Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
Advance chapters available for patrons on Patreon. And a chapter can be sponsored by buying me a ko-fi.
Ji Yan received a phone call at noon from Teacher Su Yue. Her voice was urgent, almost tearful.
“Commander Ji, Xiao Zhuo is missing! We can’t find him anywhere.”
Ji Yan’s expression tightened. “When did he disappear? Was he alone?”
“No, no, he disappeared with Wen Nuo. He was there at lunchtime, but when it was time for nap time, he was gone. We’ve been searching all this time, but we haven’t found him. We called Xiao Zhuo’s mother, but no one answered. We even went to your house and knocked on the door, but no one was home. Wen Nuo’s mother said she didn’t see him either. We really don’t know where the child went!”
Hearing that he disappeared with Wen Nuo, Ji Yan began to ponder. Ji Xiaozhuo was a sensible child, at least most of the time. He would never run off and worry adults unless there was something important.
If there was anything important recently… it was Tang Tang’s illness.
Ji Yan guessed where the little guy had gone.
So, Ji Yan went home during her lunch break. When he opened the door, it was quiet inside, as if no one was there. However, upon opening the bedroom door, he saw the two little ones sleeping peacefully beside Tang Tang, each holding one of her hands, quietly keeping her company without waking her.
This scene made Ji Yan feel both angry and loving.
Ji Yan quietly went out to call the teacher to inform them and asked the two little ones for the afternoon off. Then he went back into the bedroom and stood by the bed, watching the two children.
The two little ones’ eyes widened at the sight of Ji Yan’s return. Wen Nuo immediately jumped out of bed, her hands clasped together, head bowed in anxiety. Ji Xiaozhuo, after his initial surprise, immediately changed his tune, grinning obsequiously at Ji Yan, his voice sweet and adorable, “Daddy, you’re back!”
Ji Yan pointed at him, then at the door, and stepped out first.
Ji Xiaozhuo’s eyes darted around. After getting out of bed, he put on his own shoes first, then took Wen Nuo’s shoes and put them on for her. Seeing her frightened and bewildered expression, he patted her head reassuringly, “It’s okay, I’m here! This was all my idea, it’s not your fault, my dad won’t punish you.”
Wen Nuo immediately shook her head. She was also at fault and needed to be punished; he shouldn’t be the only one punished.
“Alright, alright, don’t worry with me here, a real man.” Ji Xiaozhuo said as he took Wen Nuo’s hand and led her out, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.
Ji Yan sat on the sofa, with Ji Xiaozhuo and Wen Nuo standing in front of him, both bowing their heads in a gesture of repentance. Of course, Wen Nuo was genuinely repentant, while Ji Xiaozhuo was only pretending.
When Ji Xiaozhuo did something wrong, he liked to pre-emptively apologize, so before Ji Yan could even ask, he proactively admitted his mistake: “Dad, I’m sorry, we were wrong, but I wanted to come back to see Mom. Mom was sleeping all day yesterday and hasn’t spoken to me for two days. I miss Mom so much.”
Ji Yan knew his tricks all too well. “Do you know how worried the teacher will be if you sneak out like this? Ji Xiaozhuo, your behavior was irresponsible.”
Ji Xiaozhuo bit his lip, this time genuinely admitting his mistake. “I’m sorry, Dad, punish me, but don’t punish Nuo Nuo. Nuo Nuo was instructed by me; she was forced.”
Upon hearing this, Wen Nuo hurriedly shook her head frantically. She was wrong too; she wasn’t forced.
Ha, quite the hero, but it was obvious this was Ji Xiaozhuo’s idea. Wen Nuo wouldn’t dare do it herself. This kid had corrupted that well-behaved little girl!
“You’ll definitely be punished, but before I do, tell me how you escaped?” The kindergarten doors were always locked during class time, and the locks were too high for a child to reach.
Ji Xiaozhuo, being very obedient, immediately recounted his “escape” in detail. “I checked, the teacher just hangs the lock on, but doesn’t know how to lock it. I picked up Nuo Nuo and let her open the door. After opening it, I hung the lock back on, and then we came back.”
This kid… Ji Yan was too lazy to ask any more questions and simply said, “Fine, since you accept the punishment, write a 100-word apology. Use pinyin for words you don’t know how to write. Give me one copy tomorrow, and give your teacher another.”
“Okay, Dad.”
“And, starting today, add one lap to your morning running laps.”
“Okay, Dad.”
“Lastly, no snacks for the next three months.” Snacks were the key to controlling him.
“…” Ji Xiaozhuo froze, revealing a look of utter despair.
Seeing Ji Xiaozhuo so heartbroken, Wen Nuo was extremely worried. She glanced at the expressionless Ji Yan, her heart trembling. Although terrified, she mustered her courage and stepped forward, gently shaking Ji Yan’s sleeve with pleading eyes, begging him not to punish Ji Xiaozhuo.
Ji Yan’s sleeve was grasped and shaken by those small hands, and seeing those watery eyes softened even his hard heart. This was an emotion he never showed towards Ji Xiaozhuo; his whining and pleas were completely useless against him.
Could this be the difference between a son and a daughter? If this little girl were his own daughter, he probably wouldn’t be able to bear punishing her like this…
“Alright, for Nuo Nuo’s sake, I won’t punish you with the last one.” Ji Yan cancelled the punishment without any principles.
Ji Xiaozhuo’s eyes widened in surprise, a mixture of doubt, disbelief, astonishment, and joy flashing across them before finally settling on Wen Nuo with admiration.
Wen Nuo smiled faintly, her eyes curving into crescents. This smile immediately made Ji Xiaozhuo laugh, forgetting everything else. He patted her head with delight, his eyes sparkling as if to say, “See? With me here, everything’s fine, right?”
This smug look made Ji Yan want to punch him. It seemed he couldn’t be too lenient with him. He simply pointed to the corner: “Although the last rule can be waived, you need to stand facing the wall for half an hour!”
“Ah…” Ji Xiaozhuo’s smug smile froze on his face. Confirming his father was serious, he sighed, turned, and slowly walked to the corner, standing facing the wall with practiced ease.
Seeing this, Wen Nuo followed and stood beside Ji Xiaozhuo, standing facing the wall with him.
Ji Xiaozhuo frowned and gave her a meaningful look: “Why are you coming over here? I’m not punishing you, hurry up and leave.”
Wen Nuo gently shook her head, resolutely standing with him.
“You’re disobedient!” Ji Xiaozhuo pretended to be angry, trying to scare Wen Nuo away.
But Wen Nuo still shook her head and wouldn’t leave.
In the end, Ji Xiaozhuo had no choice; girls were just hard to deal with.
Ji Yan looked at the two little ones’ shared hardship and the corners of her mouth slightly curled up.
“Oh, what’s going on? Why are these two kids at home?” The regimental commander’s wife, who had come home to get some soup, saw the two little ones standing facing the wall in punishment as soon as she returned.
“They secretly ran back to see Tang Tang, so they stayed home this afternoon. Sister-in-law, you should go home and rest this afternoon and let these two little ones watch over them.” Seeing that it was getting late, Ji Yan got up and walked out, not paying attention to the two little ones still standing in punishment.
“Okay, I’m here. You go about your business.” The regimental commander’s wife saw Ji Yan leave and walked up to the two little ones with a smile. “Were you punished?”
Ji Xiaozhuo winked at her.
“See if you dare run off again next time.” The regimental commander’s wife patted his head. “Alright, your father’s gone, you don’t need to stand there anymore.”
Ji Xiaozhuo shook his head. “No, Dad said I have to stand for half an hour. A man can’t lie.”
“You know this principle?” The regimental commander’s wife was amused by him. “Okay then, you’re a little man, so you stand for the full half hour. Nuo Nuo is a little girl, she doesn’t have to stand.”
Ji Xiaozhuo nodded, but Wen Nuo Nuo shook her head.
“Wen Nuo Nuo, if you don’t listen to me, I won’t like you anymore!” Ji Xiaozhuo threatened the little girl with his puffed-up cheeks.
The little girl was a little scared, but she still stood stubbornly, only reaching out to tug at his sleeve, trying to calm him down.
Ji Xiaozhuo’s puffed-up anger dissipated immediately. “Why are you so stubborn? What will you do without me? You’re such a worry~”
Wen Nuo grinned sweetly.
The team leader’s wife couldn’t help but chuckle, finding the two children quite amusing. Not wanting to disturb their shared hardship, she went into the room and woke Tang Tang to come out for some soup. Tang Tang was startled when she came out, and after figuring out what was going on, she was both amused and exasperated. She deliberately drank her soup very slowly, and by the time they finished, their “wall-facing time” was over.
Ji Xiaozhuo immediately ran to Tang Tang, throwing himself into her arms and snuggling against her affectionately, “Mommy, I missed you so much!”
Tang Tang kissed him on the forehead, “Mommy missed you too.”
“Mommy, you can’t get sick anymore, okay? I was so worried.”
“Okay, Mommy won’t get sick anymore, Mommy will always be strong and healthy.”
After being mistreated by his father, Ji Xiaozhuo felt incredibly comforted by his mother’s gentleness. So he snuggled against Tang Tang like a little piglet, making Tang Tang ticklish.
Tang Tang noticed Wen Nuo standing nearby, watching them intently, and beckoned to her, “Nuo Nuo, come here!”
Wen Nuo immediately went over, and Tang Tang pulled her into a hug, kissing her on the forehead. “Thank you, Nuo Nuo, for coming to see Auntie. Nuo Nuo is such a good girl.”
Wen Nuo’s eyes narrowed into crescent moons, and she rummaged in her pocket, suddenly pulling out a piece of candy and handing it to Tang Tang.
Tang Tang was surprised, “Is this for Auntie?”
Wen Nuo nodded.
Not wanting to refuse the child’s kindness, Tang Tang took it. “Thank you, Nuo Nuo.”
The little girl was even happier, her white teeth shining brightly.
After the two little ones went to assemble the model, the regimental commander’s wife sighed, “This little girl is so well-behaved, but she’s stuck with such a family. In a normal family, which parent wouldn’t raise her like a little princess?”
Tang Tang agreed. Who could argue with that? So obedient and smart; if she were her own little daughter, she would absolutely spoil her rotten.
“Look at the little girl’s clothes! They’re clearly not right. They could fit two little girls in them! Couldn’t they have bought something that fit better? Doesn’t Wen Changyi care? Isn’t this his own flesh and blood?!” The regimental commander’s wife was particularly angry; she couldn’t bear to see children suffer.
Wen Nuo’s clothes weren’t bad, they were even brand names, but they didn’t fit properly. They hung loosely on her, especially the pants, which kept slipping down, the cuffs rolled up. Even her shoes didn’t fit; they would easily fall off if she walked fast. Compared to the well-dressed, chubby Ji Xiaozhuo, the little girl looked even more pitiful.
Guys, ads are my only source of revenue, so please do not turn on the AdBlock when you are accessing this website…. Thank you, this would be a great help…
You can buy me a ko-fi and sponsor a chapter on: https://ko-fi.com/midnightrambles
Or become a Patron on: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=45665005
If you support me, I would be able to provide more chapters….
