I Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder, Only to be Desired by the Dragon King - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Giving Names — A bit unfamiliar, yet a bit novel, like holding…

Just as they stepped into the Warming Hall, two tiny figures came running with a rhythmic “thud, thud, thud.”

Little Black wore a small ink-colored brocade robe. His wheat-colored skin glowed with health as his short legs pedaled furiously. Little Duckling followed in a pale primrose robe, his snowy skin looking as though it had been soaked in milk. One after the other, they lunged toward Shen Youqing.

Shen Youqing squatted down with a laugh. Just as his knees touched the warm, plush carpet, two soft little balls crashed into his embrace. He steadied them by their backs, his fingertips brushing the crooked little topknot on Little Black’s head before gently pinching Little Duckling’s fleshy cheek, his eyes overflowing with mirth.

Looking at the two contrasting little dumplings, Shen Youqing couldn’t help but chuckle internally: These two are way too easy to tell apart.

One had energetic tanned skin, while the other was snowy white and soft; even their clothes matched their original names. He struck a pensive pose, tapping his chin with a finger and tilting his head as he looked at them.

“Hmm… let me guess. Which one of you is Little Black, and which one is Little Duckling?”

“Yes, yes! Daddy, guess quickly!” Little Black hopped up and down, his eyes sparkling.

Little Duckling looked up with expectation, his voice soft: “Daddy has to guess right!”

Shen Youqing pretended to examine them for a long time, his gaze landing on Little Black. “You’re a bit taller, and your skin is a warm wheat color. You look very spirited, so you must be Little Black, right?”

“And you, with skin as white as snow, you’re definitely Little Duckling!”

“Yay! Daddy got it right!” Little Black cheered instantly.

Little Duckling also smiled until his eyes were crescent moons, clapping his small hands. “Daddy is so amazing! You got it in one go!”

Shen Youqing laughed at their antics, pulling them both into his arms. He shook the silk box in his hand. “I brought you lotus crisps. Do you want to try some?”

“Yes! We want lotus crisps!” The two little ones’ eyes grew even brighter.

Shen Youqing led them by the hand to the table and settled them into their chairs. He took the silk box he had protected so carefully along the way and lifted the lid. With a soft rustle, the aroma of flaky pastry mixed with the fresh sweetness of lotus drifted out, reaching the little ones’ noses.

Little Black and Little Duckling had been craving the treats since the moment Shen Youqing mentioned them. Now, smelling the fragrance, they both poked their heads forward, sniffing the edge of the box with their tiny noses.

Little Black clutched Shen Youqing’s sleeve and swallowed hard, exclaiming in a milky voice: “Wow, it smells so good!”

Little Duckling nodded in agreement, his eyes glued to the pastries in the box, drool almost escaping the corner of his mouth.

Shen Youqing, amused by their greediness, picked up a lotus crisp and handed it to Little Black. “Take it carefully, the crust flakes off easily.” He gave another to Little Duckling. “Try it; it’s sweet and delicious.”

“Mhm, thank you, Daddy!” The two little ones held the crisps, eating happily and hungrily.

Sitting at the table, watching them hold the pastries and hearing their muffled exclamations of “Mmm, yummy,” Shen Youqing felt a strange sensation well up in his heart. It was a bit unfamiliar, yet a bit novel—like holding a piece of warm, soft candy that was slowly melting into his soul.

Seeing the two little dumplings leaning against him so dependably, never forgetting to look up and smile at him even while eating, Shen Youqing suddenly realized: Is this what it feels like to raise kids?

The corners of his mouth curled up. He thought to himself: It’s actually quite nice.

He paused for a moment and then spoke with a smile: “Right, I haven’t asked yet—what are your formal names?”

Little Black and Little Duckling, their mouths covered in crumbs, froze and looked at each other. Little Black was the first to react. He sat up straight, puffed out his chest, and spoke with loud confidence: “I’m just called Little Black! My brother is Little Duckling!”

“Mhm!” Little Duckling nodded his small head, his voice soft. “Aren’t these the names Daddy gave us?”

Shen Youqing’s eyes filled with laughter. He reached out to rub Little Duckling’s soft hair. “Those were just names I called you casually before you transformed; at most, they are nicknames. Now that you’ve taken human form, you need proper, nice-sounding formal names, right?”

“Okay, okay!” The two little ones’ eyes lit up. “Then can Daddy give us a nice formal name?”

“Of course,” Shen Youqing agreed with a smile. “You stay here and eat your snacks like good boys. Daddy will go over there and think of some names for you.”

With that, he shot a glance at Feng Xiuyan, who was watching silently from the side, and tiptoed toward the window.

Feng Xiuyan followed. As they reached the window, Shen Youqing lowered his voice: “They’ve transformed now, why haven’t you given them names?”

Feng Xiuyan leaned against the window frame, a trace of rare embarrassment in his eyes. “I didn’t think much about it before.”

“Forget it, forget it.” Shen Youqing waved a hand and leaned closer. “We have to provide them with formal names now. We can’t keep calling them Little Black and Little Duckling forever.”

“Mhm.” Feng Xiuyan nodded, pondering seriously for a moment before speaking: “How about Shen Yu and Shen Ya?”

Shen Youqing rubbed his forehead and rolled his eyes quite unceremoniously. “Look, big brother, can you not be so half-hearted with the naming? Also, why give them the surname Shen? Shouldn’t they take your surname, Feng?”

Feng Xiuyan turned to look at him, his tone exceptionally serious: “I want them to take your surname. But if you don’t like it, they can take mine. It’s all up to you.”

“…” Shen Youqing froze, feeling awkward at the implication. He quickly changed the subject: “Whose surname they take isn’t that important, but these names are way too casual. Are you serious?”

Feng Xiuyan saw his slight panic, and a shallow smile rippled in his eyes. His voice softened. “I’m truly not very good at this. Why don’t you do it?”

“I…” Shen Youqing scratched his head, embarrassed. “I haven’t thought of anything yet either.”

“It’s fine. Take your time. We have plenty of time; we’ll come up with something suitable.”

The two of them huddled by the window, headed together, discussing names in low voices until evening fell unnoticed. The two little ones at the table had long finished their crisps. They were playing on the carpet with a small jade horse and a glass marble Feng Xiuyan had given them earlier, occasionally letting out small laughs but never bothering the adults. Their sensibility made one’s heart soften.

Outside the Warming Hall, the seawater gradually took on the hues of twilight.

“How about Shen Xiaoyu? Or Shen Feiyu? Shen Huanya?”

“No, no… let me think more, just a bit more…”

Feng Xiuyan approached with a cup of warm honey nectar and handed it to him. His gaze swept over the circled words “Yu” and “Ya” on the paper, and he couldn’t help but smile. “Think about it later. Let’s eat first.”

Shen Youqing rubbed his stomach, only then realizing he was quite hungry. He looked out the window and discovered that the seawater, which had been shimmering with faint blue light, had turned dark. Night had fallen!

“Is it that late? I have to head back.”

As soon as he said this, the faces of the two little ones fell. Little Black grabbed his hem. “Can’t Daddy stay a bit longer? Little Black wants to play with paper boats with you.”

Little Duckling also chimed in: “Daddy, don’t go.”

Shen Youqing’s heart softened. Just as he was about to offer comfort, Feng Xiuyan’s voice sounded beside him, his tone carrying a subtle hint of a plea to stay: “It is indeed late. Why not stay for dinner, and then I will send you back? The food in the Dragon Palace isn’t exactly home-cooked like in the mortal realm, but there are some fresh seafood dishes you might enjoy.”

Shen Youqing’s heart wavered instantly. He really wanted to know what Dragon Palace food tasted like! A thought popped into his head: Will it be a massive seafood banquet? Am I eating his subjects? The absurd thought made him burst into laughter.

In the end, he couldn’t resist the temptation: “Well… alright! I’m actually curious to see what Dragon Palace food is like!”

Seeing him agree, Feng Xiuyan’s eyes curved. He immediately ordered the sea servants to prepare the meal. In less than the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, the small table in the Warming Hall was filled with dishes.

Shen Youqing picked up his chopsticks and tried a piece of spiritual fish. The delicious flavor spread through his mouth instantly—no fishiness at all, just a delicate sweetness. His eyes lit up. “Yummy!”

Feng Xiuyan sat beside him. Seeing that he liked it, a smile bloomed in his eyes. He picked up some utensils and began carefully peeling spiritual shrimp for Shen Youqing. The shrimp meat was white and plump. He gently removed the vein before placing it in Shen Youqing’s bowl. “Eat slowly, there’s plenty more. Don’t choke.”

Seeing this, Little Black picked up a small spoon, scooped a bit of spiritual rice cake from his bowl, and held it to Shen Youqing’s mouth: “Daddy, this is yummy too! It’s sweet!”

Little Duckling followed suit, placing food in his bowl and saying softly: “Daddy, these pearl meatballs are also good.”

Shen Youqing rubbed their heads. “Thank you.”

After dinner, Shen Youqing leaned back on the soft couch, gently rubbing his stomach, which had been stuffed round by the one adult and two children.

“I’m so glad I stayed!” He sighed with satisfaction. “I didn’t expect the food in your Dragon Palace to be this good.”

Feng Xiuyan sat beside him, his fingertips still carrying the juices from the shrimp. Hearing this, a shallow smile rippled in his eyes. “If you want to eat it, you can come anytime.”

“Hehe, that might not be great, right?” Shen Youqing scratched his head. He was just being polite; he didn’t expect Feng Xiuyan to take it so seriously.

“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Feng Xiuyan said with absolute certainty. “If you come often, Little Black and Little Duckling will be happy too.”

“Then… if you ever want to eat mortal food, you can find me. It’s my treat!”

“Deal.” Feng Xiuyan nodded, his gaze drifting toward the window.

Twilight had deepened into night. The seawater outside shimmered with a dark blue glow, and even the spiritual fish were scarce. His fingertips brushed the dragon jade at his waist as he spoke with a trace of subtle testing: “The temperature difference between day and night in the sea is large. If you go back now, you might not be able to withstand the cold of the seabed. Why not… stay in the Dragon Palace for the night? I’ll send you back tomorrow morning.”

Shen Youqing, who was about to get up with the lethargy of a full stomach, froze. He instinctively blurted out: “Huh?”