Chapter 185

"Mélanie!"

Just as Li Ang was utterly baffled, a somewhat irritated shout came from the direction of the Happiness Apartments' lobby.

She sprinted out the front door, grabbed Mélanie by the back of her collar, and, having caught the mischievous little sister mid-flight, planted one hand on her hip and yanked her ear in anger:

"Don't say things like that! Miss Amy just moved in next door and came over to visit her neighbor—how did she become your sister-in-law?"

Amy?

Hearing Anna's reprimand, Li Ang paused, then remembered—it was the daughter of Charle's Department Store, the young lady he'd once recommended to move into Happiness Apartments before he even knew she was the owner's daughter.

But later, she was kidnapped by the Masséni family, and the move fell through; after he rescued her from Rose Estate, he assumed she'd never consider relocating again—yet here she was, moved in anyway.

"Anna."

Carefully approaching the fence under the old man's watchful gaze, Li Ang, struck by his "elder-brother syndrome," couldn't help pleading for Mélanie, who was howling in pain:

"She's still young—she probably doesn't even understand what those words mean. A little scolding to teach her not to speak recklessly is enough; no need to go overboard… Oh, look, her ear's turned red."

"Yes, Anna-sis, let go—Mélanie doesn't understand anything."

Seeing Li Ang speak up, William beside him nodded his small head solemnly and joined in:

"She just told me that once you and Amy-sis get married, she wants me to go with her to rummage through the trash bins to see if we can pick up a nephew or niece first—she doesn't even know where babies come from; she probably just said it randomly."

"…"

That… actually makes sense…

Compared to Li Ang's futile pleading, William's intervention proved remarkably effective—Anna's already fading anger vanished instantly, and she unconsciously released Mélanie's ear.

"Fine, I'll let it go this time."

After rubbing Mélanie's reddened ear, Anna crouched down, gazing at her slumped, dejected sister, and gently patted her back as she explained softly:

"I'm not trying to control everything you do, but your Amy-sis isn't married yet. If people who love gossip hear this, it might cause her trouble—so don't say things like that, understood?"

"Oh…"

After murmuring in response, Mélanie grumbled unhappily:

"But Amy-sis is really perfect—why can't she marry you?"

"Well…"

Hearing Mélanie's question, Anna glanced at Li Ang, then soothed:

"Whether she marries you or not is up to Miss Amy herself—this kind of thing depends on what your Amy-sis wants…"

"Then I'll go ask her right now! See if she's willing to marry you!"

"Oh no, stop right there!"

Grabbing Mélanie's collar again and yanking back the eager girl who'd rushed off to "propose," Anna, sensing something was off, narrowed her eyes sharply:

"What's gotten into you today? Why are you so fixated on making Miss Amy your sister-in-law?"

"I…"

"Maybe because Amy-sis is generous."

William, acting like a little adult, clasped his hands behind his back and, relying on his understanding of his twin sister's logic, declared seriously:

"The plump-chested lady who left this morning was just as pretty, but she gave each of us only one candy as a gift—while Amy-sis, on her first visit, gave Mélanie a brand-new dress.

I think she figures since you're going to marry someone anyway, it's better to marry the more generous Amy-sis, so she can get more gifts too."

"…"

"I! I didn't think that!"

Hearing Anna's breathing grow heavier, Mélanie realized she was in deep trouble and struggled desperately to defend herself:

"He's lying! I just get along better with Amy-sis! It's not about gifts at all!"

"She's lying."

Meeting Li Ang and Anna's searching glances, William showed no guilt and immediately betrayed his sister:

"While we were digging for worms, she told me you seem to prefer ladies with big chests, and she's worried Amy-sis can't compete—so she forced me to sneak a bowl of Anna-sis's papaya soup over to her every day to see if it'll make her plump up too."

"…"

Hearing this, Li Ang and Anna stiffened slightly, their faces flushing with embarrassment as they exchanged a glance.

You drink papaya soup every day?

No wonder you chose Miss Veronika!

After exchanging a startled, awkward look, the two adults said nothing—instead, they both turned their gaze toward Mélanie.

"You! You're lying!"

Sensing an impending disaster from the silence of her brother and Anna-sis, Mélanie struggled wildly, doing everything she could to save herself:

"I never said any of that!"

"You did."

William said solemnly:

"And you promised me that if the papaya soup made Amy-sis your sister-in-law, you'd let me play with your favorite doll for two days."

Here, William paused slightly, then added with clear disdain:

"So childish—I'm way past wanting dolls. How could I be swayed by that? If you'd offered me a tin frog instead, I might've kept quiet."

"Then why didn't you just ask me?!"

Knowing escape was impossible, Mélanie gave up denying it and glared at him angrily:

"If you wanted the tin frog, I could've borrowed one for you—why betray me?"

"A borrowed one isn't as good as your own."

William asked seriously:

"Stealing Anna-sis's papaya soup means I'd get beaten anyway, and even if it worked, I'd only get to play with the tin frog for a few days—but if I snitched, Anna-sis won't beat me—she might even buy me the frog outright. Which would you choose?"

"…"

"Don't worry—you won't get beaten for nothing. When I get my tin frog, I'll let you play with it for two days too."

…

"Knock knock knock."

After knocking on the neighbor's door, the doll-faced girl who'd lost to a tin frog stepped forward, carrying a large shopping bag, and beamed at Li Ang:

"Mr. Li Ang, I've moved in next door to you!"

"Welcome, welcome."

Though curious about her motives, Li Ang, out of politeness, didn't ask why she'd chosen Happiness Apartments—he invited her inside, then glanced at the bag in her hands.

"These are…"

"A few little gifts!"

The doll-faced girl blinked her big, watery eyes, spreading out the contents of the bag with a cheerful smile:

"Don't worry—they're all ordinary things. The most expensive is this winter coat… Mr. Li Ang, when you rescued me, your coat got torn by the roses at Rose Estate—I owe you a new one, right?

The rest: this perfume is for Anna-sis, mixed by me myself—cost almost nothing beyond the ingredients; these are small toys for William and Mélanie… Oh, where are they? I heard their footsteps upstairs just now?"

Hearing Amy's question, Li Ang's expression stiffened slightly as he glanced toward the closed inner room, then forced himself to explain:

"Um… they're probably in there doing homework? School assignments these days are… uh…"

"…"

"I! I'm sorry!"

A familiar wail cut through Li Ang's flimsy excuse.

"Amy-sis's chest isn't small! It's not small at all! No need to drink papaya soup! Anna-sis, you don't need to drink it either! Oh no! Stop hitting me! I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"