Growing Fond of You, Mr Nian

Yan Jin cocked his head and said, “Ma watches television about the emperor and his concubines. She’s always in a bad mood afterward. She calls Pa a big fat pig.”

Yan Su, “…”

She knew which show he was referring to but was still awed by her little brother’s linguistic abilities.

Mo Liuxi was grinning, too. Of course, he knew that show. After all, he was a director in the entertainment industry, and his professor often talked about the show in class and case studies.

Even a young child could understand…

Mo Liuxi looked at Yan Su and asked, “How old is your brother?”

“I’m turning four according to the lunar calendar,” Yan Jin answered quickly.

Mo Liuxi, “…”

Yan Su was amused, “Three.”

Mo Liuxi sputtered, “Your parents are amazing. How did they manage to have a son at this age? Were they disappointed when you left home? They must have wanted to have another kid.”

Yan Su rolled her eyes at him. She was still feeling very guilty about leaving home. She cleared her throat and looked down at Yan Jin’s head.

Yan Jin said, “My dad is young and fit.”

Mo Liuxi nearly choked again and said, “Little man, tell brother. What do you want to eat?”

Yan Jin thought about it and said coyly, “Are you trying to get on my good side? That’s how it goes on television. You have to please the little brother if you wish to win over my sister’s heart.”

“You little kid, you know nothing.” Mo Liuxi felt as if he’d just been outed and quickly denied Yan Jin’s accusations.

Yan Su was perplexed; it was troubling that her brother was so precocious. It wasn’t cute at all. “Jin, don’t be ridiculous, she said.” “This is just a friend who’s working with me.”

After a momentary pause, Yan Jin shook his head vigorously, “Miaomiao said there’s no such thing as a platonic friendship between men and women.”

Yan Su was embarrassed now. “Why would Miaomiao say something like that?”

“She said that to me when I was playing with Xiao Meimei, our neighbor. She called her my girlfriend and said that friendship was just an excuse for romance to bud,” Yan Jin grunted loudly with his nose held high.

The adults in the car were silent now. Yan Su was blushing ear to her ear, and Mo Liuxi’s expression looked awkward.

“Why aren’t you guys talking anymore?” Yan Jin asked curiously.

Mo Liuxi’s lip trembled, and he turned up the radio.

His brain was busy searching for the right thing to say. He was truthfully intimidated by this three-year-old in front of him.

What were Yan Su’s parents like? How did they manage to give birth to such a mature little tyke?

Yan Su had to change the subject. “So Jin, can you tell your sister what you would like to eat tonight? If you’re not going to answer me, I’ll have to take you to eat some sashimi.”

“No, no, no! I don’t like raw meat.” Yan Jin was shocked. He shook his head to protest and said, “I want to have McDonald’s or Kentucky Fried Chicken.”

“Nope,” said Yan Su, shaking her head. “You can have some wings after dinner, but you can’t have KFC as your main meal.”

Yan Jin was disappointed and said, “Let’s have Peking duck then. I like that.”

Yan Su thought about Mo Liuxi, who said he didn’t like Peking duck and felt a little torn.

“Let’s have Peking duck then, at the most authentic place.” Mo Liuxi started the car.

Yan Su hugged Yan Su in her lap, and Yan Jin snuggled into her embrace. “Sister, you’ve lost weight. I can’t bear to see you so skinny.”