DTBS - Chapter 142

Chapter 142: Extra 1: Home for New Year

"See you after the New Year, Teacher Ming!"

Qin Qingshang wore cat paw gloves and a small backpack. Wrapped snugly in a blue and white down jacket, she waved to the woman beside her as the elevator descended to the underground parking lot on the basement level. She said happily, "I'll send you New Year greetings."

"Send New Year greetings to Auntie Ming!" The two little girls standing beside Qin Qingshang also politely said goodbye to Ming Siwen.

"I'd be even happier if it were a red envelope," Ming Siwen bent down and kissed the two little ones one by one. Then she looked at Qin Qingshang and reminded her, "The director did let you go home for the New Year, but it's only for a few days. You have to be back by the third day of the New Year at the latest, don't forget."

"Got it, got it," the cat nodded.

The film crew sent a special car to take them to the airport, and Qin Qingshang and her group boarded the plane back to Tianhua City.

【Big Cat: Going home!】

【Big Cat: (Plane ticket image)】

【Bad Guy: I'll pick you up. Driving the Bentayga. I'll send you the parking zone number later.】

【Big Cat: (Cat nodding)】

After landing at Tianhua Airport, Qin Qingshang held a child in each hand and headed towards the parking area Tao Qiuyun had mentioned on WeChat.

Tao Qiuyun's Bentayga was very recognizable. She quickly found the car with the two children. Her attire was low-key, wearing a mask and a hat. The airport was full of passengers coming and going, their attention mostly focused on their luggage, so few people paid attention to them.

"Is your luggage this little?" Tao Qiuyun got out of the car, ready to help with a suitcase, but who knew Qin Qingshang was only carrying a small backpack.

Was this how a female star should travel?

"It's only a three-day holiday, why would I need so many things? Besides, we have everything at home."

Qin Qingshang pulled down her mask, leaned in, and gave Tao Qiuyun a loud kiss on the cheek. She smiled and said, "Thank you, Qiuqiu, for picking me up. This is a reward."

"I didn't come to pick you up to ask for any reward," Tao Qiuyun couldn't help but laugh. She looked at the little cat covering Meng Huashi's eyes nearby, bent down, and tapped her nose. "What are you covering Mengmeng's eyes for?"

"Auntie Ming said that when the two Mamas kiss, little children can't watch! Otherwise, their eyes will hurt," the little one's eyes were bright, looking very serious.

"Then it's okay if you see it?" Tao Qiuyun felt her words contradicted herself. "Why didn't you cover your own eyes?"

"Qinqin is a little cat, not a regular little child."

"Alright, you two stop chatting here, let's talk in the car." Qin Qingshang carried Meng Huashi into the car. "Right, Mengmeng? Our Mengmeng is still the cutest, so quiet and well-behaved."

"Qinqin, who likes to talk, is also cute," Meng Huashi subconsciously spoke up for her good friend.

"Okay, okay, Qinqin is also cute." Qin Qingshang especially liked quiet and sensible children like her.

Seeing Meng Huashi being carried into the car, Tao Aiqin reached out to the woman in front of her. "Qinqin wants a hug too."

"Okay, I'll hug you, I'll hug you. It's all your Qingshang Mama who spoils you," Tao Qiuyun smiled and carried her into the car.

"What do you mean?" Qin Qingshang lightly poked Tao Qiuyun's lower back after the two little ones were seated in the back. Then she walked towards the passenger seat. "What do you mean I spoil her? You're the one who spoils her! Qinqin is very sensible, she never makes a fuss about wanting me to hug her."

"Why don't you let your Qingshang Mama hug you?" Tao Qiuyun sat back in the driver's seat and looked at the little cat swinging her legs in the back seat.

"Because Mama is very tired, I don't want to tire Mama out," the little one looked innocent.

"Then I'm not tired?" Tao Qiuyun retorted.

She was also very tired working at Chunjin every day. Why didn't her daughter think about being considerate of her?

"You still have to take Big Bold for a run when you get home, I think you're not tired at all~" The cat was proud. "Gotcha, didn't I? You can't fool me."

"...Why are your words so annoying?" Tao Qiuyun was so stumped she didn't know how to respond, so she simply turned her head and started the car.

She really did inherit Qin Qingshang's sharp tongue.

Qin Qingshang smiled as she listened to her wife and daughter bicker. While fastening her seatbelt, she said, "Qiuqiu, the variety show should be announced in the next few days during the New Year. Director Dai told me he plans to build some buzz during the holiday. Also, this time it's a live broadcast format. You... will you be okay?"

"Why would you worry about whether I'll be okay?" Tao Qiuyun held the steering wheel, puzzled. "I've participated in a variety show with you before. Shouldn't you be worried about Qinqin? Look at that mouth of hers, how annoying."

"It's because I participated with you!" Qin Qingshang turned her head to look at the well-behaved little cat in the back seat. She seemed a little wronged.

"Qinqin is a child. She's the same in front of the camera as she is normally. Also, you're not allowed to say things like that in front of the child anymore!"

After saying that, she smiled and reached out to rub Tao Aiqin's little head, coaxing her, "Qinqin is the best-behaved. Your Qiuqiu Mama is talking nonsense, Mama will hit her!"

Tao Aiqin sniffled, her eyes watery.

The System was instantly speechless. 【Sys: Your acting is getting more and more superb. Are you planning to follow the female lead's path in the future too?】

【Sys: You still need to train Meng Huashi to be a Best Actress? I think you can win Best Actress yourself.】

Tao Aiqin: 【Qinqin: Impossible, absolutely impossible! Being an actress is too tiring. Even if I stay in the industry, at most I'll be a screenwriter... Right, I can write scripts for Mengmeng!】

System: 【Sys: ...6】

【Sys: Haven't given up on your past profession, have you?】

Having been patted by the big cat beside her, Tao Qiuyun wasn't angry and nodded in apology. "Okay, I won't say it in front of the child anymore."

"Qiuqiu, before you take me back to the Tao family's old house, let's go to the mall first," Qin Qingshang took out her phone to search. "I need to buy something for your family."

"There's no need," Tao Qiuyun stopped at a red light and turned to look at her. "I've prepared tea leaves and tea sets for Grandpa. You don't need to waste extra money. We're family, there's no need to be so formal."

"That won't do. Even if I've met Grandpa before, I might not need to prepare a meeting gift," Qin Qingshang frowned slightly. "But this is my first time meeting your parents. No matter what, I have to prepare a small gift, right?"

"My parents aren't here," Tao Qiuyun started the car. "They're staying at the Xia family's place for the New Year and will only come back to see Grandpa after the main New Year celebrations."

"Huh?" Both the big cat and the little cat were shocked.

Is this reasonable?

"I probably didn't explain it clearly to you that day, Qingshang," Tao Qiuyun's expression was gentle as she continued, "My father is a person with very weak emotional concepts and very selective preferences. In his world, the most important person is my mother, followed by his work."

"Moreover, he never had the idea of inheriting the Tao family business. He always felt he was a free artist. Oh, his original name is no longer important, but his current name is Xia Chengxi. You might have heard of him."

"I know him!" Qin Qingshang was surprised. "He's a very talented designer, famous internationally. He's actually... your father."

She looked at Tao Qiuyun driving, thinking carefully...

But indeed, Qiuqiu's clothing and style have a lot of character and charm. It's clear her aesthetic sense is completely online. Perhaps she really did inherit some of Designer Xia's... talent?

"Yes," the woman nodded. "He is my father, completely devoted to design and my mother, rarely giving his attention to Grandpa and me."

"But everyone says his designs are beautiful and full of emotion," Qin Qingshang was puzzled. "If he's really that indifferent, can he truly design those things?"

"He's probably thinking of my mother. After all, in his heart, my mother and inspiration are on the same level. He even gave up his career for my mother."

Tao Aiqin: 【Qinqin: Sys, looking at it this way, my CEO mom didn't have a very happy childhood either.】

System: 【Sys: A childhood lacking family warmth, standard villain configuration.】

"Maybe I also inherited his indifference towards others," Tao Qiuyun smiled and shook her head. "That's why now I feel like it's the same whether he's home or not."

What did she think of her father? Now she felt it didn't matter, it was the same whether he was there or not. But when she was younger, she did dislike him.

She felt he was extremely cold towards Grandpa and very irresponsible. Even if he didn't like the future Grandpa arranged for him, why couldn't he sit down and talk properly?

Why did he have to choose this way... not even coming home? He never even asked what Grandpa thought.

In other words, from her perspective at the time, Xia Chengxi was a selfish and self-centered person.

"Qiuqiu..."

"Hmm?"

"Children will eventually leave their parents, but I will always stay with you," Qin Qingshang comforted her.

"The same words," Tao Qiuyun's red lips curved slightly. "I want to say to you too... Qingshang, you won't spend the New Year alone and lonely anymore. I will also stay with you."

Between wives, they should support each other.

She paused, then added, "Although there aren't many people in my family for New Year, Grandpa Zhang is quite good at livening up the atmosphere. At the old house, you won't feel cold and deserted."

"Then I'm really looking forward to it!" The cat was happy.

"But before going back to the old house," Tao Qiuyun looked in the rearview mirror, "we have to take Mengmeng back to her home. Her mother is waiting for her to come home for New Year."

"Thank you, Auntie Qiuqiu," Meng Huashi thanked her.

"Can't Auntie Meng and Mengmeng come to our house for New Year too?" The little cat held Meng Huashi's hand and pleaded with Tao Qiuyun, "Mama, please~"

"No," Tao Qiuyun shook her head. "Qinqin, you can't make decisions for others based on your own will."

"But Mengmeng also wants to play with me, right?"

"Mm," Mengmeng nodded.

"But you have to consider Mengmeng's mother's feelings," Tao Qiuyun reasoned with her. "Qinqin, Mengmeng's mother wants to spend New Year with her daughter. To her, we aren't very familiar friends, you know?"

Tao Qiuyun knew very well that going to the Tao family's old house would likely put a lot of pressure on Meng Huashi's mother. She didn't want to see that outcome. If her daughter and Mengmeng remained good friends, she also hoped to maintain a friendly relationship with Mengmeng's mother.

Inviting someone home for New Year right away, especially when the difference between the two families was so large, was inappropriate. They needed to take it step by step.

"Understood," the little cat nodded. "Then I'll go play with Auntie Meng more often and become friends with Auntie Meng."

"...It's good that you understand."

Seeing that she was no longer fixated on taking Mengmeng home for New Year, Tao Qiuyun temporarily stopped trying to figure out the direction of her thought process. Anyway, the child was still young. As long as there weren't any major deviations, she would naturally understand many things as she grew up.

When they dropped Meng Huashi off at home, Qin Qingshang still chose to shop at a nearby mall, buying the "universal gift" – an exquisite fruit basket.

She had originally just intended to give something symbolic to Tao Shizhou, but she didn't expect to see two unexpected elders.

Xia Xianglu and Xia Chengxi, the two elders Qiuqiu said wouldn't be back, actually chose to spend New Year at the Tao family's old house this year!

Tao Aiqin: ...Sigh, time to perform again.

Qin Qingshang: Oh no! I only brought a basket of fruit, they won't think I'm stingy, will they?

Tao Qiuyun: You just had to mess with your daughter, didn't you?

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