The moment the family of three arrived in the house, Xiao Qingya was sitting on Zhou Shuran's lap, giggling excitedly.
"Elder Sister, why have you come back so soon?" She was a little startled and puzzled. If Zhou Anran wasn't home, usually she would be at the field. It was a little too early for her to return home.
Her eyes landed on Xiao Yuxi with a questioning look. She told her to go fetch the baby bottle, but she came back bringing her mother and brother instead.
Xiao Yuxi's face flushed with embarrassment when she noticed Zhou Anran's stare. She lowered her head. "I will go get the baby bottle, Little Aunt."
With that, she fled the scene.
Zhou Anran stepped into the house, followed by Xiao Fenghao. Her face stiffened slightly, but she quickly made up a reason. "I forgot something at home."
There was an inexplicable feeling that lingered on Zhou Shuran's heart. She didn't think much of it, merely nodding at her sister.
In order not to make Zhou Shuran suspicious, she ordered her son to find whatever item it was. Xiao Fenghao wanted to stay, and he was a little reluctant to go. His steps were noticeably a little slower as he left the room.
"Elder Sister, I bring some goat milk for Little Ya," Zhou Shuran said, holding up the clay pot. "You can heat up the rest for later after she drinks a bottle."
Zhou Anran shook her head and sighed. "Isn't it too much trouble? You came here just to deliver the milk for Little Ya. Please pass on my thanks to Father."
"How can it be a trouble?" Zhou Shuran waved her hands with a displeased look on her face. Her tone signalled she was a little angry. "We are family, after all. Don't say such things, Elder Sister!"
Zhou Anran naturally knew that it wouldn't be easy to sneak a few milk for them since their mother was often at home. She was like a hawk, often controlling Zhou Shuran's matters.
Her face softened a little. "Alright, we are family. I shouldn't have said such a thing."
As they exchanged a few words, Zhou Anran still didn't forget to examine Zhou Shuran's expression. She was close to this younger sister, like half a parent for her. Ever since she was little, she had been the one who raised her.
She naturally knew Zhou Shuran better than others—someone who sometimes hid her emotions too deeply.
Silently, she also scrutinized her little daughter. Xiao Qingya was nestling peacefully in her aunt's embrace. Her eyes sparkled when she saw her mother but she still didn't get down.
Xiao Yuxi came back not long after, bringing a baby bottle back, a little nervous. She glanced at her mother, trying to obtain any clues from her, but she saw nothing.
Can her little aunt hear Xiao Qingya's inner thoughts too?
So far, the little one's inner thoughts were quiet. She wasn't sure if Xiao Qingya had said anything during the time she was in the kitchen to find the baby bottle.
Zhou Shuran took the bottle from Xiao Yuxi's hands, vaguely noticing something different with her niece and elder sister today. She just couldn't put her finger on what it was.
"It's still a little warm, drink it, Little Ya," she gently put the bottle in front of Xiao Qingya.
The little one took it and she immediately sucked on the small baby bottle. The atmosphere grew into silence.
A moment later, Zhou Anran and Xiao Yuxi tensed.
[Drink more milk, Little Ya. You will grow tall and won't be a shorty then!] The System suddenly appeared again, coaxing her like an old parent.
[It's not tasty.]
Xiao Qingya scrunched her little face, her tone full of complaints. She almost forgot that they never gave her sweetened milk, always the plain ones.
Thinking that the milk's creamy and somewhat earthly taste could have been improved into something better with sugar, she felt some disappointment. Her sweet tooth couldn't stand it.
[But since you say that I will grow tall in the future with milk, I will reluctantly drink it…]
She paused briefly, then continued to drink the milk in one go. Although she liked sweet things, she also wanted to be tall! After all, she never grew up to reach her potential height before.
Unbeknownst to her who was still engrossed in the aftertaste of the milk, her mother and sister were secretly observing the two.
Zhou Shuran's hand helped Xiao Qingya to support the baby bottle, her eyes focused on the little one on her lap. She did notice some intense feeling—as if someone was staring at her—but whenever she lifted her head, the stares were gone.
Was it merely her imagination?
"Elder Sister, don't forget to save the milk in a safe place so that ants won't be able to steal our Little Ya's milk." Zhou Shuran tickled Xiao Qingya slightly, earning a small giggle from her. "Right, Little Ya?"
Zhou Anran smiled and took the pot containing milk from the table. She thanked her younger sister before she went to the kitchen. Xiao Yuxi couldn't help but follow behind her mother, her restless heart couldn't calm down.
Thinking that they were finally out of Zhou Shuran range of hearing, Xiao Yuxi grabbed her mother's wrist. "Mother, what do you think of Little Aunt? Can she really hear Little Ya's inner thoughts?"
Deep creases appeared on Zhou Anran's forehead. She was still filled with doubt.
"How about letting your little aunt spend the night here?" She raised her eyebrows, her meaningful eyes fell on her daughter's face.
Xiao Yuxi scratched the back of her head. What did her mother mean by sending her that look?
However, soon, she understood.
"Your little aunt sometimes hides her thoughts so deeply even if she feels deeply shocked inside. We can't be sure unless we observe further," Zhou Anran explained.
A flash of understanding crossed Xiao Yuxi's eyes.
After her mother gave her such an important mission, she patted her chest in assurance. "Don't worry, Mother. Leave it to me."
For the entire day, Xiao Yuxi clung to Zhou Shuran, coaxing her to spend the night at their house. In the afternoon, just as Zhou Shuran was about to leave the house, she even kicked up a fuss.
"Little Aunt, I still miss you, please don't go!" She cried.
Under the stunned eyes of her little sister, she endured the embarrassment and hugged Zhou Shuran's legs, throwing a tantrum as she rolled all over the ground like a brat.