The Cannon Fodder Dad of Three Villainous Cubs - Chapter 17

Ji Zhixiu wasn’t the kind of parent who only knew how to tail after his children to take care of them. The three of them had a thoroughly enjoyable time, managing to complete every single ride. However, by the time they were in the car heading back, they were too exhausted to speak, drifting in and out of sleep.

Ji Yanyan, being like a fresh-off-the-factory-line model, had top-tier recovery abilities. After napping in Ji Zhixiu’s arms for a bit, he became full of life again, looking at him with eager eyes: “Daddy, what are we eating when we get back?”

Ji Zhixiu struggled to open his eyes, staring blankly at the rapidly changing scenery outside the window. Ah, right, humans need to eat.

He thought for a moment: “How about I stew some pork ribs for you when we get home?”

In the past, Ji Yanyan would have cheered, but this time he pouted high: “No, I want to eat something tasty.”

Hearing this, Ji Zishen cast an unexpected glance his way.

He had long since grown tired of Ji Zhixiu’s cooking. Yet, Ji Yanyan had always been like someone with pica, eating even the strange-colored purees with great delight. He had always felt that this father-son pair was beyond saving, so he never expected Ji Yanyan to have a day where he would complain.

Ji Zhixiu felt that even if he lacked ability, he at least put in the effort. Unwillingly, he pinched Ji Yanyan’s cheek: “I specifically bought natural, pesticide-free vegetables grown on a local farm. The price was double the regular amount! The quality of the meat is also the best. It’s so healthy!”

Ji Yanyan was at a disadvantage due to his lack of vocabulary. He mumbled, unable to form a complete sentence, and could only gesture with his hands: “It has to look like vegetables! It can’t be like the soup Snow White’s stepmother makes.”

Ji Zhixiu: “…” This kid’s insults are actually quite high-level.

He let out a cold snort, not arguing with Ji Yanyan. It wasn’t that he was magnanimous; it was purely because he felt guilty.

He knew his cooking was bad. Fearing the food wasn’t cooked through and might be poisonous, he always used high heat, resulting in a mushy lump it was a miracle if it didn’t end up a puree.

Since the child hadn’t eaten anything better, Ji Yanyan had initially eaten it with gusto. But over time, he learned to tell the difference between good and bad. Not to mention the boy, even Ji Zhixiu himself couldn’t stand it. If he didn’t have a shred of conscience left, he would have secretly ordered takeout long ago.

Things couldn’t go on like this. Ji Zhixiu thought for a moment and, under Ji Yanyan’s expectant gaze, said: “Alright, when we get home, we won’t eat the poison soup from Snow White’s stepmother. We’ll eat the same thing as the Little Mermaid.”

Ji Yanyan’s eyes sparkled. He leaned softly into Ji Zhixiu’s arms, almost drooling: “Are we eating fish today?”

Ji Zhixiu shook his head: “Doesn’t the Little Mermaid story also have a sea witch? Witch’s soup comes from the ocean; the flavor is different from the land.”

Ji Yanyan: “…Hmph hmph hmph!”

He climbed up indignantly, sat cross-legged on the seat, crossed his arms, and turned his head away from Ji Zhixiu, showing only his soft, snow-white cheek. He looked just like a triangular rice ball.

Even until they got off the car, Ji Yanyan was still throwing a tantrum. He hid his little hands in his chest; whenever Ji Zhixiu tried to hold his hand, he would pull away, and finally, he just turned around to face Ji Zhixiu with his butt.

This time, Ji Zhixiu didn’t correct his bratty behavior. He self-reflected for a second and sighed heavily: “I really am a useless father.”

He was just a college student who usually ate at the cafeteria and occasionally ordered takeout. The moment he opened his eyes, he was left to raise three human cubs. This servant truly cannot manage it!

The father and his two sons stood in the wind, their faces greener than any color. Standing to the side, Ji Zishen opened his mouth but hesitated.

It wasn’t the first time he had heard Ji Zhixiu call himself a useless father, but it was completely different from before he felt a strange sense of empathy.

To stay, he thought it better to avoid extra trouble and prevent arousing Ji Zhixiu’s suspicion, which was why he had gritted his teeth and eaten the “pig feed” with them.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t stand it anymore, but…

The taste of the ice cream still lingered on the tip of his tongue. Once he had tasted sweetness, he developed other desires he wanted to taste even more sweetness, and he was willing to take foolish risks for it.

Ji Zishen licked his dry lips, took a deep breath, looked up at Ji Zhixiu, and said: “Daddy, I can cook.”

His clear, clean eyes reflected Ji Zhixiu’s image. Time slowed to a crawl. Ji Zishen felt a sense of agony, as if he were being pulled in two directions.

Would Ji Zhixiu believe them? Would he mock him? Would he press for details about his past? Would he think that a boy who had been passed between three families and never stayed must be a useless, bad child? Would he send him back to the orphanage again?

Just as Ji Zishen was about to be overwhelmed by these thoughts, he suddenly felt his hand being grasped by a warm palm.

Ji Zhixiu half-squatted down so he was eye-level with Ji Zishen. His eyes were sparkling, and he looked teary-eyed: “That’s wonderful! You’ve saved our father-and-son trio!”

Ji Zishen: “…”

How come he doesn’t play by the rules at all? At least ask why.

Before he could recover, Ji Zhixiu took one child by each hand and walked quickly toward home, muttering: “Zishen, go rest for a bit when we get back. I’ll prepare the ingredients. Oh, right, what do you want to make tonight? Don’t make it too complicated, just use what we have at home…”

Ji Yanyan, on the other hand, was completely bewildered, his gaze shifting back and forth between his father and brother. Ultimately, he decided his brother was more reliable, nodded his head with the gravity of an elder, and looked ready to risk his life to support his companion.

Ji Zishen felt that something was strange, but he didn’t regret saying what he had.

Although he had taken some risks, he had also gotten the result he wanted.

When they returned home, Ji Zhixiu quickly prepared the ingredients and welcomed the chef with great ceremony.

As Ji Zishen stood in the kitchen, his heart suddenly quieted down.

He had lived under others’ roofs since childhood, drifting from place to place, constantly watching people’s expressions. When he suffered grievances and wanted to hate them, he would be drowned by the guilt deep within his own heart, he was more aware than anyone else that he was just a burden.

Children were placed in a weak position, needing care and discipline. No one thought he had an independent soul or mind, nor did they look him in the eye or respect him. Whenever he couldn’t help but voice his thoughts, he was met with looks of fear and disgust.

After that, he was sent back to the orphanage for the first time.

Because he had a pretty face and was good at faking, he quickly got a second chance.

Ji Zishen learned his lesson, realizing the importance of first impressions. From the beginning, he acted sensible and considerate, taking on all the work an adult should do to indirectly express his value, but he was still sent back to the orphanage.

Third time, fourth time…

Ji Zishen gradually understood: at his current age, he wasn’t allowed to be an adult.

After realizing this, he had carefully chosen a fool as an adopter. In Ji Zhixiu’s home, he played the role of an innocent, naive child, his every move fitting his age group. This time, he had succeeded.

Even if Ji Zhixiu wanted to send him away, he had no legitimate reason to do so and could only continue to endure.

Even though he knew this tactic worked, he had voluntarily given it up. If he had felt a shred of regret before, it vanished completely the moment he stood in the kitchen.

The kitchen was his own exclusive world, where no one interfered and no one could criticize him. Food was the most fundamental human need. The fact that he could cook well indirectly meant that he could take care of himself and survive on his own. This was something only an adult could do, and it gave him a sense of achievement and satisfaction that was hard to put into words.

This was his utopia. For the first time, Ji Zishen relaxed and showed a genuine smile.

Through the glass, Ji Zhixiu watched Ji Zishen’s figure. He didn’t go over to disturb him. After a few seconds of silence, he turned to find Ji Yanyan, who was sprawled out on the sofa like a pancake: “Get up and tidy up your toys.”

Ji Yanyan rolled over, resisting with his whole body.

Ji Zhixiu seized the chance to pinch his soft buttock: “Brother is cooking for you. If he comes out and sees the living room a mess, can you justify his hard work?”

Ji Yanyan glanced at him, his attitude softening slightly.

Ji Zhixiu softened his tone, sat beside him, and continued to coax: “If we finish our work together now, we can sit on the sofa and eat fruit and watch cartoons together after we eat.”

Ji Yanyan thought about the scene and felt tempted, but he was still too lazy to move. He acted coquettishly: “Daddy help me.”

Ji Zhixiu raised an eyebrow: “Sure, I’ll use a trash bag to pack them up and throw them out.”

Ji Yanyan: “…”

His soft cheeks puffed up, and he pouted high, whispering: “Daddy is a bad person.”

Ji Zhixiu asked deliberately: “What did you say? I didn’t hear you.”

Old habits die hard, and Ji Yanyan was still being a brat, but after spending this time together, he had fully realized Ji Zhixiu’s formidable nature. He hurriedly changed his tune: “I said I like Daddy, Daddy is good.”

After saying that, he closed his eyes, his expression strangely humiliated.

Ji Zhixiu found him adorable and leaned down to peck him: “Yanyan is so good, Daddy will help too.”

The three of them worked together, and their efficiency was surprisingly high. Just as Ji Zhixiu finished wiping the table, the kitchen door opened.

Ji Zishen had never been in a better mood; his entire spirit had changed. He hummed a song while carrying plates to the table.

Ji Zhixiu wanted to go over to help, but Ji Zishen suddenly froze in place, his face turning incredibly pale.

Ji Zhixiu was startled and hurried over to check on him: “Zishen, are you okay?”

Ji Zishen’s pupils constricted. His gaze moved extremely slowly, landing on Ji Zhixiu, and he saw everything behind him.

It wasn’t a broom being thrown at him, nor was it wanton abuse, complaining that he was a slow, freeloading burden.

Around him was a bright, clean living room; it was no longer a dark, cluttered shack.

“I’m fine.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Yanyan ran over with a pitter-patter and looked up at him: “Brother, I’ve tidied up the toys. I’m going to watch cartoons with you later.”

Ji Zishen didn’t quite understand what he was saying, but he nodded anyway.

The two kids and one adult sat at the dinner table. When Ji Zhixiu took his first bite, tears almost sprang to his eyes.

This is what human food tastes like, not that healthy “pig feed” I struggled so hard to make!

Just as that thought crossed his mind, a strange sound started coming from beside him, making his eyebrows twitch.

“You have hands and a spoon! Don’t bury your face in the bowl, and don’t stretch your mouth out so far. Stop making those weird sounds!” After scolding him, Ji Zhixiu also lowered his head and shoveled in two big bites, getting rice grains all over his face.

Seeing this, Ji Zishen: “…” Truly father and son.

With a complex mood, he lowered his head to eat, listening to the chorus of praise between Ji Zhixiu and Ji Yanyan.

“This is so delicious! I’ve made up the three pounds I lost in just one meal.”

“Brother, hungry, rice, rice.”

“Don’t eat too much, be careful of indigestion.”

“Hmph, Brother, be my daddy instead.”

Ji Zishen almost choked. He replied with an expressionless refusal: “No, too much trouble.”

Ji Yanyan: Wuwuwu (sobbing sound).

Faced with the two of them being so generous with their emotional value, Ji Zishen remained expressionless, though his lips occasionally had a tendency to twitch upward.

After dinner, Ji Zhixiu told Ji Zishen to go rest while he cleaned up.

That evening, the three of them sat on the sofa watching TV. The atmosphere was actually quite nice. Ji Yanyan had been rowdy, but once the time came, he was like a battery being pulled out his eyelids grew heavy, his head tilted to the side, and he performed an instant-sleep routine. Ji Zhixiu carried him back to the bedroom. When he came back out, the living room was quiet, and the bathroom door was already closed.

He stood there silently for a while, finally finding a moment to collect his thoughts.

He had read the content of the book; effectively standing from a God’s perspective, he understood Ji Zishen’s situation and suffering better than anyone.

An adult soul stuffed into a tiny shell, constantly suffering despite having the ability to break free, his rights were forcibly stripped away simply because he was a child. It was no wonder Ji Zishen’s personality became increasingly twisted, eventually leading him down a path of no return.

There was no such thing as true empathy in the world; Ji Zhixiu only had to think about what Ji Zishen had been through to feel breathless, let alone Ji Zishen himself.

Thinking of this, Ji Zhixiu let out a long sigh.

Although he wanted to straighten out the little crooked sapling that was Ji Zishen, he had to respect the boy’s own growth trajectory and couldn’t force it.

Since Ji Zishen considered himself an adult, he was willing to treat him like one.

Ji Zhixiu’s heart stirred. Taking advantage of the fact that Ji Zishen hadn’t come out yet, he snuck into his room, only coming out a minute later.

…

When Ji Zishen came out of the bathroom, he saw a cup of hot milk on the table. But he had already brushed his teeth, so he politely declined Ji Zhixiu’s offer.

Ji Zhixiu sat on the bay window with a cup of hot milk in each hand, drinking until he was almost bubbling over. Ji Zishen watched him silently for a while before barely suppressing the urge to say “goodnight,” returning to his room with a complex expression.

In his eyes, Ji Zhixiu had always been a fool incredibly biased and bound to ruin his own biological son eventually. But these past few days, he had gradually changed.

One moment good, one moment bad; one moment smart, one moment stupid; he even teased him and made him lose face. But Ji Zhixiu had taken him to the amusement park and given him ice cream.

That sweet taste lingered on the tip of his tongue again, slowly eroding something. After noticing this, Ji Zishen lay on the bed, feeling restless, wanting to clear his mind. Just then, he caught a glimpse of the corner of his desk and froze the blood in his entire body went cold.

He had lived under others’ roofs for years and had never truly owned anything of his own. This gave him a deep sense of insecurity and an obsessive-compulsive nature. Before leaving, he would deliberately arrange his books in specific patterns to prevent others from secretly messing with them.

He clearly remembered that when he left the room, the books weren’t arranged like this, and his schoolbag had changed positions.

He pounced over, dumping everything out of the schoolbag onto the desk, and checked them one by one.

There were only three people in the house. Ji Yanyan had already gone to sleep; even if he had woken up halfway and snuck in, he wasn’t as tall as the desk how could he have touched the bag? That left only… Ji Zhixiu.

Ji Zhixiu snuck into the room and messed with his things. What is he trying to do?!

When this question surfaced in his mind, he immediately knew the answer.

Ji Zhixiu taking him to the amusement park and buying him ice cream was just to paralyze him, make him lower his guard, and reveal his true colors. He had clearly seen through many things but said nothing, choosing to sneak into his room instead.

What is he trying to find… Evidence to send him back to the orphanage?

After realizing this, the movement of Ji Zishen’s hands stopped. He let out a laugh that looked even worse than crying.

Sure enough, this isn’t my home. No one could ever truly be good to me.