Chapter Seventy-Five: Now, It’s Fantasy Time
Sang Zhe thought that this impromptu acting would turn out to be a disaster.
But by the time he had lulled Shi Qingyan to sleep that evening, everything had gone surprisingly well.
Shi Qingyan seemed completely unaware of the current situation.
She was adorably eating the chicken soup in her bowl, not causing a fuss or being spoiled.
Sang Zhe, like an old father, casually chatted about his daily work while eating.
Yan Rouwan, like a wise big sister, smiled beside them, occasionally chiming in with playful remarks.
Si Jingzhu was fully immersed in her role, chattering away and making everyone laugh helplessly.
Sometimes, Zhang Xiaoying would playfully complain, just like an ordinary mother would.
Two little cats nibbled on fish by the food bowl.
It really felt like a family seated together, enjoying a harmonious meal. Everything was so peaceful that it felt secure.
——
——
That night, with Zhang Xiaoying and Sang Zhe’s company, Shi Qingyan peacefully drifted off to sleep.
Looking at her serene sleeping face, Sang Zhe sighed and quietly said:
“Looks like it’s going pretty well.”
“I thought it would be a mess, with all sorts of funny mishaps.”
Zhang Xiaoying also looked at her with soft eyes: “Husband.”
“Mm?”
“When are we… going to have a real child?”
Sang Zhe cleared his throat and shamelessly replied: “If we work hard, it will come.”
“But right now, the child is sleeping here. It might not be good to be affectionate in front of the child, right?”
“I think the child is sound asleep…”
“How about we keep it down a bit?”
……
Unbeknownst to her, Shi Qingyan, in her dreams, had no idea about the intimacy beside her.
She was simply having a nightmare.
In her dream, she imagined that she didn’t have such a happy family.
She dreamed of being in a noisy, chaotic place, wearing dirty and tattered clothes, wandering around with a drink and glass.
She thought she could even be heard shouting for her mother amid the din.
But no one responded.
Occasionally, she would bump into some drinking man, and would hastily bow and apologize out of instinct.
Shi Qingyan despised that place.
It was filthy, messy, and crowded, filled with foul-smelling liquor.
And it was dark.
It felt like even her voice would be swallowed by the darkness with no response.
She told herself it was just a nightmare.
All she had to do was endure and get through it.
But after a while, she felt hungry.
When her stomach growled, she instinctively wanted to call for her mother.
“Mother… I’m hungry.”
This time, it seemed there was finally a response.
But it wasn’t the gentle voice of the woman from the day.
Instead, it was a sharp, hoarse, unpleasant voice.
“Go to the kitchen and grab something to eat, I’m busy with customers.”
Shi Qingyan looked at the dark-skinned, waxy-faced woman, who was smiling widely while linking arms with an ugly man, as they vanished from her sight.
Before leaving, the man seemed to size her up.
“Is this your daughter?”
“Who knows whose bastard it is; just throw her out of the building.”
“She looks decent enough; might earn more than you when she grows up.”
“Oh come on, she’s just a little kid. It’ll take seven or eight years before she can take clients.”
……
The voices of the man and woman gradually faded away.
Leaving Shi Qingyan alone, clutching her growling stomach, curled up in the dark.
She hated the way the man looked at her.
But she also couldn’t hate the woman who called her a bastard.
She just felt really hungry.
There wasn’t a single pancake in the kitchen. Not even a rat-eaten one.
She could only silently wish to wake up soon.
Once she woke up, her parents would prepare delicious food for her.
——
——
“Ding ding!”
“Breakfast today is heartfelt egg fried rice!”
As Sang Zhe placed the delicious and tempting dish on the table, Shi Qingyan’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“Wow, it smells so good!”
Sitting beside them, Si Jingzhu nearly drooled after long, with her chopsticks halfway to the rice, only to be gently scolded by Zhang Xiaoying.
“Wait until your older sister finishes cleaning up,” Zhang Xiaoying said reproachfully.
Si Jingzhu huffed a little but still obediently withdrew her hand.
Shi Qingyan was eager to eat too.
Just the sight of the food made her stomach rumble. She wanted to quickly scoop a spoonful of rice, just like her second sister.
But she continued to patiently wait quietly on the side.
Before long, Yan Rouwan, who had finished washing up, arrived at the dining table, and Si Jingzhu immediately dug in, enjoying every bite.
Once everyone began to eat, Sang Zhe finally noticed Shi Qingyan sitting quietly by the side.
“Good daughter, why aren’t you eating?”
Shi Qingyan blinked her eyes and quietly asked:
“Can… can I eat now?”
Suddenly, the atmosphere at the table fell silent.
Sang Zhe paused for a moment, then smiled.
“Of course! If you don’t hurry, your sister will finish all the tofu.”
It was only then that Shi Qingyan picked up her spoon and scooped a big spoonful of rice into her mouth.
In that moment, an inexplicable happiness made her nose tingle.
“Is it delicious?” Yan Rouwan softly asked, tilting her head.
“…Delicious.”
Shi Qingyan wiped her eyes with her sleeve and beamed brightly.
“Really delicious!”
……
After the meal, Yan Rouwan and Sang Zhe had to go to work.
“We’re off to work now.”
“Take care on the way~”
At the courtyard gate, Shi Qingyan hugged the two cats and waved at Sang Zhe: “Dad, big sister, come back early tonight~”
“Got it!”
It was only after they started climbing the mountain that Sang Zhe finally sighed and loosened his collar.
“Phew… being a dad is quite tiring.”
Yan Rouwan, quick-witted, quietly asked:
“Sang Zhe, do you think this method… will work?”
To be honest, Sang Zhe didn’t know.
Although this method was recommended by the system, even Nian Nian didn’t guarantee it would work.
And after a night of observation,
Sang Zhe seemed to realize one thing.
“Shi Qingyan isn’t just lacking a father’s love…”
He sighed slowly: “She’s lacking love entirely. Her childhood has been completely ruined.”
If she had a normal family,
She wouldn’t have to cautiously ask if she could eat when everyone else started digging in.
“But even if it fails, it’s no big deal.”
Sang Zhe said generously: “It’s just five thousand points. Consider it a lost cause.”
“It’s a good opportunity for Si Jingzhu to experience what a family feels like; Xiaoying looks quite happy too.”
“Totally worth it.”
Yan Rouwan didn’t understand what he meant by points.
But seeing the softness in Sang Zhe’s eyes, she couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What’s so funny?”
“I just suddenly feel that Shi Qingyan’s luck isn’t about meeting Xiaoying.”
“But about meeting you,” she said with a sly smile.
Sang Zhe looked a bit confused.
“Do you enjoy being a family with her?”
“It feels alright.”
“Then, have you considered letting her become a true family member in the future?”
“…What do you mean?”
Yan Rouwan just smiled without speaking.
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