Shocking! A three-year-old brings his aloof mother to their door.

He Wanqing's expression changed instantly: "Tongtong got up so early?"

Mo Ye glanced at the doorway and said, "I guess they're excited because they're going to buy New Year's goods."

Without saying a word, He Wanqing grabbed the pajamas and pants at the foot of the bed and put them on in a few quick movements.

The sound of Tongtong banging on the door came from outside, accompanied by her sweet, childish voice: "Why can't I open the lock!"

Mo Ye locked the door from the inside last night, so of course it can't be opened.

He walked over, turned the doorknob, and looked down to see Tongtong wearing her little cotton shoes, pajamas, and messy hair.

She tilted her little face up, her big eyes sparkling like two washed black grapes.

Mo Ye squatted down and pinched her little cheek: "Tongtong, do you want to go buy New Year's goods?"

Tongtong nodded her little head vigorously: "Yes!"

Then she craned her neck to look inside, "Mom hasn't gotten up yet?"

He Wanqing's voice came from inside: "I'm awake. Come here, let Mom tie your hair."

Tongtong ran over and hugged He Wanqing's leg, rubbing her little face against it.

He Wanqing picked up a hair tie and tied two small buns for Tongtong, then took two butterfly-shaped hair clips and clipped them up.

Tongtong looked at herself in the mirror from left to right, her little face full of pride. Then she tilted her head back and asked in her childish voice, "Mommy, isn't Tongtong cute?"

Without turning her head, He Wanqing replied, "So cute."

Tongtong's face fell, feeling that her mother was just brushing her off. She turned around and ran into the bathroom, stood on a small stool, and looked at Mo Ye who was brushing his teeth: "Daddy, isn't Tongtong cute?"

Mo Ye looked down at her, the foam in his mouth making his speech a little slurred, but the seriousness and affection in his voice were still clear: "Tongtong is very cute."

Tongtong nodded in satisfaction, a smile returning to her face. She stepped onto a small stool, picked up her little toothbrush, squeezed on some toothpaste, and began brushing her teeth side by side with Moye.

She lowered her head to spit out the foam in her mouth, and jerked her neck in surprise at the cold water: "It's so cold!"

Mo Ye turned the tap towards the hot water: "Isn't there warm water?"

Tongtong looked down at the steaming water flowing from the tap, "Oh yeah~"

She took another mouthful of warm water, gurgled, and spat out the last bit of foam.

When Mo Ye led Tongtong out of the bathroom, He Wanqing had already tidied her hair, tied it into a high ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck.

He looked clean and neat, with an indescribable sense of freshness and heroic spirit.

Mo Ye leaned against the doorframe, looking at her. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, and his voice carried a hint of genuine admiration:

"You look great like this, you exude a mature and sophisticated vibe."

"Glib-tongued."

"It should be quite slippery."

He Wanqing's face flushed red instantly, and her voice was a little shy: "You rascal!"

Mo Ye shrugged, looking completely innocent: "I didn't say anything."

He Wanqing glared at him, her eyes both cute and fierce: "You know perfectly well whether you said it or not!" After saying that, she turned and walked into the bathroom without looking back.

She spent a few minutes washing up, and when she came out, Mo Ye had already helped Tongtong change into that cream-colored down jacket.

The little girl was wrapped up round and plump, like a small candy wrapped in glutinous rice paper, with only her rosy little face and two big, bright eyes showing. She was incredibly cute.

Mo Ye himself also put on a long black coat, the hem of which reached his knees, making him look tall and straight.

He Wanqing took out the white coat from the closet, put it on, and stood next to Mo Ye. One was in black and the other in white; their clothes were a matching couple's outfit.

Tongtong stood between them, looked up at her father, then at her mother, and said, "Let's go!"

Mo Ye bent down and picked her up, holding He Wanqing's hand with his other hand.

When the three adults and the little dumpling came down the stairs, He Wanning was already sitting at the dining table.

She was wearing a white down jacket, holding a cup of hot soy milk, and scrolling through her phone. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and her gaze swept over the three people.

Finally, the gaze fell on Tongtong's round, creamy-yellow down jacket, and someone couldn't help but click their tongue: "Haki Tong is really round today."

Tongtong wrinkled her little nose: "Tongtong, this is cute! Not round!"

He Wanning smiled but didn't reply. The four of them sat down and ate breakfast: millet porridge, fried eggs, and side dishes—simple but comforting.

Tongtong ate very quickly. As soon as she put down her chopsticks, she jumped off her chair, ran to the door, and pointed at the three-wheeled motorcycle in the yard: "Daddy, let's drive this car!"

Mo Ye followed her out, glanced at the car, then at the Maybach beside it, and bent down to discuss it with her:

"How about we drive that one today? It's cold here."

Tongtong pulled the hood of her down jacket over her head, her little face mostly hidden by the hood's down brim, only her bright eyes showing: "Tongtong has a hood! I'm not afraid!"

He Wanning also came over, excitedly patting the tricycle seat: "This is it, I've never ridden in one before!"

He Wanqing also spoke up, "Then let's choose this one; it allows us to bring more things."

Mo Ye looked at the three women in front of him, the older and younger of them standing next to the tricycle, each one more determined than the last.

He sighed, climbed onto the seat, twisted the throttle, and the engine made a "putt-putt-putt" sound.

He picked Tongtong up and placed her on the front gas tank, her little hands gripping the metal handlebars.

He Wanqing and He Wanning sat on either side of the truck bed.

Mo Ye put on his gloves, twisted the throttle, and the tricycle shot off with a "whoosh".

He Wanning leaned back, exclaiming in surprise, "Holy crap, that push-back feeling!"

The winter wind howled against my face. Although there was no snow in the south, the winter was still a real, bone-chilling experience.

Tongtong nestled in Moye's arms, the hood of her down jacket billowing in the wind like a little pufferfish puffing up, but her eyes were bright and her mouth was wide open, revealing a row of tiny teeth.

When they arrived in town, Tongtong opened her little mouth and exclaimed "Wow!"

The streets were lined with stalls, with bright red Spring Festival couplets, golden "Fu" characters, and strings of lanterns hanging all along the way.

The air was filled with the aroma of roasted nuts and fried foods, mixed with the cries of vendors, making the whole street seem like a pot of boiling soup, bubbling with festive cheer.

This is what the market is like as the year draws to a close: people everywhere, red everywhere, and a lively atmosphere everywhere you look.

Tongtong was carried off the car by Moye, and as soon as her little feet touched the ground, she couldn't wait to squeeze into the crowd.

Mo Ye grabbed her by the back of her collar and pulled her back: "Don't get lost, stay close to Mom and Dad."

He held He Wanqing's hand with one hand and Tongtong's hand with the other.

He Wanning followed behind them, looking around curiously.

Tongtong was the first to rush into a store selling matching parent-child outfits. The chubby boy pointed to a bright red outfit with a small, menacing lion printed on it, wearing a tiny tiger-head hat.

Tongtong's eyes sparkled: "Daddy, I want this!"

Mo Ye glanced at it; it was a complete set of matching parent-child outfits. Tongtong and He Wanqing wore dresses, while he wore pants, all made of red fabric with the same lion pattern printed on them.

He nodded: "Then let's buy this one."

He Wanning also picked out a red Hanfu, held it up in front of her, turned around in front of the mirror, and nodded in satisfaction.

Then Tongtong pulled Moye to the dried goods stall.

The dried fish, which was over a meter long, was hung in the most conspicuous position on the stall.

Tongtong tilted her head back and stared at the fish for a while, her mouth practically watering: "Daddy, is this fish delicious?"

Mo Ye tilted his head to look at her, then at the dried fish: "Tongtong wants some?"

Tongtong nodded vigorously: "Tongtong has never eaten such a big fish before."

Mo Ye turned to the shop owner and asked, "Boss, can I sell them individually?"

Upon hearing this, the boss sat up straight and said in a cheerful voice, "Of course! Otherwise, who could afford a whole strip?"

Mo Ye nodded and gestured with his hand: "Give me some."

Then comes the snack purchasing process.

Tongtong, like a little mouse that had fallen into a rice bin, darted between the supermarket shelves, grabbing bags of potato chips, cookies, chocolate, jelly, and nuts with her chubby little hands, quickly filling half of the shopping cart.

Mo Ye didn't stop her; he just stood aside and watched her small figure running around among the shelves.

He Wanqing walked to his side, watching her daughter's excited back, and suddenly whispered, "It seems like this is the first time she's been so happy celebrating the New Year."

Mo Ye held her hand and said softly, "It will be every year from now on."