The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 858: A Family of Three

Proofreader: Papatonks

“This room will be yours from now on, cousin.”

Zhuo Fan creaked the door open, showing the same bed where she was healed, while jesting. 

Scrounging her nose, the girl eyed him with a deep and grateful gaze.

After wandering the streets like a dog for days, she now returned to the place where she recovered in peace. Anyone would be touched at this point, feeling like this place was home. 

Making a flourish, Zhuo Fan invited her in while he left.

Looking at him leave, she shouted, “I saw you and your son having fun in town these days.”

Pausing, Zhuo Fan frowned and looked back, “You mean we can’t?”

“You’re very good to your dear son.” The girl said, “From the ten days you spent roaming Flying Cloud City, one can see how close the two of you are.”

Zhuo Fan asked, “That’s a father for you. What’s wrong with that?”

“But you said you abandoned your wife.” The girl looked in doubt, “Going by your close relation with your son, it can’t be that you would do such a thing to his mother.”

Zhuo Fan squinted, “Women are women and a son is a son. Men are very clear on the differences. What does an unbroken chick know?”

Rolling his eyes, Zhuo Fan walked away, his eyes glazing with grief as he shook his head.

The girl was furious at the taunt, but then thought about it another way. Zhuo Fan was erratic in his affairs, switching tunes at the drop of a hat, making him mysterious in her eyes, that he had secrets.

The girl did not enter her room and walked behind the house…

The moon hung in the sky above the sea of stars, bringing light to the night.

In the backyard, Gu Santong sat at a stone table, playing with a wooden toy; looking rather cute. He might be three centuries old, but his puerile nature never changed.

Especially the last few days, having Zhuo Fan prioritize leisure activities in the city over work, he felt paternal love after ages. This brought out the child he buried inside, whining to Zhuo Fan to get him some nice toys.

He was now having the time of his life, until a girl popped up behind him.

Gu Santong frowned, but faked oblivion as he played. Zhuo Fan kept telling him to play dumb and act like a wee child.

“Gu Santong, was it?”

The girl showed the child a bright smile, looking at his toy, “Wow, how pretty! Did your dad get it for you?”

Eyeing her, Gu Santong was vague, “Get on with it, or sleep it off!”

Ugh!

The girl froze at such hostility, her face twitching hard. 

[Why is he so mean?]

[Wait, it’s not the child’s fault, but who he lived with; that guy’s bad influence. I must hold it in.]

Smashing down the anger, the girl showed a kind face as she said, “Santong, you shouldn’t talk like that to me. It isn’t nice.”

“Who in hell would be nice to a broad that tried to kill the both of us?” Gu Santong bit back.

Pff!

She almost spat blood in anger, her body shuddering.

[The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. These two’s words are so biting, always antagonistic, and it’s pissing me off!]

[That’s not the problem here, since all is that guy’s fault, not the child. I must stay strong!]

The girl’s face twitched like no tomorrow, showing a look worse than crying, “Child, can’t you use kinder words? I just wanted to ask you…”

“Out with it already!” Gu Santong snapped.

Outraged, the girl gnashed her teeth, “Ha-ha-ha, child, you sure are feisty. Then I’ll be frank. Did your dad really abandon your mom?”

Gu Santong shook then paused from playing. He then nodded, his reply cold, “Yes.”

The girl looked disappointed, the outcome out of her presumption.

“Do you like your mother?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t you hate your dad for what he did?”

“No.”

“Why?” The girl was stunned.

Gu Santong went silent as he stared at the toy in his hand. He sighed, “If dad had stayed with mom, she would’ve died. What do you think he should have done?”

[What?!]

The girl stood speechless.

“Young Sanzi, are you playing there? You’re supposed to be in bed at this hour!” Zhuo Fan’s shout came from afar.

Gu Santong ignored the girl and went to Zhuo Fan’s room, “Dad’s calling me. I need to go.”

Gu Santong’s young appearance that contrasted with the upright stance left the girl in stunned silence. 

[The son resembles the father, but not to the extreme.] 

[It looks like he isn’t as cruel as he lets on…]

Meanwhile, Gu Santong got in the room to find Zhuo Fan sitting at a table, giving him an annoyed and sad look. “What are you doing telling her so much?”

“I just don’t want her to curse you every time you meet.”

“What’s the problem? I’m no saint either and I’ve been cursed more than I can count.”

“But I don’t want to hear anyone curse my dad.” Gu Santong climbed on the bed with a bored look, “I used to smash any that cursed you, but since you don’t want me to fight, I want to not hear people cursing my dad.”

Zhuo Fan gave him a long look and nodded.

[Son…]

The next morning, Zhuo Fan and Gu Santong woke up refreshed from cultivating, welcoming the coming of a new day.

Gu Santong smiled, “Dad, the broad is back. Are we still toying with her?”

“Of course, the more carefree we are the better. The real fish has yet to bite, ha-ha-ha…” Zhuo Fan nodded.

Gu Santong cheered in excitement, showing out to be the child he was.

Zhuo Fan nodded, enjoying this rare moment of fatherhood.

But the girl’s gentle figure suddenly popped in his face.

Zhuo Fan asked, “What are you doing? Me and young Sanzi are going out.”

“Great, now take me with you.” The girl gave a bright smile.

Zhuo Fan furrowed his brow, “Why?”

“Yeah, my dad and I are having fun, so why bring you along, to be a stick in the mud?” Gu Santong shunned her, making his position clear as day. 

She wiggled her cute nose, made a pout at the kid, then turned to Zhuo Fan to impose, “Who’s to say you won’t report me once you go out? That’s why I have to keep an eye on you.”

Squinting, Zhuo Fan paused before showing a wide smile.

“Fine, since miss wants to, then come along. As long as you don’t misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand what?”

The girl was curious, but Zhuo Fan’s reply was a shifty grin…

An hour later…

“Oh, Sir Gu, you brought your son to play again. What a great father you are spending these days with your son. And now you even brought the madam…”

“My, sir’s madam is a world beauty. No wonder she has been cooped up at home for so long, ha-ha-ha…”

…

The trio walked down the street with many shouts aimed at them. Zhuo Fan just replied with a smile and nod.

The girl was blushing harder than a tomato.

She now realized what he meant and grumbled, “W-why aren’t you saying anything? I’m not your wife, but cousin!”

“There’s no point talking to these chatterboxes. They’ll say whatever they want anyway. And I don’t want to talk to some sellers either.”

Zhuo Fan grinned, his eyes always scanning his surroundings. By his calculations, the girl had been hiding the past days, making it hard for her friends to find her. Now that she walks in broad daylight, they should get in touch.

One of the reasons why he accepted to take her along, as bait.

“Stop, who are you people?”

A patrol came by and barred their way. The girl tensed, ready to bolt, but Zhuo Fan held her.

Smiling, Zhuo Fan did the talking, “We’re the Gu family from a nearby house.”

Taking a jade slip, the man read it and waved them off, “Oh, the new Gu family, Gu Yifan, Gu Santong and Gu Qingyan. You’re free to go.”

The patrol resumed their duty.

The girl was stunned. 

[They let us go that easy?]

Zhuo Fan easily guessed her thoughts, “Did you forget we got registered a few days back? That jade slip has our portraits and details. In this Flying Cloud City we are a family of three.”

“Then what have I been doing these days, skulking around like a scared mouse?” The girl was stumped.  

Zhuo Fan shrugged, “Yeah, why did you run? That’s what’s called guilty-looking…”

“Shifty…” 

“Homeless…”

The father and son enjoyed teasing the hell out of the blushing girl. None of them noticed a pair of eyes watched from a dark corner…