Chapter 395: Reading for Mama
"When the baby is born, maybe we should all go to the sea again. Or maybe we could visit a dungeon for the first time in a while. You liked those mushrooms that grew there, didn’t you?"
"Yes. Did you know? Among all vegetables, Elias especially dislikes mushrooms."
Qiong Xing chuckled as he quietly shared the secret.
Leander grinned mischievously.
"Now that’s good information."
Like Lian, Elias had gradually become less picky about vegetables over time.
Still, some dislikes were not so easily overcome.
The heavy atmosphere that had hung over them earlier faded away as they started laughing over everyone’s food preferences.
"Albe is slowly getting over his dislike of tomatoes. As long as they’re not in a salad, he can eat them just fine."
"There were a bunch of other things too. I think most of it was just him deciding he hated them before even trying them."
When they first met, Albe had claimed that tomatoes were the only thing he disliked.
However, as they spent more time eating together as a family, other foods he supposedly could not eat his answers were usually things like "I don’t know" or "I don’t like how it looks."
Most of the time, he had never even tasted the food before deciding he hated it.
Qiong Xing would persuade him to try just one bite, and once he finally did, he would realize it was actually delicious.
Now, true to his original claim, tomatoes were the only thing left on the list.
"It makes me happy when everyone enjoys the foods I think are delicious."
Being able to eat good food together and tell each other how delicious it was felt like true happiness.
With that shared sentiment, the three of them laughed together.
...
Lian handed his favorite picture book to Cari and walked hand in hand with him toward the room where Mama was likely resting.
Would Mama praise him?
"Ah, Mama!"
He spotted Mama being carried by Papa Leander as they were heading back to the room.
Recently, Mama had often looked pale and said he felt sick, and Lian had been feeling down because of it as well.
"Lian... a picture book? Sorry, but Qiong Xing can’t really right now..."
"No! Lian will read it!"
"Huh?"
Lian urged Papa Leander to bring Mama into the room, then patted the sofa.
"Sit here!"
Qiong Xing and Leander exchanged puzzled looks but followed along anyway, sitting down on the sofa.
Lian quickly climbed up beside Qiong Xing and opened the picture book.
"Lian will read to Mama today!"
"...Eh?"
Qiong Xing blinked his eyes in surprise.
Normally, he was the one who read picture books to the children.
Today, however, Lian proudly declared that he would be the one reading.
"I practiced with Brother Cari!"
Beside him, Cari nodded with a proud expression.
Apparently, while Qiong Xing had been resting these past few days, Lian had secretly been practicing reading picture books.
The words were still clumsy in places, and he occasionally stumbled over difficult parts, but she continued earnestly, determined to read all the way through.
Qiong Xing listened quietly.
Every once in a while, Lian would glance up nervously as if checking whether she was doing alright, and each time Qiong Xing smiled and nodded encouragingly.
"Then... the rabbit said... thank you!"
At last, the story reached its end.
Lian snapped the book shut and puffed out her chest proudly.
"How was it?"
"It was wonderful."
Qiong Xing gently stroked his head.
"You worked very hard, Lian. Mama is very happy."
"Hehe!"
Lian grinned from ear to ear.
"Because Mama always reads for us."
"...Lian."
"So today Lian wanted Mama to rest."
For a moment, Qiong Xing could not speak.
His chest felt warm.
Perhaps because of the pregnancy, he had been feeling unusually emotional lately, and now tears nearly escaped him.
Leander noticed and quietly wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"You’ve got some amazing kids."
"Yes."
Qiong Xing nodded softly.
"They are my pride."
Lian immediately crawled into his lap.
"Then next time too! Lian will read for Mama!"
"And me too."
Cari joined in from the other side.
Before long, the picture book reading turned into a cuddle session, with both children clinging tightly to Qiong Xing.
As he held them close, Qiong Xing thought once again how fortunate he was.
Surrounded by family who cared for him so deeply, he could not help but feel grateful.
"Papa Leander, have Mama lie down here."
"Eh? Um..."
"Hurry up!"
Mama still seemed to be feeling sick, so Lian asked Papa Leander to let him rest. Though confused, Leander gently laid Qiong Xing down.
Cari brought over a blanket so he would not get cold and carefully covered him with it.
"Lian? If it’s a picture book, Mama can read it to you later..."
Qiong Xing told him to wait a little longer, but Lian shook his head.
Unlike Rui and Yue, who preferred playing outside, Lian liked staying indoors.
She especially loved the picture books that Qiong Xing read to him.
During those moments, she could have Mama all to herself and learn many new words.
But this was different.
"Lian is going to read a picture book to Mama."
"...Eh? Lian is going to read to Mama?"
Qiong Xing blinked her eyes in surprise.
Lian took the picture book Cari had been holding for him and proudly held it up.
"This one!"
The book was titled Cryo Princess.
Out of all the picture books they owned, it was one of Lian’s favorites.
"Mama always reads to Lian before bed. So Lian will read too!"
"I can do it!"
She puffed out her chest proudly.
Qiong Xing smiled so happily that Lian felt glad she had said it.
When she looked back at Cari beside her, Cari smiled and nodded as if to say, "Good job."
In the first place, it had been Cari who suggested reading a picture book to Mama.
When Rui and Yue had been born, Lian had still been very young and remembered little.
But even at her age now, she could tell that Mama was suffering because of the new baby growing inside him.
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