In the days that followed, even though Liang Yican and Liang Yizhao eagerly awaited it, they still couldn't witness the emergence of the third swimming champion.
"This Little Wei is so silly. How can it still not find its way?" Sometimes, Liang Yizhao would sigh with a furrowed brow.
As the youngest in the family now, he often found himself under the oppression of Liang Yican, who used her status as an older sister. Nobody wished more than him to have a little brother or sister, just to experience what it felt like to be an older sibling.
At moments like these, Ming Si and Liang Xian could only sigh and chuckle.
Further explanation would delve into topics not suitable for those under eighteen.
Fortunately, children's attention shifts quickly. After mutual complaints about the perpetually lost Little Wei, Liang Yican and Liang Yizhao stopped mentioning it like they used to.
With the turn of seasons, when the irises in the courtyard of Guanlan Manor bloomed most vividly, Liang Yican was about to graduate from kindergarten.
After the New Year, she had started to grow a little taller, shedding the round and soft cuteness of her childhood. With a specific body training, her back was set straight, exuding a model-like posture from a young age.
Her fair skin took after her mother, while her eyes resembled her father's. When she smiled, her eyes would curve charmingly, radiating a unique sweetness.
With her impressive appearance and the confidence to match, not to mention her lack of stage fright, it was unsurprising that she was chosen to be the host of the kindergarten graduation party.
In the past few days, Liang Yican had been diligently memorizing the lines given by her teacher, even on weekends.
Ming Si, Liang Xian, and Liang Yizhao had been pulled over to be the audience.
Like most boys his age, Liang Yizhao enjoyed playing with LEGO bricks, airplanes, and toy cars. Liang Xian had bought him a children's car the previous year – it was black and had a cool design. Liang Yizhao often drove it around the yard, even delivering packages to his mother from the courtyard gate.
When he heard Liang Yican's call, he gave a here we go again expression, reluctantly pausing his car and heading into the villa. There, he joined Ming Si and Liang Xian, sitting on the sofa in a row.
—On surface, he seemed to resist, but his behavior was rather obedient.
Many adults recall their most detested childhood experiences being forced to perform in front of elders. However, unlike most children of her age, Liang Yican loved showing off.
And the more people, the more she enjoyed it.
When Cheng Yu and the others visited their villa, they were always dragged over to listen to her play the piano. If they praised her a bit, her metaphorical little tail would wag happily.
Perhaps it was because she had been pampered and doted on from an early age, Liang Yican had always been confident.
At this moment, standing there, she appeared composed and graceful, not showing a hint of shyness.
The kindergarten teacher had mentioned that parents could offer some guidance after daily practice. However, after Ming Si and Liang Xian observed, they felt unusually guilty – Liang Yican had a natural gift for hosting, but neither of them had any relevant experience.
"You should say a few words," Ming Si decisively pushed Liang Xian.
Liang Xian, who had been leaning on the couch with one hand resting on the backrest, chuckled at the idea. He lazily got up and leaned closer, "Why should I?"
"Because you're her father," Ming Si replied, giving him a sidelong glance. With one finger, she poked his shoulder, "And what's with this attitude? Can't you handle the responsibility of being a father?"
Since when did the responsibilities of a father include critiquing his daughter's hosting?
Liang Xian chuckled, and before he could say anything, Ming Si quickly added, "Then, do you love me or not? Answer quickly."
Knowing it was a trap, Liang Xian still replied, "I do."
"If you love me, then you have to critique Liang Yican," Ming Si looked pleased with herself and asked, "Can't you bear the responsibility of being a father?"
Liang Xian hesitated for a moment and replied, "...I can."
There was no need to guess what her next sentence would be.
"If you can bear the responsibility, then you have to critique!" Ming Si's lips curled upwards, and as expected, she said exactly that. She then extended both hands to cup his face and said, "Good boy, my husband."
He rolled his eyes at her and snorted.
Since the two had gotten married, in their playful bickering, Liang Xian had hardly ever won.
But he was willing to let her have her way.
After a playful exchange between Ming Si and Liang Xian, their attention quickly returned to Liang Yican.
When Liang Yican returned after reciting her lines, Ming Si turned her head to look at Liang Yizhao and noticed that he blinked continuously. It seemed like he had just snapped out of Liang Yican's hosting moment.
This was indeed a rare sight.
Ming Si thought that Liang Yizhao had been influenced and might also be interested in becoming a young host. She was preparing to set a small goal for him and offer some encouragement.
However, the next moment, the little boy yawned and said, "Being a host is really troublesome."
Ming Si: "..."
Is that all you have to say?
Though Liang Yican and Liang Yizhao shared the same mother and father, their personalities were quite different.
For example, Liang Yican couldn't understand why some children would cry and refuse to go to kindergarten. In her eyes, kindergarten was a place with many little friends, a place where everyone could play joyfully together.
She also saw it as a chance to shine and be the most dazzling little star, which excited her beyond words.
But Liang Yizhao was the epitome of a child who cried and refused to go to kindergarten.
The first few days of enrollment were fine, likely due to the novelty of the unfamiliar environment. However, as he grew more accustomed to the kindergarten setting and could easily recite the number of lambs in the sheep pen or list the plants in the botanical garden with his eyes closed, he began to dislike it.
For a period of time, it was Liang Xian who would directly lift him from his bed and put him in the car for school every day.
The kindergarten teachers also said that Liang Yizhao was intelligent, but a bit lazy.
In some classes that had mixed-age teaching, during math activities, Liang Yizhao could even answer questions faster than the older children. Yet, once he had the answer, he'd lose interest and start playing with the small teaching tools on the table. As a result, he lost quite a few points.
The teachers were helpless, but they also noticed that once he reached a certain point of deduction, Liang Yizhao would obediently start paying attention in class and follow the rules better than anyone.
The teachers understood the situation but couldn't help but laugh.
"The points cards in the class are tallied weekly, and each level corresponds to different rewards for redemption," the kindergarten teacher explained with a chuckle, then shook her head, "Yizhao always clings to that specific point value, accumulating them intensely when not enough, and then extravagantly spending them when it's sufficient. He doesn't waste a single point!"
When Ming Si left her office, she was both amused and exasperated.
She finally understood that the little gifts Zhaobao gave her each week originated from there. At the same time, she was also worried – at this rate, wouldn't Zhaobao end up doing whatever he pleased? Following the rules when he felt like it and not when he didn't?
Back home, Ming Si even vented her frustration at Liang Xian.
"Back when you were in high school, you could've easily ranked first. Yet, because you were too lazy to calculate, you gave up. Our son is just like you – cut from the same cloth," She leaned against his chest, pounding his palm when she got angry, "What are we going to do now?"
Liang Xian spread his hands, catching hers and intertwining their fingers. He smiled and asked, "Give him a beating?"
Ming Si abruptly stood up, looking at him with an expression that said: Are you even human?
Liang Xian kissed her lightly, "I was just joking."
Ultimately, this matter was resolved through a father-son conversation between Liang Xian and Liang Yizhao.
But it seemed that the father and son had drifted off-topic somehow. Their conversation concluded with the consensus that some rules are really troublesome; you can adjust them based on your own circumstances and be a bit more carefree. Unfortunately, Ming Si walked in on this conversation while checking up on them and almost gave them a scolding.
Today, Liang Yizhao's slightly carefree personality still occasionally gave Ming Si a headache.
For example, at the moment, when she heard Liang Yizhao say that being a host on stage was troublesome, she wanted to guide him towards a more positive perspective.
Unexpectedly, Liang Yican spoke first, confidently saying, "It's not troublesome at all!"
Ming Si felt pleased; this was where the advantage of having two children came into play. Without her intervention, Liang Yican could handle Liang Yizhao.
Liang Yican added emphatically, "And, my co-host, He Siwei, is so handsome!"
Ming Si: "?"
Who's He Siwei?
Not only she, but even Liang Xian slightly sat up and asked, "Who's He Siwei?"
Liang Yican hadn't realized the impending danger yet and immediately jumped off the sofa, "I've mentioned him to you before! He's the boy who's hosting with me!"
"Oh," Liang Xian responded with a hint of detachment, his gaze shifting towards her, "Is he more handsome than your Daddy?"
Liang Yican glanced at him, tilted her head in thought, and said, "Daddy is still more handsome!"
Liang Xian was somewhat satisfied and leaned back, embracing Ming Si. He spoke unreasonably, "You should keep your distance from He Siwei."
Ming Si playfully swatted him and whispered, "Who teaches children like you?"
"Why should I keep my distance? He Siwei is really amazing. Miss Giroux likes him the most and often praises his excellent English," Even though she acknowledged her Daddy's handsomeness, Liang Yican didn't hide her admiration for He Siwei and retorted to Liang Xian's irrational request, "Moreover, He Siwei is the most popular boy in the class!"
Hearing her words, it was as if He Siwei had become a blooming flower.
Liang Xian gave a slight chuckle.
Suddenly, Ming Si remembered something, "He Siwei, is he the one who invited you to his birthday party last time?"
Upon hearing this, Liang Xian also sat up.
Ming Si knew that maybe what Cheng Yu said had come true.
Liang Xian had now transitioned from the stage of Years of Making Formula: My Journey and Years of Doing My Daughter's Hair to the official stage of What to Do When Pigs Invade My Home Garden.
However, neither of them had expected this stage to come so soon.
Suppressing her laughter, Ming Si pinched Liang Xian's fingers to offer comfort.
"Birthday party?" Liang Yican pondered for a moment, "Oh! That was Zanzan. Zanzan is handsome too. But now, many girls in the class want to marry He Siwei!"
And now there's a Zanzan too?
Ming Si couldn't believe that at such a young age, Liang Yican seemed to have a knack for becoming a sea king. She intentionally asked, "And what about you?"
"I don't want to marry He Siwei," Liang Yican answered without hesitation.
Hearing that, Liang Xian finally felt a bit relieved. He lazily leaned back on the sofa, saying, "You kids are thinking about these things way too early. You're not even sure where you'll be attending elementary school."
Ming Si had strong suspicions that if she hadn't intervened, this man would have easily said something like: Your goal right now should be to study well; long-distance relationships never end well.
"When I grow up, I want to marry Brother Xiaodao."
Liang Yican's voice was small, and a slight blush appeared on her cheeks.
Liang Xian: "?"