MGASC -Chapter 210 You’re a Grown Man—Stop Teasing Around

When Zhang Ling arrived at the circus carrying Xia Xia, Jin Quan was already waiting at the entrance with the three boys, tickets in hand.

He had even bought each of them a candied hawthorn stick. The three little ones were happily nibbling away.

From a distance, Zhang Ling stepped off the bus.

Holding Xia Xia in her arms, she wore an off-white padded jacket, a coffee-colored scarf, dark blue jeans, and black leather shoes. Her hair was twisted into a bun at the back of her head, casually pinned with a pearl hairpin.

Tall and slender, she had recently taken Qiao Qiao’s advice and paid special attention to her posture when walking. It gave her movements a graceful charm—gentle yet undeniably feminine.

She herself wasn’t dressed heavily, but Xia Xia was bundled up like a pink ball. Underneath were layers upon layers—thermal wear, sweater, woolen pants, a vest—several pieces in total. On top of it all was the floral padded jacket made for the New Year and a pink hat.

Wrapped up so thickly, Xia Xia’s little arms couldn’t even rest at her sides. They stuck out stiffly, making her look like an adorable little puppet.

“It’s freezing out. Why didn’t you take the three of them inside first?”

Seeing Lin Jin’s runny nose frozen stiff, Zhang Ling hurriedly pulled out a tissue to wipe it, complaining at Jin Quan.

“Freezing? What freezing? Boys run hot. They’re not cold.”

Jin Quan had a face that looked hard to approach, but the moment he saw the little dumpling-like Xia Xia, he couldn’t help but smile.

“Xia Xia, come here. Let uncle hold you.”

He reached out to take her, but Zhang Ling shot him a look. “Don’t talk nonsense in front of the kids.”

Xia Xia found him fierce-looking too. She wrinkled her little nose and burrowed deeper into Zhang Ling’s arms, waving her tiny hands in refusal.

“See? You’re about to scare her into tears.”

Zhang Ling followed behind Jin Quan, ushering the three little ones inside.

The circus was packed. They had arrived a bit late, and even the aisles were crowded with people.

At first, the three boys walked ahead. But they were thin and small. Soon, Lin Ran was jostled by an adult and stumbled, his candied hawthorn nearly sticking to the coat of the person in front of him.

“Stop pushing!” he shouted anxiously.

But it didn’t help.

Seeing this, Jin Quan grabbed him by the collar and pulled him behind. Shielding the kids, he said, “Watch the steps. Follow me.”

Tall and powerfully built, he casually pushed aside the crowd, and an invisible path opened up ahead. A few people looked displeased and wanted to turn around to scold him, but one look at his fierce expression, and no one dared make a sound.

Just like that, they made their way to the third row in front and found the seats they had reserved.

Jin Quan had booked five seats. The three boys sat together. Zhang Ling, holding Xia Xia, sat next to Lin Xun, and Jin Quan naturally took the seat beside her.

Although there was a sea of heads all around them, their seats were close to the stage. The view was excellent.

The acrobatics had already begun. On stage, performers were playing with diabolo. Several girls in bright costumes skillfully controlled the spinning diabolos with bamboo sticks—lifting, pushing, pulling, shaking, tossing them into the air and catching them again, completing one beautiful and difficult move after another.

It was Zhang Ling’s first time seeing acrobatics in her life. She watched without blinking. Xia Xia, staring at the pretty big sisters on stage, blinked her wide eyes in fascination. From time to time, she stretched out a little finger and babbled as if sharing her thoughts with her brothers and Aunt Ling.

Whenever something exciting happened, she even laughed along.

Jin Quan turned to look at the happily giggling little one.

“I told you to bring them before, and you acted all shy about it. Look how happy Xia Xia is. Kids should come out more often, or they’ll become timid.”

As he spoke, he nudged Zhang Ling’s elbow.

She lowered her head. He pulled out a bag of sunflower seeds and a pack of peanut candy from his pocket and stuffed them into her hands.

She stared at the snacks, stunned for several seconds.

She hadn’t expected Jin Quan to be so thoughtful. It hadn’t even occurred to her to buy some snacks.

Before she could take them, Xia Xia was already pointing at the candy bag, twisting her body to reach for it.

Zhang Ling quickly steadied her. “Good girl, you’re too little. You can’t eat this yet.”

Then she said to Jin Quan, “You eat it. I don’t have a free hand. Besides, if I eat, Xia Xia will want some too.”

Only then did Jin Quan take the bag back.

After a moment, the scent of milk drifted to Zhang Ling’s lips.

She looked—Jin Quan had unwrapped a candy and was holding it to her mouth.

“Hurry up. Otherwise, I’ll give it to Xia Xia.”

Afraid Xia Xia might grab it, Zhang Ling quickly took it into her mouth. It was sweet, soft peanut milk candy. One bite filled her mouth with rich peanut fragrance.

Jin Quan handed a few pieces to the three boys as well.

Then he began cracking sunflower seeds beside her. Zhang Ling had been watching the show attentively, but for some reason, the sound of him cracking seeds drew her attention.

He kept shelling them but wasn’t eating them.

She couldn’t help wondering—who was he shelling them for?

The thought made her heart restless, as if she were anticipating something, yet too shy to reveal that small expectation. She could only hide it.

Her eyes were fixed on the stage, but she didn’t take in a single performance. Only Xia Xia was fully immersed, kicking her little legs happily and babbling away.

Soon, Jin Quan nudged her again.

Annoyed, she said, “I’m watching the show. What is it?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he took her hand and placed the shelled sunflower seeds into her palm.

Zhang Ling turned to look at him, her heart suddenly churning with complicated emotions.

“What are you looking at? There’s no flower on my face.”

“No…”

She closed her palm tightly, not knowing what to say.

By now, Xia Xia had grown familiar and wasn’t afraid of Jin Quan anymore. She turned and leaned her little body toward him, wanting to see what he was holding.

“Xia Xia wants some? Come on, uncle will feed you.” He held up a shelled sunflower seed, pretending to feed her.

Startled, Zhang Ling quickly pulled the child back. “You’re a grown man—stop teasing around. Xia Xia can’t eat that yet.”

“I know. I’m just playing with her.”

He poked Xia Xia’s little cheek with his finger again. This time, Zhang Ling handed the baby to Lin Xun instead. “Xun, hold her for a bit. This person has no sense of propriety.”

Lin Xun took Xia Xia and held her steadily, then secretly glanced past Aunt Ling toward Jin Quan.

Jin Quan raised an eyebrow and grinned at him. Lin Xun hurriedly looked away.

Something felt oddly strange…

Now that her hands were free, Zhang Ling still didn’t eat the sunflower seeds in her palm.

She felt a little embarrassed.

It seemed like the kind of thing only couples would do for each other.

Jin Quan, unaware of her inner turmoil, chatted casually. “Xia Xia is really well-behaved. You can tell she’s close to you. You seem to like kids a lot too. Why don’t you have a daughter someday? That way you won’t have to dote on other people’s children all the time.”

The warmth in Zhang Ling’s heart tightened abruptly at his words.

It was like being shoved into a freezer in the middle of summer—shocked cold in an instant.

Her mind went blank, and almost involuntarily she asked, “Jin Quan, you like kids, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. Son or daughter, I like them both. Best if I can have one of each.”