I Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder, Only to be Desired by the Dragon King - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Farewell — If you’re not coming, then don’t! It’s no big deal! After all…

As the sunset dyed the grey bricks of the manor courtyard in warm gold, Feng Xiuyan walked ahead carrying the bamboo basket, while Shen Youqing followed behind, dangling a wildflower from his mouth.

The moment they stepped through the gate, they heard the soft quacking from the pond—the duckling was circling Little Black.

“Put the basket here first!” Shen Youqing ran ahead, squatting by the pond to tease the duckling before pointing to a corner of the yard. “Let’s build it here. It’s close to the pond, so it’s easy for the little ducky to go for a swim.”

The corner was next to a willow tree, providing shade without being too far from the water. The location was perfect.

Feng Xiuyan set down the basket and took out the split bamboo. Just as he was about to start, Shen Youqing leaned in, clutching two thin bamboo sticks. “I’ve checked! To build a shed, you have to start with the frame. We’ll use four thick pieces as pillars and thin ones as cross-supports. Tie them tight and it’ll be solid!”

He stood on his tiptoes to measure the height. “It doesn’t need to be too high, just enough for the ducky to get in. If it’s too high, it won’t block the wind.”

Feng Xiuyan didn’t argue. Following the instructions, he selected the four thickest pieces, dug shallow holes in the corner, and set the pillars upright. Shen Youqing squatted nearby, handing over the tools for binding while rambling incessantly: “Move it a bit to the left! Yes, another half inch! Symmetry makes it look better!”

He was so busy talking that he didn’t pay attention when handing over the rope. He accidentally looped it around his own wrist, and when he pulled, it tightened…

Seeing this, Feng Xiuyan set down the bamboo, leaned over, and untied the hemp rope for him, whispering only two words: “Slow down.”

“I know, I know!” Shen Youqing’s cheeks flushed pink as he handed the rope back. Watching Feng Xiuyan bind the supports to the pillars with such efficient movements, he couldn’t help but praise: “You’re so good at tying knots!”

Feng Xiuyan didn’t respond, but his ear tips warmed slightly. He secretly channeled a bit of spiritual energy into the bamboo frame to make the pieces fit tighter, ensuring the wind wouldn’t blow it over later.

Once the frame was done, Shen Youqing ran to fetch the old clothes and hay they had prepared, lining the inside of the bamboo frame. “Make the bottom soft so the ducky sleeps comfortably!”

Feng Xiuyan watched him squatting on the ground, carefully leveling the hay and smoothing out the corners of the old clothes. A touch of softness flickered in his eyes.

When the last bit of hay was laid, Shen Youqing stood up and dusted his hands. “Done! Let’s let the little ducky try it out!”

He ran to the pond and gently picked up the duckling. “Come on, Little Dad will show you your new home.” He carefully placed the bird inside. “Do you like it? Your Big Dad built this for you, you know.”

The duckling turned in circles on the soft hay and quacked happily, clearly satisfied.

“Look! He likes it!” Shen Youqing excitedly grabbed Feng Xiuyan’s sleeve. The sunset fell on his face, making the fine hairs on his skin glow with a warm light.

Feng Xiuyan looked at the hay in the shed, then at Shen Youqing’s sparkling eyes, and gave a soft “Mm.”

Shen Youqing squatted by the pen and poked the duckling’s back. The little guy was curiously pecking at the hay on the bamboo frame; instead of hiding, it tilted its head to peck at his fingertip, its soft flat beak tickling him.

“Hehe, you better thank your Big Dad!” Shen Youqing’s eyes curved into crescents, his voice turning soft and sweet. “He was your laborer all day today!” He paused and patted his own chest. “As for me, your Little Dad, I wasn’t idle either. Commanding with one’s mouth is very exhausting too, hahaha!”

This joke made him burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking.

Standing nearby, Feng Xiuyan felt his brow twitch when he heard “Big Dad” and “Little Dad.” The kid had been muttering those terms all day; he hadn’t understood them, but now it seemed the boy had included both of them in the family.

He finally couldn’t resist asking, his voice tinged with a need for clarity: “What exactly do you mean by ‘Big Dad’ and ‘Little Dad’?”

“Huh?” Shen Youqing looked up and met Feng Xiuyan’s confused gaze. Realizing the man had never heard the terms, he waved his hand. “Oh! It’s what you call ‘Father’ here!”

“Father?!” Feng Xiuyan’s misty blue pupils constricted. His face was a mask of pure disbelief. So he, the Great Dragon King, had been designated as the father of a wild duck by this child?

“Yeah!” Shen Youqing didn’t notice the shock. He stood up and approached Feng Xiuyan, standing on his tiptoes to compare their heights. Even on tiptoe, he only reached the man’s ears, so he slumped back down in defeat. “Look, I found the ducky first, then you caught it, and today we built the house together. It’s like we co-adopted it!”

He lifted his chin proudly. “And look at the height—you’re so much taller than me and look older, so you’re Big Dad and I’m Little Dad! Hehe, makes sense, right?”

Feng Xiuyan opened his mouth to protest—Who wants to be a duck’s father with you?—but Shen Youqing’s eyes lit up as he threw out an even more ridiculous claim.

“Oh! Not just the ducky. Little White and Little Black are my sons too! According to the order they arrived, Little White is the eldest, Little Black is the second, and the ducky is the third!”

Feng Xiuyan: “…”

He fell completely silent, though a vein in his temple throbbed. No wonder the first time he met this kid, the boy called himself “Daddy” to the pond. At the time, he thought…

It turned out this kid had wanted to be his father from the very beginning!

…

As twilight crept over the courtyard walls, Shen Youqing was squatting by the duck pen feeding the duckling green leaves when a servant hurried over with an envelope. The corners were embossed with gold and it bore the wax seal of the Shen family—a letter from the capital.

He wiped the juice from his hands and opened it. The moment his eyes landed on the words “Set out for the capital tomorrow,” he froze.

It wasn’t until the servant softly reminded him, “Young Master, the Old Master is waiting for your reply,” that he snapped out of his daze. “It’s been a month already…”

From the initial awkwardness of arrival to slowly getting to know everyone, raising fish and ducks… the days had flown by.

“The time is so tight…” Shen Youqing’s brow furrowed. If he was leaving, he had to say goodbye properly; he couldn’t just vanish. He called out to the servant: “Go and pass word. Tell everyone to come to my courtyard for dinner tonight.”

“Yes, sir.”

Feng Xiuyan didn’t visit often; sometimes he’d only drop by every two or three days to see the duckling. As for the others, though they didn’t play with him much, they never missed a day of helping with the pond water.

Shen Youqing looked at the duck pen and felt a bit of relief. He’d use this meal to get everyone together as a farewell banquet. His month here wouldn’t have been in vain.

He clutched the letter and walked to the pond. The evening breeze carried a chill. Seeing him approach, Little Black wagged its tail and swam to the edge. Shen Youqing squatted down and poked its slippery back. “Little Black, do you want to go to the capital with me?”

As soon as he said it, he shook his head. “Forget it. Stay here with Little White… if we both leave, he’ll be so lonely in the pond by himself.”

He stayed by the pond for a long time, watching the sunset turn the water orange. The weeds swayed, but Little White’s silver figure never appeared. “Sigh, I’ll see you next time I’m back.”

He stood up and dusted his pants. It was late; the carriage for the capital was coming at 8:00 AM. He needed to pack. He didn’t have much—just a few robes and a small cloth pouch containing a bit of the duckling’s fluff he’d found while changing the hay.

Soon he was packed, but he felt like something was missing. He went back to the duck pen with fresh leaves. “Little ducky, Little Dad is going back to the capital tomorrow. You have to eat well at home. No bullying Little White or Little Black, hear me?”

The duckling pecked at the leaves, quacking happily, completely unaware of the boy’s melancholy. Shen Youqing stroked its back. “And listen to Big Dad. If he comes to add hay, don’t peck his hand…”

His heart felt heavy. If he left, who would feed the fish every day? Who would check the duck pen for drafts? His “grandfather” would probably send servants, but they cared more about Little White than him. And Feng Xiuyan? He was the Big Dad; surely he’d visit often.

He leaned against the gate, looking toward the courtyard where Feng Xiuyan lived. His heart felt strangely empty. Feng Xiuyan hadn’t come for three days. What was he so busy with?

…

By 7:00 PM, the darkness had fully settled. Two lanterns were hung in the yard, casting warm light on the ground as the scent of food filled the air.

Yuan Yajun, Su Yao, and Wen Shubai arrived, though Li Beicheng was absent. They soon learned Shen Youqing was leaving, and it hit them that the one-month assessment was nearly over. They sat around the circular table, clinking wine cups, the atmosphere lively but tinged with the quiet of parting.

But Shen Youqing didn’t join the excitement. He kept glancing out the window. The sky was pitch black and most of the food had been eaten, yet someone still hadn’t appeared.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside. Shen Youqing straightened up immediately, his eyes snapping to the door. But it was only a servant with a fresh jug of wine. He let out a silent sigh, feeling a wave of inexplicable disappointment.

As the servant prepared to leave, Shen Youqing called him over. His voice was low, carrying a hint of hidden urgency: “When you passed the word this afternoon, did you reach all the masters living in the manor?”

“Yes, Young Master! Everyone was notified!”

“No courtyard was missed? Like… the one near the back mountain?”

“Rest assured, Young Master! I went to every courtyard where a master is staying. Not a single one was left out!”

Inside the room, Yuan Yajun and Wen Shubai exchanged a glance of understanding. They had seen something was wrong with Shen Youqing since the start of dinner. He barely touched his chopsticks, his eyes were always on the door, and he barely responded to Su Yao’s chatter. He was clearly distracted. Hearing him question the servant, they knew exactly who he was waiting for: the Dragon King.

Neither said a word. The business between the Dragon King and Shen Youqing wasn’t for candidates to interfere with.

The festivities continued, but Shen Youqing fell silent. He downed cup after cup of wine. His irritation, soaked in the alcohol, began to swell.

He had specifically sent a servant to invite him. It was fine that he hadn’t visited for three days, but he wouldn’t even come for this final farewell meal?

His knuckles turned white as he gripped his cup. The laughter in the room felt like oil on a fire.

If you’re not coming, then don’t! It’s no big deal! Once I’m back in the capital, we probably won’t ever see each other again anyway…