"Isn't today a special occasion?" Mumu snuggled into her mother's embrace with a fawning look.
Lan Yuxi patted her little head and smiled at her son, "Did you see the message from your third uncle?"
Zhaozhao replied, "Third uncle didn't send a message, I tracked Dad's phone and knew he was back."
Lan Yuxi pouted and took her phone, tapping on WeChat.
Jiu Xi: [Mr. and Nan Xiao have safely arrived home, no need to worry. Everyone get some rest, see you tomorrow morning.]
San Wei: [Xi'er, Nan Xiao is back, and you still have time to send messages? (wicked grin)]
Jiu Xi: [(hammer) I'll beat you to death!]
Yi Shang: [Deserves a beating! How can you tease your sister like that!]
Si Guo: [Xi'er, I'll come visit you next week. Make a list of what you want to eat, and I'll cook for you when I get there.]
Jiu Xi: [mua~ Fourth Brother~]
Wu Xu: [Fourth Brother only knows how to spoil his sister!]
Er Si: [Because you're not as cute as your sister!]
Qi Tai: [Brothers, family, I'm going back to Norcas tomorrow. (crying)]
Liu Lun: [What are you crying for! In a few months, I'll come back and replace you.]
Qi Tai: [Can you replace me sooner?]
Liu Lun: [What do you think?]
Ba Xin: [(stealing a laugh) It's good that Third Brother and the others are back. Everyone should get some rest early. If we keep messaging like this, we'll disturb Mom and Dad, and it will affect Xi'er's rest too.]
Yi Shang: [@Ba Xin, have you taken your medicine today?]
Ba Xin: [Yes.]
Nan Zhenting: [Zi Xin, are you feeling better?]
Lan Haolin: [Old Nan, go to rest. Your blood pressure was a bit high today. Don't stay up late. When Zi Xin gets better, she'll come to Hua Country.]
Nan Zhenting: [Alright, Zi Xin, take good care of yourself.]
Tang Wan: [Third, have you and Nan Xiao had dinner? Should I make something for you?]
San Wei: [No need, we ate on the plane.]
Yi Shang: [Isn't Nan Xiao in the group? Why isn't he talking?]
Lan Haolin: [That kid doesn't use WeChat.]
San Wei: [Are you sure? I've seen him chat with Xi'er before.]
Wu Xu: [@Jiu Xi, calling Xi'er, add that kid Nan Xiao to the group so we can "discipline" him anytime.]
Tang Wan: [Fifth, mind your words, your Uncle Nan is still here.]
Wu Xu: [(Shut up)]
Jiu Xi: [Nan Xiao is taking a shower. I'll add him to the group first, and he'll talk to you all after he's out.]
Tang Wan: [Don't rush him to talk to everyone. Let him rest well tonight. You guys, sleep if you need to sleep, nap if you need to nap. Disperse.]
At Tang Wan's command, the group instantly fell silent.
When Nan Xiao came out, the two little ones were already snuggled up to Lan Yuxi on either side, listening to her read an English story.
Nan Xiao looked at the warm scene, his smile gradually widening.
Mumu looked up at her father, whose hair was still dripping, "Daddy, do you need your hair dried? I can do it for you?"
Nan Xiao smiled and stroked her little head, "No need, Dad will dry it himself in a bit. I was afraid you'd be waiting, so I came out to see you."
Lan Yuxi smiled and looked over, "Why don't I blow-dry it for you?"
"No, you read them their story."
Nan Xiao glanced at the two extra pillows on the bed, his heart sinking halfway. It seemed like tonight was a bust, but looking at the two adorable little ones, he figured he could endure it.
Nan Xiao patted his son's little head again before returning to the bathroom.
Zhaozhao hugged his mother's arm and asked, "Mom, should my sister and I go back to our room?"
"The pillows are already here, why would you go back to sleep?"
"I'm afraid Dad will carry me away again in the middle of the night."
Lan Yuxi's lips twitched, and she chuckled, "To prevent him from carrying you away, you can fall asleep first. That way, he won't be able to carry you anymore."
Mumu nodded her little head vigorously, "Brother, I think Mom's right!"
"Hahaha..." Lan Yuxi couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Zhaozhao pursed his lips, grabbed his little pillow, walked to the bedside, and lay down.
Lan Yuxi smiled, picked up Mumu, and placed her on her other side. She lay down between the two children, "Mom is here. Let's dim the lights a bit and continue the story."
Zhaozhao looked at his mother, who was smiling with pursed lips, "Mom, did Dad tell you stories when you were little?"
Lan Yuxi grabbed the remote and dimmed the lights, smiling, "Yes, he did. But Dad was very naughty. He always told me scary stories, and I was so scared that I'd burrow into his arms, and fall asleep before long."
Mumu hugged her arm and asked, "Mom, can you tell us a story about you and Dad when you were little?"
"Hmm... let Mom think about it. Which part would be fun..."
Nan Xiao walked out with a smile, "Tell them about the part you didn't want to go to kindergarten."
Lan Yuxi glared at him playfully, "You're not allowed to say that, it'll set a bad example for the kids!"
"Dad, I want to hear it!" Mumu sat up abruptly.
Nan Xiao lay down beside her with a smile, "Mom won't let me say it, so let's choose another one... How about the story of you coming to school with me?"
"Okay!" Mumu lay in her father's embrace, smiling, "Let's start~"
Nan Xiao smiled and said, "Your mom didn't like going to her own school. Every morning, she'd pester me to take her to my school. If I refused, she'd cry, but if I took her, she'd argue with the girls in my class every day..."
"Cough!" Lan Yuxi coughed softly.
Nan Xiao looked over with a smile, "Can't say this part either?"
Lan Yuxi rolled her eyes at him, "What do you think?"
Mumu widened her big, watery eyes and asked eagerly, "Mom, why did you argue with the girls in Dad's class?"
Lan Yuxi pouted, "I didn't like looking at them. Mom tells you, when Mom was little, she never lost an argument."
Nan Xiao picked up the conversation with a smile, "Your mom is telling the truth. She never lost an argument when she was little, and she never lost a fight when she grew up."
Zhaozhao chimed in from the side, "But Mom said she never beat you."
Nan Xiao chuckled, "That's because your mom let me win."
Lan Yuxi playfully hit him over their daughter.
Nan Xiao held her hand with a doting expression, "Those people from the An family should be sent back."
Lan Yuxi's face flushed slightly as she "mm-hmm"ed.
Zhaozhao spoke up, "Why are we letting them go? They're too evil! They brought nearly a hundred people to try and kill Dad this time."
Nan Xiao propped his head up and looked at his son, "This time it will deter them for a while. If they still have malicious intentions, Dad will punish them."
Zhaozhao asked with a grave expression, "Is it because they are your relatives, Dad?"
Nan Xiao reached out his large hand and stroked his son's little head, "They haven't been my relatives for a long time. But as long as your grandmother is alive, I have to give them some face."