The Cannon Fodder Dad of Three Villainous Cubs - Chapter 23

The next day was still the weekend, but Ji Zhixiu had developed a healthy biological clock. He woke up early to prepare a hearty breakfast.

Except for the happy-go-lucky Ji Yanyan, the father and his three sons acted their parts to perfection, appearing to be a harmonious, loving family without a single barrier between them.

Once the two children returned to their rooms, Ji Zhixiu grabbed a flashlight and, with a look of extreme stealth, made his way to the study.

The computer was still locked inside the acrylic box. Ji Zhixiu was very confident in this tactic; even if Ji Sichen was a genius child, he couldn’t possibly have the skill to break through the “invisible barrier” he had set up.

The acrylic box he had carefully chosen had another function: it was also a fingerprint magnet.

Ji Zhixiu pressed his face against it, his nose almost brushing the box, and compared it carefully with his small flashlight. Sure enough, he found a small fingerprint on the left side.

Evidence secured. The little villain clearly had ulterior motives for his computer.

Ji Zhixiu straightened his back and took a deep breath. This was within his expectations. Now that he knew Ji Sichen’s intentions, it was time to proceed to the second step.

Ji Zhixiu fussed around the study for a long time before finally going to find Ji Sichen.

He and Ji Sichen were only separated by a bookshelf. Although Ji Sichen couldn’t see or hear him, he guessed that Ji Zhixiu must have discovered something and would come looking for him sooner or later, so he was prepared.

However, he hadn’t expected Ji Zhixiu not to come for a confrontation, but rather to bring an entire box of fruit-flavored yogurt enough to make someone sick from over-consuming dairy.

Thump! Ji Zhixiu placed the carton on the desk with a grand gesture, poked straws into all of them, and pushed them toward Ji Sichen.

“The two of us haven’t seen each other for a long time. Come on, let’s have a good drink.”

There was no problem that couldn’t be solved at a drinking table. Since children couldn’t drink alcohol, fruit milk would serve as a substitute; the effect was the same.

Ji Zhixiu sipped on a straw, adopting the posture of someone drinking spirits, finished one bottle with ease, and let out a dramatic “Ahhh” of satisfaction. “Fruit milk is the best punchy and refreshing!”

Ji Sichen: “…”

Ji Zhixiu glanced at him: “You drink, too.”

Ji Sichen couldn’t refuse. He didn’t dare provoke this version of Ji Zhixiu, so he could only pick up the yogurt, biting the straw and taking tiny, small sips.

Even milk could make one high, apparently. Ji Zhixiu downed three bottles in a row before finally feeling satisfied and preparing to speak. “Sichen, you’re getting older. Dad wants to talk to you about some serious matters.”

Ji Sichen couldn’t help but put down the yogurt and hold his breath.

“This is a society ruled by law, with rigorous oversight. How does that saying go? ‘The net of Heaven has large meshes, but nothing escapes it.’ Dad knows you can definitely write those words, and you’re much better now than before. As long as your brain is sharp, you can constantly discover business opportunities. Sooner or later, you’ll be making so much money it’ll be overflowing from this house.”

Ji Zhixiu looked at Ji Sichen meaningfully. Ji Sichen was stunned; it took him a full half-minute before he glanced at Ji Zhixiu with a look of “Are you…” drunk?

He got halfway through the word, caught sight of the fruit milk in Ji Zhixiu’s hand, and swallowed his words.

Ji Zhixiu let out a long sigh, though he wasn’t too worried. Little villains were hard to deal with, and he hadn’t expected to persuade Ji Sichen with just a few big principles.

Ji Zhixiu changed his tone, lowering his voice: “Sichen, I know you’re very smart, but there are some things that intelligence cannot compensate for.”

Ji Sichen wore a small, delicate face handsome and fair-skinned but his disdain was already impossible to hide.

Ji Zhixiu couldn’t help but flick his forehead: “Listen to me first. I know you don’t have much of a real-world perspective, but the feeling of standing in the light is completely different from hiding in the dark.”

“For example…” Ji Zhixiu’s eyes rolled. “Think about it: there are so many projects and fields waiting for investment. If you do that, there will be more possibilities. You don’t have to put all your eggs in one basket. But if you just keep hiding in the dark, clutching that one solitary seedling even if you make a name for yourself in that field, if your name isn’t out in the open, not many people will know you. In that case, you get less.”

“Besides, this is a society ruled by law. People always make mistakes. If you are forced to have a blank gap in your life for a few years, what if a newcomer suddenly emerges during those years? What will you do if they replace you?!”

As if performing a magic trick, Ji Zhixiu pulled several posters from his waistband and slapped them against the wall in front of him: “These are the people who hold the world’s lifeline. Look, you’re younger than them, have more hair than them, and will live longer than them how can you bear to stay behind them?”

Ji Zhixiu’s tone became passionate as he gestured wildly: “And the kid next door is in the same grade as you! During those years you had a blank gap, the people who were originally on the same starting line as you the people you left far behind have suddenly surpassed you! Think about it, think about it carefully! Don’t you have a picture in your mind right now? Can you bear it? Can you bear it?!!”

Ji Zhixiu’s voice was very loud, and he provided plenty of emotional value. Ji Yanyan, who was originally dozing on the sofa outside, was suddenly inspired. His “Dragon Overlord” DNA stirred. Without even opening his eyes, he scrambled up and shouted at the top of his lungs: “Can’t bear it! Absolutely cannot bear it!”

That was exactly the response Ji Zhixiu wanted. He gave him an appreciative look: “See? Your younger brother already has such ambition at an age where he can’t even keep his mouth shut. How can you fall behind him?”

He had searched for a long time earlier and only found one photo of Ji Sichen, where he was squatting under a tree with his butt in the air, studying ants a pose very likely to cause misunderstandings.

But Ji Zhixiu truly had no other photos to choose from. He put down the posters of the successful entrepreneurs and stuck Ji Sichen’s photo, which was many times larger than the others, on the door with great passion.

“Remember this face; this is the person who will replace them later! Remember this name; this is the name that will forever surge on the crest of the waves!! History will remember this moment: Little Ji Sichen set a great ambition to stand in the sun forever, abide by the law, and be a dutiful son to his old father forever!!!”

While brainwashing Ji Sichen, he didn’t forget to insert his own agenda. Ji Zhixiu truly had talent in this regard; he set the atmosphere perfectly. Ji Sichen looked at his magnified photo, feeling a bit dazed he was clearly swayed.

Ji Zhixiu struck while the iron was hot; after the allure, he didn’t forget the intimidation.

“Although your daddy isn’t very successful, my thinking is sound. I have no tolerance for wrongdoing, and the child I raise must abide by the law. If you ever do anything, I won’t favor you; I will definitely be the first to report you.”

After finishing, he took a deep breath and used every ounce of his strength to carry over the huge stack of books from behind him.

“This is the law. Your every move from now on must comply with legal standards.”

He was good at inciting emotions, but when it came to professional knowledge, he hit a wall. He had rehearsed many times before, but at the critical moment, he faltered. Ji Zhixiu couldn’t remember the lines, so he had to pull out a cheat sheet and take a secret look.

“For example, page three hundred eighty-six, Article 27: No individual or organization shall engage in infiltrating others’ networks, interfering with the normal functions of others’ networks…”

Ji Zhixiu emphasized the pronunciation, repeatedly hinting at Ji Sichen with his eyes.

In the book, Ji Sichen was a classic genius child who became a hacker at a very young age and had no respect for the law. Although he had locked the computer and suppressed the budding signs of his crimes, that was far from enough; he had to dispel Ji Sichen’s thoughts from a fundamental, ideological level.

Ji Sichen frowned, his little face becoming scrunched up. He clearly realized the severity of the problem, his expression shifting from serious to contemplative.

Ji Zhixiu felt that his work on transforming the villain was making major progress. Just as he was about to be proud, Ji Sichen suddenly raised his head and interrupted urgently: “The Juvenile Protection Law and the Network Regulations take effect at the same time how should they be executed?”

Ji Zhixiu: “…”

He looked down at the book, then at the legal clauses, his face filled with bewilderment.

It… it… it… it’s not written in the book either!

In that moment, he finally understood the agony of law students. He flipped through a few pages, and the dense legal clauses made his head dizzy: “Sichen, wait a moment. Daddy needs to study this.”

He didn’t know which book to flip to, and he couldn’t even move the stack he was about to go crazy.

Ji Sichen took all this in, let out a long sigh, and said: “It’s okay, Daddy. You’ve said so much, you must be thirsty. Go out and drink some water.”

Faced with this sudden concern, Ji Zhixiu was flattered. He walked out feeling wonderful, his steps almost floating. But he never expected that the moment he stepped out, the door would be slammed shut mercilessly.

“…” That brat actually dared to trick his own father!

Initially, Ji Zhixiu hadn’t thought anything was wrong, assuming Ji Sichen just found him annoying and long-winded. But after sensing the problem, his expression changed. Anxiously guzzling a mouthful of water, he paced back and forth.

Recently, to maintain his “perfect attendance,” he had been livestreaming. Although he was using the “Evil Tangerine Head” filter, everyone could still feel his anxiety and concern through his eyes.

The people in the livestream were die-hard fans; they almost never missed a single session. After spending so much time together, they considered each other family and were very worried.

【What’s wrong with “Evil Tangerine Head”? Wasn’t he quite happy before?】 【Stop drinking. If you really can’t take it, just shove your head into the kettle and drown.】 【What on earth happened? Did someone give you trouble again? Don’t worry, I’ll go help you roast them.】 【This state is too normal. I have two “devil children” at home, and I’m about to collapse, let alone having three.】

As this comment floated by, Ji Yanyan was shrieking and screaming nearby, with an inexhaustible supply of energy—it made one want to rip out his “springs.” Ji Zishen happened to be looking for Ji Zhixiu to sign his homework, and the comment section in the livestream was instantly led astray.

【This is just the initial stage of pain. It’s truly agonizing once all three children are in school.】 【Plus one. I really don’t understand why schools assign so many tasks to parents, and why there’s after-school tutoring.】 【Exactly. Many assignments are nominally for students, but how could children of this age possibly complete them? They can only push them to the parents.】 【That brat of mine can’t study at all. He sits there for an hour picking his fingers, refusing to pick up a pen. I’ve almost knelt down to beg him.】 【”Evil Tangerine Head” has three “great sons.” If none of them are willing to study and he still has to tutor them, my god, will that one leaf left on his head even survive?】 【Definitely not. Children of this age can hardly sit still, and active learning is even more of a fairy tale.】

The netizens in the livestream were venting their grievances, very vividly. Everyone could empathize, assuming Ji Zhixiu must be worrying about this, too.

As if responding to them, Ji Zhixiu stood up abruptly and rushed to the closed door of the study in a panic.

“Sichen, I know you’re in there. Open the door quickly!”

Six hours straight Ji Sichen hadn’t eaten or drank, studying for six hours.

He had brought out the legal clauses hoping to make Ji Sichen realize the importance of the problem and to abide by the law, not for him to learn how to exploit legal loopholes!

The more Ji Zhixiu thought, the more terrified he became; tears were almost spurting out.

This is the Ji family, not the Zhang family! Your name is Ji Sichen, not Zhang San! Please, don’t become an outlaw!

Before this, he had never fantasized about his ancestors blessing him, but the one thing they must not do is have black smoke rising from the ancestral grave otherwise, the old man and woman in the ground would be so angry they’d come and harass him at night.

There was still not a sound in the room. Ji Zhixiu’s psychological defense was completely shattered. He didn’t even have the strength to stand; he leaned against the door and knocked weakly.

“Sichen, it’s all Daddy’s fault. I beg you, stop studying I really beg you, stop studying!”

Fans in the livestream: “???” Are there still parents who beg their children to stop studying these days?!

Human joys and sorrows are truly not shared.

There was a one-minute pause in the comments. Everyone was stunned. The fans who had children at home had dark circles under their eyes and almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

Heaven is unfair! How did we ever dare to sympathize with “Evil Tangerine Head”? Now we just want to embrace our own helpless selves.

What was even more unfair was that there were actually gullible fools who couldn’t see “Evil Tangerine Head” was “flexing.” They sent gifts like crazy to comfort him.

【Yunian sent Sky-Full of Fireworks.】 【Yunian sent Sky-Full of Fireworks x10.】 【Congratulations to Yunian for triggering a Meteor Shower; go to the homepage and take a look!】

Yunian acted like another father of the children, anxious to comfort his “wife”: 【Education is something that can only be done slowly. Don’t worry, take care of your health.】

A meteor shower could only be triggered by a large gift. Even the most popular streamers could only trigger one on their birthdays. This was equivalent to getting one of the best free recommendation slots; the traffic surged instantly, and users who saw it were willing to come in to watch the spectacle.

Netizens who witnessed all this: “…”

With only one leaf left on “Evil Tangerine Head’s” head, why is he so damn lucky?!