Chapter 197: Extra — Meeting the In-Laws

“He’s my son, not a cat,” Song Yang protested, dissatisfied. “How can you be so careless with naming?”

Song Jin asked in confusion, “I was very serious. What’s careless about it?”

Song Yang said, “I’ve already thought of nicknames for them.”

Hearing him bring this up, Rong Mian added with a trace of helplessness, “He’s been worrying about their names for half a year already. He wasn’t even this serious when building mechas.”

Song Jin couldn’t help but be curious: “What are they called?”

Song Yang said enthusiastically, “Milk Puff.”

The expressions of Song Jin and the others froze: “…”

Are you serious?

Song Yang didn’t notice the subtle atmosphere at all and excitedly introduced the nicknames of the other two cubs: “The second is called Egg Waffle, and the third is Egg Tart.”

Song Jin and the others: “…”

Who’s the careless one here?

Li Xiao spoke up earnestly: “Comparing it like this, Song Buli sounds much better.”

Song Yu and several others nodded.

Song Yu mocked mercilessly: “Your short board is remarkably short.”

Rong Shi chimed in expressionlessly: “If people didn’t know better, they’d think you were naming pets.”

Song Zheng shook his head: “How do you expect them to face themselves when they grow up?”

Even Shen Sinian couldn’t help but say, “If you don’t want to be ganged up on by your three sons in the future, you’d better refrain from naming them. Stick to making your mechas.”

Song Yang: “…”

Unconvinced, Song Yang looked aggrievedly at Rong Mian: “Doesn’t it sound nice?”

Rong Mian nodded: “It sounds nice.”

Before Song Yang could celebrate, Rong Mian added, “But maybe we should still listen to everyone else’s opinion?”

Song Yang: “…”

Song Jin gently pinched the white-furred cub’s face. “Buli, I saved your life. We’re life-and-death friends now.”

Song Yang: “…”

You really can spin a tale out of anything.

__

Having two extra mouths to feed halfway through making breakfast, Li Xiao returned to the kitchen to prepare more staple food. Rong Shi and Song Zheng consciously went over to help. Since it was Li Xiao’s first time visiting, they couldn’t actually leave him to prepare breakfast for this whole large family alone.

At the dining table, several members of the Song family didn’t dare touch the biscuits with chili anymore, though they were extremely satisfied with the sweet soup Li Xiao had cooked.

Song Yang dished out another bowl for himself and Rong Mian. Noticing the crude cat doodle on the back of Li Xiao’s hand, he asked casually, “What kind of thing did you draw on the back of your hand?”

Li Xiao spread his self-brought Wei Feng brand chili sauce onto a pancake: “A mark Xiao Jin made for me.”

Song Yang wasn’t surprised, teasing instead, “You’re going out to work with such a childish tattoo? Don’t you want your image as the Crown Prince of Danse anymore?”

“What’s childish about it?” Song Jin grabbed Li Xiao’s hand and displayed it proudly. “These smooth lines, this sharp gaze—it’s clearly as handsome as me.”

Song Yang said, “A three-year-old child could draw better than you.”

Song Jin: “…”

Li Xiao tightened the lid of the chili sauce jar: “I heard that because of this totem, my online approval rating increased by another 3%.”

Song Yang choked: “…”

09 considerately projected Danse’s domestic news into the air above the dining table, and everyone at the table looked over out of curiosity.

#CrownPrinceTour# A surprise Tata tribe traditional totem pattern appears on the Second Prince’s hand! The artist turns out to be—!

Below the headline was a collection of close-ups of Li Xiao’s face and hands, along with an interview video from the tour location.

Comments under the news:

“The cat head is so cute! I want the same totem too!”

“Damn it! Showed off to us again!”

“Immediately booked an appointment for the Tata tribe totem experience, but it’s already booked out a year later?! Are your hands that fast?! Give us a break!”

“Hurry up and grab tickets! Otherwise, forget experiencing the totem, you won’t even be able to get into the Special Zone’s gates.”

“I need to buy a Prince-style totem sticker within half a day!”

“What did I discover! The Crown Princess has a totem ring on his left ring finger! So cool and pretty, sob sob sob…”

“I want the Crown Princess’s matching ring within an hour!”

“So the Fourth Prince’s ring wasn’t a tattoo?! Open the international tourist routes quickly!”

“Shengya merchants, rush! Whatever Danse has, we must have too!”

#CrownPrinceTour# The Tata Cultural Protection Special Zone is packed! Long queues form in the totem experience area; local government officials state this tourism boom may bring a major turnaround for the local sluggish economy!

Official authorized launch of the Crown Prince couple’s matching totem stickers: orders nationwide exceed 50 billion in three days, with many merchants reporting orders queued three months out!

Opinions opened for Crown Prince couple’s matching totem merchandise: participants in voting reach 10 billion!

His Royal Highness’s homepage flooded by official accounts of cultural protection zones across all tribes asking for shoutouts; industry experts predict a nationwide surge in traditional cultural tourism.

“Crown Prince Economy” continues to rise, online approval ratings skyrocket—gaining over 3% within a week to reach 97%, breaking the historic record for royal approval ratings!

Song Yang clicked his tongue: “This really is a world that looks at faces.”

Rong Mian nodded: “Xiao Li is indeed flawless from every angle.”

Song Yang grew jealous: “Who’s more handsome, me or him?”

Rong Mian burst out laughing: “You, of course.”

Song Jin snorted softly: “Mian-ge, how many layers of filters are you wearing? Where is Yang-ge handsome in this silly state?”

Song Yang: “Am I sillier than you?”

Song Yu ate his sweet soup, glanced at Li Xiao, and teased, “Xiao-meo drew a picture and you used it for politics. I’m starting to wonder if you really like him or if you’re just taking advantage of him?”

As soon as these words came out, everyone else at the table peeked over subtly.

Song Yang stirred up trouble fearlessly: “Xiao-meo isn’t even angry at this? Don’t be fooled by this old fox. He has a very deceptive face, but his heart is jet black.”

Song Jin: “Old fox? Could he be older than you?”

Song Yang: “…Your ability to grasp the key point needs improvement.”

“It was just drawn casually while demonstrating Tata totem techniques to Xiao Jin,” Li Xiao replied unhurriedly. “As for the other effects it triggered, as long as they’re positive, I don’t mind—it doesn’t take extra effort anyway.”

At this point, Li Xiao looked toward Song Yu: “If you call this taking advantage, aren’t you and Rong Shi taking advantage of each other as well?”

Song Yu smiled: “Who knows if you drew it casually or planned it all along?”

“Even if it were planned in advance, it would only be a win-win situation,” Li Xiao answered calmly. “Besides, is Xiao Jin that easy to take advantage of? Is Your Majesty lacking confidence in Xiao Jin, or lacking confidence in your own education?”

Song Yu: “The age gap is there. Facing you, Xiao-meo is still a bit too green.”

Before Li Xiao could respond, Song Jin spoke up first: “What do you mean the age gap is there? Li Xiao and I are the same age.”

Song Yu: “…”

Focused so much on bickering that I slipped up.

Rong Shi glanced at Song Yu and added casually, “He’s a few months older than you.”

Song Jin: “…Is a few months really something worth bringing up?”

Song Yu: “Older by a day is still older.”

Song Jin: “…”

You’re just looking for trouble.

Song Jin: “The sweet soup you’re drinking was cooked by Li Xiao. Put down your bowl before you pick on him.”

Song Yu: “That won’t do. If I don’t eat fast, there won’t be any left in the pot.”

Song Jin subconsciously looked over at his father, who was already fully immersed in the sweet soup and pastries brought by Li Xiao, completely unable to spare a moment to speak.

After devouring his second bowl of sweet soup, Song Yang picked up a small biscuit, dipped it into the cheese sauce Li Xiao had brought, and said pointedly, “Some people are twenty on the surface, but fifty mentally. Xiao-meo, if you aren’t careful, you’ll suffer losses sooner or later.”

Li Xiao, the target of the insinuation: “…”

Swallowing the pancake in his mouth, Li Xiao spoke faintly: “Some people are in their thirties on the surface, but sixties or seventies mentally. At such an advanced age, they still like to act spoiled to their wife.”

Song Yang: “…”

What’s wrong with acting spoiled? Acting spoiled isn’t illegal!

Just as Song Yang was about to retort, he heard Song Jin say offhandedly, “I’ve known about his elderly inner self for a long time.”

Song Yang: “…”

Li Xiao: “…”

Rong Shi asked Song Yu with an inquiring gaze: [Is Li Xiao’s actual mental age about the same as ours now?]

Song Yu: [No idea, I was long dead back then.]

Rong Shi: “…”

Song Jin draped an arm over Li Xiao’s shoulder, looking at him with a smile: “Even if your inner soul is in its seventies or eighties, I won’t mind.”

Li Xiao: “…Thank you.”

Song Yang teased: “What if his outer appearance turns into a bad old man too?”

Song Jin: “Still handsomer than you.”

Song Yang gritted his teeth in annoyance: “Mian-mian, what do you say?”

Rong Mian, who was enjoying his food while watching the drama, smiled and joined in: “I really can’t imagine it. How about… when that time comes, we gather together again and compare which old man is handsomer?”

Song Yang: “Deal.”

Song Jin: “Fully support it.”

Li Xiao: “No objections.”

Song Yu: “A beauty pageant? How could I be left out?”

Rong Shi: “I’ll join to make up numbers.”

Shen Sinian held his coffee cup and said solemnly, “Then I’ll have to work hard to live until then.”

Song Zheng: “The cheese sauce Li Xiao brought is delicious, completely different from local flavors.”

The group: “…”

Talked for half a day, and he didn’t hear a single word?

__

After breakfast, Rong Mian and his spouse were going to take their children to Shen Sinian’s research institute for a physical checkup. Shen Sinian wanted to invite Li Xiao along as well, but Song Jin declined.

Song Jin: “The weather is good today, I want to take Li Xiao mountain climbing. You check Mian-ge and the others first.”

It snowed every few days on Planet Snow, and good weather was rare. Coupled with it being Li Xiao’s first visit, Shen Sinian couldn’t bring himself to drag him into a research institute, so he let the matter drop.

Rong Shi looked at the sky outside, checked the weather forecast for the next 24 hours, and reminded Song Jin to watch out for weather changes on the snowy mountain.

Song Jin replied carelessly, “I know, we won’t go far.”

Rong Shi pressed his hand on his head and ruffled his hair: “Dress warmly, bring all necessary equipment, and don’t get frostbite.”

Song Jin: “Got it. Do you and big brother want to come along?”

Rong Shi: “We still have some things to handle.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Song Jin noticed Rong Mian checking on the cubs nearby and understood implicitly. Rong Mian’s father was a first-generation gene-engineered person whose health suffered from certain events, indirectly affecting Rong Mian. Ever since he was young, Rong Mian required annual checkups; though routine, Rong Shi always attached great importance to them and accompanied him every year.

Coming out of the restroom, Li Xiao happened to see this scene, feeling a bit out of sorts.

Throwing the packed gear into the car, Song Jin turned around and saw Li Xiao remaining silent. Sensing something subtle, he closed the rear car door and asked, “What’s wrong, don’t want to go?”

Li Xiao: “No.”

Song Jin asked in confusion, “Then why are you so dispirited?”

Li Xiao hesitated to speak, unwilling to admit he was jealous of Rong Shi.

Under Song Jin’s gaze, he gently brushed away the snow on the other’s hair: “Brush the snow off your head; when the temperature rises inside the car, it will soak your hair.”

“Is there a lot?” As Song Jin spoke, he shook his head, only to be held and rubbed vigorously by Li Xiao.

Li Xiao lied without batting an eye: “A lot, let me help you.”

Song Jin lowered his head slightly: “Luckily it’s just light snow, it’ll stop in a bit.”

Li Xiao: “Mm.”

After rubbing for a long time without Li Xiao stopping, Song Jin had a forehead full of question marks: “Not done yet? My hair’s been rubbed into a bird’s nest by you… Xiao? Li Xiao? You dare play me?”

Ignoring Song Jin’s resistance, Li Xiao bit his temple lightly, only to be forced back by Song Jin’s incoming fist.

“Let me rub it back.”

Song Jin reached out to grab him, but Li Xiao beat him to it, vaulting over the car hood to the other side.

Escaping, Li Xiao said, “The snow has mostly stopped, time to go.”

“Don’t think you can let it go like this.” Song Jin leaped onto the roof, pounced over, grabbed Li Xiao’s hood, hugged him, and rubbed his hair frantically. “Quick, admit your mistake!”

Li Xiao dodged backward: “I was wrong, I was wrong.”

Song Jin: “Not sincere enough!”

Li Xiao: “I’m going to go bald.”

Song Jin: “If you go bald, so be it, I don’t mind.”

Li Xiao: “Then what happens if I lose the beauty pageant?”

Song Jin snorted with laughter: “I didn’t realize you were so competitive.”

Li Xiao: “Isn’t this for fear of embarrassing you?”

Song Jin: “Cut the act.”

Unable to endure it any longer, Li Xiao picked Song Jin up, opened the car door, and tossed him inside.

_

Half an hour later, the hovercar landed at a village at the foot of the snow mountain.

The snow-covered village was breathtakingly beautiful, yet when Li Xiao looked around, there was not a single person in sight.

The mountain range stretched endlessly in pure white. Wearing goggles and fully geared up, the two walked through the deep snow step by step, as if only the two of them were left in the entire world.

Below a steep cliff lay a massive valley, where floating architecture clusters stood staggered in height, looming indistinctly beneath the cloud mist—unbelievably scenic.

Standing on the windy, snowy peak, Li Xiao looked down at the valley below and asked Song Jin, “Is that a village too?”

Song Jin: “A resort village, though there’s no one there right now.”

The two walked forward along the cliff edge.

Following Song Jin’s thread, Li Xiao continued, “Poor management?”

“Locked down.” Song Jin exhaled a puff of white mist. “Decades ago, Planet Snow was the most popular tourist destination in Shengya. Later, it was secretly transformed by Lin Quan into a base for cultivating modified humans. Brother ordered a lockdown of the entire planet. To this day, only specific areas have been unsealed. The district we’re in belongs to the modified human living area; ordinary people have been forcibly relocated, and population movement isn’t allowed. A vast number of left-behind buildings haven’t been fully utilized yet.”

Listening to Song Jin speak of the modified human situation, Li Xiao understood why the Song family attached such importance to Danse’s modified humans, even letting Song Jin, a prince, personally investigate near the perilous border.

“Want to go take a look?” Song Jin looked at Li Xiao. “The hot springs there are pretty good. My dad and I used to go soak in the hot springs often.”

Li Xiao nodded: “Since we’re already here.”

Song Jin took his hand and quickened his pace. “Hurry up, if we get there before sunset, we can soak in the hot springs while eating, drinking, and watching the sunset.”

Li Xiao smiled: “You really know how to enjoy life.”

Song Jin: “Coming out on vacation is meant for enjoyment, isn’t it?”

__

Descending along the mountain path, they reached the resort village around 4:00 PM.

The empty village was kept in meticulous order by robots. The old wooden architecture showed its age, but everything was kept clean.

Inside the glass greenhouse encased in a transparent protective shield overhead, rare flowers and exotic plants grew wildly, their vibrant vitality almost bursting out with a wild beauty.

Interconnected corridors linked outdoor hot spring pools. From a distance, Li Xiao could see a few robots sweeping the area.

“Were these robots arranged by your family?” Li Xiao asked casually as he followed Song Jin inside.

Song Jin: “No, they run on natural energy. As long as their components don’t break down, they can work indefinitely.”

The two checked in using the self-service system, prepared to change out of their gear, and head to the large outdoor bath, only to bump into Song Yu’s group coming from the opposite direction.

Seeing that they had already showered and changed into bathrobes, Song Jin asked in confusion, “Why are you guys here too?”

“Rare day off, came over to relax,” Song Yu walked over. “Though we drove here.”

Shen Sinian: “Quickly take a hot shower to warm up, then come soak with us.”

Fifteen minutes later, at the outdoor hot spring pool:

Six alphas from the family soaked in the spring, chatting while taking in the evening clouds across the sky—it was quite lively.

Although Shen Sinian and Rong Mian were male, they were Omegas after all, so they went to another hot spring pool further up the slope. However, they were close enough to hear each other speak.

Li Xiao brewed tea and handed a cup to Rong Shi: “Are the checkup results out for Rong Mian and the kids?”

“Mm, everything is normal.” Rong Shi took the teacup. “How were the natural landscapes along the way?”

Li Xiao: “Very good. It’s a pity it’s locked down.”

Rong Shi: “The unsealing process is underway. It should fully recover within five years at the earliest.”

Li Xiao was puzzled: “Relocating the modified Omegas?”

Rong Shi shook his head: “After pharmaceutical intervention, the aggressiveness of their pheromones has decreased significantly. Aside from not being controlled by Alpha pheromones, they aren’t much different from ordinary people.”

Li Xiao nodded, lost in thought.

The modified humans cultivated by Lin Quan lacked reproductive capabilities and had shorter lifespans than ordinary people; as long as their aggressiveness was controlled, the aftermath of the modified human issue could be completely resolved.

Meanwhile, the four members of the Song family nearby chatted until the conversation turned back to food.

Song Yang drank tea, ate small pastries brought from home, and turned to ask Li Xiao: “Old Li, where did you get this batch of goods? It’s way better than the ones you used to send me.”

Song Jin asked in confusion, “When did Li Xiao ever send you food? How come I didn’t know?”

Song Yang choked, cursing himself internally for getting dazed by sweets and making the same mistake as Song Yu.

Under Song Jin’s probing gaze, Song Yang braced himself and tried to explain: “Just the first time you guys came to my house, he secretly shoved it to me.”

Song Jin narrowed his eyes slightly: “He secretly gave you snacks?”

Song Yang nodded.

Song Jin: “He didn’t even give any to me, why would he give them to you?”

Just as Song Yang was making up a random excuse, he caught the deadly glare Li Xiao shot over out of the corner of his eye and smirked: “Because he likes me.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Looking for a beating.

Song Jin squinted at Li Xiao with an expression that said “explain yourself properly or you won’t survive tonight”.

Li Xiao was overwhelmed, pretending to be surprised on the surface: “Those few candies were long past their expiration date. I threw them in the trash—did you pick them back up and eat them?”

Song Yang: “…”

You kid.

Li Xiao: “You need to fix the bad habit of eating out of the trash. You’re a father of three cubs now, don’t set a bad example for the kids.”

Song Yang pulled a fake smile: “Thanks for the concern.”

Li Xiao: “As expected, considering I’m your kids’ godfather.”

Song Yang: “…Where’d this godfather come from? I don’t acknowledge it.”

Li Xiao: “Whether you acknowledge it doesn’t matter, as long as Rong Mian nods.”

Watching them deflect the topic, Song Jin knew these two were fooling him. Yet he felt that making a fuss over such a small matter was overly dramatic. But not asking felt wrong everywhere.

Seeing that Song Jin still cared, Li Xiao fed him a piece of pastry: “He soaked his brain numb, talking nonsense.”

Song Jin: “Are you referring to the part about sending him pastries, or the part about liking him?”

Li Xiao: “…Both are nonsense. How could I possibly like an old man like that?”

Song Yang, holding a biscuit in his mouth, glared over displeasedly: “…”

Old man?!

Song Jin nodded slowly: “So sending him pastries was real?”

Li Xiao: “…Never sent any.”

Song Jin: “You hesitated.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Song Jin: “When we return to the room tonight, I’ll listen to your full explanation.”

Li Xiao: “…”

__

While they were bickering, Song Yu and Song Zheng enjoyed their food happily.

Once the argument settled, Song Yu asked Li Xiao, “I noticed there’s no manufacturer information on the packaging. Where did you order these?”

Li Xiao: “These are palace pastries. My brother picked a few types and had them packaged for portable transport.”

Song Zheng nodded: “No wonder.”

“Can you big men gather together and have nothing to talk about besides food?” Shen Sinian’s teasing voice came from next door.

Rong Mian leaned on the edge of the bath with a smile, appreciating the scenery in the lower bath pool. None of the Song family members were unhandsome; pulling any one out, their appearance was top-tier. Li Xiao’s features differed from Shengya locals, filled with an exotic charm where every smile exuded a unique appeal.

Big brother had been handsome since childhood, and as for his own pig-cub—he was the perfect Alpha in his heart.

For these people to gather together and soak bare-chested in the same pool was a rare sight. If he weren’t afraid of his pig-cub getting angry, he would’ve taken a photo.

“Looking at it this way, Xiao Li is indeed good-looking,” Shen Sinian said, following Rong Mian’s gaze and lowering his voice. “No wonder Xiao-meo took a liking to him at first sight and refused to let go.”

Rong Mian smiled: “Xiao Li has both presence and looks. Ah Jin’s taste is really good.”

Shen Sinian raised an eyebrow: “Sounds like you’re very satisfied with him?”

“You could say that.” Rong Mian recalled certain events, his expression turning nostalgic. “That helpless little poor thing in the Danse Royal Palace finally grew into an outstanding Alpha with a place to belong. I’m very happy for him.”

As they talked, Song Yang’s improper voice suddenly drifted up from the lower pool:

“Old Li, your pecs are really well built.”

Shen Sinian: “…”

Rong Mian: “…”

In the pool below, Li Xiao replied expressionlessly: “Yours aren’t bad either.”

Song Yang: “How’d you train them? Release a tutorial when you have time.”

Li Xiao refused outright: “No time.”

“Let me touch them first to feel the texture. What if my Mian-mian doesn’t like it?” Saying that, Song Yang stood up and walked toward Li Xiao.

Li Xiao: “…Sit back down.”

Song Jin stood up, blocking Li Xiao: “You think you can just touch my wife?”

Song Yang: “Don’t be so stingy. What’s wrong with a quick touch?”

Song Jin crossed his arms: “If you want to touch, touch mine.”

Li Xiao’s eye twitched. He quickly pulled Song Jin back and looked cold-eyed at Song Yang: “What craziness are you pulling?”

Song Yang laughed: “Your chest looks like it feels great. Opportunities like this are rare; I’ll regret it for a lifetime if I don’t touch.”

Li Xiao: “…”

“Does it really feel that good?” Song Yu cupped his chin, staring intently at Li Xiao. “Now even I want to touch.”

Rong Shi: “…”

Song Yang turned to wave at Song Yu: “You deal with Xiao-meo, I’ll launch a sneak attack on his chest, then we swap.”

Song Yu slowly stood up: “Works for me.”

“Brother, why are you joining the commotion?” Song Jin looked at Rong Shi. “Speaking of texture, Shi-ge’s pecs aren’t inferior to Li Xiao’s.”

Rong Shi, dragged into deep water: “…”

Li Xiao: “…”

Li Xiao looked at Song Jin in confusion: “You’ve touched them?”

Song Jin took it for granted: “Nonsense, I touched them every day when I was little. Come on, I’ll take you to touch them.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Rong Shi: “…”

“Brave, aren’t you?” Song Yu stepped in front of Rong Shi.

Song Jin: “Learned it from you.”

Listening to the brothers quibble, Li Xiao looked at the instigator, Song Yang, who was sipping tea and watching the drama with a grin: “I think Song Yang’s pecs have the best texture. If anyone’s touching, we should touch his first.”

Seeing Song Yu, Song Jin, and Rong Shi all look over, Song Yang’s smile froze: “…”

Shen Sinian let out a soft cough, stopping the commotion in the large bath pool. “You guys had better go back to talking about food.”

Everyone: “…”

__

After soaking, Song Jin went to the food area to get a large plate of fruit. When he returned to find Li Xiao, he saw him sitting in a corner of the greenhouse drinking tea with Rong Shi, Song Yang, and Song Zheng.

Rong Shi had his terminal open, and Li Xiao leaned in close to look. They appeared to be chatting pleasantly; even Rong Shi, who rarely showed emotion, had a smile on his face. Song Yang was talking and laughing beside them, while Song Zheng shook his head, eyes crinkling in laughter.

“Don’t block the middle of the path.” Song Yu walked up beside Song Jin from behind the wooden corridor, took a strawberry from his plate, and looked toward the greenhouse. “Since when did their relationship get so good?”

Song Jin: “How would I know?”

“They actually made Tutu smile.” Song Yu walked over with large strides while chewing his strawberry. “Let’s go check it out.”

Song Jin followed, putting an arm around Li Xiao’s shoulder and pulling him back slightly: “What are you looking at so happily?”

Li Xiao: “Photos of you when you were little.”

“…” Song Jin had a bad feeling. “They didn’t tell embarrassing stories about me, did they?”

Li Xiao: “Guess?”

Song Jin: “…”

Standing behind Rong Shi, Song Yu bent down to look at the photos on his screen: “Is this the time Xiao-meo blew up my study?”

Rong Shi: “Mm.”

Song Jin: “Can’t you show him some of my glorious achievements?”

Song Yu: “Blowing up even the King’s study—isn’t that glorious enough?”

Song Jin: “…”

Li Xiao: “Did he dance?”

“He did.” Rong Shi pulled up the video recorded back then for Li Xiao. “It annoyed Xiao Yu to no end.”

In the footage, Song Jin—looking no older than five—was covered in dust, with the tips of his hair singed into curls. Yet he seemed entirely unaffected, standing in front of the gloomy-faced Song Yu while doing a cute cat dance.

Accidentally raising his eyes, Li Xiao met five-year-old Song Jin’s gaze through the screen. At that moment, Li Xiao felt that even if the boy had blown up the entire Danse Royal Palace, he could smile and say, “It’s fine, as long as my baby is happy.”

After dancing twice, seeing Song Yu remain unmoved, Song Jin pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and started doing a traditional twist dance.

Song Yu’s expression twitched. He raised his right hand, intending to give this troublemaking cub a beating, but couldn’t bring himself to do it. Unable to hold back any longer, he turned around with a rigid face and burst out laughing toward the camera.

Li Xiao couldn’t stop laughing. “Were you begging for mercy or pulling hatred?”

“Begging for mercy! Didn’t you see how hard I danced?” As Song Jin spoke, he looked at Song Yu. “Why did you deliberately hide it from me when you laughed back then? You made me dance until I fell asleep from exhaustion.”

Song Yu: “If you don’t learn your lesson, you’d dare target my study next time.”

Li Xiao: “This punishment was a bit light.”

Song Jin: “Whose side are you on?”

Rong Shi: “I also docked his snacks for a month and doubled his daily homework so he wouldn’t have time to wander outside.”

Li Xiao nodded: “That sounds more like it.”

Song Jin: “…”

As they chatted, Shen Sinian sent a message to Song Zheng, simply saying that guests had arrived and asking them to head out to welcome them.

Seeing Song Yu and Rong Shi heading out together as well, Song Jin asked in confusion, “Who is it? Did Uncle Rong arrive?”

There weren’t many people who could warrant both his big brother and Shi-ge going out to welcome them personally.

Li Xiao: “My brother and Qing-ge.”