t go out often, they could easily catch a cold if they didn’t adjust to the temperature well.

So Shen Qing decided not to go out for now.

The Gu family home was big enough. As long as the two children weren’t confined to their room, playing upstairs and downstairs was fine.

…Actually, this was much more space than ordinary children had to play in.

And ice cream didn’t necessarily have to be eaten out!

As for why they absolutely had to eat ice cream.

Although Shen Qing didn’t like “chicken baby” (high-pressure) education, if the children were willing to learn, he wouldn’t stop them.

But if it weren’t for the original owner constantly stopping them from learning, Gu Duo and Gu Ao might not have been this serious about it.

Worried that the original owner’s interference had led the children down the path of “we must study or else,” Shen Qing still felt that children should enjoy themselves first, relax first, and experience a wonderful life first.

…Let’s start with eating.

Besides, as the patriarch, he had already said they were eating ice cream.

So they had to eat it!

Shen Qing took out his phone, opened a food delivery app, searched directly for ice cream, and ordered a six-inch ice cream cake.

Thinking of the three hundred million he had just received, for the first time, he extravagantly spent money like water, giving the delivery guy a huge tip. As a result, the ice cream cake arrived in barely ten minutes.

In the magnificent kitchen, Shen Qing cut the ice cream into portions and served them on exquisite bone china tableware.

Shen Qing dared not give the two cubs too much. Although he deliberately chose a low-sugar version, he was still afraid it would be too sweet and too cold, so he only gave each of them a small piece to start.

The ice cream was a mix of taro red bean and chocolate flavors, with a delicious caramel biscuit base at the bottom and vanilla ice cream on top.

Shen Qing deliberately chose flavors that children generally liked and could eat.

Additionally, Gu Duo’s piece had a pine tree-shaped chocolate decoration on top, while Gu Ao’s had a chubby snowman.

Shen Qing gave the two largest pieces of chocolate on the whole ice cream cake to them.

The two children sat in their special high chairs, neither moving their cutlery first.

Gu Duo kept a straight face, his expression still cold.

Gu Ao, however, was playing with his chubby little paws under the table… The ice cream smells so good, looks so sweet, and the little snowman on top is so cute!

…If I don’t clasp my hands together, I won’t be able to resist eating it, wu!

But Brother doesn’t like such sweet things.

Then Ao Zai doesn’t like it either!

Gu Ao straightened his back, sitting upright, trying to stay as far away from the plate in front of him as possible.

Alas, the space in the high chair was too limited; he couldn’t move very far…

Ao~~

The three-and-a-half-year-old child wore a mask of pain.

“Let’s eat,” Shen Qing urged when he saw neither child moving.

Gu Duo looked at the ice cream in front of him, never having expected that they were really going to eat ice cream…

From receiving the delivery to opening and plating it, he had watched from the side like a little adult the whole time, and he hadn’t seen any tricks.

On Gu Duo’s small face, his expression became somewhat fractured.

But he had promised this person he would eat when he took back the jade button, so he had to eat.

Even if there were tricks, he had to eat, let alone when there really didn’t seem to be any problems…

Gu Duo still picked up the small spoon, dug out a spoonful, and put it in his mouth. His small eyebrows knitted together as if he wasn’t eating something sweet, but some peerlessly bitter medicine.

Seeing him move his spoon, Ao Zai followed suit and picked up his own small spoon to dig in.

But he was still too small. Although his chubby hands could grip the spoon tightly, the ice cream hadn’t melted much and was quite hard; he couldn’t scoop it up with one try.

Seeing this, Shen Qing naturally scooped a small spoonful for Little Long Aotian and brought it to his mouth.

Gu Ao used to be accustomed to being served. Even though his mother was gone, his brother would feed him. So for a moment, he didn’t feel anything wrong with the action and naturally opened his mouth to accept it.

As soon as the sweet, soft, and smooth ice cream entered his mouth, the rich milk aroma mixed with the taste of cocoa powder filled his taste buds. While trying to maintain his mask of pain, Gu Ao couldn’t control himself and started smacking his lips.

The child’s mouth, squeezed together by cheeks that hadn’t lost their baby fat, wasn’t even as big as the spoon.

When chewing, his cheeks puffed in and out, and his expression couldn’t hide his satisfaction any longer.

Beside him, Gu Duo had intended to feed Ao Zai, but seeing Shen Qing beat him to it, he paused. In the end, he just silently scooped another spoonful into his own mouth.

Gu Duo was different from ordinary children who liked sweets; he really didn’t like sweet things.

But the cold ice cream had a very smooth texture and a rich milky flavor, so… so it wasn’t unacceptable.

Mm, that’s it.

One of the two children had his brows tightly furrowed but quickly scooped another spoonful.

The other simply stopped pretending, his eyebrows practically flying up in delight, looking thoroughly satisfied.

Shen Qing was completely amused by these two kids.

Auntie Zhang, who had been standing by, was also puzzled seeing Shen Qing smile—when the mistress was at home before, aside from seeing him smile in front of the Master, Auntie Zhang had never seen his smiling face.

Even in front of the Master, it was a flattering fake smile.

She had never seen him so cheerful and approachable like now…

Seeing the mistress in a good mood today, Auntie Zhang couldn’t help but interject: “Young Master Ao has been shouting about eating ice cream even in his dreams; today he finally got to eat it.”

Even if children shouldn’t eat too much ice cream, it wasn’t that they couldn’t eat it at all.

Auntie Zhang was hired specifically to cook for the children, so she knew what children this age could and couldn’t eat, and how much to control the portion.

It was just that for things like ice cream, if the employer forbade it, she dared not prepare it no matter how much the children wanted it.

Besides, Young Master Ao was proud and embarrassed to mention these things. If Auntie Zhang hadn’t accidentally overheard him shouting about eating ice cream while fighting someone in his dream, even she wouldn’t have known.

The young masters didn’t actively mention it to the Master, so the Master didn’t know, and naturally wouldn’t satisfy Young Master Ao’s wish.

As for the mistress… even more so…

After moving in, the mistress had been harsh regarding the children’s diet, sometimes only letting her prepare congee.

He was clearly not easy to get along with. Having worked in wealthy households for a long time, Auntie Zhang had long learned to keep her mouth shut and dared not say anything.

Unexpectedly, the mistress took the initiative to buy ice cream for the young masters today.

Hearing Auntie Zhang’s words, Shen Qing made a “shush” gesture to her, signaling her not to mention that.

After all, just now both cubs had stubbornly said they didn’t want to eat ice cream.

Although Gu Ao seemed completely immersed in the frozen hard but still sweet snowman chocolate and didn’t seem to hear what Auntie Zhang said.

But Shen Qing had already witnessed how much this Little Long Aotian cared about saving face.

Even an ordinary person wouldn’t like being exposed to their face like this.

Although children have limited energy and can’t notice many things, they are very perceptive.

They actually know whether adults respect them or not.

Perhaps because his own feelings hadn’t been respected much in his childhood.

Shen Qing wanted to be an adult who considered children’s face and feelings.

Auntie Zhang tactfully shut her mouth, her smile becoming even more kindly.

Why hadn’t she noticed before that the mistress was so considerate?

…Even more considerate was that the mistress had cut a piece for her too…

Auntie Zhang hurriedly declined. She knew this ice cream was expensive. The employer paid her a very high salary, but high-end ice cream was never within the range of what Auntie Zhang considered herself qualified to eat.

Auntie Zhang waved her hands repeatedly: “No no no, Mistress, I can’t eat this, you keep it for yourself.”

Shen Qing always believed in the principle of sharing. Besides, he didn’t like being watched while eating, so he insisted: “Just one piece, just have one piece. The three of us can’t finish this much anyway.”

“Yeah.”

Ao Zai, who was eating happily, noticed this. He actually liked Grandma Zhang quite a bit; he liked Grandma Zhang more than the other grandma! So he enthusiastically invited her to sit down and eat together.

Auntie Zhang couldn’t refuse, so she eventually sat opposite them.

Opposite her, the considerate mistress began to eat his own piece of ice cream.

To be honest, it tasted really good.

But eating too much would still make one’s teeth ache from the cold, so Shen Qing didn’t plan to give the children any more.

In front of the cubs, he told Auntie Zhang: “Put the remaining half in the fridge; we’ll eat it tomorrow.”

Little Long Aotian, who hadn’t finished the piece on his plate yet, immediately had his eyes light up—there’s more tomorrow!

He had to restrain himself desperately to keep from nodding frantically and betraying himself.

Gu Duo pulled out a tissue from the table and wiped his brother’s cream-covered chin.

In any case, Ao Zai was very happy today.

Thinking of how Ao Zai swung his chubby fists non-stop in his dream because the children from the Gu family mansion snatched his ice cream…

Gu Duo pursed his lips and actually felt a sense of relief that adults spoke of, his eyes brightening a little.

Shen Qing noticed that Gu Duo was actually very small too, but he was so thin that his baby fat wasn’t obvious.

Thinking that the thinness was because he couldn’t eat well, coupled with the original owner’s behind-the-scenes manipulation where the food was often lacking.

Shen Qing asked Auntie Zhang again: “What are the babies eating tonight?”

Auntie Zhang was suddenly unsure of the mistress’s meaning again.

In the past, every time the mistress actively asked what the young masters were eating, afterwards he would tell her to prepare some simple congee and side dishes, or not to prepare food at all…

Auntie Zhang had initially protested, saying it wasn’t okay, that the two children needed nutrition now, especially since the eldest young master often had a poor appetite and didn’t eat much to begin with.

But back then, the mistress had interrupted her directly: “It’s precisely because the appetite is bad that they need congee; congee nourishes the stomach! Auntie Zhang, you know so much about nutrition, so why is the eldest young master still so thin?”

Hearing this, Auntie Zhang knew the mistress was threatening her, trying to shift the blame onto her.

She didn’t fully understand the affairs of the wealthy, but the Master was often away, so the mistress was in charge at home… She also knew she couldn’t impulsively bring trouble upon herself.

Originally, she and another auntie took turns preparing food for the young masters. The competition was fierce; if she didn’t agree, the other one would, so she could only do as the mistress said…

Before Auntie Zhang could speak, Shen Qing spoke up on his own: “I don’t know much about children’s menus; let’s make something light for tonight.”

Auntie Zhang: “…”

Shen Qing was still pondering what children should eat and didn’t notice Auntie Zhang’s complex expression.

He considered and said: “Light, but nutritious. How about making some baby steak or chicken or lamb for them? Oh right, don’t make seafood. Seafood is cold in nature, and the babies just ate something cold. Also, prepare some hot fruit tea.”

“!”

Never expecting the mistress to give such detailed instructions, Auntie Zhang was excited and stopped eating her ice cream: “Okay, I’ll go prepare it right away! The Australian steak just arrived this morning; it’s still fresh.”

After discussing what to eat for dinner, Shen Qing stood up.

He pressed Auntie Zhang back into her seat and said, “No rush to prepare, take your time eating. I… am going to do something else.”

Saying that, he intended to leave.

Gu Duo and Gu Ao were still small and couldn’t eat very fast. Seeing Shen Qing getting up to leave, their gazes involuntarily fell on him.

Two little beans, four round eyes, staring at him intently.

Shen Qing was charmed. He reached out and touched their little heads, like petting small animals.

Gu Duo immediately dodged in disgust, completely out of conditioned reflex.

Gu Ao had eaten Shen Qing’s sugar-coated bullet, and with cream on his chubby cheeks again, he dodged a bit slower.

But after dodging, he used his chubby paw to touch the place Shen Qing had just touched, looking at Shen Qing with a domineering gaze that seemed to say, You dare touch the Young Master’s head?

Shen Qing was made to laugh heartily by them again.

Then he got up and left.

Gu Duo watched this person’s retreating figure, understanding less and less what he was up to.

However, since the man left the table voluntarily, the ice cream eating was considered finished.

Transaction complete.

Through his clothes, Gu Duo’s small hand clenched the jade button that had been put back around his neck, still feeling like this day was a dream.

But that person had said that after eating ice cream, he and his brother could go back to study…

If it were before, Gu Duo would definitely think this was some conspiracy.

But now… trying to go back and study didn’t seem to have any downsides?

Gu Duo acted immediately.

“Grandma Zhang, can we take the ice cream back to our room to eat?” Gu Duo asked in a low voice.

“Of course you can.”

Auntie Zhang hurriedly agreed, feeling a bit uncomfortable and heartbroken.

Really, the eldest young master was too polite. He spoke so courteously even to a servant like her, his tone sounding like he was asking for permission; how could she bear it?

And his voice didn’t sound like what a child of his age should have.

The eldest young master wasn’t even seven yet!

Such a small child being so cautious… who knows how much bitterness the young masters had eaten before!

Auntie Zhang said, “I’ll help the young masters take the food back to the room right away.”

Auntie Zhang usually didn’t dare to talk much, but noticing the change in the mistress’s attitude and feeling heartache for the two children, she still asked with concern: “Young master is in such a hurry to return to the room to…”

Gu Duo glanced in the direction Shen Qing had left, thought deeply for a moment, and then deliberately stated clearly: “Study.”

Auntie Zhang: “?”

Study what? Wasn’t the young master only in first grade? And it was winter break right now.

Her little grandson was already in third grade, and let alone studying on his own, he was unhappy even when his parents stared at him to study. The house was in chaos every day because of tutoring the child…

Hearing “study,” Gu Ao on the side also stood up reflexively.

But he was still stuck in the high chair, so eventually, he had to trouble Grandma Zhang to lift him out.

“Does the Little Young Master have to study even when he’s so small?”

Auntie Zhang asked with a smile.

The Little Young Master had fair skin, big eyes, and was chubby and solid; she really liked him so much.

Gu Ao clenched his small fists and nodded solemnly: “Brother says if you want to be an ‘outstanding person’ (cu ren tou di – head and shoulders above others/stand out) and not be ‘cherished husband’ (xi fu – bullied/qi fu), you have to study!”

Auntie Zhang: “…?”

Auntie Zhang was only responsible for the young masters’ diet and dressing/cleaning. She came in later and hadn’t been in contact with the young masters for long, so she couldn’t quite understand what the Little Young Master was saying.

Gu Duo corrected Gu Ao from the side: “It’s not be bullied (qi fu).”

Ao Zai’s pronunciation was already much clearer than before.

Gu Duo had been correcting his brother’s pronunciation recently.

“Ao! Ao Zai knows.” Gu Ao clenched his small fists again and corrected very seriously: “It’s not carry wife (bei xi fu)!”

Gu Duo: “…”

Auntie Zhang burst out laughing, and in the distance, Shen Qing, who hadn’t gone far, bent over laughing directly.

No one noticed that from the beginning, at the top of the stairs on the third floor, Gu Huaiyu, sitting in his wheelchair, had been looking down silently with lowered eyes.

Also amused by Young Master Ao’s milky pronunciation, the assistant beside President Gu suppressed his laughter and couldn’t help whispering emotionally in President Gu’s ear: “The young masters have been very reserved since they arrived; this is the first time seeing them so cheerful. The mistress is amazing!”

Gu Huaiyu’s gaze couldn’t help but turn toward the side staircase, where Shen Qing was walking up while holding the banister.

The young man had a thin figure and a slender waist. At this moment, he was holding the stair railing with one hand and his waist with the other, trembling with laughter…

The smile on the young man’s face was bright and radiant.

Gu Huaiyu stared at him for a long while. Only when Shen Qing stopped lingering and continued upstairs, swaying while holding the railing, did he withdraw his gaze.

He nodded slightly subconsciously.

“En.”

__

Author’s Note:

Little Long Aotian’s Growth Diary: Study hard! Don’t carry wife (bei xi fu)!

Today is President Gu spying on his wife √

PS:

Light (food) as Auntie Zhang thinks: Plain congee and side dishes.

Light (food) as Shen Qing thinks: Anything except barbecue, hot pot, skewers, spicy hot pot, instant noodles, etc., counts OwO