Lucky Star

Natalia nodded her head, eyes wide as she thoughtfully looked at the picture.

"The four boys here, playing with blocks, are you Older Brother Lu Chao; cousins, Lu Kang, Li Chang, and Su Chen." De Xi said as she pointed at four boys holding building blocks in their hands and in front of them.

"This little girl here with a stuffed toy in her hand and two boys beside her suċkɨnġ on their thumbs are your cousin sister Li Mei and twin cousin brother De Jia and De Jian." De Xi said with her voice full of motherly love.

"You have two younger cousin sisters as well, you know Mu Yue and there is Feng Fei the same age as Mu Yue, she is your Aunt Yun's daughter." De Xi said as she recalled the other two little girls.

"There are so many of them..." Natalia gasped lightly.

"The more, the merrier, no?" De Xi asked with a soft chuckle.

"Right..." Natalia said in a sarcastic tone.

"Well... Little Princess... I'm telling you about them now because..." De Xi trailed off awkwardly and unsure how to break it.

"I knew there was a catch, now break it, Mummy," Natalia said in an easygoing and lighthearted manner.

"You know about your Uncle Chang and Aunt Biyu right?" De Xi asked as casually as possible.

"I do, so... are we going there or the other way around?" Natalia asked with a slight smile.

"The other way around." De Xi said in a small voice.

"When?" Natalia asked in a slightly excited tone.

"Today night." De Xi said softly, her voice almost inaudible.

"W-What?" Natalia was immediately nervous, she thought she had time to prepare herself but it was too soon.

"I wanted to tell you sooner but..." De Xi trailed off reluctant to give any false excuses.

"It is fine Mummy..." Natalia said with a sigh.

They sat there in uncomfortable silence before Natalia decided to break it.

"Mummy, I have a request," Natalia said with a pleading look.

"What is it, sweetheart?" De Xi asked warmly, her eyes expectant.

"Can I meet them tomorrow morning directly?" Natalia asked in an uncertain tone.

"Sure sweetheart. Anyways they will be here pretty late." De Xi agreed and ȧssured Natalia with a warm motherly smile.

"Thank you, Mummy." Natalia beamed a grateful and cheeky smile.

"Most welcome, should I say." De Xi said as she and Natalia chuckled softly.

"Let's go down and get you and James some dinner?" De Xi asked with a smile.

"Yes, I'm starving now," Natalia said as she got out of the bed followed by De Xi, who tenderly closed the album before following Natalia out of the room.

They went downstairs to hear James pressing on the keys, to stop the melody midway, with a frustrated sigh.

"It was good right?" George asked with a helpless sigh.

"Dad, you are really bad at music," James said with a small, forced chuckle.

"He is, isn't he?" De Xi said with a soft smile.

"That really sounded good." George protested as he looked at Mu Cong and Mu Chang for support.

"Leave me out of it, me being a tone-deaf is no secret." Mu Cong said as he shrugged nonchalantly.

"I have zero knowledge about piano pieces." Mu Chang slipped away as well.

"Forget it, George, everyone knows you are a hopeless case when it comes to music scores." De Xi said with a sigh as she walked to James.

She looked at the page of the score sheet and sighed softly.

"James, take a break. Come let's get you and Natalia some dinner first. It is already late." De Xi said as she warmly patted his shoulder.

"I don't think the break will help my case." James sighed clearly nervous and worried.

"Worried about the competition?" De Xi asked softly.

James nodded his head, letting out a worried and helpless sigh.

"You still have time." De Xi said with a small frown.

"I do but is it enough to make this perfect? Will the judges like it? Will I be able to finish it properly or will I mess this up?" James said as he looked at his hand, uncertain and frustrated.

"A mental note to yourself, 'Take the risk. Don't let the unknown stop you, from progressing.' remember this well. Trust yourself as the way I do, you will do great." De Xi with a warm and confident smile.

"Yes, brother James. I am also confident you will rock the competition." Natalia said as she beamed James, an adorable smile.

"Thank you, Little Princess... Now I'm really starving." James said as he rubbed his tummy in an animated manner.

"The dinner is ready, Little Young Master James." Head Butler Melan who just entered the living room heard James and replied warmly.

"Come, let's go and have dinner." De Xi said as she guided Natalia and James towards the dining room with a hand on each of their backs.

Mu Cong, Mu Chang, and George followed De Xi and the two kids with amused smiles on their faces, as they witnessed the animated conversations between the trio.

They all had their dinner and returned to the living room.

"I'm going to my room. Goodnight everyone!" Natalia said as she sweetly waved at everyone and bid them goodnight,

"So early?" Mu Cong asked in surprise as he checked the time on his wristwatch.

"Yes Uncle Chang, little kids should sleep early and rise early," Natalia said seriously as if she was teaching Mu Cong something very serious.

De Xi chuckled softly as George and Mu Chang broke out in a fit of laughter as they took in the appalled expression painted on Mu Cong's face.

"Little Princess, are you for real? Someone who would not sleep until the clock strikes 12 is talking about sleeping early and rising early, do you take me for a fool?" Mu Cong asked in a slightly furious tone but exasperation in his eyes made him look even funnier.