“What do you mean she wouldn’t have really hurt you?”
Wen Ci narrowed her eyes in anger, gritting her teeth. “Huo Jingyuan, are you an idiot? Next time you’re in that situation, I beg you—just counter and restrain them immediately.”
Hearing the reprimanding tone in Wen Ci’s voice, Huo Jingyuan nodded.
Before, he had been alone, unafraid to risk his life in a one-for-one exchange.
But now, things were different.
He had Wen Ci.
Before they could finish their meal, Wen Ci heard the chattering voices of children outside the courtyard. She glanced at the food that had gone cold on the table and sighed softly. “Go reheat the dishes in the kitchen. I’ll open the door for the kids.”
“Alright.”
Wen Ci got up from her chair and went to the courtyard entrance. When she opened the door, she saw Xiang Qin standing there with several children. Xiang Qin smiled and said, “I’ll have to trouble you to watch over them for a bit.”
Wen Ci’s gaze fell on the little ones.
Boys who attended school tended to get dirty—it was normal for them to come home covered in dust after a full day of classes.
But Xiao Pihou and the others were obviously freshly bathed, wearing clean clothes. Ah Hua’s hair even looked slightly damp.
“Sister Qin, why are you going to such lengths?”
Water was scarce in the Northwestern Military District, and taking a bath was a hassle. Even she only managed to bathe every two or three days, wiping herself down in between.
Xiang Qin laughed awkwardly.
Wen Ci continued, “They can’t take a bath every time they come over, can they? What about you adults—won’t you run out of water?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Wen Ci’s eyes curved into a smile. “Sister Qin, why don’t you come in and sit for a while?”
“No need.” Xiang Qin quickly declined, pointing toward the residential buildings. “Quite a few families have just moved in, so we’re helping them settle in. I’ll come by later to pick up the kids.”
As the saying goes—
Distant relatives aren’t as reliable as close neighbors.
Having good neighbors was always a blessing.
“Do you need my help?” Wen Ci asked.
“No need.”
After a brief chat, Xiang Qin left with peace of mind.
Wen Ci took Xiao Shitou’s hand in her left and Ah Hua’s in her right, while Ah Wang followed behind Xiao Pihou.
Xiao Shitou asked in his soft, childlike voice, “Brother Yuan said that the pretty sister’s house has a scary uncle.”
Xiao Pihou’s (Little Monkey) full name was Li Tianyuan.
Wen Ci’s lips curled into a smile.
So she was the “pretty sister,” and Huo Jingyuan was the “scary uncle.”
Her gaze shifted toward the man in the living room, who was busy reheating their meal. Wen Ci put a finger to her lips and whispered, “Don’t let the scary uncle hear us talking about him behind his back.”
The children immediately nodded with serious expressions.
Seeing this, Wen Ci couldn’t stop laughing.
At that moment, a tall figure leaned against the doorway of the inner room.
Huo Jingyuan fixed his gaze on Wen Ci, who was laughing uncontrollably, his brows slightly raised.
Without making a sound, he mouthed, “What’s so funny?”
Wen Ci shook her head and mimicked him, silently responding, “None of your business!”
She set the children up with an episode of Seven-Colored Deer.
The program replayed daily, and they had arrived just in time for the beginning.
“Have you eaten yet?” Wen Ci asked.
Since Huo Jingyuan had reheated their meal, if the kids hadn’t eaten, they could join them at the table.
“We ate~”
Wen Ci nodded. “Alright, then watch TV like good kids.”
With that, she returned to the dining table.
Since her previous seat faced away from the television, she simply sat beside Huo Jingyuan and lowered her voice to ask, “How many kids do you think we should have?”
“One.”
Huo Jingyuan lowered his gaze.
He didn’t care for boys. Having a daughter would be enough.
“You favor sons over daughters?!”
Huo Jingyuan wrapped his arm around Wen Ci’s slender waist, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, “What do you mean favoring sons over daughters? I only like daughters.”
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