Chapter 1266: I Want to Make You Stay (144)
“Are you tired? I’ll tuck you in bed.”
“Daddy, I don’t want to sleep at home.”
Long Tianze asked in astonishment, “Where do you want to sleep, then?”
“I want to sleep together with Yiheng.”
Flabbergasted, Long Tianze said, “Xiaoxi, you’re a big girl now. You can’t sleep on the same bed as your Brother Yiheng anymore. The same applies for your brother too.”
Long Xiaoxi insisted, “No, I’m going to marry Yiheng when I grow up.”
“Baby, I’m very heartened to see how ambitious you are, but boys can’t sleep on the same bed as girls. That’s not allowed at all!”
Noticing how stern he was getting, Long Xiaoxi said solemnly, “I sleep next to Yiheng in school every day!”
Shocked out of his senses, Long Tianze chided, “Xiaoxi, girls shouldn’t be so proactive and take the initiative all the time. Will you listen to Daddy?”
“No, no, no, I refuse.”
A sudden saying popped up in his head —”When a girl is grown up, she must be married off.”
But my daughter is only five!
Yet, I already can’t keep her by my side?
He instantly felt as if he had to lose his daughter to another man before he could even spend enough time with her. He was filled with an immense misery that words could not explain.
Fortunately, Qingyan lives really close to us. Even if we become in-laws in the future, I won’t have to worry about the distance. They won’t ill-treat Xiaoxi either.
Long Tianze felt much better after rea.s.suring himself.
“Xiaoxi, tell Daddy, do you really want to marry Yiheng when you grow up?”
“Of course I do. Daddy, are you doubting my words?”
Long Tianze explained, “I’m not doubting your words. I only asked that because you’re so fickle-minded. Whenever Yiheng makes you upset, you’ll declare that you won’t marry him anymore when you grow up. But you’ll say that you want to marry him again after a while.”
“I won’t say such things again in the future. Daddy, Yiheng said that he’ll definitely marry me when we grow up,” Long Xiaoxi said firmly.
“What if he changes his mind when he grows up?”
“That’s why I must make him mine now, so as to prevent him from changing his mind when he grows up. He’ll only have eyes for me then. Hehe, Daddy, I came up with his idea after some meticulous brainstorming. What do you think of it?”
On the verge of tears, Long Tianze hugged his precious daughter tightly and said with obvious reluctance, “Daddy… supports you.”
Long Xiaoxi kissed him delightedly and said, “I knew you were my biological daddy. You’re the best daddy. Daddy, I love you.”
She then let go of Long Tianze and got off from his lap. “Daddy, I’m tired. I’m going to bed now. Goodnight, Daddy.”
“Goodnight, Baby.”
Long Tianze headed downstairs to see that Mei Yangyang was sitting in front of the dressing table and applying some night cream. Noticing how sulky he seemed, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
He let out a long sigh and said dejectedly, “Yangyang, Xiaoxi told me just now that she wants to marry Yiheng when she grows up.”
“Hasn’t she already said that several times before?” asked Mei Yangyang, who did not find it to be a big deal.
“She said that she’s been sleeping next to Yiheng in the boot camp every day. She’s going opposite to sleep with him again.”
Mei Yangyang remarked, “They’re still so young. What’s wrong with sleeping together on the same bed?”
“She also said that she’s going to make Yiheng her person, so as to prevent him from changing his mind in the future.”
Mei Yangyang turned around and asked, smiling, “Did she really say that?”
“Yes, she really said that.”
“Seems like Xiaoxi does take after you. How dare you have the cheek to criticize her? Didn’t you carry a torch for Qingyue throughout your adolescence and young adult phase? She’s too mature for her age. I didn’t even know what romance was all about when I was a child.”
“You’re right.” Long Tianze walked toward her and hugged her from behind. “I’m still afraid that Xiaoxi will follow in my footsteps. I’m afraid Yiheng will… you know what I’m referring to. This has always been one of my greatest concerns.”
“You’re just stressing yourself out for nothing.”
“Yangyang, no one can be certain about what will happen in the future. Why don’t we arrange for the two of them to be married? That way, Yiheng will know from a young age that he’ll be marrying Xiaoxi when he’s older.”
Pursing her lips, Mei Yangyang chastised, “Are you out of your mind? That’s so outdated.”
“I’m just worried about Xiaoxi. I know I’m overreacting, but I can’t help but let my imagination run wild whenever I think about this problem. After all, I’ve had some experience.”
“Xiaoxi really takes after you, but her predicament is different from yours. She’s very close to Yiheng right now. Were you as close to Qingyue when you guys were children? Qingyue detested you ever since you guys were young, didn’t she?”
Long Tianze retorted, “Who said so? She loved following me around and calling me ‘Brother.’”
“Are you sure she wasn’t referring to Ling Ciye or Jin Qingyan?”
“I’m sure!”
“Psht.” Mei Yangyang did not believe him at all.
“I’m telling the truth.”
Mei Yangyang answered perfunctorily, “Yeah, yeah, it’s all real.”
“No, I must talk to Qingyan about this now.”
Mei Yangyang grabbed his s.h.i.+rt and said, “Come back here. What’s there to talk about? Isn’t it better to just let nature take its course?”
“No, I must protect our Xiaoxi,” said Long Tianze, who felt that they could not afford any more delay.
“G.o.d d.a.m.n it.” Mei Yangyang hurriedly chased after him in her pajamas.
Jin Qingyan and An Xiaoning were sitting on the couch and watching a movie when Long Tianze rushed inside their house with a sullen expression on his face. Jin Qingyan glanced at him and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Qingyan, Sis-in-law, I have something to discuss with you guys.”
“Sit down and tell us,” said An Xiaoning, who then switched off the television. Silence filled the air.
“It’s regarding Xiaoxi and Yiheng.”
“Oh? Not regarding Yangyang nurturing a young hunk?” An Xiaoning asked.
Mei Yangyang turned to look at Long Tianze and questioned, “You actually sought Sis’ help regarding the matter about the artiste?”
Long Tianze answered wryly, “You refused to listen to me so I was planning to ask Sis-in-law to talk you around.”
“Long Tianze, are your brains fried? I’m only doing that for work, not to look for a boy toy.”
“I know. Let’s talk about the main problem first,” said Long Tianze, holding her hand.
Unable to tell what he wanted to say, An Xiaoning prompted, “Just what do you want to talk about? What’s wrong with Xiaoxi and Yiheng?”
“Sis-in-law, Qingyan. Let’s betroth the children to each other,” said Long Tianze, staring at them solemnly.
An Xiaoning and Jin Qingyan exchanged glances, dumbfounded.
“Long Tianze, the children are still so young. Why do you want them to be engaged?” Jin Qingyan asked in bewilderment.