Chapter 410: What It Means to Be Family
Naz was trying in his own way and what happiness meant to him could only be decided by himself.
"Lian really loves Naz too. When she grows up, she might be allowed to work here."
Every time they visited, Lian would sit on Naz’s lap, eat together, and say it was delicious.
Qiong Xing found that sight comforting as well.
"Hahahaha! That sounds great! If it is responsible Lian, I would be relieved too!"
"Eh, w-w-wait! N-no way, that is impossible! Lian has things she wants to do too..."
Naz panicked, while Duzy and Qiong Xing both laughed.
"Yes, that is true. We want her to do what she wants. Lian, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
Qiong Xing did not know what kinds of jobs existed in this world, but he still wanted her to choose something she truly wanted to do.
"Hmm. Lian... Lian is... Lian is going to become Naz’s mama!"
It was an unexpected answer, but it was adorable, so Qiong Xing decided that was fine.
Though what she meant by "Naz’s mama" remained a mystery.
Mama?
Huh? Ma... ma...?
His mind completely stopped from the shock.
"Lian, do you want to become Naz’s mama? Really?"
"Yes."
While Naz stood frozen, Qiong Xing calmly asked as if confirming something.
"I see. Lian wants an older brother or little brother like Naz?"
Ah! So that is what it meant, Naz thought, just about to nod when—
"No. Mama and papa."
"???"
Naz had thought she misunderstood "mama," but apparently not.
Only Qiong Xing seemed amused, smiling the entire time.
"I see. I understand now. Lian is the mama, and Naz is the papa?"
"Yes!"
"...Ah."
"Ahh, I get it."
"Ohhh."
So that is what it meant... wait, what?
"Fufu, it looks like that saved us the trouble of searching, Duzy."
"Hahaha! True enough! I thought she was talking about being a mama in some weird way!"
Eh? Huh?
Naz’s mind still could not keep up.
"So in other words, she means she wants to be Naz’s wife," Qiong Xing explained.
Naz understood the words, but not the meaning.
Wife? Mine?
"What is a wife?"
"It is someone who stays together with you forever, like mama and papa. Lian wants to stay with Naz forever, right?"
"Yes! Lian wants to be Naz’s wife!"
It seemed she had said "mama" only because she did not know the word "wife."
"E-eh? Wha... w-w-whaaaaat!?"
"Naz, your face looks really strange right now."
Qiong Xing said this while laughing, but Naz’s mind was too confused to process anything properly.
All he could do was open and close his mouth like a fish.
"Lian, what do you like about Naz?"
"Umm, the cute parts, and the weak... weaky? So Lian will protect you."
"Weaky is not a good word. Right, Albe?"
"Y-yeah. Sorry."
It seemed Albe was the one who had taught her that word.
Still, for a grown man to be called "cute," Naz could not help wondering how he looked to them.
"You are not weak. You are kind... yes, very, very kind. Cute and kind Naz is someone I also really like."
It was embarrassing. Far too embarrassing.
Naz’s face grew hot as he looked away, unable to decide where to direct his gaze.
"That is exactly what I mean. Right, Lian?"
"Yeah. Also, also, Lian says what Mama makes is yummy. And amazing. She reads picture books to me. She pats my head... and also, also, umm... ah, Naz also loves Mama a lot!"
Eh, ah... that is true, but hearing it said out loud like that was far too embarrassing.
"That makes me very happy. I love you too."
"Y-yeah. Th-thank you."
Being told directly like that was embarrassing, but also very nice.
"Can Lian become Naz’s wife?"
"Hmm. I think it is a bit too early. When you are a little bigger, and if Naz says it is okay."
"Lian cannot become it?"
"Ugh."
Naz’s chest hurt seeing her teary eyes looking up at him.
He was honestly happy to be liked, but given both her age and his own personality, it was clearly a problematic situation.
"For now, okay? Becoming a wife means there are a lot of things to learn, so let’s work hard until you can do them properly."
Eh? He is not stopping her?
Naz was shocked that Qiong Xing was actually smiling and saying to do her best.
"First, you need to be able to make lots of delicious food and surprise Naz. And for that, you should practice magic and learn to read more picture books."
"Yeah. Lian will do her best."
"I will wait for you."
Naz had instinctively nodded at her words, but then quickly realized what was happening and panicked.
"Eh, ah, um. W-wait. Huh? No, that is not, eh? Um..."
"Hahahahaha! Parent and child alike, you two are impossible to deal with. You are going to get completely controlled by them. Good luck!"
Duzy slapped Qiong Xing on the back repeatedly, but what exactly was he supposed to be working hard at?
"Eh, ah, um, that is not what I... I mean..."
"Of course, I do not know what will happen from here on. But if things do turn out that way, I think I would be happy."
Qiong Xing said it was only a hope.
From here on, Lian or Naz might meet someone else they wished to be with.
If that happened, that would be fine too.
As long as they were happy, that was enough.
"Marriage is not everything. And you do not need to hold back because we are friends. But please believe Lian when she says she loves Naz."
The sight of her smiling and saying "I love you" so openly was dazzling.
It also made Naz happy that there were people who would say that to him too.
"Naz, this is your life. So you get to decide. But if you ever get stuck, feel lost, or feel lonely, I would be happy if you could think of Lian, of us, even just a little."