"You look so handso, Cangcang. It suits you even better than I imagined. You should wear bright colors like this more often! They really complent you!" Sang Luo adjusted his collar, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him and gave him a very satisfied thumbs-up.
Lan Cang had felt a little awkward at first, but her effusive praise made him so happy he almost couldn’t stop himself from wagging his tail. Thankfully, he held back.
He looked at himself in the mirror and had to admit it looked pretty good.
’So Luoluo likes this style.’
’If only I were a bit younger.’
Lan Cang, who rarely lanted the relentless passage of ti, now felt a pang of helpless regret.
’But it isn’t too late. I still have half a lifeti to spend by her side.’
They made it just in ti for the last day of the Lantern Festival, which was also the liveliest.
They admired the lanterns and set off fireworks.
Sang Luo hadn’t felt this relaxed in a long ti.
At the Moat not far ahead, many Beastn were placing river lanterns, each carrying a wish or a blessing, into the water to float away with the current.
Lan Cang led Sang Luo over by the hand.
The old Beastman selling river lanterns looked surprised to see him, but he understood when he saw Sang Luo by his side. He smiled and asked, "City Lord, are you here with your wife to see the lanterns this year too? I wonder what style of river lantern she would like? Please, let give two to you as a gift."
"In that case, thank you." Sang Luo picked out two classic lotus-shaped river lanterns from the stall and gave one to Lan Cang.
The old Beastman said, "Legend has it the river lanterns float all the way to the Beast God’s Divine Pool. If you two have any wishes, you can write them on the lanterns. If you’re fortunate enough to have the Beast God see them, your wishes might co true. Even if they don’t, it’s still a beautiful way to express your hopes and a wonderful mory to have."
"Sir, do you have a brush?" Sang Luo asked.
"Yes, yes, of course!"
The old Beastman brought out a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone.
"Oh, and one more thing. You must keep your wish a secret. Don’t let anyone else see it, or it won’t be granted."
Sang Luo smiled at Lan Cang. "Then let’s write with our backs to each other. When we release the lanterns, we have to close our eyes. And no peeking!"
Lan Cang smiled and nodded. "Alright."
After they finished writing their wishes, they each held their lantern in both hands, found a quieter spot, and placed them in the water.
After closing her eyes, Sang Luo secretly cracked one open and peeked to the side.
But Lan Cang had already released his lantern into the river. In the misty darkness, she couldn’t see a thing.
The two lanterns drifted further and further away on the current, eting and parting, separating and converging... Soon, they disappeared among the thousands of other lanterns, impossible to find again.
The countless lanterns snaked down the river, looking like a brilliant, beautiful river of stars from afar.
...
The days passed one by one, and Sang Luo’s belly grew larger and larger, but there was still no sign of labor.
"My pregnancy with Little Zhenzhen lasted less than a year. I thought this baby would co quickly too, but it’s been so long and they’re still not here." Sang Luo lay on the bed, patting her belly with a worried sigh.
"The higher the parents’ Cultivation, the higher the realm their child will be born into. Back when you were pregnant with Zhenzhen, I was only at the King Beast Peak. Now, I’m at the Half-step Venerable Realm. This baby’s realm at birth will be higher, not lower, so the gestation ti can’t be compared to Little Zhenzhen’s." Si Ye had been incredibly diligent over the past few years, finding all sorts of nourishing things for her to eat and occasionally scrounging so from his uncle just to gather enough resources to nurture the baby.
Little Zhenzhen lay on her mother’s round belly, wagging her tail curiously. "I wonder if the baby in Mommy’s tummy is a little brother or a little sister."
Sang Luo smiled and stroked her head. "Do you want a little brother or a little sister?"
Little Zhenzhen tilted her head and thought seriously for a mont. "I think I’d rather have a little brother."
"Oh? You’d like a brother?"
"Hehe, a little brother can bring tea and water and wait on . He’ll be easy to boss around!"
Sang Luo laughed out loud.
Little Zhenzhen looked troubled again. "But I want a sister, too. A sister would be cute and sweet, and she could play with ! Like Father Lou’s Little Carp! I want a pretty, cute little sister of my very own!"
Si Ye’s expression changed abruptly. "Say that again. Who did you just call ’Father’?"
"Father Lou! My favorite rmaid father! He’s so pretty, hehe," Little Zhenzhen gushed, completely smitten.
Si Ye’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. ’This rebellious girl!’
’She really has no clue how hard her own father worked to raise her! I went through all the shit and piss, never got a good night’s sleep! And now she turns around and calls a fish her father!’
Seeing that her father was angry, Little Zhenzhen quickly threw herself into his arms, trying to sweet-talk him. "But I love my real daddy the most! Daddy treats the best and loves the most!"
Si Ye huffed, his expression finally softening. ’This silly girl of mine is finally learning.’
"Luoluo, we’re holding a banquet at the manor in a couple of days. I haven’t thought of an excuse for it yet, but make sure to let the kids know. Tell them all to co, especially those two little rmaids!"
"..." ’He has to be competitive about everything.’
When the day of the banquet arrived, Sang Luo invited all the children over. Si Ye seized the opportunity to win over the two little rmaids, becoming a "daddy" to them as well.
’Yep! I didn’t lose out—I even gained an extra kid!’
This really infuriated Lou Xianyue.
But since he had been the one to pull such a dirty trick first, there was nothing he could do. He was clearly in the wrong.
...
Little Stone and Heng Tao from Suilin City had been together for several years, and their relationship was very stable. Both sets of parents felt the ti was right and settled on their engagent. Once the two were a little older and prepared to start their own family, they would pick an auspicious date to get married.
On the day of the engagent party, Lan Cang drank a great deal. He was very happy, yet he couldn’t hide the bittersweet feeling of reluctance in his heart.
Even though Little Stone had gone to work in Suilin City a few years prior and wasn’t ho most of the ti, he hadn’t started a new family yet, so in Lan Cang’s heart, he still felt his child was by his side.
The child he had raised with his own hands, who had been his companion for so many years, had now truly grown up and was about to fly from his side for good. His heart felt hollow, as if a hole had been torn in it that nothing could fill.
Little Stone had also told Lan Cang that he planned to move to Suilin City and settle there permanently.
Lan Cang helped his son pack his things.
There were still many of Little Stone’s belongings at ho, which they packed up completely to be moved to his new ho.
「The day Little Stone left.」
Lan Cang felt lost and lancholic for a long ti. He gave his son a large amount of Beast Crystals; one couldn’t do without money and resources to get established after leaving ho. Everything he had done over the years had been to ensure his children would not have to suffer the sa hardships he had in his youth, though risks and difficulties were still inevitable. "I’ll always be here for you. If you ever run into any trouble, rember to co find ."
"I will! Thanks, Dad!"
He remained the sa calm and dependable father in his children’s eyes, but that night, he wept.
It was the first ti Sang Luo had ever seen him cry, or rather, the first ti she had seen him cry in front of her.
Lan Cang never showed his vulnerability to others, especially not to her. But this ti, she was the only one he could confide in.
"Luoluo, I... I can’t bear to let the children go..."
He was clearly the one who first said to let the children leave, yet he was also the one most reluctant to see them go.
Sang Luo pulled his head into her arms, letting him rest against her.
"You still have . The children will leave one day, but I will always be by your side."
...
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