Chapter 37

Jiang Chen found it funny that his less-than-four-year-old daughter was talking about running away from home. Did she even understand what that meant?

He found it amusing and didn’t stop her, choosing instead to watch as she tried to run away.

Jiang Chen was curious—how far away from home would she go? What was in the package she was dragging? What would she do next?

Seeing that her father didn’t say anything or try to stop her, Nian Nian grew even angrier.

She opened the door and left, dragging her package to the front door, then to the small garden in their yard where there was a patch of grass. This was Nian Nian’s chosen spot for “running away from home.”

Nian Nian opened her package. Inside was a small tent. She used to play in it with her mother, so she knew exactly how to set it up.

After a short while, Nian Nian had her tent ready.

But just a tent wasn’t enough.

She dodged her father, who was watching her, and ran back to the house.

After a few trips back and forth, Nian Nian finally gathered all the things she needed for her runaway adventure and placed them inside the tent.

When his daughter ran inside one last time, Jiang Chen peeked into her tent and found a pile of items: her small blanket and pillow, a little electric fan, a cup of water, snacks, and even a small first aid kit.

Jiang Chen: “…”

Jiang Chen nodded, pleased. It seemed his daughter knew how to take care of herself. She made sure she’d be comfortable even while running away. 

Though Nian Nian hadn’t even left the yard—she had just set up camp less than 20 meters from the house—it still counted as running away in her mind.

Jiang Chen chuckled softly, nearly melted by how cute his daughter was.

The last time Nian Nian came out of the house, she was holding one of her mother’s shirts. It smelled like her mother, and Nian Nian planned to sleep with it.

She walked around her father and entered her little tent.

“Nian Nian.” Jiang Chen called to her outside the tent.

It was quiet inside. Nian Nian was still angry and didn’t want to talk to him.

“Nian Nian, are you really going to sleep in the little tent tonight?” Jiang Chen crouched outside and spoke gently. “Daddy knows Daddy was wrong. Let’s go back inside to sleep, and Nian Nian can be mad at Daddy after Nian Nian wakes up, okay?”

Jiang Chen checked the time, worried about his daughter’s bedtime.

It was hot, and if Nian Nian really slept outside, she might get sick.

Nian Nian heard her father’s words but became even angrier. What did he mean by getting angry after waking up? How could she be mad after waking up? Anger should happen now. By tomorrow, she might forget.

Dad just wanted to trick her, but Nian Nian wouldn’t fall for it.

She snorted, “I’m sleeping here.”

“No, sleeping out here will make you sick.”

“No.” Nian Nian turned on her little fan, which blew directly on her face, keeping her cool.

Jiang Chen had no choice but to squeeze into her little tent. “Then Daddy will sleep here too.”

The tent was tiny, and with his long arms and legs, Jiang Chen took up most of the space, leaving Nian Nian squished into the corner.

“…” Nian Nian was unhappy about her space being invaded. She kicked her dad’s feet, but he playfully kicked her back.

Nian Nian was very angry.

Jiang Chen looked at her frustrated little feet and asked with a smile, “Does Nian Nian really want to sleep outside?”

“Yeah.” Nian Nian held her mother’s shirt, thinking how much better it would be if her mom were here instead of her dad.

“Alright then.” Jiang Chen got up and made a phone call. Soon, a group of people came and set up a large, luxurious tent on the lawn.

The new tent had tables, chairs, a bed, and even electricity. Twinkling lights were hung around, like little stars.

Nian Nian loved this tent.

“Nian Nian, come inside,” Jiang Chen waved from the grand tent. “This one has everything. Now it’s yours.”

Nian Nian wanted to move in, but that would mean admitting defeat.

Seeing her hesitate, Jiang Chen revealed his trump card—a large telescope.

It was a professional astronomical telescope with a sleek white body. Nian Nian was instantly drawn to it.

She ran over without hesitation.

Seeing that his plan worked, Jiang Chen adjusted the telescope for her height and taught her how to use it.

Through the telescope, Nian Nian saw countless stars and moving nebulae… it was breathtaking!

“Okay, Nian Nian, it’s time to sleep,” Jiang Chen said after she’d been observing for a while. “You can use the telescope anytime, there’s no rush.”

“Okay.” Nian Nian was getting sleepy but didn’t want to go back home just yet. She ran into the big tent and lay down on the bed. “Nian Nian will sleep here.”

“Okay.” Jiang Chen readily agreed.

He planned to move her back inside once she fell asleep.

Nian Nian closed her eyes, feeling content. Even though her dad sometimes made her mad, he wasn’t so bad after all. She still liked him a little bit.

Jiang Chen watched as his daughter slowly drifted off. Standing outside the tent, he texted his wife, telling her not to worry.

Shen Mingyou quickly replied to his message.

[Shen Mingyou: Did Nian Nian cry today?]

[Shen Mingyou: What did Nian Nian eat for dinner?]  

[Shen Mingyou: Nian Nian]

Seeing his wife post several messages in a row, Jiang Chen knew she was worried, so he reassured her: “Don’t worry, Nian Nian is fine. When you come back, I will make sure you have a healthy Nian Nian.”

But when Jiang Chen returned to the tent and was about to take his daughter home, he saw that the half-asleep Nian Nian was being bitten by two mosquitoes, leaving small red spots on her eyelids and face.

Nian Nian, who was almost asleep, was woken up by the bites. She raised her hand and began to scratch her face.

“Nian Nian, don’t scratch.” Jiang Chen rushed over, picked her up, and carried her home.

Children’s skin is delicate, and soon a small bump appeared on Nian Nian’s eyelid.

Jiang Chen found some medicine for her and noticed several small red spots on her face, with her eyelid particularly swollen.

Worried, unsure whether it was a bug or mosquito bite, he called their family doctor.

“Nian Nian, does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Nian Nian said, scratching again. “But it’s itchy.”

“Even if it’s itchy, you can’t scratch it.” Jiang Chen gently took her hand away. Seeing her pitiful look, he sighed. If he’d known, he would have just given her the instant noodles. Better that than having these bites.

“Nian Nian, I’m sorry.” Jiang Chen held her close, stroking her back. “Dad didn’t take good care of you. I’m sorry.”

Nian Nian buried her head in his arms. She sensed her father was upset. Imitating him, she patted his back and said, “It’s okay.”

Jiang Chen smiled and kissed her on the cheek.