The next day, when Luan Xi woke up, the child who had been sleeping beside him was nowhere to be seen. He felt the bed, and it was already cold, wondering where the child had gone. After washing up and putting on his pajamas, Luan Xi yawned and walked out of the room. It was only ten o'clock, and in the living room, Luan Yunshen was reading a newspaper on the sofa. Even at home, he dressed meticulously, looking like an old scholar.

"Dad, where is my mom and Shen Li?" He took a seat at the dining table and noticed some leftover breakfast on the table. Nonchalantly, Lu Xi picked up his chopsticks and asked.

Luan Yunshen's attention was focused on a news article in the newspaper. Without lifting his head, he replied, "The community organized some parent-child activities these past few days. Your mother took him there as planned with his classmates."

"Classmate? Which classmate?" Luo Xi paused with the chopsticks in his hand. It seemed that Shen Li had never mentioned such a thing to him before.

"Just his desk-mate in class, he's a well-behaved child. It's normal that you haven't come back for so long," Luanyun Shen said, finally shifting his gaze to his own son. "When they come back, we have to go to the supermarket together to buy some New Year's goods. Will you go? If you're going, quickly change your clothes. Don't wander around in your pajamas all the time."

Luanshi shrugged when he heard the words. His father had always been like this, it was nothing new. "Alright, Dad. I'll finish my meal and then go change."

When Yan Jiexu and Shen Li returned, it was already past noon. The children were sweaty from playing. Yan Jiexu helped Shen Li change into slippers and gave him a gentle push on the shoulder. "Hurry up and change your clothes, don't catch a cold later." Watching Shen Li obediently walk towards the room, Yan Jiexu still worried that he might catch a cold. "Hold on, Xiao Li. Let me wipe your body with warm water before changing clothes."

Luan Xi poked her head out of the room when she heard a noise, and just happened to see Shen Li following behind Yan Jiexu toward the bathroom. When the child saw Luan Xi, he couldn't help but smile and wink his watery eyes at her. Seeing that Luan Xi arrived at the right moment, Yan Jiexu asked for her help, saying, "Take him to the bathroom for a wipe-down, make sure the water is hot, as the child's back is covered in sweat." With Shen Li entrusted to Luan Xi, Yan Jiexu turned back to Shen Li's room to find the clothes he would change into later.

The heating in the bathroom was on full blast, so Shen Li didn't feel cold. Lu'an Xi touched the sweaty forehead of the child and couldn't help but feel that children at this age can be quite mischievous. Even in such freezing weather, they could still end up sweating profusely. "You're having so much fun! Did you play a parent-child game until your clothes got wet?" Lu'an Xi filled Shen Li's bathtub with water and tested the temperature with her hand before turning around to help him undress.

Shen Li's heart is still pounding till now, eagerly trying to tell Luan Xi all the fun things he has experienced along the way.

Holding the cartoon-printed towel for the child, Luǎn Xī soaked it in hot water. She couldn't help but find it amusing, saying, "Stop dawdling. If you catch a cold, it won't be pleasant for you."

Shen Li let him wipe his face and change his clothes. He sporadically spoke out a few sentences, revealing his current mood. Lu'an Xi listened and caught onto the key point. A unfamiliar name was mentioned countless times by the child's mouth. He furrowed his eyebrows slightly and repeated the name, "He is your classmate?"

Shen Li responded with a sound, but before he could react, Luan Xi had already helped him put on his clothes. "Alright, we're going to the supermarket later, so calm down for a while."

In the living room, Yan Jiexu was already holding Shen Li's coat, waiting by the side. When he saw that Shen Li had finished changing, he called him over to put on the coat. Luanshi finished tidying up the bathroom and when he came out, he saw Yan Jiexu giving him a signal with his eyes, "Your father went to the parking lot to bring the car downstairs. Go back to your room and put on your clothes, then let's go together."

The car journey took only fifteen minutes. Luan Yunshen asked the three of them to first get off the car and enter the shopping mall while he went to the underground parking garage to park. There was a trendy milk tea shop in the corner on the first floor, the one Luan Xi used to buy for Shen Li frequently. There were still a few people waiting in line at the entrance. Shen Li looked over and locked eyes with Luan Xi, conveying her intention without words. Luan Xi's heart softened as he was being looked at, and he was about to pull Shen Li over to place an order when Mrs. Yan caught them in the act, saying, "What are you two doing? Come back." She glanced at her own son and added, "Shen Li's tooth is still hurting, don't let him drink this."

Shen Li felt a bit guilty when Yan Jiexu called out to him. He cautiously lifted his head and glanced at Luan Xi, who caught his gaze. Luan Xi could only smile helplessly and said, "Mom, I wanted to have bubble tea, so Shen Li is accompanying me."

"Don't think that I don't know what you're thinking. Shen Li coming to Auntie's place, you can buy your own drinks." Yan Jiexu did not directly refute, as Shen Li narrowed her eyes and quietly pulled Lu'an Xi's sleeve, saying, "I want to drink strawberry cheesecake milkshake."

Luan Xi hadn't answered yet, and Mrs. Yan exclaimed loudly to them, "Shen Li, come over to Auntie."

In the end, Luan Xi went to buy the strawberry cheese frosting that Shen Li loved to drink. However, this time he didn't order it with full sugar, but instead thought of the child and ordered it with half sugar. While on the escalator, taking advantage of Mrs. Yan facing away from them, Luan Xi quickly handed it to the impatient Shen Li, letting him take a small sip. After the child finished drinking, he smacked his lips and gave his opinion, "This isn't sweet at all, it doesn't taste good."

Luan Xi picked it up and took a sip with the straw. Actually, the sweetness was fine for him. Looking at the child earnestly making comments, Luan Xi couldn't help but laugh and cry. He spun the cup around and changed to another opening, giving Shen Li a sip of the froth on top of the drink. "You still want to drink full sugar? Don't you care about your teeth anymore?"

The child took a big sip, and a bit of cream stuck to his mouth. His face showed satisfaction. "Full sugar is where its essence lies!" Luǎn Xī found it amusing to see him like this, so she extended her index finger and scraped off the milk stain from his lips. "Give it up, you always come up with the most ridiculous reasons."