CHAPTER 3: CRAZY XIU

Aegon closed his eyes and waited for a while, as he was really scared of what might happen next. It was his second chance at life and he didn’t want to waste it.

But he also knew it was necessary to take this risk. He wanted to know if it worked and how exactly it would work.

’Here goes nothing!’

Steeling his heart, he gave the command to the system to assimilate [Universal Language] with him. As if the system had just been waiting for his command, huge amounts of information began to pour into his mind like endless floods.

Surprisingly, he didn’t feel any pain. It just felt like someone had gently adjusted his head and boom, suddenly there were tons of new information in his mind.

’Phew! I thought I’d have to roll around screaming like every other poor protagonist who gets their brain fried during these things. Good thing my system’s built different.’

Aegon sighed in relief and dropped back on the table. Closing his eyes, he began to process everything he had just received and realized he could understand it all much better.

It was as if his mind was a giant library and every language sat neatly stacked on shelves, ready to be pulled out at will.

He turned sideways to look at the book’s content and realized he could understand it now. It was a storybook for children.

’Wow! So all the stories he tells me come from this?’ Aegon was amused and touched. Knowing that his grandpa had been reading all of this just for him made his heart fill with warmth.

Just then, he heard footsteps behind him and knew who it was before the person even arrived. After all, for some reason everyone around him liked to stomp around like parade drummers when approaching him.

"Is Little Sun interested in books?" Xiu asked with a chuckle as she picked him up gently and made him sit in her lap. "This is Grandpa’s Library though, so most of the things you’ll find here are just rubbish."

"Are you teaching my grandson nonsense again?"

A thunderous voice came from the back as Arnold arrived with a thick book in his hands. He glared at his adopted daughter and said, "Are these rubbish to you?"

"They definitely are rubbish to him," Xiu immediately defended herself. "I didn’t mean they are rubbish to me. You can’t scold me for that, Elder Old."

Arnold smacked her head without mercy and grumbled, "When are you going to stop calling me old just because my name has old in it?"

Aegon giggled at their ridiculous back-and-forth, especially at how Xiu always managed to push Arnold’s buttons. Seriously, only his crazy aunt would spot the word ’old’ in Arnold and dare to use it against him daily.

"See? Even our family’s prince finds it funny," Xiu’s smile brightened up seeing that Aegon was on her side.

"Well, if it’s for him then I have no problem being old," Arnold sighed helplessly, but his gaze was still stuck on Aegon’s smile.

’Can I try it?’ Aegon thought before opening his mouth and trying to say something, but only strange, cute sounds came out, making his family laugh again.

’Damn it! I won’t give up!!’ Aegon was determined and made a few more attempts before he finally managed to get the hang of it, and a sweet, soft voice came out of his mouth.

"Xuu!"

Arnold and Xiu froze mid-laugh and turned toward Aegon, their eyes widening in shock and joy. Xiu raised him high and asked with a trembling voice, "Baby, did you just say something? Can you try again?"

Aegon smiled widely and voiced out again, "Xiu!!"

This time, the tone was the same but the pronunciation was sharper, because he was already getting better at it. Perhaps it really was [Universal Language] that gave him the boost.

And that was all it took for Xiu’s eyes to light up like fireworks. They sparkled as if nebulae full of stars had come alive inside them. Her dazzling grin radiated so much joy that even Aegon could feel it.

"My baby boy spoke his first words!!" Xiu cheered, swinging Aegon into the air like she had just won the lottery. Then she stopped and once again asked eagerly, "One more time, try to say Aunt this time."

"Xiu!" Aegon wanted to tease her a little bit.

"Really? Whatever! As long as you’re calling out to me, that’s all that matters," Xiu was too happy to care about the details. "Let’s go! The whole world should know my Little Sun has spoken for the first time."

Just as she jumped to leave the room, she felt the heavy atmosphere settle behind her and slowly turned to find Arnold glaring at her with his deep black eyes.

Xiu licked her lips nervously and asked, "Can we... pretend that didn’t happen?"

"What do you think?" Arnold growled.

"My pretty little baby, save your Aunt," Xiu whispered in Aegon’s ear before handing him over to Arnold like a human shield. "He would like to say something in my defense."

Arnold ignored his unruly daughter completely and gently took Aegon from her arms. He looked at him expectantly and said, "I know Little Sun is very smart, so why don’t you try calling me? Say Opa!"

Aegon twisted his tongue for a few seconds before shouting, "Da!"

’Ah! Damn it! Still needs practice,’ Aegon was frustrated, but his family? The total opposite.

Seeing the pure joy blooming on their faces, Aegon realized everything was worth it for that happiness. He still didn’t understand how something so small could make them so overjoyed, but he didn’t mind.

He was just happy because they were happy.

Then, his over-the-moon Aunt Xiu paraded him around the entire mansion and made sure every single staff member be it the maids, butler, and even guards knew of the "historic achievement."

Aegon felt it was going completely over the top, but it seemed like everyone in the mansion had caught her infectious mood.

’I don’t even know you people, yet you’re happy for me? What kind of logic is that?’ Aegon wondered.

He had read many books, so he could pull out a dozen theories, but he was still baffled at how someone could be happy for a stranger.

’Wait! It’s kind of like me. When I saved people, I was happy for them too. But that was different, I was indirectly involved. They’re just... bystanders.’

On that day, Aegon learned two things.

First, humans can be happy for others even when there’s no connection at all.

’Perhaps this is what they call empathy, isn’t it?’

The second thing he learned was that his Aunt Xiu was downright insane when it came to matters related to him.

One may ask, why was that?

It was because she actually wanted to throw a massive party just because he spoke for the first time. If Arnold hadn’t stopped her, she might’ve gone all the way from fireworks, feast, dancing, maybe even invite the Emperor himself.

’Crazy Xiu! Yes, that’s your name now.’