CHAPTER 1881: CHAPTER 1871: CLINGY LITTLE DENGDENG

"Dad!" Little Dengdeng’s small body shot towards his father like a cannonball.

"Careful!" Jiang Yichun shouted, worried that his armor was so hard, it might hurt Little Dengdeng as he slammed into it.

Fortunately, he reached out to support him, and the next second, his son already pounced into his arms.

"Dad, I’ve missed you so much!" Little Dengdeng shouted at the top of his lungs, using all his strength. On the other side, Bai Ruozhu, who was on the soft lounge, was woken up and frowned tiredly. When she opened her eyes, she saw such a warm scene.

Jiang Yichun, in his heavy armor, was carefully holding his son. His son’s face was pressed against him, with small arms tightly wrapped around him, unwilling to let go.

Lin Ping’er and Bai Yihong had tears in their eyes. Lin Ping’er gave Bai Yihong a look and said, "Let’s add some dishes tonight, I’ll go arrange it."

Bai Yihong got the hint and quickly said, "I’ll go with you, let’s add a dish I like."

The old couple left the room, leaving the space for Ruozhu and her family of three, letting them have a good chat.

"Dad, the emperor finally let you come back. Are you leaving again soon?" Little Dengdeng asked nervously, looking up.

Jiang Yichun lifted his son up so they could see each other eye to eye, "I’m not leaving. I’ll stay to accompany you more in the coming days!"

"Wow, that’s great!" Little Dengdeng clapped his little hands happily and then turned to see his mother sitting on the lounge, smiling at them. He immediately shouted, "Mom, did you hear? Dad’s not leaving!"

Jiang Yichun carried Dengdeng over, gently saying to Bai Ruozhu, "I’ll spend more time with you as well."

Little Dengdeng covered his mouth and giggled, like a little mouse that stole some oil.

The family of three talked for quite some time, mostly with Bai Ruozhu and Dengdeng speaking, while Jiang Yichun listened quietly. Even when his face turned a bit stern, as soon as he saw his wife and son looking at him, he forced a smile, making his face ache from the effort.

At dinner, the entire Bai family was there. Guizhi, Wa San, the whole Zhang Liliang family, and Fusa’s family were invited over. They split into two lively tables for a hearty dinner.

Bai Zepei, sitting next to Jiang Yichun, raised his glass to offer him a drink, saying, "Little sister’s due date is approaching, spend more time with her."

Jiang Yichun felt guilt rising within. When Ruozhu gave birth to Dengdeng, they didn’t even remember each other well, and he had never been there for her. Now that she was expecting a second child, due to various issues, he hadn’t been with her for many days. He felt like he was a very inadequate husband.

"Yes, second brother, I will." Jiang Yichun said in a deep voice. Bai Zepei patted his shoulder and said no more. At the other table, filled with the women of the household, Bai Ruozhu watched this scene, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly. Her second brother cared about him quite a lot and knew to remind Achun of his responsibilities as a husband. She wondered if, after marrying Si Yihuan, her second brother would become a responsible husband too? "I want to drink too!" Little Dengdeng insisted on sitting at his father’s table today, joining the men of the house. Jiang Yichun was patient, frequently giving him food, removing fish bones, and cutting meat for him. "Oh, our Dengdeng wants to be a man, huh?" Bai Yihong teased him with a smile. Little Dengdeng puffed out his small chest, "I am already a man!" The entire room burst into laughter; wherever there are children, there’s liveliness. Jiang Yichun dabbed his chopsticks into some wine and extended them to him, "Try a bit, see if you still want to drink." Little Dengdeng stuck out his tongue, like a little cat, and licked it. His little face immediately scrunched up. "Yuck, so bad!" Little Dengdeng exclaimed, "I don’t want to drink it anymore!" The entire room couldn’t help laughing again; what young child likes the taste of liquor? "You adults are strange, liking something that tastes this bad," Little Dengdeng said in frustration. Jiang Yichun laughed and rubbed his son’s little head, placing a bowl of Bone Soup in front of him, "So drink more soup and grow taller, okay?" Little Dengdeng drank a few sips of soup with a spoon, feeling the bad taste in his mouth fade away, then gleefully said, "Dad is the best, my dad is a general wearing armor!" Jiang Yichun’s smile grew wider, pointing at his head, "A general has to go to the battlefield." "Then I don’t want to be a general. I want Dad to be with Mom and me, uh, and my little brothers and sisters too." Little Dengdeng quickly corrected himself. Everyone laughed with him, and the meal continued in a lively and cheerful manner. After dinner, everyone chatted for a while in the main hall, discussing Jiang Yichun’s current situation until Lin Ping’er urged them to return to their own yard for rest early. Little Dengdeng refused to let go of his father’s arm, "Dad, I want to sleep with you tonight." "No, you don’t sleep still. You might bump into your mom’s belly." Jiang Yichun said, putting on a stern face. He hadn’t had the chance to talk with his wife properly yet; this mischievous son really had no sense. "Then, then mom can sleep in my room," Little Dengdeng suggested cautiously, secretly glancing at his mom. Bai Ruozhu felt quite disheartened, "Ah, my son just abandons me like that, this naughty boy favored his dad since he could walk. Even now, when he’s grown, he sticks to his dad, it feels like the ten months of hardship carrying him was all for nothing!" "Fine, I’ll leave then, so I don’t disturb you guys." Bai Ruozhu intentionally put on a stern face. Little Dengdeng got anxious upon hearing this, turning to grab his mom’s hand, "Mom, don’t be angry, don’t go. I’ll miss you if you leave." Jiang Yichun rubbed his son’s head, "Be good, go back to your room and sleep. Tomorrow morning, I’ll teach you how to box." "Okay," Little Dengdeng reluctlantly followed Nanny Zhang back to his room. Jiang Yichun reached out and held his wife’s hand, mumbling, "Finally, it’s just the two of us." Back in their room, he took her hand and lifted it to look, "Why is it so swollen?" Bai Ruozhu gave him a big eye roll, "I didn’t swell like this when I was pregnant with Dengdeng, probably because it’s twins this time, and I haven’t been sleeping well these past days." He pulled her into his embrace, "It’s my fault, always making you worry." "It’s not your fault. No matter how careful you were, you couldn’t have anticipated that Sangdian would kill a thousand people for some blood sacrifice. It’s terrifying," Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but shiver, a thousand people, not one, not ten. A crimson flash appeared in Jiang Yichun’s eyes as he recalled the blood sacrifice, suddenly sitting up on the lounge, taking deep breaths. "Achun, it’s all over now, it’s okay." Bai Ruozhu regretted bringing up the topic, softly comforting him from the side. It took a while for his breathing to return to normal, and he apologized, "I haven’t been able to control my emotions well lately, but I’ll do my best to work on it." Bai Ruozhu stood on tiptoe and gave him a light peck on the lips, "My man is the best, I believe you can do it." He picked her up in one swift motion, a bit excitedly laying her on the bed, carefully avoiding her belly, then leaned down to kiss her deeply...