With the little child’s father handling his studies, they could focus on other things. The two chatted a bit more about the little child’s dad before finally getting back to work.
Ling Qi didn’t do any heavy labor; he was in charge of bookkeeping.
The whole day, both Zhan Xi and Ling Qi were in high spirits.
And just like them, the little child at school was also in a great mood.
After finding out his test score and getting praised by the teacher again—two days in a row since school started—the little child was absolutely delighted.
Evening.
A cheerful Zhan Xi picked up an equally cheerful little child. The little child rushed to his father’s legs, tilted his chubby face up, and declared, "Daddy, Ningning will study hard from now on!"
After making his promise, he showed off his little red flower. "Teacher Lily gave this to Ningning! She said it’s a reward for improving so much!"
Zhan Xi took the red flower and kissed the little child’s forehead. "My little child is amazing!"
Today, a red flower—tomorrow, an award certificate, and soon, he’d be a top student!
Father and child were still celebrating at the school gate when Roy’s mother passed by, curious. "Mr. Zhan, did something good happen? You look so happy."
Zhan Xi replied modestly, "Oh, it’s nothing much. My little child got a red flower at kindergarten today."
Roy’s mother: "..."
She glanced at Zhan Xi, her eyes filled with something like pity.
Had the little child really never gotten a red flower before?
Zhan Xi didn’t notice the sympathy in Roy’s mother’s eyes. He picked up the little child and placed him in the basket of the tricycle.
"Let’s go, time to head home."
Zhan Xi adjusted the tricycle and said with a smile, "Your Uncle Ling Qi made a lot of delicious food for you today."
The little child, who had just managed to roll over during his exam, didn’t even need to brag about it himself—Zhan Xi had already bragged all over the family group chat.
After showing off in the family group, Zhan Xi also sent a separate message to the little child’s birth father. He wrote a long, glowing praise and, at the very end, attached the little child’s grades.
When the birth father woke up later and saw the message, he could hardly believe his eyes.
With such low scores and results, Zhan Xi had actually used the word "good news."
The birth father closed his eyes and silently reminded himself of the little child’s previously "pitiful" life for a long time. If he didn’t think this way, he was afraid he’d lose his temper.
For now, the little child was unaware of his birth father’s reaction.
Sitting in the family tricycle, he even got the reward of playing with his dad’s communicator—though while he played, his father still hadn’t given up on trying to take his red envelope money.
"Ningning, think carefully about what Daddy told you."
Zhan Xi tried to sweet-talk the little child with a serious face: "If you hand over your red envelope money to me, I can invest it for you. Do you know what investing is? It’s turning one star-coin into two!"
Zhan Xi’s persuasion was smooth and convincing, but the little child just turned his back, refusing to listen.
No, no, Daddy’s trying to trick me.
After three days of relentless coaxing, Zhan Xi still hadn’t managed to get the little child’s red envelope money.
That night, Ling Qi watched as Zhan Xi stubbornly searched online for ways to take a young child’s red envelope. Unable to hold back, he kicked him lightly. "Give it up. If you can’t get it, just let it go."
Zhan Xi shook his head. "No way. You haven’t counted how much money he’s holding."
"With that much cash in a little child’s hands, what if someone scams him out of it? He’ll just cry about it later."
Zhan Xi did give the little child pocket money—but only in small amounts.
This time, some of the red envelope money was actually swapped around. For example, Zhan Xi had given red envelopes to Sai Wei, Wagner, and Huo Lin, and in return, the little child received red envelopes from the adults in their families.
It was basically just a red envelope exchange.
Ling Qi listened to him and thought for a moment. "If nothing else works, you can discuss it with Lin—have Lin coax the little child into saving all the red packets."
"That could work. As long as he saves the money properly, it’s fine."
After being reassured by Ling Qi, Zhan Xi turned off his communicator and stopped searching.
He nudged Ling Qi. "Hey, after we calculate this month’s profits from the recycling plant, how about I take you to the mall at the end of the month?"
Ling Qi: "?"
Ling Qi was puzzled. "What for?"
Zhan Xi grinned. "To buy you something. The little child got another gold locket—do you want some gold too? I’ll get you a piece."
Ling Qi: "..."
Ling Qi looked at him like he was an idiot. "Are our finances anywhere near Raphael’s? Why are you copying him?"
Raphael could afford to buy gold and gift the little child lockets because he was loaded. What was their excuse for splurging on gold—boredom?
Rebuffed by Ling Qi, Zhan Xi muttered under his breath, unwilling to let it go. "I read that in ancient Earth customs, you had to give gold when marrying a wife..."
Ling Qi: "..."
Ling Qi didn’t catch that. "What did you say?"
Zhan Xi rubbed his nose and played dumb. "Nothing, nothing. It’s getting late—let’s sleep."
Though he claimed it was time for bed, it wasn’t long before his hand crept over.
"Ling Qi, it’s been days since we last..."
The room’s main light was off, replaced by a dim night lamp, blurring their silhouettes in the darkness.
***
The next day.
The little child was eating his father’s cooking again. Hugging his bowl, his chubby face was full of gloom. "Daddy, why isn’t Uncle Ling Qi cooking for Ningning anymore?"
"Your Uncle Ling Qi isn’t feeling well. Isn’t Daddy’s cooking just as good?"
As he spoke, Zhan Xi scooped another spoonful of rice into his child’s bowl.
The little child ate his father’s food, his tiny face visibly distressed.
Why does Uncle Ling Qi keep feeling unwell so often?
He remembered Uncle Ling Qi being very healthy—even having really nice abs!
The little child didn’t have abs—just a soft, round little belly.
Luckily, Dad had paid for the little child’s school lunches, so he no longer had to keep eating his father’s cooking.
Two more days passed.
Before the little child could finish translating the letter, he learned a shortcut—thanks to Wagner.
Wagner had also started school. Before the term began, rumors said his father had beaten him so badly he nearly ran away from home.
Now obediently attending school, Wagner heard about the little child’s struggles and offered a solution: "Just search for a translation on the Star Network. There’s a photo button—take a picture and search it."
Wagner’s advice was a revelation.
After thanking him, the little child excitedly began photographing and searching for translations.
While he worked on the translations indoors, An Nuo arrived outside.
An Nuo came quietly, without any grand entourage. He hadn’t brought Raphael—he came alone.
Seeing him in the yard, Zhan Xi wasn’t surprised: "Ningning mentioned days ago that you were coming. What took so long?"
"Raphael’s been busy lately. He couldn’t spare the time for me."
Zhan Xi glanced outside. "Where is he?"
"He left after dropping me off. Where’s Ningning?"
"Inside. Go ahead and find him."
With that, Zhan Xi went back to his work. An Nuo wasn’t much of a guest, so there was no need for formal hospitality.
A few minutes later.
An Nuo entered the room and found the little child sprawled on his back, fuming.
Clutching the letter, the little child stared at the ceiling, muttering: "Ningning doesn’t want this father anymore."
This father was hopeless.
His letter to the little child didn’t contain a single kind word—no "I love you" or "I miss you."
Aside from nagging him to study harder, he’d also asked the little child to "help find him a wife."
OMG the parents are together at last, and as always Ningning the cutest child! Reading this healed my broken soul ahahah oh I also miss Lele!
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