They Are Archenemies, But They Have A Child - Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Against All Wishes

You Su Xiǎozhú noticed the two men’s gazes lingering on her and asked, “Is something wrong with me?”

Leng Licí withdrew his gaze upon hearing this and stopped looking at the couple.

Yun Qingwu suppressed the surprise in his heart and smoothed things over. “No, your name suits you very well.”

Jì Lín glanced at You Su Xiǎozhú, feeling somewhat pleased. “That’s right. Brother, you have good taste, too. But let’s not stand outside. How about we go inside and chat?”

“Then we won’t decline,” Yun Qingwu decided. He brushed Leng Licí’s hand, hidden by his sleeve, to gauge his reaction. Leng Licí did not speak but offered no objection.

The Jì residence, though not as luxurious as the Cui residence, was well-appointed. Walking inside, the first sight was a small garden full of flowers and lush green leaves. Additionally, along the eaves, at regular intervals, were benches padded with soft cushions.

These details indicated that while the couple’s life was not necessarily wealthy, it was one of considerable comfort and happiness.

“Xiǎozhú gets tired easily during pregnancy, but the benches are a bit hard, so I came up with this solution,” Jì Lín explained with a smile, noticing Yun Qingwu’s gaze.

You Su Xiǎozhú touched her abdomen, seemingly unconcerned. “You’re making a fuss over nothing.”

“How can it be a fuss? Anything related to you is a top priority,” Jì Lín said earnestly, acting as if he were deploying a strategic plan.

Leng Licí silently watched You Su Xiǎozhú’s abdomen, deep in thought.

Yun Qingwu’s attention was also on You Su Xiǎozhú’s abdomen. You Su Xiǎozhú was supposedly dead, so who was this person in front of him? He discreetly sniffed the air but detected no demonic energy; this person was no different from a mortal.

If she was an illusion of You Su Xiǎozhú, then what about the child in her belly?

Could it be… A-Cí?

…

“This is a sweet cake, shaped like a little pig, that children particularly love here.” At the dining table, Jì Lín noticed Little Dāo curiously staring at the pig-shaped sweet cake and immediately placed it in front of her.

You Su Xiǎozhú naturally picked up a piece with chopsticks and offered it to Little Dāo. The distant, cool look in her eyes was replaced with gentleness. “Come.”

Little Dāo stared wide-eyed at the cake but instinctively looked at her two fathers. Leng Licí pointedly turned his head away, offering no opinion. Yun Qingwu, however, nodded. “Eat it.”

Given permission, Little Dāo immediately beamed with joy, leaning in to take a small bite of the cake from You Su Xiǎozhú’s hand. She smacked her little lips. “Yummy!”

The smile in You Su Xiǎozhú’s eyes deepened. Jì Lín looked at the harmonious interaction between the adult and the child, his eyes full of longing. “In the future, our child will surely be as cute as Little Dāo. If he also likes sweet cakes, I must learn all the recipes so I can satisfy him no matter what flavor he wants.”

“What if he takes after me and loves spicy food?” You Su Xiǎozhú’s lips curved slightly, her tone laced with a faint laugh.

Jì Lín deliberately sighed, adopting a martyr-like posture for pampering a child. “In ancient times, Shénnóng tasted a hundred herbs; today, I, Jì Lín, will taste a hundred spices. Even if my mouth swells from the spice, I will make sure our child gets the most satisfying meal.”

You Su Xiǎozhú covered her mouth and chuckled softly upon hearing this. “You are the most talkative.”

Little Dāo finished her sweet cake with gusto, leaving a few crumbs around her mouth. You Su Xiǎozhú put down her chopsticks and gently used a handkerchief to wipe away the residue.

The tenderness in her eyes seemed to envision her future life.

“I’m not just talkative. Besides food, I’m going to make him many, many different kinds of toys so he can have an unparalleled childhood.”

Leng Licí abruptly put down his chopsticks and rose from his seat.

The chopsticks hitting the table made a loud “thump,” and the room immediately fell silent.

Jì Lín and You Su Xiǎozhú watched Leng Licí’s retreating figure in surprise, then looked awkwardly at Yun Qingwu.

Jì Lín: “What’s wrong with Brother Leng?”

As if remembering something, he looked apologetic. “We just really like Little Dāo. If our words were offensive, I sincerely apologize.”

Yun Qingwu shook his head. “A-Cí didn’t mean anything by it. Please don’t worry about it.”

He then stood up. “I’ll go check on him.”

Yun Qingwu followed him out and found Leng Licí standing under the eaves, staring at a part of the small garden. Following his gaze, he saw a small wooden horse in the garden and various animals carved from wood and stone nearby. Every detail showed the expecting parents’ anticipation for their unborn child.

He slowed his steps, walked over, and tugged at Leng Licí’s sleeve without speaking.

Leng Licí’s gaze remained fixed. He said coldly, “They are not my parents. They have nothing to do with me.”

Yun Qingwu: “Mhm, I know.”

A breeze blew past, causing the small wooden horse in the garden to rock gently. The combination of the passage of time and things not turning out as wished was cruel to every person involved.

It was true for Leng Licí, and it was true for him as well.

“Let’s go back.”

After a while, Leng Licí pulled Yun Qingwu’s hand back slightly and said softly.

“Mhm.”

The two walked back, and after only a few steps, they encountered You Su Xiǎozhú and Jì Lín, who had come out with Little Dāo to look for them.

“Brother Leng, was tonight’s food not to your liking? What kind of food do you like? I’ll have someone prepare another portion immediately,” Jì Lín approached them a few steps.

Leng Licí looked away. “No need.”

Yun Qingwu interjected, “Thank you for your hospitality today, but my brother and I have some matters to attend to. We will call on you again another day.”

Jì Lín looked regretful. “Leaving already?”

“If Brother Jì and Madam don’t mind, we’ll visit again in a couple of days,” Yun Qingwu took the opportunity to pave the way for a future visit.

Jì Lín and You Su Xiǎozhú’s slightly anxious mood calmed down upon hearing this. Jì Lín said happily, “That would be wonderful. You are welcome to visit anytime.”

You Su Xiǎozhú took Little Dāo’s hand and looked at Leng Licí. “Wait for me for a moment.”

Leng Licí avoided her gaze, looking somewhat impatient, but did not leave.

Yun Qingwu looked at Jì Lín. Jì Lín explained with a smile, “To be honest, although this is our first meeting, my wife and I feel an immediate connection, a strong sense of closeness, especially with Brother Leng.”

Jì Lín looked at Leng Licí, scrutinizing him. “We just feel that if our child is a boy, he should look just like Brother Leng when he grows up. If it’s a girl…”

He reached out and pinched Little Dāo’s cheek. “Then she should be a cute girl just like Little Dāo.”

Leng Licí immediately slapped Jì Lín’s hand away, his eyes darkening. “Who is your son?”

Jì Lín saw Leng Licí’s expression and realized he had been a bit presumptuous. He awkwardly tried to withdraw his hand, but halfway through, it was grasped by a pair of small hands.

Little Dāo squeezed Jì Lín’s hand, giggled, and looked at Jì Lín innocently. “Cute!”

Jì Lín was momentarily stunned, then laughed as well. “Oh, yes, Little Dāo is the cutest!”

Leng Licí crossed his arms and scoffed. “No backbone.”

Yun Qingwu stood aside, a slight smile on his lips as he watched the three interact, but at the same time, he felt a sense of emptiness.

You Su Xiǎozhú returned. She handed a bracelet with a jade pendant shaped like a safety lock to Leng Licí. “I prayed for this safety lock for the child in my womb. The locks come in a pair, and the master said the other one should be given to a destined person. I would like to give it to you today. I hope you will accept it.”

Leng Licí lowered his eyes to look at the bracelet, showing no intention of taking it.

Jì Lín: “Brother Leng, you are a lifesaver to Xiǎozhú and the child. Please don’t refuse. This lock is known to be very effective. It would also be great for Little Dāo.”

A hint of mockery flickered in Leng Licí’s eyes. “Effective?”

Yun Qingwu, using his sleeve as cover, nudged Leng Licí’s side with his index finger, then looked at Jì Lín and You Su Xiǎozhú. “Your kind intentions—”

“White-white, round-round, safe,” Little Dāo stammered, reaching out to grab You Su Xiǎozhú’s hand.

You Su Xiǎozhú smiled slightly and slipped the bracelet onto Little Dāo’s wrist. “That’s right! Safe. Little Dāo must be safe.”

Leng Licí watched coldly, still saying nothing.

Seeing that Leng Licí’s attitude towards refusal had softened, Yun Qingwu said instead, “Then thank you for the thoughtfulness, Brother Jì and Madam.”

“You’re welcome! Be sure to come again tomorrow. Today was a bit rushed. We will host you properly tomorrow.” Jì Lín reached out and embraced You Su Xiǎozhú, supporting her waist so she could lean on him to rest.

Yun Qingwu noted all this, nodding. “After we get settled, we will certainly come and bother you again.”

…

After leaving the Jì residence, it was near evening. The sky was filled with sunset clouds, but the liveliness of the streets hadn’t diminished at all. Pedestrians in various kinds of attire moved through the streets. Under the setting sun, everyone’s face was tinged with a faint red, neutralizing the visual sense of mixture and adding an inexplicable harmony.

Yun Qingwu and Leng Licí walked among them, with Little Dāo nestled between them, looking left and right. The rouge-like color of the sunset fell on the white jade on her wrist, removing some of its coldness and making it appear much warmer.

“What do you think?” Yun Qingwu looked at Leng Licí.

Leng Licí’s expression remained unchanged. “You Su Xiǎozhú has been dead for a long time. Killing the person in front of us will naturally break the illusion.”

Yun Qingwu was hesitant. “She has a pulse. She is not an illusion.”

“If that’s the case, she deserves to die even more, doesn’t she?” Leng Licí’s eyes showed seriousness and a trace of sinister coldness.

Overestimating her own abilities, she actually tries to play games with us.

“A-Cí, I think the situation is not that simple. Let’s not act rashly.” Yun Qingwu frowned slightly. His instinct told him this was not the right course of action.

“But I think this matter is as simple as can be. You are overthinking it.” Leng Licí lowered his head to look at the jade pendant on Little Dāo’s wrist. “Who knows what trickery is involved with this thing? I think we should throw it away too.”

Little Dāo only vaguely understood, but sensed her jade pendant was in danger. She immediately broke free from Leng Licí’s hand and covered her chest with her small hand. “Mine!”

Leng Licí scoffed. “Useless.”

Yun Qingwu’s mind flashed with the image of Jì Lín and You Su Xiǎozhú looking at Leng Licí and Little Dāo. He had seen that look on Cui You’s face as well:

“In any case, don’t act rashly. We’ll observe for a few days first.”

Leng Licí kept a dark face and said nothing more.

Back at the inn, Yun Qingwu told Liu Yu about Jì Lín. Liu Yu said curiously, “There’s a real Liú Qīngyuè here?”

He waved his fan. “It’s a good thing Cui You didn’t follow us, or the scene would truly be awkward.”

Although he said that, a bit of regret lingered in his heart. He wouldn’t get to see Cui You’s crestfallen look. But then he felt a bit of unfairness. Why was he the only one who was truly alone?