Chapter 49 A Brainless Encounter on a Walk

Chapter 49: A Walk Cut Short by a Fan Frenzy

The owner of the bamboo flute shop was Hou Feiyun, a stern-looking middle-aged woman with short hair, sharp eyebrows, and phoenix eyes.

Xiao Shiliu spoke directly, "What should I call you?"

"Just call me Aunt Hou," she replied coolly.

"Hello, Aunt Hou!" Xiao Shiliu chirped enthusiastically.

Meng Feihang and Hou Feiyun were deep in discussion.

Xiao Shiliu's eyes darted around, curious about everything, until her gaze landed on the left side of the shop entrance.

There, freshly cut bamboo poles were stacked, destined to become flutes. Untreated, they were long and perfectly straight.

Few children, if any, could resist such a tempting stick.

While the adults were preoccupied, Xiao Shiliu pulled out a pole and began to swing it playfully.

The bamboo pole was about one and a half times her height.

Small and not very strong, Xiao Shiliu lost her grip while waving the pole, accidentally striking Meng Feihang on the head mid-sentence.

"Ouch—" Meng Feihang gasped, rubbing his head. He turned to his daughter with a resigned look, "You little rascal, are you Sun Wukong or something? So mischievous!"

Hearing this, Xiao Shiliu sheepishly returned the bamboo pole to its place and went to blow on her mother's head. "Sorry, Mama, let me kiss it better for you."

By the end of the first day, the guests had nearly completed their tasks, all successfully apprenticing themselves.

During dinner, in addition to Grandpa Huang's doting, his apprentices also joined in.

They took turns feeding Zheng Zheng, leaving his mouth glistening with oil and his belly round and full.

At his age, Zheng Zheng loved to feed himself with a spoon.

His chubby hands often struggled to hold the spoon steady, leading to spills from both the spoon and his mouth.

Tonight's dinner, in particular, was quite soupy.

Wen Yuchen had also forgotten to bring the feeding bib Zheng Zheng usually wore.

Consequently, Zheng Zheng managed to turn himself into a little mess.

Helplessly, after dinner, Wen Yuchen took him for a hot bath.

After the bath came Zheng Zheng's classic evening stroll.

This time, before Zheng Zheng could even step out, Xi Xi's voice echoed from beyond the door.

"Little brother, come out and play!"

"I'm coming, big brother!" Hearing Xi Xi's voice, Zheng Zheng abandoned his baby bug spray, grabbed the lotus pastry Grandpa had given him, and dashed out.

His small, milk-scented hand clutched the fragrant, crispy lotus pastry, which he promptly shoved into Xi Xi's mouth.

Xi Xi chewed, crumbs scattering everywhere.

Tang Zhixiao tilted his head and asked softly, "Is it good? I'll buy you some more."

Xi Xi rolled his eyes at his uncle.

Wen Yuchen quickly offered him a sip of water and lightly flicked Zheng Zheng's forehead. "You'll choke Xi Xi!"

Zheng Zheng giggled.

Xi Xi, while drinking water, gave Wen Yuchen a quick thumbs-up.

After Xi Xi finished his drink, Tang Zhixiao asked, "Where should we go for a walk?"

"Huh?" Wen Yuchen raised an eyebrow. "So you came to find us without a destination in mind?"

Tang Zhixiao awkwardly rubbed the tip of his nose. "Xi Xi wanted to come, so we just came."

"Let me check," Wen Yuchen pulled out his phone and searched for nearby walking spots.

Five minutes later, he looked up from his phone. "There's a food street not far from here. Want to go?"

Tang Zhixiao nodded.

And so, the two adults and two children embarked on their post-dinner stroll near the food street.

A university was located nearby, and as dusk settled, the food stalls were just beginning to set up.

It was also the time when university students came out to socialize.

A throng of vibrant young faces made the street buzz with energy.

Undoubtedly, Wen Yuchen had chosen the wrong place for a quiet walk.

The moment Tang Zhixiao's ethereal face appeared, the boisterous chatter of the food street instantly erupted into high-pitched screams.

"Xiao Xiao! It's Xiao Xiao! They actually came here!"

"Ahhhhh!!!! I can't believe I'm seeing the real Tang Zhixiao in person!"

"So beautiful, so refined—I can't even imagine how happy I'd be if he were my husband."

"Pfft, yeah, right, a toad dreaming of swan meat."

"Bestie, bestie, are you there? Your sweet darling Xiao Xiao is out!"

Wen Yuchen: ＼（〇_ｏ）／ A mom fan?

"Baby Xiao Xiao, look over here!"

"Oh, little chubster Zheng Zheng is here too."

Xi Xi shouted, "My brother isn't chubby!"

Usually as loud as a megaphone, Xi Xi's voice was completely swallowed by the crowd this time.

"Xi Xi is so pretty! Is this a mixed-race baby?"

"That high nose bridge, those deep-set eyes, that snow-white skin—I'm in love."

"Bro, he's only six—how 'deep' could they really be?"

"Mind your own business! Stop following me, it's annoying."

"Wen Yuchen, I'm going to steal your son!"

Seriously, trying to snatch a child right under his father's nose?

Wen Yuchen quickly hugged little Zheng Zheng and, laughing, called out in the direction of the voice, "Why give a heads-up before doing something naughty?"

"Oh, I forgot!"

This drew hearty laughter from the crowd.

The food street was primarily frequented by university students and local residents.

Even with the celebrity Tang Zhixiao present, the crowd remained largely well-behaved.

Unfortunately, not everyone was.

After all, one always encounters unsavory characters in different situations.

Soon, an obnoxious and disgusting voice cut through the air: "Well, well, if it isn't the big star? You're nothing like us regular folk—all delicate and fair-skinned, huh?"

"Hah! Yeah right!"

"So handsome, how about taking a photo with us guys?"

The crowd conveniently parted, and four or five swaggering young men strutted over.

These youths had hair dyed in a rainbow of colors, and their bodies were as thin as stick insects, bobbing with each step.

Their very gait was infuriating to watch.

This was clearly a prelude to trouble.

Seeing the "stage" cleared for them, the young men were momentarily taken aback by Tang Zhixiao and Wen Yuchen.

However, the larger the crowd, the less shame they felt.

With pockmarked, greasy faces, they leered and said, "Hey, big star, come on, give us a photo!"

Tang Zhixiao's face darkened as he said coldly, "No. Stay away from me."

The young man persisted, "Aw, come on, big star, cut us some slack!"

As he spoke, he took a few more steps closer to Tang Zhixiao and the others.

Wen Yuchen wanted to lead the three away, but two more rainbow-haired "stick insects" had positioned themselves behind them.

Zheng Zheng was frightened by the scene and softly asked Wen Yuchen, "Daddy, can we go with big brother?"

Wen Yuchen soothingly stroked his hair. He was on the verge of losing his temper—he really wanted to punch that smug face.

Though Xi Xi was small, he was a prime alpha. He spread his arms, shielding Tang Zhixiao, and shouted, "Ugly pockmarked face, stay away from my uncle!"

Just then, a female voice chimed in.

"Have you no shame? Look at yourselves—how dare you show your faces in public?" It sounded like the "mom" fangirl.

"What the hell's it to you, bitch? I do what I want!" The young man's face instantly flushed with anger.

The girl, with her sweet, cute double ponytails, retorted without backing down, "How does it not concern me? You're an eyesore, an obstruction to public view!"

"Say that again," the young man snapped, angrily pointing a finger at the girl.