Chapter 75 1/2

The little one kept busy, wiping his dad’s face with a small face, his head covered in a big white towel, and washing off the mud. His voice muffled: “Daddy, are we not playing today?”

Cen Lang: “Son, don’t talk; mud got in your mouth.”

Fatherly love stands strong as Cen Lang shields Jiang Li from view, tending to the little one. When Jiang Li approaches, the child looks refreshed.

Little Jiang Wangxing’s face is clean, wrapped in a white towel, and wearing a towel cap. He looks spotless. Spotting Jiang Li, he happily shouts, “Dad!”

Jiang Li can’t dampen the mood, asking, “Is my baby having fun?”

Little Jiang Wangxing, with round eyes, replies, “Yes, Dad.”

Cen Lang pretends surprise: “I’m in special training, Dr. Xiao Jiang; are you on vacation?”

Jiang Li has seen Cen Lang’s night training, sweaty and dusty, facing ten top Alphas. He can accept the mud; he just didn’t expect him to train with the child, who seems to enjoy the mud more than a dog.

This is what he sees; what he doesn’t see is uncertain.

This man, this dog… unbelievable.

He always thought Jiang Wangxing, like him, preferred cleanliness. When a grain of rice falls on his clothes during a meal, the child immediately picks it up for him, saying, “Dad, throw it in the trash.”

At these moments, Cen Lang would laugh, realising the deeper meaning now.

“Don’t wrap him up; the mud inside the towel is uncomfortable.” Jiang Li instructs Cen Lang to unwrap the child’s towel.

Cen Lang: “Are you sure?”

Jiang Li, with a serious face, says, “Captain Cen, I used to scoff at post-marriage inspections.”

Seeing Jiang Li’s mockingly proud expression crumble, Cen Lang teases, “I’m not afraid of inspections; your son is. Don’t mix things up, thanks.”

He takes off the child’s towel cap, revealing muddy hair.

Jiang Li, who only saw from afar, is now up close, his pupils shrinking.

Cen Lang then unfolds the towel, revealing a child pulled from the mud. “Um, a wash, and he’ll be good.” Seeing the child eager to be held, Jiang Ping struggles to stabilise himself.

Little Jiang gazed at the stars, wanting to rush over for a hug. However, seeing his dad looking so clean, he nervously hid behind Dad’s comrade, Cen Dui, peeking out and asking, “Comrade Cen, is Dad angry?”

Jiang Li’s heart softened suddenly. In his childhood, he had been rejected for being too dirty, and he was determined not to reject his own child for the same reason.

Forget playing with mud; he would happily pick up his child even if they played with a garbage bin.

Cleanliness wasn’t meant for loved ones.

Cen Lang bent down, lifting the little one, and shared his wisdom: “It’s fine. We’ll sleep in the doghouse tonight, and Dad won’t be angry tomorrow.”

Little Jiang widened his eyes, full of anticipation. “Sleep with Black Wind Brother?”

Cen Lang: “Yes, whether you sleep with Black Wind Brother or Dad.”

Little Jiang: “With Dad.”

Father and son harmonised, casually deciding on the punishment, looking all cheerful.

Jiang Li suddenly softened. Did he let Cen Lang off too easily the last time when he slept in the doghouse with fake coordinates?

Not only did he not reflect, but he also dared to pass the method on to his son.

Little one: “Can I still have a hug today?”

Cen Lang looked at Jiang Li. Before either could speak, the clever little one said, “Comrade Cen Dad, I want to bathe with milk powder.”

Jiang Li was puzzled. “Bathe with milk powder?”

Little one: “Yes!”

Little Jiang added, “And also, wipe with iodine.”

Jiang Li took a deep breath. “Did Dad use milk powder to bathe you and apply iodine to your arms after playing with mud?”

The little one nodded.

Jiang Li’s vision darkened. What kind of trickery was this? No wonder he smelled milk powder on his son that day and thought it spilt while drinking.

So, it was Cen Lang’s diversionary tactic. Smart.

Cen Lang patted the little one’s butt, saying, “You’re seeking glory for your father, you know that?”

Jiang Li reached out to the little one and said, “Dad is not angry, baby.”

Little Jiang happily leant towards Jiang Li.

Jiang Li took him, and the pristine shirt got a layer of yellow mud. Holding his little one, he walked towards the mud pool, “Want to continue playing?”

Little Jiang: “Can I, Dad?”

Jiang Li: “Of course.”

Already this dirty, might as well enjoy it.

He sat by the mud pool, “Be careful not to get mud in your eyes, mouth, or ears.”

“Okay!” The little one, joyful with Black Wind, squatted in the mud pool, digging. After a minute, he dug out a small ball, “For Dad!”

Black Wind carried the ball ashore and spat it next to Jiang Li.

Jiang Li: “What?”

Cen Lang washed the small ball and opened it, “Blind box, this one is chocolate.”

Jiang Li: “No wonder he was playing so happily!” What dad buries snacks in a mud pool to attract kids?!

Cen Lang argued, “He wanted to play, and I added some fun.”

Jiang Li: “Did you eat the snacks he dug up?”

“Not all snacks, mostly Black Wind’s beef jerky, showing that your son is caring, taking care of the military dog.”

“What are you doing?” Jiang Li lightly exclaimed as Cen Lang suddenly held his ankle and forcibly took off his shoes.

Cen Lang: “Sharing joy with the family.”

Jiang Li curled his toes, somewhat resisting.

Cen Lang: “This mud is very clean, dug from under the volcano, beautifying.”

Jiang Li: “I don’t need it.”

The little one, confused, saw Dad taking off his shoes and thought he was coming down. “Dad, come quickly!”

“Dad, over here!”