“Ehh?! Are we eloping~?”
“So direct! I’m not mentally prepared yet.”
I ignored the nonsense from the girl behind me and dragged her to the living room.
We ran into Aunt Yuyu and Aunt Anrou, who were heading out to buy ingredients for dinner.
“Oh, you two coming along?” Anrou looked at us with mild surprise, then smiled. “Sure, but just so you know, even if you don’t pick them, I’m buying some veggies.”
“Don’t treat us like picky kids…”
“Who was it that left the celery at lunch?” Yuyu snickered, mimicking a chest-rubbing gesture. “It’s great for a girl’s development, you know.”
“Don’t corrupt a minor!”
Meanwhile, Evin shot an annoyed glance.
Anyone would be miffed at “eloping” being reduced to a grocery run, especially with the whole family in tow.
The new supermarket was nearby, so it wasn’t a long walk. But as we approached, I slowed down and grabbed Yuyu’s sleeve, whispering something in her ear.
“Really?” Yuyu looked surprised.
“I wouldn’t lie to you,” I pouted.
My sulky, cute act melted her. She scooped me into a tight hug, rubbing my cheeks. “Alright, alright, I’m on it. That’s my Tongtong!”
“Don’t forget to text Anrou later,” I reminded her. Seeing Yuyu flash an “OK” gesture from a distance, I hurried to catch up with Anrou and Evin.
“Where’s Yuyu?” Anrou asked, tossing a pack of beef into the cart as she noticed me catching up.
“She said she’s checking out the toy store.”
“What’s she doing there?” Anrou blinked, her elegant face showing confusion.
“You’ll see~” I said, pushing the cart and catching up to Evin, who was blankly staring at the shelves. “Stop gawking and keep up. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone snatched you.”
“Aw, is Anan worried about me~?” Evin followed, blinking cutely.
Then I shot her down. “No way. I’d love for someone to take you so I don’t have to worry about you stealing my blanket tonight.”
“My sleeping habits aren’t that bad!”
“…Aren’t you worried about being kidnapped and not going home all summer?”
I tried steering the conversation toward a doujin-style horror plot, heavy-metal style.
“No worries, I finished my summer homework already~”
“So fast… Wait, that’s not the point! Shouldn’t you be worried about what happens during the whole summer?!”
“What, like doing their summer homework too? That’s too cruel!”
…
I gave up trying to roast her, grabbing a few boxes of fresh eggs from a nearby shelf and giving her tasks. “Go get some cream and milk from over there.”
Evin tilted her head, her gaze landing on a certain part of me before nodding knowingly.
“…Where are you looking?”
“No biggie. If Anan wants, I can help rub—ow, ow, ow!” Evin, clueless about the danger, yelped after a light bop to her head and scurried off.
“Idiot,” I muttered, retracting my hand and adding the planned items to the cart.
But some things were out of reach.
Not because of price or availability, but for a painfully embarrassing reason—
“I can’t reach…”
If the shelf’s rows were like dungeon difficulties, my situation was a newbie trying the highest-level abyss—pure fantasy.
Luckily, this world has plenty of loli fans—er, helpful big sisters and brothers—who helped me score the first-clear rewards.
Evin returned with the cream and milk.
“Oh, is Anrou-jie making desserts?” Seeing the cart’s contents, even Evin could tell they were for sweets, blinking curiously.
“Not Anrou.”
“Then why all these ingredients?”
“You’ll see,” I said without looking back, then asked an unrelated question. “By the way, do you like bracelets?”
“Bracelets? Kinda annoying, but if they’re cute, I don’t mind. Why?”
“Nothing. Let’s go.” I tossed some cocoa powder into the cart and joined Anrou nearby.
“Wait for me!” Evin, full of questions, hurried after me.
“Done picking?” Anrou, waiting at the checkout, turned at the sound of two small figures pushing carts, reminding us, “Slow down, you’ll fall.”
She also softly told the cashier, “Please ring up both together.”
Good thing Anrou was paying. With my meager bank card, this kind of supermarket haul would’ve been impossible.
Plus, with Yuyu and Anrou staying, I wouldn’t need to worry about food costs all summer. Not bad at all.
Evin, meanwhile, was curious about Anrou’s cart. “Why’s Anrou-jie buying so much?”
“It’s your first time at our place as Tong’s friend. Dinner’s gotta be special,” Anrou said, patting Evin’s head with a rare playful smile. “Plus, today’s a bit unique.”
Looks like Yuyu already told Anrou.
Evin, clueless, tilted her head. “Unique?”
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