After being snubbed, Ji Xuan had no desire to deal with the mother and daughter duo anymore. So, carrying a bowl of sweet soup, he walked over to Xiao Ruoguang and said, “Xiaoguang, Daddy brought you some sweet soup. The housekeeper made it—it’s really delicious.”

Xiao Ruoguang blinked his big eyes, his long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings. In his signature babyish voice, he asked, “Is it for me?”

Ji Xuan felt his heart melt under that gaze and nodded firmly. “Mm-hmm, it’s for you.”

“No, it’s not!” Ji Yu suddenly lunged forward.

But Ji Xuan seemed ready for her. He quickly scooped Xiao Ruoguang up into his arms, dodging her pounce.

Ji Yu looked utterly wronged. She clung to Ji Xuan’s pant leg and wailed, “Now that you have a son, you don’t want me anymore! You’re a bad daddy—I don’t want you either! You won’t even let me have any sweet soup! The housekeeper made it at our house, so why can’t I have some? You’re a bad daddy! Bad daddy!”

Xiao Ruoguang looked at Ji Yu, then tugged on Ji Xuan’s collar and said, “Let big sister have some too!”

Ji Yu was stunned by Xiao Ruoguang’s generosity. Her eyes widened as she stared at him, then suddenly let go of Ji Xuan. Crossing her arms, she huffed, “Hmph! You think just because you’re being nice to me, I’ll start liking you? Not a chance!”

But Xiao Ruoguang simply said again, “It’s okay. I don’t need it. Let big sister have it.”

Ji Yu’s mouth dropped open in a perfect O. How could anyone be this sweet?

For the first time, Ji Yu actually felt embarrassed by her own tantrum. She muttered awkwardly, “Well… I guess you can have a little bit. But the rest is mine. All mine.” She emphasized that part with extra seriousness.

Xiao Ruoguang slid down from Ji Xuan’s arms, took the lunchbox from him, and handed it to Ji Yu with both hands. “It’s all for big sister.”

Ji Yu was completely speechless: “…”

She suddenly had the strange feeling that she couldn’t bring herself to take the lunchbox—as if it were a piece of red-hot iron.

“Big sister,” Xiao Ruoguang said, his voice soft and sweet—like cotton candy that melts into warmth the moment it touches your heart.

Ji Yu looked into his big, round eyes. They were like Bambi’s—bright, moist, full of life, and just a little pitiful. He blinked twice, his gaze paired with that tender little voice calling her “big sister.”

Ji Yu suddenly felt like a criminal. How could she possibly fight over sweet soup with such an adorable, gentle, and thoughtful little brother?

So she said, “It’s okay, big sister has sweet soup all the time. You can have this one. I’ll bring you more tomorrow!”

Xiao Ruoguang beamed at her, his smile sweet enough to make anyone’s heart melt. He nodded enthusiastically. “Mm! Thank you, big sister.”

Then, without hesitation, he popped open the lid, poured a bowl for Xiao Yu, and poured another for himself.

After that, Xiao Ruoguang handed the now-empty lunchbox back to Ji Xuan. Just as he was about to feed Xiao Yu, Auntie Wang returned. She took over and began feeding Xiao Yu herself, while Xiao Ruoguang sat quietly on his own, sipping the sweet soup.

Ji Yu: “…”

Why did something about this feel… off?

Meanwhile, Ji Xuan glanced at Auntie Wang’s hands, then at Xiao Yu, happily sipping away, and felt a strange, indescribable emotion stir inside him.

Ban Zhenye: “…”

What was going on with this father and daughter duo? They seem completely outmatched by this mother and son pair.

After the two finished their soup, Auntie Wang cleared the bowls and took them away to wash. Ji Xuan pulled over a chair and sat down next to Xiao Yu. “I want to take Xiaoguang home.”

Xiao Yu didn’t react with any particular emotion. She simply replied, “Sure—if Xiaoguang agrees.”

Ji Xuan raised an eyebrow in surprise. He’d been fully expecting her to kick up a fuss.

But when he turned to look at Xiao Ruoguang, he saw the boy lying on the blanket, gazing up at him with wide, pitiful eyes. In a soft voice, he said, “I want to stay with Mommy… and take care of her.”

Ji Xuan: “…”

Ji Xuan turned back to look at Xiao Yu, his expression blank. Xiao Yu smiled and said, “It’s fine. If he wants to go with you, let him. If he doesn’t, well—you can always force him. I’m easygoing like that.”

Ji Xuan: “…”

Xiao Ruoguang buried his big head under the blanket and began to sob softly, the kind of crying that tugged at the heart.

Ji Xuan: “…”

“Mommy doesn’t want me anymore,” Xiao Ruoguang mumbled from beneath the covers, his voice muffled and barely audible.

Ji Xuan: “…”

“Mommy doesn’t want Xiaoguang… because Xiaoguang is a bad child,” he wept, utterly heartbroken.

Huh? At that, Ji Xuan froze for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and looked over at his daughter, the expression in his gaze saying: You see that? Look at him, and then look at yourself.

Xiaoguang thought his mom didn’t want him because he hadn’t been good enough.
Meanwhile, Ji Yu? She thought her dad didn’t want her simply because he was bad.

My son is so considerate!

After comparing the two kids in his mind, Ji Xuan felt a bit consoled. He gently patted Xiao Ruoguang on the head. Xiao Ruoguang looked up, quickly wiped his tears with the crook of his right elbow—also trying to hide his reddened eyes—and forced a small, brave smile.

That quiet strength, the way he tried to hide his tears and only show his smile, tugged at Ji Xuan’s heart.

So he immediately said, “Mom will come home with us too.”

Xiao Ruoguang froze for a second, then slowly lowered his arm, revealing his thin little face, those disproportionately large eyes, and the streaks of tears still clinging to his cheeks.

He asked carefully, “Really?”

Ji Xuan nodded solemnly in promise.

Xiao Yu, meanwhile, chuckled and chimed in, “Oh, how could I possibly impose? But sure—the room by the window on the second floor, please! It has the best view.”

Ji Xuan: “…”

Xiao Ruoguang looked at his mom, then at his dad, and his face lit up with a bright, joyful smile.

Xiao Ruoguang looked up and asked Ji Xuan, “Does that mean… from now on, I’m a kid who has a dad too?”

Ji Xuan nodded.

Xiao Ruoguang beamed and cheerfully said, “Thank you, Ungrateful Dad.”

Ji Yu, who had been quietly watching from the side, froze. “Ungrateful?”

She glanced at Ji Xuan, then suddenly teared up. Her eyes turned red as she rushed over and shoved Xiao Ruoguang. “My dad is not ungrateful! Your mom is the one ungrateful!”

Xiao Ruoguang stumbled back and plopped onto the bed, completely confused.

“But… my mom isn’t the ungrateful. Daddy is the ungrateful.”

Mom’s name was Xiao Yu, and Dad’s name was Ungrateful, right?

Why was big sister getting so mad?

Ji Yu got even angrier. She pushed Ji Xuan aside, climbed up onto a chair, planted one hand on her hip, and pointed dramatically at Xiao Ruoguang.

“You wanna say my dad’s a ungrateful again? Say it again! I dare you—I’ll hit you!”

Xiao Ruoguang pouted, clearly feeling wronged. “Why are you hitting me? Daddy is the Ungrateful!”

“Waaah—” Ji Yu burst into tears. “You’re the Ungrateful! You are! My daddy’s not the Ungrateful!”

Ji Xuan found himself caught in the middle—trying to keep Ji Yu from falling while also attempting to calm her down. When he glanced to the side, he saw Xiao Yu watching the chaos with the expression of someone enjoying a live drama, eyes wide and clearly thinking: Wow, this is getting good!

Ji Xuan: “…” Seriously?!

Meanwhile, Xiao Ruoguang tilted his head and thoughtfully repeated, “Daddy’s the Ungrateful. I’m Daddy’s son, so that makes me the ungrateful son!”

Ji Yu froze, processing that logic. Then her face twisted—yep, still an insult to her dad. She launched herself forward again, but Ji Xuan quickly scooped her up.

Still wriggling in his arms, Ji Yu yelled, “I’m gonna hit you! I’m gonna hit you! Your mom is the Ungrateful! My daddy’s a good daddy—he’s not a Ungrateful! You’re a bad little brother! Bad!”

Xiao Ruoguang lowered his head, his voice soft and full of sadness. “I’m sorry… I’m a bad little brother.”

Ji Yu: “…”

Ji Xuan: “…”

The room suddenly fell silent, wrapped in a strange, inexplicable stillness…

=^_^=