Chapter 416: Uncontrollable Laughter
Why was it that the more they knew they should not laugh, the harder it became to hold it in?
"..."
Everyone remained silent.
Only their trembling shoulders betrayed them.
"...If you want to laugh, then just laugh."
"Ahahahahaha!"
The moment Raon spoke with an exasperated expression, everyone burst into laughter as though they had been waiting for permission.
"You were the one who came up with this idea in the first place! Then you should be the one doing it! Why me?!"
Raon complained that if they were going to laugh so much, one of them should trade places with him.
Of course, no one was laughing to make fun of him.
"It seems Lingxiao likes having an uncle who’s more dependable than I am. Right?"
"Roar~!"
"...You really know how to phrase things."
Lingxiao nodded enthusiastically and chirped in agreement.
Perhaps Raon was secretly pleased to be relied upon, because he could no longer bring himself to refuse.
He really was a softhearted uncle.
Far too easy.
The reason everyone was laughing was simple.
Lingxiao had been clinging fearfully to Raon’s face, so Qiong Xing had gently told him that there was a much safer place to hide.
Lingxiao had happily accepted the suggestion and moved immediately.
"But why inside my clothes? I can see now, but it’s a lot harder to walk."
After Raon complained that Lingxiao should at least get off his face, Qiong Xing had boldly lifted the front of Raon’s shirt and tucked the little dragon safely inside.
Wrapped in warmth and hidden away, Lingxiao immediately relaxed.
Now in an excellent mood, he poked only his head out through the slightly open collar of Raon’s shirt.
It was an incredibly adorable sight.
The fact that the person carrying him was Raon only made it even funnier.
"But it’s safer than having him walk while holding someone’s hand, isn’t it? Lingxiao seems happy too. More importantly, if he clings to me and I fall, Lingxiao’s face is going to have a very bad time."
A nosebleed would be the least of their worries.
If things went badly, Lingxiao could easily end up with a broken nose.
"...I guess that’s true."
Qiong Xing was not sure how to feel about Raon accepting that explanation so easily, but since he was convinced, there was no reason to complain.
"But why my Big Brother? He could stay with his Papa too."
Iseul pouted slightly, wondering why Lingxiao never came to him instead.
Qiong Xing thought Lingxiao was actually quite clever.
When it came to choosing the most dependable person in an emergency, Lingxiao had instinctively picked Raon.
"Papa needs to keep watch for danger around everyone. So do your best to make sure Lingxiao doesn’t get wet anymore."
"I got it! I’ll do my best!"
Qiong Xing smiled to himself.
The brothers really were both so easy to persuade.
"You’re unbelievable."
"Shh."
Albe let out an exasperated sigh, but Qiong Xing quietly hushed him.
This side of them was adorable in its own way.
"Even so, you’re just as soft on Lian, aren’t you?"
"...I, is that... bad?"
Apparently, Albe was already aware that he spoiled Lian.
The way he immediately grew flustered at the possibility was both amusing and endearing.
"It’s not a bad thing. But when it’s time to scold him, I’d like you to try a little harder."
Qiong Xing believed that kindness alone was not enough to show love.
When a child needed to be corrected, they should be corrected properly.
When they cried, someone should gently rub their back and ask what had happened.
When they laughed, they should laugh together.
And when they were struggling, it was important to lend them a helping hand.
"I would be happy if you became not just a doting big brother, but a kind and dependable one."
"I’ll do my best."
In that regard, Cari was actually quite dependable.
He was not the type to get overly emotional, so he never shouted.
Instead, he quietly became serious and corrected Lian and the others when they misbehaved.
Oddly enough, that approach seemed far more effective on the children.
Qiong Xing still laughed whenever he remembered them saying, "You must never make Big Brother Cari angry."
"They all love Big Brother Albe very much. Let’s keep doing our best together."
Albe nodded honestly, while the children smiled and declared that they loved him.
Being soft on children was not necessarily a bad thing.
Qiong Xing himself often wanted to spoil them instead of scolding them.
But if that was all they ever did, the children would grow up unable to distinguish right from wrong.
He wanted them to understand what they should never do, how to avoid danger, and to think about the consequences of their actions.
"I’m still learning every single day too. I don’t know what the right answer to raising children is. I’m only doing what I hope will help them grow well. I don’t know if it’s actually the correct way. That’s why I’d like us to keep thinking about it together."
"Yeah. Together."
A family was never something one person could create alone.
People with different ways of thinking gathered together and lived under the same roof.
Disagreements were only natural.
That was why they talked things through, met each other halfway, held hands, and worked together.
There might be times when they became frustrated with one another.
Even so, Qiong Xing never wanted to let go of those hands.
"Though I love the overly affectionate Big Brother Albe too."
"H, huh?! W, what are you saying?!"
Albe became so soft because he treasured the children and loved them deeply.
Qiong Xing thought the children were truly fortunate to have an older brother like him.
"Anyway, I’d be happy if you could help prepare lunch."
"I got played!?"
Qiong Xing could not help smiling.
He truly loved teasing Albe and Raon.
"Hey, not yet... See? I told you. Here, I’ll cool it down for you."
Lian with watering eyes obediently handed the grilled rice ball to Elias.
Apparently, it had been too hot.
"Hey, wait, Yue. That one’s not done yet. If you’re hungry, eat this one instead. Seriously. Rui, stop eating only fish and eat some meat too. Meat."