Chapter 44#
Baby Whale#
Jian Yunchen was stunned for a moment, then gripped her hand, smiling and nodding, “Don’t worry, no one will send you away.”
Having received the promise, Qin Zhao relaxed even more, the smile never leaving her face.
Eating, drinking, and strolling along the way, Qin Mu’s hands accumulated more and more items.
Evening descended, painting the sky a deep red. The park’s broadcast loudly announced the upcoming whale performance.
Qin Zhao’s little face was flushed, she lightly shook Jian Yunchen’s hand, looking at him eagerly, telling him with her eyes her desire to go.
Jian Yunchen smiled and ran towards the theater with Qin Zhao.
This show was the aquarium’s signature attraction, many people came specifically for this performance, so it was already overflowing with people. Helplessly, the three could only squeeze into a later spot, Qin Zhao even had to sit on Jian Yunchen’s lap.
Qin Zhao was a little embarrassed, shyly looking up at him, “Gege, am I heavy?”
Qin Mu, standing nearby, felt a strange sense of displeasure upon hearing this.
“Sit here with me.”
Qin Zhao refused to move.
“……”
Jian Yunchen couldn’t help but be amused, suppressing a smile, he shook his head and said, “Very light, sit.”
Qin Zhao’s little face flushed, and then her attention was instantly drawn away by the prompt sound of the performance beginning.
The whale trainer first greeted the audience and bowed.
He raised his hand and waved, and a beluga whale underwater affectionately rubbed against his hand.
Soon, the performance officially began.
Under the whale trainer’s guidance, the beluga whale’s cooperation was seamless.
Leaping out of the water, spinning in the air, balancing a ball on the surface.
Layer after layer of exquisite performances gradually heightened the audience’s emotions.
Qin Mu wasn’t interested in these, he turned his head to look at Jian Yunchen’s profile, noticing that his eyes reflected the light from the venue, a smile playing on his lips, as he focused intently on the performance below.
Even when Qin Zhao, on his lap, started to fuss out of excitement, he showed no trace of impatience.
Recalling the day’s events, Qin Mu felt his perception of Jian Yunchen had slightly deviated.
He seemed very patient with children.
More competent than him, her own elder brother.
Qin Mu leaned over and softly called out, “Jian Yunchen.”
Jian Yunchen turned his head, his gaze meeting Qin Mu’s deep eyes. His hands, mid-clap, momentarily forgot to retract, suspended in mid-air before slowly coming together.
“I didn’t expect you to be quite patient.”
The attention of those around was on the stage, no one would notice the two people in the corner who were too close.
But the faint cheers around them, and even Qin Zhao right under their noses, made his muscles tense up instantly.
He turned his head, his gaze fixed on the stands, but his mind had wandered.
Jian Yunchen replied, “I used to work as an assistant at a nursing home.”
That job was arguably the easiest he’d ever had. The director knew him and, seeing his plight, gave him an assistant’s position. But he was still young and couldn’t really do heavy labor; mostly, he just kept the elderly company, talking and chatting with them.
Most of the elderly either had no children or their children were too busy with work. Faced with Jian Yunchen, a junior young enough to be their grandchild, they couldn’t help but feel fondness for him.
Each elder had a distinct personality, and sometimes they would argue over trivial matters, but most of the time, as long as Jian Yunchen smiled and spoke a few gentle words, an impending conflict could easily be resolved.
Unfortunately, the nursing home eventually closed down.
The reason was that the director had employed a minor.
After Jian Jinbao learned about Jian Yunchen’s workplace, he found the director to demand wages. After being refused, this selfish revenge ensued.
Jian Yunchen was too ashamed to face the director again; he didn’t even dare to ask for his wages and never stepped foot in that place again.
The performance was nearing its end, the cool white light of the flowing beams reflected in Jian Yunchen’s pupils. That hint of loneliness was fleeting, his expression quickly turning cold.
Qin Mu hooked his arm over Jian Yunchen’s shoulder, pulling him into his embrace.
He propped his face and looked at Jian Yunchen, his eyes full of smiles, his tone languid: “You’re really amazing, Little Chen Gege.”
Jian Yunchen’s ear tips flushed hot from this inexplicable praise. He knew Qin Mu was deliberately teasing him; the most rational thing to do would be to shake off his hand and completely dismiss that remark from his mind.
But in reality, Jian Yunchen just looked at Qin Mu, stammering and unable to utter a single word.
After coming out of the theater, Qin Zhao was already a little tired, her eyelids drooped, and her steps were somewhat unsteady.
The evening breeze was a bit cool, and Qin Zhao wasn’t dressed warmly. Jian Yunchen worried she might catch a cold, so he crouched down to ask Qin Zhao’s opinion: “It’s very late today, shall we go home?”
Qin Zhao’s sleepy eyes suddenly widened, and she burrowed into Jian Yunchen’s arms, whispering, “Little Chen, Gege.”
“I want to see fireworks.”
Jian Yunchen paused. There was still half an hour left until the park’s closing fireworks show. He looked up at Qin Mu, seeking his opinion.
From Qin Mu’s perspective, he only saw a small, upturned face, and a pitiful face looking up at him alongside it.
“……”
Qin Mu still agreed.
They were a bit tired from strolling, so the three sat down to rest for a moment. Qin Zhao dozed off in Jian Yunchen’s arms, and even Qin Mu yawned, crossing his arms and dozing off for a bit.
Jian Yunchen also unconsciously closed his eyes, his head leaning against Qin Mu’s, his consciousness beginning to drift and blur.
He wasn’t asleep, just resting with his eyes closed, when suddenly, there was a blinding flash. Jian Yunchen’s eyelashes fluttered, and he opened his eyes.
The one taking the photo was a park photographer. He held up his camera and showed them the group photo of the three.
Qin Zhao nestled obediently in his arms, but her small hands quietly tightened their grip on her brother’s clothes. Qin Mu had his eyes closed, his head slightly bowed. The flash illuminated the smooth contours of his features, creating a stark contrast with the darkness. His side profile’s eyelashes were even clearly visible in the photo. Jian Yunchen tilted his head slightly, unconsciously leaning against him, his body instinctively moving closer to Qin Mu.
Qin Mu also woke up, glanced at the photo, smiled, and then, hooking Jian Yunchen, took a few more shots.
Only when he finally asked for the price did he learn that one photo was 50.
Jian Yunchen felt they were robbing people.
Qin Mu smiled and said he wanted them all, but Jian Yunchen refused.
In the end, only three photos were bought as souvenirs, with each person keeping one.
However, afterward, Jian Yunchen quietly found the photographer again and bought the photo of the three of them sleeping.
The fireworks show arrived as scheduled. Qin Zhao wasn’t tall enough, so she was held in Qin Mu’s arms, fully enjoying the benefits of her brother’s height advantage.
Brilliant fireworks exploded one after another, the little girl was dazzled, her big eyes sparkling with smiles.
Qin Mu also smiled faintly, casually asking, “You like the aquarium that much?”
Qin Zhao froze, her hands wrapped around her brother’s neck subtly tightened.
Grand fireworks bloomed behind Qin Zhao. Qin Zhao looked into Qin Mu’s eyes; the surrounding noise was loud, but Qin Zhao’s voice still clearly reached his ears.
“In class, the teacher told the story of whales.”
“To catch whales, they first hunt baby whales.”
The little girl’s eyes slowly reddened. She tilted her head slightly, looking at him, her eyes seemingly filled with sadness and confusion.
“Baby whales, when hurt, attract their mothers.”
“A whale mother will not abandon her baby whale.”
“Mommy likes babies.”
Qin Zhao looked at Qin Mu and asked him, “If I were a baby whale. Would Mommy like me?”