"I... I can!" Tongtong's face shifted from vulnerability to determined courage.
Yun Shunian looked at Tongtong's adorable, almost cutesy behavior, so reminiscent of a domineering CEO's pampered wife, and was completely charmed.
"Won't you please, Sister? Let's have a free-for-all," Tongtong said, reaching out to tug Yun Shunian's hand and acting spoiled.
A free-for-all?
"I won't fight with you," Mu Qi's voice sounded in Yun Shuni an's ear before she could even think it through.
If that were the case, wouldn't Mu Qi only be throwing balls at Tongtong?
And if that were the case, she definitely wouldn't throw balls at Tongtong, making such a free-for-all meaningless.
Yun Shuni an was contemplating how to gently refuse Tongtong when, at that moment, Mu Qi's phone rang, and Assistant Li's voice emerged.
Had Chibi Maruko-chan arrived?
Yun Shuni an didn't make a sound, forming the question with her lips for Mu Qi.
Mu Qi gave a slight nod, and Yun Shuni an's eyes suddenly lit up.
Mu Qi clenched his jaw, suddenly not wanting to give that Chibi Maruko-chan figure to the little boy anymore.
That should be his baby's, all hers.
After Mu Qi hung up the phone, Yun Shuni an looked at him, wanting to ask where they should wait for Assistant Li.
However, before Yun Shuni an could speak, Assistant Li, drenched in sweat and looking as though he'd been fished out of a pot of soup, approached them with the Chibi Maruko-chan figure cupped in his hands.
"Mu Qi, go quickly and help Assistant Li," Yun Shuni an nudged Mu Qi, her eyes fixed on Assistant Li's hands and the figure he held, afraid he might accidentally drop it into the ball pit.
Assistant Li, who was trying his best to hurry towards them, stumbled upon hearing Yun Shuni an's words.
The Young Madam wants the Young Master to come and get him?
Is Madam Mu trying to fire him?
Assistant Li cried inwardly.
He thought their Young Master would refuse, but to his surprise, the next second, he saw their CEO actually walking towards him.
A feeling of being overwhelmed by favor washed over Assistant Li.
Yes, he was scared, extremely scared.
Assistant Li lowered his head, his body instantly losing its fatigue, and he moved with incredible speed.
However, he hadn't even managed to regain his composure when he bumped straight into Mu Qi.
Mu Qi placed a hand on his shoulder, and Assistant Li immediately stopped.
Assistant Li was stunned.
"The figure," Mu Qi frowned when Assistant Li didn't react.
Assistant Li immediately handed the Chibi Maruko-chan figure to Mu Qi.
"Then, Young Master Mu, I'll take my leave," accustomed to Mu Qi's usual stern demeanor, Assistant Li now felt like he was walking on thin ice in the presence of a somewhat gentle Mu Qi.
With a slight nod, Assistant Li, as if granted a royal pardon, immediately turned and ran.
Yun Shuni an watched Assistant Li's retreating back, finding it strange. He was sweating so much, didn't he feel tired?
She didn't understand...
Seeing this, Mu Qi blocked Yun Shuni an's view.
Why was Li Zhi also attracting her attention? Mu Qi felt an urge to utterly destroy Li Zhi.
But then he remembered how worried Yun Shuni an had been just a few days ago after he'd merely disciplined someone who had upset her. Mu Qi suppressed this thought.
Not long after, Yun Shuni an noticed the Chibi Maruko-chan figure in Mu Qi's arms. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately took it.
"Tongtong, look what I have," Yun Shuni an took the figure and turned, squatting down in front of Tongtong.
She shook the exquisitely packaged Chibi Maruko-chan.
Inside, Chibi Maruko-chan was depicted in the act of popping bubbles. Tongtong's eyes followed Yun Shuni an's movements, immediately drawn to the figure in her hand.
"Chibi Maruko-chan!" Just from Tongtong's tone, Yun Shuni an knew she was incredibly happy.
"Then, Sister Chibi Maruko-chan will give this to you. But you have to promise Sister that you won't make Auntie difficult and that you'll go home early, okay?"
"No problem, Sister. I promise. Let's pinky swear." Tongtong extended her little finger, wanting to pinky swear with Yun Shuni an.
Yun Shuni an smiled at Tongtong's plump, short little finger and extended her own.
"Pinky swear with me."
Just as Yun Shuni an's little finger was about to touch Tongtong's, Mu Qi suddenly hooked Tongtong's little finger first.
Yun Shuni an stared at Mu Qi blankly, clearly not expecting him to do something so childish.
"Pinky swear, no breaking the promise for a hundred years..." Tongtong recited, trying to pull her finger along with Mu Qi's, her voice straining with effort. However, despite all her exertion, she couldn't even make Mu Qi's finger budge.
Mu Qi, of course, keenly felt her strength but was bewildered.
Mu Qi frowned, thinking the child was getting a bit too bold.
Yun Shuni an watched the scene, wanting to laugh but not daring to, her stomach aching from suppressed amusement.
Just as Mu Qi and the child finished their pinky swear, the aunt returned. This time, Tongtong was much more obedient and didn't fuss anymore.
"The girl's mother just said she has to work overtime, so I'll be taking Tongtong now," the aunt said gratefully to Yun Shuni an.
"Goodbye, Auntie," Yun Shuni an waved goodbye with a smile.
With that, the aunt and Tongtong walked towards the exit. Yun Shuni an watched them go, Tongtong repeatedly waving goodbye with reluctance.
Only after their figures had completely disappeared did Yun Shuni an realize with a start that she hadn't come here to play, yet it felt like she had been entertaining a child for four or five hours.
Thinking this, Yun Shuni an leaned back, wanting to feel the comforting ball pit, but before she had tilted thirty degrees, she fell into someone's hard embrace.
"Mu Qi, let go. The ball pit is much more comfortable than you."
More comfortable than him?
Mu Qi was momentarily stunned, then he scooped Yun Shuni an up and carefully placed her into the ball pit.
Though Yun Shuni an thought it was unnecessary, she couldn't help but smile at Mu Qi's careful handling.
It seemed thick skin could indeed be cultivated. Listening to the children's playful shouts, Yun Shuni an idly grabbed a ball.
The children's play sounds rose and fell, but Yun Shuni an wasn't worried about being accidentally stepped on or hurt.
Mu Qi stood by Yun Shuni an's side, his cold aura causing the children to shy away.
Among them were several little beauties who were taken with Mu Qi's looks.
Feeling bored, Yun Shuni an tossed a ball at Mu Qi.