Chapter 17 Finally, we don't have to eat the healthy version of pig feed anymore...
Ji Zhi Qiu wasn't just a parent who would follow their child around taking care of them. All three of them had a great time and managed to do all the activities. However, they were so tired on the way back that they couldn't speak and were drowsy.
Ji Yanyan was a brand new account, with excellent recovery ability. After dozing off in Ji Zhi Qiu's arms for a while, she became energetic again, looking at him expectantly: "Daddy, what are we going to eat when we get back?"
Ji Zhi Qiu struggled to open her eyes, staring blankly at the rapidly changing scene outside the window. Ah, right, people need to eat.
He thought for a moment, "Dad will make you some pork ribs when we get back."
In the past, Ji Yanyan would have cheered, but this time she pouted and said, "No, I want to eat something delicious."
Upon hearing this, Ji Zishen turned to look at him in surprise.
He had long been fed up with Ji Zhi Qiu's cooking, but Ji Yan Yan was more like a pica, happily eating even strangely colored porridge. He always thought this father and son were hopeless, but he never expected that Ji Yan Yan would complain one day.
Ji Zhi Qiu felt that even if she hadn't done anything special, she had still put in a lot of effort, so she reluctantly pinched Ji Yan Yan's cheek. "I specially bought homegrown, natural, and pollution-free vegetables, which cost twice as much as I did. The meat is also of the highest quality. It's so healthy!"
Ji Yanyan still suffered from her lack of education, muttering and unable to utter a complete sentence, only able to gesture with her hands, "It has to be shaped like vegetables, not like the soup made by Snow White's stepmother."
Ji Zhi Qiu: "..." You've got a pretty sophisticated way of swearing.
He snorted coldly, not bothering to argue with Ji Yanyan, not because he was magnanimous, but simply because he felt guilty.
He knew his cooking skills were poor, and he was afraid that the food was undercooked and poisonous, so he always used high heat, and the food was just mushy, as long as it didn't turn into mush.
The child had never tasted good food before. At first, Ji Yanyan ate with relish, but after a while, he could tell the difference between good and bad. Not to mention him, even Ji Zhi Qiu couldn't stand it anymore. If he didn't still have a little conscience, he would have secretly ordered takeout long ago.
This can't go on. After thinking for a while, Ji Zhi Qiu said under Ji Yan Yan's expectant gaze, "Then let's go back and not eat the poison that Snow White's stepmother made. Let's eat the same thing as the Little Mermaid."
Ji Yanyan's eyes sparkled as she nestled softly into Ji Zhi Qiu's arms, almost drooling. "Are we going to eat fish today?"
Ji Zhi Qiu shook her head. "Isn't there a witch in The Little Mermaid too? The witch's soup comes from the sea, so it tastes different from the soup on land."
Ji Yanyan: "...Hmph hmph hmph!"
He angrily got up, sat cross-legged on the chair, crossed his arms, turned his head away from Ji Zhi Qiu, revealing only his soft, snow-white face, making him look like a triangular rice ball.
Even after getting off the bus, Ji Yanyan was throwing a tantrum, hiding her little hands in her bosom. Whenever Ji Zhi Qiu tried to hold her hand, she would pull away. Finally, she simply turned around and turned her back to Ji Zhi Qiu.
This time, Ji Zhi Qiu didn't correct his bad temper. After reflecting on herself for a second, she sighed, "I really am a useless father."
He's just a college student who eats in the cafeteria and occasionally orders takeout, but when he opens his eyes again, he'll have to raise three human babies. I can't do it!
The father and son stood bewildered in the wind, their faces greener than any color, while Ji Zishen, standing to the side, hesitated to speak.
This wasn't the first time he'd heard Ji Zhi Qiu call himself a useless father, but this time it was completely different, and he was actually somewhat moved.
In order to stay, he thought it was better to avoid trouble and arouse Ji Zhi Qiu's suspicion, so he gritted his teeth and ate pig feed with them.
It wasn't that he couldn't stand it anymore, it's just...
The taste of ice cream still lingers on the tip of the tongue. After tasting the sweetness, other desires arise, and one might foolishly take risks to taste even more sweetness.
Ji Zishen licked his dry lips, took a deep breath, and looked up at Ji Zhiqi. "Dad, I can cook."
Ji Zhi Qiu's figure was reflected in his clear, clean eyes. Time seemed to slow down, and Ji Zi Shen felt tormented, as if he were being pulled back and forth.
Will Ji Zhi Qiu believe them? Will they mock him? Will they pry into his past? Will they think he's a worthless bad kid who went from one family to another without staying? Will they send him back to the orphanage?
Just as Ji Zishen was about to be overwhelmed by these things, he suddenly felt his hand being grasped by something warm.
Ji Zhi Qiu squatted down to be the same height as Ji Zi Shen, her eyes sparkling, and the shorter one's eyes filled with tears. "This is so wonderful, you saved the three of us, father and sons!"
Ji Zishen: "..."
Why is this so unconventional? At least we should ask why.
Before he could even react, Ji Zhi Qiu grabbed one of them by the hand and hurried home, muttering, "Zi Shen, go back and rest for a bit. I'll prepare the ingredients. Oh, and what do you want to make tonight? Don't make it too complicated, just use what we have at home..."
Ji Yanyan looked confused, her gaze shifting back and forth between her father and brother. In the end, she decided that her brother was more reliable, and nodded in a mature and sophisticated manner, as if she were willing to risk her life to accompany him.
Ji Zishen felt something was off, but he didn't regret saying it.
Although he took some risks, he got the result he wanted.
After returning home, Ji Zhi Qiu quickly prepared the ingredients and gave the head chef a very grand welcome.
When Ji Zishen stood in the kitchen, his heart suddenly calmed down.
He grew up living under the roof of others, constantly on the move, always having to be mindful of others' opinions. When he was wronged, he wanted to hate the other person, but he was overwhelmed by a deep sense of guilt—he knew better than anyone else that he was just a burden.
Children are placed in a vulnerable position, needing care and discipline. No one recognizes their independent soul and thoughts, or respects them. When they finally speak their minds, they are met with looks of fear and disgust.
After that, he was sent back to the orphanage for the first time.
Because of his handsome face and skill in disguise, he quickly got a second chance.
Ji Zishen learned his lesson and realized the importance of first impressions. From the beginning, he acted sensible and considerate, taking on all the things that adults should do, and indirectly expressing his own needs. However, he was still sent back to the welfare home.
The third time, the fourth time...
Ji Zishen gradually realized that at his current age, he was not allowed to be an adult.
Realizing this, he carefully selected a foolish adoptive parent. At Ji Zhi Qiu's home, he played the role of an innocent child, and his every move was in line with the age group he belonged to. This time, he succeeded.
Ji Zhi Qiu had no legitimate reason to send him away, so she could only continue to endure it.
He knew this trick would work, but he still gave up on it. If he had any regrets before, they completely disappeared when he stood in the kitchen.
The kitchen is his own private world, where no one can interfere or criticize him. Food is the most basic human need, and his ability to cook meals indirectly means that he can be self-reliant and support himself. This is something only adults can do, giving him an indescribable sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
This was his utopia. For the first time, Ji Zishen relaxed and revealed a genuine smile.
Ji Zhi Qiu watched Ji Zi Shen's figure through the glass, but didn't go over to disturb him. After a few seconds of silence, she turned to find Ji Yan Yan, who was sprawled out on the sofa: "Get up and tidy up your toys."
Ji Yanyan rolled over, resisting with her body.
Ji Zhi Qiu seized the opportunity to pinch his soft buttocks. "Your brother was cooking for you. When he came out, the living room was a mess. Do you think you're doing justice to his hard work?"
Ji Yanyan glanced at him, her attitude softening somewhat.
Ji Zhi Qiu softened her tone and sat down next to him, continuing to coax, "Now that we've finished the work together, we can sit on the sofa together after dinner, eat fruit, and watch cartoons."
Ji Yanyan thought about the scene and felt a little tempted, but he was still too lazy to move, so he said coquettishly, "Daddy, help me."
Ji Zhi Qiu raised an eyebrow: "That's fine too. I'll put it in a trash bag and then throw it out."
Ji Yanyan: "..."
His soft cheeks puffed up, and his lips pouted as he muttered softly, "Daddy's naughty."
Ji Zhi Qiu deliberately asked, "What did you just say? I didn't hear you."
Old habits die hard, and Ji Yanyan was still as mischievous as ever. But during the time they spent together, he had fully realized how formidable Ji Zhi Qiu was, and quickly changed his tune: "I said I like Daddy, Daddy is good."
After saying that, he closed his eyes, his expression inexplicably humiliated.
Ji Zhi Qiu was charmed by her cuteness and lowered her head to give her a kiss. "Yan Yan is so well-behaved, Daddy will help too."
The three of them worked together with astonishing efficiency. Just as Ji Zhi Qiu finished wiping the table, the kitchen door opened.
Ji Zishen had never been in such a good mood. His whole demeanor had changed. He hummed a song as he carried the plate out.
Ji Zhi Qiu wanted to go up and help, but Ji Zi Shen suddenly froze on the spot, his face turning very ugly.
Ji Zhi Qiu was startled and quickly went over to check on him: "Zi Shen, are you alright?"
Ji Zishen's pupils contracted, and his gaze moved extremely slowly to Ji Zhiqi, also seeing everything behind him.
It wasn't a broom thrown at him anymore, nor was it wanton insults, or complaints that he was too slow and just a freeloader.
The surrounding area is a bright and clean living room, no longer a dark and messy little house.
"I'm fine."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Yanyan ran over and looked up at him, saying, "Brother, I've tidied up my toys. I want to watch cartoons with you later."
Ji Zishen didn't understand what he was talking about, but he nodded nonetheless.
One adult and two children sat at the dining table, and Ji Zhi Qiu almost burst into tears when she took her first bite.
This is what humans should eat, not the healthy version of pig feed that he painstakingly made!
The thought had barely crossed his mind when a strange noise suddenly rang out beside him, making his brow twitch.
"You have hands and a spoon, don't bury your face in it and stick your mouth out so far, don't make strange noises!" After saying that, Ji Zhi Qiu also lowered her head and slurped down two big mouthfuls of rice, her face covered in rice grains.
Seeing all this, Ji Zishen was speechless. They really are father and son.
He ate with his head down, his mind a jumble of emotions, the constant praise from Ji Zhi Qiu and Ji Yan Yan echoing in his ears.
"It's so delicious! I regained the three pounds I lost in just one meal."
"Brother, I'm hungry, I need food."
"Don't eat too much, or you'll get indigestion."
"Hmph, brother, you can be my dad then."
Ji Zishen almost choked, and refused expressionlessly: "I don't want to, it's too much trouble."
Ji Yanyan: Waaaaaah orz
Despite the two men's generous display of emotion, Ji Zishen remained expressionless, though his lips occasionally twitched and turned upwards.
After finishing their meal, Ji Zhi Qiu told Ji Zi Shen to go and rest, while she cleaned up the house herself.
In the evening, the father and his two sons sat on the sofa watching TV. The atmosphere was quite pleasant. Ji Yanyan was usually quite boisterous, but when the time came, it was as if the battery had been removed. His eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and he tilted his head and instantly fell asleep. Ji Zhi Qiu carried him back to the bedroom. When they came out again, the living room was quiet, and the bathroom door was already closed.
He stood quietly for a while, finally finding time to organize his thoughts.
Having read the contents of the book, he was essentially from God's perspective and understood Ji Zishen's situation and suffering better than anyone else.
An adult's soul is stuffed into a small body and constantly suffers. He clearly has the ability to break free, but because he is a child, he is forcibly deprived of this right. No wonder Ji Zishen's personality becomes increasingly distorted and he eventually goes down a path of no return.
There is no true empathy in the world. Ji Zhi Qiu felt breathless just thinking about Ji Zi Shen's experience, let alone Ji Zi Shen himself.
Thinking of this, Ji Zhi Qiu let out a long sigh.
Although he wanted to straighten Ji Zishen, this crooked sapling, back onto the right path, he also had to respect his own growth trajectory and couldn't force him.
Since Ji Zishen considers himself an adult, he is willing to grant his request.
Ji Zhi Qiu's heart skipped a beat. Taking advantage of Ji Zi Shen's absence, she secretly slipped into his room and came out a minute later.
...
When Ji Zishen came out of the bathroom, he saw the hot milk on the table, but he had already brushed his teeth, so he politely declined Ji Zhiqi's offer.
Ji Zhi Qiu sat on the bay window, a cup of hot milk in one hand, almost bubbling as he drank. Ji Zi Shen watched silently as he watched for a while before barely suppressing the urge to say "goodnight," and returned to his room with a complicated expression.
Ji Zhi Qiu had always been a fool in his eyes, extremely biased, and destined to ruin his own son, but these days he has gradually changed.
One moment he's good, the next he's bad; one moment he's smart, the next he's stupid. He even teases him and makes him lose face, but Ji Zhi Qiu will take him to the amusement park and give him ice cream.
The sweet taste lingered on his tongue, slowly eroding something. Ji Zishen noticed this and irritably lay down on the bed, trying to clear his mind. Just then, he caught a glimpse of the corner of his eye on the desk and suddenly froze, his blood running cold.
He had lived as a dependent for many years and had never truly owned anything of his own, which gave him a deep sense of unease. He was very concerned about his privacy and even developed obsessive-compulsive disorder. Before leaving, he would deliberately arrange his books into different shapes to prevent others from secretly touching them.
He clearly remembered that the books weren't arranged like this when he left the room, and his schoolbag had been moved.
He pounced on her, dumped everything from her schoolbag onto the desk, and checked them one by one.
There are only three people in the house. Ji Yanyan has already gone to sleep. Even if he woke up in the middle of the night and sneaked in, he is not even as tall as the desk, so how could he possibly touch the schoolbag? That leaves only... Ji Zhi Qiu.
Ji Zhi Qiu sneaked into the room and started messing with his things. What was he trying to do?!
When the question popped into his mind, he immediately knew the answer.
Ji Zhi Qiu took him to the amusement park to buy him ice cream, just to lull him into a false sense of security and make him reveal his true colors. He clearly saw through many things, but he didn't say anything and instead secretly slipped into the room.
What is he looking for... evidence to send him back to the orphanage?
Realizing this, Ji Zishen stopped what he was doing and gave a smile that looked more like a grimace.
Sure enough, this wasn't his home, and no one could truly be kind to him.
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