Chapter 22: The Painted Mermaid

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Little Su Luo: "Of course I didn’t let him take pictures of us."
He thought he was a bad uncle, but now it seems the uncle isn’t so bad after all.
System: [Hmph, I told you he’s not bad.]
Su Xingwan breathed a sigh of relief.
She gently patted the two little ones on the head: “It’s right not to let him take pictures.”
“Mhm!” The two nodded.
The two tufts of unruly hair atop their heads trembled, so adorable that Su Xingwan couldn’t help but reach out and stroke them a few more times.
As they walked home,
Little Su Luo suddenly asked, “Auntie, if that uncle wants to take pictures of me and my sister next time, should I let him?”
After all, the uncle helped my sister today.
Little Su Hua also looked up at Auntie.
Su Xingwan remained silent.
If it were someone else, she would definitely tell the two little ones never to allow strangers to take their photos—these could be scammers who might abduct them.
But…
Did she need to lie to the two little ones this once?
Seeing Auntie silent, the two pairs of big eyes tilted their heads, waiting.
Su Xingwan said, “You can let him.”
After all, the two will have to meet their little uncle in the future; she can’t keep blocking it forever.
Her main goal now was to minimize the harm that the original owner had inflicted on the three little ones.
And also to make that naturally cold little uncle show some mercy.
She added, “But no one else, strangers are not allowed to take pictures of you.”
Little Su Luo asked, “Why not?”
Little Su Hua said, “Brother, you’re so silly. Of course it’s because they might be bad people.”
Su Xingwan smiled warmly, “Exactly, strangers who want to take pictures might be scammers. What if they take you away and Auntie can’t find you?”
The two little ones were frightened and quickly hugged Auntie.
“We don’t want to be taken away, don’t want Auntie to lose us!”
Su Xingwan smiled gently and ruffled their heads, “So… whenever you see strangers, stay far away, okay?”
“Got it, Auntie!” They said in unison, their eyes shining brightly.
By the time she finished talking to them, they had arrived home.
As soon as Su Xingwan entered, she turned on the heater.
The two little ones lay on the carpet playing with the small toys they had made themselves.
Su Xingwan went to the bathroom to fill a basin with warm water, then called out to the two.
“Two little babies, time to wash your feet!”
“Auntie, here we come!”

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The two quickly put down their toys and ran over to Auntie’s side with quick footsteps.
They shared one large foot basin.
After sitting down, they took off their shoes and socks by themselves.
Their little feet dipped into the warm water, and they sighed comfortably.
Little Su Luo suddenly asked, “Auntie, why were those uncles and aunties afraid of Uncle Ye today?”
Little Su Hua chimed in, “Yeah, he’s really not fierce at all. Uncle Ye isn’t as scary as that mean auntie.”
Su Xingwan paused, then said, “Because Uncle Ye is very powerful.”
Little Su Hua’s eyes filled with confusion: “What does powerful mean?”
Su Xingwan rephrased, “It means that uncle is very rich.”
The two little ones suddenly understood: “Oh, Uncle Ye is very rich!”
Seeing their eyes suddenly sparkle, Su Xingwan felt a trace of curiosity.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing, Auntie.” Little Su Hua tried to hide her little nervousness.
She couldn’t tell Auntie about her plans to make money. That was a secret between her and her brother.
“…Is that so?” Su Xingwan was puzzled.
After washing their feet obediently, the two dried them off with towels by themselves.
It was still early, so Su Xingwan let them play on their own.
She sat cross-legged on the sofa and opened her phone. She saw that Senior Yang Meng had accepted her friend request.
Yang Meng was online, so they discussed tomorrow’s photoshoot on WeChat.
From their chat, Su Xingwan learned that Yang Meng’s studio was still in its early startup phase.
Given the tough job market, starting a business was difficult. Although he had worked at a big company before, his experience as an entrepreneur was almost zero.
He wanted her to model for a magazine cover shoot to showcase the studio’s signature work.
They couldn’t afford well-known celebrities, but Su Xingwan was at least pretty and somewhat famous as an online influencer.
After understanding the situation, Su Xingwan still accepted the part-time job.
After all, she was nearly unable to afford meals and had to support the two little ones—it was very hard.
In the living room, Little Su Hua held a pencil, drawing on a blank sheet of paper, while Little Su Luo found some dance videos on Auntie’s tablet and swayed along with the uncles and aunties on screen.
After finishing a mermaid drawing, Little Su Hua climbed up from the carpet and ran over to Su Xingwan, eager for praise.
“Auntie, look at how well I drew it!”
“Okay, Auntie will take a look.”
Just after finishing her chat with Senior Yang Meng, Su Xingwan picked up the paper from Little Su Hua’s hands. The pencil lines were crooked and wobbly; she couldn’t really tell what it was except vaguely seeing a fish tail.
She guessed boldly, “Is this… a fish?”
Little Su Hua nodded, eyes sparkling brightly: “You’re right, Auntie. Guess what kind of fish this is?”
Su Xingwan hesitated—she had to guess the kind of fish too?
She pretended to rest her chin on her hands, but her brows were already furrowed.
“A carp?”
Little Su Hua shook her head.
“A goldfish?”
She shook her head again.
“A big-tailed fish?”
Still a shake of the head, and seeing Auntie couldn’t guess, she happily said, “Auntie, none of those are right!”
Su Xingwan feigned surrender, “I give up. Tell me what it is, please.”
“Auntie, this is you, teehee!” Little Su Hua blinked her bright eyes.
“Me?” Su Xingwan was a little puzzled.
Wasn’t this a fish?
She examined the drawing carefully.
There was no trace of her in the upper half of the picture.
Little Su Hua tilted her head, “Yes, it’s a mermaid! Auntie, you’re a mermaid!”
Su Xingwan smiled at that.
Such a rich imagination from a child.
“Why do you think Auntie is a mermaid?”
“Because Auntie, you’re as beautiful as a mermaid, a pretty little princess.”
Su Xingwan chuckled.
“If Auntie is a little princess, then what are you?”
Little Su Hua was stumped by the question. She blinked her big eyes, seemingly pondering.
Suddenly she said, “I’m Auntie’s little princess!”
Su Xingwan couldn’t help but pat Little Su Hua’s fuzzy head.
“Oh, you really are a clever little smarty.”
Little Su Hua giggled at Auntie’s praise.
Just then, Little Su Luo hopped over with a strange gait.
“Auntie! Look at my dance, isn’t it good?”
Su Xingwan watched as Little Su Luo twisted and wriggled like a little worm in front of the tablet’s dance video.
She looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Actually, she very much wanted to say:
Kiddo, dancing isn’t really your thing. Maybe you should learn something else.