Several minutes had passed since the school bell rang, but Yan Chi still hadn't arrived. This had never happened before, and the students in Class 1 were all very curious about where Yan Chi had gone.
"Chang Le, has Teacher Chi still not gone home?" Xingluo approached Shen Chang Le with a face full of curiosity, but Shen Chang Le was focused on practicing calligraphy, glanced at him, and ignored him.
Xingluo wasn't about to give up easily. He snatched Shen Chang Le's calligraphy copybook in a spoiled manner, lay down on it, and said, "I won't give it back until you tell me."
Shen Chang Le put down his brush, saying helplessly, "Didn't you already know? Why did you have to come to me for the answer?"
Xingluo and his father had been watching as Yan Chi left with Yan Qingyuan.
"So, Teacher Chi hasn't been back these past two days?" Xingluo laughed. He could already imagine Shen Mingsu's expression as he wandered around the house like a ghost. "Didn't the principal sigh and complain to you?"
Shen Chang Le paused. "Now that Chu Xi is here, if Uncle goes crazy, he'll cry."
As soon as Chu Xi cries, Xi Chang and Lin Heng from next door will come to check. If they find that Shen Mingsu is neglecting Chu Xi, they'll gather evidence to complain to Yan Chi.
Shen Mingsu, having become more obedient, diligently took the good-for-nothing to school every day and picked him up in the afternoon, becoming a dutiful stay-at-home dad.
Xingluo laughed heartily, deciding to tell his father this story when he got home, to give him a laugh too.
A short while later, Yan Chi rushed to the classroom, panting as he walked to the podium, "Sorry I'm late today, I've kept everyone waiting."
No one minded.
Yan Chi picked up his book and began the lesson. The past half-semester's curriculum had taken the students from kindergarten to high school level, a remarkably rapid improvement. Their ability to absorb knowledge was exceptionally high, even surprising Yan Chi himself.
So at the end of the class, Yan Chi assigned homework and casually asked, "Have any of you thought about taking the college entrance exam?"
Everyone looked blank. Mingcai raised her hand, "Teacher Yan, I remember that in human society, the college entrance exam also involves studying things like biology and chemistry. Ding Yang taught me, but I didn't like it; it was boring."
It wasn't as fun as the stories Yan Chi told them, and a large part of the reason they could learn was because there was no academic pressure; they treated these courses purely as hobbies.
Yan Chi clearly realized this as well, and found his idea increasingly absurd. He shook his head, "I'm being too narrow-minded."
From his previous education, he believed that learning various kinds of knowledge was only for passing various exams and obtaining various certificates; the final result of learning must be a tangible achievement to measure one's efforts.
After reflecting on his actions, Yan Chi said to his students, "Class is over. Have fun, everyone."
Back in his office, he immediately saw Shen Mingsu sitting at his desk. Yan Chi put down his book and took a sip of his brewed goji berry tea. "Why are you here?"
Shen Mingsu looked at him resentfully. "You didn't hug me just now. I reached out my arms, but you walked right past me without acknowledging me..."
"I did acknowledge you," Yan Chi said guiltily, glancing away. "I was almost late, I was in a rush, but I still talked to you. I didn't ignore you."
Shen Mingsu opened his arms. "Then hug me again."
"How can I hug you if you don't stand up?"
"Sit on my lap."
Shen Mingsu persisted. Yan Chi had no choice. There was no one else in the office, so he slowly sat on Shen Mingsu's lap and wrapped his arms around his neck. "Is this okay?"
"Yes." Shen Mingsu rested his head on Yan Chi's shoulder, gazing at his smooth, fair neck. On a sudden impulse, he gently bit Yan Chi's neck, leaving a tooth mark.
The warmth on his neck startled Yan Chi. He leaned back, "Ouch, don't bite!"
Shen Mingsu looked at the tooth mark with satisfaction, hugging Yan Chi even tighter, nuzzling his face against his, and said with a wronged expression, "Does your father still not like me?"
"It's not that he doesn't like you..." After spending this short time together, Yan Chi had realized that Yan Qingyuan didn't simply dislike one person. "Actually, my dad doesn't like anyone... except me?"
Whether it was the mermaid seeking repayment or Xing Zhinan, with whom he had spent many years, Yan Qingyuan always adhered to the attitude of "don't come to those you don't know well, and get lost to those you do know well."
Shen Mingsu sighed, knowingly saying, "He loves you the most, so naturally he hates me the most."
Yan Chi couldn't bear to see his dejected appearance and kissed his cheek. "No, I'm here."
The next second, Shen Mingsu's large hand cupped the back of his head, and he kissed him deeply, their lips rubbing together, his tongue exploring Yan Chi's mouth, saliva mingling.
Yan Chi softened, trying his best to cooperate.
"Teacher Xiao Chi!"
A call came, followed by hurried footsteps. Yan Chi was startled and pushed Shen Mingsu away, quickly getting off him and grabbing some tissues to wipe his lips.
People often pretend to be busy when they're embarrassed. Yan Chi picked up his pen from the table, put it down again, touched his water glass, and then asked, "Feng Wang, what's wrong?"
"It's important!"
Feng Wang excitedly pulled Li Huai to him, his expression barely concealing his excitement. "Teacher Xiao Chi, your father is the uncle in [I], right?"
Under their clear gazes, Yan Chi felt like he and Shen Mingsu were dirty adults. He nodded guiltily. "Yes, are you looking for my father?"
Feng Wang squeezed Li Huai's hand. "Father wants to find your father, but [I] is closed off to the outside world; he can't get in."
"My father is at the school," Yan Chi said, roughly guessing what they wanted to do. "You want my father to resurrect Li Xian?"
Li Huai and Feng Wang both looked at him, and the brothers nodded.
Since Yan Qingyuan could resurrect the mermaids of the Azure Sea, could he also resurrect Li Xian? A thought flashed through Yan Chi's mind.
Yan Chi: "I'll tell my father, or you can have Feng Yun come find him."
Hearing this, Li Huai and Feng Wang were both excited. They thanked Yan Chi gratefully and then left the office.
After they left, Shen Mingsu said leisurely, "Resurrecting Li Xian... that's probably very difficult. These two children are thinking too simply."
Yan Chi was puzzled, "Didn't you say my father could do anything? Then why can't he resurrect Li Xian?"
"It's not that it's impossible." Shen Mingsu frowned slightly, "Bringing Li Xian back to life is simple. You don't need your father. Tan Mo, Mingcai, and Ning Zhu can all do it, but what comes back to life isn't Li Xian, but a walking corpse living off the power of others."
"Feng Yun doesn't want such a false shell."
Yan Chi's expression gradually became serious. He looked up at Shen Mingsu, "Can't you even use your time reversal?"
"Don't even mention it." The thought of this left Shen Mingsu feeling utterly exhausted. He pulled Yan Chi to his side and leaned lazily on his shoulder. "Actually, I wasn't close to Li Xian and the others at all. Xing Zhinan brought them together entirely. Later, I helped Feng Yun go back in time to save Li Xian."
Yan Chi hadn't expected this, but Li Xian's death meant Shen Mingsu and Feng Yun had failed. "Even changing the past couldn't save him?"
"We went back in time 53 times." Shen Mingsu sighed, "I've never been this tired in my life. Every time I save Li Xian, he always gets killed again at some point."
"Later, we thought, why not just kill all the players and destroy the system? That way, there wouldn't be any more accidents. Who would have thought that after one batch of players died, another batch would appear? This system was gone, and they created another one..."
Shen Mingsu stroked Yan Chi's hair, "Perhaps this is what Xing Zhinan meant by fate. Everything will eventually proceed according to the originally predetermined ending."
Yan Chi remained silent, his thick eyelashes drooping. A profound sense of powerlessness made him feel somewhat weary.
So, when Sethia entered the office, he saw Yan Chi and Shen Mingsu leaning against each other, neither of them speaking, the atmosphere very strange.
Anyone else would have left long ago, but Sethia, being oblivious, walked straight to Yan Chi, squatted down beside him, and shook his arm. "Teacher Chi."
Yan Chi snapped back to reality. "Sethia, what brings you here?"
"Because I heard Uncle Qingyuan is back." Sethia looked up at Yan Chi, "My dad really likes Uncle Qingyuan. They're good friends, so can my dad come and meet him?"
How strange! His dad actually has friends besides Xing Zhinan? Yan Chi was astonished. "Of course! Your dad is welcome to come to school."
"Then can my dad live with me?" Sethia clung to Yan Chi's arm, his beautiful, bright blue eyes pleading, "Please, Teacher Chi, please, Principal! My dad eats a lot, but he definitely won't bankrupt the school. Please let him come and keep me company."
Hearing his pitiful tone, the gloom that had been creeping into Yan Chi's heart dissipated considerably. He glanced at Shen Mingsu, "Oh? Did your principal deliberately prevent your dad from coming to school?"
Shen Mingsu protested indignantly, "It's clearly because his dad always transforms into his original form, taking up a lot of space in the school. That's why I didn't let him come and disturb the students."
Sethia smiled sheepishly, "He can eat even more in his original form."
Yan Chi had witnessed Yi Luo's mountain-like size; if he squeezed into the school, the students wouldn't be able to attend classes. "Then let's make it clear beforehand that your dad can't disrupt the school's operations when he comes. And when he transforms back into his original form, he can only be... the size of a basketball, okay?"
Sethia nodded repeatedly.
After seeing Sethia off, Mingcai and Ahui arrived, also there to inquire about Yan Qingyuan.
Yan Chi was surprised, "Does your mother know my father too?"
Mingcai: "Yes, they're good friends."
Ahui: "Yeah, good friends."
Yan Chi: "..."
Is this for real? His dad has so many good friends?
But he couldn't very well refuse their friendly visits, so he nodded in agreement. Over the next ten minutes, everyone in the class came to see him, all with the same reason:
—Their parents were good friends with his father and wanted to catch up with old friends they hadn't seen in a long time.
Yan Chi was completely dumbfounded. Was his father the real friend with all the good connections?
That noon, the weather suddenly turned gloomy, as if a torrential downpour was brewing.
Yan Chi and Shen Mingsu returned home to cook. Shen Chang Le picked up Chu Xi from kindergarten. As soon as Chu Xi saw Yan Chi, he sniffled pathetically and jumped on him, crying, "Chi Chi, hug me!"
Yan Chi hugged him and kissed his little cheek. "Little Chu Xi, were you a good boy?"
Chu Xi nodded earnestly. "Yes! I was good!"
Shen Mingsu scoffed. "Crying until the middle of the night, is that being good? Don't try to be strong."
Chu Xi realized he wasn't being nice and glared at him angrily, but he was too weak. Shen Mingsu casually pinched his soft cheek, making him bury his face in Yan Chi's chest and whimper.
The food was almost ready, but Yan Qingyuan still hadn't returned. Although Yan Chi knew that with Yan Qingyuan's abilities, no one in the school could rival him, he was still worried.
Yan Chi handed Chu Xi to Shen Chang Le and said to them, "I'm going to find Dad. You guys eat first."
With that, he grabbed his umbrella and went out.
Shen Mingsu reminded him, "He's in the botanical garden. You can just go there to find him."
"Okay."
Even though it was late autumn, the botanical garden was still lush and green. The rare swallowtail butterflies had been moved to the adjacent breeding garden, and birds were chirping happily.
Yan Chi saw Yan Qingyuan standing under an ancient tree, with Feng Yun standing in front of him. The two were talking.
Yan Chi didn't have the bad habit of eavesdropping. He stopped and walked a little further away, only returning to Yan Qingyuan's side after seeing Feng Yun leave.
A light rain began to fall. Yan Chi opened his umbrella and walked to Yan Qingyuan's side. "Let's go home for dinner."
Yan Qingyuan looked somewhat dazed. "Okay."
The father and son walked side by side in the drizzle. Yan Qingyuan's eyes were lowered. "I didn't know Li Xian was dead. No wonder he didn't come looking for me..."
Yan Chi glanced at him. "Can you save him?"
"I can bring him back to life, just like those mermaids." Yan Qingyuan slightly raised his hand, and a silver-haired, blue-eyed young man appeared vividly beside him.
"Li Xian" smiled at Yan Qingyuan, holding a bouquet of white flowers in his hands. He presented them to him, saying, "Here, I picked these especially for you. You can't throw them away, or I'll never talk to you again."
Yan Chi stared blankly at this scene. "He is..."
Yan Qingyuan: "Li Xian."
"Hmm, why did you call me?"
"Li Xian" glanced at Yan Chi, his eyes brightening. He jogged to Yan Qingyuan's side. "Is he your child? He looks just like you."
Seeing Yan Qingyuan nod, "Li Xian" moved closer to Yan Chi, flashing a bright smile, his eyes crinkling. He took Yan Chi's hand, his hand warm. "But I didn't bring a gift today. What do you like, little darling? I'll definitely bring you one next time, okay?"
Yan Chi was speechless. He had always thought Li Xian would be as reserved and shy as Li Huai, but now, Li Xian seemed like the warm sun in early winter, comforting without being scorching.
Under Li Xian's expectant gaze, Yan Chi felt a lump in his throat, but in an instant, Li Xian vanished without a trace, like a snowman melting in the sun.
Yan Chi looked at Yan Qingyuan in astonishment. "Where is he?"
"He's taken back," Yan Qingyuan said calmly. "Since he's dead, just forget about him."
"But didn't Feng Yun come to ask you to resurrect him?"
"He changed his mind later." Yan Qingyuan caught a fallen leaf, twirling it between his fingers. "A Li Xian who exists because of my power isn't the real Li Xian, so he gave up."
"..."
The rain pattered on the umbrella. Yan Chi fell silent. Yan Qingyuan looked at him and awkwardly patted his head. "If Feng Yun really asked me to resurrect a Li Xian for him, I wouldn't even consider him. I can only say... Li Xian has good taste."
From beginning to end, Feng Yun loved the unique, irreplaceable Li Xian.
After understanding this, Yan Chi couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Why was Feng Yun's ability infinite rebirth?
With heavy hearts, Yan Chi and Yan Qingyuan returned home. Hearing a commotion inside, and hearing voices clearly not belonging to Shen Mingsu and Shen Chang Le, they both paused, startled.
The blond, blue-eyed Yi Luo was the first to burst through the door. Seeing Yan Qingyuan, he exclaimed and rushed straight to him, "Yuanyuan, you're finally back!"
Yan Qingyuan pulled Yan Chi away from his enthusiastic embrace, like a proud, unyielding cat, aloof and not allowing anyone near. "Stay away from me, or I'll beat you up."
Yi Luo complained, "You abandoned me for so long, I've even lost weight, don't you feel any remorse?"
Yan Qingyuan glanced at his chubby face. "Really? I see you've taken good care of yourself."
"I have lost weight." Yi Luo stammered, leaning closer to Yan Qingyuan, holding out his hands, "So, dear master, can I give your favorite jelly an endless supply of roasted chicken legs?"
Master?!
Yan Chi stared in astonishment at his father and Yi Luo.
Yan Qingyuan explained, "I kept this jelly for a while, but then I got rid of him because he ate too much."
Yan Chi: Huh?
Wasn't it supposed to be just good friends? What happened to this part?!
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