The two were overly polite, but it made Tang Wan on the side laugh.
Jiangjiang was not inherently bad, nor did he intentionally bully anyone, so even though he felt some hostility towards Taotao, since she was a girl, he still took care of her.
"Hmm?" Taotao looked at him.
"I’ll be 5 after the New Year."
"I’m older than you!" Jiangjiang said with pride.
Tang Wan almost died laughing. How much older could you be? What’s there to be so proud of?
"Hello, big brother." Taotao was also well-mannered.
Seeing how obedient and gentle she was, Jiangjiang felt incredibly cool inside, suddenly feeling, "When you’re out in the world in the future, I can cover for you."
"Cough—" Jiangjiang turned his head to look out the window, "Do you like the snow?"
"I like it." Taotao found the snow beautiful and she could build snowmen, which all kids love.
"You don’t like it?" Taotao was originally a very generous girl, just scared earlier by being surrounded by the Jiang Family members. Now, seeing someone her age and realizing he wasn’t so scary, she became bolder.
"That’s stuff only little girls like. A real man doesn’t like that stuff!"
"Robots, airplanes, cannons..." Jiangjiang had learned a mess of things from Jiang Chengsi, knew little, but it was enough to bluff a little girl.
"That’s amazing!" Taotao exclaimed sincerely, she really knew nothing about these things, watching him talk excitedly, she genuinely thought he was incredible.
Jiangjiang instantly felt he was floating—
Their interaction was almost describable as utterly charmless, but to the onlookers, it seemed exceptionally adorable. After all, blood is thicker than water; even though it was their first meeting, there was always a sense of closeness.
It’s so easy for children to bond.
The two leaned against the window and watched the snow for a while. Jiangjiang then grabbed his own toys for her. Taotao held the Rubik’s cube, fiddling with it for a long time without knowing how to play it.
"Let me do it, watch closely." Jiangjiang took it from her, his demeanor full of swagger and pride.
Jiangjiang coughed to clear his throat; it was time to show off his real skills.
When he had solved one side, Taotao was astonished, "Big brother, how are you so awesome!"
Shen Zhixian watched the two interacting, feeling relieved yet also a bit melancholic; after all, they had missed out on 5 years, meanwhile, the Jiang Family members felt somewhat helpless.
Jiangjiang, this little show-off!
One with a face full of admiration, an unconditional fangirl-like adoration; the other with a proud but delighted demeanor!
When it was time for dinner, the two children had already been playing enthusiastically. If it hadn’t been for mealtime, Jiangjiang would have pulled her upstairs to play.
After everyone was seated, old man Tang smiled at the old lady, "You’re blessed, haha, that child is great, and the little girl is well-mannered..."
"Oh—stop teasing me now," the old lady modestly responded, but inside she was thrilled. Yet, she instantly thought that their family really owed Shen Zhixian a lot.
To give so much for one man, Shen Zhixian must also have deeply loved her grandson. The old lady, pondering while holding her cane, secretly considered how to bring the two together.
If this family of four could unite, the future would be blissful.
Regarding past events and the Xie Family, everyone seemingly agreed not to bring them up. During the dinner, the only Jiang Family members who seemed serious and stern were Jiang Yanting and Jiang Zhenhuan; the others, naturally kind, were warm towards Taotao, and the little girl soon became less reserved.
However, after several interactions, Taotao got quite familiar with Jiang Jinsang.
Although brothers, he and Jiang Yanting were completely different types; with a gentle demeanor, always smiling when he spoke, inherently non-threatening, and easily making others let their guard down.
So when it was time to eat and everyone was seated, Jiang Jinsang casually asked, "Taotao, do you want to sit with me?"
Jiang Yanting frowned, then watched as his recently acknowledged niece threw herself into his brother’s arms.
"Everyone, please sit down, we must all be hungry." Who sits with whom didn’t matter; after all, there was plenty of time in the future.
It was Jiangjiang who, having met a peer and played so well with Taotao, also pulled over a stool to sit next to her, leaving Jiang Yanting and Shen Zhixian without any children by their sides.
Shen Zhixian felt somewhat headaches, how could these two be so unaware, actually squeezing between Jiang Wuye and Tang Wan.
With children around, Jiang Jinsang and Tang Wan couldn’t just focus on their meals and inevitably had to take care of the two, making Shen Zhixian feel bad, "Taotao, come here. Don’t bother your uncle and aunt."