They Are Archenemies, But They Have A Child - Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Showing Vulnerability

Little Dāo toddled over, holding onto the edge of the carriage to steady herself. Once stable, she grabbed Yun Qingwu with her left hand and reached out toward Leng Licí with her right. “A-dàd, Daddy, hug!”

Leng Licí’s body stiffened and didn’t move. He glanced at Yun Qingwu from the corner of his eye, only to see Yun Qingwu immediately pick up Little Dāo and get into the carriage. He quickly retracted his gaze, biting the inside of his lower lip until it left an indentation.

Yang Yuanli was the last to emerge. Unaware of the underlying tension, he looked curiously at Leng Licí sitting outside, then got into the carriage. He casually said to Yun Qingwu, “What’s this? Have you finally come to your senses and grown tired of this demon fox?”

The moment he spoke, Liu Yu, who had just sat down, instantly felt the temperature inside the carriage drop as if they had gone straight from summer to winter.

Yun Qingwu lifted his eyelids and gave Yang Yuanli a cold stare.

Yang Yuanli felt the warning in that look and belatedly realized that the two were likely fighting. Tch, fighting and still protecting the demon fox.

Yun Qingwu was truly beyond saving.

Nevertheless, he wisely shut up.

The atmosphere remained silent throughout the journey. Only Little Dāo was in high spirits, munching on a pastry in each hand.

Little Dāo held a pastry and walked toward the carriage door, intending to give it to Leng Licí outside. “A-dàd, eat.”

Yun Qingwu did not stop her but kept his gaze fixed on her. However, just as Little Dāo was about to slip out of the curtain, the carriage gave an ill-timed bump. Yun Qingwu’s eyes were quick, and he could only manage to pull her back just as she was about to fall.

By the time the carriage finally reached its destination, Leng Licí’s face was as dark as charcoal.

You Su Xiǎozhú, who had come out early to greet them, saw Leng Licí’s expression and knew that the two were still at odds.

Jì Lín, unaware of the situation, remarked innocently, “Oh, why are Brother Yun and Brother Leng so far apart today? You two are usually joined at the hip. I’m quite unaccustomed to this.”

Leng Licí gave Jì Lín a fierce glare. You Su Xiǎozhú subtly bumped Jì Lín.

Jì Lín looked at his wife in confusion and whispered, “Xiǎozhú, why did you bump me?”

“Was I bumping you? I was bumping an idiot,” You Su Xiǎozhú said solemnly.

Jì Lín: “…”

You Su Xiǎozhú ignored Jì Lín and instead beckoned to Little Dāo. Little Dāo waddled over, her hands outstretched, and You Su Xiǎozhú caught her.

You Su Xiǎozhú: “Little Dāo is so good.”

She crouched down and whispered into Little Dāo’s ear, “Little Dāo, do you want to play a game?”

Little Dāo nodded. “Yes!”

You Su Xiǎozhú pointed to Yun Qingwu and Leng Licí, who were standing apart. “Then Little Dāo, go bring your two Daddies here.”

Little Dāo nodded, glanced at Yun Qingwu, then at Leng Licí, and finally ran toward Leng Licí. She tugged at Leng Licí’s hand. “A-dàd, Little Dāo, play game.”

Leng Licí looked down at Little Dāo, then at You Su Xiǎozhú, who nodded at him. Leng Licí immediately looked away, then glanced at Yun Qingwu from the corner of his eye. He looked at Little Dāo, his tone sounding like he was owed a large sum of money. “Play what?”

Little Dāo pulled Leng Licí’s hand, trying to drag him away. Leng Licí half-heartedly allowed himself to be led toward Yun Qingwu, but still only showed Yun Qingwu his profile.

Little Dāo repeated the trick, grabbing Yun Qingwu’s hand. “Daddy, Little Dāo, play game.”

Yun Qingwu looked down at Little Dāo, also glancing at Leng Licí from the corner of his eye, and agreed. “Okay.”

They can’t keep this deadlock going forever.

So, thanks to Little Dāo’s efforts, the three stood before You Su Xiǎozhú.

You Su Xiǎozhú: “The layout of the small garden was designed by Jì Lín. It’s a small maze. He specially designed it for…”

She glanced at Leng Licí and continued, “…the unborn child. You can take Little Dāo there to play.”

Yun Qingwu nodded. “Thank you.”

After You Su Xiǎozhú nodded, Yun Qingwu held Little Dāo’s hand and walked toward the residence. As Leng Licí lifted his foot to follow, his sleeve was gently tugged by You Su Xiǎozhú. “Little Cí, remember what I told you.”

Leng Licí’s gaze remained forward, and he pulled his sleeve free.

Jì Lín belatedly realized what was happening and asked, “Are they fighting?”

You Su Xiǎozhú nodded. “Yùshì, arrange their rooms next to each other.”

Jì Lín thoughtfully tapped his chin with the handle of his fan. “I understand, but the atmosphere of their quarrel is a bit strange.”

Liu Yu walked into the house, and as he passed Jì Lín, he patted his shoulder meaningfully. “You will understand later.”

Yang Yuanli scrutinized Jì Lín and You Su Xiǎozhú, his mind racing.

Can the people formed by the fragments also marry and have children?

…

In the small garden, Leng Licí and Yun Qingwu stood facing different directions, both looking elsewhere. Little Dāo held a hand of each. “Hide-and-seek!”

She pulled at Leng Licí. “A-dàd hides!”

Then she pulled at Yun Qingwu. “Daddy and me, search!”

Yun Qingwu picked up Little Dāo. “Okay, Daddy will take Little Dāo away first.”

He looked at Leng Licí, his tone quite businesslike. “You hide. We’ll come find you after one hundred counts.”

Leng Licí muffled a “Mhm.”

“One.”

“Two.”

…

As the sound of Yun Qingwu counting began, Leng Licí stood rooted to the spot.

You Su Xiǎozhú’s words echoed in his mind: “A timely show of weakness can sometimes have unexpected effects.”

Show vulnerability?

Fine, I’ll show vulnerability.

His brows were tightly knit, and he remained as still as a statue. As the counting neared one hundred, his eyelashes fluttered, and a barely conscious glimmer of expectation lit up his eyes.

In another corner, Yun Qingwu turned his back, covering Little Dāo’s eyes with one hand while counting and trying to regulate his emotions.

When I find Leng Licí with Little Dāo later, I might as well seize the chance to hug him and put this argument behind us.

“Ninety-nine.”

“One hundred.”

Yun Qingwu took a deep breath, removed his hand from Little Dāo’s eyes, bent down, and took her hand. “Let’s go, we’ll go find your A-dàd.”

Little Dāo bounced on her small legs. “Find A-dàd!”

The pair walked out of the Osmanthus path, ready to start searching, but unexpectedly came face-to-face with Leng Licí, who was still standing where he started.

Yun Qingwu: “…”

His emotions, which he had worked hard to calm, rushed back. He wanted to offer a way out of the awkwardness, but Leng Licí wouldn’t give him an opening.

Cold rain and hot fire alternated in his chest. Yun Qingwu frowned at Leng Licí. “If you didn’t want to play, you shouldn’t have agreed in the first place.”

With that, he picked up Little Dāo, turned, and walked away.

Little Dāo remained oblivious. “Little Dāo found A-dàd!”

Leng Licí stood there, watching Yun Qingwu leave, his internal anxiety transforming entirely into annoyance.

Why did I listen to You Su Xiǎozhú?

Show vulnerability?

Showing vulnerability clearly only encourages people to take advantage!

He drew his bone sword and summarily sliced off the head of a blooming sunflower nearby, leaving the small garden with a dark expression.

…

Meanwhile, You Su Xiǎozhú and Jì Lín settled Yang Yuanli and Liu Yu. Then, sheltered by the bamboo grove on one side of the eaves, they observed the situation in the small garden.

Jì Lín was confused. “Why are we standing here peeking at Brother Yun and Brother Leng? Wife, since when did you have this habit?”

You Su Xiǎozhú’s gaze remained steady, her tone calm. “They had a misunderstanding because of me. I have a responsibility to help them resolve it.”

“Because of you? What does that mean? They both like you, Wife?!” Jì Lín’s eyes widened, his internal alarm bells ringing loudly.

You Su Xiǎozhú briefly glanced at Jì Lín, saying calmly, “Yùshì, perhaps we should let the doctor check on you tomorrow.”

“The doctor? To check what? Wife, are you insulting me again in a roundabout way?! What’s so unreasonable about my deduction? Wife, you are one in a million. It’s only right for anyone to like you,” Jì Lín leaned close to You Su Xiǎozhú’s ear and whispered.

You Su Xiǎozhú’s ear tips flushed slightly, and she turned her face away. “Nonsense.”

Then, she explained, “Didn’t you notice that the relationship between Brother Yun and Brother Leng is not that of ordinary brothers?”

Jì Lín looked back toward the activity in the small garden. “Not ordinary brotherly affection? Then what kind of affection? Close brotherly affection?”

You Su Xiǎozhú was speechless for a moment. She stated directly, “The kind of relationship you and I have.”

“Wha—at?”

Jì Lín was shocked and immediately shifted his attention back to Yun Qingwu and Leng Licí.

He just happened to see Yun Qingwu leading Little Dāo away, leaving Leng Licí standing alone to vent his frustration on a flower.

“This… they should reconcile. It’s a bit of a waste of flowers.”

You Su Xiǎozhú looked at her son with a slight feeling of helplessness and guilt. After Leng Licí left, she walked toward the direction Yun Qingwu had taken.

She better go lend a hand.

Yun Qingwu, filled with pent-up frustration, walked to the eaves on the other side, frowning silently as he watched a pair of wild ducks in the pond. Little Dāo kicked her little legs. “Down. Find A-dàd.”

“Find which A-dàd? Your A-dàd wasn’t even willing to play hide-and-seek with you.” Yun Qingwu placed Little Dāo on a cushion, his voice tinged with resentment.

“Little Cí wasn’t unwilling,” You Su Xiǎozhú’s gentle voice sounded.

Yun Qingwu froze, looking at You Su Xiǎozhú. He realized his self-muttering had been completely overheard. He became self-conscious and awkwardly cleared his throat. “Madam.”

You Su Xiǎozhú nodded, walking over to sit beside Little Dāo. “I think the reason for Little Cí’s behavior just now was something I said.”

“Something you said?”

Yun Qingwu was surprised, momentarily forgetting the fact that You Su Xiǎozhú had watched the whole thing.

You Su Xiǎozhú: “I told him that people in love must learn to show vulnerability.”

You Su Xiǎozhú looked at Yun Qingwu, her eyes gentle. “I can see that he cares deeply for you.”

“You… you knew?” Yun Qingwu observed You Su Xiǎozhú’s expression, feeling a surge of nervousness in his heart.

You Su Xiǎozhú nodded, her tone slightly amused. “Brothers don’t fight like you two do.”

Yun Qingwu touched his nose, looking away for a moment. The awkwardness intensified. He was momentarily speechless. “I—”

“You don’t need to explain further. I couldn’t be a part of Little Cí’s growth. It was already difficult for him to grow into the man he is today through his own efforts. I hope he can be happy.”

You Su Xiǎozhú stroked the demonic crest on Little Dāo’s forehead. “I can see that you also care for him deeply. Even if I didn’t tell you today, I believe you would figure it out quickly once you calm down, but I didn’t want to risk that ‘what if.'”

She was right.

Leng Licí’s thought process was sometimes unconventional. It was already a struggle for him to perform such an act of “showing vulnerability,” and upon further reflection, it was indeed something he would do.

After You Su Xiǎozhú left with Little Dāo, Yun Qingwu sat alone under the eaves, pondering You Su Xiǎozhú’s words. After realizing the connection, his stifled anger had all but vanished.

Yun Qingwu stood up and walked toward the back kitchen.

Perhaps I should cook again.

As he neared the back kitchen, Yun Qingwu saw the chef, who should have been busy inside, anxiously pacing outside the door. The kitchen door was tightly shut, and a series of clanging and banging noises came from within, followed by plumes of increasingly thick white smoke seeping from the cracks.