Chapter 4, Section 4: "Uncle, you must be good."

The grandfather and grandson had a detailed conversation about how long Qi Youyu would return and how long Yan Xingli would need to take care of the child.

How do you replenish your spaceship's energy?

How long will it take to replenish?

With a lollipop in her mouth, Qi Youyu mumbled, "The Little Fish needs a lot of happiness and unhappiness."

Yan Xingli frowned and pulled the lollipop out of the child's mouth: "Don't be distracted. I'm asking you a question, so you have to answer it properly."

Qi Youyu snatched the lollipop back, feeling wronged: "I answered properly."

The child projected the holographic screen again, pointing to a glaring red square above and saying:

"Once the energy block turns green, the Little Fish can restart."

Yan Xingli guessed it was something like a battery. He crossed his arms and glared at her, asking, "Then how can it be turned green?"

Qi Youyu held up one finger, shook her little head, and explained earnestly:

"Uncle, the Little Fish's energy acquisition is a process of emotional siphoning. It has to consume a lot of happiness and unhappiness before it turns green."

The Little Fish has an emotional crystal built in, which is specially designed to collect and absorb the spiritual energy decomposed from human emotions of joy, anger, sorrow and happiness. When there is enough spiritual energy in the crystal, it can be transformed into energy to drive flight.

While Yu Yu was explaining, a short video was playing on the holographic screen.

The explanation, which combines text and video, is easy to understand and seems fine at first glance, but upon closer inspection, there are significant problems.

He desperately needs an energy source that can power a spaceship without electricity or oil—it's so environmentally friendly and saves so much money.

Yan Xingli was extremely envious.

He rubbed his chin, feigning composure, and asked with his bright, captivating eyes:

"Hey Fish, this sounds pretty amazing. With some improvements, could it be used in cars?"

Seeing that Yan Xingli seemed very interested, Qi Youyu generously shared how she achieved energy conversion.

The honest and kind young scientist is never stingy in sharing his knowledge.

"Uncle, let me tell you, building a time machine is actually very simple. You just need to do this—"

After being bombarded with a barrage of unfamiliar, obscure, and profound professional terms and knowledge, Yan Xingli's eyes gradually went vacant.

"Oh, right, there's also—"

The child got more and more excited as she talked, completely unaware that she was trying to teach a science-challenged student.

...

Yan Xingli: What are you babbling about? Never mind, ya la suo~

*

Despite losing a month-long vacation, Yan Xingli did not give up.

He needed time to settle Qi Youyu, take her around to collect emotions to replenish her energy, and also needed time to relax and rest.

After the last promotional event for the currently airing drama ended, Yan Xingli began to have a tough fight with the company, managing to squeeze out a week's vacation as a form of appeasement and compensation.

Yan Xingli told Xiao Lin that he didn't need to deliver breakfast for a while and gave Xiao Lin a week off.

On the first day of the holiday, Yan Xingli contacted a housekeeping company to select a nanny from a stack of resumes. His job required him to travel all over the country.

Since we can't take Qi Youyu with us all the time, it's better for the child to eat nutritious meals prepared by the nanny at home than to eat work meals with him.

After much deliberation, Yan Xingli was overwhelmed by the choices. He rubbed his eyes and picked up the fish that was fiddling with the tablet.

"You should also pick one and see if there's an auntie you like."

As soon as she finished speaking, the tablet in Yu Yu's arms was replaced by a stack of resumes as thick as a brick.

"Uncle, what are you going to do?" the child asked, confused.

"What else can we do? We'll find you a nanny to take care of you."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yu immediately shook her head, puffed out her little chest with a heroic air, and said, "I don't need it. Little scientists don't need anyone to take care of them. Little scientists can take care of people."

Yan Xingli knew this child was unusual, but no matter how unusual, he was still just a little kid.

“I’ll be filming all over the place and won’t be home all the time. I’m worried about leaving you home alone.” He squeezed the child’s soft, curly hair. “So we have to hire a nanny to cook and clean for you.”

Yan Xingli said a lot, but all that came to Qi Youyu's ears was: You're home alone.

The child's smile vanished, replaced by extreme grievance: "You didn't take me! You actually didn't take me!"

Who brings their family to work? Just as Yan Xingli was about to righteously refuse, Yu Yu blurted out a resounding statement:

"Uncle, you can't just give birth and then not raise them."

ah?

he? ?

Yan Xingli was shocked, pointed to himself, and was speechless.

...Is this the blessing of skipping marriage and childbirth and becoming an ancestor without pain?

Yan Xingli was deeply saddened, and said in a low voice with a blank face, "I remember a little alien said he would come and protect me."

The child tossed the resume aside, then pounced into his arms like a puppy, rubbing his fluffy head against him and saying, "Yes, it's me."

This kid's hair is really prickly.

Yan Xingli pressed down on the puppy-man's head with his big hand: "Auntie still needs to be chosen. I can't cook or clean."

"Oh, I don't know either."

Qi Youyu seemed to remember something, slapped her forehead, and ran away.

Yan Xingli ignored her. After spending a few days with her, he had gradually gotten used to the child's impulsiveness and tendency to be easily startled.

He got up, rubbing his aching back, yawning as he walked towards the bedroom. He shouted something to Yu Yu and then closed the door.

Yan Xingli was used to resting in complete darkness. As soon as the curtains were closed, he would fall asleep on the bed as if he had been given a strong drug.

I don't know how much time passed, but a feeling of discomfort from being watched arose in my sleep.

Yan Xingli opened his eyes without warning. Two round, green eyes floated by the bedside. Those eyes were ridiculously large and unblinking, making them particularly eerie in the darkness.

"Ghost, ghost, ghost!"

Yan Xingli, who had been dozing off, let out a loud scream and crawled on the bed, twisting and turning on his hands and feet.

With a thud, he fell off the 2.3-meter-wide bed.

"uncle."

The green eyes made a familiar sound.

Yan Xingli, who was grimacing and rubbing his buttocks, was taken aback: "Qi Youyu?"

"Hey, Uncle, you're awake."

"Qi Youyu, what happened to you?"

Yan Xingli turned on the bedside lamp, and the big-eyed robot was revealed in its entirety. It was a small robot that looked somewhat like Doraemon, short and chubby, wearing a blue suit.

Without a doubt, this blue robot cat must have been brought by Qi Youyu.

The child's voice sounded slightly flustered: "I didn't cause any trouble, I just became more handsome."

As they spoke, the bedroom curtains automatically opened, and the afternoon sunlight illuminated the room.

If a child is quiet, they're definitely up to no good.

Yu Yu's evasive and cryptic answer made Yan Xingli feel uneasy.

He put on his slippers and went out.

The sight of the child frantically cleaning up the scene in the living room was particularly striking.

"What are you doing?"

When you're going to catch someone red-handed, Yan Xingli's towering shadow loomed over Qi Youyu, who quickly looked up.

Her face was deathly pale, with two uneven patches of red from the high altitude, and dark circles under her eyes.

The child, sporting a big-mouthed monkey makeup, grinned ingratiatingly: "Uncle, Yuyu is playing by herself."

Yan Xingli's eyes twitched. Foundation, cushion foundation, blush, contour palette, lipstick, eyebrow pencil—this brat has brought everything from his dressing room over.

Luckily, they were all gifts from the brands, so I don't feel bad about ruining them.

"Can't you just shut up for a second?" Yan Xingli pointed at the chubby blue dog that had followed them out unhurriedly, his face long and drawn. "Who is this guy? What are you up to by putting him in my room?"

Young people just don't know their own strength when they hit.

Aren't you afraid of scaring his ancestor to death? The whole clan can play Candy Crush together.

Qi Youyu got up from the ground and ran to the blue fat man: "Uncle, this is Xiaohua, it is my good friend."

"I sent it in to check if you were awake."

Yan Xingli took a deep breath: "It's very impolite to enter someone else's room without permission."

"Okay, Uncle, I'll scold Xiaohua right away and teach her to be polite."

After skillfully shifting the blame, Qi Youyu couldn't resist showing off her slightly protruding belly:

"Uncle, Xiaohua is the smartest robot in the world. No lock can stump it. I made this robot myself."

Yan Xingli teased, "Well, you're quite capable."

Children are easily flattered, so he praised them subtly, but accidentally touched Yu Yu's heart.

Everyone praised her for being smart, but only her uncle praised her for being capable.

Qi Youyu's eyes sparkled: "Uncle, I want to treat you to some cookies."

"I won't eat it."

As soon as Yan Xingli relaxed, a sweet and fragrant aroma wafted into his nostrils.

He twitched his nostrils as he sniffed the smell, and a sudden thought struck him.

"You opened fire?"

Qi Youyu nodded vigorously: "Xiaohua and I baked cookies together."

Oh, his kitchen.

Yan Xingli turned around in a hurry and rushed into the kitchen, the sweet aroma of cream growing stronger.

The kitchen sink was still sparkling clean, the floor was spotless, and the walls were intact—everything was normal.

Yan Xingli breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

He turned his head and said seriously, "Children shouldn't play with fire. Tell me what you want to eat, and I'll buy it for you."

Our ancestors lived in such a small and poor place, yet they still wanted to spend money. How could that be acceptable?

Qi Youyu imitated Yan Xingli's stern face: "Uncle, Xiaohua can cook. Don't waste money. Be obedient."

Yan Xingli: "...You should listen to me and stop causing trouble."

For next month's variety show recording, guests are not allowed to order takeout or hire help. Since he has some free time these days, he decided to put cooking on his agenda.

The ingredients in the refrigerator were only enough to make a simple sandwich, so Yan Xingli changed his clothes, put on a mask, and took Qi Youyu out to shop.

S City is also a cyber city, with robots everywhere, so he didn't stop Xiaohua from going out with him.

Yan Xingli observed Xiaohua the whole way.

It was found that its obstacle avoidance flexibility was better than that of robots on the market, and it did not have the stiff joints and mechanical feel of robots that moved like pseudo-humans.

That leisurely, unhurried walking posture was enough to fool the real thing.

Its biggest drawback is its dull and simple appearance, unlike a robot from another high-tech planet.

Xiao Hua seems to really enjoy shopping at the supermarket, especially the seafood section. Like Qi Youyu, the two little ones can spend a long time browsing the seafood section.

Little Flower's chubby belly is a storage cabinet; all the groceries they bought were put inside it. Surprisingly, its small belly can hold a lot.

Yan Xingli bought a pound and a half of half-dead shrimp.

These shrimp aren't fresh, but they're not bad either, and they're cheap, making them perfect for kitchen beginners to practice with.

Back home, before Yan Xingli could even start, Xiao Hua's two Doraemon-like round hands had already taken out all the ingredients and neatly arranged them in the refrigerator.

"Joke," Yan Xingli exclaimed, "It's quite intelligent."

Then he turned around, found a basin, filled it with some water, and poured the shrimp in.

As soon as the prawns were put into the basin, they splashed around, soaking Yan Xingli's face with water. They seemed to have a final burst of energy before death, becoming lively and energetic.

That's really strange.

Without much thought, Yan Xingli rolled up his sleeves, found a video tutorial on how to prepare shrimp, and picked up his scissors, ready to go.

"Uncle, what are you doing with those scissors?"

"Peel the shrimp and remove the veins," Yan Xingli said. "You're in luck; you're the first person to taste my braised shrimp."

Qi Youyu raised expectations high: "Ah, then I'll have a lot of fun."

"Uncle, let me help."

Yan Xingli handed her a clove of garlic: "Then peel this one."

The child, feeling he had been assigned an important task, held up a garlic clove and nodded solemnly: "Okay, I'll peel it all off."

The grandmother and grandson were busy in the kitchen, and finally managed to stir-fry the much-anticipated braised prawns before sunset.

Yan Xingli almost reverently served the braised prawns to the table.

He looked at Qi Youyu: "Would you like to go first or should I?"

Qi Youyu raised her hand: "Me first, me first."

"Okay, let's do it together."

The fork and chopsticks are lifted at the same time.

Chew it up.

Too much salt made the shrimp overcooked, and all its freshness and flavor were lost.

Yan Xingli took a bite and put it down: "It doesn't taste very good, does it?"

Qi Youyu: "Uncle, you shouldn't cook anymore."

This is because they think his cooking is bad.

Yan Xingli admitted that the attempt had failed, but he would not give up: "That won't do. I'm not the kind of person who is easily defeated by difficulties. Don't underestimate me."

Qi Youyu shook her head: "No, it's not my uncle."

Sitting in her high chair, Yu Yu neatly folded her little hands on the table: "I was worried about you."

"Cooking fumes can damage the skin and accelerate aging," Yu Yu said sincerely. "Uncle is so handsome, he will definitely be sad when he gets old."

That's such a flattering compliment; it really praises Yan Xingli.

Come to think of it, he does rely mainly on his looks to make a living these days.

Qi Youyu spoke again: "So let's leave the cooking to Xiaohua."

"Uncle, you don't need to ask Auntie. Xiaohua can do everything Auntie can do."

Yan Xingli: "...With those round hands like Doraemon's? It can even hold a spatula?"

Qi Youyu was wondering what Doraemon was when the quiet little flower in the corner slowly started to move.

"Don't worry, ancient people. Although these kitchen utensils are very old, I have mastered how to use them through the database."

A note from the author:

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