Chapter 74.2

Ram sighed as he helped the little child put on the gear. He said, “I worked too slowly this time. Ningning, did I delay your schooling?”

Ram knew that the little child was still attending kindergarten on the White Mist Star.

At this time of the year, during the off-season, Ningning had already used up all his vacation days and was relying on taking leave.

Grandpa Ram was old-fashioned and believed that the child should focus on his studies, and taking too much leave was not acceptable.

“Grandpa, Ningning doesn’t like going to school.”

Sensing that Grandpa Ram felt a little guilty, the little child quickly comforted him, saying, “Ningning can play a few more days, don’t be sad.”

Ram remained silent.

No, the child shouldn’t skip school.

Originally, Ram needed three more days to finish the mecha, but in order to let the little child start school earlier, he pulled an all-nighter.

He brought Harry along and worked overtime, completing the little child’s mecha in a day and a half.

“Ningning, try putting it on.”

With the fully completed mini-mecha, Ram asked the little child to try it on officially.

The mecha had undergone comprehensive testing, and even with ten adults trying to destroy it, they would have a hard time doing so.

Of course, as long as among these ten adults, there were no individuals of the same caliber as Raphael or Ludwig.

“Grandpa Ram.”

After putting on the mecha, Ningning tried lifting his leg. Once he got the hang of it, he walked steadily toward Grandpa Ram, looking up and asking, “When I wear this, will it not hurt when I get beaten up?”

The child’s question made An Nuo, who was sitting in the chair, chuckle.

“How could Ningning ask such a question?”

He turned his head slightly and whispered to Huo Lin beside him, “He’s so small. Who would beat him up?”

Huo Lin: “...”

There were indeed some people who would.

An Nuo noticed that Huo Lin’s expression wasn’t right, and the smile at the corner of his lips slowly faded. “Caesar, has Ningning really been beaten?”

Huo Lin pursed his lips and then proceeded to tell An Nuo everything that had happened before.

An Nuo’s face instantly turned cold. “Daring to disrespect our royal child like this, if it were in the past, he would have been sentenced to execution.”

Huo Lin listened to An Nuo’s anger and didn’t dare to say anything. After An Nuo’s emotions calmed down slightly, Huo Lin finally told An Nuo about Cole being taken to a military court.

“He won’t have a good outcome.”

Although Huo Lin replied to An Nuo with these words, An Nuo still insisted on going to the White Mist Star.

Not only did he want to see the audacious Cole, but he also wanted to meet Zhan Xi.

Zhan Xi played the role of Ningning’s father, and he had taken good care of Ningning over the years. For the sake of propriety and emotions, An Nuo should meet Zhan Xi in person.

***

An Nuo hadn’t revealed his decision to go to the White Mist Star yet, but he hadn’t realized that the little child was already teary-eyed, thinking of being separated from him.

“Brother.”

The child, who had stuck to his uncle for several days, now clung to his brother again. With teary eyes, he said to his brother, “Ningning doesn’t want to leave Uncle!”

The child’s elder relatives, even Zhan Xi, who had taken care of him since childhood, had no blood relation to him.

An Nuo was the child’s true relative, and moreover, his only blood relative.

The bond between relatives was particularly profound for young children. The child, who had just found his relatives, couldn’t accept being separated so quickly from his dear uncle.

The little child didn’t want to be separated from his uncle, but his uncle’s health was very poor.

The struggling little child didn’t know what to do and could only seek help from his older brother, asking him for advice.

“Ningning, you can go ask your uncle yourself. If he wants to come with us, we’ll bring him along when we leave.”

“If he wants to stay here, that’s fine, too. With transportation so developed now, I’ll accompany you to visit him on Sunday.”

Huo Lin lifted the little child up and patiently gave him suggestions.

In the comforting voice of his older brother, the little child rubbed his eyes, unsure if he had come to a decision.

Late into the night...

The little child, who hadn’t broached the topic of “leaving” with his uncle yet, couldn’t sleep due to his worries. He sat up in the middle of the night, making sure not to make any noise.

Inside the gauze, there was only one dimly lit pearl serving as a small night light.

The child in a white nightgown sat at the bedside like a ghost.

He first glanced at his dear uncle, leaving a wet kiss on his uncle’s face with great caution.

After he had looked enough at his uncle, he turned his little body to look at Raphael.

If he wanted to take his uncle away, Raphael would surely disagree.

The wicked stepaunt always wanted to snatch his uncle from Ningning!

The little child, with his chubby face in his hands, gazed deeply at Raphael, pondering whether to put a sack over him.

If he put a sack over Raphael, he could seize the opportunity to steal away with his uncle!

The child, supporting his chubby face, was earnestly contemplating the feasibility of this plan when Raphael, who was being stared at, blinked his eyes.

Raphael was highly alert, and coupled with the mischievous look in the child’s eyes, he was very conspicuous.

It would be difficult for him to pretend to be asleep.

Awakened by the stare in the middle of the night, as soon as Raphael opened his eyes, he saw a white-clothed child peering at him in the dim light.

Perhaps it was the odd illumination from the pearl, but the light falling on the child’s face made it look a little green.

White clothes, green face.

Raphael had a strong mental resilience, but he was almost frightened out of his wits.

His back suddenly went cold, and only after sitting up abruptly and propping himself up on the bed did he recognize this chubby little kid.

He also startled the chubby kid.

“You, you scared Ningning!”

The mischievous little kid tattled first, clutching his chest and leaning back against his uncle.

Raphael: “...”

Raphael took a deep breath and pinched his ear to snap himself out of it.

“Ningning.”

Raphael steadied his breathing, but his voice still cracked a little. “What are you doing in the middle of the night?”

Ningning remained silent.

Because Ningning couldn’t say that he wanted to put a sack over his head.

He sniffled and skipped the part about putting a sack over his head, revealing his ultimate purpose: “Ningning can’t bear to be separated from Uncle. Ningning wants to bring Uncle home.”

“No, you can’t,” Raphael immediately refused without hesitation. “You can’t take my wife with you, I can’t be without him.”

Ningning: “...”

The child furrowed his brows. He wanted to bring Uncle home, but he couldn’t take Raphael’s wife with him.

After some thought, Ningningg solemnly spoke up, “Then find a different wife.”

Raphael: “?”

What was this little brat talking about?

The wicked stepaunt and the little kid were locked in a standoff, with no sign of reconciliation in sight.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, An Nuo, who was disturbed by them, woke up in time.

“I’m going to White Mist Star with Ningning,” An Nuo calmly announced this news. “Raphael, don’t make a fuss. I’ll be back in a few days.”

“No, you can’t.”

Raphael still disagreed, “You’re definitely going to White Mist Star to find Zhan Xi. I’ve already investigated Zhan Xi! Do you know where he lives? Their house is old and small. You can’t possibly stay there.”

“Besides Zhan Xi’s place, I’ve been to Ludwig’s palace. Although it’s slightly better than Zhan Xi’s residence, it still can’t compare to your palace.”

“An Nuo, those people outside can’t take care of you properly.”

Raphael, in order to build a palace suitable for An Nuo, and the expenses he spent on his food, daily life, over the years, surpassed any emperor or tycoon.

He had been a king for so many years, but he was extremely strict and frugal with himself. When people talked about him, they couldn’t help but say he was stingy.

Raphael didn’t care.

He didn’t care about his reputation, the names people called him, or anything else.

He only cared if An Nuo’s health was a little better, if he ate a little more today, and if his mood was a bit more comfortable.

Raphael couldn’t accept the idea of letting An Nuo go through hardships no matter what.

Ningning looked at his determined aunt, and he also realized the difficulty of taking his uncle away.

Ningning lowered his head in frustration and sadness.

An Nuo looked at Ningning and finally placed Ningning on the small bed in the suite of the palace, letting Caesar accompany the child to sleep.

“I’ll have a good talk with Raphael.”

After placing the little child down, An Nuo patted his head and spoke gently: “Ningning, have a good sleep. Tomorrow, your uncle will wake you up.”

Having settled the little child, An Nuo returned to Raphael’s side.

“Raphael,” he leaned against Raphael’s chest and whispered, “Do you want me to live a little longer?”

Raphael remained silent for a moment, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Yes,” he said.

He dreamt of it every night.

Hearing this, An Nuo lifted his head and smiled at him. “Do you know that in the past two days, while going out with Ningning, I feel like I’ve adapted a little to the outside world?”

“Raphael, maybe Zhan Xi was right. Our entire royal family... and the royal children, we’ve been wrong from the beginning.”

“Our living environment is very good, but this kind of goodness doesn’t benefit our growth. Look at Ningning, he has been raised so healthily by Zhan Xi.”

Raphael thought about the chubby little kid, and his heart began to waver.

An Nuo calmly reassured Raphael. His words were logical and persuasive, and unconsciously, Raphael’s attitude began to change under his influence.

In addition to comforting Raphael with his words, An Nuo also used other methods to appease him, making Raphael obedient.

The next day.

Raphael wore a sour expression and secretly bullied the chubby little kid a few times to vent his frustration.

“You came and took away my wife.”

Raphael grumbled, “When you get married in the future, I’ll definitely take revenge!”

The bullied little child retorted angrily, “Ningning won’t get married!”

Raphael sneered, “Hah, if you don’t get married, you’ll end up being a bachelor.”

The little chubby kid continued in an angry voice, “Ningning is fine being a bachelor!”

Raphael: “...”

Raphael: “So, do you want to ascend to the heavens?”

Little Zai Zai got so angry that he hit his head against Raphael and said, “Ningning has an older brother!”

He didn’t want a wife; he just wanted his older brother.

Raphael felt that both of these brats were very naïve. Last time, Caesar also said he didn’t want a wife, he only needed the chubby kid. And now, the chubby kid was saying the same thing. It was evident that they were still too young and didn’t know the value of a wife.

Raphael’s heart grew sour as he thought about it.

He had such a great wife, and he would soon be taken away by this chubby kid.

 

<Prev> <ToC> <Next>

Follow @wyrdtl