“Cangcang looks so good! It suits you even more than I imagined. You should wear these bright colors more often! They complement you!” Sang Luo helped him adjust his collar, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, giving him a very satisfied thumbs-up.
Lan Cang had initially felt a bit awkward, but being praised to the heavens by her almost made him wag his tail. Fortunately, he restrained himself.
He looked at himself in the mirror and thought it wasn't bad.
So, Luo Luo likes this style.
If only he could be a bit younger.
Lan Cang, who rarely lamented the ruthlessness of time, felt a slight sense of helplessness and regret at this moment.
But it's not too late now. He still has half a lifetime to stay by her side.
The two of them caught the last day of the Lantern Festival, which was also the most lively day.
Watching lanterns and setting off fireworks.
Sang Luo hadn't been this relaxed in a long time.
Not far ahead, by the moat, many beastmen were placing river lanterns, each carrying wishes or blessings, into the water, letting them float away with the current.
Lan Cang took Sang Luo's hand and walked over.
The old beastman selling river lanterns was surprised to see him, but when he saw Sang Luo beside him, he understood and asked with a smile, "City Lord, you've brought your wife to see the lanterns again this year. I wonder what kind of river lantern Madam prefers? I'll give one to you both."
"Then thank you," Sang Luo chose two classic lotus-shaped river lanterns from the stall, giving one to Lan Cang.
The old beastman selling river lanterns said, "Legend has it that the final destination of the river lanterns is the Beast God's divine pool. If you have any wishes, you can write them on the river lanterns. If the Beast God happens to see them, your wishes might come true. Even if the wishes don't come true, it's still a beautiful hope and memory."
"Old man, do you have a pen?" Sang Luo asked.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
The old beastman brought over a pen, ink, paper, and inkstone.
"By the way, wishes can only be known to oneself and cannot be seen by others, otherwise they won't come true."
Sang Luo smiled and looked at Lan Cang, "Then let's write back-to-back, and when we release the lanterns, we'll close our eyes and not peek, okay!"
Lan Cang also smiled and nodded, "Okay."
After the two finished writing their wishes, they held their respective river lanterns and found a relatively quiet place to place the lanterns into the water.
After Sang Luo closed her eyes, she secretly opened one eye and glanced to the side.
Unfortunately, Lan Cang had already released his lantern into the river. The night was misty, and nothing could be seen clearly.
The two lanterns floated further and further away with the river, meeting and separating, parting and reuniting… Before long, they disappeared among the thousands of lanterns, never to be found again.
Countless lanterns meandered along the river, looking like a dazzling and beautiful galaxy from afar.
… …
Days passed.
Sang Luo's belly grew bigger and bigger, with no signs of labor.
"When I was pregnant with Xiao Zhenzhen, it wasn't even a year. I originally thought this child would be born quickly too, but I didn't expect it to take so long," Sang Luo lay on the bed, patted her belly, and sighed worriedly.
"The higher the cultivation of the parents, the higher the realm of the offspring at birth. When I was pregnant with Zhenzhen, I was only at the peak of the Beast King realm. Now I'm at the Half-Step Venerable realm. The realm of this child after birth will only be higher, so the time required for gestation can't be compared to Xiao Zhenzhen's," Si Ye had been extremely diligent these past few years, finding her all kinds of nutritious foods and occasionally digging some from his uncle's side, just enough to raise the child.
Xiao Zhenzhen lay on her mother's round belly, curiously wagging her tail, "I wonder if the little baby in Mommy's belly is a younger brother or a younger sister."
Sang Luo smiled and stroked its head, "Do you want a younger brother or a younger sister?"
Xiao Zhenzhen tilted its head and thought seriously, "I really want a younger brother."
"Oh? You like a younger brother?"
"Hehe, a younger brother can serve me tea and water and be easy to order around!"
Sang Luo laughed.
Xiao Zhenzhen became a little troubled and conflicted again, "But I also want a younger sister. A younger sister is cute and obedient and can play with me! Just like Lou Die-die's little koi! I also want such a beautiful and cute little sister!"
Si Ye's expression suddenly changed, "Say that again, who did you call Daddy?"
"Lou Die-die, my favorite merman Daddy! He's so beautiful, hehe," Xiao Zhenzhen gushed.
Si Ye's lips twitched wildly, rebellious daughter!
It really doesn't know the hardships its biological father went through raising it, changing its diapers and cleaning up its messes! Not getting a good night's sleep for days and nights! And now it's recognized a fish as its father!
Seeing that Daddy was angry, Xiao Zhenzhen quickly threw itself into his arms and acted spoiled, "But the one I love the most is still my biological Daddy! Daddy is the best to me and loves me the most!"
Si Ye snorted lightly, his expression finally looking a little better. His silly daughter finally understood something.
"Luo Luo, in a couple of days, the mansion will hold a banquet. I haven't thought of a name for the banquet yet, but remember to notify the children first and call them over, especially those two little mermaids!"
"… …" He's still competing over this.
When that day came, Sang Luo called the children over to attend the banquet. Si Ye took the opportunity to abduct the two little mermaids and became a Daddy to them as well.
Hmm! Not a loss, he even gained a cub!
This infuriated Lou Xian Yue.
But he was the one who came up with this bad idea first, so there was nothing he could do. He was in the wrong.
… …
Xiao Shitou and Heng Tao from Suilin City had been dating for a few years, and their relationship was quite stable. Both sets of parents felt that the time was about right, so they arranged the marriage. Once the children were a little older and ready to welcome a new family, they could choose an auspicious day to get married.
On the day of the engagement banquet, Lan Cang drank a lot of wine. He was very happy, but he couldn't hide a trace of reluctance in his heart.
Although Xiao Shitou had gone to work in Suilin City a few years ago and wasn't home most of the time, he hadn't started a new family. Lan Cang still felt like the child was by his side.
The child he had raised with his own hands, who had been by his side for so many years, had one day truly grown up and completely flown away from his side. His heart felt empty, as if a hole had been broken, difficult to fill with anything else.
Xiao Shitou also told Lan Cang that he planned to move to Suilin City to live from now on, settling there permanently.
Lan Cang helped his son pack his luggage.
There were still many of Xiao Shitou's belongings at home, completely packed up and moved to the new home.
On the day Xiao Shitou left.
Lan Cang was lost in thought for a long time. He gave his son a lot of beast crystals. Starting a career away from home required money and resources to gain a foothold. Everything he had done these years was enough to ensure that his children wouldn't have to go through the hardships he had when he was young, but there would still be risks and difficulties. "Dad will always be here. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, remember to come find Dad."
"Okay! Thank you, Dad!"
He was still that steady and reliable father beast in the children's hearts, but at night, he shed tears.
Sang Luo saw him cry for the first time, or rather, saw him cry in front of her for the first time.
Lan Cang never showed weakness in front of people, especially in front of her, but this time, she was the only one he could confide in.
"Luo Luo, I… I can't bear to see the children leave… …"
He was clearly the one who first said to let the children leave, but he was also the one who was most reluctant.
Sang Luo hugged his head, resting it in her arms.
"You still have me. The children will eventually leave one day, but I will always be by your side."
… …
I felt so sad writing these two chapters intermittently, boo hoo.
