### Chapter 83: The Unruly Kiddos
Just like that, Xia Yu and Xia Ling slept until they naturally woke up.
Even so, they were still a bit drowsy, as both had probably stayed up late the night before. As for Xia Le, well, saying he was even more sleepy was an understatement. A boy with a phone who doesn’t stay up all night? Ridiculous! Even if his SIM card was missing, he could still mooch off the neighbor’s WiFi, right?
Thus, when the three of them went downstairs to eat breakfast, they weren’t in the best of spirits, which was quite understandable.
Seeing this, Wang Wenjuan didn’t bother lecturing them; after all, who asked them not to listen to her advice and insisted on staying up all night? They’re learning the hard way now, aren’t they?
“Let’s hurry up and eat breakfast,” Wang Wenjuan said. “After that, we’ll go shopping before the big tricycle returns.”
…
Not long after breakfast, the village’s big tricycle returned. Coincidentally, Wang Wenjuan led her kids to their seats, making everything feel rather satisfying.
Once they reached the street, Wang Wenjuan didn’t say much and just followed her children. This time, she was there to support their shopping spree anyway, paying the bills for whatever they chose.
Xia Le walked at the front, Xia Ling held Xia Yu’s arm in the middle, while their mother, Wang Wenjuan, brought up the rear.
For some reason, watching Xia Yu and Xia Ling’s tiny, dainty backs, Wang Wenjuan let out a sigh. She wondered how life would be for Xia Yu after she left. Normal girls probably wouldn’t like skinny boys, right?
Wang Wenjuan kept her promise and bought whatever her children wanted, especially for Xia Yu. After all, once Xia Yu went back to school, she’d have to return to work herself.
Seeing Xia Yu in Xia Le’s old clothes, Wang Wenjuan decided to buy Xia Yu some new outfits. But Xia Yu seemed to prefer unisex styles, so she went for something more gender-neutral.
In any case, the outfits looked great on Xia Yu, almost feminine somehow.
Upon seeing their mother buy more outfits for Xia Yu than for them, Xia Le and Xia Ling didn’t feel jealous. They knew that compared to what their mother used to buy for them, these few outfits for Xia Yu were nothing.
For shoes, Wang Wenjuan also picked out several unisex pairs for Xia Yu—a testament to her understanding of her daughter’s preferences.
So, purchasing clothes went smoothly.
Of course, grocery shopping wasn’t far behind. As soon as they entered the supermarket, the four of them instinctively went in.
Snacks, a must-have. However, Wang Wenjuan interjected with concern, “Don’t eat too many, especially spicy sticks. They’re not nutritious.”
“Got it~” Xia Jing giggled.
Then Xia Jing pulled Xia Yu to choose snacks, though Xia Yu didn’t really help pick; she just watched Xia Jing’s selections.
Oddly enough, she seemed less inclined toward snacks lately.
As they walked around, suddenly, Wang Wenjuan realized something and handed Xia Le a shopping cart, “Xiao Le, take care of Xia Yu. Head further ahead. Me and Xiao Ling will grab some things first.”
With that, Wang Wenjuan grabbed Xia Ling and headed off…
Xia Ling knew exactly what her mom wanted to buy—sanitary napkins—but wanted Xia Yu to come along. But Xia Yu wasn’t ready to reveal her secret yet.
Helping others hide secrets was exhausting, Xia Ling thought.
On Xia Le’s end, he leaned against the cart, playing with his phone and walking quickly, trying to ditch Xia Yu, dismissing his mom’s words entirely.
Xia Le figured Xia Yu, being grown up, needed no special attention. Her mom was overreacting, and besides, with so many people here, what could happen?
Seeing her fast-moving older brother, Xia Yu struggled to catch up, her legs still recovering from her recent accident. Trying to move faster made her feel weak.
Frustrated, Xia Yu drifted away, leaving her directionless. All she could do was wander aimlessly, hoping to bump into her brother, her mom, or sister.
Upon seeing Xia Yu get lost, Xia Le felt proud. He toyed with the idea of looping back to surprise Xia Yu.
Why not? So, Xia Le sped up, pushing the cart as if endlessly energetic.
Halfway through his loop, still not finding Xia Yu, he encountered a very awkward reunion with his mom and his sister.
“Wenjuan, where’s Xia Yu?”
“Uh, she should be… ahead. I’ll go back to fetch her,” Xia Le replied awkwardly, fearing his mom might react badly if she knew he had ditched Xia Yu deliberately.
Xia Yu had become princess-like in the household since getting sick, putting Xia Le in a position of feeling less favored.
Xia Ling, without hesitation, rushed off to find Xia Yu, running swiftly…
Not long after, Xia Ling returned, “I didn’t see Er Ge…”
…
Right then, Xia Yu emerged from the bathroom.
Yes, the bathroom by the entrance—she hadn’t been in the store after all. That explained why Xia Ling couldn’t find her.
But as Xia Yu attempted to rejoin her family, a familiar memory resurfaced. Everything went dark just as she felt a chill in her nose and her body crumpled.
…
“Oh, what a fruitful day. We caught a new chick, perfect as our hostage. Once we have Jiang Family’s ransom, life will be smooth sailing!”
“True, with a hostage, they won’t dare mess with us!”
…
Regaining consciousness, Xia Yu heard this conversation, shaking off her daze. Was she kidnapped again?
Beside her lay another girl, someone recognizable—an upper-class young lady Xia Yu had met before.
They looked at each other, silent but understanding.
