Grabbing Test

Time is an unreasonable thing. Before Chen Zhi could even wear out the railings of his crib, a year had slipped away like flowing water.

Today was Chen Zhi and Lin Wanwan's first birthday.

The adults of the two families talked it over. Since the two kids were born on the exact same day, they decided to throw a joint first birthday catch-test party to make it a lively event.

The living room was brightly decorated with lanterns and festoons. Large red "Fu" characters for fortune were pasted all over the walls, and the air was filled with the mouth-watering aroma of braised pork and stewed spare ribs.

Chen Zhi was dressed in a festive red Tang suit and forced to wear a little hat embroidered with a tiger's head. He sat bored out of his mind on the thick wool carpet.

He felt his current getup made him look like a wealth-distributing boy who had just come down from the mountains.

Sitting next to him was a little dumpling also dressed entirely in red.

Chen Zhi cast a sideways glance at her.

Lin Wanwan.

The wrinkled, bright red little monkey from a year ago who cried like an air raid siren was gone.

In her place was a delicately carved, jade-like little porcelain doll.

Her skin was glowing white, like a freshly peeled egg with a faint tinge of pink. Her eyes were big and round, with pupils like black grapes that seemed to hide two pools of clear spring water. Her eyelashes were like two little fans, fluttering in a way that tickled people's hearts.

Right now, this little girl was grinning with her mouth that only had a few tiny baby teeth, giggling at the adults around them.

Her laughter was crisp, like silver bells chiming in the wind.

Chen Zhi felt a bit indignant.

How was this fair?

They both grew up drinking formula, so how come her looks were evolving at a pace that seemed like she was using cheat codes?

He looked down at his own chubby little hands. Although he was cute enough, compared to the future superstar beside him who seemed to come with a built-in soft-focus filter, he felt he lacked a bit of "main character aura."

"Darn Lin Wanwan."

Chen Zhi grumbled silently in his heart.

"You're obviously just a baby who can't even speak properly. Are you trying to kill someone with cuteness so you can inherit my diapers?"

More and more guests gathered around. Aunts and relatives formed a circle, pointing and smiling at the two little birthday stars on the carpet, their mouths full of the kind of polite compliments that praised people to the heavens.

"Oh my, these two kids are so good-looking!"

"Guifang, your Xiao Zhi has such a broad forehead. He's definitely cut out to be a high-ranking official in the future!"

Zhang Guifang had specifically gotten her hair permed into big waves today. The foundation on her face was a bit thick, and she was smiling from ear to ear.

"Of course! Just look at who gave birth to him! But Wanwan is still the prettier one. Look at this little face, she's definitely going to be a great beauty in the future!"

Lin Shuxian, standing to the side in a crisp suit, wore a modest smile on his face. However, his straight back and slightly raised chin revealed a smugness that screamed, "I have a daughter and I'm proud of it."

"You flatter us. Xiao Zhi looks very bright too; he will definitely be successful in the future."

Lin Shuxian was being polite with his words, but his eyes never left his own daughter. His gaze was so doting it practically dripped with affection.

"Alright, alright, the auspicious hour has arrived!"

Lin Jing's gentle voice interrupted their mutual flattery.

Smiling, she placed a large pile of objects in the center of the red carpet.

The catch-test ceremony officially began.

A drawing board, a book, a violin, a stethoscope, an abacus, a computer mouse, a seal... A wide variety of items were laid out in a large circle.

"Let Wanwan go first. Ladies first."

Zhang Guifang waved her hand generously.

Lin Wanwan seemed to understand. Her big eyes darted around, and then she crawled toward the pile of objects on all fours.

Her movements were still a bit clumsy, like a chubby little penguin.

Everyone's eyes focused on her.

Lin Wanwan crawled to the front of the pile and first reached out her chubby little hand to touch the miniature violin.

Lin Shuxian's eyes lit up.

"An artist! Excellent!"

In the end, Lin Wanwan merely touched it before pushing it away in disgust.

She then grabbed the book.

Lin Jing pursed her lips into a smile.

"Looks like she's going to be a scholar."

The next second, the book was tossed at Chen Zhi's feet.

Finally, Lin Wanwan locked her sights on a shiny golden toy microphone.

She grabbed the microphone, raised it above her head, and waved her other hand in the air a couple of times. She let out excited babbling sounds, smiling so widely that her eyes turned into little crescents.

"Wow!"

The crowd erupted into a round of applause.

"She grabbed the microphone! She's going to be a huge pop star in the future!"

"Or maybe a TV host?"

"Looking at this posture, we'll definitely be seeing our Wanwan on TV in the future!"

Lin Shuxian smiled so broadly his face bloomed like a flower, as if he could already see his daughter standing on the Grammy Awards podium.

However, just when everyone thought the dust had settled.

Lin Wanwan suddenly stopped smiling, as if she had lost interest in the shiny golden microphone.

She loosened her grip.

Clatter.

The microphone, representing a dazzling future in stardom, was ruthlessly abandoned on the carpet and rolled away.

The entire room went quiet for a second.

Immediately after, Lin Wanwan changed direction.

Her bright, big eyes locked onto Chen Zhi, who was not far away.

Then, she sped up her crawling, using all four limbs to lunge straight toward Chen Zhi.

Chen Zhi was sitting in his spot watching the show, thinking to himself that this future superstar really did have a desire to perform from a young age.

Before he could react, a soft mass smelling of milk crashed into his arms.

Lin Wanwan hugged Chen Zhi's arm tightly, practically hanging her entire body onto him.

She tilted her head up, bringing her exquisite little face close to Chen Zhi. Her eyes were sparkling, as if hiding a sea of stars.

"Zhi... Zhi..."

She mumbled indistinctly, her voice as soft and sweet as cotton candy.

"Zhizhi! Zhizhi!"

As if finding this pronunciation very interesting, she called out several more times in a row, rubbing her drool all over Chen Zhi's brand-new Tang suit as she did so.

Chen Zhi: "..."

The surrounding adults were stunned at first, but then they erupted into an even more enthusiastic roar of laughter.

"Oh my goodness! This child!"

Zhang Guifang laughed so hard tears were about to come out, slapping her thigh forcefully.

"She doesn't want the superstar's microphone; she only wants our Xiao Zhi!"

Lin Jing also covered her mouth, laughing non-stop.

"These two kids really have a great relationship. Wanwan usually doesn't let anyone hold her, but she just clings to Xiao Zhi."

The guests began to tease and cheer.

"Childhood sweethearts, innocent and pure playmates!"

"If the two families become in-laws in the future, that would truly be a beautiful tale!"

Chen Zhi remained expressionless, letting Lin Wanwan hug him, but in his mind, he was rolling his eyes frantically.

Great relationship my foot.

This girl just treated him as a giant plush toy.

Over the past year, whenever Lin Wanwan cried, the adults would just plop him down next to her.

As soon as he appeared, this girl's mood would instantly change from cloudy to sunny.

Chen Zhi felt like he was just a tool without any human rights.

Right at this moment, a familiar light blue translucent panel suddenly popped up in Chen Zhi's line of sight.

The system, which had been dormant for a year, had finally returned.