Chapter 33
Having spoken ill of the monster and been caught red-handed, the newbie felt her life was over.
She trembled, shrinking back, avoiding the cook’s deadly gaze.
Xing Nuo, swinging his little legs, looked up at the scowling cook and asked, slightly confused:
“Cook Auntie, no food for Zaizai?”
The cook, whose face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, took a deep breath, suppressing her anger.
“Hurry up and serve the little master!”
She glared at the kitchen maids, then turned to Xing Nuo, forcing a smile.
“Little Master, don’t listen to these strangers! I’m the most popular and well-liked person in this castle!”
Anyone who dared say otherwise had already been swallowed whole!
She patted her ample chest, the sound echoing in the kitchen.
“And my cooking is absolutely delicious! These guests aren’t worthy of it!”
She was the most trusted chef of the master and little master. These lowly humans didn’t deserve her cooking!
Xing Nuo took a spoonful of sweet cheese soup and slurped it down, his little legs swinging happily.
His tummy no longer empty, he wiped his mouth and shook his head slightly.
“Auntie, Teacher said…be polite to fwiends.”
He looked at the female player and said thoughtfully:
“Big sister, Auntie vewy nice. She just tired…making Zaizai’s food. But…Zaizai eat vewy little. You can have Zaizai’s food.”
Xing Nuo only ate a few bites at each meal, most of his food seemingly going to his chubby cheeks, his arms and legs remaining thin.
He pushed his untouched biscuits and pigeon soup towards her.
“Big sister take…eat.”
The newbie was stunned, tears almost welling up.
There really are such sweet children in the world!
She clutched her chest, feeling a surge of adoration for the little one.
Her anxiety and irritability subsided, and she bowed to Xing Nuo.
“Thank you, Little Master!”
She had thought getting food from the little master would be a difficult task.
But the little one’s kindness was so natural, and it had been so easy!
She took the soup, leaving the biscuits, and quickly left the kitchen, her scalp tingling under the cook’s cold gaze.
The cook snorted and turned to the little master.
“Such lowly humans, not worthy of your generosity!”
Xing Nuo, eating his cheese soup, didn’t reply. He rolled his eyes and exclaimed:
“Cook Auntie, your soup so yummy!”
The cook’s face beamed, her triple chin held high.
“Of course! There’s no soup I can’t make delicious!”
Praised by the little master, the cook, her face glowing, forgot all about the newbie and strutted around the castle with the kitchen maids.
She had to let everyone know that the little master had praised her!
Xing Nuo ate two biscuits, then carefully carried the rest on a plate, walking towards the door.
The male servant, who had returned from the basement with the mermaid pearl, hurried after him.
“I can’t let Little Master carry the plate! Where are you taking it? I’ll do it!”
Xing Nuo pointed towards the back garden.
“Find Daddy. Daddy working hard…Zaizai give Daddy biscuits!”
The male servant smiled, no longer in a hurry to take the plate.
“I’ll put the mermaid pearl in the bedroom. Little Master can see it when you go back.”
Not wanting to interrupt the father-son time, he bowed respectfully and left.
Xing Nuo carefully carried the plate to the back garden.
The back garden was still bare, only a few vibrant tulips blooming by the fence, swaying gently in the breeze.
Shen Wen was weeding and watering, thinking about what to plant.
He didn’t want to plant only roses. They were too vibrant, and he would get tired of them.
His long robe sleeves were neatly rolled up to his elbows, his skin pale, his golden hair, despite its brightness, not adding any warmth to his appearance.
I’ll plant tulips, he thought. That little one seems to like them.
Then, he paused.
Why am I considering what that little one likes?
Shen Wen, irritated, tossed the watering can on the grass and looked up, just as Xing Nuo was approaching, carrying a plate.
“Daddy!”
The little one’s soft voice reached him before he even arrived.
Shen Wen opened his mouth, about to warn him about the uneven path, when the little one tripped.
“Oops!”
Xing Nuo fell to his knees, his mouth full of dirt.
He held the plate high, spitting out the dirt.
Shen Wen walked over, seeing the dirty little one, and finally understood how he had gotten so dirty yesterday after just picking a tulip.
He almost laughed, his icy eyes softening, and pulled the little one up.
“Clumsy.”
Is this child really related to me? Shen Wen wondered.
How can he be so clumsy?
Old Daddy never called Zaizai clumsy! Xing Nuo thought, pouting. Daddy’s the clumsy one, forgetting who Zaizai is!
Xing Nuo patted his dirty clothes, then sneezed and coughed from the dust.
Shen Wen watched as the little one’s attempts to clean himself only made him dirtier.
He shook his head, sighed, and helped him dust off his clothes.
Xing Nuo, having patted himself all over, his arms and legs aching, rubbed them discreetly, then brightened.
“Daddy, Zaizai brought biscuits!”
He was smart! He had remembered to hold the plate up when he fell!
He held the plate in front of him, then looked down, his smile faltering.
Where are Zaizai’s biscuits?!
Why not on plate?!
Shen Wen, not bothering to hide his amusement, picked up a few biscuits from the ground.
“Are these the biscuits?” he asked, knowing the answer.
Xing Nuo looked at the dirty biscuits, then nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
His curls drooped, and he took the biscuits, sighing softly.
“Biscuits dirty…can’t give Daddy eat.”
Shen Wen looked at the biscuits, his hand pausing as he was about to put them down.
“For me?”
Xing Nuo hummed softly and turned to go back.
“Zaizai get more…clean biscuits!”
Xing Nuo, ever optimistic, quickly recovered and ran back to the castle to ask the pastry chef for more biscuits.
Shen Wen stood in the messy flowerbed, watching the little one running back and forth, bringing him biscuits.
His heart softened.
Having a child isn’t so bad after all.
He looked down at the empty flowerbed.
Tulips, with their bright, golden color, weren’t suitable for him, but they were perfect for Xing Nuo.
Shen Wen now understood why his future self would choose to have a fragile human child.
He sighed softly and called out to the little one, who was about to enter the castle.
“Don’t get more biscuits. What if you fall again?”
Shen Wen, with his long legs, quickly caught up to Xing Nuo.
“I don’t need the biscuits. Let’s get you cleaned up first.”
He couldn’t stand seeing Xing Nuo so dirty.
Xing Nuo, holding the plate, looked down at his torn clothes and nodded.
“Okay.”
Zaizai no want be dirty…Daytime Daddy call Zaizai dirty kid!
Shen Wen took the plate and handed it to a waiting servant.
“Take this to the kitchen and bring some more biscuits.”
He looked down at Xing Nuo, whose face was streaked with dirt, his big, bright eyes fixed on him, and smiled.
“What are you looking at? Want me to hold your hand?”
Xing Nuo nodded vigorously, his smile returning, and raised his hand.
Shen Wen, sighing, reluctantly took the little one’s hand.
They slowly walked back to the castle to wash up and change clothes.
Meanwhile, the players, having received the soup, stared at it, their eyes red.
Although the soup was meant for the little master, the portion was large enough for each of them to have a small bowl.
A veteran player checked his watch and took a deep breath.
“Night falls instantly in this dungeon. According to the rules, we have to drink the cook’s soup for dinner.”
One of the players, severely affected by the dungeon, his eyes bulging, said irritably:
“But what if something happens after we drink it?!”
Was the cook’s soup really a mandatory rule?
The female newbie who had gotten the soup glared at him and snorted.
“No one’s forcing you to drink it!”
Seeing that it was almost time, the buzz-cut player, not wanting any trouble, said sternly:
“Stop arguing!”
