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*****
Gwen's eyes sparkled as she looked at the adorable candies in front of her.
She didn't buy a lot of any one snack, but she had a wide variety in her cart.
She carefully picked each item, just like a meticulous buyer stocking a store.
Besides picking snacks for herself, she also planned to buy some for Peter and Luke. She was loyal—there was no way she'd leave her friends out.
"You two can pick one snack each. It's on me," Gwen said with a smile.
Luke grinned happily. "Then I won't hold back."
Peter blinked and said, "Are you sure that's okay?"
"No problem."
Gwen patted her pocket and said, "I've still got plenty of money."
"Don't be shy with her—she's basically a little rich girl," Luke laughed and started browsing with Peter.
None of the three noticed that two people were watching them from a short distance away.
"Oh? A little rich girl, huh?"
Mike raised an eyebrow, muttering, "So the little one's been sneaking off to buy snacks."
Clark chuckled at the scene—it reminded him of his own childhood.
"Dad, are we going to get the groceries or not?"
"You go buy the groceries. I want to see what she's picking out."
Mike gave Clark a gentle push. As Gwen and the boys turned down another aisle, he quietly followed them from the other side.
Clark glanced at Gwen's back and sighed.
Sorry, sis. Can't help you here. You've been targeted by Dad now.
Mike tailed Gwen as the three kids chatted and giggled. He couldn't help but laugh quietly himself.
When Luke asked Gwen where she planned to hide all the snacks so they wouldn't be discovered, Mike perked up his ears and smiled.
Alright, kiddo. I'll remember that spot.
Tonight, I'm cleaning it out.
"Gwen, what's that lady doing?"
Just then, Peter pointed toward a nearby woman, eyes wide with shock.
The three of them crouched by the shelves, their small heads peeking up one after another. They stared in surprise at what the woman was doing.
Her once-bulging belly suddenly deflated. She pulled out a deflated balloon and then, tugging her oversized clothes forward, began stuffing items inside.
Noticing the stares from behind, the woman turned around and locked eyes with the three kids.
"Hey! Brats, beat it!"
The woman, who had a nose ring, snarled and shook her fist threateningly.
Whoosh!
Peter ducked back behind the shelf—but the next second, Gwen grabbed him and pulled him back up.
"Heh heh!"
Gwen giggled, exchanging a look with Luke. Then she stepped out from behind the shelf. Luke followed, dragging Peter along with him.
Peter looked nervous, but after seeing how confidently Gwen and Luke stood, he puffed out his chest and stood firm beside them.
Since meeting Gwen and Luke, he realized he had become much braver.
The three of them just stared at the woman without saying a word.
The woman glared at them, but Gwen simply kept smiling.
She took a step toward them—and the three of them stepped back in unison, still staring at her silently.
The woman suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
"Scram!"
She growled at them, then turned away to keep stealing. But no matter where she moved, the three kids followed.
Just as she was starting to think she should ditch the goods and leave...
"Miss, someone's coming," Gwen said sweetly.
The woman flinched and immediately crouched down, pretending to be looking for something.
A second later, sure enough, a store clerk walked by.
The woman hesitated, then turned to Gwen. "Thanks."
Were these kids... helping her?
A thought flickered through her mind as she gave them a smile.
Over the next few minutes, Gwen and the others gave her more warnings. The woman's "belly" gradually filled up again.
When the woman finally waddled toward the exit, Gwen and the boys also pushed their cart to the checkout.
"You go ahead, miss," Gwen said with a sugary smile, letting the woman go first.
The woman, clutching her fake belly and holding a single bottle of water, stepped up to pay—but just then, Gwen gave Luke and Peter a signal.
The three of them took deep breaths and shouted in unison,
"Thief! That woman is stealing!"
The woman froze, staring at them in disbelief, then roared, "F***!"
But the moment the kids yelled, all the store employees looked over, and even the other customers in line turned their heads.
The woman gritted her teeth, turned, and tried to run—hugging her fake belly as the stolen items began falling out with every step.
Seeing that, the supermarket staff immediately rushed over and blocked her path.
Despite her fierce struggle, the woman was eventually pinned to the ground.
Gwen, holding her paid-for snacks, strolled over with Peter beside her. As the crowd praised them, each of them happily sucked on a lollipop. Gwen looked down at the woman and gave her a sweet smile.
"Miss, stealing is wrong, you know!"
As Gwen smiled, the woman suddenly shivered. For a moment, it felt like a pair of black devil horns had sprouted from Gwen's head.
Meanwhile, from a distance, Mike, who had been watching the whole scene, wore a strange expression.
This little rascal… she really is adorable.
His eyes fell on the snacks in Gwen's hands. With a smirk, he turned and walked back into the supermarket.
See you tonight, Gwen...
Mike and Clark returned home. As soon as they opened the door, Gwen ran over like a little whirlwind and leapt into Mike's arms.
"Daddy, where did you two go?"
"I—"
"We went grocery shopping," Clark quickly cut in, shooting Gwen a meaningful look.
Unfortunately, Gwen didn't catch on. Instead, she turned to Clark and asked, "Big bro, are you not used to wearing glasses?"
Clark: "…"
"Clark," Mike said calmly, "go wash the vegetables."
Clark sighed and gave Gwen a pitiful look.
Sorry, sis. This is as far as I can help you.
Gwen looked confused. "Daddy, did something happen to Clark? He looks kinda upset."
"Maybe. He's got a business trip tomorrow."
"A trip?" Gwen asked, eyes brightening.
"A business trip," Mike corrected.
"Is there really a difference between that and a vacation?"
Gwen blinked innocently.
Mike paused, then realized what she was getting at. "You want to go on a trip too, huh?"
"Hehe!"
Gwen nodded with a grin.
"Wait until spring break or summer vacation."
"Oh…"
Mike set her down and started heading upstairs. "I'll cook in a bit. Let me go change your bedsheets first, Gwen."
"Change my sheets?"
Gwen's eyes went wide. "Daddy! No, it's okay—I'll do it myself!"
"No can do!"
Mike shook his head, already walking upstairs. "The bedsheets are too big. You won't do it properly."
With those words, he disappeared into her room—leaving Gwen standing there, staring up the stairs with a look of utter despair.
(End of Chapter)