Chapter 058 Their home is finally complete!



"What are you looking at early in the morning?"

The next day, when Ling Jingxuan opened his eyes, he saw the two buns laying on the bed and looking at him, smiles unconsciously crawling on their lips. Ling Jingxuan lazily brushed his restless long hair and stretched out his fingers to flick the foreheads of the two buns. Seeing that they were fine, the little worry left in his heart completely disappeared.

"Daddy, are you awake? You were sleeping all day yesterday. My brother and I were so worried. Grandma said you were too tired and not to disturb you. We were very good. We also helped Grandma feed the little piglets and chicks. They were obedient, what else?"

Seeing that he was awake, Ling Wu climbed up on him and hugged him, once again using his small talking skills – babbling his stories. Ling Jingxuan hugged him with one arm and used the other to sit up on the bed with strength. His face and eyes full of naked pampering. Ling Wen next to him seemed to want to say something, but Ling Wu was still going on, and he was trying to wait as an older brother.

"You little slick, the piglets belong to our family. What do you mean by feeding them with grandma? I think I said it when we bought those poultry. You will be responsible for taking care of them in the future."

After he finished speaking, Ling Jingxuan pinched his nose and made a serious face on purpose.

"Is that so?" Ling Wu tilted his head, blinking his long and dense eyelashes like two small brushes.

"You..."

Ling Jingxuan broke his serious demeanor instantly and couldn't help laughing. This kid was more and more able to act cute and pretend to be innocent.

Before he could finish his thought, Ling Wen, who had been patiently waiting, finally spoke up. "Daddy, we were really worried about you. You should take better care of yourself. We don't want you to get sick."

Ling Jingxuan's heart softened at his son's earnest expression. "I know, Xiao Wen. I promise I'll take better care of myself. And thank you both for helping Grandma."

Ling Wu, not wanting to be left out, added, "Daddy, can we go see the piglets again today? We want to make sure they're okay too."

"Of course," Ling Jingxuan said, ruffling Ling Wu's hair. "We'll all go together. But first, let's have breakfast. We need our strength to take care of those piglets."

The two buns cheered in unison, their worries from the previous day seemingly forgotten. Ling Jingxuan felt a deep sense of contentment wash over him. Despite all the challenges, moments like these made everything worthwhile.
"Now there is a baby in the grandma’s belly. You have to help Dad look after her, don't let her do heavy work. Dad will take care of feeding the pigs, and you are in charge of the chicks, okay?"

With a calm expression, Ling Jingxuan looked at them seriously. The child in their mother's belly was the hope of their family, and he didn't want any accidents. Housework and other chores, he could handle by himself. Although he said he wanted to raise the two buns into the second generation of dandyism, he didn't want them to be completely ignorant about farming. As far as they could, he would give them some jobs in due course to exercise their physique and strengthen their minds.

"Okay, but Daddy, why is the baby in the belly of the grandma?"

"Uh..."

Little Baozi's question was always so innocent and sharp. Ling Jingxuan's forehead darkened. He really didn't know how to explain it, and he couldn't say that his master "sent" the baby in.

"Kids, why are you so curious? Go, go, put on your clothes quickly, let's go for a run."

There was no other way. Ling Jingxuan could only pretend to be a stern father to divert their attention. He wanted to teach them many things, but this kind of thing, he would leave for at least ten years later.

"Oh!"

Knowing that it was impossible for him to get the answer from his father, Ling Wu pouted and nodded, really turning around to put on his clothes. Ling Jingxuan shook his head helplessly. When he saw that Ling Wu picked up the old, mended clothes instead of the new ones they had bought, he couldn't help but ask, "Didn't we buy new clothes? Why didn't I see you wear them?"

Ling Wu looked up at his father, a bit puzzled, "Daddy, the new clothes are for special occasions. Grandma said we should save them. These are still good for every day. These clothes can still be worn. I want to keep the new clothes for school. Daddy, Tie Wazi said that he would go to school with us. Is it true?"

Turning around, Xiao Baozi said as a matter of course while tying the belt clumsily. Others only wear new clothes during the Chinese New Year. He can wear them when he goes to school, and his father still loves him the most.

"Well, Tie Wazi wants to go to school with you, but I have to wait for Dad to go to the town to ask about it. You can figure out the clothes yourself. You just need to remember that now our family has nothing to worry about. Don’t treat yourself badly.”

Ling Jingxuan didn't ask them too much about clothes, it's a good thing for children to be sensible, and it's only a matter of these few days to influence them to go to school.

"Hey, Ling Wen, why aren't you wearing any clothes yet?"
Ling Wu asked. When he turned around and saw his brother sitting cross-legged on the bed and looking at his father. He couldn't help but feel puzzled on his little face.

After Ling Wu said it, Ling Jingxuan also noticed that his big bun seemed to be surprisingly silent today, and he was not like the usual him.

"What's the matter, Xiaowen, is there something wrong?"

Once it's about the child, Ling Jingxuan's shrewdness and decisiveness will be overwhelmed. His outstretched hand will habitually touch the wrist, making sure that the pulse is fine before being assured.

"Daddy, the afternoon before yesterday? Did something happen to us?"

Looking at his father and then at his younger brother, Ling Wen frowned and asked tentatively. He remembered that they came back after sending Tie Wazi home, but he didn't remember how they came back. He also asked grandma yesterday. She kept crying. He was afraid that she would be sad, so he didn't continue to ask questions, and the doubts have continued until now.
Hearing this, Ling Jingxuan's eyes flashed, and then he touched his face with a smile. "Something happened, but it has been resolved. Xiaowen, you just need to know that Daddy will definitely protect you. Don't think too much about other things. Those dirty things don’t matter.”
In fact, he could have told them that nothing happened, but Ling Jingxuan didn't do that. From the first day he traveled here, he never thought about hiding anything from the two little ones. As a father, he doesn't know, and he probably won't learn it even if he knows it. What he wants to be is not only their father but also their friend. Among friends, the last thing they need is to hide things, unless it's something too heavy. Living a dark and dirty life is not conducive to their growth, and he won't put it that way. He must make things clear to them.
Hearing this, Ling Jingxuan's eyes flashed. He then touched his face with a smile. "Something happened, but it has been resolved, Xiaowen. Just know that Daddy will protect you. Don't worry about anything else. Those dirty and unpleasant things don’t matter.”

"Well, I trust Daddy, but Daddy... can you not sleep for so long, okay? I'm afraid..."

Finally, Ling Wen's voice was barely audible, and his small hands were tightly twisted together. God knows how worried he was when he saw his father in a coma yesterday, afraid that he would revert to his old self. Their life had finally become a bit easier. He really didn't want things to go back to how they were. He likes his current father very much and doesn't want him to disappear again.

With Ling Jingxuan's shrewdness, how could he fail to see the fear in his son's heart?

Seeing his son's appearance, Ling Jingxuan's heart tightened. A pang of pain shot through his heart, and after a moment, he opened his arms to hug him. "Don't be afraid. Daddy was just tired yesterday. It's nothing serious, I promise you it won't happen again, never again." So much has happened recently that they've all forgotten it's only been a few days since he arrived. Xiao Wenzi is growing and changing day by day. It seems like he's becoming livelier and cuter, but deep down, his heart is still fragile and fearful. The hellish past is not far behind them.

Ling Wen did his best to hold back tears, buried his head in his father's arms, and nodded quietly. As long as it was what his father said, he would believe it.
"Okay, Uncle Wang is going to deliver the goods to us today, and the guy from the restaurant will come to fetch fish later, so get up quickly."

After a while, Ling Jingxuan's solemn demeanor faded away, replaced with a smile as he patted their heads. The past was over, and their new life had just begun—they would live better and better.

Upon hearing that their family had earned some money again, the two children nodded happily and got busy. A new day had begun.

Father and son dressed neatly; those who needed to run ran, and those who needed to cook cooked. By the time Ling Jingpeng arrived, Ling Jingxuan had already had breakfast, boiled Ling Jinghan's medicine, and was about to push the cart to Yuehuagou to catch fish. It's worth mentioning that there was an additional person at their dinner table today—Yan Shengrui, who had been acknowledged the previous night due to his son's intervention during his sleep. Observing how he smirked at Ling Jingxuan all morning clearly indicated his favorable feelings.

"I say, have you seen enough? If you have, go lie down and rest."

Finally unable to bear Yan Shengrui's unabashed fiery gaze, Ling Jingxuan rolled his eyes weakly. An injured person should look injured; who wakes up in heat early in the morning like him?

"I haven't seen enough. I could never see enough in my life."

Shedding the dominating arrogance he displayed towards the Ling family, Yan Shengrui rested his head in his hands, his face full of mischief, his bright tiger eyes fixated on Ling Jingxuan's slender figure.

"Hmm."

"Pfft? Cough, cough? Sorry, sorry, carry on. Pretend I'm not here."
Ling Jingxuan's forehead darkened, rendering him momentarily speechless. Ling Jingpeng, who was drinking porridge, nearly choked in an exaggerated manner, struggling to contain his laughter. What had transpired after their departure yesterday? Why had the dynamic between his elder brother and that person changed so drastically today? It was quite unexpected, to say the least. "Uncle, you're so clumsy, a grown man and still choking."

Completely oblivious to the adult "undercurrents," Ling Wu covered his mouth and giggled upon seeing Ling Jingpeng choke. His dark eyes gleamed with schadenfreude. Ling Wen, beside him, was more composed, though still young and bewildered by the interactions between his father and the others, watching them with puzzled eyes.

"You heartless little scamp, and here I thought I loved you."

Casting an irritated glance at the mischievous child, Ling Jingpeng feigned a stern expression. Ling Wu seemed to relish this, not holding back his laughter but instead smiling even brighter. Uncle and nephew seemed to have forgotten the presence of others completely.

"I'm afraid the restaurant's fellow will arrive later. I'll go catch fish. Jing Peng, please quickly return Jing Han's medicine. Brother Wang will deliver the jar later. If I'm not back, you can take it first. The money is for you. Just take Xiaowen."

Not wanting to entertain the shameless rogue any longer, Ling Jingxuan stood up, speaking as he did so. Ling Jingwei's antics might delay sending Xiao Baozi to town for schooling by a few days, at least until he agreed to make a thousand catties of jam for the restaurant. The young ones were still tender, so it shouldn't pose a significant issue. He could even teach them if he found himself with spare time.

"Hey, brother, be careful."

Ling Jingpeng, addressed thus, withdrew his gaze from his mischievous nephew, his phoenix eyes betraying a lingering concern, still recalling yesterday's events vividly.
"Well, there's also you. Either rest or help me look after the house. Remember to drink your medicine when it's cold." Ling Jingxuan nodded, then turned to Yan Shengrui again. It wasn't arrogance that made him promise to be high-minded, but... Someone was really a bit too naive.

"I'll rest when you come back, Jingxuan. Don't go too deep. I'll take your place after the head injury heals in a few days. Also, it seems my name has a character in it. From now on, just call me Ling Sheng."

Without hesitation, Yan Shengrui held his hand, even deciding to share the surname. If the royal family found out, they'd likely be furious!

"Ling Sheng? Should I arrange another wedding? You might as well marry me."

Hearing the impromptu chosen name, Ling Jingxuan felt a sense of unease. After all, he was also of noble descent. Wasn't there any moral integrity left? Didn't ancient customs emphasize ancestral names? Even with amnesia, one wouldn't rush to decide on a surname.

"Fine, it doesn't matter who marries whom, as long as the outcome is what we expect."

Unexpectedly, Yan Shengrui nodded solemnly. Ling Jingxuan was so bewildered he couldn't muster a complaint for a while. Finally, he spoke bluntly, "Cheng Rui, before you regained your memory, your name was Sheng Rui."

He was defeated by him. Why wasn't he as cunning as Yan Shengrui?

"Sheng Rui?"

Yan Shengrui frowned instinctively, as if fragmented memories flooded his mind, but they slipped away when he tried to grasp them. His intuition told him Shengrui was his real name. He couldn't help but suspect—did Jingxuan know who he really was? Was their relationship more than just a fleeting encounter, as he had claimed?

"Don't look at me like that. I don't know your identity. It's just a reasonable guess. As for the rest, you'll find out when the blood clot in your brain dissolves and you regain your memory."

Seeing his doubts, Ling Jingxuan sighed helplessly. The name Yan Shengrui carried immense power and status. Until he was certain of his true identity, Jingxuan didn't want to speculate further to avoid unnecessary complications. Everything would become clear once Shengrui recovered his memory. Until then, he would temporarily go by the name Sheng Rui.

"Well, from now on, my name will be Sheng Rui."

After a deep gaze at Ling Jingxuan, Yan Shengrui nodded. There was a subtle depth in his eyes. Despite his memory loss, he hadn't lost his mental acuity. Even without Jingxuan's explanation, he harbored some doubts in his heart. However, after observing for these past few days, he noticed his proficiency in martial arts, far surpassing ordinary people. Yet, he had been injured by a female assassin and fallen into a coma. There was clearly more to the story. Until he had thought it through, he didn't want to attract unnecessary attention or worry Jingxuan and the children.

"I'm heading out now. Take care of the children."

After these words, Ling Jingxuan gently touched the children's heads, then left the main room. They would discuss the unknown matters later. For now, they needed to focus on handling whatever came their way.

"Brother Rui, I also delivered medicine to my second brother."

Feeling that his elder brother had accepted this man, Ling Jingpeng was naturally pleased. After all, he was the biological father of the two children. Witnessing his protective instincts toward their elder brother, Jingpeng sincerely hoped they could be together. Hence, his tone with Brother Rui was surprisingly natural.

"Well, is there any news from town?” Withdrawing his gaze from Ling Jingxuan's departure, Yan Shengrui asked casually as he picked up the medicine bowl and drank it down. He needed to recover quickly; regardless of what he said, he didn't want to see Jingxuan in yesterday's state again.

"No news, but someone delivered a letter yesterday afternoon. Uncle rushed to town before dawn today."

Ling Jingpeng, who was about to leave, paused, his brows furrowing slightly. His mood soured whenever the Ling family was mentioned.

"I see. Let's go. If Mother has nothing to do, she can come here. She's healthy and shouldn't be causing any trouble." The word "Mother" slipped smoothly from Yan Shengrui's lips. After last night, he truly felt like part of the family.

"Sure, I'll relay the message." After seeing off Ling Jingpeng, Yan Shengrui helped the sensible little ones clean up the dishes. As they bid him farewell and prepared to go to the backyard to practice calligraphy and martial arts, Yan Shengrui suddenly stopped them, his expression serious.

"Jingxuan promised to let me stay. I don't know why I abandoned you before, but from now on, I'll protect you forever. Xiaowen, Xiaowu, can you give me this chance?"

In front of his son, he shed any pretense of being an old man of authority. All he cared about was earning their trust.

"Really?! That's great! I'll finally have a father, and no one will call me a fatherless bastard again!" Xiao Baozi's reaction was simple and direct. Almost immediately, he rushed over and hugged Yan Shengrui around the neck. He genuinely wanted them to be a happy family of four.

"I'm sorry, it was my fault for abandoning you before."

Yan Shengrui rubbed Xiao Baozi's head sorrowfully, his eyes welling up. Though he'd heard similar words from Xiao Baozi before, "I just want Daddy to be happy. Promise not to make Daddy sad, or we won't want you anymore."

Watching his father and younger brother embrace, Ling Wen spoke resolutely and sensibly, his fear of his father returning to his old ways evident.

"I swear I'll never abandon you again!" Facing his son's determined gaze, Yan Shengrui raised his hand and made a solemn promise.

"Father..." Ling Wen couldn't hold back any longer and threw himself into Yan Shengrui's arms, tears flowing freely. Their family was finally whole again?!"


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