Chapter 67: Ch 67: Mall Escapades and Compassionate Breaks
Chapter 67: Ch 67: Mall Escapades and Compassionate Breaks
Hey, guys! So, if y’all still hadn’t seen my comments regarding the discord server, I’mma put it here: https://discord.gg/QBeNvd9j7G join now so you can bite our moderato—COUGH! So you can chat with our dear moderator and our dear readers (yuriconnoisseur, you have infected me with your cough. I demand compensation.)
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The upscale mall buzzed with midday energy under its expansive glass skylights, which allowed bright afternoon sunlight to pour in and illuminate the polished marble floors with warm, golden patterns. Shoppers moved at a leisurely pace along the wide walkways, their footsteps echoing softly amid the gentle hum of conversations and the occasional cheerful chime from store entrances.
Elegant boutiques displayed their wares in brightly lit windows, while the faint, pleasant scents of fresh pastries from nearby cafés and blooming flowers from decorative planters filled the air. It was a lively yet refined environment, perfect for a leisurely outing—or, in this case, an enthusiastic shopping spree for one very special little princess.
PD Xu Cui and his small crew had finally taken a well-deserved break after hours of navigating the mall’s winding paths. They sat at a quiet seating area near a fountain, the soft splash of water providing a soothing backdrop.
PD Xu Cui leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh, finishing the last bite of his sandwich and draining the rest of his soda in one go. "That hits the spot!" he declared, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He stood up and casually tossed his garbage into a nearby bin before turning his attention to the stroller beside him.
Mo Yan had been sleeping peacefully for most of the trip, but now her bright phoenix eyes were wide open, gazing up at him with innocent curiosity.
PD Xu Cui broke into a wide, doting smile, crouching down near the stroller so he was at eye level with the baby. "Haiya, since when were you awake?" he asked playfully, though he knew she wouldn’t answer.
In response, Mo Yan’s tiny mouth curved into a bright, heart-melting smile, her eyes twinkling like stars.
PD Xu Cui instantly melted. "Kuh—! Ca-can’t see!" one of the crew members exaggerated dramatically, covering her eyes as if blinded by the cuteness. Her colleague, who had been scolded with her earlier, chimed in right on cue. "Co-comrade! I think this is t-the end for us....!" he said, pretending to stagger.
They were promptly hit on the back of their heads by the rest of the crew. "Stop playing around, you two," the others scolded, though their own smiles betrayed how charmed they were by the baby.
Meanwhile, PD Xu Cui, after being momentarily stunned by Mo Yan’s welcomed "flash bomb" of a smile, grinned at Mo Yan. "Is our princess hungry?" he cooed. The baby’s smile grew even brighter, as if confirming his guess. Without wasting another second, PD Xu Cui sprang into action.
He rummaged through the cream-colored bag filled with Mo Yan’s essentials and pulled out a clean bottle with water already inside. He opened one of the powdered milk sachets and carefully poured the contents into the bottle, then shook it thoroughly until the milk and water blended into a smooth mixture.
He returned to the stroller and gently offered the nipple to Mo Yan. The baby latched on immediately, sucking hungrily with soft, contented sounds. Her chubby cheeks puffed out even more as the milk level in the bottle dropped rapidly. PD Xu Cui and the crew watched with matching doting smiles, each thinking the same thing: Cute!
After a few minutes, Mo Yan finished the bottle with a satisfied little sigh, her eyes half-lidded in contentment. PD Xu Cui recalled Su Wanyan’s stern advice from earlier: You must always burp her after a meal! He carefully lifted the baby, gently positioning her head on his shoulder. "That’s easy~" he murmured confidently, patting her back with light, rhythmic taps.
But Mo Yan had other ideas. She started squirming in his arms, her tiny body wiggling with surprising strength. PD Xu Cui’s eyes widened in panic as she nearly slipped. "Eh!" he exclaimed, scrambling to stabilize her. The crew, who had been watching peacefully, immediately lunged forward with outstretched arms, ready to catch her if she fell.
Fortunately, PD Xu Cui managed to raise his shoulder and grab Mo Yan’s back just in time. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. "That.. that was close," PD Xu Cui muttered, heart still racing. Mo Xingxue’s terrifying smile and cold warning flashed through his mind, making him shudder. If something really did happen.... I would’ve been skewered!
He shook off the thought and looked at his crew, who were still frozen in dramatic rescue poses. "You idiots, what are you standing all around for?" he asked, though there was no real heat in his voice.
The staff scrambled back to their feet, laughing sheepishly. "Sorry, PD!"
PD Xu Cui sighed, but the annoyance vanished the moment he looked back at the giggling baby in his arms. "Haiya, our princess," he cooed, his voice losing all authority as he gently pinched her chubby cheek. Mo Yan laughed again, her eyes twinkling with pure joy. PD Xu Cui smiled brightly and continued burping her properly this time, extra careful not to let anything happen. I don’t want to get killed by Mo Xingxue!
After Mo Yan let out a successful burp, the crew regrouped. "Let’s continue our journey," PD Xu Cui declared, looking serious as if they were embarking on a dangerous expedition. The crew nodded heavily behind him, their arms already full of colorful shopping bags filled with toys and clothes for the baby. "Yes, Captain!" they chorused.
PD Xu Cui nodded solemnly and pushed Mo Yan’s stroller forward, leading his team back into the lively paths of the mall with renewed determination.
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PD Xu Cui pushed Mo Yan’s stroller with steady enthusiasm, his wide grin never fading. One of the staff suddenly called out, "PD! PD! Look, doesn’t this dress suit Mo Yan?" The employee held up a delicate pink and princess-like dress adorned with intricate embroidery and soft, flowing fabric that shimmered gently under the lights.
PD Xu Cui hummed thoughtfully and turned back, walking backwards a few steps to inspect it. The dress was indeed charming—layers of tulle, sparkling details, and a design that screamed adorable royalty. "Hm... Add this," he said, waving nonchalantly at the store staff.
The employee nodded eagerly, her eyes lighting up as she glanced at the already massive bundle of clothes and accessories PD Xu Cui had purchased. She looked at him as if he were the God of Wealth himself, a fawning smile spreading across her face.
PD Xu Cui continued browsing the other dresses on display, each one worth thousands of dollars. His face soured slightly, not from any concern over the price—money was never the issue—but because he felt these mass-produced pieces couldn’t fully capture Mo Yan’s unique cuteness.
Sigh..... Should I just order custom dresses for our princess? he thought. Then his eyes lit up as he remembered the luxurious clothing brands he had connections with. A satisfied smile returned to his face. He believed these pre-made clothes were simply beneath their little princess. After paying and giving the store the address of the villa (much to the relief of his crew, who could barely carry any more bags), they left the boutique.
PD Xu Cui looked around the mall again, murmuring critically, "Where to go next?" His gaze scanned the stores with the seriousness of a general planning a campaign.
Just then, his phone rang. PD Xu Cui frowned, clicking his tongue in irritation. Tsk, why are these people ruining my shopping spree? He impatiently fished the phone out of his pocket, but his expression softened the moment he saw the caller ID—Su Wanyan.
He answered immediately, his voice bright and cheerful. "Hello?"
"PD.... I..." Su Wanyan’s voice came through, noticeably nasal. "I’d like to ask for a leave from the show."
PD Xu Cui was shocked. "You’re leaving the show?" He didn’t want that outcome at all—Su Wanyan was one of the main reasons the show was so popular. Still, he held back his immediate refusal and waited for her explanation.
"No, I won’t leave the show," she clarified. "It’s just...." Su Wanyan paused.
"Just?" PD Xu Cui prompted gently.
There was a brief silence on the line. In the quiet, PD Xu Cui could finally hear the faint beeping of medical equipment in the background. His frown deepened. "Where are you? Are you okay?" he asked, genuine worry creeping into his voice.
"I’m fine, PD. Thank you for your concern," Su Wanyan replied, her tone lightening slightly.
PD Xu Cui breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good then."
Su Wanyan sighed softly on the other end. "It’s just.. I have to take care of a kid who’s under my care. She had a close call earlier, so I decided to personally monitor her health."
PD Xu Cui hummed thoughtfully. "Is that so?"
"Un," was all Su Wanyan could manage.
The line fell silent again. Su Wanyan, fearing the request might be denied, began to appeal earnestly. "PD, this kid is important to me. And if I don’t do this, not only am I turning my back on my job but also as a human bein—"
PD Xu Cui laughed softly, cutting her off. "Of course," he said warmly. His smile turned soft with genuine respect for the alpha on the other end.
In the past, guests had simply disappeared without notice and returned days later as if nothing happened. When confronted, they would publicly accuse him of wrongdoing and demand compensation. Su Wanyan, however, had come to him directly with a valid reason. It was a refreshing contrast.
"I allow your break, Su Wanyan," he continued. "For a week and four days. Just return when we have to leave the villa, okay?"
Su Wanyan’s breath hitched, followed by the faint sound of small sobs. "Thank you, PD," she said, her voice thick with gratitude.
PD Xu Cui smiled. "You said it was for a kid, right?" He glanced around the mall again, already forming a plan. "Yes," Su Wanyan answered, still sniffling softly.
"Okay. Is that all?" he asked.
"Yes, that was all."
After exchanging a few more words, they hung up. PD Xu Cui paused for a moment, then turned to his crew with renewed energy. "Let’s go, crew! We need to buy more stuff for our princess....." He paused, eyes twinkling. "And also a gift for a mysterious little kid."
"Eh? Kid?" one of the staff asked, confused.
"More? We have to buy more?" another groaned.
PD Xu Cui ignored their complaints and strode confidently into the next store. "PD? PD! Our hands and feets are sore!" the crew complained, but they still followed him inside, loyal to the end.
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Thank you so much, AshesOT for reading this and acting as this novel’s editor (I’m sorry, the readers will kowtow for me)! Guys, as repayment for our dear twin, we’ll shower her with bite attacks later. So, go join the server!
If you’re still not enticed with biting AshesOT... I’ll reluctantly allow you to bite... sigh... I’ll reluctantly allow y’all to bite yuriconnoisseur, ShiiroNovax, Kitj, Queen_of_stupidity, and... and... Ruby_mallare. Sniff, the difficult decisions I have to make... sigh~
Also, I kept my word. We reached 300k so I’m making fluff again! No more angst (for the time bein—COUGH), ’cause I DO not like seeing y’all in pain—it breaks my heart too. And, there’s no bottom jokes for now, guys. Because I don’t want to reach your(e) BOTTOM line, ehe :D! ...Yeah, I’ll shut up.