DTBS - Chapter 143
Chapter 143: Extra 2: Traditional Skills
"Qinqin! My Qinqin baby, let Grandma hug you quickly!" When Xia Xianglu saw Tao Aiqin, she immediately rushed over, picking up the still-confused little cat. "How did you get so thin? Did your Qiuqiu Mama abuse you and not give you fries? Come on, Grandma will take you to eat fries."
"Mom," Tao Qiuyun walked into the house and stopped her. "Qinqin should eat less fried food like fries."
Qin Qingshang had been taking care of the child during this time, and it was clear that under her guidance, Tao Aiqin's physique had become much healthier.
Tao Aiqin: "Nonsense! They just haven't seen me in too long. This body is produced by the System! How could it be so easily harmed by ordinary food!"
System: "You really know how to freeload off the main system."
"Qinqin is still young, what's wrong with a child eating some snacks?" Xia Xianglu was all about spoiling her.
"Qingshang and I will teach our daughter, Mom," Tao Qiuyun took the little one from her arms and said seriously, "You don't need to worry about it. Also... why are you back for the New Year this year?"
"I'm your mother, how can I not worry?" Xia Xianglu glared at her, then looked at Xia Chengxi sitting on the sofa. "Didn't you keep saying you wanted to see your granddaughter and daughter-in-law? Now that they're here, what kind of pose are you striking over there? Are you waiting for them to serve you tea? So clueless! Look around, besides me, who's paying attention to you?"
Xia Chengxi was roasted by his beloved and could only get up helplessly. He was tall and straight, with a relaxed and elegant posture, and a distinguished bearing. Time had refined his temperament but hadn't diminished his handsome face at all. His gold-rimmed glasses added a touch of scholarly air.
Qin Qingshang was surprised. She leaned closer to Tao Qiuyun and whispered, "Qiuqiu, it seems Qinqin really inherited from you. You both only picked your parents' good points!"
System scoffed: "That's ridiculous. Isn't that just determined by the parents' genes? With parents this good-looking, you'd turn out well even if you grew up with your eyes closed. How can the female lead connect this?"
The little cat was unhappy with its wording and spoke up for Qin Qingshang: "What do you know! Tao Zhuohua was also born to them, look at his face compared to Tao Qiuyun's, it's worlds apart!"
System: "..."
Indeed, it seemed like Xia Xianglu and Xia Chengxi's top-tier genes were used up on Tao Qiuyun, and they had to use second-rate genes to create Tao Zhuohua. Compared to Tao Qiuyun, he looked like a "defective product."
"Hello," Xia Chengxi walked up to Tao Qiuyun and politely greeted Qin Qingshang. "I am Qiuqiu's father, Xia Chengxi."
"Hello, Mr. Xia," Qin Qingshang quickly bowed. "I've heard of you, the famous designer. It's an honor to meet you."
She almost slipped up and subconsciously said, "Looking forward to working with you," but thankfully stopped herself in time.
Work with him on what? Working together to take care of Qiuqiu?
Xia Chengxi was about to tell her not to be so formal, and Tao Qiuyun also saw Qin Qingshang's nervousness. To prevent her from being awkward, she put down the little cat in her arms and straightened up: "Long time no see, Father."
She paused, then continued, "You've gained weight. It seems the food in France suits you very well."
Qin Qingshang: ...Uh, is it okay to say something like that right away?
Tao Aiqin: As expected of you! Speaking the blunt truth as soon as you meet.
System: 6
Xia Chengxi was choked by her words but didn't get angry, just smiled. "It was indeed delicious, so I ate a bit too much."
"Compared to Mom's cooking, everything else is just ordinary food," Tao Qiuyun continued her steady output. "But French cuisine portions aren't large, so it seems you haven't been eating enough, Father."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Xia Xianglu was a little embarrassed and interjected, "I'm very diligently using your dad as a test... no, cooking for your dad."
"Grandma," the little cat said softly and sweetly, curious, "You cook for Grandpa, do you eat too?"
It seemed Tao Qiuyun's cooking talent inherited at least some from Xia Xianglu.
"Our Qinqin baby is so good! Your Mama put you down, come here to Grandma."
Xia Xianglu squatted down and reached out to Tao Aiqin. Seeing the little one run over, she smiled even happier, stroking her head and saying, "I cook for your Grandpa, and then your Grandpa cooks for me. We cook for each other for every meal, so the other person can taste our full love~"
Struck by the little cat's word "Grandpa," Xia Chengxi's face showed a rare hint of warmth. He looked at Tao Aiqin but spoke to Tao Qiuyun: "Is that your daughter? She's very cute and polite. Have you thought about what kind of life you want to arrange for her?"
"Yes, much cuter than your daughter," Tao Qiuyun replied.
Qin Qingshang beside her was stunned, even doubting if she heard correctly.
Why did Qiuqiu seem a bit off? The usually polite Tao Qiuyun's words... why did they sound so much like she was arguing?
And arguing with her father.
Hearing this, Xia Chengxi turned his head and stared at her, saying, "Qiuqiu, I am your father, and you are my daughter. Is it interesting to compare yourself like this?"
"It is interesting," Tao Qiuyun looked him directly in the eye without flinching, her expression calm. "It shows that I'm better at raising children than you, doesn't it?"
"It's hard for anyone to be more outstanding than you," Xia Chengxi firmly believed this. "Isn't that right? You don't need to prove anything, you're already great as you are, a goal many people strive for."
"Father, I hope I don't have to repeat myself. Please remember, my excellence has nothing to do with you," Tao Qiuyun looked at him, her eyes clear, seemingly gentle and harmless. "Besides, I won't change anything. I just want to tell you that Qinqin is so young yet so excellent and polite because she has very good parents. I did better than you, so don't even think about trying to guide my daughter."
"Qiuqiu, you misunderstood. I didn't mean to interfere with your daughter's life just now."
"Swear that if you had any thoughts of arranging something for her just now, your inspiration will forever be one step behind others."
"That's... too vicious."
"Are you scared?"
The friendly conversation between father and daughter seemed to be filled with a strange atmosphere, like clashing swords or a Tai Chi push-and-pull. Qin Qingshang was a little worried. After handing the fruit basket to the helpful Auntie Liu, she slowly moved to Tao Aiqin's side, using the pretense of talking to her daughter to say something with double meaning: "What should we do, Qinqin? Your Mama seems to be arguing with Grandpa."
"Don't worry," Xia Xianglu comforted her, seemingly used to it. "Qiuqiu and her dad are just like this. It's how they communicate their feelings as father and daughter. Don't worry, Qiuqiu won't lose. Her dad has never won against her. My daughter is definitely more outstanding than me and her dad!"
Qin Qingshang: No, is this something to be proud of?
She opened her mouth but didn't say what was on her mind, only casting a worried glance at Tao Qiuyun.
Xia Chengxi seemed to compromise: "...I admit, I had just a tiny bit of that thought just now, but don't worry, since you don't want it, I won't have such thoughts in the future."
"That would be best." Seeing him admit it, Tao Qiuyun finally took off her coat and hung it on the hanger nearby.
"Qiuqiu, I am your father," Xia Chengxi followed her, frowning slightly. "Why are you guarding against me like a stranger? Am I going to harm you?"
"What? Do you want to be an insider?"
The friendly chat between father and daughter ended with the topic of "outsider vs. insider."
The cat suddenly understood...
So Tao Qiuyun talks to everyone in the same tone! Looking at it this way, she's actually very gentle towards her!
"Where's Grandpa?" Tao Qiuyun looked at Auntie Liu, who was watching the show from the side. "Is he not home today? Did he go for a walk with Grandpa Zhang?"
Normally, if Tao Shizhou and Zhang Cheng knew Tao Aiqin was coming, they would have been ready with toys long ago.
"Yeah, why isn't Grandpa here?" Qin Qingshang wasn't familiar with the Tao family's old house. Being in an unfamiliar environment made her uncomfortable. Her daughter was having fun with Xia Xianglu, but she didn't know these people well. She wished she could stick to Tao Qiuyun.
At this moment, she didn't care if she was called clingy and simply held onto Tao Qiuyun's arm: "Is he resting?"
"Knowing Mr. Xia was coming," Auntie Liu glanced at the depressed Xia Chengxi squatting nearby and whispered to Tao Qiuyun, "So Old Master Tao was so angry he went to Swan Lake."
"Can watching swans make him less angry?" Qin Qingshang was puzzled.
"It's not exactly about getting less angry. The Old Master said... instead of being choked with anger by Mr. Xia, that rebellious son, it's better to go see the 'geese' first. He wants Eldest Miss to bring Qinqin to find him by the lake after they get back."
"It's almost time for dinner, why go wander by the lake? Auntie Liu, have someone bring him back," Tao Qiuyun smiled helplessly. "Tell him not to worry, with me here, he won't be choked with anger."
Qin Qingshang pursed her lips, silently holding back laughter...
Yes, Grandpa won't be choked with anger, the one who will be choked with anger is your dad!
What? Is angering one's father a traditional skill of the Tao family?
Fortunately, Qinqin doesn't have a dad!
"Your name is Qinqin, right?" Xia Chengxi was depressed for a while, but finally decided to greet his granddaughter first. After all, she looked so soft and adorable, like a little milk cat, surely she was gentle and harmless.
The man showed a gentle smile, "What's your full name?"
A distinguished, handsome uncle was still very popular, and a gentle smile was even more lethal... of course, that was for straight women.
In Tao Aiqin's eyes, men only fell into two categories: "doesn't look good" and "looks okay."
The little cat pursed her lips, her eyes trembling slightly. She clutched Xia Xianglu's clothes, sniffled, and looked like she was about to cry.
"What's wrong! What's wrong, Qinqin?" Xia Xianglu was startled. This was the first time she had seen the little one look so pitiful.
Why did her expression suddenly change?
"Grandma~" The little cat tried hard to hold back her tears, but it seemed a child's endurance was limited. The tears couldn't be held back and rolled down her pink cheeks one by one as she turned her head. "Does Grandpa not like me?"
Xia Chengxi: "...Huh?"
Crystal clear tears rolled down the girl's cheek, not even lingering much on her face, not at all detracting from her cute and pitiful appearance. Under the light, they even looked like pearls.
Qin Qingshang, attracted by Xia Xianglu's voice, saw this scene. Her pupils trembled slightly, looking disbelieving.
This... wasn't this the expression and movement she used to practice crying scenes in her school dorm, facing the mirror!
At that time, she wasn't skilled at controlling her tears and expressions and could only rely on movements like turning her head to control the speed of the tears falling.
Although she was very skilled now, no matter how she was filmed from the front or side, it was always the most moving "sad crying" look...
But Qinqin was only five years old! Did she know what acting was? This could only mean that she just cried like this naturally!
Could it be... she was exceptionally talented? Naturally suited to be an actress?
No! The parallel world's version of me, how amazing was your acting? Your daughter born in college is already this strong!?
Qinqin could cry like this without even needing to act. The parallel world's version of me must have practiced crying scenes to perfection. Maybe she just cries like this normally, without needing to build up emotion or act, so her daughter inherited... the way she cries?
Wow—! Thinking about it this way, my genes are stronger than Qiuqiu's!
If she knew the female lead had such a high opinion of her, Tao Aiqin would definitely humbly return the compliment:
"No, I'm not skilled. I can only control it to cry beautifully from one angle. You're stronger."
Tao Qiuyun stared at the little cat's sobbing appearance, which brought back memories of her time in the hospital...
Hmm, not good memories, better not to recall them.
Comments
Post a Comment