CHAPTER 639: CHAPTER 543: A HAPPY TIME FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR (SECOND UPDATE)

Danton pouted and said, "You’re making it sound so serious. It’s not like I’m leaving forever and never coming back."

"Can you guarantee that? What if some girl catches your eye one day, and then you decide you don’t want me and your father anymore?" The Queen of Heaven gazed lovingly at her two children. "I don’t feel old yet, but it turns out you’ve both grown up. I didn’t even get to take care of Luowa for a single day, and by the time I found her, she was already a mother of two children. As for Danton, I cared for him every single day, but my feelings... At this point, I’m almost thankful Luowa left me right after being born. Otherwise, she might not have escaped my relentless claws either."

The Emperor of Heaven lowered his head guiltily.

Tong Airui glanced at his father-in-law, knowing he felt uncomfortable, and quickly changed the topic. "Mom, no matter how tough things were before, our family is finally reunited now. Let’s not dwell on the past; let’s talk about something cheerful instead. Why don’t you tell me what your ideal daughter-in-law is like? That way I can help start scouting for Danton."

The Queen of Heaven said dreamily, "Actually, my requirements aren’t high at all. First, she has to be as beautiful as Luowa; otherwise, she’ll lower the family’s overall attractiveness. Second, she has to have a good personality and not nitpick over everything—I simply can’t deal with a daughter-in-law like that. Someone with Luowa’s temperament would be fine. Third, she needs to genuinely care for Danton, since he’s been frail since childhood and needs someone warm-hearted by his side."

Yi Luowa pouted and said, "Mom, you can scrap the first requirement and just focus on the other two."

"Forgetting about good looks?" The Queen of Heaven seemed a little hesitant.

Yi Luowa nodded. "Good looks can’t fill your stomach. As long as she has a good personality and knows how to care for others, that’s enough."

The Queen of Heaven sighed. "I’m someone who learns nothing from my mistakes. I’ve paid dearly for my face too, yet I can’t help but love looking at beautiful things. Alright, I’ll listen to you—we’ll ignore the first requirement."

Danton let out a humph, "Are you all planning to ask for my opinion or not?"

"Does your opinion matter?" The Queen of Heaven shot her son a glare. "You, a staunch advocate of living solo, have no right to be part of this conversation!"

Tong Airui furrowed his brows slightly. "You seriously plan to live alone? No way. Tomorrow, I’m getting you a psychologist. How did this solo lifestyle idea even start?"

"Airui, it’s actually something I’ll need to trouble you with. Danton mentioned wanting to stay single a long time ago, but I figured he was too young back then and didn’t take it seriously. This past couple of years, now that he’s older, I asked him again, and he still says the same thing. A psychologist has already spoken with him—more than once, in fact. He’s perfectly fine; he just doesn’t want to fall in love."

Yi Luowa sighed. "Back then, Danton was in poor health and worried he’d be a burden to others, so that’s why he said those things. But times have changed—he’s getting healthier day by day. Once the poison’s fully cured, that idea should fade away."

"Sis, whether or not the poison gets cured, I still want to stay single. I don’t want to burden anyone. You’re my family; you don’t get to pick whether to take care of me. But why drag an outsider into the mess, making them suffer along with me?"

"Fine, I’ll stop arguing with you about it for now. I’ll wait until you’re fully recovered to see if you change your mind!" Yi Luowa tightened her grip, making Danton yelp in pain.

The Queen of Heaven laughed as she looked at her two children, then turned to Tong Airui and asked, "Airui, why didn’t Mr. Ke come with you?"

Tong Airui chuckled helplessly. "As soon as he heard there were esteemed guests at home, he got scared and didn’t dare come."

"If it weren’t for him, we’d still be in the dark about so much. Here’s the plan: since he didn’t come, your father and I will go visit him tomorrow. You know where he lives, right?"

"I do. I was planning to take Danton to the hospital tomorrow morning. How about I accompany you both in the afternoon? Does that work?"

"We don’t have much going on. It mostly depends on your schedule. Actually, why don’t I come with you to the hospital tomorrow..."

Yi Luowa paused slightly. "Mom, you better not go to the hospital. Considering your status, it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to step into a place like that. Here’s the plan: tomorrow, we’ll split up. Let Tong Airui take Danton to the hospital while I accompany you and dad to visit Ke Jingran."

Tong Airui lifted his gaze to her. "Why not let Third Brother accompany Mom and Dad instead?"

"That wouldn’t be sincere enough." Yi Luowa knew what he was thinking and gave him a look as she replied, "Let Third Brother come with us to visit. How about that?"

Danton chuckled and lightly patted his sister’s arm. "Mom’s three criteria—my brother-in-law meets one: being nitpicky, and a bit petty too!"

Yi Luowa feigned anger. "Who says my brother-in-law is nitpicky? He’s not nitpicky at all! And he’s far from petty—he’s even strong enough to row dragon boats!"

"Haha..." Danton burst into laughter as soon as Yi Luowa finished speaking.

Yi Luowa laughed and gave him a playful smack. "Stop laughing already. Go soak in a hot bath later—it’ll help you loosen up."

Danton grumbled and clung to his mother’s arm. "I’m not going back tonight. I want to sleep with Mom."

"You’re already so grown up and still want to sleep next to Mom... I want to stay with Mom too!" Yi Luowa said as she kicked off her slippers and climbed onto the bed.

The Queen of Heaven chuckled and said, "Alright, alright, tonight Mom will stay with both of you."

Tong Airui frowned, looking at his wife sitting on the bed. "You don’t sleep still—it’ll disrupt Mom’s rest."

"Then I just won’t sleep—I won’t kick Mom that way. You should head back to rest early." Yi Luowa nudged Danton. "Scoot over so Mom can lie in the middle. Let’s chat."

"You’re all staying with Mom. What about me?" The Emperor of Heaven grumbled indignantly.

Tong Airui’s face fell as well.

Seeing the pair on the couch looking forlorn, the trio on the bed burst out laughing.

Danton glanced at the bed and joked, "Dad, this bed’s pretty big—you can take the footboard. As for my brother-in-law, if he doesn’t want to leave, the couch is his."

"Haha... I think it works!" Yi Luowa pulled the covers up and placed a throw pillow at the foot of the bed. "When I was a kid, I used to envy families on TV who would all sleep on one bed together. Back then, I’d pester my Second Uncle to find me a Second Aunt so I could sleep between them. But every time I’d bring it up, my Second Uncle would spank my butt. I couldn’t understand back then, but it was really me messing up his love life. He was afraid of bringing an outsider into the family and having me suffer. Luckily, there’s Huo Li—otherwise, my Second Uncle might have stayed single his whole life because of me."

The Queen of Heaven’s eyes darkened slightly as she hugged Yi Luowa tightly, her voice trembling. "Luowa, it’s Mom who let you down..."

"This isn’t your fault; it’s mine." The Emperor of Heaven, his eyes reddened, pulled mother and daughter into a tight embrace.

"Waaah... We said no crying, so what are you doing?" Danton grabbed a blanket and covered his face, letting out muffled sobs.

Tong Airui pursed his lips and stood up, leaving the room. He knew at this moment he was the odd one out. He needed to give their family more time to be together.

Hearing the door close, Danton suddenly popped his head out from under the blanket. "Haha... I knew if we caused a scene like this, my brother-in-law would definitely leave."

Yi Luowa pressed him back under the blanket. "Keep your voice down, or he’ll come back and catch you in the act!"

"As long as you’re here, he won’t dare touch me." Danton laughed and tugged at his dad’s sleeve. "Dad, stop crying already. Come on up—it’s family time for the four of us now."

The Emperor of Heaven wiped his tears away and climbed onto the bed with a smile.

The family of four leaned against the headboard—Yi Luowa hugging her mom, Danton resting against his dad—all savoring the rare, blissful moment of togetherness.