Chapter 101 Vague Worries
During dinner, the atmosphere at the table was somewhat subdued. Wei Wuxian tried to speak several times, but swallowed the words back. He simply kept serving food to Sizhui, piling the sweet and sour pork ribs like a small mountain.
Si Zhui looked at the ribs in the bowl, then looked at Wei Wuxian, who seemed to be hesitant to speak, and put down his chopsticks. "Daddy, do you have something to say to me?"
Wei WuXian's thoughts were exposed, so he simply said directly, "SiZhui, can we not do the substitute teacher's assignment?"
Si Zhui was stunned: "Why?"
“No reason.” Wei WuXian avoided his gaze and ate at the rice in his bowl. “I just think you’re still young, and it’s too tiring for you to go to elementary school every day. And… and we want you to stay home with us more.”
Even he himself felt unsure about what he said. The real reason was that the thought of the two unidentified groups in the surveillance video made him shudder. Si Zhui's spiritual power fluctuations had been captured, and those eyes hidden in the dark might be watching him. Continuing to go to school would be tantamount to exposing himself to danger.
Lan Wangji put down his chopsticks and looked at Sizhui: "There are too many people in school and it's not safe." He said it directly, without beating around the bush like Wei Wuxian did.
Si Zhui finally realized they were worried about him. He looked at the worry in their eyes and said softly, "But I promised the dean that I would stay for the full seven days."
“What does that matter?” Wei WuXian said anxiously, “I’ll go tell them that you’re injured and can’t go. They won’t blame you.”
"No." Si Zhui shook his head, his eyes firm. "I can't give up halfway through what I promised to others. Besides... those kids told me today that they want to hear me tell the story of Sun Wukong tomorrow."
He remembered that after school, the most mischievous little boy pulled his clothes, tilted his little face and said, "Teacher Lan must come tomorrow", with the expectation in his eyes as bright as stars.
"But..." Wei Wuxian wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Sizhui.
"Daddy, Father, I know you're worried about me." Si Zhui's voice was soft, but it was filled with an unmistakable persistence. "I promise I'll never use my spiritual power again. I'll protect myself well, come home on time every day after school, and keep my phone on to let you know I'm safe. Okay?"
His eyebrows and eyes are very clear, just like Lan Wangji, but his persistence in not wanting to give in is also very similar to Wei Wuxian - Wei Wuxian was the same at the mass grave back then. Once he made up his mind, even ten oxen couldn't pull him back.
Wei Wuxian looked at him, suddenly speechless. He recalled how, at fifteen, he had stood guard at the mass graves, despite the pressure from the entire world, in order to protect the Wen clan. Back then, how could he have listened to anyone's advice?
Lan Wangji held Wei Wuxian's hand and said to Sizhui, "Starting tomorrow, I'll take you to school and pick you up after school."
Si Zhui's eyes lit up: "Can you really let me go?"
Lan Wangji nodded: "But you must promise us that no matter what happens, you must call us immediately and not handle it on your own."
"I promise!" Si Zhui nodded vigorously, and a smile finally appeared on his face. "Thank you, father, thank you, daddy!"
Wei WuXian felt a little relieved by watching him smile, but he couldn't help but remind him, "If you see a stranger talking to you, ignore them. If you feel uncomfortable, call us immediately. Your father and I will be there in five minutes. Do you understand?"
"I heard you." Si Zhui responded obediently, picking up a piece of pork ribs for Wei Wuxian. "Daddy, don't worry about eating the ribs. I will really be careful."
Wei Wuxian said nothing, only sighed and stuffed the ribs into his mouth, finding them tasteless. He knew that this kid was his own man, once he made up his mind, nothing could change it. Rather than forcibly stopping him and letting him sneak away, it would be better to stay with him, at least he could be by his side and protect him.
Lan Wangji seemed to see through his thoughts and quietly shook his hand under the table. The warmth from his palm brought a silent comfort - with him around, nothing would happen to Sizhui.
That night, after Sizhui fell asleep, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji sat in the living room. Lan Wangji pulled up the daytime surveillance footage, repeatedly watching the images of the black car and the warehouse, his brow furrowed.
“Who do you think… they are?” Wei WuXian said in a low voice. “The group related to me, could they be from the Wen Clan?”
Lan Wangji shook his head. "Not likely. Wen Ning has always been in contact with us. He wouldn't keep an eye on Si Zhui in this way."
“Who could that be?” Wei WuXian’s heart skipped a beat. “Could it be… the remnants of those aristocratic families who hunted me down back then?”
Lan Wangji said nothing. His fingertips traced the faces of the men in black in the warehouse on the screen, his eyes as cold as ice. “No matter who it is, if they dare to touch Si Zhui, I will not let them go.”
Moonlight shone through the window, falling on their clasped hands. Wei Wuxian leaned on Lan Wangji's shoulder and whispered, "We must keep a close eye on him for the next seven days."
"Yes." Lan Wangji's voice was deep, "I won't leave for an inch."
They all knew that these seven days would be like walking a tightrope, with the child's persistence on one side and the danger lurking on the other. But they had no choice—they couldn't break the child's wings, but they also had to protect him. They could only muster their utmost energy and accompany him through these seven days.
The next morning, when Si Zhui walked out of the house with his schoolbag on his back, he saw Lan Wangji's car waiting at the door. Lan Wangji rolled down the window and handed him a peace amulet: "Take it with you."
It was woven with red rope, with a handful of soil from the Cloud Recesses wrapped inside. Lan Wangji had woven it overnight.
Sizhui took it, tied it carefully on his schoolbag, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Dad."
On the way to school, Sizhui watched the scenery pass by outside the window, and suddenly felt at ease. He knew that his father and his father were right behind him, like two big trees, shielding him from the wind and rain.
What he has to do is to move forward bravely with this protection - even if there is fog ahead, he is not afraid.
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