"Let's go into the courtyard," Lu Wanqing said, as standing by the door was not ideal.
"Mhm," Little Zhong Liyi nodded quickly. After speaking, Little Zhong Liyi became nervous again, and amid his nervousness, there was anticipation. He cautiously asked, "Mommy, can Daddy come in too?"
Lu Wanqing chuckled, "Does Little Yi want Daddy to come in?"
Little Zhong Liyi immediately nodded, "Yes!"
Little Zhong Liyi liked this home very much, loved it dearly, the super-loving kind. It was just that before, only he and Mommy would come to this home, and Daddy had never been. He hadn't thought much of it before, but now he felt it would be even better to have Daddy go in together. Because with Daddy, Mommy, and child, this would be a complete home, a happy home. He hoped Daddy would go in and see too.
Lu Wanqing smiled. She looked at Zhong Lifeiyu, "Let's go in."
The courtyard walls and gate were also made of bamboo fences. Lu Wanqing pushed open the courtyard gate, revealing a quaint, pastoral cottage within, like a scene of a small bridge, flowing water, and homes.
Zhong Lifeiyu was stunned. He looked at the scenery inside and felt it was very different, possessing an indescribable sense of peace and comfort, completely unlike the houses of the interstellar era.
"Is this a house from your era?" Zhong Lifeiyu asked.
Lu Wanqing shook her head, "No, it's a house from even earlier than our era. But in our era, some tourist attractions had houses like this, used as tourist spots for people to visit."
Zhong Lifeiyu paused, then his eyes lit up. He smiled and nodded, "Mm."
Zhong Lifeiyu had previously researched information from Lu Wanqing's era. He didn't seem to have seen such architecture, which was why he was momentarily surprised when he entered, finding it beautiful but also wondering why it seemed different from the architecture of Lu Wanqing's time.
"Woof woof woof!!!" The little puppy had never seen Zhong Lifeiyu before. This was their first meeting. It treated Zhong Lifeiyu as an outsider and immediately eyed him warily, barking.
"Shushu!" Lu Wanqing quickly called out, scolding Shushu.
The puppy seemed not to understand Lu Wanqing's words. Its eyes were fixed on Zhong Lifeiyu, wary, barking in a fierce, puppy-like manner, as if to drive this stranger away: "Woof woof woof!!!"
"Shushu, that's Daddy, my Daddy, not a bad guy!" Little Zhong Liyi also hurried over, hugging the puppy as he spoke.
The puppy, held by Little Zhong Liyi, struggled a bit, twisting its furry body. It hesitantly glanced at Zhong Lifeiyu a few times, but it didn't bark warily anymore.
Chickens also ran around in the courtyard, and ducks swam in the pond. Little Zhong Liyi immediately looked up, excitedly introducing everything to his Daddy.
"Daddy, these are the little chicks, and the little ducklings. Mommy and I raised them together. When we first bought them, they were so tiny, yellow and orange, and incredibly cute. But now they've grown up."
"Daddy, they grow so fast! We were only away for a short time, and they've gotten so big. They're amazing!"
Little Zhong Liyi explained to his Daddy while gesturing with his hands, lively and energetic. But the most vibrant was Little Zhong Liyi himself. Zhong Lifeiyu truly felt the immense change in Little Yi after being with Lu Wanqing. He had become so good, so happy, so sunny. The child was happy!
"And Shushu too!"
"Shushu was only this big before, now it's this big. It's also grown so much!"
Little Zhong Liyi said excitedly, from the household animals to the plants in the courtyard, even telling clearly which plant he and Mommy had dug up from where on the desolate planet. The child's memory was crystal clear.
Zhong Lifeiyu showed no impatience, allowing himself to be led by Little Zhong Liyi to be introduced to every corner of the "home." Every wall of the home was built by Lu Wanqing and Little Zhong Liyi together. Every plant in the home was dug up from the forest by Lu Wanqing and Little Zhong Liyi together. The little chicks, ducklings, and puppy were also chosen by Lu Wanqing and Little Zhong Liyi together.
Zhong Lifeiyu listened for a long time. When it finally ended, he was somewhat lost, unable to fully process it. So, this little home, was it built little by little, with their own hands, by Lu Wanqing and her child?
Let alone Little Zhong Liyi, he himself was somewhat moved. It felt... like a very different kind of feeling.
The more they interacted, the more Zhong Lifeiyu understood why Lu Wanqing could take such good care of their child. Her mind always seemed to have an endless supply of ways to make the child happy and joyful.
They had seen everything they needed to see, and the child was tired from talking. Zhong Lifeiyu brought Little Zhong Liyi back to Lu Wanqing's side.
Lu Wanqing was in the courtyard, shelling sunflower seeds and watching the little ducks swim in the pond. She was lost in thought, yet there was a unique sense of leisure.
"Mommy!" Little Zhong Liyi saw his Mommy and ran towards her happily.
Lu Wanqing looked back upon hearing him. Seeing Little Yi running towards her, a brilliant smile immediately bloomed on her face. She then raised her hand and ruffled his hair.
Zhong Lifeiyu also walked over. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "You've done so much for the child."
The things on the star network were virtual, and building them was actually quite simple. However, all of this held significant meaning for the child. Little Yi's current transformation was the most apparent change.
"Would you like to sit down and rest for a while?" Lu Wanqing glanced at a nearby stool and then looked up at Zhong Lifeiyu.
In fact, the home only had her large stool and Little Yi's small stool. However, since Zhong Lifeiyu had come, Lu Wanqing had just purchased a chair from the virtual mall of the desolate planet homestead network, specially prepared for Zhong Lifeiyu.
Zhong Lifeiyu paused, then sat down beside her.
In this scene, Zhong Lifeiyu suddenly didn't know what to say. He just felt very comfortable, very at ease, experiencing a sense of home that he had never felt since he was a child.
Lu Wanqing was also disinclined to speak. Sometimes, it was good for everyone to remain silent, quietly appreciating the peaceful beauty of life.
However, this beautiful moment was shattered just as they were about to log off.
Zhong Lifeiyu suddenly turned his head and asked her very earnestly, "Wanqing, this time I'm serious. I love you and want to marry you. Do you..."
"Will you?" Zhong Lifeiyu looked at Lu Wanqing and asked.
Lu Wanqing: "???"
Little Zhong Liyi was startled, then delighted. He looked at his Mommy with anticipation.
Lu Wanqing reacted and quickly shook her head, "I..."
Zhong Lifeiyu's hand by his side stiffened slightly. He suddenly remembered that proposing marriage to her was not the first time. She had refused him last time.