Chapter 441: A New Beginning
Qiong Xing spoke as if comforting Hui, while also explaining the situation to the still sulking Leander.
Tasha had not done anything.
Hui had simply been startled and cried for a little while.
"...Even so, that woman was still the cause."
As expected, Leander was not so easily convinced.
"I was also at fault for staying in the room without saying anything. And even if it was because she felt relieved, I was the one who made Kira cry and startled her too."
Qiong Xing insisted that he himself had been the cause from the beginning, but Leander’s mood did not improve.
It was not only because Hui had cried.
Leander also disliked how much attention Qiong Xing gave the two sisters.
"Leander."
"..."
"I’m sorry for always being so selfish. I’m sorry for making you put up with so much. And... thank you for loving someone like me."
Leander often complained, but he never actually told Qiong Xing to stop.
Qiong Xing knew it was because Leander loved him just as he was.
"I love you too, Leander. And of course, Hui, who is also our child, is my precious treasure. She is our beloved child who resembles the man I love so much. Maybe it’s unfair of me to say this, but one reason I showed Hui to her was because I wanted to introduce her. I also wanted to proudly show off our precious daughter. I wanted to say, ’Isn’t the child Leander and I have absolutely adorable?’"
"...That’s not fair."
Qiong Xing treasured Lian, Rui, Yue, Lingxiao and Cari as dearly as his own children.
He wanted to go around proudly telling everyone how wonderful his children were.
Hui was no different.
It made him genuinely happy whenever the children looked at Hui and called her cute.
"I’m sure I love you even more than you think I do, Leander. I love you."
Even if people called him overly affectionate, Qiong Xing felt no embarrassment.
He knew Leander would only smile and say it made him happy.
"Ah, damn it! Fine. I’ll let it go this time."
"Thank you."
"But when we get home, you’d better be prepared."
If Leander wanted to shower him with affection, Qiong Xing had no reason to refuse.
He only asked that Leander show him a little mercy.
"Hui, your papa is handsome, isn’t he? And he’s very dependable. Grow up to be just like your papa."
"...Just don’t let her inherit my personality."
Qiong Xing simply smiled.
That was not for him to decide.
As her mama, he hoped Hui would grow up like her papa.
Since Hui was a beastman, her physique was already decided to some extent, but while Leander made a troubled face and hoped her personality would resemble Qiong Xing’s instead, Qiong Xing only laughed and wished she would grow up like the papa they both loved.
He wondered which of them Hui would resemble more.
"Since she’s a girl, Lian and Yue are probably going to get very excited. Then again, Albe and Raon might worry about her even more than necessary."
"They’re both hopeless when it comes to their younger siblings. Albe has always been like that, and with everything that happened with Iseul, Raon ended up becoming the type who can’t help looking after people."
Albe was especially protective whenever it came to Lian and Yue because they were girls.
Raon had a short temper, but perhaps because he was used to Iseul’s free-spirited nature, he always lent a hand whenever someone relied on him.
"Hui is lucky to have so many big brothers and big sisters. Everyone will play with you."
"No running. You’ll definitely trip."
"That’s rude! Since coming here, I’ve only tripped... well... how many times was it again?"
"Then climbing trees..."
"No. What if you fall? Are you trying to sprain your ankle again?"
Even though he was a man and also a mama, Qiong Xing still ended up being scolded like a child.
"I’ll succeed this time!"
"Don’t. Where does that completely baseless confidence come from? You’re going to shorten all our lifespans."
Leander dismissed the idea with complete calmness.
No matter what Qiong Xing said, it made no difference.
"People grow by falling down, you know?"
"What are you even talking about? Stop saying weird things and just read Hui a picture book instead."
Qiong Xing finally accepted that persuading Leander was impossible.
Persuading him, at least.
That did not necessarily mean he would stop trying.
"If you love me, then you can listen to one request from me too, right?"
"...Yes."
His mates who understood Qiong Xing better than anyone had apparently seen right through his thoughts once again.
It was frustrating.
After hearing that, Qiong Xing could no longer bring himself to say no, so he reluctantly nodded.
"Aren’t all of you being a little too overprotective of me?"
Lately, even Cari had been worrying... ahem, helping him with all sorts of things.
Every day, Qiong Xing found himself wondering if he really looked that unreliable.
"Of course we are. Everyone treasures you."
The immediate answer made him feel a little dejected for a moment, but when Leander explained that it was because everyone cared about him, Qiong Xing promised to behave himself.
How long that promise would last, however, was another matter.
...
"Well then, let’s have you two start learning your work little by little from today."
"Y-yes!"
"...Yes."
Qiong Xing nodded approvingly when both sisters answered properly.
"That said, I think it would be difficult if I suddenly threw a lot of things at you, so for now, let’s focus on getting your bodies used to moving again."
The sisters had apparently been confined in cages for quite some time.
If he suddenly expected them to work at full capacity, it would only be too much for their bodies.
So he decided to have them help with household chores first.
Qiong Xing then carried a chair into the yard and asked the old lady to teach Kira needlework.