Chapter Twenty-Three: Born Unlikable

Su Wan-ning glanced at the two directors behind the camera and could guess, even with just her toes, that this was their deliberate mischief. But she wasn’t afraid at all!

[Letting Su Wan-ning take care of Mingming the little tyrant—this is going to be good.]
[I wonder if the kids will cry when they wake up?]

Su Wan-ning waited for the bread to come out of the oven, took a few pieces with her, and headed toward Mingming. Soon, Feng Rui also arrived at Su Wan-ning’s place. She tiptoed into the bedroom before the camera, eyes crinkling in a smile at the sight of the two sleeping children. In a low voice, she told the camera, “These two little darlings are so cute. I’m very confident.”

[Tsk, doesn’t Feng Rui know kids are naturally not fond of her?]
[Maybe with Mingming gone and two obedient kids instead, Feng Rui might really do a good job.]
[I bet Sui Sui and Nian Nian will end up crying for their mom.]

Before the camera, Feng Rui put on a cheerful face and sat by the bed, even thoughtfully pulling the blanket up for the children. Yet, under the covers, her hand stealthily reached in and pinched the soft arm of one of the children, quick and hard.

Sui Sui immediately frowned in his sleep, opened his eyes to see Feng Rui by the bed, and his brows furrowed.

“Shh—” Feng Rui quickly raised a finger to her lips, signaling him to stay quiet. In a lowered voice, she said, “Don’t wake your sister. Auntie will be looking after you this afternoon—your mom has gone to take care of Mingming, okay?”

Sui Sui said nothing, but glanced at his sister and closed his eyes again.

[Seriously? Why’d she wake the kid as soon as she came in?]
[Sui Sui doesn’t want anything to do with her, ha! I bet the little guy is rolling his eyes inside.]

Meanwhile, Mingming hadn’t taken a nap at all and showed no sign of missing Feng Rui when she left.

When Su Wan-ning entered, he was squatting alone in a corner of the yard, his back to everyone, busy with something.

“Mingming?”

The little boy, hearing her voice, immediately put down the stick in his hand and turned around. Su Wan-ning couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of him.

“How did you get like this?”

Mingming’s face and hands were smeared with grayish mud, and before him, a patch of earth had already been dug up.

“Auntie, I’m digging for earthworms here!”

“Really?” Su Wan-ning walked over and looked down. The little fellow’s clothes were covered in dirt—he looked like a wild child no one cared for. She frowned slightly, wondering how Feng Rui had been looking after him.

The viewers shared her thoughts.

[How did Mingming get so dirty? Won’t his dad’s heart ache seeing this on screen? What kind of stepmother did he marry for him?]
[See, a child without his own mom is like grass—muddy grass at that!]
[Even with their real mom, Sui Sui and Nian Nian aren’t much better. Who knows what Su Wan-ning has made them do?]

Mingming seemed genuinely happy to see Su Wan-ning. In fact, he’d always liked this friendly and beautiful aunt.

As the two of them squatted, studying where earthworms might burrow, Mingming suddenly sniffed the air suspiciously.

“What’s wrong?” Su Wan-ning asked.

“Auntie, can you smell that? Something smells really good—like bread!”

Su Wan-ning smiled and raised the bag in her hand. “Is it this? Auntie just baked this bread and brought it especially for you to try.”

The little foodie’s eyes lit up instantly.

[That’s hilarious! Did you see that? Mingming’s eyes went wide and sparkled just now!]
[He really is a little foodie who loves bread.]
[I can almost smell the sweetness through the screen—I’m ordering takeout right now!]

At that moment, Mingming’s tummy grumbled in perfect timing. He hadn’t had a proper lunch—he and Feng Rui had only nibbled on some leftover biscuits, which hardly filled him up.

“Let’s go wash your hands and face, change into clean clothes, and then you can have some bread. Come on, Auntie will take you.”

Su Wan-ning took Mingming’s muddy little hand without a hint of distaste, and together they headed inside. Soon enough, a refreshed Mingming emerged, hand in hers.

[So Mingming is actually a handsome little guy—how did we not notice before?]
[Don’t you think Su Wan-ning has a great sense of style? Mingming’s outfit today is so much better than what Feng Rui used to put him in.]
[It’s true, when you’re good-looking, your taste is always on point.]

Su Wan-ning had dressed Mingming in comfortable sweatpants and a striped blue t-shirt. After a thorough wash, he looked so much more energetic—far better than the stuffy shirts and dress pants Feng Rui used to make him wear.

Mingming devoured the bread, and Su Wan-ning poured him a glass of water. The distance between them vanished, and they soon fell into easy conversation.

[Who would’ve thought the little tyrant could be tamed so quickly by someone else?]
[Why doesn’t Mingming act spoiled or unruly at all in front of Su Wan-ning?]

Watching Mingming eat bread, Su Wan-ning fell into thought.

She recalled how, though Mingming always claimed he only wanted to eat meat, he’d obediently eaten vegetarian food in the end. He always greeted her with a smile and even sought out Sui Sui and Nian Nian to play. It seemed that, except in front of Feng Rui, Mingming was always well-behaved. Yet she’d heard from Vincent that online, people saw Mingming as the cautionary example, the poster child for spoiled bad temper.

Thinking back to the rumors about Feng Rui, Su Wan-ning sighed silently. Such a small child couldn’t possibly understand so much—he was just lacking a sense of security.

Meanwhile, Sui Sui and Nian Nian soon woke up. Upon hearing that Su Wan-ning was looking after Mingming, Nian Nian’s mood clearly dropped.

Feng Rui smiled, “Come on, get up. This afternoon, Auntie will take you out to play, okay? Where would you like to go?”

Nian Nian, ever sensible, held back her tears, just keeping her head down and saying nothing. Sui Sui, seeing this, fetched her coat and helped her put it on, comforting, “I’ll be with you this afternoon. We’ll see Mom at dinner.”

“Really?” Nian Nian’s eyes lit up instantly, and after seeing her brother nod earnestly, her spirits lifted.

“Then let Auntie help you with your coat, too.”

While helping Sui Sui with his jacket, Feng Rui suddenly let out a not-too-loud but pointed “Oh?” Her eyes widened dramatically as she reached out to point at Sui Sui’s arm, her face filled with shocked hesitation.

The camera zoomed in, capturing a clear shot of the bruise on Sui Sui’s fair little arm.

His arm was slender, making the dark purple bruise stand out all the more starkly.