Raphael let the little one cling to him, allowing the child to press their cheeks against his own. Although he was stingy, there were indeed many gold coins.
“I can give you a golden lock.”
Raphael said leisurely, “But I have a condition.”
The little child’s eyes lit up. Without asking what the condition was, he happily said, “Ningning agrees!”
Hearing this, Raphael said slowly, “You can’t stick to your uncle at night anymore. Your uncle has to sleep with me at night.”
The little child: “...”
Oops.
He agreed too early!
Looking at the petrified little face of the little child, Raphael’s eyes flashed with pleasure. He poked the chubby cheeks of the little child. Fortunately, despite losing so much weight, the child hadn’t lost his chubby cheeks.
“You agreed. Later, I’ll give you another small golden lock, and you can’t stick to your uncle at night anymore.”
The small golden lock obtained in exchange for his uncle was something the little child couldn’t bear.
His little face drooped, and the whole child emitted a depressed atmosphere.
“Ningning wants the small golden lock, but Ningning also wants Uncle.”
Raphael looked at the dejected little one, feeling quite content himself. “This is what they call ‘you can’t have your cake and eat it too.’ Ningning, don’t worry, I’ll make sure to keep your uncle company at night in your place.” (T/N: He’s just saying that Ningning can’t have it both ways.)
The little child: “...”
Looking into his aunt’s eyes, the little child began to regard him as a bad aunt again.
After bullying the little child, Raphael felt very good and went to see his wife.
***
The few children on the spaceship had suffered a lot. Ling Qi was trying his best to find ways to make up for them.
An Nuo had never entered the kitchen before, nor had he ever cooked. He was born into the royal family and had been pampered since childhood, never having to do any chores.
With the downfall of the royal family and Raphael’s careful care, he still didn’t have to do anything.
But such a life was still a bit boring. An Nuo liked to watch Ling Qi make various delicious dishes and exquisite and delicious desserts.
He watched by Ling Qi’s side, and when Ling Qi saw his interest, he would let him try.
In the evening.
Several children were called to eat. Zhan Xi and Ling Qi had already eaten, so they came to see Lele, who was still receiving IV fluids.
Two adults sat beside the bed, with Zhan Xi looking at Lele’s half-covered little face in the quilt, reaching out to adjust the quilt for him to ensure he could breathe comfortably.
Just as Zhan Xi finished adjusting the quilt and was about to pull his hand back, Lele on the bed opened his eyes, which Zhan Xi hadn’t noticed earlier.
He stared at Zhan Xi without blinking.
Zhan Xi met his gaze, feeling somewhat uneasy for a moment.
“Ahem.”
Zhan Xi cleared his throat, intending to say something to ease the atmosphere.
Before he could speak, Lele on the bed spoke softly, preempting him. “Grandpa.”
Caught off guard by being called ‘Grandpa,’ Zhan Xi felt a bit bewildered.
Damn.
He hadn’t even gotten married yet, but his own child had forcibly elevated him to the status of a grandfather.
Zhan Xi’s mind was in a daze, feeling a bit confused overall. He subconsciously responded with a hesitant “Yes,” as a reply.
Upon receiving a response, Lele, with his trembling hand hidden under the quilt, finally stopped shaking so violently.
He continued to repeat, “Grandpa.”
Zhan Xi was already numb to it: “Yes.”
After Lele called several times, his nervous little hand finally stopped trembling.
Zhan Xi’s expression after being called “Grandpa” made him feel like he was ready for retirement.
Ling Qi, who was watching from the side with great amusement, was enjoying himself when suddenly Lele’s little face turned towards him.
Ling Qi, with a smile on his lips, suddenly had a bad premonition in his heart.
Sure enough, the next moment.
This child timidly called out to him, “Second Grandpa.”
Ling Qi: “?”
Ling Qi, who prided himself on still being relatively young, was also classified as a grandfather.
The smile on his lips froze. “What did you call me?”
Startled by this counter-question, Lele dared not speak anymore.
Zhan Xi glanced at Lele, then at Ling Qi, and burst out laughing.
“Ling Qi, he calls you Second Grandpa. Hilarious, can’t you even hear that clearly?”
Zhan Xi found someone to accompany him, and his mood improved instantly. He asked Lele with interest, “Why did you think to call him Second Grandpa?”
Perhaps due to some filter for Grandpa Zhan Xi, Lele wasn’t as timid when facing him.
He weakly replied, “Dad Ningning said you two are a pair, and Lele can’t call him Grandma, so I called him Second Grandpa.”
Zhan Xi: “...”
Ling Qi: “...”
Both adults fell silent, their ears slightly tinged with a perplexing shade of red.
Lele clutched the blanket, still seeking confirmation from Grandpa Zhan Xi, “Did Lele call it wrong?”
Zhan Xi touched his nose and spoke softly, “It’s fine if you call me that.”
He didn’t mind.
Ling Qi’s expression changed several times. He wanted to say something, but looking at Lele’s watery eyes, he ultimately swallowed his words, not wanting to scare this child with a braver heart than a rabbit’s.
Zhan Xi and Ling Qi returned with the titles of two “grandpas”. They needed to calm down and prepare some food for Lele, who had just woken up.
The nutrient solution had already been disconnected, but dinner was ready now, so he could still eat a little.
“So, um, Twain, it’s your turn to take care of him now.”
Zhan Xi looked at the handsome Marshal Twain and, being very loyal, wanted to share the grandfather’s status with him.
