Chapter 199: Side Story — Meeting the In-Laws

This was Yan Qing’s first time visiting Shengya, and Li Ji had originally worried that he wouldn’t be used to the local cuisine. He hadn’t expected that more than half of the dishes at dinner would be prepared in the Danse style.

“Thank you for taking the trouble.”

Li Ji expressed his gratitude to Shen Sinian.

Shen Sinian gestured for everyone to take their seats. “Xiao Li brought all these ingredients over anyway, and we felt like trying something different for a change.”

Rong Mian and Song Yang waited for the three cradle robots to fly over, confirming that all the babies were asleep before finally sitting down to eat.

Looking at the babies in the cradles, Yan Qing couldn’t help but feel a touch of envy, asking Rong Mian, “Are these your children? Triplets?”

Rong Mian nodded: “Triplets.”

Song Jin gestured for Yan Qing to look at one of the cradles: “This little rascal is named Song Buli; from now on, he’ll be a brother to your eldest.”

Li Ji and Yan Qing: “…?”

What did that mean?

Seeing their bewildered expressions, Song Jin added, “Your eldest is definitely going to take Xiao-Xiao as his godfather, and I’m Song Buli’s godfather. That makes the two of them sworn brothers through their godfathers.”

Everyone at the table: “…”

Are you a devil? Forcing a month-old embryo to acknowledge a godfather.

Song Jin chuckled and said to Li Xiao, “We haven’t even married yet, and we already have two children. Isn’t this coming a little too easily?”

Li Xiao: “…”

Of course it comes easily when you just snatch them.

Yan Qing: “The babies are very handsome.”

Song Yang chimed in: “With Mian-Mian’s and my genes right here, how could they not be?”

Yan Qing subconsciously turned to glance at Li Ji.

If you put it that way, their child shouldn’t look too bad either.

Catching his line of thought, Li Ji said in a low voice, “I heard that looking at cute babies often will make your own child cute as well.”

Yan Qing burst into a quiet laugh: “You sound so serious, I might actually believe you.”

Li Ji: “Feel free to look all you want; I guarantee ours will definitely be cute.”

Song Yang joked, “You can’t just look at my sons for free.”

Li Ji: “Xiao-Xiao has everything you could ever want. He’s the godfather—just ask him for whatever you need.”

Li Xiao, innocently caught in the crossfire: “…”

So he was firmly stuck playing the designated sucker tonight?

After dinner, Song Yang received an urgent call from the military factory and had no choice but to head off to handle work matters.

Li Xiao and his brother accompanied Shen Sinian to discuss the treatment plan for Li Su and his spouse.

Song Jin had originally intended to go along to hear what his dad had to say, but seeing Rong Mian getting ready to feed the babies, he decisively stayed behind to help.

Three milk bottles of different colors were arranged side by side on the table. Rong Mian pulled out a cheat sheet, referring to it step-by-step as he prepared the formula.

Seeing him handle everything so meticulously—where a tiny bit too much or too little powder wouldn’t do, back and forth forever—a bystander might think he was formulating explosives.

Song Jin offered a gentle reminder: “Just hand it over to your nanny armor; their measured amounts are guaranteed to be precise.”

Rong Mian tightened the cap and shook it evenly: “They do perform better than me, but if I rely on them for everything, I won’t get to experience the joy of raising children.”

Resting his chin on his hand at the table, Song Jin watched him work, thinking that made sense.

Raising a child was indeed a unique life experience—just like right now, he really wanted to experience what it felt like to feed a baby.

Once the formula was ready, Rong Mian opened a cradle and lifted a baby out.

Seeing how clumsy his movements were, Song Jin was already starting to feel nervous.

The hatchling was soft and squishy like a sticky rice ball—squeeze too hard and it might break, hold too loosely and it felt like it would slip right through the gap between his arms. How was one supposed to hold this?

Rong Mian sat down holding the baby and brought the milk bottle up to its mouth.

The baby was still groggy and half-asleep, instinctively latching onto the teat to take a couple of sucks before dozing off again.

Rong Mian gave a gentle sway, and the baby startled awake as if snapped out of a dream, drinking a couple of mouthfuls perfunctorily before falling back asleep.

“Is it because nestling in Dad’s arms feels too comfortable that it’s snoozing even while drinking milk?”

Song Jin sat beside Rong Mian, poking the baby’s cheek. “Is this the second oldest?”

“Mm.”

Rong Mian looked down at the infant who wouldn’t drink unless nudged, helpless as he said, “He’s the best-behaved of the three. He rarely cries or throws tantrums—he’s just a bit lazy.”

Song Jin: “…I can tell.”

As they spoke, the cradle robot emitted a pleasant chime. Song Jin turned his head and saw the third-born, who had the darkest tuff of hair, unable to wait any longer—he was crying out of sheer hunger.

The second-born had only drunk a third of his milk, leaving Rong Mian with no hands free to deal with the third-born.

Song Jin waited eagerly for Rong Mian to instruct him, but unable to solve the third-born’s hunger issue on his own, he could only open the cradle’s protective shield first to try and soothe the baby.

However, the baby was starving and didn’t care for Song Jin’s comforting at all, wailing at the top of its lungs.

Usually, Song Yang and the household attendants would help out, so Rong Mian rarely found himself overwhelmed. Today was a special situation; just as he was thinking of letting the armor handle the feeding, he caught sight of Yan Qing walking over in his peripheral vision.

“Let me help you.”

Yan Qing walked over to the cradle and lifted the child out, his movements far more practiced than Rong Mian, the novice dad.

Song Jin didn’t even see him perform any complicated maneuvers, yet in just a couple of moves, he made the baby stop crying. Nestled in his arms, the infant pursed its lips, whimpering softly and pitifully.

Noticing the milk bottles on the low table, Yan Qing asked Rong Mian, “Which one is his?”

Rong Mian quickly replied, “The green one.”

Yan Qing picked up the bottle and sat down, gently patting the child while bringing the teat to its mouth.

Song Jin leaned in close to observe and learn. Seeing the infant chugging the milk down at lightning speed, he was somewhat surprised: “Teacher Yan, you’re quite a natural at taking care of babies.”

Rong Mian was equally surprised.

Yan Qing’s technique was even more professional than the household nannies’. But the man clearly didn’t have children of his own yet—the first was still in his belly—could he have undergone training in advance?

Observing the baby’s swallowing pace, Yan Qing replied, “Back when I served as an inner palace attendant, I specially trained for a period of time so I could take care of the young prince.”

Song Jin: “Xiao-Xiao?”

Yan Qing nodded: “Before I graduated from university, I only had time on weekends to go to the palace and care for him. After graduation, I became his full-time nanny.”

Song Jin: “No wonder.”

After so many years, the skill hadn’t rusted; it was obvious he had applied himself diligently back then.

It suddenly occurred to Song Jin that if the Meng family hadn’t caused trouble and Li Xiao had actually been raised by Yan Qing, he surely would have had a very happy childhood.

Thinking of this, Song Jin asked Yan Qing, “Did Xiao-Xiao have any embarrassing stories when he was little? Like blowing up a palace hall, beating someone up, or damaging valuable items?”

Yan Qing thought carefully about it for a moment, then shook his head.

“He was very well-behaved as a child. He liked focusing quietly on a single task by himself. When I read him children’s stories, even if he didn’t understand them completely, he would listen very attentively. He was extremely easy to care for.”

Song Jin clicked his tongue.

He had thought he could dig up some dirt on Li Xiao to tease him about later, but it turned out the guy had been an old soul since he was a toddler.

After finishing the bottle, Yan Qing lifted the baby onto his shoulder and burped him gently: “I still have photos from back then. Would you like to see?”

Song Jin: “Bring it on.”

Just as Yan Qing was about to open his photo album, another familiar chime echoed from a cradle.

Song Jin glanced over to see that the white-haired one was crying too. He stood up and walked over: “Little friend Song Buli, your timing to cry is impeccable.”

With both Yan Qing and Rong Mian unable to free their hands, Song Jin had no choice but to bite the bullet.

Under the guidance of the two “experts,” it took Song Jin a great deal of effort to successfully transfer the baby from the cradle into his arms. Unfortunately, the baby gave him no face whatsoever, crying until his face turned red and his neck swelled, kicking his legs and flailing his hands in clear resistance to his closeness.

Struggling so wildly, Song Jin was terrified the baby would slip out. His entire body froze stiff, not daring to move an inch: “He’s about to take flight! What do I do? Someone save me!”

Seeing Song Jin so panicked and helpless was a rare treat; while offering verbal guidance, Rong Mian couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Noticing sweat breaking out on his forehead, Yan Qing gestured for him to relax: “You’re holding him too tightly, which makes him very uncomfortable.”

Song Jin tried to relax, but one of the baby’s legs instantly slid out of his arms. Terrified, he quickly covered it up: “I can’t, I can’t relax!”

“So clumsy.”

Hearing Song Yu’s voice, Song Jin turned his head just in time to see Song Yu walk over in a change of clothes, making a gesture to take the child from his arms.

Song Jin raised a hand to block him, warning, “This is my son, don’t mess around.”

Song Yu slapped his hand away, took the baby over, and gave him two light pats.

To everyone’s surprise, the baby who had been wailing his heart out just a second ago instantly hushed up.

Song Jin couldn’t believe his eyes: “You actually know how to hold a baby?”

It made sense for Yan Qing to be good with babies since he was a professional, but why could his big brother do it too?

“Don’t compare me to you.”

Holding the baby with one hand, Song Yu picked up the milk bottle and began feeding him. Although his movements weren’t as gentle as Yan Qing’s, his efficiency was absurdly high.

In Song Yu’s hands, the baby displayed incredible discipline, chugging the milk down at lightning speed, behaving unnaturally well.

Song Jin leaned in close: “Buli, if you’re being threatened, blink twice.”

Song Yu: “Take your craziness somewhere else, don’t eyesore me.”

Song Jin: “When did you secretly learn this skill? Finally came around and planning to have a child with Brother Shi?”

Song Yu looked at him with a dark, heavy gaze: “Is there a slight possibility that you were raised by me?”

Song Jin gave a decisive shake of his head: “Impossible.”

Song Yu: “…”

To deny it so cleanly.

Having finally finished feeding, Rong Mian placed the asleep second-born back into the cradle and joined the conversation with a smile: “Ah-Jin, when you were little, you really were raised by Brother Yu. Even I and Cola were raised with Brother Yu’s help.”

It felt as though Song Jin had heard a horror story; squinting his eyes, he sized up Song Yu, utterly unable to believe that this brother who had fought over snacks with him since childhood would actually take care of him personally. Playing him like a toy sounded far more plausible.

Song Yu: “Who do you think took care of you every time Bunny was out on military campaigns?”

Song Jin: “Self-reliance, of course. Foraging for trash to eat while waiting for Brother Shi to come rescue me.”

Song Yu: “…”

You’re really something.

“Besides, there were so many nannies and attendants in the palace…” Halfway through his sentence, Song Jin met Song Yu’s exasperated look and asked half-doubtingly, “Was I really raised by you?”

“When you were small, you crawled into my office every day. You’ve peed on me more times than I can count. Strictly speaking, Bunny didn’t spend half as much time raising you as I did.”

Seeing Song Jin staring with wide eyes, looking as if his entire worldview had shattered, Song Yu mocked, “What, disappointed?”

Song Jin: “…”

Song Jin: “No wonder I caused so much trouble when I was little—it was all taught by you.”

Song Yu placed the empty bottle back: “Don’t try to pin your own misdeeds on me.”

Song Jin: “Then it’s still because you taught me well, right, Brother Mian?”

Rong Mian smiled faintly: “Brother Yu did indeed teach you exceptionally well.”

He had heard from his brother before that Brother Yu’s childhood had been very tough. Sometimes he thought that Brother Yu raising Ah-Jin was akin to raising his own shattered self all over again.

Ah-Jin got a happy and wonderful childhood, while Brother Yu gained the energy to heal himself through him.

Watching the Song brothers bicker, Yan Qing got the increasing illusion of watching a father and son.

An overly large age gap could easily mess up the generational order, but it was obvious the two brothers had a deep bond. It couldn’t help but make him think of Li Xiao, who had also been born in the royal palace and had a brother who doted on him, yet hadn’t been quite as fortunate.

It would be wonderful if the days ahead could make up for some of it.

By the time Li Ji and Li Xiao finished their discussion and returned to the hot spring villa, they saw Song Jin and three others sitting in the living room chatting and laughing, while Song Yang sat far off by himself in the small lounge, dangling a piece of candy from his mouth as he drew blueprints in an isolated digital space.

“What are you hiding over here for?” Li Xiao asked offhandedly.

Song Yang jerked his chin toward the living room: “Is that a place where I belong?”

Listening closely, Li Xiao heard Yan Qing and Rong Mian discussing topics related to pregnancy and childbirth. Indeed, it wasn’t quite suitable for Song Yang to be hanging around there. Yet for some unknown reason, Song Yu and Song Jin looked entirely natural sitting over there.

Seeing Song Jin learning how to hold a baby, Li Xiao watched on, unable to suppress the corners of his lips from curving upward.

Song Yang teased: “Tempted? Hurry up and have a few with the youngest.”

Li Xiao: “We already have two. Any more and we won’t be able to afford raising them.”

“Can children you birth yourself be the same as someone else’s?” Song Yang looked toward Li Ji, “Right?”

Li Ji’s eyes rested on Yan Qing as he casually replied, “Having children or not is fine either way; I respect Xiao-Xiao’s wishes.”

Song Yang: “…”

The reputation of being a brother-con really lives up to its name.

A low exclamation echoed from the living room, and the three of them looked over simultaneously.

Song Jin was holding up the dripping, white-haired infant, a large patch of his bathrobe completely soaked through.

“He can pee while sleeping?!”

Song Yu sneered: “What goes around comes around out in the world.”

Song Jin: “…”

Not wanting Rong Mian to get tired out, Song Yang stepped up voluntarily to change the baby’s pants.

Smelling the scent of urine on himself, Song Jin felt entirely unwell. Standing beside them with a dark face, he began lecturing the infant: “Out of you three brothers, you’re the most mischievous. That yellow-haired one—”

Reaching this point, Song Jin suddenly remembered that this poor infant was nicknamed Egg Tart. After a moment’s thought, he asked Rong Mian, “Brother Mian, are all three of your kids going to take the surname Song?”

Rong Mian: “We plan to have one take Song, one take Rong, and one take Gu.”

Song Jin nodded: “Then the second oldest will be named Rong Bukui [Rong No-Crying], and the third will be Gu Bulao [Gu No-Fussing].”

Rong Mian: “…”

Li Xiao and the others: “…”

Buli [No-Mind], Bukui [No-Crying], and Bulao [No-Fussing]—they sounded like blood brothers at first listen.

Hearing this, Song Yang grew displeased: “Overruled.”

Song Jin: “Does that not sound better than your Egg Tart?”

Song Yang countered: “How cute is Egg Tart? No-Crying and No-Fussing sound like they aren’t very smart.”

Song Jin: “Is Egg Tart that smart?”

Song Yang: “At least it’s cute.”

Song Jin: “Not at all.”

As the two brothers argued back and forth endlessly, Song Yang turned to look at Li Xiao: “You’re penalized to give me extra raw materials as compensation.”

Li Xiao: “Xiao Jin is the one who named them, not me. Why should I give you compensation?”

Song Yang: “A husband pays his wife’s debts—it’s natural and right.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Even crooked logic isn’t as twisted as yours.