The Cannon Fodder Dad of Three Villainous Cubs - Chapter 5

After a long day, Ji Yanyan had worked up quite a sweat. Before bed, Ji Zhiqiu specifically adjusted the room temperature and took him to bathe.

In the past, he had truly been “too good” to Ji Yanyan. There was a cupboard full of toiletries and all sorts of toys, and Ji Zhiqiu specifically picked out a few little rubber ducks to float on the water.

He carried Ji Yanyan to the bathroom. The boy had been an angel all day, but as soon as night fell, his true colors emerged. For some unknown reason, he was in a mood and didn’t want to wash up.

Ji Zhiqiu furrowed his brows, deliberately pinching his nose in disgust. “You’ve sweated so much, you’re starting to smell sour. Can’t you smell it yourself? How can you not take a bath!”

Ji Yanyan picked up his shirt, sniffed it seriously, and stomped his feet. “I don’t smell! You’re lying! I won’t wash, I won’t wash!”

The bathroom was an enclosed space, and the brat’s shouting echoed, making it even more ear-piercing.

Ji Zhiqiu looked at him with a massive headache. “Why not? The body wash smells so good, and you have these little ducks to keep you company, aren’t they cute?”

Ji Yanyan looked longingly at them, clearly tempted. But he had been spoiled into having a bad attitude and refused to back down now. He huffed, put his little hands on his hips, and looked away. “I won’t wash, I won’t wash!”

Ji Zhiqiu: “…”

Fine, don’t wash then.

Does he really think he’s a little emperor who needs people to kneel and beg him to take a bath?

Ji Zhiqiu couldn’t be bothered to deal with him anymore. He turned his eyes toward the bathtub, a glint of mischief flashing in his gaze. Without a second of hesitation, he stripped off his shirt and sat directly into the tub.

The hot water soaked his body, washing away the exhaustion. Every cell in his body groaned in comfort. He was surrounded by fragrant bubbles, and the rubber ducks on the water drifted toward him as the water shifted. Ji Zhiqiu picked one up and squeezed it twice.

He leaned against the tub, feeling incredibly comfortable, his eyes squinting shut. Standing next to him, Ji Yanyan was dumbfounded. He rushed over, grabbing at Ji Zhiqiu with his tiny hands, trying to drag him out.

“That’s my duck! Get out, it’s mine!”

Ji Zhiqiu dodged his hands without mercy and let out a cold huff. “Didn’t you just firmly state you didn’t want it? How is it yours again?”

Ji Yanyan looked at the duck in Ji Zhiqiu’s hand, his eyes reddening. “Ducky is mine, it’s mine!”

Ji Zhiqiu placed one hand on Ji Yanyan’s head and pushed him away without any effort. Ji Yanyan stretched out his arms, but couldn’t touch a thing, forced to pace in place.

“Little one, you have to understand that everything in this house is mine. Even you. I share things with you because I treat you like family. I am your father, not your servant.”

Seeing that his antics weren’t working, Ji Yanyan couldn’t find the words to argue; he just kept calling “Daddy” over and over, trying to awaken some paternal love.

Ji Zhiqiu hadn’t intended to pay him any more mind, but seeing that Ji Yanyan was already splashed with water, he knew that even if he didn’t let the kid wash, he’d still have to clean up the mess afterward. He softened his tone. “Tell me, do you want to take a bath now?”

Ji Yanyan was still a bit haughty; he pouted and instinctively wanted to go against Ji Zhiqiu. But seeing the cold expression on Ji Zhiqiu’s face, he realized this was his only chance. Shrinking his chin, he whispered, “I… I want to.”

Ji Zhiqiu finally hummed, carried Ji Yanyan to his special seat, and pushed the duck back to him.

Ji Yanyan was instantly happy, affectionately cuddling his duck and waving his short, chubby arms he couldn’t be idle for a single second.

Ji Zhiqiu let him play, but Ji Yanyan didn’t learn his lesson. Give him an inch and he’ll take a mile. The more he played, the more hyper he got, splashing in the water until droplets hit Ji Zhiqiu’s face.

Ji Zhiqiu’s breathing grew heavy. He couldn’t take it anymore and glared at Ji Yanyan. “Stop it.”

Ji Yanyan wasn’t afraid at all. It was as if he were deliberately provoking him; his movements grew more exaggerated, and he aimed specifically for Ji Zhiqiu’s mouth whenever he spoke.

“…” The vein on Ji Zhiqiu’s temple throbbed. He laughed out of sheer fury. “Fine. You like to play, right? Then I’ll let you play to your heart’s content!”

He didn’t hold back, cupping water in his hands and splashing it at Ji Yanyan.

Ji Yanyan: “???”

Is it raining waterfalls from the sky?!

He blinked, looking at Ji Zhiqiu in confusion. It took a few seconds for him to react, and he grew flustered, speaking incoherently. “You can’t do that, you can’t!”

Seeing him still trying to fight back, Ji Zhiqiu didn’t stop his hands. Ji Yanyan didn’t back down either, changing his splashing posture into a dog-paddle, but how could he be a match for Ji Zhiqiu? Gradually, he was reduced to just blowing bubbles with his mouth, his hands weakly braced in front of him. “No, you can’t, you can’t do this…”

“Why not?” Ji Zhiqiu was having a blast and retorted.

“I’m play-play-playing…” Ji Yanyan pointed at himself, then at Ji Zhiqiu, looking conflicted, not knowing how to describe it.

“Did you get my permission before you started playing?” Ji Zhiqiu continued. “Playing games is supposed to be fun. Have you ever seen me looking happy when you do that? Don’t make excuses you were clearly picking a fight by splashing me.”

“I… I…” Ji Yanyan held his little face, acting awkward. “But I’m a baby.”

Ji Zhiqiu hummed twice. “Who isn’t?”

Ji Yanyan had never seen such a shameless adult; he was dumbstruck. “You’re not!”

“I am a big baby who is 27 years, 4 months, and 15 days old.” Ji Zhiqiu said this with great confidence, without the slightest hesitation.

Ji Yanyan had once again suffered from a lack of cultural education; he was actually intimidated. He counted on his fingers too bad he only had ten, and he couldn’t finish counting.

“Fine, you’re a baby too,” he said awkwardly. “But you’re bullying me.”

Ji Zhiqiu crossed his arms and let out a cold huff. “Don’t try to weasel out of it. Are you a sore loser?”

Being a “sore loser” was the greatest insult to a little Dragon Overlord. Ji Yanyan stood up straight from his little chair, puffing out his chubby belly with great momentum. “I’m not a sore loser!”

“Fine, that’s what you said. For the sake of fairness, we both agree let’s get ready and start again.” Ji Zhiqiu decided to teach him a lesson this time. “You go first.”

Ji Yanyan squatted down and splashed water at Ji Zhiqiu with all his might. Unfortunately, Ji Zhiqiu was sitting up straight, and the water didn’t even reach his chin it was ticklish and harmless.

“Alright, my turn.”

Ji Zhiqiu just raised his arm slightly. He had already restrained his strength, but Ji Yanyan still felt his vision blur. The next moment, he was sat flat on his chair, soaked from head to toe, dripping with water.

“Still want to play?” Ji Zhiqiu asked, arms crossed.

Ji Yanyan blinked slowly, finally coming back to his senses. His little face wrinkled up as he grinned. “No, no more play.”

Ji Zhiqiu pulled him to his side and said sternly, “Playing a game is only fun when both people are happy. When only one person is happy, that’s called bullying.”

Ji Yanyan understood slowly, his eyes dim and confused.

Ji Zhiqiu softened his tone. “Next time, you have to ask the other person nicely if they want to play. Only when you get a ‘yes’ can you play together. Understand?”

Ji Yanyan looked weak and small as he nodded.

“Everyone is a baby; no one has an obligation to let you have your way. Just now, did you deliberately splash water in my mouth and throw things at me?” Ji Zhiqiu squinted at him, refusing to budge.

Unexpectedly, Ji Yanyan didn’t need prodding this time; he proactively whispered, “Sorry.”

Ji Zhiqiu hummed through his nose and pinched his little cheek.

Ji Yanyan was about to start kindergarten. If he stayed this lawless, it would be hard for him to get along with peers, and he might even bully others to tears. He had to learn what kindness and manners were early. This was his responsibility as a parent, and it was also being responsible for other children and their parents.

Children really don’t have good memories; Ji Yanyan’s bratty temper couldn’t be corrected overnight, but the fact that he was willing to apologize proactively showed that his education was starting to show results.

Ji Zhiqiu pulled the little guy into his arms and patted his little belly. “Alright, close your eyes. Daddy is going to wash your hair and give you a bath.”

Ji Yanyan nodded. Usually, bubbles would float on the water after a bath. He looked up with bright, shiny eyes and, mimicking the way Ji Zhiqiu taught him, opened his mouth: “Then, Daddy, can we play blowing bubbles later?”

When Ji Yanyan wasn’t throwing a fit, he was the cutest baby in the world. Ji Zhiqiu had zero resistance against those watery eyes and couldn’t hold out for even a second. “If you behave and listen, I’ll play with you for a while.”

Ji Yanyan nodded vigorously. Ji Zhiqiu put on the special shower cap to keep the bubbles out of his eyes. Only after he finished washing did he notice that Ji Yanyan had kept his eyes closed the entire time, his little face wrinkled as if he were struggling with a deep thought.

Ji Zhiqiu asked with a smile, “What are you thinking about?”

Ji Yanyan curled his fingers, looking at Ji Zhiqiu with anticipation. “Daddy is a baby too, so when you play with me, can you use your ‘baby’ style?”

Ji Zhiqiu: “…”

The 27-year-old “big baby” felt his face flush red. He coughed and said, “Fine. Daddy-baby agrees.”