Chapter 33
Having spoken ill of the monster and being caught red-handed, the new female player felt doomed.
Trembling slightly, she shrank back, avoiding the cook’s deadly gaze.
Xing Nuo, swinging his little legs, looked up at the scowling cook and asked, slightly confused:
“Auntie Cook…no food…for Zaizai?”
The cook, whose face had darkened considerably, took a deep breath, suppressing her anger and monstrous instincts.
“Hurry up and serve the little master!”
She glared at the kitchen maids, then turned to the little master with a forced smile.
“Little Master, don’t listen to these strangers’ nonsense! My popularity and personality in this castle are second to none!”
Any low-level monster or player 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! How could these guests be worthy of it?!”
She was the most trusted chef of the Master and Little Master; these insignificant human ants weren’t worthy of 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 friends.”
He looked at the female player standing beside him and said considerately:
“Sister…Auntie…very nice…she just…tired…cooking for Zaizai…but…Zaizai…eats little…you…can have…Zaizai’s food…”
Xing Nuo ate very little at each meal; most of his food seemed to go straight to his cheeks, his arms and legs remaining thin.
He pushed his untouched biscuit and squab soup towards her.
“Sister…take…eat…”
The new female player was stunned, tears almost welling up.
Heavens, there really was such a sweet and considerate child in the world!
She clutched her chest, feeling a surge of adoration for the little one.
Her anxiety and irritability eased considerably. She bowed to the little master.
“Thank you, Little Master!”
She had thought obtaining a bowl of soup from the little master would be an incredibly difficult task.
But the child’s kindness seemed to be innate, and it had been surprisingly easy!
Holding the bowl of soup, she didn’t take the biscuit, and quickly left, her scalp tingling under the cook’s cold, menacing stare.
The cook snorted and turned to the little master.
“Such lowly people, how are they worthy of your soup?!”
Xing Nuo, sipping his cheese soup, didn’t reply, his bright eyes glancing around before widening slightly.
“Auntie Cook…your soup…so yummy!”
The cook’s triple-chinned face beamed with pride.
“Of course, there’s no soup I can’t make delicious!”
Praised by the little master, her face flushed with pleasure, she forgot all about the newcomer and strutted around the castle with her kitchen maids, basking in the glow of the compliment.
She had to make sure every servant in the castle knew that the little master had praised her cooking!
Xing Nuo ate two biscuits, placed the remaining ones on a plate, and carefully carried it outside.
The footman who had fetched the mermaid pearl quickly followed, hovering around the little master.
“How can we let Little Master carry a plate! Where are you taking it? I’ll carry it for you!”
Xing Nuo pointed towards the back garden.
“Going to…find Dad…Dad…working hard…Zaizai…give Dad…biscuits!”
The footman smiled, no longer rushing to take the plate.
“I’ll place the mermaid pearl in your bedroom then. You can see it when you return, Little Master.”
Not wanting to disturb the father-son time, the footman bowed respectfully and left.
Xing Nuo carefully carried the plate, his eyes fixed on the biscuits, and walked towards the back garden.
The back garden was still bare, with only a few vibrant tulips blooming by the fence, swaying gently in the breeze.
Shen Wen was weeding and watering, contemplating what to plant in this small flowerbed.
He didn’t want to plant only roses; they were too vibrant, and he would tire of them eventually.
His long robe sleeves were neatly rolled up to his elbows, his skin pale. Even his brilliant golden hair couldn’t soften his cold aura.
He thought, perhaps tulips would be a good choice, that little cub seemed to like them.
But then he paused.
Why was he considering the little one’s preferences when choosing what to plant?
Annoyed, he tossed the watering can onto the grass, pursed his lips, and looked up, just as Xing Nuo, carrying a plate, walked towards him.
“Dad!”
The little cub’s soft, childish 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 over a clump of dirt.
“Ouch!”
Xing Nuo stumbled, landing on his knees, his mouth full of dirt.
He held up the plate, spitting out the dirt.
Shen Wen walked over and, seeing the little one covered in dirt, finally understood how he had managed to get so dirty just from picking a tulip yesterday.
He almost smiled, his cold eyes softening slightly as he pulled the little cub to his feet.
“Clumsy.”
Shen Wen wondered if this little one was really his.
How could he be so clumsy?
Dad never used to call Zaizai clumsy!
Xing Nuo pouted, thinking, Dad was the clumsy one, forgetting who Zaizai was!
He patted his dirty clothes, then coughed and sneezed from the dust.
Shen Wen watched as the little one’s attempts to clean himself only resulted in more dirt and dust flying around, making him cough even more.
Shaking his head and sighing, he reached out and helped him dust off his clothes.
Xing Nuo, after being patted all over, his little arms and legs aching, secretly rubbed them, then smiled happily.
“Dad…Zaizai…brought…biscuits!”
He thought he had been very clever, remembering to hold the plate up high when he fell, preventing the biscuits from spilling!
He proudly held up the plate, then, looking down, froze.
Where were Zaizai’s biscuits?!
Why weren’t they on the 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 stared at the dirt-covered biscuits for a moment, then nodded slowly.
“Yes…”
His curls drooped dejectedly. He took the biscuits and sighed softly.
“Biscuits…dirty…cannot give…Dad…eat…”
Shen Wen looked at the biscuits, his hand, which was about to put them down, pausing.
“For me?”
Xing Nuo gave a soft hum and turned to walk back inside.
“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 bare, messy flowerbed, watching the little one tirelessly running back and forth, bringing him biscuits.
His heart, strangely, softened.
Having a child, connected by blood, didn’t seem so bad after all.
Shen Wen looked down at the empty flowerbed.
Perhaps the vibrant golden color of tulips wasn’t suitable for him, but it was perfect for Xing Nuo.
He was starting to understand why his future self would choose to have a fragile human cub.
Sighing softly, he called out to the little one who had reached the castle doors.
“Don’t get more biscuits, what if you fall again?”
Shen Wen, with his long legs, quickly caught up to Xing Nuo.
“It’s just a few biscuits. Let’s get you cleaned up first.”
He really couldn’t stand seeing Xing Nuo covered in dirt.
Xing Nuo, holding the small plate, looked down at his torn clothes and nodded meekly.
“Okay.”
Zaizai didn’t want to be dirty either, and be called a dirty child by his still-unfamiliar daytime Dad!
Shen Wen took the plate and handed it to a waiting servant.
“Take this back to the kitchen and bring a few more biscuits upstairs.”
He looked down at Xing Nuo’s dirt-smudged face, his large, bright eyes staring up at him, and couldn’t help but smile.
“What are you looking at? Want me to hold your hand?”
Xing Nuo nodded vigorously, his lips curving upwards, happy again, and raised his small hand.
Shen Wen, reluctant but also concerned about the little one tripping again, extended his hand and held it.
They slowly walked back inside, going upstairs to wash up and change clothes.
Meanwhile, the players, holding the bowl of soup, stared at it intently, their eyes red.
Although the soup was meant for the little master, there was enough for each of them to have a small portion.
The veteran player checked his watch and took a deep breath.
“Nightfall in the instance is instantaneous. According to the rules, we need to drink the cook’s soup for dinner.”
One of the players, his emotions severely affected by the instance, his eyes bulging, snapped irritably:
“But what if something happens after we drink it?!”
Was the cook’s soup really a mandatory rule?
The new female player, who had finally obtained 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 more arguments, said sternly:
“Everyone, be quiet!”
