Chapter 85: Fighting It Out
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
Jiang Rong and the others had planned to visit the Peace Base to see Meng Liang before heading back, but Meng Liang remained in the emergency room, and no one knew when he would come out. The espers at the Peace Base were overwhelmed with work, and seeing this, Jiang Rong’s group felt it would be a burden to add to their troubles.
So they decided to return first. After all, the two bases were close. If Meng Liang’s condition worsened, they could still leave promptly once the Peace Base sent a message.
Guan Shao drove skillfully, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror. Normally, Jiang Rong sat beside him chatting, but this time Jiang Rong accompanied little Yuanyuan in the back seat.
Yuanyuan rested against the window, her big eyes curious and serious as she watched outside. Laipi, the mischievous cat, stretched up against the glass, lazily swishing its tail. The sight of the child and cat side by side was perfectly harmonious.
Jiang Rong gently stroked Yuanyuan’s hair and softly said, “Yuanyuan, Daddy has two big brothers at home. When you see them later, be sure to get along, okay?”
Yuanyuan nodded her small head slowly. “Okay~”
Satisfied with the child’s promise, Jiang Rong smiled faintly. Jiang Xiaoheng was a good-natured little boy who cared for others. As long as Yuanyuan behaved, Jiang Xiaoheng would gladly accept her. Jiang Hao, more steady and mature, always supported whatever Xiaoheng agreed on. As they neared the Spark Base’s service area, Jiang Rong breathed a sigh of relief. “Finally home.” Every time he went on a mission, time seemed to stretch endlessly.
Parked in the service area was a familiar car—one Chu Qiang had specially found for Uncle Chu. When Jiang Rong’s convoy entered the lot, Jiang Xiaoheng and Jiang Hao happily jumped down from the car and ran toward them. “Daddy’s back!”
Uncle Chu and Aunt Chu got out smiling warmly, standing by the car and watching the children’s backs with affection. Before the vehicle even stopped, the two little ones pounced on the car door and knocked excitedly on the window. “Daddy~ Daddy, open up~”
It was a day off. Knowing Jiang Rong’s group would be back, the kids had waited here for a long time. Jiang Rong smiled and opened the door. “My good boys~”
The moment the door swung open, Jiang Xiaoheng skillfully climbed in and threw himself into Daddy’s arms. “Daddy~ I missed you so much! Did you miss me?”
Jiang Rong picked him up effortlessly. “I did. Daddy missed you all very much!”
Yuanyuan’s eyes widened as she stared blankly at Jiang Xiaoheng, who was acting all spoiled in Jiang Rong’s arms. Her shoulders began to tremble; her expression shifted from confusion to anger. In the next moment, she shot forward like lightning and yanked Jiang Xiaoheng’s hair. “He’s mine! Daddy’s mine!”
Jiang Xiaoheng froze, stunned. His scalp hurt badly from the tug. Yuanyuan clearly didn’t understand fairness or turns. She pushed his head with her free little hand, her voice trembling with tears. “Go away! Daddy’s mine!”
Jiang Rong hurriedly grabbed Yuanyuan’s hand. “Yuanyuan, stop! You can’t hit your big brother! Didn’t you promise to get along with the boys? Why start fighting the moment you see him?”
It took some effort, but Jiang Rong finally freed Jiang Xiaoheng’s hair from Yuanyuan’s grip. Jiang Xiaoheng was already holding his head and crying his eyes out. “Wuwu, Daddy… Daddy…”
Yuanyuan’s tears spun in her eyes as she sobbed, “Waaah, Daddy…”
The two kids were more pitiful than each other, their cries louder by the second. Tears spread quickly between the children, and Jiang Hao, watching them bawl, pouted and started crying too. “Daddy…”
For a moment, Jiang Rong felt like he’d fallen into a den of crying children—the noise pounding at his brain. Chu Qiang, half laughing, half exasperated, rubbed his ear. “Xiao Jiang really asked for this. Honestly, I say just give that little girl to the other espers in the base to raise. Now look—three kids crying together. It’s a real party.”
*
Jiang Xiaoheng had never been so wronged. He curled in Jiang Rong’s arms, sniffling, his big dark eyes watery, his nose red from crying. “Daddy, I don’t want a little sister. She’s too fierce. She hit me…”
Jiang Rong’s heart ached as he wiped the tears from his son’s face. He had intended to settle Yuanyuan first, then get his son’s approval before letting them meet. But his son’s warm welcome had met a rude shock—anyone would feel overwhelmed.
Though the kids’ first meeting hadn’t gone well, Jiang Rong still wanted to talk seriously with his son. “Xiaoheng, the little sister didn’t mean it. She’s just very young and hasn’t been taught by Daddy and Mommy how to get along with others, so she doesn’t know manners.”
Yuanyuan had grown up in a harsh environment; her possessiveness was intense. If Jiang Rong and Guan Shao hadn’t intervened in time, Yuanyuan might have bitten him. Compared to her, good boy Xiaoheng was no match.
But Yuanyuan wasn’t a bad child—just without proper guidance. Jiang Rong believed that once she received a proper education, she’d grow into an obedient, sensible kid.
Jiang Xiaoheng buried his face in Jiang Rong’s chest, silent. Jiang Rong felt his son’s emotions slowly soothe and gently stroked his back as he comforted him. “Daddy knows Xiaoheng feels wronged. The little sister was really out of line. Daddy will sternly scold her later and make sure she apologizes to you.”
“We all know Xiaoheng is the best—so obedient and sensible. The little sister is impolite now, but with you around, if you accept her, she will change. She’ll become the most caring little sister in the world. Of course, if Xiaoheng truly hates her and doesn’t want her as family, Daddy will respect your choice.”
Jiang Xiaoheng sniffled and looked up. “Daddy, what if I don’t want the little sister? What will happen to her?”
Jiang Rong looked seriously into Xiaoheng’s eyes. “Daddy will send her to the Miao Miao class, where the teachers can take care of her. But Yuanyuan’s situation is a little special. Daddy worries the teachers might not be able to care for her properly.”
Xiaoheng sniffled again and turned his head toward the car. Yuanyuan was lying against the window, staring at him with wide eyes. When their eyes met, Xiaoheng lowered his gaze.
At Miao Miao class, Xiaoheng had met kids without parents. Those kids were really pitiful. They would hide under the covers and cry secretly. Every time Daddy came to pick him up from school, Xiaoheng would see those kids looking at Daddy in a way that made his heart ache.
If Yuanyuan were raised with those children, she would probably hide away and cry too. She was so little. What would happen to her if she didn’t have Daddy and Mommy?
Xiaoheng buried his face in Jiang Rong’s arms again. “Daddy, will she become a good girl someday?”
Jiang Rong looked out the window, then nodded seriously. “She will, I swear on it.” Such a young child was very moldable. He was confident Yuanyuan would grow into a lovable child.
After thinking for a moment, Xiaoheng slowly nodded. “Okay, I agree to have her as my little sister for now, but she has to apologize to me first. Also, I don’t want to sleep with her, and I don’t want to share my little ducky with her.”
Jiang Rong comforted him with a gentle pat on the back. “Alright, Xiaoheng, don’t worry. Daddy won’t let Yuanyuan touch your things.”
Watching Xiaoheng nestled in Jiang Rong’s arms, Yuanyuan’s eyes brimmed with tears. She pressed her face against the glass and silently wept. Only now did she understand what it meant when Daddy said there were two big brothers at home. Daddy was no longer hers alone. She had to share Daddy with those two boys.
When Jiang Rong opened the car door and saw the little girl crying her heart out, all the words he had prepared turned into a helpless sigh. What had Yuanyuan done wrong? She simply assumed from the start that Daddy was hers alone and didn’t want to share that love.
As a child deprived of affection, Yuanyuan’s reaction was normal. Jiang Rong couldn’t blame a kid who had struggled so hard on her own. He gently picked up the girl and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Yuanyuan, do you feel upset because Daddy isn’t just yours?”
Yuanyuan nodded. “Mm…”
Jiang Rong spoke warmly, “You need to know, Daddy isn’t only your Daddy. He’s also brother Xiaoheng and brother Xiao Hao’s Daddy. You’ve joined our family, become one of us. You’ll get Daddy’s love and the care of your brothers. See? Your family has suddenly gotten bigger. You’ll never be alone again.”
“From now on, you can go to school with the big brothers, play together, and on days when Daddy isn’t home, the big brothers will take care of you instead. Thinking about it like that, do you still feel upset?”
Yuanyuan’s eyes were red, but after a moment’s thought, she slowly shook her head. After hearing Daddy say that, she thought having two big brothers was pretty good.
Jiang Rong stroked Yuanyuan’s hair. “See? Daddy thinks so too. We’re a family now. We have to help and look out for each other. You promised Daddy you’d get along with the big brothers, but you came and hit brother Xiaoheng. Brother Xiaoheng even brought you some treats. Think about it — did you do the right thing?”
Yuanyuan peeked out the window again. Sure enough, she saw Jiang Xiaoheng holding a big bag of snacks. She pressed her lips and looked down. “Mm…”
Jiang Rong said kindly, “Admitting your mistakes means you’re a good kid. Daddy will take you to see brother Xiaoheng soon. You’ll apologize to him, alright?”
Yuanyuan slowly nodded. “Okay.”
The car door opened again. Jiang Rong took Yuanyuan’s hand and stepped out. Seeing Yuanyuan approach, Jiang Xiaoheng nervously crossed his arms behind his back, afraid she might suddenly grab his hair again.
This time, Yuanyuan behaved much better. She stood in front of Jiang Xiaoheng, hesitated a moment, then said, “Big brother, I’m sorry. I’ll listen to you from now on.” She looked up at Jiang Rong, who nodded, then turned to Jiang Xiaoheng.
Jiang Xiaoheng handed her the bag of chips. “I forgive you, but you can’t be so fierce next time, okay?”
Yuanyuan reached out to take the bag, eyes wide at the pictures on the packaging, then looked up and smiled at Jiang Xiaoheng. Jiang Rong patted Yuanyuan’s head. “You should say thank you to big brother.”
Yuanyuan said brightly, “Thank you, big brother.”
Jiang Xiaoheng smiled a little. “You’re welcome. Your name is Yuanyuan, right? I’m your big brother Xiaoheng. I’ll take you to meet our big brother Xiao Hao later. He’ll bring you home. We’ve got lots of yummy food at home, and there’s Lele, Junjun, Little Fairy, and Little Guaiguai. I’ll introduce them to you, okay?”
Yuanyuan’s eyes brightened slowly. “Okay~”
Jiang Xiaoheng held her hand with ease. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of you.”
Watching the children shake hands and make peace, Jiang Rong quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Although their first meeting had a few hiccups, it had gone smoothly overall. Starting today, he was the father of three children. The Jiang family was growing from two to five — a truly joyous change. Just then, Guan Shao’s voice came from behind, “Is everything settled?”
Jiang Rong smiled and intertwined his fingers with Guan Shao’s. “They’re kids after all — temper flares fast but fades just as quickly. All three are good kids; they just need time to adjust.”
Guan Shao smiled. “Then let them take their time. There’s plenty of time and chances ahead.”
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