Chapter 71: Daddy, I Want to Ride the Horsey
Nan Xun’s heart stirred. Barefoot, she pattered over, scrambling up along Li Chen’s thigh, and successfully stood on his leg. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her little bottom aimed squarely at the woman who was still smiling.
“Daddy, Daddy, play with me. Don’t talk to this auntie anymore.”
Yu Manshan’s delicately made-up face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly smiled again. “This must be Nan Nan. She’s really cute.”
Nan Xun glanced back at her. “Of course I’m cute. When I grow up, I’ll definitely be prettier than you.”
Yu Manshan’s smile froze again. “Hehe, of course. How could an auntie compare with little Princess Nan Nan?”
Li Chen picked Nan Xun up. After saying a brief “Excuse me,” he took his precious daughter to the bedroom to play house.
Yu Manshan sat alone in the spacious living room, her expression ugly.
That evening, the two guests stayed for dinner, so Nan Xun’s pre-booked carrot porridge was gone. The meal was lavish yet healthy—no heavy meats. Auntie Li made preserved-egg lean-pork congee and pork-rib yam soup, and stir-fried several light vegetable dishes.
Li Chen put a chopstickful of greens into Nan Xun’s bowl.
Nan Xun’s big eyes widened.
Was Daddy Li Chen doing this on purpose? He clearly knew she didn’t like vegetables. She wanted meat—she wanted ribs!
Li Chen scooped a spoonful of preserved-egg lean-pork congee from his own bowl, blew on it, and fed Nan Xun.
Nan Xun had been sulking and didn’t want to eat, but she happened to catch a glimpse of Yu Manshan’s shocked expression. Feeling much better, she immediately opened her little mouth and gulped the congee down.
Watching his daughter’s puffed cheeks as she chewed, Li Chen couldn’t help poking them with a finger, nearly making Nan Xun spray it out.
Nan Xun glared at him and caught him smirking—the upward curve at the corner of his mouth hadn’t even settled.
“Brother Li Chen, you shouldn’t spoil Nan Nan like this,” Yu Manshan said with a smile as she edged closer. “If you pamper her so much, what will she do when she goes to school? If she can’t take care of herself, the teachers and classmates will make fun of her.”
Old Master Li and Yu Manshan’s grandfather were old acquaintances. Although Li Chen now had a daughter, he was still single, and Yu Manshan liked Li Chen very much. If the two got together, both families would naturally approve.
So the two elders exchanged glances, smiling.
Li Chen neither explicitly rejected Yu Manshan’s closeness nor paid her any attention.
A little awkward but unwilling to give up, Yu Manshan continued, “Brother Li Chen, trust me—I often take care of my sister’s kids. I have more experience than you.”
Nan Xun put on a serious little face and consulted Little Eight, “Is this woman hinting that she’s qualified to be my stepmother?”
The Void Beast immediately replied, “She looks shrewd and hard to deal with. You must nip any illicit affair between your Daddy Li Chen and her in the bud!”
Taking Little Eight’s words to heart, Nan Xun immediately pouted. “Daddy, will people really make fun of me? I’m so scared.”
Li Chen’s face grew a little cold. He glanced at Yu Manshan and said icily, “No one dares make fun of my baby. My daughter can be spoiled however she wants.”
As soon as those words fell, Yu Manshan’s pretty face turned deathly pale. Nan Xun, on the other hand, grinned smugly, revealing two little tiger teeth—adorable to the extreme. Grandpa Yu’s expression wasn’t much better, and Old Master Li coughed awkwardly. “Let’s eat—don’t just sit there.”
Seeing oil smeared around his precious daughter’s mouth, Li Chen frowned slightly, picked up a wet wipe, and wiped her little lips.
Nan Xun cooperated, puckering up to make it easier.
“Baby, don’t always eat meat. You should eat more vegetables,” Li Chen said, frowning as he saw Nan Xun’s little hand reach for the ribs.
Nan Xun put on her cute, bun-like serious face, obediently answered “Okay,” gave up the rib she was about to pick up, and resigned herself to drinking congee.
She got full halfway through and pushed the half-bowl of congee—now stirred into a sticky mess—toward Li Chen. Her serious face instantly bloomed into a bright smile, and she said sweetly, “Daddy, you seem not full. Want to drink my congee?”
Li Chen stared expressionlessly at the mashed congee in her bowl, then reached out to rub her head. “My baby is so filial.”
Yu Manshan, Grandpa Yu, and Old Master Li: …
Nan Xun: …
Little Eight had said Li Chen would later produce a whole litter of younger siblings for her. Nan Xun had been skeptical at first—Li Chen looked far too upright and stern. But now… damn, his ability to lie through his teeth was off the charts. No wonder he attracted so many bad romances and ended up with a whole brood.
Thinking about how she’d have to fend off so many romantic rivals for Li Chen in the future made Nan Xun feel stifled. Ignoring his earlier warning, she grabbed her chopsticks and went for the ribs.
But her little arms and hands weren’t strong yet, and she couldn’t control the chopsticks well. She tried for ages and still couldn’t pick up a single rib.
Li Chen raised an eyebrow and just watched without helping.
Old Master Li wanted to help, but was stopped by a sharp look from his son.
Already annoyed, and now being toyed with by a rib, Nan Xun gave up trying to pick it up and jabbed downward with her chopsticks.
Thump.
A large bowl of rib soup was knocked over just like that. The broth spilled across the table, flowing in Yu Manshan’s direction and onto her pretty dress.
Yu Manshan cried out and jumped to her feet.
The dress was pale pink and exquisitely made—probably very expensive.
Feeling guilty, Nan Xun stretched her little legs toward the floor and hugged the big chair under her bottom, inching away from Li Chen. Unfortunately, before she’d moved even half a step, Daddy Li Chen hooked the chair with his foot and dragged chair and child back in front of him.
Li Chen stared at her, his expression cold.
Nan Xun pouted. “Daddy, I didn’t do it on purpose. Or… you can hit me?”
With that, Nan Xun stuck her chubby little butt toward him, signaling that he could spank her.
Li Chen’s anger vanished instantly, replaced by a headache. He rubbed his forehead, scooped his mischievous daughter into his arms, and said, “Baby, eat properly. You didn’t seem to eat much just now.”
Nan Xun blinked her watery big eyes—so Daddy Li Chen wasn’t planning to punish her at all, but was worried she hadn’t eaten enough?
Yu Manshan looked terrible—really terrible. Grandpa Yu wasn’t any better, while Old Master Li wore an awkward expression the entire time.
After the two guests took their leave, Nan Xun proudly climbed onto Li Chen, riding on his shoulders. Hugging his head with both arms, she giggled, “Daddy, we just finished eating—let’s exercise a bit! Giddy-up! Giddy-up! Horsey, go, go!”
