Chapter 119

Chapter 119

"Daddy, I want to eat it!"

"Xiao Nan, I want some too."

At the dining table, the two—one adult, one child—sat on either side of You Nan, their eyes fixed intently on him, waiting to see which one You Nan would favor.

Curled up in its little bed under the table, 007 heard the commotion and couldn't help but let out a yawn.

Great, here we go again with this nonsense.

007 lazily closed its eyes, letting the two whiners protest to You Nan.

Back when 007 was fighting the demon's avatar, it was killed outright. It thought there was no chance of revival in this lifetime, but unexpectedly, it gained the approval of the gods, reappeared in the world, gained legitimate status, and was granted a second life.

Now, 007 had been rescued by Chen Mingting, shedding its former system identity to become a real, flesh-and-blood kitten.

You Nan had no idea 007 was mentally complaining about the two beside him. He looked at the food held in his chopsticks, hesitated for a few seconds, then resolutely put it into his own bowl.

This dish would only cause trouble, driving a wedge between the father and son—better to just eat it himself.

Chen Mingting and Chen Xiaobao were both stunned by You Nan's move.

Chen Xiaobao, taking advantage of his young age, was the first to speak up. "Daddy," he pleaded, "don't you want to give it to me? I really love chicken wings."

He added, "Even though every time I want to eat something, my Big Daddy ends up eating it too, if Daddy treasures Big Daddy and wants to give him the chicken wings, I absolutely won’t have any problem with that."

The child lifted his face—a spitting image of Chen Mingting’s, about seven or eight parts similar.

It wasn’t so obvious before, but as the child grew, the resemblance became stronger.

You Nan looked at him and saw a miniature version of Chen Mingting.

On the other side, Chen Mingting listened to the little one's sweetly manipulative antics and barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes—he held back.

After all, it wasn’t just the three of them eating at the table; You Nan's parents and older brother were there too.

Chen Mingting didn’t want to leave a bad impression in front of his wife’s elders.

He could only say with a strained smile, and respond using the child's own logic: "If Xiaobao likes it, of course Big Daddy will let you have it. You’re still a child, and Big Daddy is already an adult—I can’t have someone so young showing respect for the elderly and care for the young, can I?"

As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks to serve his son a helping of food, about to put it in the child’s bowl.

Chen Xiaobao pouted, holding his bowl with both hands and moving it away. "No, no, I want Little Daddy to serve me."

As the little one spoke, he glanced out of the corner of his eye at the grandparents and uncle sitting across the table—who were pretending to eat but had their ears perked up, secretly listening—and immediately started currying favor.

"I also want the chicken wings from Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle!"

The child’s tone was earnest, his expression serious and without changing as he turned to plead.

If you didn’t know he was talking about wanting chicken wings, you’d think he was facing some major dilemma and needed help.

The three listeners, hearing themselves called out by Xiaobao, were both flattered and quick to respond.

They immediately raised their chopsticks, picking up the already scarce chicken wings from the plate and putting them all into the child’s bowl.

People in the countryside don’t bother with the city’s standards for communal chopsticks.

The child didn’t mind.

He smirked, glanced at the empty plate and the extra chicken wings in his bowl, and raised an eyebrow at his Big Daddy.

Being young and lively, the child’s expressions were animated, his eyes seeming to speak—whatever was on his mind showed plainly on his face.

Chen Mingting could see the smugness written all over his face.

He found it somewhat amusing.

The child had the experience of three lifetimes, yet his personality was still bound by his age—lacking the maturity of an adult, fully embracing a child’s tactics of whining and acting adorable, shamelessly doing whatever it took to get his way.

Chen Mingting bit down on his chopsticks, his smile tight and forced.

The little one lifted his chin high, as if he’d just won a great battle.

You Nan, witnessing this quiet conflict at the table, once again felt that his earlier decision to "eat it himself" had been absolutely right.

If giving it to either of them would cause issues, better to just eat it himself.

There were only two chicken wings per chicken, and they’d bought a few sets from the villagers for this meal. His mother’s cooking was so delicious, and there wasn’t enough to go around.

You Nan loved them too.

As he thought this, two more chicken wings appeared in his bowl. He stared at the extra food, glancing around.

The two—big and small—who had served him said nothing, keeping their heads down and eating.

As if the chicken wings in You Nan’s bowl had appeared as if by magic.

You Nan scanned the table—everyone was looking down, pretending nothing had happened. He lowered his head too, though he couldn't help smiling.

He ate the chicken wings that Chen Mingting and his son had saved for him.

After the meal, the three of them—the little family—gathered by the sink to wash dishes. You Nan’s parents and brother had already gone to rest.

You Nan finally had a chance to ask Chen Mingting about the demon they had encountered.

Chen Mingting’s tone was casual, as calm as discussing the weather. "With your husband handling it, did it stand a chance of escaping?"

"You killed it?" You Nan wiped his face, leaving a damp streak on his cheek.

Chen Mingting used the hem of his shirt to wipe away the water mark, his eyes smiling. "Yeah."

He added, "But that demon did accomplish one good thing."

You Nan turned to him curiously. "Hmm?"

"I'm thankful it brought you to me." Chen Mingting cupped You Nan’s face in his hands, imitating a scene he’d seen in a TV show from their previous world, and declared his love to You Nan.

You Nan couldn’t handle it. He shivered, furrowing his brows. "Ew~"

He quickly moved away. "Don’t be like that, it’s too cheesy."

Chen Mingting pursed his lips.

Back in their previous world, he used to declare his love to You Nan all the time, and You Nan was always so moved.

Why wasn't it working now?

Could it be that after being married for so long, You Nan no longer likes hearing this kind of thing?

Chen Mingting began to reflect, trying to improve.

Secretly taking advantage of their conversation to slack off, Chen Xiaobao washed his hands clean and rode the electric skateboard Chen Mingting had brought back from the modern world, zipping past the two of them from behind with a "swoosh," slipping by like 007.

Xiaobao rode all the way to a spot where his two fathers couldn’t see him, then stopped and began frantically rubbing the goosebumps covering his arms.

"Can’t stand it, can’t stand it," he muttered through gritted teeth, "Some things really shouldn’t be learned so casually. This blend of past and present just makes a perfectly good young dad become cringey."

And "thanking it for bringing you to me."

Chen Xiaobao wrinkled his face and made a disgusted "Eww~" sound, looking quite similar to You Nan.

.

Knowing that the demon had been dealt with by Chen Mingting while he was unconscious, You Nan didn’t ask further.

After the demon disappeared, this land finally had a chance to catch its breath.

The three countries near the Great Xing Mountains were the most severely affected by the disaster.

Though other countries also saw many evil spirits emerge, fortunately, no powerful Great Demons caused widespread destruction. With the help of Cultivators from other nations, the demon threat was contained, preventing even greater calamities in this land.

The two Cultivators who had been struck into the Great Xing Mountains by the demon's doppelganger were found and rescued back to the village, where Chen Mingting treated their injuries.

In contrast, the Yan State’s sect was in a different situation.

When they learned that the little immortal was the child of a deity, they were immediately filled with fear.

The Sect Leader, despite his severe injuries, personally led the disciples who had been sent earlier to apologize to the little immortal.

The little immortal hemmed and hawed, accepting the gifts but stubbornly refusing to say he wasn’t angry.

The Sect Leader approached You Nan, but You Nan refused to intervene, telling them to work it out with Chen Xiaobao.

Chen Xiaobao was You Nan’s child, and You Nan cherished him deeply.

Just because these people apologized, did it mean the harm they caused never happened?

The Sect Leader and the surviving disciples were extremely humble in their attitude toward the little child, showing no trace of displeasure.

Although Cultivators had risen above the realm of ordinary mortals, in the eyes of deities, they were no different from mortals.

The gap between them was as wide as a chasm.

When facing a stronger being, they harbored no negative emotions.

The sect’s attitude grew even more sincere.

The sect elders also issued a direct order to abandon all former sect statues within Yan State, declaring that the sect and Yan State would jointly worship the deity.

This matter was Chen Mingting’s concern, and You Nan only overheard it without getting involved.

After staying in the nearby village for some time, the sect members dispersed to various parts of Yan State to help the court resettle the people.

Accompanying them were envoys from Yan State.

The first thing the Yan State envoy did upon waking was inquire about the demon’s fate. Upon learning of its death, he immediately set off for the Yan State capital with the two Cultivators, eager to report the events to the monarch.

Before leaving, the envoy visited Chen Mingting to receive the deity’s decree.

No one knew exactly what Chen Mingting said to him, but everyone could see that the envoy was visibly emotional after leaving the ancestral hall.

By the time he departed the village and began his journey back, his mood had become calm.

He would bring the deity’s blessings and decree to their monarch.

On the day the sect and the envoy left, You Nan and the village chief personally sent them off.

After all the outsiders had left, life in the village seemed to return to how it was before, except for the addition of two people: Chen Mingting and Chen Xiaobao.

The relationship between Chen Mingting, You Nan, and Chen Xiaobao was obvious to anyone with eyes.

You Nan’s adoptive parents were well aware and did not interfere excessively in his life.

After You Nan brought Chen Mingting to their home for a meal, they reluctantly watched as You Nan, Chen Mingting, and their son built a new house next to theirs.

Chen Mingting and You Nan’s family made their home in this quiet little village.

But their influence extended beyond that.

Due to the deity’s presence, life in the village gradually improved, and many merchants and officials came to pay homage to the deity.

The news of the deity’s return to this land spread rapidly with the departure of the sect and the envoy, as if given wings.

Within just a few days, all nations and sects in the region had learned of it.

They all sent envoys to this place, hoping to meet the deity.

The monarch of Yan State placed the village under his protection.

You Nan and Chen Mingting lived there for half a year, enjoying a peaceful and tranquil life.

However, the number of people coming to see Chen Mingting grew too large, and he became annoyed.

He resented the disruption to his life with You Nan.

You Nan noticed his mood but pretended not to notice.

You Nan felt he had a bit of a mean streak—sometimes he enjoyed watching Chen Mingting’s helpless, wronged expression when he had to meet strangers despite not wanting to.

And Chen Mingting soon learned from his son that You Nan liked seeing him act wronged and seeking comfort.

The man knew how to work it. He went straight to You Nan, hoping for some comfort.

And while You Nan was comforting him, he took advantage of him many times.

You Nan often couldn't get a word in, his mouth sealed by the man.

As time went on and it happened repeatedly, You Nan had had enough.

Whenever the man came close again, he would make a scene.

Chen Mingting chuckled quietly as he walked over to You Nan, wrapping his arms around him from behind and holding him tightly.

This was the position that made him feel most at ease.

Only by holding You Nan completely could Chen Mingting find true peace, as if his heart was finally complete.

A bird that once flew about with no fixed abode had finally found a harbor where it could rest.

Chen Mingting said softly to You Nan, "Now that this matter is settled, why don't we go see where you lived?"

The demons were dead, and the order of the small worlds once dominated by them had collapsed. At the same time, the energy of these small worlds began to recover and gather again.

Chen Mingting did not abruptly intervene but allowed the small worlds to establish their own foundational anchors.

Now, half a year had passed. Although these small worlds were not yet completely stable, their order was already on the right track. He believed that new life would soon emerge in the near future.

Hearing Chen Mingting's words, You Nan also recalled the time he had lived on Blue Star.

Back then, the demons' control over Blue Star was deep. From the moment they were born, everyone became targets for its exploitation. Everyone's social interactions and emotions were tightly constrained by various rigid rules.

You Nan had been sent to Blue Star's centralized child management system at a very young age and never saw his parents after that.

Throughout his life, he had very few friends.

Thinking of his past life, You Nan couldn't help but squeeze his hand, a look of hesitation appearing on his face.

Chen Mingting noticed but didn't press him. Instead, he stood quietly by You Nan's side, keeping him company.

Whether You Nan wanted to go or not, he could choose.

He would follow You Nan's wishes in everything.

After a long while, You Nan finally gave Chen Mingting a reply.

"Alright," he said, having made up his mind, his eyes crinkling into a smile. "It's been a long time since I went back anyway. I wonder what Blue Star looks like now."

"And me!" Chen Xiaobao, who had been hiding by the door eavesdropping on his Dad and Papa's conversation, immediately rushed in upon hearing that they were going out to play.

The child had a soft, dark blue small thing perched on his head.

The little kitten lifted its head, its triangular ears twitching. "I want to go too!"

The two little ones pleaded.

They didn't even glance at Chen Mingting's expression, instead turning together to fix You Nan with pitiful, pleading looks.

They knew only You Nan was soft-hearted.

As for Chen Mingting, though he appeared gentle and polite on the surface, he was actually strict and uncompromising, unwilling to listen to even the slightest bit of "opinion." He was strict with the two little ones, and only their little daddy could change his mind.

Just as they expected, You Nan couldn't withstand their pleading, puppy-dog eyes and had no choice but to raise his hands in surrender.

"Alright, our whole family will go together."

Chen Xiaobao happily hugged 007 and bounced excitedly. "Great! Big Daddy, Little Daddy, let's always go out together from now on!"

You Nan glanced at the silent Chen Mingting beside him.

Chen Mingting reached up and touched the tip of his nose, sighing, both annoyed and resigned.

"Alright, we'll take you both with us."

[End of Main Text]

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