Extra 7

This translation is by Pocketrobbin at S h a n g h a i f a n t a s y . c o m

With the excellent genes inherited from both Duan Jiaxu and Sang Zhi, little Duan Musang was born extraordinarily beautiful. Her round face was adorned with a pair of bright, peach-blossom eyes, and when she smiled, two dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth.

She looked like a little angel sent from heaven.

Aside from the dimples near her mouth, most of Duan Musang’s features resembled Duan Jiaxu’s, but they were softer and more childlike. It was just as Duan Jiaxu had joked before— “If I were a woman, I’d probably be quite pretty.”

Perhaps to demonstrate fairness, Duan Musang’s personality was no different from Sang Zhi’s when she was a child. She was smart, mischievous, and full of quirks. She often bullied the boys in her class and had her parents summoned by the teacher every few weeks for getting into fights— though she never cried unless she lost.

That day, Sang Zhi received a call from the teacher. Learning that Duan Musang had gotten into another fight with a classmate, she sighed, called Duan Jiaxu, and then drove to the kindergarten.

It was already time for school to let out and most of the children had been picked up by their parents. Only Duan Musang and her long-time ‘rival’, Fu Zuo, were left standing side by side, having just finished their brawl.

This was such a common occurrence that Sang Zhi wasn’t too worried, just particularly headache-ridden. But to her surprise, Duan Musang had actually shed tears this time.

At that moment, Duan Musang had her head down, her eyes red, and she wasn’t saying a word, looking particularly pitiful. Fu Zuo, standing beside her with a taut face, couldn’t help but comment, “What are you crying about, Duan Musang?”

Hearing his words, Duan Musang’s eyes immediately welled up with big teardrops and she burst into loud sobs, “Wahhhh…… S-so embarrassing…… I…… wahhh……”

The teacher quickly tried to soothe her.

Sang Zhi walked over, gently patting both children’s heads, and asked, “What happened?”

The teacher helplessly explained, “We had an art class today. Xiao Zuo drew a dog, and Sangsang saw it and said it wasn’t a dog but a self-portrait of Fu Zuo. They argued for a while, and then it turned into a fight.”

“……” Of course, this little girl was the one to start trouble again.

Fu Zuo earnestly added, “I didn’t hit her. I just dodged. She fell on her own.”

“Why did you dodge?!” Duan Musang cried indignantly and said like a little bully, “You should have stood there and let— let me hit you!”

Sang Zhi: “……”

Not long after, Fu Zuo’s parents arrived as well. Both sides’ parents half-scolded and half-coaxed the two children into apologizing to each other, shaking hands, and hugging to show they were friends again.

Afterward, Sang Zhi took the still teary-eyed Duan Musang by the hand and led her out of the kindergarten. Sang Zhi didn’t rush to get in the car. Instead, she adjusted her emotions, put on a stern face, and began to lecture her daughter, “Duan Musang, hasn’t Mom told you not to bully other kids?”

Duan Musang slowly raised her head, her little round face showing a serious expression, not the least bit guilty. She rubbed her eyes and said in her childish voice, “Uncle^[1]mother’s brother told me before that Mom used to bully other kids as well every day when you were little.”

“……” Sang Zhi held back the urge to call and scold Sang Yan, and patiently said, “But Mom knows it was wrong now. I haven’t done it since, and I don’t bully anyone anymore.”

Duan Musang shook her head and replied in the same sweet voice, “Mom still bullies Uncle all the time.” After thinking for a moment, she obediently added, “When Sangsang gets to Mom’s age, Sangsang won’t bully anyone either.”

Sang Zhi was silent for a few seconds. She didn’t bother arguing further and asked, “Why do you always bully other kids?”

After speaking with the two children, Sang Zhi had a good idea of what had happened. This time, they hadn’t actually fought. Duan Musang had just fallen on her own and assumed she had lost. She cried because of that.

Hearing it, Sang Zhi also couldn’t help but feel both exasperated and amused.

“Sangsang didn’t bully other kids.” Duan Musang said innocently. “Sangsang only bully Fu Zuo.”

“Why do you always pick on Fu Zuo?”

Duan Musang blinked her big eyes and said seriously, “Because Sangsang is going to marry Fu Zuo when I grow up.”

Sang Zhi was stunned for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh. “Sangsang is going to marry Fu Zuo?”

Duan Musang nodded enthusiastically. “Mm!”

“But if you’re always so mean and bully him, aren’t you afraid he won’t want to marry you?”

“Then—, then—” Duan Musang tilted her head, thought about it, and said in her soft little voice, “Then Sangsang will keep hitting him until he agrees!”

“……” This girl sounded like a little villainess.

Sang Zhi bent down slightly, squeezed Duan Musang’s chubby hand, and was about to say more but decided to leave the tough part to Duan Jiaxu. She lifted Duan Musang into the car, secured her in the child seat, and returned to the driver’s seat. “Sangsang, we’re going home.”

Duan Musang played with her fingers, nodding vigorously like a little chick pecking at rice. “Mm! Going home!”

Sang Zhi continued, “When your dad gets home, you have to admit your mistake, okay?”

Hearing that, Duan Musang immediately raised her head, her little cheeks puffing up like a steamed bun. Her short legs dangled as she looked reluctant. “Do I have to tell Dad?”

Sang Zhi answered, “Yes, let your dad teach you a lesson.”

Duan Musang’s eyes widened. “But Mom, you have to help me!”

Sang Zhi glanced back at her daughter and cleared her throat, feigning indifference. “Mom’s afraid of your dad too.”

When I was ten years older than you, I was still being treated like a child by your dad.

———pr


Not long after they got home, Duan Jiaxu returned from work.

Duan Musang loved sticking close to her father, but when she’d done something wrong, she was terrified he would find out. Even though Duan Jiaxu wasn’t particularly harsh when he scolded her, he always looked a little scary. She quickly crawled out from her pile of toys and obediently walked over, calling out sweetly, “Dad.”

Duan Jiaxu looked down, ruffled her hair, then crouched down with a smile and asked, “What did Sangsang do at school today?”

“……” Duan Musang didn’t know how to answer and immediately put her hands behind her back, instinctively looking at Sang Zhi.

Sang Zhi took Duan Jiaxu’s bag and told Duan Musang, “Sangsang, tell your dad properly.”

Duan Jiaxu and Sang Zhi exchanged glances. He chuckled softly and kissed Sang Zhi’s cheek before heading to the bedroom to change clothes. He came back out shortly after, picked up Duan Musang, and walked to the couch, speaking gently, “Can’t you tell Dad?”

Duan Musang wrapped her arms around his neck. “I can……”

Duan Jiaxu patiently asked, “What did Sangsang do today?”

Duan Musang lowered her head in defeat and glanced at Sang Zhi again with a bit of unease in her eyes as if asking for her to stay close. Eventually, the three of them sat on the couch, and the little girl began confessing what had happened at school.

These ‘little meetings’ had happened many times in their household. It was always Duan Musang speaking, Duan Jiaxu playing the bad cop, and Sang Zhi helping smooth things over.

At the end, Duan Musang patted her chest with her chubby little hand and seriously promised, “Okay, Sangsang promises Mom and Dad that I won’t bully Fu Zuo anymore.”

Sang Zhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But soon, Duan Musang quickly added, “I’ll tell him tomorrow that as long as he doesn’t like other girls, doesn’t like Xiaoli or Huahua, I won’t bully him.”

“…..”

Duan Jiaxu couldn’t help but laugh. He turned his head to look at Sang Zhi, then leaned in closer and said, “Our little girl is a bit different from you in some ways.”

Sang Zhi was stunned. “Huh?”

“Look at how bold she is, liking a little boy so openly.” Duan Jiaxu drawled teasingly, “Why are you so awkward?”

“……” Sang Zhi glanced at him, stayed silent for a few seconds, and acted like she hadn’t heard him. She kept her eyes on Duan Musang, maintaining her parental tone as she softly said, “Sangsang, what you’re saying still counts as bullying Fu Zuo. That’s not right.”

Duan Musang innocently responded, “But Sangsang has to stop Fu Zuo from liking other girls.”

Duan Jiaxu asked, “Does Fu Zuo like spending time with Sangsang?”

Hearing the question, Duan Musang thought seriously for a moment and quickly said, “Sangsang doesn’t know.”

“Then why don’t you ask Fu Zuo tomorrow?” Duan Jiaxu smiled. “Bring him a snack and apologize sincerely. Ask if he likes playing with you and tell him you’d like to keep playing together. How about that?”

Duan Musang obediently replied, “Okay!”

Duan Jiaxu pinched her cheek and asked, “Does it still hurt from your fall today, Sangsang?”

“It hurts a little.” Duan Musang lifted her foot and showed her chubby leg. “But there were mats at kindergarten so there’s no wound and it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“As long as you’re not hurt.” Duan Jiaxu said gently. “Sangsang, when you fell, it hurt, right? So, if you bully Fu Zuo by pushing or hitting him, it will hurt him too.”

Duan Musang paused, then let out a dazed, “Ah.”

“So, will you still bully Fu Zuo from now on?” Duan Jiaxu asked.

Duan Musang quickly shook her head.

Sang Zhi watched the father and daughter’s interaction from the side and, inexplicably, recalled how back in middle school, she had lied about an online crush to hide her little secret from Duan Jiaxu. Because of that, she had also been taught a lesson by him.

He always used that gentle, non-threatening way of explaining things, making it easy for the other person to listen.

After the ‘little meeting’ ended, Duan Musang dove back into her pile of toys, playing with a newly bought doll. Duan Jiaxu and Sang Zhi sat in silence for a while.

Sang Zhi took a sip of water and quietly said, “You used to reason with me the same way.”

Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“Back then, I thought, ‘How does this person talk just like my dad?’” Sang Zhi muttered. “You’re the same age as my brother, but you acted more like my dad, even more than my dad did.”

Duan Jiaxu was stunned for a couple of seconds before he burst out laughing. “What kind of nonsense is that?”

“I’m not talking nonsense. A friend once told me, ‘Your husband treats you like he’s raising a child.’” Sang Zhi rested her chin on her hand, looking at Duan Musang. “So when I saw you reasoning with Sangsang just now, I thought it was kind of peculiar.”

Duan Jiaxu asked, “What’s so peculiar about it?”

Sang Zhi tilted her head, half-jokingly saying, “It’s like the little one went from being my daughter to my sister.”

“That’s about right.” Duan Jiaxu chuckled. “I’m basically raising two kids, aren’t I?”

Sang Zhi blinked, not saying anything.

The living room fell quiet again, the only sound being the faint clinking of Duan Musang playing with her blocks. As if he was deep in thought, Duan Jiaxu suddenly smiled.

“Actually, it’s kind of similar.” He said out of nowhere.

Hearing him, Sang Zhi looked over. “What is?”

Duan Jiaxu’s bright peach-blossom eyes sparkled as he recalled an old memory. “What our little girl said about threatening that boy…… It reminds me of how you used to tell me not to date other girls or you’d be tempted to date someone yourself.”

“…..”

He leaned closer to Sang Zhi, his warm breath brushing her ear as he said in a low, husky voice, “Did you teach her that?”

Sang Zhi instantly remembered all the silly things she’d done in her youth and her ears burned. She pushed Duan Jiaxu away, refusing to admit it. “When did I ever say something like that?”

Duan Jiaxu teased, “You didn’t?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“You did say,” Duan Jiaxu suddenly shifted the topic, “that your online crush was ugly.”

“…..”

“Didn’t you also cry because he was ugly?”

Sang Zhi abruptly stood up, planning to join Duan Musang in play and pretend she hadn’t heard anything. She acted as though she didn’t know what he was talking about. But in the next moment, Duan Jiaxu grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms. “Take a closer look.”

She held her breath and looked up at his face.

“Is he really ugly?”

“…..”

“Do you want to learn from your daughter?” Duan Jiaxu’s voice was filled with laughter, his tone intimate and teasing, “Say a few harsh words to your ‘ugly online crush’ and threaten him not to like anyone else, or you’ll beat him up.”

Sang Zhi stared at him, and after a long while, she managed to squeeze out a response, “Does he dare?”

Duan Jiaxu kissed her lightly on the eyes. “He wouldn’t dare.”

“I don’t even dare to threaten him.” Sang Zhi muttered, “I’m afraid he’d scold me……” She paused, then naturally added, “So, how about you help me threaten him?”

Duan Jiaxu pondered for a moment, then said thoughtfully, “That works.”

Sang Zhi pinched his cheek and, smiling mischievously, asked, “What are you going to threaten him with?”

“I’ll threaten him,” Duan Jiaxu said lazily, letting her pinch him, “that if he doesn’t treat our Zhizhi well, I’ll take both his wife and daughter for myself.”

“…..”



—End—