Chapter 23
Shen Yan finally managed to get the little one to take his medicine.
Xing Nuo, holding his breath, sat on the edge of the bed, clutching his cup, and gulped down half a glass of water.
The bitter taste lingered in his mouth, and he turned his head away, his face a picture of displeasure, only showing his brother the back of his round head.
Shen Yan, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, tugged at the cowlick sticking up on Xing Nuo’s head.
“Whose brave little one is this? Didn’t even cry after taking the medicine.”
Shen Yan’s voice was soft and soothing. He was still wearing the suit from yesterday, a small pill resting in his palm.
Xing Nuo, spotting the pill, thinking he had to take more medicine, scrambled from the head of the bed to the foot.
From two meters away, he tightly pursed his lips, his eyes filled with determination.
Zaizai no take medicine!
A glint of amusement flickered in Shen Yan’s eyes. He put the extra pill away and soothed Xing Nuo.
“No more medicine. You only need one pill each time. That’s not a lot, is it?”
Xing Nuo, quick-witted as always, wasn’t fooled and shook his head vigorously.
“Not!”
Zaizai no need take any medicine!
Xing Nuo sat on the bed, fuming, and picked at a loose thread on his sock, unraveling it until it dangled from his foot.
Shen Yan, noticing this, asked his assistant to bring a new set of clothes, including socks, for Xing Nuo to change into.
Xing Nuo, wearing his new sunflower-print sweatshirt, touched it repeatedly, his eyes curving into a happy smile.
After his checkup at noon, confirming there was no sign of the fever returning, the doctor gave some instructions:
“Take the medicine on time, and if the fever comes back, bring him to the hospital immediately.”
Shen Yan nodded, memorizing the instructions, and carried Xing Nuo out of the hospital, heading home.
The moment the door opened, Xing Nuo ran inside, his face still slightly pale, but his voice cheerful, calling out:
“Daddy!”
Zaizai’s home!
Shen Wen wasn’t in the living room. Unfazed, Xing Nuo, still excited, pulled back the curtains and went to look for him on the balcony.
Shen Wen loved gardening, and the balcony was meticulously arranged with various vibrant flowers.
Every flower bloomed brightly, regardless of the season, their colors and fragrances filling the air.
The sweet scent made Xing Nuo sneeze.
He looked around, but Daddy wasn’t on the balcony either.
Xing Nuo looked carefully among the flowerpots, even poking the soil.
Confirming Daddy wasn’t there, he walked back inside, his lips pursed.
“Daddy…in bedroom?”
Seeing Shen Yan emerge from the bedroom, Xing Nuo looked up, his eyes bright.
Shen Yan shook his head.
“No, he’s probably still busy.”
Xing Nuo sighed like a little adult, his cheeks puffing out, and sat down on the sofa.
“No come home…see Zaizai…eat with Zaizai.”
Usually, Daddy would be back within a day!
Shen Yan’s lips curved into a smile. He coughed to hide his amusement, walked over, picked up the little one, and poked his cheek.
“He’ll be back as soon as he’s finished. How about Big Brother plays with you for a while?”
Xing Nuo nodded and spent the afternoon playing halfheartedly with his brother.
Dinner was prepared by Shen Yan’s hired chef, a delicious and healthy meal suitable for a child.
Xing Nuo ate slowly, looking towards the door expectantly every now and then.
Shen Yan knew Xing Nuo was waiting for Shen Wen. He instructed the chef to come on time the next morning and stood up, grabbing his jacket.
“Shen Baizhou, I have a business dinner I can’t miss. Take care of Xing Nuo. I’ll be back later tonight.”
Shen Baizhou, chewing on a steamed bun, lazily glanced at Shen Yan and mumbled in agreement.
“Go ahead.”
Rather not have you around anyway.
Shen Yan, seeing Shen Baizhou’s nonchalant attitude, wanted to say more, but Shen Baizhou waved him away dismissively.
“Just go. I’m going to watch cartoons with Xing Nuo after dinner.”
The new season of Super Cat Adventures was starting!
Shen Yan sighed and left.
Xing Nuo, who had been staring blankly, his chin resting on his hand, suddenly heard the door close. His eyes widened, and he looked around.
“Big brother?”
Why did Big Brother leave too?
Shen Baizhou scooped up Xing Nuo, bounced him gently, and grinned.
“Good riddance. How about we watch cartoons together?”
Xing Nuo sighed softly and, pushing his brother’s face away, reluctantly agreed to watch cartoons with him.
Shen Wen still hadn’t returned by midnight.
The moon was bright, the early summer night air cool.
Xing Nuo woke up suddenly, climbed out of bed, and ran out of the room without even putting on his slippers.
“Daddy?”
Small nightlights illuminated the bedroom and living room, casting a soft, dim glow.
Xing Nuo hadn’t seen his dad for two days. Tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to spill.
Before he could start crying, the master bedroom door opened.
He wiped his eyes and peeked inside, his eyes lighting up.
“Daddy!”
A figure with long, golden hair sat inside, his face handsome and pale, his nose high and straight, his eyes deeper than an ordinary person’s.
Shen Wen was wearing his elaborate robe, white with gold trim, the cuffs embroidered with blood-red roses.
He wore a green agate ring on his finger, his chin resting on his hand, sitting on a throne-like chair, his expression indifferent.
Xing Nuo, not noticing the change in the bedroom, happily ran towards his dad, his little teeth showing.
The moment he stepped inside, the lights went out.
The warm room turned cold, a chilly wind whistling through the darkness.
The darkness swallowed Xing Nuo’s small form, and his steps faltered.
His excitement turned to anxiety. He looked up, reaching out to touch the wall, but only felt damp air.
“Daddy? Lights off?”
Xing Nuo remembered the bedroom wasn’t big; there was a desk just a few steps inside.
He groped forward, his hands reaching out, but couldn’t find the wall or the desk.
Standing in the pitch-black darkness, Xing Nuo wondered if he was dreaming.
“It’s okay, close eyes…Zaizai wake up.”
He took a deep breath, reassuring himself, and closed his eyes, then opened them again.
After several attempts, the all-consuming darkness remained.
“It’s okay.”
As if having experienced worse, Xing Nuo, naturally optimistic, comforted himself.
He patted his chest.
“Zaizai find Daddy soon!”
He didn’t just stand there. He sniffled, tears welling up in his eyes, and slowly groped forward.
“Damn it! What kind of place is this?!”
“Can you keep your voice down? This isn’t the real world. No one here cares about your temper!”
“Why can’t I be angry?! Why am I so unlucky to be dragged into this stupid dungeon?!”
A man and a woman argued, while several other people stood around, indifferent.
“Enough! Stop arguing!”
Someone finally had enough, covered their ears, and glanced at the arguing pair.
Both were newbies, barely understanding the rules of the dungeon, and they quickly quieted down, not daring to offend the experienced veteran player.
The woman, dressed in a stylish outfit, carrying a small, diamond-studded purse, her hair carefully styled in soft waves, rubbed her arms and approached the veteran player, asking tentatively:
“Excuse me, senior, will we return to the real world after clearing this dungeon?”
A man with a sharp chin scoffed.
“In your dreams. Once you’re in, you don’t get out. Haven’t you noticed none of us can leave?”
The woman bit her lip, devastated, seemingly unable to accept this.
Another male player, newly arrived, broke down crying, throwing his briefcase on the ground.
“Why? I want to go back!”
The veteran players watched coldly, unmoved.
Those who couldn’t accept their situation were just cannon fodder.
The newbie’s cries gradually subsided, and the thin, black mist surrounding the players slowly dissipated.
The veteran players cautiously looked around, observing their surroundings.
They were standing on a dirt path, lined with vibrant flowers, green vines winding around tree trunks, sunlight filtering through the leaves, creating dappled shadows.
The path led to a castle.
The towering, ancient structure, with its spires and ornate details, looked like something out of a Western fairytale.
They couldn’t see inside the castle yet. The players gathered, no one speaking.
They faintly heard a child’s sniffles. The female newbie looked up and exclaimed in surprise:
“There’s a child over there!”
The veteran players’ eyes widened, their hearts tightening, and they instantly went on alert.
Xing Nuo, his eyes red and swollen from crying, noticed the black mist dissipating, his vision clearing.
He saw a group of strangers and, at the end of the path, the familiar castle.
“Zaizai’s home!” His eyes lit up, and he ran forward.
