Chapter 571 - 570: In the Newspaper
Barefoot, Little Tang Mo pushed open his bedroom door. Before he could even make a sound, Su Li scooped him up into a hug.
"Little Mo, Little Mo, hahaha, it’s published, it’s published!"
Little Tang Mo was completely bewildered. "Mom..."
Su Li wasn’t bewildered at all. She was so happy she was practically dizzy.
Her eyes disappeared into crescents as she smiled. She spun Little Tang Mo around twice before setting him down and delightedly placing the newspaper in front of him.
"Look, Little Mo, look."
Little Tang Mo’s eyes lit up. He already had a feeling, but when he saw the words "Intern Reporter Su Li" in black and white on the newspaper, he let out a shriek of delighted surprise.
It was every bit as loud as Su Li’s shriek from earlier.
"Mom, Mom, you’re so amazing! How are you so amazing!"
Barefoot, Little Tang Mo jumped up and down on the spot several times, too excited to contain himself, rivaling Su Li’s own elation.
"Hahaha." Su Li couldn’t stop laughing, but she quickly grabbed Little Tang Mo.
"Little Mo, quick, put on your shoes. Don’t catch a cold."
"Okay, okay." Little Tang Mo obediently agreed and went to put on his shoes.
But Little Tang Mo didn’t just come back with shoes on. He emerged wearing a coat and a scarf.
"Mom, I’m going to buy newspapers! Lots and lots of newspapers! I want to save them all."
Little Tang Mo was eager to go, about to run out the door to buy them right that second.
Su Li couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction. "Haha, Little Mo, you’re so cute. But there’s no hurry. It’s not fully light out yet, so there aren’t many people outside. No need to rush."
"But we have to go buy them quickly! What if they sell out?"
Little Tang Mo retorted, still wanting to go out.
"They won’t sell out. Don’t worry. Let’s wait until it’s bright outside. How about we tell Uncle Wu first?"
Little Tang Mo reluctantly nodded. "Okay."
Su Li cheerfully called Wu Sheng at his home.
The phone rang twice before it was answered. "Hello?"
Wu Sheng’s voice showed no trace of grogginess. It was clear and authoritative. He probably wasn’t expecting a call from Su Li.
"Wu Sheng!"
"Su Li?" Hearing her voice, Wu Sheng was surprised. "Why are you calling at this hour? Is something wrong?"
"Nope, good news! Great news!" Su Li giggled. "Take a guess."
Wu Sheng relaxed, his voice taking on a lazy, sleepy rasp. "Great news? Besides getting married, what other great news could there be between us?"
Su Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Little Tang Mo, listening from the side, couldn’t take it anymore. "Uncle, Mom’s in the newspaper... no, wait, the article Mom wrote was published in the newspaper!"
Just as Little Tang Mo blurted it out, Wu Sheng guessed on the other end of the line, "Your article made it into the paper?"
Su Li glanced from Little Tang Mo to the phone’s receiver, unable to stop laughing. "How did you guess?"
Wu Sheng roared with laughter. "So it’s true? Haha, how could I not guess? Isn’t this what you’ve been so busy with?"
"Is it the Imperial Capital Daily?" A rustling sound accompanied Wu Sheng’s voice, creating static on the line.
"Yes," Su Li giggled.
"Su Li, you’re so capable. You must be praised." As Wu Sheng spoke, his voice sounded a bit off, and he let out a muffled grunt.
"What are you doing?" Su Li asked, puzzled.
"Nothing. Almost fell over trying to put on my pants," Wu Sheng’s reply came quickly.
"Uh... be careful," Su Li said, rubbing her nose.
"I’m fine. Okay, I have to go, Su Li." Wu Sheng’s excited voice came through the phone. "I’ll call you back when I get home."
"Where are you going?" Su Li asked curiously.
"To buy newspapers, of course! I’m going to buy a lot of them. You should have told me yesterday so I could have prepared in advance."
Wu Sheng’s matter-of-fact words came through. "Alright, I can’t talk anymore. I’m heading out to buy them before they’re all sold out."
For the first time ever, Wu Sheng hung up before waiting for Su Li to end the call.
"Wait..." Su Li’s protest got stuck in her throat. "Hello!"
There was only the dial tone.
Su Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’Why did Wu Sheng and Little Tang Mo have the exact same reaction—to go out and buy newspapers to collect!’
’And that bit about them being sold out... they said the exact same thing!’
"This... what is with you two, saying the same thing? Little Mo..."
Su Li turned her head, only to see that Little Tang Mo, who had been right beside her, was gone.
"Little Mo?"
"Ah, Mom, it’s light out! I’m going to buy them before they sell out!"
Little Tang Mo’s voice came from the doorway. Su Li stepped out of her room just in time to see his back as he closed the front door, and what looked like a large woven sack in his hand.
"Hey, Little Mo, don’t go out yet! You haven’t washed your face or changed your clothes!"
Su Li rushed to the door, opened it, and yelled after him.
"It’s fine, Mom! I’ll be back soon, don’t worry!"
Little Tang Mo’s voice floated up from downstairs.
Su Li stood in the doorway, speechless.
’Is this the same Little Tang Mo who’s always so particular about his appearance, who never leaves the house without washing his face and changing his clothes?’
’He put on clothes, but it was just a coat over his pajamas! And his hair is sticking up...’
’With his hair sticking up and a bit of sleep in his eyes... he would have never gone out like this before!’
Su Li thought about going after him, but a blast of cold wind made her give up the idea.
’I’m only in my pajamas!’
Su Li closed the door and picked up the newspaper, her eyes on her name. Thinking about Wu Sheng and Little Tang Mo’s reactions, she couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face.
’Those two... they really are... so adorable. And adorable in such a similar way.’
’Their first reaction was to praise me, then to run out and buy newspapers, worrying they would sell out...’
Little Tang Mo had run out in his pajamas. Thinking of Wu Sheng, she was sure his situation was pretty much the same.
Su Li couldn’t stop laughing. She looked out the window; the sky was gradually getting brighter.
Su Li got dressed, and just as she was about to go look for Little Tang Mo, he returned.
He came back with the large woven sack slung over his back.
Su Li hadn’t been mistaken, and her eyes hadn’t been playing tricks on her. Little Tang Mo... had really run out with a large woven sack.
"Mom, I bought them all! I bought a whole bag. It’s so heavy."
Little Tang Mo was panting, puffs of warm air escaping his lips. He heaved the large woven sack, looking at Su Li with an expression that was seeking praise, his little face filled with satisfied delight.
Once inside, he dropped the bag on the floor and wiped his forehead. "Mom, I bought all the newspapers from the man at the newsstand!"
"I also made a deal with him! I’ll take the next batch he gets, too. When the man heard Mom’s article was in it, he agreed."
Little Tang Mo beamed, chattering away excitedly, his little face full of glee as he waited for Su Li’s praise.
Su Li looked at his little face, then at the sack by his feet. She took a deep breath, trying to contain herself, but in the end, she couldn’t.
Cupping Little Tang Mo’s face in her hands, Su Li leaned down and planted a firm kiss on his forehead.
’My Little Mo... how can he be so cute, so precious!’
’It’s criminally cute.’
Thinking this, Su Li gave him another firm kiss.
It was especially loud!