Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 83.2 – Are You Cursing Me? (II)

There has been a mass release last Sunday (10 chapters!) If you missed them, you can read it here

By the time the cake was finished, it was nearly noon. As they carried it out, they happened to meet Sun Yuexin’s group arriving. Xia Mian had invited them for her milestone birthday.

“This is your handmade birthday cake?” Li Lizhen’s eyes lit up when she saw it in Mao Huilan’s hands. “Huizhu told me it’s really good.”

Mao Huizhu nodded. “Of course! It’s super tasty!”

Xia Mian’s eyes fell on Han Haoyan, who was holding a big, fluffy teddy bear. “Why is he here too?”

“Hey, that’s hurtful!” Han Haoyan protested loudly. “I heard it was your birthday, so I came specially to celebrate with you—how could you not want me here?”

Zhao Cheng explained, “We were picking a gift for you when we ran into him. When he found out it was your birthday, he just had to tag along.”

“Hey—!” Han Haoyan said, annoyed.

Zhao Cheng, seeing his aggrieved face, immediately burst into laughter.

Xia Mian also shook her head with a smile. “Come in!”

Just as Zhou Xuewen was leaving Ning Shaobai’s house, he spotted a handsome young man holding a big plush bear. He stopped in his tracks, narrowed his eyes in thought, then waved over to his son, who hadn’t gone inside yet.

When Chenchen saw his father, he hopped over happily. “Dad!”

“Who’s that?” Zhou Xuewen asked. “The one holding the plush bear.”

“That’s Auntie Xia Mian’s classmate,” Chenchen replied. “The bear is his birthday present for her.” He added in amazement, “It’s so big!”

Zhou Xuewen patted his head. “Go ask your uncle if there are any plush bears in the house. Dad didn’t prepare a gift for Auntie Xia Mian, and girls all like plush bears, right?”

Chenchen didn’t suspect a thing and ran into the courtyard on his short legs. “Uncle—”

A faint smile tugged at Zhou Xuewen’s lips. The enemy’s top soldier was already in position—since that guy was so fond of talking big, let’s see how long he can keep his cool!

Still, no matter how theoretical, there were useful tactics worth learning. Zhou Xuewen entered the house and saw Ning Shaoyun decorating a small cake with the leftover cream.

After a moment’s thought, he decisively sold out Ning Shaobai. “Xiao Yun, did you know Xiao Bai likes Xia Mian?”

Wasn’t this exactly what Ning Shaobai had advised him—shared topics beyond work and Chenchen? This one had to beat “ear piercing” by a mile.

Sure enough, Ning Shaoyun froze for a moment, then looked at him in surprise. “Really? How do you know?”

“I saw him pierce her ears just now—very gently, very unlike him,” Zhou Xuewen said.

Ning Shaoyun’s eyes grew thoughtful, and a small laugh escaped her. “He hides it well.”

“Thinking back, he always teases her, but never refuses her anything,” she said with a smile. “I wonder when he started having feelings for her.”

That was good news to her—she liked Xia Mian very much herself.

Zhou Xuewen joined in the analysis. “Could it have been before coming to Yan City…”

“I don’t think so,” Ning Shaoyun shook her head. “It’s probably—”

They were soon deep in discussion, and Zhou Xuewen, seeing the unexpectedly lively side of his ex-wife, felt a twinge of guilt for having just set up his brother-in-law.

Anyway, it seemed Ning Shaobai’s theory had been right after all.

Then Chenchen’s voice rang out from outside the house, and Zhou Xuewen’s guilt instantly vanished. “Looks like we’re in for a show today.”

A sly smile flashed in his eyes. “Xiao Bai putting on a show is rare.”

Ning Shaoyun looked at him in surprise. In her memory, he had always been serious and proper. After leaving the Huo family, he had indeed grown more patient and gentle, but she had never seen him this boyish.

She was still dazed when Zhou Xuewen took her by the wrist and started toward the door. “Come on, let’s watch.”

Her gaze dropped briefly to his large hand on her wrist. She pressed her lips together but didn’t pull away.

…

Xia Mian was in the middle of receiving her gifts. Zhao Cheng had given her a fountain pen, Sun Yuexin a music box, and Li Lizhen a newly popular diary with a combination lock.

Han Haoyan placed the half-person-tall plush bear into her arms with a cheerful, “Happy birthday, Xia Mian!”

“Thanks!”

The bear completely blocked her view, and she was just about to put it on the sofa when Xia Wenyue exclaimed in surprise, “Dr. Ning’s here too.”

Since Xia Mian had invited her close friends over, the adults in the family hadn’t planned to join in—they’d just give their gifts separately later. No one expected Ning Shaobai to show up at this time.

As Ning Shaobai entered, his gaze swept over Zhao Cheng and Han Haoyan before settling on the plush bear in Xia Mian’s arms.

“I have to head out later, so I came to bring your gift first,” he said.

“Oh? There’s another gift?” Xia Mian’s eyes lit up as she quickly set the bear down. “So it’s not just the earrings.”

He handed her a large bag. “Open it and see.”

The moment she took it, her hand dipped from the weight, nearly straining her arm. She stared at him in shock. “You seriously got me study guides?”

“You love studying, don’t you? And you’re a high school student—besides studying, what else is there? It’s practical,” Ning Shaobai said.

Xia Mian wrinkled her nose and spotted a finely crafted wooden box inside, beautifully made.

“What’s this? What’s it for?”

“For your love letters,” Ning Shaobai said. “What are you at now—two hundred? Three hundred?”

“Well, this box is big enough for five hundred. Should last you until your next birthday.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone’s eyes turned to Xia Mian, as if they were looking at an irresponsible scumbag.

Especially Xia Wenyue, who exclaimed in shock, “How could you have that many love letters?”

Xia Mian quickly defended herself. “They were all stuffed into my desk. I’ve never read them, really!”

She felt mortified—showing off in front of Ning Shaobai was one thing, but having her aunt find out was way too embarrassing!

She shot Ning Shaobai an angry glare, then seriously explained to Xia Wenyue, “Second Aunt, I mean it. I’m not dating in high school—I’m going to get into university. If you don’t believe me, ask them!”

Sun Yuexin immediately said, “Yeah, Xia Mian’s super popular. Love letters show up in her desk every day, but she’s never read one.”

“That’s right. And throwing them away would be bad—what if someone picked them up and started gossiping?” Li Lizhen added. “So Xia Mian simply keeps them all.”

“But she’s never looked at them.”

Xia Wenyue still didn’t seem entirely convinced, but when her eyes swept over to Zhao Cheng and Han Haoyan, they unconsciously held a hint of scrutiny.

Zhao Cheng quickly waved his hands. “Auntie, I’m aiming for the police academy. I’m not dating in high school either.”

Then he quickly elbowed Han Haoyan.

Han Haoyan awkwardly said, “Me neither, Auntie.”

“Yeah, this guy’s a great student,” Zhao Cheng added quickly, as if realizing Han Haoyan didn’t sound convincing enough. “Third in the grade.”

Their reactions made Xia Wenyue chuckle helplessly. “I never said I didn’t believe you.”

Off to the side, Ning Shaobai sighed. “You can’t trust the self-control of teenagers. They swear up and down now, but once first love hits…”

Xia Mian huffed. “Don’t underestimate me. I said I won’t date, so I won’t.”

“And if you do?” Ning Shaobai raised an eyebrow.

“Then I’ll never get married for the rest of my life!”

Ning Shaobai: “…”

Are you cursing me, or cursing me?

He had planned to endure for a year, but was prepared to cross that line if necessary. But with such a vicious oath…

Xia Mian glanced at him in confusion, then shrank her neck and muttered, “I already said I won’t date! Why are you still so fierce?”

Ning Shaoyun, already aware of the situation, nearly burst out laughing at her brother’s aggrieved expression—until she felt her hand squeezed. Turning, she saw Zhou Xuewen wearing the same expression of barely suppressed laughter.

A strange, inexplicable emotion rose in her heart.

Author’s Note:

Given: Xia Mian likes nice abs.

Question: Is a strong physique “catering to her tastes” or a “shared topic”?

Given: Your lover is the enemy general, your love rival is one of their foot soldiers.

Question: Are your lover and your love rival “on the same side”?