Chapter 179

"Brother, look!" David suddenly widened his eyes and pointed at Tommy's mouth. "It really turned yellow!"

Tommy's face instantly fell. He stuck out his tongue, examining it in the reflection of the enamel mug, and his eyes immediately welled up with tears.

When Emily Johnson walked into the living room with a mirror, she found Tommy trembling like a startled rabbit, tears brimming in his eyes, while David stared solemnly at the enamel mug as if studying a groundbreaking discovery.

"Mommy, my tongue... changed color..." Tommy's voice quivered.

Emily nearly laughed out loud. These two silly boys had managed to scare themselves just by drinking soda. If they had gone to kindergarten, they'd know this was completely normal.

"Still want more?" she teased.

Tommy bit his lip in hesitation. The sweet taste was irresistible, but he was afraid his tongue would stay yellow forever. "I want to... but..."

"We can't waste it," Emily coaxed. "You two were the ones who asked for it."

The brothers exchanged glances, then reluctantly took turns sipping the soda as if it were medicine, until the bottle was empty.

"Here, look in the mirror," Emily said, handing it to them.

"Brother, your tongue is so yellow!"

"Yours too!"

Suppressing a laugh at their distressed expressions, Emily slipped into the kitchen. She'd make their favorite shrimp ball soup today, with seaweed and scallions—guaranteed to make them forget all about their tongues.

"Dinner's ready! Stop staring at the mirror!" she called out as she carried the steaming bowls into the room. The boys were still examining their tongues.

"Mommy, will it stay like this forever?" Tommy asked anxiously.

"Just two days."

Two days?! David and Tommy exchanged horrified looks. That meant they couldn't go out to play for two whole days—what if the other kids saw them?

"Eat first," Emily interrupted their wild imaginations.

"Mommy, sweet potato balls!" Tommy's eyes lit up.

Emily guiltily averted her gaze. These silly boys still thought they were eating sweet potato balls.

"How many pages did you write today?" she quickly changed the subject.

"Three for me, one for Tommy," David reported dutifully.

"I'll check them later. If they're good, there's a reward. If not..." She deliberately trailed off.

"We wrote very carefully!" they chorused.

Tommy popped a ball into his mouth and closed his eyes in bliss. "Mommy's sweet potato balls are the best!"

Emily couldn't hold back her amusement. "Want them every day?"

"I don't mind," David declared first. After experiencing hunger, he cherished every bite of food.

Seeing his brother's enthusiasm, Tommy quickly nodded. "Me too!"

Emily's heart melted at their innocent faces. These two little fools couldn't even tell shrimp from sweet potato—she'd have to teach them to read properly someday.