After The Soft And Cute Beauty Marries The Wolf King - Chapter 74

Unknowingly, Xie Lingyue had turned three.

 

In the past two and a half years, Xie Zhiqing and Lang Sa had taken her to many places for leisure. She continued to grow at an astonishing pace: she could speak by the time she was six months old, was walking steadily by the time she was a year old, and by the age of two, she could write beautifully in small seal script (far better than her father’s chicken scratch). Now that she was three, she was already flirting with little boys she met on the road.

 

If there was still something childlike about her, it might be…

 

“I don’t want to! Lingyue doesn’t want to sleep alone!” Xie Lingyue rolled around on the ground, throwing a tantrum. “I want to sleep with Daddy and Mommy!”

 

Lang Sa: “…”

 

He crossed his arms and stood aside, quietly enjoying the sight of Xie Lingyue’s tantrum. 

 

This was her usual tactic, which worked well on Xie Zhiqing. However, the Wolf King, with his cold demeanor and heart, wouldn’t be swayed by such childish tricks.

 

After crying and fussing for a while, Xie Lingyue noticed that Lang Sa remained unmoved. She knew in her heart that this kind of whining and tantrum wouldn’t work on him. Her eyes darted around as she quickly thought of a new tactic.

 

She ruffled her hair with her hands and sat on the ground, wailing loudly: “Waaah, waaah, waaah!”

 

However, she had used this trick too many times, and Lang Sa was already accustomed to it.

 

Before Xie Lingyue could call out for Xie Zhiqing, the Wolf King preemptively lay down on the ground, striking a pose as if he had been knocked down, and peacefully closed his eyes.

 

Xie Lingyue: “?”

 

Xie Zhiqing was in the next room folding clothes—they were planning to leave this place and return to Anyu.

 

Hearing the crying from the other room, Xie Zhiqing sighed. 

 

He really wanted to pack up this father and daughter duo and throw them out…

 

Today, the father provoked the daughter, and tomorrow the daughter would deliberately get back at the father. Life with them was simply too lively.

 

Although he knew the two of them were up to their usual antics, Xie Zhiqing was still baffled when he walked in on the scene.

 

Xie Lingyue sat dumbfounded on the ground, while Lang Sa lay dramatically beside her.

 

Xie Zhiqing looked around, half amused and half speechless.

 

He asked, “…Are you two playing house?”

 

“…” Xie Lingyue struggled to explain, “Daddy wants me to sleep alone! Lingyue doesn’t want to sleep alone… Lingyue is scared!”

 

Scared? He didn’t believe that for a second. Xie Zhiqing silently looked up at the sky.

 

Lang Sa had mentioned earlier that he wanted Xie Lingyue to start sleeping in her own room, and Xie Zhiqing agreed. 

 

After all, the little one had grown up. Although they hadn’t been sharing the same bed, it was starting to become inconvenient.

 

Xie Zhiqing scratched his face, squatted down, and gently said to Xie Lingyue, “Lingyue, be good. You’re growing up now, so it’s time for you to sleep on your own.”

 

Xie Lingyue pouted, on the verge of tears.

 

In the end, Xie Zhiqing couldn’t help but soften. He stroked his daughter’s face and said gently, “I’ll discuss this with Daddy again, okay? Be a good girl and listen.”

 

Usually, when Xie Zhiqing spoke like this, it meant the matter could be postponed but not avoided—despite his gentle appearance and soft voice, his words carried more weight than the fierce Wolf King’s.

 

Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, Xie Lingyue could only pout and nod reluctantly.

 

Xie Zhiqing smiled, patted his daughter’s head, stood up straight, and said to the still motionless Lang Sa, “Get up, it’s time to cook.”

 

Lang Sa instantly sat up from the ground and followed Xie Zhiqing into the kitchen.

 

As he passed by Xie Lingyue, he shot her a triumphant look.

 

Of course, he was immediately met with a punch from Xie Lingyue.

 

A few days later, Xie Zhiqing moved the little bed to another room.

 

Xie Lingyue sighed deeply, “I can’t challenge fate, so I’ll have to accept it with trepidation.”

 

Xie Zhiqing calmly said, “‘Trepidation’ isn’t used like that.”

 

Xie Lingyue looked at him mournfully.

 

At this point, there was no turning back.

 

Resigned, Xie Lingyue climbed into bed and pulled the covers up, leaving only her eyes exposed, which were fixed on Xie Zhiqing.

 

“Alright, don’t be afraid,” Xie Zhiqing leaned down, kissed his daughter’s cheek, and said, “I’ll wait until you fall asleep before I leave, okay?”

 

Xie Lingyue reached out a small finger from under the covers and hooked it around Xie Zhiqing’s, cautiously saying, “You promise?”

 

Xie Zhiqing held her little hand and said, “I promise.”

 

“Mommy, why do I have to sleep by myself?” Xie Lingyue asked, lying on her side with her hand under her cheek, sounding listless. “I want to sleep with Daddy and Mommy.”

 

Xie Zhiqing replied, “But Lingyue, you’re going to grow up.”

 

“I don’t want to leave you even when I grow up!” Xie Lingyue said.

 

Xie Zhiqing knew she was just being childish, but he couldn’t help but be touched by her words. He smiled softly, then leaned down and touched his nose to hers, whispering, “Alright, when Lingyue grows up, Daddy and Mommy will always be by your side.”

 

Afterward, Xie Zhiqing told her about their upcoming plans.

 

“Daddy and I talked, and we plan to leave here in a few days.”

 

“We’re leaving?” Xie Lingyue counted on her fingers, “Wow! We’ve been here for half a year! It’s been so long!”

 

They had been traveling and playing along the way, staying in places as they went, rarely staying in one place for long. They had only stayed this long because Xie Zhiqing had fallen ill when they first arrived.

 

Though it was just a cold, Xie Zhiqing hadn’t thought much of it, but Lang Sa insisted he rest for a while. That rest unexpectedly turned into six months.

 

“Yes, we’ve stayed here too long, we’ve all gotten lazy,” Xie Zhiqing said. “We plan to return to Anyu.”

 

Hearing about her mother’s hometown, Xie Lingyue immediately got excited. “Yay! Lingyue hasn’t been there yet! Mommy, Mommy, what is your hometown like? Tell Lingyue!”

 

“What’s my hometown like…?” Xie Zhiqing blinked and thought for a moment before slowly saying, “It’s…”

 

“It’s different from the grasslands. The winds aren’t as strong, and it’s not as cold. But winter is still cold! When I was in the palace, I often had to hold a hand warmer, and even then, I still felt cold.

 

“Our country is an agricultural one, and for everyone, farming seems to be more than just a means of making a living—they genuinely love farming. Sometimes, when my brother and I sneaked out to play, we would hear people on the streets discussing how to improve the year’s harvest. And the food they grow is delicious! One time, my brother and I passed by an orchard and asked for a watermelon. The watermelon was sandy and sweet, just like the ones we had in the palace.”

 

“Mommy, the brother you’re talking about—is that Little Uncle?” Xie Lingyue asked, pouting.

 

She now knew the relationship between her mother and her little uncle, but she still harbored some resentment towards the person who looked just like her mother.

 

Xie Zhiqing laughed and ruffled her hair, saying, “Yes, that’s him!”

 

Xie Lingyue turned to the other side, sulking and showing her displeasure by turning her back to him.

 

Xie Zhiqing continued talking about Anyu, and as he spoke, Xie Lingyue fell asleep.

 

He leaned over to check on her, smiled, tapped her nose, and after tucking her in, quietly left.

 

When he returned to the room he shared with Lang Sa, the man was reading a letter.

 

It was from Lang Xiaoxiao.

 

Whenever they arrived at a new place, they would send a letter to both the grasslands and Anyu to update them on their situation, and only after receiving a reply would they move on to the next place.

 

Since they had stayed longer this time, they had received a few more letters.

 

They had only brought Xie Lingyue with them when they left, leaving Wu’erma on the grasslands to be cared for by Ateus—after all, taking two wolves with them might alarm ordinary people.

 

Xie Zhiqing sat down and carefully read the letter. It said that Wu’erma had already started learning to help Ateus manage the wolf pack. She was as smart as Xie Lingyue.

 

Lang Sa teased, “Xiao Qing’er has good genes.”

 

Xie Zhiqing modestly nodded in agreement.

 

Lang Sa teased, “Xiao Qing’er has good genes.”

 

Xie Zhiqing nodded modestly in agreement. 

 

After putting the letter away, the two prepared to go to bed. In the darkness, the Wolf King accurately captured the Little Prince’s lips in a kiss. Xie Zhiqing let out a soft moan and quickly wrapped his arms around Lang Sa’s neck.

 

…Because of Xie Lingyue, it had been a long time since the two had been close. 

 

Lang Sa bit Xie Zhiqing’s lips discontentedly and whispered, “Xiao Qing’er is being too partial. You’re only taking care of our daughter and completely neglecting me now.”

 

Xie Zhiqing, sitting on the Wolf King’s lap with his slender waist held in one hand, kissed Lang Sa’s lips. Even though he knew Lang Sa wasn’t really complaining, he still leaned in to kiss him.

 

The heat on the Little Prince’s face grew stronger. His fingers were pried apart by the Wolf King, whose rough fingers slipped between his, gradually interlocking their hands.

 

Xie Zhiqing’s cheeks were burning as he softly said, “You’re talking nonsense.”

 

Lang Sa let out a low laugh and then went to nibble on the Little Prince’s fingers. After the kiss, Xie Zhiqing’s fingertips were marked with shallow bite marks.

 

A few days later, they packed up their belongings and prepared to depart for Anyu. Lang Sa loaded their luggage onto the carriage, took his place on the horse, while Xie Zhiqing sat in the carriage with the baby.

 

Xie Lingyue, the only one among the three who had never been to Anyu, was naturally the most excited. She couldn’t sit still, constantly poking her head out to look around and then pestering to ride beside her father.

 

She only calmed down when Xie Zhiqing lightly tapped her little head.

 

The journey wasn’t far, and three days later, they reached the border of Anyu.

 

They had come secretly, without informing anyone. The guards hadn’t received any news, and when they saw who was in the carriage, they were stunned.

 

“The Third Prince? Isn’t this the Third Prince?”

 

Another guard quickly corrected him, “Lord! He’s a Little Lord now! Don’t talk nonsense!”

 

“Oh, oh! Lord, it’s the Little Lord!”

 

Xie Zhiqing couldn’t help but laugh.

 

He wasn’t used to being called “Little Lord.”

 

He lifted the curtain and gracefully stepped down from the carriage, saying, “It’s me. I’ve come back for a visit. Please send a message to my royal brother.”

 

The guards were overjoyed, “Alright! The Little Lord is back, the Little Lord is back!”

 

Xie Zhiqing covered his face with a smile, then returned to the carriage and helped Xie Lingyue down.

 

Holding his daughter’s hand in his left and Lang Sa’s hand in his right, the three of them walked together on the path home.

 

He thought, I am truly the happiest person in the world.